By Ayomide Tayo
Album- The Year of R ‘n’ B
Artiste- Capital F.E.M.I
Producers- TY Mix, J Sleek, Master Kraft, Hakeem Abdulsamad and Surefire Music Group
Features- Jaywon, Sinzu, Joe El, Gbenga Adeyinka, Kenny Ogungbe, Eedris Abdulkareem, Poka Face
Label- Kennis Music (2012)
According to the Chinese calendar, 2012 is the year of the dragon. But according to Femi Adeyinka, 2012 is the year of Rhythm and Blues. That’s a bold statement, considering the fact that 2012 so far has been flanked by Etighi on the left and Azonto on the right. Still, amidst all the chants of d’ecale, Capital F.E.M.I produces a packed album that shows his R ‘n’ B roots and makes a case for the genre in Nigeria’s pop driven music market.
The 17 track album starts off with ‘Capital F.E.M.I.‘ The introductory track kicks off with a metallic-crunchy bounce pattern that blends into a smooth R ‘n’ B groove that makes you want to sway your hips. Femi’s rap influence pops up on this record, with his loose rap and chopped and screwed vocals. He boasts about his hit credentials and announces his reign is about to begin. From the first track, you want to believe him.
Sarz borrows the drums used by American producer Ron Browz on his 2008 hit song ‘Pop Champagne’ on Get Low. Femi shows a little bit of his Yoruba side on this song – a strategy necessary to capture a wider demographic. But the song with the biggest hit potential has to be ‘I’m Just Saying’ featuring Jaywon and Sinzu (once known as Sauce Kid). The theme of conquering comes up again, as Femi says ‘when you see me you close your eyes. When you feel me, you close your mind, but deep down inside of you, you know that I am fly. Why are you hating on me, I’m just trying to be me, but I know you can’t see this is what I was meant to be. I am here to rule, it’s not just news. It’s written all over me, there’s nothing you can do.”On the Master Kraft-produced cut, Sinzu does what he knows how to do best as he flips bars like a McDonalds staff flipping burgers. The surprise package on this cut is Jaywon. The underrated Kennis act blends well on the song and balances it out.
On ‘Duro Ti Mi’ F.E.M.I’s Yoruba side comes all the way out, proving he can sing well in his mother tongue. This helps the LP achieve a bit of versatility. ‘If’ starts hauntingly, as F.E.M.I looks for love, singing ‘tell me where you are. I’ve been looking for ya. Been searching high, been searching low.’ The song allows F.E.M.I to show he’s a student of vintage R ‘n’ B. Another song on which he displays his understanding of the genre is the ballad ‘Don’t Be Afraid.’
‘In The name of Luv’ is something for the purely pop-loving crowd. It’s poppy and light, but the horns still give it a slightly mature feel and soul. F.E.M.I gets his rap on again (he’s not a bad rapper) and the sick drum roll at the end of this song will make you lose it indeed.
Femi Adeyinka shows his flashy side as he displays his smooth vocals on ‘I Found My Wife,’ a track made up of just a cello bass line and snaps- showmanship at its best. F.E.M.I steps into Crunk territory on the Master Kraft produced ‘Playlist’ where he sounds like T-Pain on Jamie Foxx’s ‘Blame It’. He may have borrowed T-Pain’s style on the song, but Joe-El totally rips off 2face’s voice and delivery on ‘I’m A Star.’ The track really adds nothing to the set and should have been cut out from the album. A couple of other songs on the LP don’t fit the theme of F.E.M.I’s message of R ‘n’ B dominance. Still, they don’t have what it takes to hold the album back from being very good.
The Year of R and B is one of the properly delivered albums of 2012. Its theme is ‘R ‘n’ B is here to stay’ and with F.E.M.I championing this cause, 2013 could also be the year of R ‘n’ B, irrespective of what the Chinese calendar says.
Rating- 4
