Naeto’s Super C Season Blows Hot and Cold

By Chiagoziem Onyekwena

TITLE – Super C Season

ALBUM LEAD SINGLE – Ako Mi Ti Poju

PRODUCTION – Dokta Frabz, Ikon, SARZ, Terry G, TY Mix

GUEST ARTISTES – Asa, Dagrin, Dokta Frabz, Lukie D, Omawumi, So Sick, Sway, Terry G, Waje, YQ

RECORD LABEL/DISTRIBUTION – Storm 360

Two weeks ago, it rained unexpectedly in Abuja, which is rather strange because under normal circumstances, the chances of Abuja residents seeing  rainfall this early in the year are as high as Sarah Jubril’s were at the 2011 PDP Primaries from the onset.

Not only is there dryness in the nation’s capital at this time of the year but there’s also a semblance of drought on the country’s music charts as well; January and February are typically slow months for album releases. So, seemingly taking advantage of the lack of competition for consumer attention, MTV award-winning singer, rapper and producer Naeto C finally released his sophomore album – Super C Season.

Naeto is faced with a conundrum – with a highly polished image, unique riches-to-riches story and that immeasurable quantity called ‘swag’, Naeto C embodies the lifestyle and aspirations of the young, upwardly-mobile Nigerian; he is their rapper. Yet somehow the Masters graduate of Energy Economics is so fascinated with the idea of simultaneously appealing to the ‘masses’ that he’s left this glaring imbalance on his new project Super C Season. I used to think Jesus Christ will surely come before Terry G would be tapped up to feature on a Naeto C record but somehow the highly improbable duo beat our Lord and Savior to it on the YQ-assisted, noise-fest Skimpololo – a painfully stereotypical Terry G party jam. By towing the same line as every single rapper with ambitions of creating a street/club anthem, the self-described trendsetter that’s Naeto C sets a dangerous tone for the rest of Super C Season.

From its medley of melodic but callow choruses (like C Me Finish), to its playful bars, ‘all I did was form lines like when ABC bus comes’– this album was created for the man on the street to easily relate to. However, and I acknowledge the fact that it’s no particular fault of his, Naeto doesn’t always sound genuine or believable when trying to pull this off, which in turn makes it hard to take his music seriously. For instance, it’s impossible not to notice that on the TY Mix-produced Carry Your Shoulder, Naeto actually makes ‘tufiakwa’ sound German. Also, if Ibo-accented English is a no-no, is the reverse any more acceptable? Naeto seems to think so, on the twin love songs Afruru’m gi nanya and 5&6, he tries to sing in American-accented Igbo. For someone who’s built a career off of making effortlessly smooth music, Super C Season comes off as being forced and inorganic.

Having said that, Naeto does try to influence the outcome of his own season once in a while. The album’s title track features an enthusiastic Naeto reading the forecast  -‘look in the sky, it’s a bird it’s a plane.. No, it’s Super C and the levels don change’. YQ then makes a second appearance on the album, this time however, Naeto’s label mate brings with him tidings of R&B chart-topping joy on Duro. Then there’s the album’s gem, the heavenly Share My Blessings with Asa; Naeto’s most personal record to date. Sadly over a 17 track period, the balance on songs such as Share My Blessings and the chart-topping  Ten Over Ten doesn’t happen often enough to save Super C’s season. Then there’s the dodgy beat selection as the album draws to a close. Even the most energetic of rappers will struggle to breathe life into the listless Voodoo instrumental or the soulless Gidi Is Mine; the laidback Naeto C doesn’t stand a chance, you’d be forgiven if you nod off.

Naeto C isn’t nearly in control of the elements on this album as its title would have you believe. The result of this is an album that constantly tries to chase an audience Naeto strongly believes need to accept him at all costs. Super C Season lacks the near-perfect balance and high polish of its predecessor and something tells me it won’t have that project’s staying power as well.

ALBUM RATING – 3/5