Ahmed Ololade Asake popularly known as Asake, released his debut album, Mr. Money With The Vibe. This project displays the singer’s versatility and command of philosophical lambas (street slangs that often convey messages deeper than they mean). Asake’s rise to fame in the Nigerian music industry this year is one worth studying. One can’t help but notice his carefully carved-out sound and aesthetic delivery aimed at penetrating his audience. Asake has indeed been preparing for his moment of stardom for a while now. With a stage name that is an Oriki (Panegyric) of Yoruba origin, which is more associated with female children. Asake revealed that the name belongs to his mum and it means “Specially chosen to be cherished”. He is, no doubt, special!
Let’s talk about the elements Asake infuses into his songs. The talented singer is now popular for his signature use of crowd vocals and choral back-ups in his songs. This, I believe, is an essential element in creating street and club bangers. The singer must have taken some time to study this pattern and its effects on the average Nigerian audience who are interested in danceable songs.
One interesting fact is that his audience always wants to memorize the lyrics of his songs as he releases them. Some were even lamenting on social media platforms that they are yet to memorize lyrics from one release before he drops another. However, Asake is that professor you need to put in extra effort to catch up in his class. You snooze, you lose.
Asake delivers his flows on well-arranged Amapiano progressions, fused with other hip-hop elements and even orchestral symphony. He sings mostly in Yoruba with a Fuji-influenced vocal texture, infusing English and Pidgin as well. Sometimes, he even uses Arabic flows as we see predominant in the Fuji style of music. Also, elements of the Celestial church singing pattern are present in his songs. It’s quite easy to point out that Asake grew up in a Muslim-cum-Celestial background.
Asake’s Projects So Far
Earlier this year in February, Asake released his debut EP, Ololade Asake which had 4 songs and features his label boss, Olamide. This EP topped the charts in Nigeria even after several months after its release. He also released singles with Burna Boy (Sungba Remix), and Palazzo with DJ Spinall and got featured on Bandana from Fireboy’s latest album, Playboy. Before now, those who know Asake will remember his popular song Mr. Money which he released in 2020. He got signed to YBNL in February 2022 and later signed a deal with Empire Distribution in July 2022.
Mr. Money With The Vibe is an embodiment of the richness of his artistic expressions. Deeply rooted in Yoruba elements and his Fuji vocal texture, Asake expresses himself in this project. With an upbeat tempo, Amapiano, and even Afro-swing, Asake’s songs are what the music audience will call “Party Songs”. However, some of these songs tell the singer’s life story and experiences but on the surface, one might just classify it as Lamba. It is also interesting to see how confident the singer is in his art yet maintaining a humble tone while expressing his abilities.
With this new album, Asake is about to have one of the greatest runs in Nigerian music history. It is safe to say, 2022 is for Ololade Asake, Mr. Money.
Mr. Money With The Vibe
To begin with, Olamide is the A&R of this album. The cover art itself expresses some sort of “I have come to show you guys pepper in this industry” to me. I love to see it! On the bottom right corner of the album cover art, you will find the singles Asake has released that reached number 1. Asake expresses himself as new school K1 the Ultimate, Solomon, Beethoven, and Paul on this album. Keep reading, you will get it.
MagicSticks with the tag “Tune into the king of sounds and blues” produced, mixed, and mastered all the songs on this album. Let’s talk about the synergy between Asake and his producer. We have seen this type of connection between Olamide and Pheelz as well, Sarz and Lojay, Melvitto and Gabzy, and many others.
Asake And MagicSticks
The synergy between a producer and an artist is as important as the connection the artist feels with his art. Understanding the artist and what they want as a producer is a top-notch feeling. One can tell they both had fun in the process of creating this project. Not only is Asake able to express himself as he wants, but MagicSticks is also able to express himself through the production by experimenting and fusing several elements to create masterpieces. This is a win-win situation for both of them. As I write this, this album occupies numbers 1-12 on the Apple Music top 100 charts in Nigeria. It has also gathered over 2 million streams on Boomplay. Let’s dive into the tracks.
The thing about Asake and MagicSticks is that they are both confident and in sync at the same time, when they also believe in each other enough to give each other the best. And that’s the best and the scariest thing that could happen between an artist and a producer.
— Motolani Alake (@OneMotolani) September 7, 2022
MMWTV Review
The album opens with a choral rendition on Dull. Asake renders a plea to his ancestors not to allow him to fall off his grace in this new phase of greatness he’s gotten to. He expresses his grass-to-grace story while maintaining humble composure.
Òkè àgbà ni mo gùn yi, e máa jẹ́ n jábọ́
Ẹ̀yin àgbà yìí mí bẹ yín mio ṣakọ.
(I have ascended the hills of the elders, please don’t let me fall. I beg you the elders, I’m not being pompous/I’m humble)
Terminator, the second track on this album, was released earlier in anticipation of this album. The streets were already singing this song even before it dropped. That’s the power of a great snippet. The music video also sparked a lot of reactions online as people were impressed by its quality. It featured the popular American influencer, Bria Myles (I am not tagging her profile to this for obvious reasons lol) and was directed by the outstanding creative, TG Omori. This song is currently number 1 on Apple Music’s Nigerian charts.
Organise displays MagicSticks and Asake’s sync for me. It is one of my favorite songs on this album. The bass guitar backup, beat pattern, crowd vocals, and accompaniments perfectly blend in. Asake wears his Solomon cloak on this one. Asake, the philosopher, posits, “Some of us are wise, every other person overwise…“. He further states in Yoruba using a rhyme scheme Àgbóòngbón jù ọgbọ́n má n m’ológbón gọ̀ (closely translated to mean “Too much sense might lead to nonsense“). While growing up, we had those we called “I too know” in class back then. This song perfectly describes such people. Some individuals judge others quite easily, this also applies to them. Sodiqiii, Iwo lo gbon ju (Sodiq, you claim to be the wisest). Asake is shaking tables on this one, and this jam is no doubt going to cause trouble in the party settings.
Gratitude and The Journey so Far
Peace Be Unto You was also released as a single in June, I used this jam as my birthday gift from Asake. He infuses Arabic greetings as he expresses how good life is treating him now. He also appeals to God to send poverty far from him and to not allow him to lose in life. Dupe comes in after PBUY, an upbeat song that is basically a prayer of thanks for how far he has come. He encourages us to be grateful in all situations. “Shout Halle, cus you no get to give no mean say e too far”
What is an artist without a muse? On Muse, Asake showers praise on his muse, his lover. MagicSticks became Dexter as he cookes experimentally on Joha. He infuses elements of Amapiano, Apala, and Fuji elements on this one as Asake delivers beautifully arranged lyrics of Lamba and flows. This is up there with the party bangers already on the album alongside Sunmomi, which has a similar pattern to Sungba but with more strings and percussion expression.
On Nzaza, a slow-paced track, Asake delivers the beautiful story of his rough, yet humble beginnings. He also goes Apostle Paul on us as he admonishes that there should be no food for a lazy man. “Person wey no work o, tell me how he wan chop?” Brother Asake asks. Ototo is also another slow-paced track which explains the individuality of purpose in life. “Ototo la waye”, which means “We all come to this world alone.” Asake reinforces that he is focused on getting the bag, and he has no time for stress.
I have one question concerning Reason, the Afro-swing patterned song ft Russ. How did that blend come to be? The sync was just too perfect. Asake Gbemidebe!
Concluding Remarks
The album closes with the already established party banger, Sungba, featuring Burna Boy. It is a 30-minute listen, which means you can listen to this album twice in one hour. This is good for its replay value but on the other hand, might make the songs less memorable or leave a lasting effect. Anyways, thanks to the powerful crowd-vocal hooks to keep us hooked.
One other major reservation I have is the song arrangement of the album. Shout-out to Olamide for the A&R of this solid project, but I think the transition from Dupe to Muse to Joha to Nzaza is a bit chaotic. There could have been a better arrangement to maintain the mood of the listeners. That is, the transition from the fast-paced songs to the slower ones. I re-arranged the album in this order: PBUY-Reason-Ototo-Muse-Nzaza-Sungba-Sunmomi-Joha-Dupe, leaving the first 3 songs in their original order. You can also try listening in this order if you find the transitions in the middle too sudden.
However, this is the album of the year for me . I await whoever wants to top this. Word on the streets is, Asake should be locked out of the studio for at least 2 months, so he doesn’t burn it down with bangers.
You are on a long thing if you have not listened to Mr. Money With The Vibe by Asake yet. Listen here now:
Also, catch up with latest music news and reviews here on Soot Africa