Is he the face of Afrobeats? Arguably. Is he the most sought after 5’4'' man on the planet? Probably. Is he allergic to wearing a shirt? Possibly. Is his new album “More Love, Less Ego” worth a listen? Definitely.
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, known professionally as WizKid, has become one of the most prominent faces in the modern Afrobeats music scene. The 32-year-old singer-songwriter from Lagos, Nigeria released his much anticipated fifth studio album, “More Love, Less Ego,” Nov. 11, accompanied by a streamable live show on Apple Music. After gaining popularity from his feature on Drake’s “One Dance” in 2016, WizKid has gone on to become the most streamed African musical artist of all time on Spotify. After the positive reception of his previous album, “Made in Lagos,” WizKid expands on the elements of that album that fans loved with this newest project.
Off the bat, “More Love, Less Ego,” boasts an amazing four-track run to kickstart the album. The first song, “Money & Love” eases the listener into the vibe of the album with a simple yet catchy chorus, smooth vocals and thematic lyrics. On top of that, this first track boasts some nice backing horns, which return throughout the album.
After “Money & Love,” WizKid delights the listener with “Balance,” a song he introduced as a “classic record” in his Nov 14 Apple Music live show. I am inclined to agree; the bass line jumps as soon as you press play, and any listener can catch onto the simple, sound-oriented chorus.
Next is the album single “Bad to Me,” which starts with a funky minor beat that quickly shifts to major when WizKid’s vocals come in. While the entire song is dynamic and fun, the post-chorus is most memorable with its chanting, sing-along lyrics in English, Yoruba and even Spanish. This section translated very well into the live show, with every member of the crowd shouting, “For my amigos!” back at WizKid.
To end this run, WizKid features Arya Starr on “2 Sugar.” On this track, it seems WizKid is trying to recapture the magic of his smash hit, “Essence,” from “Made in Lagos.” While the vibe of “Essence” is more or less recaptured, “2 Sugar” is definitely distinct with its more complex theme. Most of the songs in WizKid’s catalog are about shallow, one-night relationships, but “2 Sugar” talks about baggage and fighting your own demons before entering a relationship. These overarching themes make “2 Sugar” the most lyrically complex song on the album.
After “2 Sugar” is “Everyday.” This track is quite bland compared to the previous ones and runs a bit too long. After the impressive first few tracks, many of the following songs are a little disappointing. WizKid’s vocals and lyrics vary very little throughout the rest of the project, causing much of the album’s latter half to grow old upon a few relistens. However, the beats continue to infuse the tracks with energy, despite the artist’s redundant performances.
“Wow” is a gem on the latter half of the album, with features from British rapper Skepta and Nigerian artist Naira Marley. The beat gives this song a fast and aggressive energy, which Marley embodies perfectly on the chorus. Skepta and WizKid each deliver a fine verse, but it is Marley who really carries this track.
“Flower Pads” stands out as being exceptionally well engineered. WizKid’s lowkey vocals float atop the beat while guitar and keyboard spice things up in the background. “Pressure” also boasts subtle, varied background instrumentation that adds much to the song. The funky and advanced rhythm meshes well with another one of WizKid’s catchy choruses.
Though the engineering and groovy dance-hall beats are present, the concept of “More Love, Less Ego” fails to come through. “More Love” really comes across as “More Lust” with almost every song addressing physical desire. “Less Ego” is not really explored at all. The only time the phrase “More Love, Less Ego” feels relevant is in the spoken intro of “Everyday” that clearly inspired the title of the album.
Despite this missed opportunity, the album is a fun and worthwhile listen that will cause you to desperately search for the nearest dance floor. WizKid has again succeeded with a series of catchy tunes that are fun independently or within the run of the album. So next time you’re at a dance party, request WizKid’s “More Love, Less Ego.”
