PROJECT: M.I.3: The Chairman
RUNNING TIME: 1hr 15min
LABEL: Chocolate City Entertainment
FEATURES: Chi Girl, Koker, Wizkid, Phyno, Runtown, Stormrex, Motis Cakes, Reminisce, Nosa, Milli, Olamide, IJ, Patoranking, Iceprince, Sarkordie, Seyi Shay, Emmy Ace, Bennie Man, Debbi, Morell, Loose Kaynon, 2face, Sound Sultan, Oritsafemi, Femi Edwards, etc.
PRODUCERS: M.I, Sarz, Pheels, G-Plus, L37, Sammy Gyang, Reinhard, Vstix
Conscious emcee, Jude Abaga is acclaimed "Nigerian Hip Hop Messiah". Objectively he is the rap act with the most followership, advent love and devoted fans across the country, prompting him as role model to many youths and revolutionary prominence of the north in Hip Hop. The two words that most effectively describe M.I are Versatility and Incredibility.
On 11, December 2008 when his first studio album – Let's Talk About It was released, it was the exhibition of hip hop. Mr. Abaga immediately rose to prominence with pre-released tracks off the album such as "safe", collaborations with Wizkid on "Fast money fat cars" and album peak track "crowd mentality" which eventually won best rap single in the same year. The 18tracked album laid the foundation, built and roofed the mansion of love for M.I in the heart of Hip Hop lovers moreover it was worth it.
Although illegal music was released across the coming year as well as singles, it was not until 2010 when M.I second studio album – M.I 2: The action movie dropped. This was where confusion and surprises sprung. M.I released a 15 tracked super commercial album which would hardly pass as Hip Hop/Rap album and critics immediately labeled him "selling/sold out rap act". The album produced club bangers (such as number one with Flavour, Action film with Brymo), pulled endorsement and deals (such as Globacom (2013), Hennessey artistry (2012)), etc. This album that is almost opposite to the "Talk about it" can be placed at par with Psquare, 2face, 9ice in the same year of release (but did not win M.I any spectacular Hip Hop/Rap award) brought him under strong criticism and debate between Hip Hop Heads and "Civilians", an argument that still exist till date. Now that we have M.I 3: The Chairman, what is MI? This album is partly "Talk about it"-like (Hip Hop oriented) and partly "The Action Movie"-like (commercial hitter). It is a carefully executed hanging in the balance. You would then agree with me Mr. Jude Abaga is versatile and incredible.
The chairman is a 17 tracked, 75min album (not too long, not too short) that carries mixed feelings making it difficult to deny it a rap album and in another dimension, would make a commercial bang. The tracks arrangement is also cleverly done (indications of a well planned album) as one would feel the progression as you move down the album but the issue here is the number of guests. A 17track album that features 26 artistes and 8 producers is not a good one. It would be wrong to refer to the compilation that took four years to materialize as a M.I mix but it seems more like it. Objectively, the tracks are worth it except for a few downs and undefined appearances. Shall we proceed to track-to-track exploration to be explicit?
1. THE BEGINNING/ NOBODY
In one sentence: This is not so creative but the message was very clear. I picked the "I am not a idiot" line in the not so jokey joke.
2. MONKEY ft. CHI GIRL
This track is of the M.I2 album quality to which I am not sure it would displace any of the hits in that album successfully. Songs like this used to be Jude's strong point but it seems this particular number needs some growing up. Nice job from Chi thou.
3. RICH ft. KOKER
This is another song in the lane of "Money" with a stronger hook and a somewhat similar flow pattern to the "Chairman" track which seems failed. Rich is a very commercial track but I don't see it breaking into the club banger list because it isn't in anyway better than the mega hit with Flavour so, this is no sign of growth.
4. MINE ft. WIZKID
A traditional MI comfort zone kind of song with traditional delivery on a nicely laced Wizkid hook. I know these kinda tracks, they usually come out well when you confine a vocalist to the hook and rap verses separate the hooks, no ceremony of any kind necessary or entertained. It's generally regarded as a big boy conception and for MI and Wizzy on the hook, the result didn't change just yet. Attention should also be paid to the lady on the ad-lib – kudos. If somebody is thinking what I am thinking, you'll be thinking M.I has done something like this with Waje.
5. BULLION VAN ft. PHYNO, RUNTOWN, STOMREX
The kind of result one would expect from a Runtown, Stormrex and Phyno invitiation on a track is not commensurate with the output of this visitation. This song is the disappointment of the album and the dopeness of Phyno is questionable. Very watery track to which one would easily wonder if something befell 'em all but if anyone is worth applauding, it's Stormrex.
6. BAD BELLE ft. MOTIS CAKES
This track is the first major break from the "Afro-Hop" tracks above and starts of the "Hip Hop" section of the album. The idea here is to show off which is executed but the effectiveness is questionable. Nobody would have done better than Motis Cakes on a number like this thou.
7. SHEKPE ft. REMINISCE
Two things here are creativity and sense of feature. It's noticeable that this track was coined specially to suite the guest Alaga, who didn't disappoint. There is this catchy section of the hook which accompanied the number that would get you vibing to the song (not particularly the beat) and Kudos to the host who also tagged along marvelously. The special twist this track took is what we expect from M.I, different from the obsolete concepts, proves of veteranism. This track already seems like the dopest verse on the album already at this point.
8. BROTHER ft. NOSA, MILLI
What a pull of inquisition! This track is the boom – the whole world wants to hear this story. The emotions embedded in this track is what made it (we can't take this attribute away from MI) and thanks to Nosa who wonderfully executed it – you got yourself a plus one addicted fan already brother.
9. MIDDLE ft. OLAMIDE, IJ
It is just one of those tracks whose presence in a compilation is to make the number up and Olamide took it up with his street acclaimed attitude with loose untidy lyrics moreover nothing spectacular occurred in terms of concept, dopeness or creativity. Thanks to IJ who is responsible to the structure of the track.
10. ENEMY ft. PATORANKING
Amazing Patoranking will just be catching his fun on verses, this is not an exemption. Mr. Incredible didn't dull the vibes too; it seems he is more convenient throwing subs already. Well laced flows and somewhat the best sell out track so far in this album till this point with no complexity.
11. MILLIONAIRE ft. ICEPRINCE, SARKORDIE, DJ LAMBO
Complete Hip Hop session from the instrumentation through the guests and the flows. If this album would be categorized as a Hip Hop/Rap album, this is one of the few track that would make the album. It's difficult to say here who killed it most between our guests and the host but if it were left to me, I would pick Sark again.
12. ALWAYS ft. SEYI SHAY
Another very classic song that is charged with adding up to the population of the album but in this case, the relevance of the track is inscribed in the message. Shay is the epic of this song although she sounded like the usual Waje, Niyola etc and if MI is the man with the vocals on the first verse, he deserves special applause.
13. WHEELBARROW ft. EMMY ACE, BENNIE MAN
This is an exception of the album, a Bennie man influenced reggae track. This number would cheer a repeat button romance, all three artistes would easily pass for any award but Mr. Abaga's last verses is so irrelevant and in case somebody is willing to substitute/add up on this track please consider Burna Boy the anointed.
14. YOURS ft. MILLI, DEBBI
Jude kind of sounded like his brother a little here and as lyrically expressive too. The track is one you'll easily tag alone with although it seems like another track that is made to add up the number. Debbi is awesome, so is Milli too but I hope I aint the only one picturing AKA in place of Milli although I don't see AKA doing better.
15. BEG ft. MORELL, LOOSE KAYNON
Wonderful Morell put himself in this song, perfected the hook, M.I tagged along in this order until Loose closed on a mixed feeling. Loose (I used to know) somehow didn't nail his verse completely although I think he would do better on a try again.
16. HUMAN BEING ft. 2FACE AND SOUND SULTAN
To get here you must be brilliant and thoughtful, MI got here, recruited the best help in 2face and sound sultan for its execution. Human being is poetic, expressive and straight to the point. This classic piece of art would easily pass for one of the best tracts in this compilation and conscious song of the year. I don't know if I am the only one asking what Sound Sultan's assignment is thou.
17. THE CHAIRMAN/ THE END ft. ORISAFEMI, FEMI EDWARD
Rave of the moment – Oritsafemi would not just miss an opportunity to dance out anytime. M.I has got some message of appreciation to sing here and there is no better way to lace this bars which together makes a perfect conclusion to a project like this although Mr. Edward's appearance on this number isn't clear.
"Reviewed by: Dada sholadoye (for: @UndCoverBrother )"
Published by : @Eh_sher
Very good review of the album. Thumbs up!
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