Wizkid and Asake’s Real, Vol. 1: Impressions

'MMS'; instances that feel like nexus moments. Both Afropop personalities first met in Lagos, two years before the world discovered a star-crossed combination. Asake’s heartfelt vibrance nicely sets atmosphere for Wizkid’s self actualized laid back mien, which he has been stylizing since Made in Lagos. Asake was stately acknowledged equal among the Big 3, by a fellow Lagos big dreamer who’d broken through the big leagues a decade earlier. One of the most exciting artists post2020s frontiering Afrobeats on the global entertainment matrix. 

Favorite Song

‘Iskolodo’ is most compositionally accomplished to me. Shakers and Caribbean drumming frame the incepting Los Chayanne sample in proper context.    

Prior Expectations 

The joint is an exciting opportunity for any lover of afro-music to combine the moods of both heavyweights in one place. It advances their international careers, apace a cute appearance on Instagram’s Close Friends. Preceding single ‘Jogodo’ seemed a breezy foretaste, all elements of a standard record; Magicsticks familiar mid-tempo house groove, low effort vocabulary. 

Best Arranged 

Seriously, ‘Iskolodo’ has mad replay value.

Potential Hit Apart from ‘Jogodo’  

I think appreciation for ‘Alaye’ would increase in time. 

No-skip or Not 

‘Turbulence’ is the flattest link in the project. Still, the artists long mastered the strokes of genius. No-skip. 

Favorite Verse 

Now a family man, Wizkid’s themes have refined to reflect values of middle age. Asake scintillates reflective philosophy and materialistic swagger. It is tasking to sort gems in this breezily written EP, which most offends critics who call it a cash grab. Starboy knows how to thread verses yet, something about how he enunciates, Alaye want to trabaye/Turn up bi ti Faraday o/ Not Sakamanje/The party no fit dull aje o/ makes you want to convert a dancefloor in the distance to your wardrobe.   

First Impression 

Cultural anticipation notwithstanding, Real Vol 1 has been realistic in the expectations it set for itself. Wizkid has made it clear he is just comfortable with this signature sound. As in ‘MMS’, Asake opens up the intro ‘Turbulence’. Alas the 4-track EP bolsters something that turned up noses on ‘Bad Girl’; trading evocative writing and belly deep spirited flows for something closer to Wizkid’s greasy beat rides. It’d be average music in the hands of anyone else of lesser skill or smaller budget. The resulting interplay is effective, and forgettable.  

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