Album – Me, My Mouth & Eye
Features – Wizkid, Duncan Mighty, Flavour, Baba
Dee, YoungGreyC, Blackha, Karma, Reminisce,
Sean Tizzle, Wyclef Jean, 2Face & Ikechukwu
Producers – Legendury Beats, TY Mix, Mic Tunes,
Jay Sleek, Jiff, Kuk Beats, Sound Sultan, Mic Workx,
Kid Konnect, O.G.B & L.K.E
Running Time – 01:18:16
Label – Naija Ninja Records (2013)
This musician is popularly known for his signature
song 'Mathematics', the conscious nature of his
music, and a music career that spans six different
eras (i.e. 6 studio albums). Veteran afro-pop star
Naija Ninja 'Sound Sultan' has lifted the lid off
his sixth LP (titled "Me, My Mouth & Eye") under
his Naija Ninja Records imprint. Sultan tackles
issues of politics, love, and destiny on his new
lengthy record (20 tracks including 2 bonus tracks)
.
Hoping to seal the commercial success of the LP
and gain acceptance from the new generation of
listeners, the Sultan opens the LP by employing a
feeble addition from Wizkid and the production
of the hotly sought-after Legendury Beatz with
the party track 'Kokoshe'. The fast paced 'One in
a Million' cannot be overlooked, its high points is
when Sound Sultan sings the chorus and
modulates it for the second time. Another party
track on the album that's of note is one of the
project's lead singles; talking about the dancehall
inspired 'Gud Gal' produced by Jay Sleek.
Regardless of the fact that the party starter about
a good girl falling for a bad boy did not enjoy a
long stay on dance-floors and charts (due to poor
promotion); it is one of the album firm points,
Fasasi rides in on the thumping beats like a true
ragga star.
The major problem with this album is the
arrangement; unnecessary remixes and track
listing. After the second track which is the stellar
'Natural Something', the remix to 'Luv
Language' featuring Duncan Mighty comes up
and the original song is listed as the eight track
the same thing close re-occurs with 'Kuru
Komaga' whose remix features indigenous rapper
Reminisce. Furthermore the award-winning and
battered remix of 'Orobo' which featured Flavour
should have been kept off this project entirely, but
sadly it lies in the first 15 minutes of "Me, My
Mouth & Eye".
Fellow Ninjas, YoungGreyC, Blackha & Karma
surface on 'Lagbo Lagbo' and bonus track
'Gbedu'. On the latter YoungGreyC (popularly
referred to as the pink ninja, and is responsible for
all the mind-blowing background on the album
tracks) steals the show with her opening intro and
solid chorus proving she is undeniably the label's
best kept secret. Blackcha & Karma also rise up
to the occasion, altogether serving a steamy club
anthem unlike like the former which comes off as
a bit noisy and extremely lacking chemistry.
Matters of the heart are addressed on the poppy
number 'One' (bonus track) which features 2face,
'Like Mi' and 'Follow Me Go' follow in the same
vein and notably so when he recruits former Ninja
Sean Tizzle to help him hit the nail on 'Follow
Me Go'. On the Kid Konnect simple afro-pop mid-
tempo beat, Lanre and Sean rock together
blending the art of rapping and singing about a girl
they went to follow them to delivering a moody
romantic number.
The mood is not always festive as the Baba Dee
assisted political yet groovy 'Temporary Turn
Permanent', 'All Way Na Way', 'Africa', 'Still I
Rise' and 'People Bad' which features Wyclef
Jean, Ikechukwu and 2face respectively, not-
forgetting 'The Piano' are housed in the album.
Preaching the gospel of fighting for your own
bread coupled with a celebratory chorus, drums,
strings and timbres , 'All Way Na Way' hits the
bull's eye whereas 'Still I Rise' comfortably floats
in-between greatness and failure. 'The Piano' is
driven by a piano officially closing album on a
spiritual note as Sound Sultan acknowledges and
is thankful the presence of a supreme being in his
life and career over rolling drums, singing "You
can have this as your ringtone/ Or as your
favourite song/ You can call me the piano/ But he
is the one really that plays the song/ Cause he is
my inspiration/ Beyond imagination/ I thank him
every season…".
"Me, My Mouth & Eye" is what the career doctor
prescribed; definitely the project will not break
new grounds for the sultan of sound, it might even
be regarded as a little dated for 2013's radio, still
it showcases the signature style of Sound Sultan
and will help him introduce his music to a young
generation. Judging from the couple of records we
have consumed from the host, this particular one
extensively highlights and showcases the vocal
abilities of Olanrewaju Fasasi.
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