This is not a hoax. D’Banj most certainly dropped an album this month, and you’re on a long thing if you haven’t listened to it. In a surprising turn of events, iconic Nigerian singer D’Banj, co-founder of Mo’Hits Records, released The Entertainer” D’Sequel by D’Banj, which is a follow up to his 2008 hit album,”The Entertainer.”
This release marks D’Banj’s 20-year run in the music industry. And while some might call it a comeback, D’Banj refers to it as a celebratory return to form.
In our usual fashion, we’re going to dive into a track-by-track review of The Entertainer: D’Sequel by D’Banj, highlighting what we love about the album and what we don’t.
Here we go.
KOKO
Koko is a classic that needs no introduction. However, this time, it comes with a classical twist. Rather than stick to the harmonica, D’Banj also employs a grand piano, trumpet, and live band to create magic. It can easily be described as the perfect balance of nostalgia and harmony.
It starts with an all too familiar tune that definitely kept me groovy during my primary school days. It then seamlessly blends into a more modern rendition of the classic Koko, employing a deep bass, modern drums, and contemporary Afrobeats influences. While I always say you should never touch a classic, I believe D’Banj did a good job with this.
Kala ft. Awilo Longomba
Next on The Entertainer: D’Sequel by D’Banj, is another slightly nostalgic tune featuring the Congolese legend Awilo Logomba. This song sounds like classic D’Banj– fast-paced beats and dramatic, melodious choruses.
On this track, both Awilo and D’Banj tried to create music that straddled the early 2000s and present-day Afrobeats. While it was off to a rocky start, the chorus certainly saved the day.
Yours Truly ft. Phyno
D’Banj and Phyno on a track together? Who would’ve thunk it?? These two phenomenal artists collaborated on the next song on The Entertainer: D’Sequel by D’Banj. The music starts strong and employs lots of atmospheric synths and percussion.
Besides the catchy chorus, Phyno delivers a scintillating verse, which makes the song an instant earworm. Let’s listen;
Since ‘04
The next song on The Entertainer: D’Sequel by D’Banj is Since ‘04, a song that’s neither here nor there for me. On this track, D’Banj tries to straddle his classic music style with a little bit of contemporary Afrobeats. While it’s not entirely a miss, I wouldn’t exactly put it as a hit, either.
Peaky Blinders
This song brings back “Oliver Twist D’Banj” in so many ways. The quirky lyrics, classic references, and repetitive chorus. The song production was purely modern-day Afrobeats, with trumpets and log drums here and there. Somehow, the goat still made it work with his classic music style. Take a look.
Worthy ft. Chechi Sarai & Youssou N’Dour
And the harmonica makes a beautiful return. The next song on The Entertainer: D’Sequel by D’Banj is Worthy, a song that boasts of multiple sonorous vocal performances– something the album most certainly needed.
It starts off with D’Banj’s classic harmonica, goes into a chorus that reeks of nostalgia, and rounds up with clean verses from the iconic Youssou N’Dour and subtle sonorous influences from Chechi Sarai. As the Gen Z’ers would say, I’m afraid they ate with this song.
I AM LEGEND ft. Wyclef Jean
As we get to the meat of the album, we see D’Banj employ more adventurous sounds that are totally out of his comfort zone. I AM LEGEND begins with what can almost be described as a warped EDM sound with a harmonious choir and a traditional chant.
The pace quickly goes up a notch as we see D’Banj deliver a fast-paced verse. This is a nice lead into Wyclef Jean’s verse, which is backed by a modern pop beat. I also have to say I’m thoroughly impressed by how D’Banj handled this track.
Melody
Next on The Entertainer: D’Sequel by D’Banj is Melody, a song that would’ve sounded so much better with a feature. And that feature should’ve been Phyno. It however, still sounds pretty good. We get a lot of traditional Igbo sounds and of course, D’Banj balances that out with an impressive vocal performance. A solid 6.5/10 for me.
Serious
On another whirlwind trip down nostalgia lane, D’Banj puts a unique spin on the iconic song, Serious. This is a playful, mid-paced song that adds a little flair to the hilarious call and response from the original track. We also see a lot more trumpets and live band performances on the track. Dare I say I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Healer ft. Peruzzi
If you’ve ever guessed what a D’Banj and Peruzzi song would sound like, you have an answer. The next track on The Entertainer: D’Sequel by D’Banj is Healer, a song that sounds like a perfect blend of Peruzzi and D’Banj— as it should.
D’Banj starts us off with an incredibly catchy verse and his never ending ad-libs, adding life to the song. On the other hand, Peruzzi finishes it up with a high pitched sonorous performance. It’s definitely worth listening to.
Taya
On Taya, D’Banj uses cultural beats and flutes to create a track that leans into contemporary Igbo highlife. Impressively, he absolutely kills it. The call and response backed by the choir give the song an overall wholesome feel that may soon become an earworm.
Koko Remix ft. Akon
Nine years later, we get to experience another phenomenal D’Banj and Akon collaboration and it’s certainly what we needed. The next song is a remix of the first song on this album and dare I say this sounds even better. I was skeptical about how Akon would sound on a track like this, but he certainly did what he needed to do. Take a look.
World Famous
Finally, The Entertainer: D’Sequel by D’Banj ends with World Famous. While this album has been impressive so far, I believe this might’ve been a shaky finish. Not because it’s not a great song, (it’s actually pretty good), but because it felt like the sound production carried most of the weight on this track and D’Banj’s vocals and lyrical performance took a backseat. At some point, it almost sounded like his voice was drowning in the beat.
On this track, we get to enjoy a beautiful flute rendition of “Oh My Home… When Shall I See My Home” which takes us on yet another journey into Nostalgia planet. Overall, if his vocals had been brought into more focus, it would’ve given us a stronger finish. However, it also made me appreciate the phenomenal beat.
Conclusion | Final Thoughts on The Entertainer: D’Sequel by D’Banj
And that brings us to the end of D’Banj’s new album. Did I enjoy it? Most certainly. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
On this album, you’ll find D’Banj with one foot rooted in his classic sound that was famous in the early 2000s. On the other hand, his other foot is firmly planted in contemporary Afrobeats. While the execution may not have been perfect, it’s a daring move and I must give him props for that.
There were several great songs on the album that left a great aftertaste in my mouth. Songs like Koko, I AM LEGEND, and Worthy remind us that D’Banj is indeed who he says he is. On the other hand, songs like Peaky Blinders and Since ‘04 make me believe that perhaps, his musical era may have truly come to an end.
So far, you’ve only heard of my opinion. What do you think about The Entertainer: D’Sequel by D’Banj? Was it a hit or miss? Comment below and let us know or better still, head to our social media platforms and leave a comment for us.
Until next time!
