One has to concur that Joeboy struck gold when he released ‘Baby’ in March 2019. Admittedly, getting millions of people addicted to the “Baby, shey you dey for me as I dey for you?” fever was a huge feat. Known for his “Indomie” songs which leaves his audience wanting more definitely contributes to people playing his songs repeatedly. After amassing about 52 million views on both the visualiser and original video, he released Beginning, another smash hit, three months later. One month later, he followed it up with ‘Don’t Call Me Back’ featuring Mayorkun, the King of features. Of course, it’s also successful. Should we attribute these serial successes to the amazing talent of the young man or the business acumen of his label’s owner, Mr. Eazi? Perhaps, both? Riding on this, he released his first EP, Love & Light, in November 2019, eight months after his first single.
15 months later, with viral songs spiced in between this continuum, he releases his debut album, Somewhere Between Beauty and Magic, ranking No. 1 on Apple Music a day after its release. Joeboy’s SBBM explores love in different capacities, although repetitive, he passed across his messages in his usual two-minute bangers.
Consisting of 14 tracks, we experience Joeboy in different variants. He introduces us to new sounds interspersed with the old ones. Since every track is not longer than two minutes, the album ends in 45 minutes and one is tempted to play the whole thing again.
He opens with Count Me Out and I opine that he couldn’t have chosen a better intro. He reintroduces us to the greatness that he is, he talks about his journey of two years in the music industry, his struggles, and him constantly overcoming them with God’s help. The production in this track is so other-worldly, I dare say it’s the best song on the album. It’s few seconds short of two minutes and it’s a complete song. Only Joeboy.
He follows with Focus, a general favourite determined by consensus and polls. He pulls a typical Joeboy and with this, you know we have another smash hit. He does the same in Number One. I have problems making out the words in this track but it doesn’t stop me from hearing the message he wants to pass. Everyone wants exclusivity and wants their partners to place them as the top priority. Joeboy tells his significant other that she’s number one, thereby allaying fears that might come up later. S/O to Joseph and every man blasting this song to their babes, lori iro. Lie lie lover.
Forgive me, but I have a personal problem with Police. To be sure, I Googled it. “What’s the hotline number for The Police in Nigeria?” Google: 112 or 199. Of course, the song is subtly romantic and a bop but I simply cannot forgive this blunder. Joeboy o si on deck mo o.
Door was the second song I liked on the album after Count Me Out. It’s effortlessly a hit. It’s so easily relatable and relatability is the key to get into your audience’s hearts, no? Show Me does the same but in a different capacity. The song is a perfect portrayal of the saying, “Actions speak louder than words.” More often than not, we doubt the genuineness of our partner’s words, we ask that they show us proof of their love instead of spurting out mere words. Joeboy speaks on our behalf in Show Me and we are forever grateful.
Lonely introduces us to another variant of Joeboy’s sound. Although released three weeks before its counterparts, it holds its own. It’s another favourite of mine and I predict that it’ll become the general public’s too. In Consent, Joeboy talks about a socio-cultural phenomenon that many disregard and dismiss a lot of times. He speaks on the importance of asking for consent before making sexual moves on another person, all while making it a bop. One’s only prayer is that the perpetrators listen and change their ways.
Oshe and OH relay the same message but in different tempos, one solemnly and another, in dancehall. They also have another similarity, Joeboy speaks Yoruba in both. It’s surprisingly delightful because until a week ago, this writer didn’t know that Joseph was a Yoruba boy. Listening to him speak the language fluently in both songs is a nice touch.
In an interview with Tolu Daniels, Joeboy tells him that Sugar Mama is based on a true story. Make of that what you will. *winks at Joeboy*. I assume Better Thing is a follow-up to Sugar Mama because in truth, who doesn’t like good things? Hard-work and wealth are a prelude to better things and so he says in the track.
He rounds up the album with Celebration and it’s a great ending to what was a good album. At this point, I stand up to dance because what is life if you do not enjoy little moments like this? I say an ‘Amen’ to every prayer and when he sings “Gbese kan s’oke“, I burst a Gbese move. As usual, it ends prematurely and I play it again, just because.
In conclusion: Although the general theme is love, there’s hardly any album cohesion that should have been present. I predict 5 – 8 hit songs, doing well in numbers than the others. It has a high replay value and since it is under an hour, it’ll be streamed a lot. Joeboy is indeed deserving of the title, Young Legend. Give the man his medal.
Rating: 7/10.
