By Chiagoziem Onyekwena
ALBUM TITLE – the Unstoppable (the International Edition)
LEAD SINGLE – Implication
PRODUCTION – J.Sleek
GUEST ARTISTES – Cartiair, Ehi Idibia, M.I, Sound Sultan
DISTRIBUTION – Hypertek Records
Nigeria is a blessed country, truly we are. God has bestowed on us the type of resources that make us the envy of many. There’s crude oil in the creeks, gold in Oyo, tin in Jos, coal in Enugu and then to crown it all, there’s Innocent Idibia in Benue.
A very raw Innocent was first discovered in commercial quantities in Lagos. He was extracted from the streets of FESTAC, underwent a rigorous refining process at Dove Records, was separated from his ore (Plantashun Boiz) and treated at the high pressure furnace in Kennis Music. Innocent was then left alone to congeal at Hypertek. Today, the raw talent that was Innocent has been transformed into a lustrous wonder and Nigeria is ready to export 2Face Idibia, the finished product, to the world.
To manage expectations, this isn’t a brand new album from 2 Baba but the international version of his third LP Unstoppable; call it album 3.5 if you must. The majority of the songs aren’t new to the Nigerian public but just so we don’t ruin the surprise for everyone else, let’s pretend we’ve not heard them before, shall we? With that said; 2Face does deserve praise for taking the pains to re-record some of the songs lifted from the original Unstoppable. Even the bouncy instrumental for this project’s lead single Implication was touched up slightly after it came to light that producer J. Sleek had sold the same beat to a little-known Nigerian rapper in Dublin first.
In order to truly appreciate this album, you may need copies of Nigerian tabloids from ten, eleven months ago; 2Face explains why his name is splattered all over their pages. Only Me features a soliloquising Idibia taking the listener on a walk down his inner thoughts, inviting you to partake in his struggles. Raindrops starts off with some deft flute work, then over a reggae-styled production 2Face counts his blessings on one hand and his regrets on the other and even though it’s almost unfathomable, songs like these prove that Mr Idibia is still improving as an artiste, scary isn’t it?
This LP isn’t all about strife though, the guitar-driven Be There is a lover’s delight and with the World Cup looming, the anthem-ic Power of Naija should give the Super Eagles some hope, especially as they face the daunting challenge of containing the Argentineans on June 12. On a lighter note, if I were IBB’s campaign manager and to increase our chances of victory at the polls, I’d change our campaign slogan to ‘Vote IBB and have the results of the June 12th game annulled’; alas this verbose writer has digressed once again.
When this album’s predecessor Unstoppable was released in 2008, it deeply divided fans and critics alike with many unable to share 2’s vision. He was eyeing world domination; many of us only wanted him to lead local neighbourhood parties. But two birds have died after being struck by the same stone, of this I’m sure. I guess what I’m trying to say is there’s more than enough crude oil for us to use domestically and then to export, why should 2Face Idibia be any different?
ALBUM RATING – 4/5
45 comments
Lol, dude you had to drop that IBB joke abi?…nice piece finally!…But i assume the 'Unstoppable 2' album is still set for release this year……big ups!
2 baba is a good guy keep it up
Nice one…especially the IBB part..lol
2baba is too good.he should keep it up.
I don't know what you guys see in this 2shit. Album rating should be 1.5/5.
@t-banks, wat can u do or create. has any member of ur family achieve a bit of wat he has achieved. pele tie mugun
Go Ask Your Papa……..
@T-Banks,stop player hating,go get a life!
okay!
Lovely!!! I absolutely loved the relationship to th mining process. Genius!!!! Nice one.
"A very raw Innocent was first discovered in commercial quantities in Lagos. He was extracted from the streets of FESTAC, underwent a rigorous refining process at Dove Records, was separated from his ore (Plantashun Boiz) and treated at the high pressure furnace in Kennis Music. Innocent was then left alone to congeal at Hypertek. Today, the raw talent that was Innocent has been transformed into a lustrous wonder and Nigeria is ready to export 2Face Idibia, the finished product, to the world."
*standing ovation*
another classy piece
abeg make we export 2 Baba jo. the guy don ready since. so talened.
by the way chia, I second Bruce, this is a classic. this one na *running ovation* not only standing.
nice one!
nice one on the IBB campaign and yea theres enough to go round from the naija entertainment industry.
Tu Baba All The Way!!
great piece! U killed it joo.
Enjoy. cheers
@ t-banks,
there is a clear difference between simply airing your opinion and being outright disrespectful, if anything, you owe 2face a favour- even if it is a favour of silence than damnation.
i don't know you so dat kinda limits ow much i cd say abt say abt u, but judging from your outburst on 2baba(whom u probably dnt regard, nt like he cares wot peeps like u say anyways), i wonder if u HAVE evr n will EVER do suiin in ur life worth RATING let alone rated 1.5/5…
I know wot gud music is all about perhaps, u nid to upgrade to a new sound system( not that it matters) but at least it might help u apprec8 gud songs.
PS..shout out to the writer of dis article and big up to 2baba.peace
@bcgeorge thank you very much for speaking my mind,need i say more…..2baba is a masterpiece
@bcgeorge,thank you o! make you tell am,don’t know why some pple choose to live as sadists. 2baba na nmbr1!
Hi Chiagoziem Onyekwena, I love 'ur write up. Keep it up. 2face is unstoppable, he is very capable.
nice one from 2baba
na tuface be every thing 4 nigerian music…T band,k.becarefull en think it twise before u chose to use ur device.
Tu face is a master piece u and I know that already. Who don good don good. A city located @ d hill top can't be hidden. God bless u 2baba u are my favourite!
2face no doubt is da bomb check dis out no 1 in anything 9gerian of 2day`opened de way 4 others 2 follow` boy dat dude is da hissssh.
Chiagoziem Onyekwena…I want to believe you were at the Farafina Trust creative writing workshop which was recently rounded off in Lagos Otherwise, I strongly advise you try to be at the next one.
Your piece is simply off the chains like a falling pendant…bling bling without diamonds.
Keep it up.
WOW!!!!!!!!!
I lov u 2 baba
Huh!!! no fighting and no discrimination here.2face is really good as well as others artiste that sing good music like him too.But more kudos to J.sleek for producing his album. He produced one of Da Grin song too and it kool.2face more success ahead.Thanks to everyone in the house.
Seun Turkey (08027490528)
TO T-BANKS OR WHATEVER HE CALLS HIMSELF….YOU ARE A VERY BIG FOOL TO HAVE WRITTEN SUCH A COMMENT ON TUFACE…YOU HAVE A LOW MENTALITY
respect to 2baba,his lyrical way always make my peep knows i luv her whenever i tell her that just lile d sun lights up d earth that's how she lights up my life,infact no doubting he is d zenith in d hip-hop world 2day In naija,even in africa,more grease 2 ur elbow my mentor.
it da bomb from 2 baba. great job and keep the flag flying
av always loved 2face ryt from wen he was still in the PLANTATION BOIZ nd i'll keep LOVING him 4ever…………hiz multi-talented,lyrically crazy,vocals too much……the guys' just toooooooooo much……abeg all dose haters shud go nd hug a TRANSFORMER…….cos the guy iz gonna b arund for a very LOOOOOOOOOONG time……….
2baba ——————-t'wale for u jor
the writer can review…i was impressed by a recent review i read from him. the introduction was cool but he is often tempted to start praising himself in the middle of an article.
As for tubaba, provided he has efe omoriegbe…he will be alrite and well managed, refined and exported.
tu face's talent has never been in doubt, he is only targeting a different audience but he has to make sure he kips his local fan base.
4naija no 2face no music,he should try and keep it up,bcos many are looking up to him.2baba u too much.
Busari,u've said it all jor………………..
ma lo ro pe omo kpe wo ni kan loma lowo,ma lo ro pe nobi gbogbo'a wey go make dis money………….. true talk my man
2face is nigeria good music
2 face is the best and your name shall survive…I love U Die
..
wow!He always and still remain number 1 as long as Africa is concern.2face, u still a blessing to Africa.your music always makes me think ur lyrics inspires me.
your message makes me discover who i am and my success today.
Thanks bro.
2baba u the greatest stuff ever appen to naija music ind, keep d flag flying so high, cos no man can implicate u.
Luminous or wt did u call ur self?na
watun nna dey use to koba ds
guy be ds.wt did u mean by no one can
implicate him
2 baba na my mento 4 real
2baba you are 2 much, just carry on with you good work……
I LOVE 2FACE.HE DESERVES A GRAMMY AWARD 4 AFRICAN QUEEN.08053008978
2 baba Is my roll model keep it up.
tu babb u too much jo keep doin great job in u i beilive
Take it or leave it, Tuface is an exceptionally talented fellow.
The voice, the lyrics, the message, the beatings, the flow and choice of words are unique.
He also sings effortlessly in any language of his choice without stress (English, latin, idoma, Tiv, Yoruba, japanese, Ghanian e.t.c.)
Languages he probably does not fully understand.
I just imagine where he would have been now if he was either a Briton or American. Another emerging good guy in Nigeria is Banky W.
Lets celebrate them.
2face is to much,i think the name is realy folowin him.everytin about him is double.@2face! u tooo gud jo!!