SIMPLY BREATH-TAKING: A REVIEW OF WYCLEF JEAN'S CARNIVAL 3

Wyclef Jean was the most prominent member of the Fugees group that revolutionized hip hop in the 90's before they broke up.They were arguably the first to quote the legendary Krs-one; who "bit the game to go pop".They had a never-before-seen extra edge to their game and broke down just about every barrier with their dexterity.They rapped different from the norm with some good singing while at it and infused far-fetched elements like soul and reggae into their styles whenever they felt like.

That in a nutshell is what Wyclef is as an artiste.He is just so different at doing the same thing everyone does.The Preacher's son cannot be confined to a genre.Wyclef is soul,R&B,Pop and reggae just as much as he is hip hop.

The J'ouvert EP released on February 3 2017 was his first project since 2010 and it came with a rider that he was working on a full length album.J'ouvert had I Swear feat Young thug as its stand out track.He had earlier on blessed Thugga's banging cut, Pop Man off his No,My Name Is Jeffrey album in amazing fashion.The sum total of the sudden Wyclef resurgence was-whatever he had cooking was worth waiting to get a taste of.

The Carnival 3 album is here.Lets ride along.

1.SLUMS feat Jazzy Amra H1dahook and Marx Solvia

He opens with a song that assures you its same 'ol Clef.He raps decently and adds a good dose of singing which Jazzy Amra complements superbly.He gets everything right except the singing on the chorus.There are times hoarse just won't work and in this case it robs the hook of robustness.

2.TURN ME GOOD

This song reminds of Wyclef Jean's classic,911 featuring Mary J. Blige.Its a soothing love balad that sees Clef weave through a slow instrumental with some excellent story-telling.Whenever the lady pops up with her supplementary vocals at the bridge,she drives you into thinking how fabulous it would have been if he had taken her along for the chorus.Or even allowed her do the walk alone.It would have been a legit 2017 version of 911.Regardless though,this is a great song.

3.BORROWED TIME

An inspirational song powered by some wonderful singing.From the beat,the rhythm,down to the rap verse,everything combines seamlessly to work for the powerful message he delivers.This is a flawless cut that will go down as one of the best songs of the album.

4.FELA KUTI

This song is named after the legendary King of Afro-beat and its probably the best Fela sample i have ever heard.It actually sounds more rock 'n' roll than afro-beat.He gets the tempo just right and its amazing how he uses the Fela pieces to brilliant use.He raps with a carribean sun feel to Fela's trumpet,sings beautifully on the hook and traps it all up for a Fela "O pati piti bole Orile" knock out.Fabulous piece of work.

5.WARRIOR feat T-Baby

A slow and breezy reggae cut like only a genius would.Its so well composed, the single line "You are a warrior" chorus never turns stale.If anything, its the perfect sauce.

6.SHOTTA BOYS feat STIX

If you manage to stick through the almost one minute phone call intro (which should have been a skit before the track), he references his Shottas movie role in a braggadocious display of street cred.His guest STIX drops some really insane bars on it-"Compare me to my whip coz if you push,i start/No Whitney Houston here don't need no body guard/Dat poker face don't help,don't make me pull your card".A great song no doubt.

7.DOUBLE DUTCH feat DL Hughley

Well,we all expected Clef to talk about police violence and he did.He had being doing that way before it became fashionable and this here falls into the 'oppressed thug' category.He gets on that laid-back rap we've all loved since his Fugees days and keeps it simple yet exquisite with the waltz through rhythms.Its deftest at the bridge through the hook when he steps things up a notch.The Preacher's son preaching the ghetto gospel in some style.

8.CARRY ON feat EMELI SANDE

I  would describe this song in one word as classic.The inspirational theme rubs off on you as soon as it comes on.Clef delivers his best vocal performance of this project on this song and Emeli Sande's singing was heart-stopping.Watch out for Emeli Sande.Great talent.

9.WHAT HAPPENED TO LOVE feat LUNCH MONEY LEWIS AND THE KNOCKS

A groovy tune that kicks in a euphoric love vibe.Love is joy,Love is high spirits and Love is over the moon.Very masterfully made.Reminds you of the very natural feel-good songs rarely made anymore.

10.CONCRETE ROSE feat Hannah Eggen and Izolan

The flawless streak finally comes to an end.Wyclef drops some tight bars along the way and Izolan's french lines sound great but the chorus is a huge let off.He looks to be biting the rhythm to Rozay's BMF hook at the start and ends up with a tasteless 'World is Yours' chant.He is human after all.

11.TRAPICABANA feat Riley

Clef chefs an infectious tune with some latino spice.Again,the composition is superb.The delivery on the verses,the catchy hook and the little spanish bridge all sync impressively to keep you breathless from start to finish.A maestro at work.

12.THANK GOD FOR THE CULTURE feat Marx Solvila,J'Mila and Leon Lacey

A sublime tribute to the hip hop culture.It comes complete with not only how hip hop has impacted his life but also with shout outs to the notable names that have shaped the game over the years-Jay Z,Cash Money,Badboy,Lil Wayne et al.The instrumentation is quite impressive.Great song.

Wyclef Jean made a fabulous album.You gotta hand that to him

POLITICAL DRAMA SEASON: THE ATIKUS IN APC,THEIR REHEARSED LINES AND REALITY

No,you are wrong.No one could have possibly predicted that political drama season would premiere with a serving minister endorsing another candidate in his sitting room over her principal,the President.She hasn't claimed to be misquoted or 'videoshopped' and the president's continued retention of her services has kept suspense at ice chill level.Are a select few privy to some existing agreement to step down after his first tenure or is he just playing matured statesman?.Ratings are through the roof.

By virtue of her position as Minister of Women affairs,Hajiya Jumai Alhassan's open support for Atiku Abubakar is a firm ratification of the failure and incompetence of President Buhari's government.No one tells the smell of a husband better than the wife.

Things took a rather predictable turn from then on with Atiku capitalizing on that epic moment to say afterwards, the Buhari government had let him down.Now with the adrenaline at a controllable level,you get a chance to adjust moods and use a clear head.

Atiku's theatrics aren't top notch.As a matter of fact, the 'Buhari has let him down' speech had been prepared since 2015 just as it has been prepared for everyone to beat him in an election; primary or general.He is a political hustler who craves power and will go to any length to get it.

Before the next surge of excitement in the drama series of ours,we must seize this sober period to warn ourselves of the need to prepare well for the new season and what it portends.The need to remind ourselves that the chief protagonist and much heralded bearer of the torch of change has turned out the worst president we have ever had.We may not even have a country again come the next elections.Its that bad.

Every candidate will harp on the dismal performance of President Buhari and everyone will appear good but we must be most wary of those that helped sell him to us.For one, their sense of judgement is what they themselves drag into question when they tell us 'Buhari has let us down'.What were those promises again?.A boko haram annihilation in 2 months,a $1-N1 exchange rate,N5,000 monthly stipend for indigent citizens and free feeding for students in primary schools.All appeared unrealistic and that anyone would expect an unintellectual and philistine Buhari to come through on all that bearing in mind oil prices had been on a steady decline since 2014 doesn't speak too well of those in the APC fold.A party that has been described as a more formidable opposition to itself than even the PDP by embattled lawmaker, Abdulmumin Jibrin.

That some are already clamouring for an Atiku presidency means the desperation to want to see this government leave could very well expose us to a certain type of vulnerability.The vulnerability of settling for anything other than the Buhari government and that might ultimately translate to settling for less like we did with it in the first place.

Atiku may capitalize on the fact that this administration decided against extending probes past the Jonathan administration to dare anyone to provide any proof of corruption against him but that won't change what we know.

Though the Buhari administration may make any other before it appear indefectible,we know Atiku helped Obasanjo oversee a government Nigerians deserved more from and only fell out with him because of his presidential ambition.

We must keep our emotions in check,memories vivid and expectations sharp.Enjoy the drama but hold on firm to reality.