M.I Abaga

The Chairman

      I had once listened to MI and I wasn't so impressed with him even in undisputed, couple of years back; its lack of originality was a turn off, sort of trying to be an American or rather foreign. so when I heard about the Album I already was over it. I had made up my mind not to get the MI's album because I didn't want to fall prey of another over hyped music just as I fell for music and movies;I got so inquisitive when I heard Bad belle and saw the video....that just took rhyme/music gratification to another world for me.I just knew I had to get the album.

      There are many reason why this album is most talked about and it isn't just because of the very commanding tittle THE CHAIRMAN, there was a lot of reason some of which you will find interesting as I move on. I have always wanted an album that tells a story and sync track by track; I got that from this album. Its a well known belief that any sort of future in Nigeria is bleak ( not that I blame anyone for such notion) and at the same time it the only country you wake up poor and sleep a billionaire; The Beginning skits was sort of like that only from his experience; as his teacher blatantly told him and the rest of his pupils that they should forget their dreams and just be a carpenter (I know....nothing is wrong with one) after a cellphone-ringing slap MI is heard saying you can say and make fun of me sir, but I am going to be a big music star, you can hit me but you can't hit my dream sir ( in yet again an American accent) as he was later called MONKEY which is the next track on the album. Monkey featuring my new found comic relief Chi-girl brought a comic to the album as she sang

  dem me look me like monkey but dem no know say I dey look dem like banana 

with a south- eastern tune that reminds of legendary musician/entertainer Bright chimeze. Judging from this track where he talked about how he was underestimated, folks gave up on him and now folk are famzing; Clearly he was wronged by certain people in the industry....(Bummer for them now) as he said

they never experred it, that I will be getting rich and that it doesnt matter now as music is my weapon it isnt physical,analog but its biblical (love this line), i've been disrespected and stepped on.

      The album tightly sync to analyze the journey of Jude, celebration of his life, his definition for friends is like Toreto's motto from Fast and Furious installment I have no friend all I got is Family and what it means to be on op and thankful he is. In RICK ft. Koker

ile kun a si/ise owo mi fi alubarika si/ everything we dey ouch right now they turn story. he further said from cooking beef with kerosine, now we riding in the back of a limosuine/going where we never be/from buying food in newspaper to being front page on newspaper (applause here). this is the 3rd track and I just kept saying Dang!!! he is on fire. MI is clearly Sean carter fan as he followed his steps in American Dreaming track saying yes am wishing money am wishing wealth, am wishing ball am wishing health.....

     The softer side of the album Mine ft Wizkid was a beautiful track in fact I don't really have one track in this album that isn't just right. tell me your password to your wifi so we can connect are you a shy type  and the gyrating side came from Alaga ibile popularly known as Reminisce (love him) in Shekpe with a hilarious chorus. The unsual thing about this track (Shekpe) isn't the lyrics or hook but the artists themselves,they both love music but they are totally different....and being different works for this track .Bad Belle just as I previously reviewed ( Click here-Bad Belle) better be directed at someone; the lyric are just too much not to know who its directed at; this track is a master piece..
      The Chairman is an album with different types of vibes; from jabs, upbeat club vibe,comic, sex appeal, inspirational and political all of which appeals to everyone...one way or the other. MI puts the impact of his own morals and humble growth spreading it through the album, ultimately leading to a tribute (sort of)  and thanks giving at THE END ft Oritse femi, Frank Edwards, Nanya as the last track ( yep.....a beginning and End first and last track).

As some dey street, some dey estate/you have blessed this your boy with enough grace and baba you be chairman o/as I am nothing without you....you be chairman 

      Overall, The Chairman is the most enjoyable album I am have ever come across in Africa, track to track with no miss on tune and beatz most of which was produced by SARz. So I may not like his "American-ish accent" he got going but  MI is an artist that acts like his lyrics isn't what he worked on for months or may be years...he simply makes it too easy. An outstanding album that tells a story of artist that had a Hard Knock Life in his career and its total different now. based on this album, I can totally say MI is definitely not just chairman but THE REGINGING  KING!!!!!

Rating 10/10