[Album Review] – Alobam Mayweather by Disturbingafrik.

Another popular demand was made from last week’s activities, as it was more than a buzz for Olamide, after the release of his anticipated 5th album ‘Eyan Mayweather’ and the loss of his father; I’m so sorry to hear about the loss. Bloggers didn’t hesitate to drop the full album for download on release but I never understood why. With the highest nominations in Headies 2015 which includes the ‘Best Pop Single’ and ‘Artist of the Year’ categories against Wizkid, Olamide seems to keep his stands as The 2015 AFRIMMA ‘Best Male Artist West Africa’ with 5 consecutive studio albums in 5 years. Vector’s absence after packing 2 Headies in 2012 allowed Olamide become the raving rapper, snatching most awards; 5 from Headies, 2 from NMVA, etc., in 2013 & 2014, and endorsement deals from Ciroc to the multi-million Naira Guiness endorsement down to Etisalat ambassadorship, all in 2013. Olamide is eventually a better selling Nigerian rapper than Vector since 2013, thanks to club bangers like ‘Durosoke’, ‘Turn Up’ and ‘Bobo’.  Does it mean he is the ‘Alobam Mayweather’ of rap this year as he self-claimed in the solo album? Let’s check it out.

Olamide is capable of telling you how to make money off the streets, ball with chicks and champagnes over your worries and be proud of it, then shut down Eko Hotels, London, Yankee & Malay, if you ever wish to be the best rapper in his time. Always representing the streets and his God, he got no time to tell you the lessons he learnt while hustling for the street money in this solo album ‘Eyan Mayweather’, excluding the few shared in ‘Inferiority Complex’ & ‘Jega’. ‘Kana Finish’ finished ahead of every hiphop track in the album. That aside, his lyrical flaws were seen in songs like ‘Where the Man’ and ‘Igara Chicken’. His English-spoken lyrics  weren’t able to defend the Yoruba ones. Probably, someone needs to develop a Yoruba-English voice translator for non-Yoruba music lovers here. Olamide added other selling Nigerian styles to his own in making this solo album that didn’t feature a single artist. ‘Sold out’ seems like a Duncan Mighty track while ‘Be happy’ sounds like another Timaya’s ‘Ukwu’, but this time, Olamide tells us why and what to be happy with. ‘Don’t Stop’ must be there to replace ‘Bobo’ when it fades off. He proves what will be the Nigerian new rock music in ‘Boom boom boom’ but I wonder which award in Nigeria has rock as a category or if the song looks up to grammy’s.

With 7 hiphop, and 13 afropop songs out of the 21-track album, it only proves to be a commercial album. This solo album is all about one track ‘Eyan Mayweather’, a couple of less-lyrical hiphop tracks and money-back club songs. His less recognized duo album ‘2Kings’ with top songs like ‘For My City’, ‘Koba Koba’ and ‘Confam Mi’ finished better than this solo album lyrically, mentally and otherwise. Generally, the album made an average mark; although not a contender for a rap album, it can go up for the best selling album with production credits to Pheelz Mr. Producer. This commercial album with high interest in the market and a camouflage ‘Eyan Mayweather’ made me feel Olamide is vying for a fair fight among Nigerian rappers of his time. Notwithstanding, Olamide decided to step aside and sing when featured alongside Vector by Dj Kaywise in ‘Ibeji’ later this year. Maybe no one noticed that Vector is back to his seat after nullifying ‘Young Erikina’ ‘Best Rap Song’ nomination in Headies 2012 and loosing it to his attitude in the controversy with his former label, YSG in 2013. Vector came much alive this year since his return in late 2014 with the ‘A7’ Mixtape, ‘King Kong’, ‘Kanawan Dabo’, and Hennessy Cypher 2015. He is a contender in the Headies 2015 for ‘Lyricist on the Roll’ where Olamide didn’t  appear & ‘Best Rap Single’ with ‘King Kong’ against ‘Local Rappers’ that featured Olamide. He also got ranked at number 7 in Notjustok’s top 10 Hottest Rappers in Africa 2015 in what can be called ‘a success from exile’ where Olamide again didn’t appear. All I can say is, ‘it’s a matter of shancin’ in Falz voice. Indeed, Olamide is not the ‘Alobam Mayweather’ of rap, not this year. Nevertheless, Vector would need a quality album to convince the people once again that he is.

By Disturbingafrik.