Wizkid (aka Starboy)

https://d3h6k4kfl8m9p0.cloudfront.net/stories/ETw1xM0X7HqdCa8rd7YrvA.jpg

New EP, SoundMan vol.1, out under the Starboy moniker.

say what?!

So the SoundMan, Vol. 1 EP is really good (quelle surprise!). It took more than a week, but two days ago I finally woke up with a track in my head. It happened to be “Cover Me”, produced by Kel-P, who’s got three tracks on this thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyXePlhf5Hg

“Electric”, my current favourite, is an A+ Wizzy love jam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubCBPWEvoVY

And “Jam” with Chronixx, is just that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua5GjyLPlRE

(I could do without “Mine”, one of the weaker songs in his oeuvre imo)

I do have to say, nothing on the EP is as good as “Joro”. Surprised/disappointed that ILM has been sleeping on that one. It’s my song of the year. Only Wizkid can gel intimacy and exuberance like that. The way he comes in with “this kind love” after that silent beat is one of my favourite musical moments of the year.

the kel p songs on here are so lush hes got the magic sauce

producer of the year

this whole EP is excellent.

"Joro" is excellent. Listening to the EP now...great start, is Chronixx ever less than perfect as a guest?

oh wow the fiddle on "Blow" is heavenly

rob, I’m kinda curious how you feel about reggae-lite Wizkid/Kel P. Do you like “Mine” more than I do?

I should give it one more spin, but no I think you were otm there

I almost wrote "reggae should be HEAVY," but my roots purist days are well behind me thankfully and I don't actually believe that. That said, I'm not sure Mine's problem is the genre/production. The song drags, the distorted guitar doesn't work in context, and then it's suddenly over. I just listened again and it's a relief when Electric starts--it does languorous right.

Drag is about right, unfortunately. Was ever so slightly second-guessing myself after I felt myself cruelly dismissing the old school tracks on the Busy Signal album.

“Blow”, perhaps surprisingly, gets the video. It does everything it can to emphasise Blaq Jerzee’s role and downplay Wizzy’s. Anything to throw RCA off the scent, I guess:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN9XADMjYFU

More Wizkid, more Kel-P, plus de... Dadju:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWX3Q7ilISM
“Danger”

I'm in the zone, you're in the zone
love this electric vibe...

Starboy time machine:

Debut single “Holla At Your Boy” came out exactly ten years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw6IUBu5DBw

Classic South African collaboration from 2014:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8C-LayMFJM
Uhuru ft. Donald, Wizkid & Speedy • Ungowami (Remix)

Your Wizkid EOY voting options:

TRACKS:
🔶Wizkid • Joro (no pressure!)
🔶Wizkid • Ghetto Love
🔶Beyoncé, Saint Jhn & Wizkid ft. Blue Ivy Carter • Brown Skin Girl
🔶DJ Spinall ft. Wizkid & Tiwa Savage • Dis Love
🔶DJ Tunez ft. Wizkid & BlaqJerzee • Gbese
🔶Larry Gaaga ft. Wizkid • Low

ALBUMS:
🔶Starboy/Wizkid • SoundMan Vol. 1

Vote split away!

I prefer Ghetto Love, Low and Gbese to Joro, but if we could all agree on one Wizkid tune to rally around I'd be for it.

As I noted upthread, “Joro” is my song of the year, so I will vote accordingly. Will definitely vote for at least one of the others as well, with “Brown Skin Girl” my least favourite of those.

sorry guys, I cut Joro at the end (with regret). I did put the EP on my albums ballot though

I will too (surprise!)

I loved Brown Skin Girl the first time I heard it but must admit I've felt no urge to play it since then. It's just not wizzy enough.

I do still play it on occasion, but that’s more or less how I feel about it too.

“Cover Me” now my favourite off the Starboy EP:

tonight, where the party dey
where my people dey
where the shayo dey
wey go make man feel alright

Love how his voice almost sounds like a trumpet in the chorus.

“Joro” perhaps, but there didn’t seem to be too much buzz around it to begin with. Still kind of impressive that every single Wizzy nom received votes. Let’s see how the SoundMan EP does next week.

Here is where 20-Wizzy starts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QIgcvxtMpw
Blaq Jerzee ft. Wizkid • Arizona

gah, that should read:

Should have campaigned harder for “Joro” perhaps, but...

I did actually vote for Joro - and most of the other Wizkid tracks. Arizona seems like a grower. It's understated, but undeniably catchy.

nice stuff, feels very of a piece with Soundman (in a good way). "understated" is right though, so I do hope we get some bangers this year too

These moves will surely melt your heart. So many goosebumps in one video

Song : Joro by @wizkidayo #MadeinLagos pic.twitter.com/bMVOHrDHbd

— GoldMyne (@GoldmyneTV) January 28, 2020

In case you or someone you know needed an EDM remix of “Low”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5eXRH-SmLs
Marvio x Larry Gaaga ft. Wizkid • Low (EDMix)

Made a pseudo-pan-African-pop/not-pop playlist for the rolling afro 2020 thread and all Afro-adjacent threads, generously defined. It’s already 108 tracks deep, so enjoy!

ILM rolling✳️all-inclusive✳️afro 2020

crossposting with the eMcimbini thread, because this thread could do with a boost:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBtX7kO4b1o
Kabza De Small ft. Wizkid • Need You Tonight

...meanwhile we're still waiting for Made In Lagos...

https://instagram.com/stories/wizkidayo/2343180875382347156?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igshid=jbsxu30edjg6

Out on July 16th?

Link won’t work for me, what’s the news?

-“album done” / date given: 16/7=7/16

-thanks following artists:
H.E.R
Damian Marley
Ella Mai
Tems
Projexx
Burna Boy
Tay Iwar
Terri
Skepta

-thanks following producers:
P2J
Juls
BlaqJerzee
London
Sarz
Kel P
Mut4y
Dro (LA-based producer/mixing engineer)

MIA: Killertunes (news to me); Northboi (jumped ship - or was pushed - last year unfortunately)

(story on Wizkid’s official Instagram account)

(maybe he’s just telling us he finished the album in July 2016 and has been sitting on it for these past four years. can’t rule it out!)

Lol and thanks!

A classic from 2012, just because:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2esZIPkUE40
eLDee ft. WizKid • Never Let You Go

^^^ That might be the first time I remember hearing Wizzy on anything. Still a banger.

Made in Lagos, Jamaica:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWKdV6H7qZM
Wizkid ft. H.E.R. • Smile

*crossposting with the Summer Jams thread*

very nice!
fwiw the new H.E.R. single "Do To Me" is super jamdown too

smile is sooooooooo goooooood

who is h.e.r.? her verse on this beautiful monster is wonderful

Don’t know much, but she’s an American rnb singer. I first noticed her on Daniel Caesar’s Freudian album from a few years ago

h.e.r is Gabriella Wilson, never been a huge fan of how they marketed her (or h.e.r.) but the music is great

effortless:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WekJRXIKbco
DJ Tunez ft. Wizkid • Cool Me Down

exquisite!
so much so, I almost feel churlish bringing it up, but are we back to wait-and-see mode w/r/t Made in Lagos?