BURNA BOY'S AFRICAN GIANT IS A GREAT PIECE OF WORK

Burna boy's previous album titled Outside was released on the back of the blazing hot Heaven's Gate featuring Lilly Allen.He left out DeJa Vu and Gba,two fan favourites out just months earlier and dropped an entirely fresh body of work that will go down as one of the best in recent times.The African Giant tracklist showed songs released as far back as a year ago-Gbona and On the Low.Dangote and Killin dem are at best worthy of bonus track status.Add that to the fact that Burna boy hasn't quite impressed with his releases this year and it'll make sense to set expectation at a moderate level.

Its one thing to not disappoint and another to impress.Over new 13 tracks (if you take away the Blak Ryno skit),Burna boy reminds everyone why based on his antecedents over the years,he is rated outrightly by a sizeable number of fans as Nigeria's most talented artiste.He was so many sounds we allowed him pick a genre for himself; afro-fusion and on African Giant,he while deploying the rich and robust artistry he is noted for stretches his versatility to new lengths.Asides the traditional pop theme of the good life,on the Outside album we saw an artiste who to a great length focused on self-his city,growing up,triumphs and fears.African Giant is a more diverse work.Most noteworthy is the Don Guorgon's foray into the realm of socio-consciousness.Three whole songs are dedicated to expressing his grievances over the problems plaguing his nation.Another Story featuring Ghanaian rapper M.anifest opens with a quite insightful narrative on how Nigeria has been in the shackles of its colonial masters.Burna boy waltz mesmerizingly through the crisp and subtle Kel P instrumental bemoaning the nigerian situation.M.anifest complements him really well with his signature laid back delivery.

He decries looting on Collateral Damage with a chorus that reminds of the great Baba Fela.He has always had a stronger Baba '70 influence than Wizkid and D'banj and asides the Collateral Damage chorus no point highlights this better in the entire album than the way he renders 'Man go fight for money,Man go fight for woman,Man go fight for business,Man go fight for nonsense' on the sublime Wetin Man Go Do.Without taking anything away from Another Story and Collateral Damage, Different is his most special socio-conscious effort.He not only does a quite amazing job of voicing it all out in ragga,he gets a mind-blowing Damien 'Gongzilla' Marley verse and some great singing by the legendary Angelique Kidjo to make a true classic.

The buzzing Omo highlights his bad man credentials but no one will fail to notice the love songs are slower and more intense.We don't get a Stefflon Don feature but regardless,the love stories are told straight from the horse's mouth.On the last pre-album single,Pull Up,he states his case in a soothing and arresting manner while british star singer Jorja Smith's supporting vocals give Gum Body a quite heavenly feel.A distinctive feature of Burna's art is an uncanny ability to get everything spot on.He always managed that.

But these days,he seems to miss a lot of details and ends up making good songs that could have been much better.He commendably strikes up a good rhythm on Anybody and while the saxophone is a great touch,the overall instrumentation of that song robs it of some shine; the creepy bass especially.Secret seemed to have been made just for his guests- Jeremih and Serani.Burna sounded out of place on his track and should be grateful to both artistes for their efforts.

Show and Tell featuring Future would ordinarily be slugging it out with Different and Another Story for best song of the album.Burna's delivery is out of this world and absorbs you into it right from the jump but then the track switches up drastically for Future's verse leaving two brilliant parts of a song to stand isolated from each other.The least he could do was try to create some balance by allowing the chorus play again after Future's verse.

Special credit to Burna however for the artistes he recruits for this album.Everyone made his song better.YG is the last collaboration on the album and he complements the the Don Guorgon handsomely on the gangsta This Side.

You are hoping he doesn't flatter to deceive when he opens the album in style with the beastly and assertive African Giant.Thankfully he doesn't.This album is a great piece of work.

MALAMI'S POSITION ON BAIL IS CRIMINAL AND PUNISHABLE UNDER OUR LAWS

Abubakar Malami's screening on the floor of the senate was the most anticipated of President Buhari's ministerial nominees.There were a wide assortment of questions spawning from his controversial four year tenure as Attorney General of the Federation for the senators to pick from.That there were quite a number from the opposition that had over time proven to be vibrant and fearless on the floor of the senate was supposed to guarantee Malami had no escape route.

The house of reps had indicted him over the reinstatement of ex-pensions boss,Abdulrasheed Maina who was wanted by the EFCC and is currently claiming in hiding that President Buhari ordered Malami to reinstate him.The senators would at least while making reference to the overwhelming evidence available,ask Malami for his own version of events.There is also the issue of the clean bill of health he passed on former secretary to the government of the federation,Babachir Lawal regarding the IDP grass cutting scandal before he was indicted by VP Osinbajo's committee and the EFCC.

There was a lot to pick from but suprisingly,the senators didn't ask Malami what they were expected to.The former AGF bungling a matter as simple as one on the disobedience of court orders by government tells you he would have made a bigger mess of the weightier questions.First,Malami isn't in charge of any prison or detention centre in the country.

One would ordinarily expect him to stroll past that saying the authorities flaunting the orders of the court are not doing so at his behest while bemoaning the fact that he was being made a scapegoat.But well,the man chose to tell the truth and in a fashion reminiscent of his 'technician technicality' CJN brother,Ibrahim Tanko just a week ago,sensationally gave a well known legal position an ignorant colouring.Only in this instance,unlawful as well.

Malami sought to justify the breach of the constitutional rights of nigerians being held in captivity despite having been granted bail by saying their release was not in the best interest of 180 million nigerians and that it was his duty as AGF to uphold public interest.This is the number one law officer of the land publicly and unashamedly conferring on himself the power to veto the decisions of our courts.

It is shocking how a man of Malami's standing and experience in the legal profession would be totally oblivious of the fact that those comments are of a criminal nature.Our laws are clear on what constitute contempt and a flagrant disobedience of a court's ruling or decision forms a key element of that offence.Contempt ex facie curiae (outside the court room) is followed by an arrest and a trial in court.

Except of course he wants to tell us that he as AGF can also decide what laws apply to him.Quite astonishing is how he makes reference to the Supreme Court's decision in Asari Dokubo V Federal Republic of Nigeria in justifying his position as acting in public interest.It is the prerogative of the courts to grant bail and in that case it refuses Mr Dokubo in the best interest of the public.No individual whomsoever is empowered to arbitarily tow its steps other than a court of law and refusing to comply with the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction amounts to contempt.We aren't speculating,Malami by his response at the senate,copped to doing just that.

In defending his action,there was nothing to suggest he was aware of the grave implications of his utterances and what that highlights more than anything else is the calibre of persons being appointed by the Buhari administration into sensitive positions.

The powers of the Attorney General of the Federation are clearly spelt out in Section 174 of the 1999 constitution (as amended).No provision therein empowers him to choose which court decisions to comply with.Sub section 3 states that-" In exercising his powers under this section, the Attorney-General of the Federation shall have regard to the public interest, the interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process" but the power Malami weilds isn't captured by the preceding provisions of that section.The issue of public interest and interest of justice brings me to another question i expected the former Attorney General to be quizzed on.

The popular notion is that Sen.Danjuma Goje,a former Governor of Gombe state accused of embezzling billions of naira in office by the EFCC had charges against him withdrawn just weeks ago because he struck a deal with President Buhari in a meeting at the villa to step down for the President's preferred candidate for Senate President,Sen.Ahmed Lawan.Goje had 2 charges pending in court and most people above any other thing,expected Malami to give the official position of his office on that while justifying how the decision was taken in the 'best interest of justice or the public'.

Malami should be before a court next week and not being named Minister.

BURNA BOY'S AFRICAN GIANT ALBUM: 4 EARLY TAKEAWAYS

Its just a couple of hours to the release of Burna boy's African Giant album and these are 4 early takeaways.

-The build up to African Giant has not been too inspiring.Killin Dem with rave of the moment,Zlatan is the only smash he has 4 songs and a whole EP later.

-On The Low,Gbona and Killin Dem shouldn't be on the this album.The first 2 are almost a year old while Killin Dem was released in December last year.If the African Giant wanted a 19 track album at all costs,he could have just made new material instead of having not only 6 songs fans already listened to but some as far back as a year ago.Anybody and Pull Up best fit the pre-album single tag while Dangote should come in as a bonus track.

-Wizkid's SFTOS had Drake,Chris Brown,Trey Songz,Ty Dolla $ and Major Lazer with the Drake collaboration leaking months before it was released as the official lead single.African Bad Gyal with Chris Brown leaked before SFTOS dropped as well.Burna boy has Future,YG,Jorja Smith,Jeremih,Angelique Kidjo and Damien Marley all on songs never-before-listened-to.I think it is safe to say Burna Boy's African Giant album perhaps by not too far a margin,has the most mouth-watering features ever on an album by a nigerian artiste.Probably by an African artiste.

-Finally,most people would have bet their last kobo Stefflon Don was going to be on at least one of the tracks.She isn't anywhere on the album.I hope our giant doesn't think its 'unafrican' to have bae drop a few lines.

HOW THE NIGERIAN ARTISTES FARED ON BEYONCE'S LION KING: THE GIFT ALBUM

"This sound track is a love letter to Africa and i wanted to make sure we found the best talent from Africa and not just use some of the sound or my own interpretation of it,".This is an excerpt from Beyonce's interview with Good Morning America after the release of The Lion King movie and accompanying music album.When in 2017,the producers told the world a 3D remake was in the offing with Beyonce playing Nala and Donald Glover (Childish Gambino) playing Simba,it became one of the most anticipated movies in Hollywood with names as prominent as Quavo of the Migos requesting that the group be casted as the three hyenas.

What no one knew however was that Beyonce was going to drop new music to commemorate its release and with the Lion King: The Gift album accompanying the movie,it was safe to say which ever artiste she had chosen from the continent to be on the album was going to be on the biggest album worldwide when it was released.From Nigeria were Wizkid,Mr Eazi,Yemi Alade,Tiwa Savage,Burna boy and Tekno.The Gift represented the biggest medium ever made available to our artistes to sell themselves to the world.It was indeed a love letter.

Lets take a look at how the artistes fared.

BROWN SKIN GIRL (WIZKID,BEYONCE,SAINT JHN AND BLUE IVY CARTER)

This has turned out one of the most loved songs of the entire album.Wizkid's velvety smooth vocals pack the track with just the right emotion for the inspirational black and beautiful message.The synergy with Beyonce is mesmerizing.She gets on a higher pitch with her vocals to create a balance with his absorbing verse and then she complements him on the chorus for the climax moment.Sheer magic.

If Wizkid has a strategy on how to conquer the global market,a shrewd use of his vocal prowess should be a key part of it.The spotlight will be on him after this fantastic display and it is left for him to make the most of it.

KEYS TO THE KINGDOM (TIWA SAVAGE AND MR EAZI)

Tiwa Savage is reputed to have written and worked with some of the biggest names in music overseas.The lady freely expressing herself without having to worry about the dynamics of the Nigerian music market would entail some R&B.The work she so commendably puts in here comes from a natural place.Bearing in mind the craving for a strong african feel,nigerian producer Northboi deserves special credit for keeping that in mind with his infusion of a healthy dose of authentic african instrumentation.

Tiwa Savage was simply amazing on Keys to the Kingdom.She flawlessly hits the right notes and matches it with excellent drift in rhythm.She has a management and publishing deal with Beyonce's husband,Jay Z's Roc Nation and that will wow a lot of the foreign audience bound to look into her after listening to the song.I honestly think Keys to the Kingdom should have been a wholly Tiwa affair.One of the stand out qualities of the song is that it exhibits what the continent's refined singers are capable of and Mr Eazi appeared more than anything to be crashing her party.

JA ARA E (BURNA BOY)

Dating Stefflon Don gained Burna boy some major buzz and Atlantic records moved to have him make a joint EP with label mates,LA DJ/Production duo DJDS.Giving Burna's lacklustre effort at making a first major impression on the grand stage,a lot of fans expected him to seize the opportunity Beyonce's The Gift album presented to sell himself on an even bigger platform.

Burna boy doesn't quite do that.He goes purely african on Ja ra E; a song that is more or less made just for the Nigerian listener.Its really hard to figure out why Burna chose to make a song like this for the album.

The predominantly youthful global music audience would only gravitate towards a song they didn't understand a word of if its catchy.Fela was able to stir up some interest among fans abroad on his terms because he was bringing something they had never seen.There was the unique instrumentation,the costumes,the dancing and the legend about all the dancers being his wives.

Even from a Nigerian perspective,Ja ra E

is a mid-tempo afro-beat song that appears stuck between now and then.It lacks the energy to move the young listener and though a recognizable template for the more matured listener,its ladden with too many elements of music for the young to get a permanent spot on the playlist.As far as impressing the international audience goes,most will hit skip when it comes on.

DON'T JEALOUS ME (TEKNO,YEMI ALADE & MR EAZI)

Its really not a big deal these days for a nigerian artiste to score a major international collaboration or to see foreign acts dancing to nigerian songs.That is a huge testament to growth.In 2019,a nigerian artiste dreaming of making the next Gagnam style doesn't sound far-fetched.

Dance has always represented the best potential to key into with the shaku shaku and zanku dance steps making waves across the globe and in Don't Jealous Me, the fabulous trio of Tekno,Mr Eazi and Yemi Alade keep their eyes on the ball.Its bouncy and absorbing in a real African way and just about any of the dances would appear tailor-made for it.

With the right video,this song could go on to become huge.If we really want to talk this album being an opportunity for african artistes to showcase their wares to the world,then Don't Jealous Me is the jam.Its where artistic brilliance meets right strategy.Tekno talks the talk perfectly and Yemi Alade's background vocals add some spice but Mr Eazi is the star of the show with his auto-tuned, 'african' accented pre-chorus and ghanaian post-chorus.A great song no doubt.

Nigerian artistes certainly don't disappoint Beyonce on The Gift.

DIEZANI,BUHARI AND THE UK: PARDON ME TO THINK THOSE ITEMS WERE PLANTED

I have searched without any luck for an exact location and precise date in every news report on the jeweleries and customized gold iphone allegedly belonging to former minister of petroleum,Diezani Allison-Madueke sought to be forfeited to the Federal Government.That will answer a lot of questions.Going by the Buhari administration's reluctance to extradite her to face charges and the failure of the UK government to also do so after it had promised,the Diezani situation is one that needs to be observed very closely.Without a date those items were recovered and a precise location,then those jeweleries could have been planted by none other than Diezani herself in conjuction with the authorities.

A specific date and location would have answered questions as to the time government had those items in its possession and whether it was from a house it had already cordoned off at that time or not viz-a-viz the likelihood of her running off to the UK without making any attempt to hide items worth over $40M.

In September 2017,Ibrahim Magu,the EFCC chairman said there were ongoing plans to extradite Diezani back to Nigeria to face charges since the UK has failed to prosecute her.More than a year later in 2018,he said the very same thing-there were on-going plans to extradite her.

Now in 2019,instead of giving us that same line,their handlers get smart and fashion out a way to score some PR points for the government while at the hide and seek game by parading luxurious items and tagging them hers.Government need not spend a dime procuring those things,the woman herself will get it if it'll keep her out of prison. 

Diezani was said to have found a way to be on the same flight with then President-Elect Muhammadu Buhari to London.The media reports then were to the effect that she had approached him to discuss a soft landing but her advances were rebuffed.Maybe some way some how she was able to manage that either personally or through proxies otherwise there is no way else to rationalize the lukewarm attitude of both the UK and Nigerian government to prosecuting her.

When the woman herself insisted on coming back home to face trial,the authorities said she wanted to escape an imminent trial in the UK for money laundering offences.The UK government had slated a June 2017 trial for Diezani.It is 2019 and she not only hasn't been taken to court,there are no plans of doing so.If a whole UK government can act Buhari-like on a case like this then it means some sort of deal may have been negotiated for her and many fingers are pointing at the Buhari administration.She lets go of some cash and choice properties and she is allowed to roam without any worry of prosecution.The same type of deal she has down here.

We all saw how instead of Patience Jonathan,the former first lady thanking her stars money in the accounts of their former aides wasn't traced to her,she rushed out to claim them and even took the EFCC to court.The effrontery is shocking.Almost like she knew nobody would charge her to court no matter what.Till date,all the EFCC has done is punish her for that by seizing some more of her properties but it has not as much as invited her for questioning talk more charge her to court.Whenever there is a need to impress or deceive nigerians,government or its agencies will come out to tell us of a confiscated property or amount of money.No talk of prosecution.Pardon me to think the Diezani jewelleries and iphone may have been planted.

President Buhari specifically told nigerians every corrupt person will have their day in court.Why are these persons still walking free?.What message are we sending to other prospective mass looters of our common wealth-steal but steal enough to return some?.The Buhari administration has continuously done nothing as far as the very big guns are concerned.Not even to kill off the many stories being peddled around.

It has been whispered in some quarters that the reason why the first lady,Aisha Buhari's aide de camp,Sani Baba-Inna has not been charged to court for defrauding undisclosed persons of  N2.5bn in her name is that he acts as a liaison between her and corrupt persons whom she extorts with the threat of prosecution.His family has been reported as saying they know he took her money and that he was a front for her.Diezani is said to be one of the first lady's worst victims.Jail is the last place the woman would want to be in and she will do anything to avoid it.Pardon me again to think those items may have been planted and to some effect.Less and less people celebrate the seizures without worrying about the need to set a deterrent with Diezani.

The only way Buhari will truly impress us as far as the lady is concerned is having her pay for her sins.

MOST ARTISTES SHOULDN'T OWN A LABEL: OLADIPS/REMINISCE AS A CASE STUDY

THE LABEL CRAZE

Top Ghanaian rapper,D-Black real name Desmond Blackmore was recently asked by Ghana's music and entertainment blog,Graphic Showbiz if his lack of proper managerial skills was responsible for the departure of 6 artistes within months from his Black Muzik Avenue record label and he said "No,every artiste comes with his manager.I just provide the financing".

Most artistes want to start a label after a couple of hits but owning and managing one entails a lot more than the average artiste on this side of the divide thinks.It takes more than just 'financing' an artiste and giving them a platform.So far,even where artistes are paid accordingly,the most common problem they have had is promotion.Either they aren't availed enough funds for it or it isn't properly done by the label.If D-black hands over to his artistes whatever they request for promotion and in the end,they squander it and come back for more,he will stop being wasteful and the artiste will feel enough isn't being done.

Managing a label is a full time job and no label should operate if it won't handle the promotion of its artistes itself.Nothing stops the artistes from doing the little they can on their own but basically it is the responsibility of he who has sunk money into an artiste's career and who hopes to reap from it to push him.

Quite commendably however,some big artistes have stayed conscious of the fact that their personal careers will take up most of their time and resources and have graciously resorted to 'helper-helpee' arrangements rather than signing young artistes and wasting away their fruitful years with shabby arrangements.Associating with these artistes alone thrusts them into the spotlight.They call in favours from a lot of friends to get them collaborations,magnanimously shoot a few videos and hook them up with the right promoters for shows.That is better.

THE OLADIPS/REMINISCE SITUATION

Oladips shocked the music world when he dropped a single titled 'Maybe' where he narrates his sad ordeal at his old label,Reminisce's Les Roses Rouges.Going by what the artiste himself said,if anyone refers to a signed contract as a helper-helpee arrangement then "the contract is a f**king trap and a fraud".Its important to get a grasp of the Oladips/Reminisce relationship.

We were first introduced to Oladips when he won D'banj's King Don Come rap competition and Reminisce signed him on afterwards.Alaga had a couple of endorsements then notably one with Samsung and was doing well on the music scene.Oladips would get something decent to pocket and perhaps a good car.

More importantly,the exposure that would come with being with Alaga; who himself is an indigenous rapper would be too much of a lure to resist.He gradually earned himself a reputation as a great artiste over time who despite scoring a major hit 2 years later in 'Lalakukulala',had impressed very much on virtually every song he made or featured on.Though it is advisable to hear both sides before reaching a conclusion,2 things tilt the balance in his favour-First,Reminisce hasn't had him drop an album and Secondly,Alaga isn't quite in the same position he was when he signed Oladips and may have difficulty fulfiling some of his obligations.Sojay; who had earned quite a reputation for himself on eLdee's Trybe records as one of the finest voices in the country was on LRR and left after some singles.The only artiste to have ever dropped an album on Reminisce's label is Reminisce.

Even when he appeared in a good position financially,he found it difficult handling his career along with others on the label.One thing a lot of artistes that have rushed into starting labels need to learn from the Oladips/Reminisce situation is when to let an artiste go.An artiste searching for a break through will swallow anything you say and sign whatever you present to him.And when after a while you renege on certain aspects of the agreement,he is willing to still stick around in search of his lucky break but when that artiste has grown to the stature Oladips has,you either fulfil your contractual obligations to the letter or have a serious problem to contend with.Leaving the label alone is news for the blogs and ultimately bad publicity.With a song like 'Lalakukulala',if Oladips hasn't or isn't making money for LRR then the problem lies with the label who perhaps aren't marketing him right.Besides,a contract is a contract.An artiste has to be paid his dues whether or not they make any money which is why the unready label boss/flagship artiste is better off with a helper-helpee arrangement.The signed artiste usually bemoans a proper lack of promotion by his label but when he is being told he is being done a 'favour' whenever a 'dollar' is spent,that is a major problem.

D'BANJ'S "SHY" AND 3 THINGS HE REALLY NEEDS TO DO

"Since early morning i neva chop,i neva smoke,i neva drink.Even common uhmm woman i neva uhmm..I'm so shy".

The chorus is 90% of an afro-pop song and from this point onwards,it was going to take a miracle to salvage D'banj's Shy.Fans have over the years fallen in love with songs whose choruses they didn't understand a word of thanks to the Terry Gs of this world but those were very pleasant noise.They were bouncy,had rhythm and made on an inch-perfect instrumental.Bangalee is a more conventional artiste aiming for groove and a very potent sing-along vibe to resonate with fans.That to an appreciable degree is dependent on the lyrics used.A lot of people would relate to someone saying "Since early morning i neva chop,smoke or drink" but to not only make a big deal of not sleeping with a woman since morning but to also pass it off as being a more regular thing than eating,smoking and drinking feels so off.To compound things,the "I'm so shy" mantra kicks in right afterwards.D'banj hasn't eaten,smoked and drank since morning because he is shy?.Does that really make sense?.

On an instrumental perhaps needing a little more sauce than the conga drum pattern,whatever good his decent verse does is defeated by the poorly composed and unmoving chorus.

D'banj has been yearning for a huge hit since he broke up with former partner and producer,Don Jazzy without much success.What the artiste needs to do is evaluate his strengths,weaknesses and find out how best to re-enact the magic of yester years.

-P-Square had louder hits than D'banj but he was bigger than them.What he had going for him was a strong personality.People loved D'banj and had to love his music; a boisterous guy in trend-setting fashion gears either doing the 'koko fist' on stage or wearing only a towel.In 'Koko' and 'No long thing',he was synonymous with 2 of the biggest slangs to have ever hit the music industry.Taking a back seat,only popping up for the very grand occasions and then a song every now and then hasn't worked much.D'banj needs to be a lot more conspicuous outside the music doing the things only he can do.Its a lot easier in this current age of social media.He has a follow up single due for release soon featuring Slimcase and the title 'Mo Cover E' plus a recent Slimcase skit with controversial nollywood actress,Etinosa strongly suggest Bangalee is thinking in the slang direction.The consistency should extend to the other things that made the D'banj brand one of the most loved.

-Collabos.If you've followed the artiste over the years,you'll have to give him credit for a lot of his features.D'banj has slayed a lot of artistes on their tracks in a way he hardly manages to do on his.His performance on Skales' Senrere has been his best on any track since.Curiously,he has found it difficult to replicate that brilliance on a song he features others.While it would be logical to suggest he gets good song writers to pitch him something to work on,its best he remedies that by working on himself and picking the right artistes.Ones who would do to his songs what he did to Seyi Shay's Tina; Magic.

-Finally a good old buzzer to follow the right track.Olamide kept mute while word was planted round the blogosphere that he was dissing Davido on Buga Small Small.The controversy Science Student spawned was good for the song and Woske; a fabulous effort seem to have just passed by,so the needful was done.D'banj is a big boy no doubt but when an opportunity to start a fire for any of his songs presents itself,he needs to grab it.