By Ayomide Tayo
Album– Ayo (Joy)
Artiste– Wizkid
Guest Appearances– Femi Kuti, Akon, Seyi Shay, Banky W, Yemi Sax, Phyno, Tyga, Wale, and LAX.
Producer– Sarz, Shizzi, Uhuru, Del B, Dr. Frabz, Maleek Berry, Legendury Beatz, and Spellz.
Record Label- EME/ Star Boy (2014)
We have had to wait three years and a few good months for the release of Wizkid’s second album ‘Ayo (Joy)’. While we waited, Wizzy has dropped enough pop bangers to make up two albums. This period was the hottest point of his career. Hits such as ‘Azonto’, ‘Samba’, ‘Back To The Matter’, ‘Dance For Me’, ‘Caro’, ‘Eledumare’, and others clearly established Wizkid as a pop god. The father of Boluwatife has been on a fine run. Sadly, whether on purpose or a case of diminishing returns, the star boy has reached the end of his arc.
‘Ayo (Joy)’ is made up of songs that we have known Wizkid for. This time around these songs are not as genius, hard hitting as his previous works. On this album, the dreaded sophomore slump is very present. This genius’ touch has deserted him. It’s more of perspiration than inspiration.
The 20 track album starts with the brilliant but now stale pop/Afrobeat mash up ‘Jaiye Jaiye’ featuring Femi Kuti. This is followed up by the underwhelming ‘Show You The Money.’ Fortunately the album is saved by a hugely potential smash hit ‘In My Bed’. While this is sure to bring in a few millions for the pop act, it sadly highlights his major flaw as a recording artiste, his inability to properly write a conceptual track. After serenading a babe on the first verse, and telling her he wants her on his bed in the brilliant hook, he oddly starts calling out the names of popular politicians and billionaires. In the next verse he brags about killing shows. Going off-topic creates a buzz kill and dampens the effect of this potentially great record. An artiste of his magnitude shouldn’t be making such a grave mistake.
There is no greater club jam on this album than ‘In My Bed’. Every effort by Wizzy to move the dance floor isn’t a runaway success. His collaboration with Akon ‘For You’ despite having a dope beat suffers from a limp chorus that fails to holds it own on the song. At some point the song drifts away from your consciousness. Banky W and his former protégé miss a great opportunity to make a song about the drama that has surrounded EME. It would have made a great record and revealed Wizzy as a man in touch with himself and surroundings. Instead the pair opts to create another cliché booty track called ‘Dutty Whyne’. ‘Bombay’ featuring Phyno is an underwhelming single and doesn’t show Wiz or Phyno at their best.
After a couple of spins, it’s obvious that Wizkid has ran out of ideas. This is most evident on ‘Ki Lo Fe’ where he rips Sean Tizzle’s hook on ‘Ki Lo Gbe’. Why a seasoned act should jack from a newbie is quite baffling. ‘Murder’ featuring Wale isn’t half bad, but you’ve got to wonder why his other collabo with Wale ‘Drop’ which was an instant hit was sacrificed for ‘Murder’ on this album.
Party tracks is not the only formula Wizkid overworks on this album. The tired formula of highlife love songs is over flogged on this LP. ‘Omalicha’, ‘One Question’ featuring Yemi Sax, and ‘Kind Love’ dull the album with a now boring concept of how to score a top hit. Thankfully ‘In Love’ featuring Seyi Shay is a fresh love song with jazz undertones that breathes creative life into this album.
Even if these moments are rare, Wizkid shows that he might have what it takes to think outside the box. ‘Ojuelegba’ arguably the best song on the album is a slow and groovy Afrobeat track that sees Wizkid reminiscing about his days as a studio rat in Ojuelegba. It’s a beautiful rendition of Wizzy’s rise to fame. If Wizkid took more chances on this album, ‘Joy’ would have been a better album.
If ‘Ojuelegba’ is a moving recollection of his humble days, then ‘Celebrate’ is a joyful festival back in his hood celebrating his success as a super star. These two tracks plus the title song ‘Joy’ (a Reggae track dedicated to his mother) are the stand out tracks on his sophomore effort. Almost everything else is formulaic or slightly above average.
On ‘Ayo (Joy)’, Wizkid shows that he either doesn’t have what it fully takes to make creative gambles for an artiste of his calibre or he is pretty much comfortable in flogging a dead horse until it has no more skin or flesh. Whatever the case maybe, his highly anticipated second album delivers little joy to his fans who have waited so long
Rating 3/5
2 comments
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