On a Certain Nigerian Movie

Now I believe that the Choc Boys have a shot at the forefront in Nigeria Arts and Music. I think they can be at the melding point of the renaissance, where popular music may transform into art, and their price will be higher regard in excess of what the reigning circus of entertainers and their presumably easy-going chieftain come away with. This is a relevant aside; let me return to the business of this piece, presumably the glorification of a good Nigerian movie.

The idea to market M.I’s sophomore as a movie was effective, especially in the early days when the blogosphere and social networks speculated that perhaps the fine hip-pop act was thinking of venturing into Nollywood. The Idea of the movie to the frame of the album is not entirely fitting, neither is it completely discordant. Three tracks allude to movie: Action Film, Wild Wild West and Epic, and these tracks in a light can be described as the strongest at different moods.

The Cover-image is excellent and brings to memory the first album’. Only that here MI is suited with a rather apt bow-tie and in his clutching the butt of a mic, with his left hand stylishly dipped into his pocket. The picture oozes of business, the business of musical mastery.

MI has morphed. He has become what he wanted to be. The classic rap maestro who lyrically experiments with rap in several musical formulae has succeeded at composing compound sounds which in good time will bear his insignia.

MI 2 works on several levels. It works as a leisure L.P, the type you listen to for the heck of hearing good sounds. Action Movie is perhaps the only club-banger or the song orchestrated to cater to dance. Brymo, the man with the honeyed husk of a voice, does his “thing” again, asserting that his excellent collaboration with Ice Prince on Oleku is not particularly a fluke or a lucky ride.

Slow Down is one of my personal favourite and MI is not without assistance in the vocals of another croning chap, Julius Caesar. The track is interestingly refreshing, it’s a booty song with a feel good twang, sort of like a love song miss road come jump on top bed.

Number One is a landmark hit, the first success of its kind, a fusion between highlife and rap. The track is awesome on both levels and entirely works. The lyrical arrangement is almost divine and MI was on top of it. Yes sir
Anybody and Nobody respectively recruiting Timaya and Tuface are not exceptional. They are just regular musical collaborations that will do their bit in entertaining, reigning and eventually fading. They may find themselves a place in the back corner of tracks reserved for old school, if they keep their airplay up.

Beef, MI’s retort to his beefers, itself a metaphor, is witty in the handling of material, does not take itself serious and delves the blow where it is most needed. Then Wild Wild West is a love song to the religio-ethnic war ravaged J-town, Jos. It is relevant in the concern of music and arts with the human condition brought about by either religious and political propanganda or both.
One Naira with Waje absolutely works in its uniqueness of an age old concern, love.
Craze is not a personal favourite, it is my least heard track.
Undisputed reiterates the essence of the entire LP, that MI’s glory is inimitable. And I agree.

Epic is reminiscent of gospel, the crooner, called Praise, handles his business in a John Legendish fashion and the track will be known for its autobiographical exposition.
Imperfect me is a musical tribute to imperfection and features close allies voicing what they don’t like about MI. This is MI selling his personality with his sophomore album, perhaps he is also reiterating that his art and his life is inseparable.
And of course, back to the beginning we have a choc boys anthem, with each lieutenant in the fold acoustically represented.
Indeed M.I has made a good album.