Looking back on Wizkid’s last three records, the Nigerian hitmaker has transcended from a regional front-runner to an international superstar. 2021’s ‘Made In Lagos’ introduced the world to his sophisticated and laidback Afro-R&B sound. Then, 2022’s ‘More Life, Less Ego’ built on the worldly pop of the Black diaspora, pulling inspiration from amapiano, dancehall, highlife and more. On his latest, ‘Morayo’, he keeps his streak going with an anthemic record that keeps the jubilance of Afrobeats alive while honouring his late mother, Jane Balogun.
READ MORE: Father John Misty – ‘Mahashmashana’ review: perhaps his most sincere album yet
The record opens with the introspective ‘Troubled Mind’ – and it’s immediately obvious that Wizkid wants to go back to his roots. At first, the bumbling drums and vibrant melodies of highlife get down into your bones, making you ready to dance your heart out. But then, the beat drops and a slow, more sombre instrumental plays while the Lagos singer confesses: “Right now, me jus wan vibes and ting / But my troubled mind wan sing.”
Despite holding onto this grief, Wizkid puts that energy into more dancefloor fillers. Fun and experimental, while still harnessing an element of traditional afrobeats, the dance section of ‘Morayo’ builds on ‘More Life, Less Ego’’s high-energy yet effortless aura. While searching for a “Bad girl from Barbados”, Asake teams up with Wizkid for a masterclass on Afro-piano with the chilled earworm ‘Bad Girl’. The 34-year-old even dabbles in pop-garage on ‘Break Me Down’. But, the highlight of this section is ‘Bend’ as the thumping hand drums take control and compel you to “bend your body, ko jo”.
Then the R&B section ensues. ‘A Million Blessings’ sees gentle pianos and string quartets strut around the bubbling baseline as he sings a song of gratitude and resilience. Whereas ‘Apres Minuit’ with French rap heavyweight TiaKola is a seductive number that welds TiaKola’s effervescent flow with Wizkid’s laidback nature. But Wizkid doesn’t lean into his more muted sound too much as the Jasmine Sullivan-assisted ‘Bad For You’ is an ode to love (like most songs are on ‘Morayo’) but also the feel-good nature of neo-soul.
The hedonistic pick-me-up of a record ends with ‘Pray’. While keeping that joyous and thankful ethos he often does, the song is more emotional when you listen to the lyrics. The singer doesn’t wallow in the loss of his mother no matter how tragic that can be, but instead looks towards the future: “My mama pray for me / And, I know, the heavens dey for me / And Jah make a way for me.” Fuelling the dancefloor for his own cathartic release, ‘Morayo’ is as beautiful a tribute as it is an album.
Details
Record label: Starboy / Sony Music International / RCA Records
Release date: November 22, 2024
The post Wizkid – ‘Morayo’ album review: an ode to the dancefloor appeared first on NME.
