Rexxie, a Nigerian music producer, songwriter and DJ released his sophomore album Big Time on March 9th, 2023. The album features 12 tracks with collaborations from a range of Nigerian, Ghanaian, South African and UK artists such as Lojay, Naira Marley, Zlatan, Sarkodie, Busiswa, NSG among many others. Rexxie once again showcases his versatility as a producer, blending elements of Afrobeats, hip-hop, and pop to create a cohesive project that highlights his unique sound in collaboration with his colleagues in the industry.
Rexxie, a certified street pop hit maker and Grammy Award winning producer has cemented his art into the heart of the streets even before he released his debut album A True Champion in 2021. He had previously produced viral songs like Naira Marley’s “soapy”, “Tesumole” and pioneered the Zanku movement and sound. One of the standout tracks on his debut album is “Ko Por Ke” (KPK), featuring Mohbad, which quickly became a viral hit in Nigeria and beyond. The catchy chorus and upbeat production make it a fan favorite, and the music video has amassed over 30 million views on YouTube since its release. Other notable tracks include “Back2Back,” featuring Bella Shmurda, and “Banger,” featuring Asake.
In today’s Exclusive, we have nominated Rexxie’s project, Big Time as our album of the month. We would be analyzing the tracks and every other outstanding feature of this project. Ranging from the guest artists, production and lyricism. Don’t forget to plug in your earphones as we ride along.
Big Time by Rexxie- A Review
The project opens with ‘Asiko’ featuring Lojay’s soft vocals on finely produced Amapiano beats that sets the mood for the rest of the album. Lojay never misses on this kind of vibe. ‘Call my phone’ follows a similar vibe with Afrobeats fusion and Amapiano elements to accentuate the punny lyrical abilities of the outstanding duo, Ajebo Hustlers. They take turns expressing on the beats how they’d love their women to call on them whenever they need anything. “When you need a shoulder to cry, you can call on me… I’m one call away baby, would you speed dial on me” is a strong reassurance. However, the ad-libs on the chorus also send a different message, one of lust.
Minz and Runtown collaborate in the song ‘Slow Whine’, which captivates listeners as they celebrate the allure of their partner’s seductive dance moves. In the song, they also express their yearning for a carefree and relaxed lifestyle. Alpha P and Azanti team up in the upbeat track titled ‘Dinero’. They sing about their love for extravagant spending, indulging in carnal pleasures, and accumulating a vast amount of wealth (Dinero). The lively beat of the song perfectly complements their lyrics.
‘Fallacy’ is a tale of a person who never thought falling in love so hard is possible until they do. Sarkodie and Teni express their surprise at them falling in love and enjoying the benefits of a healthy companionship on this track. Teni’s vocals as always drive the point home.
Berri-Tiga comes through on ‘Taka Oshi’ as he sings about repelling bad energy around him, focusing on only good vibes and blessings only. Zinoleesky follows suit with his outstanding lyricism on ‘No more condition’ where he talks about the clarity he has gained over the years in life as well as his decisions and its consequences.
Ahn, no more condition
Zinoleesky, No more Condition.
I see clearly, no more confusion (confusion)
I had to make risky decisions
‘Lagos’ is that mood setter you need to start up a steamy Amapiano party. It starts off with calm vibes and L.A.X. does justice to the beat as it crescendos into Shashie and Busiswa’s entry accompanied with log drums, whistles and percussions. If you have never been to Lagos, you’d be tempted to get on the next flight down here to feel the vibes.
‘Credit Score’ has to be my second favorite on first listen. The NSG group went so hard on this track and as always Zlatan comes through with the ‘lamba’ and storyline and catchy flows. However, the genre fusions found in this track set it apart from NSG’s other works, providing a fresh take on their sound.
Up next is ‘Abracadabra’featuring Naira Marley and Skibii, the biggest track on this album. The line “Abi kin pe Rexxie” (Perhaps I should beckon on Rexxie) had the streets in chokehold. In this vein, I would love to call out those of you who can’t pronounce Rexxie. It is /Rek-Cee/ not /Res-ki/ thank you.
Backroad Gee goes hard on ‘Again’ dropping solid bars in his signature UK style on the upbeat Afrobeats sound. Like a coalition of JHus and Mostack in one body, Backroad Gee delivers beautifully on this track. However, Rexxie got tired of calls and hits up Wizkid to come to his aid on ‘Abracadabra’ remix which has further cemented the success of this hit song.
Conclusion
Overall, Big Time solidifies Rexxie’s position as one of the leading producers in Nigeria’s music scene, showcases his ability to curate a project that seamlessly blends different genres and sounds. However, the album has received critical acclaim and has been praised for its beautifully arranged structure, high-energy production, and impressive guest features. It has also amassed over 70 million streams across all platforms.
Listen to Big Time here- Rexxie – Big Time (africori.to)
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