Wizkid – ‘Morayo’ album review: an ode to the dancefloor

Wanting again on Wizkid’s final three information, the Nigerian hitmaker has transcended from a regional front-runner to a global celebrity. 2021’s ‘Made In Lagos’ launched the world to his subtle and laidback Afro-R&B sound. Then, 2022’s ‘Extra Life, Much less Ego’ constructed on the worldly pop of the Black diaspora, pulling inspiration from amapiano, dancehall, highlife and extra. On his newest, ‘Morayo’, he retains his streak going with an anthemic document that retains the jubilance of Afrobeats alive whereas honouring his late mom, Jane Balogun.

The document opens with the introspective ‘Troubled Thoughts’ – and it’s instantly apparent that Wizkid needs to return to his roots. At first, the bumbling drums and vibrant melodies of highlife get down into your bones, making you prepared to bounce your coronary heart out. However then, the beat drops and a sluggish, extra sombre instrumental performs whereas the Lagos singer confesses: “Proper now, me jus wan vibes and ting / However my troubled thoughts wan sing.”

Regardless of holding onto this grief, Wizkid places that vitality into extra dancefloor fillers. Enjoyable and experimental, whereas nonetheless harnessing a component of conventional afrobeats, the dance part of ‘Morayo’ builds on ‘Extra Life, Much less Ego’’s high-energy but easy aura. Whereas looking for a “Dangerous woman from Barbados”, Asake groups up with Wizkid for a masterclass on Afro-piano with the chilled earworm ‘Dangerous Woman’. The 34-year-old even dabbles in pop-garage on ‘Break Me Down’. However, the spotlight of this part is ‘Bend’ because the thumping hand drums take management and compel you to “bend your physique, ko jo”.

Then the R&B part ensues. ‘A Million Blessings’ sees light pianos and string quartets strut across the effervescent baseline as he sings a tune of gratitude and resilience. Whereas ‘Apres Minuit’ with French rap heavyweight TiaKola is a seductive quantity that welds TiaKola’s effervescent move with Wizkid’s laidback nature. However Wizkid doesn’t lean into his extra muted sound an excessive amount of because the Jasmine Sullivan-assisted ‘Dangerous For You’ is an ode to like (like most songs are on ‘Morayo’) but in addition the feel-good nature of neo-soul.

The hedonistic pick-me-up of a document ends with ‘Pray’. Whereas conserving that joyous and grateful ethos he typically does, the tune is extra emotional if you take heed to the lyrics. The singer doesn’t wallow within the lack of his mom regardless of how tragic that may be, however as a substitute appears in direction of the longer term: “My mama pray for me / And, I do know, the heavens dey for me / And Jah make a method for me.” Fuelling the dancefloor for his personal cathartic launch, ‘Morayo’ is as stunning a tribute as it’s an album.