They call him Coal!. According to that famous lyric from D’Banj,he’s the ‘blackest of them all’.However,Wande's complexion is not his most striking feature,He has the voice of an angel. This 2008 HipHop Magazine award winner and before now a Mo hits''small boy'' has proved that he is meant for the big stage by taking all the critics to the cleaners with his debut album ''Mushin 2 Mo hits''.Perhaps,it's the year of short black boys,first it was M.I and now another short black boy is getting all the attention.Not that we expect less from him after what seems like endless features on D’Banj songs, Mo Hits compilations and other collaborations.It actually got to the point when we thought it just won't happen after waiting so long for the album but hey,Wande didn't disappoint at all.
Born Wande Ojosipe on the 18th of October 1985,1st child in a family of just 2 children Wande like most great musicians started singing in the teenage choir at his church. he got his break in the Nigerian entertainment industry as a dancer after he meet D'bang and Don jazzy in Unilag. He continued improving his vocal skill and got signed to Don jazzy’s Mo’ Hits records in 2006. He featured on Dbanj's Rundown/Funk You up album on singles like; Loke, tonosibe and why me.
Born Wande Ojosipe on the 18th of October 1985,1st child in a family of just 2 children Wande like most great musicians started singing in the teenage choir at his church. he got his break in the Nigerian entertainment industry as a dancer after he meet D'bang and Don jazzy in Unilag. He continued improving his vocal skill and got signed to Don jazzy’s Mo’ Hits records in 2006. He featured on Dbanj's Rundown/Funk You up album on singles like; Loke, tonosibe and why me.
Being signed to Mo’ Hits records he is also a member of the Mo’ Hits all stars, and played a major role in the recently released CV (Curriculum vitae) album.His first single “Ololufe” has been described as the greatest love song ever written by a Nigerian.Wande Coal has also recorded track with other Nigerian artist including; Ikechukwu, Naeto-C, SID D’Prince and P-Lola.He has been dubbed the town crier because of his performance where he announces the entrance of D’banj singing D koko.Apart from being a talented singer Wande Coal is also a brilliant performer as can be seen at his numerous performances, which include;Thisday music festival 2006 and 2007 with Jay-Z, Beyonce, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliot, Ciara, P-Diddy, Neyo, Rhianna, Shakira, John Legend and many more.History of love concert 2007 with 112, Kenny latimore, Chantey Moore and Donnel Jones,Ghana music awards 2007 Accra,Channel O spirit of Africa awards 2007,Nigerian Reunion US 2007,Calabar carnival 2007,Star Mega Jam 2007 with T-pain and Kanye West.
LYRICS: The Lyrics is above average.Most of the songs are very meaningful and it wasn't about girls,partying and making money alone,he also talked about the situation of the country.He took us to church in ''Jehova'' where he talked about how divine it was that he meet Don jazzy and D'bang.He talked about his struggle and how meeting them has transformed and changed his life.Going Bananas and Ololufe are the kind of songs you want to sing for that special person in your life.the lyrics are tight and the rhythm is totally out of this world.Generally,the album contains lyrics we can all relate to and i personally think he has done better than D'banj in the area of lyrics.He also gives us that indigenous pattern,mixing Yoruba and English and he did it so well that even 9ice will envy him.The only error however was that that most of the songs have the same pattern and sometimes his choice of words are the same.He should work on these areas in his next album.
PRODUCTION:''Na who do this beat oh,you already know,it's DON PAPA JAY''.Definitely,Don Jazzy did a very good work,the beats are very tight and all the strings and other components came together very well.The beat for Bumper to Bumper on the album is totally different from the one he dropped as a single and that gave us something new to listen to.On the other hand,some of the tracks are so low that even at the highest volume of your stereo,it still wouldn't be loud as expected and don't think i bought a pirated copy,i got it straight from the source.Don Jazzy and his production crew should also work on voice clarity,In some of the track, Wande wasn't audible enough for us to hear wetin him dey burst.The production too is above average.
LYRICS: The Lyrics is above average.Most of the songs are very meaningful and it wasn't about girls,partying and making money alone,he also talked about the situation of the country.He took us to church in ''Jehova'' where he talked about how divine it was that he meet Don jazzy and D'bang.He talked about his struggle and how meeting them has transformed and changed his life.Going Bananas and Ololufe are the kind of songs you want to sing for that special person in your life.the lyrics are tight and the rhythm is totally out of this world.Generally,the album contains lyrics we can all relate to and i personally think he has done better than D'banj in the area of lyrics.He also gives us that indigenous pattern,mixing Yoruba and English and he did it so well that even 9ice will envy him.The only error however was that that most of the songs have the same pattern and sometimes his choice of words are the same.He should work on these areas in his next album.
PRODUCTION:''Na who do this beat oh,you already know,it's DON PAPA JAY''.Definitely,Don Jazzy did a very good work,the beats are very tight and all the strings and other components came together very well.The beat for Bumper to Bumper on the album is totally different from the one he dropped as a single and that gave us something new to listen to.On the other hand,some of the tracks are so low that even at the highest volume of your stereo,it still wouldn't be loud as expected and don't think i bought a pirated copy,i got it straight from the source.Don Jazzy and his production crew should also work on voice clarity,In some of the track, Wande wasn't audible enough for us to hear wetin him dey burst.The production too is above average.
SALES...This was the most tasking part of this review.It wasn't easy persuading the store owners to let me have a look at their sales figure but at the end of the day with a little token here and there,I was able to get the sales figures of over 30 record stores.Going by these figures, Wande should be smiling to the banks.The sales is massive and people are picking up the album like it's free.It's a very encouraging trend to actually see Nigerians going to the stores to buy made in Nigeria albums.
ACCEPTANCE/AIR PLAY and other things:Have you heard a request program on Radio in the past two weeks?then you will know what i am talking about.All people want to hear is Wande,Turn on your radio now,no matter the station you choose,be it Raypower or Wazobia FM,be sure Wande will be on soon.You hear it in Lagos hold up bursting out of car stereos.The album is just everywhere and we are indeed very happy for the black one.The fastest and easiest way to lose your life now is to go to Mushin and make a wrong comment about their home boy,oh boy.They will descend on you.He has become a source of pride and hope for people in the slum of Mushin.The popular saying there is ''if God can do it for Wande,why can't he do it for me''.
I wish Wande all the best and pray that the remaining Mo hits small boys will step up and take their place beside the Mo hit big boys.I hope my prayers will be answered because i am not sure those boys have the talent to do so.I pray they prove me wrong.
Watch this space next week for ''Nigerian Artist that should improve,change their style or simply look for another job''.It's a piece you don't want to miss.
Sorinola Babatunde is the Entertainment Editor of Genesis Magazine.
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