It’s been nearly a decade since Mr. Eazi hit the music scene, and he has remained relevant. If you’re a music lover, you’d admit that simply hearing “It’s your boy Eazi” at the start of any song means you’re about to be in for a ride. In his most recent feat, Mr. Eazi takes us on a relatively intimate journey through The Evil Genius album.
This 16-track project covers various sounds, from reggae to highlife and afropop. Mr. Eazi further expresses the dynamism of his music by fusing it with art. For every song on the album, he commissioned unique African artworks to commemorate the music.
By working with various African artists from Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroon, Benin, and more, Mr. Eazi seamlessly uses his album to express the beauty found in African art and music.
Mr. Eazi said, “This album is not just a music album; it’s art. It’s meant to be displayed in museums and galleries.”
Before we get carried away by the art, let’s dive into a track-by-track review of Mr. Eazi’s album, The Evil Genius.
The Evil Genius: Album Review
The album starts with Olúwa Jò, translated into English as “Please, God.” In a song shy of 1 minute and 20 seconds, Mr. Eazi expresses a heartfelt prayer to God. He lets us into a dark frame of mind where he questions making music, amongst other existential crises. If this indicates what the entire album preaches, we’re certainly about to get a glimpse into Mr. Eazi’s personal struggles.
Next up, Advice explores themes of betrayal on a beat that stays with you long after the song ends. It’s easily one of my favorite songs on this entire project. However, I may be speaking prematurely.
The third track on Mr. Eazi’s The Evil Genius is Òròkórò, featuring the iconic Angélique Kidjo. This is where I’d implore my Yoruba music lovers to do some translation for me. That, however, may be unnecessary, as the song is a vibe regardless. Angelique Kidjo’s strong, throaty vocals blend seamlessly into this spiritual song and make it worth listening to.
Album Body
Chop Time, No Friend leans into what Mr. Eazi calls “brag therapy”. He preaches putting your focus on whatever brings you joy at the moment. Eating, money, or your woman? Enjoy it regardless. Kel-P makes a soundboard appearance on the next track, Notorious, which is more laid-back, chill music.
The next track, Panadol, leads the listeners into more sexually explicit content infused with Mr. Eazi’s signature Banku music. Its hilarious lyrics chiefly complement the catchy instrumentals, delivering a fresh sound that showcases Mr. Eazi’s playful side.
Mr. Eazi features Tekno on Jamboree, and they certainly share an undeniable chemistry. The song discusses the honeymoon phase of love and uses vibrant artwork to depict this. This song flows seamlessly into the next track, Good Loving, featuring Efya, which similarly showcases love and deep affection themes.
Still exploring the dynamics of romantic relationships, Mr. Eazi spits nothing but facts on Lack of Communication. He chiefly draws from personal relationship experiences with his fiancée, Temi Otedola, and simply puts some advice out there for all you love birds: “Lack of communication, na in dey cause problem.” My recent hiatus from the dating scene removes me from this category. However, something tells me some of you readers should be taking notes.
Next is another of my favorite songs from The Evil Genius, Fefe Ne Fefe, an absolutely catchy song I bet you’ll all love. It further dives into sweet lovings and relationship tropes and would make an absolute banger for a Nigerian wedding mixtape.
Mr. Eazi follows Fefe Ne Fefe with Legalize, a song that needs no introduction. If you want to know just how sweet and thoughtful this song is, listen to the proposal episode on The Howfar Podcast. Whoever said Mr. Eazi and Temi were not made for each other?
Final Songs
As the album slowly comes to a close, Mr. Eazi gives us more familiar sounds with songs like We Dey and Show Dem featuring Whoisakin.
Zuzulakate features Joeboy, who, in my opinion, chiefly delivers an average performance. However, this may have been unavoidable as the song strikes me as rather bland, with no exciting climaxes whatsoever.
Finally, The Evil Genius ends satisfactorily with Mandela and Exit. The former gives odes to the Nigerian singer’s father, who has paved the way for his success with his prayers.
Like his dad and Nelson Mandela, Mr. Eazi prays he can leave a lasting impact. The latter features the Soweto Gospel Choir. They sing this song on the top of a mountain in Drakensberg, South Africa, subsequently ending the album on a nice, round, and exhilarating note.
Final Thoughts.
The Evil Genius is a collection of Mr. Eazi’s experiences, intimate thoughts, and beautifully unhinged artistic personas. Together, these elements certainly contribute to a solid project worth praising.
As enjoyable as the album is, it could’ve been a little bit shorter. Take away three to four average songs, and you have an even more solid album with no bad songs. However, the album still takes its listeners on a journey worth embarking on.
Did you enjoy this album too? Or do you have more notes for Mr. Eazi? Comment below or head to our social media to tell us your favorite songs!
