With steady yearly releases from Asake since 2022, fans have always looked forward to what he has in store for us. From sharing his vibes on his debut album ‘Mr. Money With The Vibe’ to his sophomore album ‘Work Of Art’ in 2023, Asake has consistently blessed our ears.
His newly released album ‘Lungu Boy’ is proof of this consistency. ‘Lungu Boy,’ which serves as Asake’s third album, is more accommodating than his previous albums, which featured only 1 to 2 guests, however ‘Lungu Boy’ includes a good number of artists, from Wizkid on ‘MMS’ to Travis Scott on ‘Active,’ Stormzy on ‘Suru,’ LUDMILLA on ‘Whine,’ and Central Cee on ‘Wave.’ The album spans 48 minutes with 15 tracks.
From the album intro ‘Start’ to the closer ‘Fuji Vibe.’ Here is our ranking and analysis of each track.
Top 5 Solo tracks
1. I Swear: Among the solo tracks on Asake’s third album, ‘I Swear’ takes the top spot. This track holds every spice that listeners fell in love with when we first encountered Asake as a musical figure. The song, which happens to be Asake’s favorite slang that he often uses without fully realizing it, talks about how he is dead serious about enjoying life’s good things, from penthouse chilling to partying. He takes every chance to have fun since we only live once, and he’s not taking any chances to miss out.
On this track, he also reflects on how he became a superstar and an important figure when it didn’t seem possible. He reminds us that he’s not giving up his status anytime soon, relating it to his stubbornness to keep pushing, while thanking God for every good thing he enjoys.
Using wordplay like ‘Men just dey ball, Mbappe,’ comparing how he “balls” to that of Star play Mbappe, down to ‘Shutdown every city,’ showing his superstar level, and the interesting line where he says ‘Coming through with my ammunition,’ a reference to his hits and likely to the single cover of one of his hit singles, ‘Terminator.’ The track, solely written by Asake, also showcases his songwriting skills.
2. Fuji Vibe: This is the most anticipated track off the album before the full tracklist was released. It’s a song Asake had had in his arsenal before fame, showcasing his supertalent. This track was in high demand by fans after it went viral following his performance at one of his concerts. From the title, you already have an idea of what the song is about – Fuji Vibe, literally.
The lyrics, mainly in Yoruba language, pays homage to his roots and the essential part of a fuji song, with a mixture of broken English. This track did not fail to show the energetic side of Asake, from the production with MagicSticks, The Composer, and Asake himself. This song is a pure vibe off the entire album. Also written by Asake only, it serves as a track with his debut production.
3. Uhh Yeahh: As Asake describes this song, it’s the type where you just go with the flow without worrying. It’s a vibe for the street; while listening, you could imagine how this track would turn up the place and make everyone go wild, just like the line in verse one says, ‘Faji lawa, ma lo se jagajaga,’ which translates to “we are here to have fun, do anyhow.” Fun is written all over this track. This track shows you the ‘Mr. Money with the Vibe’ persona perfectly.
4. Ligali: A track made just for bad boys, the song features a super kick with lavish lyrics about flashy living, extravagant cruising, expensive fashion, and Casamigos for the ladies in his back seat on a freeway—a theme often found in Asake’s songs. It has a memorable chorus and melodies that one can recall at any moment. Ligali really describes Asake’s flashy lifestyle. As one listens, it is easy to paint a picture of him cruising down the freeway, grinning with his gold grills, having a good time.
5. Mood: This track is completely different. It is a track where we hear Asake talking about how he feels sometimes. As a superstar who talks about his expensive lifestyle and all the fun he is having, ‘Mood’ reminds us that Asake also has lows. He tells us in this track indirectly that he is also human and occasionally feels like ghosting, driving off, and just having some alone time.
Asake made this track in two different languages, first in English and then in Spanish, which serves as a way of him communicating with his Spanish listeners. ‘Mood’ is indeed a track showing that everyone gets emotional sometimes, and it is important to look towards better days.
Top Features
Active with Travis Scott: This collaboration is a very surprising one that came out of nowhere. It is one of those combination one is thankful for, where both artists from different places flow so well together. As surprising as it may be, it is a very good collaboration on ‘Lungu Boy’.
It ranks as the number one feature on the album, from the sample of Jazzman Olofin and Adewale Ayuba’s 2004 ‘Raise Da Roof’ straight to Travis Scott talking about cruising through Ikeja City and spending some Naira notes. Asake also lets us know how active he has been since leaving home to bring his dream to reality. The song was also blessed with brilliant production from Legendary Sarz.
Wave with Central Cee: This is the second-best feature on Asake’s Lungu Boy. Of course, he is talking about his wavy lifestyle, money-making, and most importantly, how Asake wants to focus more on positive things. The track features a very Asake-type beat by Magicsticks, alongside Central Cee, who talks about his lifestyle and life in Naija.
MMS with Wizkid: This is a very conscious piece of music made from the perspective of reflection. Both artists reflect on their musical journeys and personal encounters. Asake sings about how everything that is unexplainable by humans is understandable by God, emphasizing the importance of focusing on positivity since we bring nothing into this world and will take nothing with us.
Wizkid also uses this track to speak about his losses, how they redirected him to find his true purpose, and to thank God for all the blessings and protection from pitfalls. It is a very calm, slow-tempo song that truly makes you give God all the glory for bringing you far in your endeavors.
Honorable Tracks
Suru With Stormzy: Asake joined forces with Stormzy to create an inspirational song about their struggles and journey towards success. They highlight how patience brought them to where they are now, and how the virtues of prayer and patience truly paid off, allowing them to enjoy the benefits and results.
Skating: On this track, Asake shares more about his new hobby, skating. A few months ago, Asake was seen hanging out with Olaolu Slawn, who is also a skater. In the track, Asake makes it clear that skating is now a part of him and his lifestyle.
Mentally: In this track, Asake, the soldier, reveals how he strategizes all his moves mentally. He also mentions that Timbaland is his favorite shoe.
Whine with LUDMILLA: This dancehall and nightlife track, as the title suggests, is about Asake wanting to see his girl whine. LUDMILLA spices up the tune with her voice and native language Portuguese, making it perfect for Southern Americans who enjoy Asake’s music.
My Heart: Another track where Asake expresses his feelings, singing about the love of his life. He talks about how he is ready to lavish her with all the good things he can offer.
Worldwide: Reflecting on his rise to fame, Asake talks about his desire to make his name known across the globe. He aims to make his mark in music history, not just as a star from Africa but as a global superstar.
Start: This track marks the introduction to the album, using one of Asa’s popular verses from her song, ‘Eya Adaba’. Although the intro didn’t resonate as strongly as those in Asake’s previous two albums, it still sets the tone for the remaining tracks.
Lungu Boy: Asake’s third body of work showcases his growth and new direction. It also highlights Asake’s willingness to embrace guest artists. The album reveals different sides of Asake: the life of the party, the emo guy, the conscious individual, and the lover boy. This body of work sets itself apart from his previous two albums, offering listeners a fresh experience, showcasing Asake’s willingness to experiment with music.
Rating: 7/10
