‘Morayo’ isn’t Wizkid’s best album. But it’s definitely up there, serving a buffet to old and new time lovers.
Three years after his critically acclaimed and most commercially successful album, “Made in Lagos,” Wizkid once again tries to prove that he’s arguably Afrobeats’ greatest artiste.
With the series of public attention-seeking characterized by shades at his counterparts, a profound level of chest-thumping posts and snippets of collaborations surfaced on social media. One would expect that the Biggest Bird’s newly released album would stir a new trajectory in his artistry, albeit it falls nothing short of it.
Late Morayo(Wizkid’s mum)
Social media was opened to the death of Wizkid’s mum, Juliana Morayo Balogun. This tragedy struck Wizkid, leaving him in his most vulnerable state. But as tradition allows for the celebration of the demise of an elder after the funeral, Wizkid has thrown himself into a continuous mood of gyration while masking the pain of his beloved mother. This led to the titled and inspired sixth studio album, “Morayo,” which translates to “I found joy.”
The highly anticipated album, stirred by the artiste himself, takes a left direction to many who rightly expected it to have been characterized by tragic loss as the album was inspired. However, Wizkid is not one to lack creative direction. Rather than immerse himself in deep melancholic tunes, he leans into celebrating life while upholding his mum’s name. But for listeners with a keen ear to his 2020 Made in Lagos, it doesn’t fall short of quality, as he has proved himself worthy of every proclamation.
To this view, here are 5 highlights from Wizkid’s new album ‘Morayo’:
- Stellar Music Production: For one, Wizkid has always been known for his exquisite taste in the quality of production, leaving him to smoothly blend lush melodies and hooks on beats from the finest producers. If anything at all, ‘Morayo’ highlights, it’s the stellar music production leaving Wizkid with a platter of effortlessness. Ranging from Afrobeats and Dancehall/Ragga to laid-back RnB beats, while calling long-time producer P2J, credited with 14 songs, alongside other producers including P.Priime, Sammy Soso, and DAMEDAME*.
- Wizkid Leans Into Traditional Elements: ‘Morayo’ surfaces at a time when the clamour for less Amapiano-laced songs is now more than ever. And you can tell Wiz has been listening, especially when old-time listeners yearn for him to return to his early days known for his uptempo Afrobeats bop. But his ‘Superstar’ days are not over, which he proves on the album. The introspective opening track “Troubled Mind” begins with the Legendary K1 De Ultimate’s Fuji rendition cropped from Wizkid’s mum’s burial, accompanied by African drums. Other songs like “Kese,” “Karamo,” and Party Starter “Kese” draw from Fuji and Juju drums, which stand out on the album as Afrobeats, albeit he boldly refused to be associated with the genre.
- RnB is Wizkid’s Forte: Since his global charted album Made in Lagos, marked by RnB fusion tracks, Wiz has continued to take strides with the genre. Once again, he immerses listeners with laid-back and mid-tempo RnB tracks centered on desire, ambition, and romance, delivering smooth, sensual melodies and hooks. With the pre-released “Piece of My Heart” and a major part of the album catering to RnB, he lets listeners know he’s not leaving this path anytime soon.
- The Features are less and Intentional: Unlike his previously released Long Plays(LPs), ‘Morayo’ offers less collaboration with other artistes. While expected features didn’t make it to the album, Wizkid swerved fans with surprising acts on tracks like the pre-released “Piece of My Heart” featuring RnB artiste Brent Faiyaz. Other features include France’s Tiakola on “Après Minuit,” US RnB act Jasmine Sullivan on “Bad For You,” and Anaïs Cardot’s “Slow,” alongside Nigerian Afrobeats star Asake, who assists him on the Dancehall/Ragga track “Bad Girl.” While the themes dance around desire and romance, he invites more songwriters to help him deliver lush melodic fusion.
- ‘Morayo’ Has No Place For Melancholy: For an album inspired and named after his late mum, the need for the song(s) dedicated to her blessed memory and enough reflective songs seems missing, which begs the question of lack of creative direction. But Wizkid dwells in his desire to celebrate life on his own terms while ending with an introspective outro. For him, there’s no room for melancholy but to live a soft life. Perhaps his way to honour what he’s lost while masking the pain.
For many who awaited the highly anticipated album with a return of the old Wizkid, it doesn’t hold enough cohesiveness in giving listeners a swell experience. Yet, it offers a handful of Afrobeats’ Wizkid as he continues to tail the RnB fusion path. For this writer, he believes Wizkid knows how to deliver what the fans desire and will give them as it suits him. And while Made in Lagos can never be recreated, nor will another of his albums surpass it, ‘Morayo’ will stand the test of time.
