There were days when artistes actually did more than display an album cover art and tracklist along with a date for release.Patoranking reminded us just how proficient a marketing tool a good album listening party was.He solicited the crème de la crème of the Nigerian music industry and didn't scare them off with performance requests.All they had to do was come and celebrate with him.Hours before the Wilmer album listening party started,photos of the venue and the sumptuous meals and drinks available to guests were all over the internet.
Wizkid very clearly bowed down to Tuface while exchanging pleasantries with him but then a senseless out-burst on disrespect by a fan on social media was picked up by the blogs and blown out of proportion.All these were huge talking points and by the time the album was finally released,it was trending on twitter with some fans coming to tweet how 'Alubarika' and 'Heal The World' were their favourite songs.
Whether planned or by sheer providence,the Wilmer album was buzzing in a way no album had in recent time.
Gladly however,Patoranking doesn't disappoint.Wilmer speaks to the coming of age of an artiste who has evolved over time from a formidable ragga/dancehall artiste to an all round hit maker.Last year's Heal The World was celebrated more for the quality of its video than for the soul-stirring message it conveyed and not a few fans thought Patoranking should have added it to this album but what was shelved in Heal The World was re-enacted on Champion which is quite easily the early fans favourite of Wilmer.The positivity hits just as it should.Black is another attempt at socio-consciousness and though the instrumentation (saxophones in particular) robs it of better effect,the poetry was amazing.
Available is another Patoranking song seemingly more celebrated outside the country than within and it was great to see him use that magic recipe albeit in more up-tempo mode on Go Crazy.A catchy song for the dance floor which perhaps with a little more indigenous touch,not necessarily the kwaito feel of Available, would appeal more to his international audience.
Patoranking's impressive maturation as an artiste is very seldomly celebrated.He has over time grown from a ragga/dancehall artiste no one could safely say was still going to be here after a few more years to one who has added a quite far flung versatility to his game coupled with a very strong desire to conquer other territories.The bouncy Zero Probleme with French/Congolese star,Dadju best emphasizes this.
Of the 6 features on Wilmer, pop star Davido's contribution on the buzzing Confirm is the only one by a Nigerian artiste.
Wilmer speaks a lot to the artiste's yearning to appeal to every market on the continent.Patoranking has exhibited quite an interest in love songs with his collaboration with Tanzanian Super star,Diamond Platnumz on Love You Die as the most notable.He dishes out 3 love songs on Wilmer.The ragga flavoured Feelings and the very pleasant and radio-friendly title track,Wilmer.However,the DJ Coublon produced Nakupenda where he is brilliantly complemented by Nyashinski deserves special mention.The Kenyan singer renders a quite mesmerizing chorus and tops it with a verse of his own.
He delves into familiar territory in some style on Temperature which is arguably his most undiluted ragga track till date.That element is much lesser pronounced on the calm and breezy Turn Up with British singer and rapper Donaeo but the rude boy factor really does shine through.
There are really outstanding songs on good albums that get slept on mostly because the fans have annointed favourites more in tune with the dynamics that have come to shape their tastes.South African songstress Busiswa is second time unlucky with a Nigerian artiste.Ntswempu was in my highly unpopular opinion,the best song of Dbanj's King Don Come album thanks in no small measure to her input and her feature on Open Fire is yet again top notch.It is quite easily one of the best tracks of the Wilmer album.
Patoranking has his eyes set on places far and wide and judging from this album and the songs before it,he will reach his goals in no distant time.Wilmer is a wonderful piece of work.
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