Olamide “Unruly” Album Review

Unruly

Olamide

• Genre: Afrobeats
• Date: 09 Aug, 2023
• Content: explicit
• Region: NGA
• Track(s): 15
• ℗ 2023 YBNL Nation / EMPIRE

“Unruly,” the long-awaited album from Olamide, the voice of the streets, has finally arrived to critical praise! Since “Unruly” has been in the works for a while, there were some doubts about it. He withheld it for a while and the release date was altered several times. However, after being advanced one final time, it was eventually released.

Only new-generation artists—including his own Asake, Fireboy, Ckay, Rema, and Bnxn—are featured on the album’s 15 songs. Three pre-released singles, “New Religion,” “Amapiano,” and “Trumpet,” were also used to support it. On their separate features, the new school artists demonstrated their talents and established themselves as generational talents.

This marks Olamide’s first album in two years and his eleventh overall. Hearing from the legend is a treat, and the wait was well worth it.

Album Cover Art

For his album cover, Baddo decides to use an equally unruly avatar of himself showing off the ice water on his neck and hands, and that covering in his teeth. Cleaning up nice in a custom-made black suit with a head full of thick, dark locs, and some shades to go with, it needs no announcement that the time is definitely Unruly o’clock.

Tracks and Features

“Celebrate” starts the album with gratitude and merry but in a chill manner meant for a boss like Baddo. Over the beautifully melodious production from Asake’s right-hand man, Magic Sticks, Olamide talks about his grass-to-grace story and the reasons why he just has to celebrate and turn up. The lacing of Amapiano in the beat and the backup vocalists for the chorus definitely amped up the vibe.

“Jinja” comes on and raises the tempo and introduces a different melody and flow as Olamide raps about his woman and how he is down to follow her lead. He is entranced by her and he does not think twice about letting her know how available for her he is whenever she needs him. It also gets a little explicit but Baddo keeps it light and groovy. Shout-out to Eskees for a top-notch production.

“Problem” runs on the fuel of the last track, still encircling around the theme of love and being head over heels in love. Olamide says he would even pop some molly if that’s what his baby wants. He’s beyond willing to go the distance for his woman to keep her smiling, as long as she rubs his back in return. Another major highlight that sweetened the pot is the carefully curated beat by Magic Sticks that helped a rapper sound equally great as a singer.

“Gaza” takes the vibe to the streets. Olamide raps about the come-up struggles and chameleons disguised as friends who are quick to change colors when the grass is green. In coming months, this one should start getting massive airplay in every hood in Lagos.

The experimental “Doom” comes out surprisingly nice, as Olamide tries his hands at Drill, or AfroDrill in this case. The rapper finds a way to spice up the rendition so it doesn’t risk coming out as a first half-assed attempt at a genre-bend crossover. While he raps about getting the bread and getting messy with the bad bitches, he warns about the lethal consequences of killing his vibe. His flow reminds you of Ice Spice, though.

Next is the serenading “Trumpet” with CKay. Both artists croon about love and doing the nasty with their lovers in the most harmless ways possible. BNXN brings the new-school flows and melodies to “Come Alive.” He joins Baddo on the P. Priime-produced track to sing about love and what they’re willing to do for their love interests. Then Asake comes out of lending insane background vocals and enters the scene in “New Religion,” where he teams up with Olamide to brag about their soft living and iconic musical skills.

The new school juice keeps flowing in “Shibebe” featuring the ever-so-smooth Fireboy DML. And whether or not you looked forward to some nasty, grown content for this collaboration, this absolute jam should delight you. The calm groove, lovely melodies and ingenious flow provided by the musicians should cuff you to this track. Olamide taps the Rave Lorde, Rema, for “Mukulu,” and he delivers one of the most enchanting choruses of this project. Again, the theme is centered on love and butterflies in the belly.

“Street Jam” brings the album to a close and reminds you of the old Olamide and a little bit of Dagrin. Dedicating the track to the streets, the rapper goes on about the hustle and the unending chase for paper.

Tracklist

NO	TITLE	ARTIST	TIME
1	Celebrate	Olamide	2:56
2	Jinja	Olamide	2:35
3	Problem	Olamide	2:43
4	Gaza	Olamide	2:14
5	Doom	Olamide	2:12
6	Trumpet	Olamide & CKay	3:08
7	Come Alive	Olamide & Bnxn	3:20
8	New Religion	Olamide & Asake	2:33
9	Shibebe	Olamide & Fireboy DML	2:43
10	Mukulu	Olamide & Rema	3:47
11	Hardcore	Olamide	2:16
12	Supplier	Olamide	2:33
13	Life Goes On	Olamide	2:19
14	No Worries	Olamide	2:19
15	Street Jam	Olamide	2:07

Album Theme

The good life, enjoying it to the fullest on personal terms, while living and letting live.

Production Credits

Alex Lustig, Bbanks, CKay, Eskeez, LNK, Magicsticks, niketaz & P.Priime produced the album.

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