Posts Tagged ‘ illBliss ’

The Kalifate – Ikira Squad Remix ft. Illbliss, Terry Da Rapman, Ruffman, S.H.E, Rooftop Mcs & Mo’ Dogg

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

Ok GOOD music has arrived! This is the star studded remix of The Kalifate’s chart topping track “Ikira Squard” from their album “RE-INK-A-NATION” and word on the street is it was produced by Frenzy – the dude that was responsible for Illbliss “U Go Wound O” track. And honestly it can’t get any more hip-hop than this.

“I heard some rapper dissed me said I wasn’t famous in Lagos/Wanted to diss him back but then I forget what is name was” – Terry Da Rapman.

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Obiwon ft. M.I, Illbliss, Blaise & Guchi Young – Obi Mu O (Remix)

Sunday, February 7th, 2010

Kel – The Investment [Review]

Saturday, August 29th, 2009

Tracklist

  1. INTRO
  2. WAA WA ALRIGHT FT. SKIN
  3. NOBODY ELSE FT. SHANK
  4. TURN BY TURN FT. WIZKID & YQ
  5. BEAUTIFUL LIFE FT. AIQUE
  6. JEUN SOKE
  7. TOO FINE FT. ALAYE & MAYD
  8. OMO YAPAYASKI FT. DURELLA
  9. THE SOLA THOMPSON SKIT
  10. NEED YOU IN MY LIFE FT. SIX & DAREY
  11. BOY MEETS GIRL FT. SLK
  12. LOVE FT. M.I. & OC
  13. THE TOSYN BUCKNOR SKIT
  14. DEM DON DEY MOVE FT. ILLBLISS, THA SUSPECT & UCHIE
  15. DIE HUSTLING FT. ILLBLISS
  16. PUSH FT. NYORE
  17. WAA WA ALRIGHT REMIX FT. ICEPRINCE
  18. SITTING ON TOP FT. WAJE & JESSE JAGZ
  19. OUTRO

Female emcees are far too often regarded as decrepit in the industry. They are sometimes even sidelined by their male counterparts despite the role they played when hip-hop began in the 1970s. The marginalization of female voices in the industry has discouraged a lot of females to get involved in the art form but Kel is using “The Investment” to shatter the ‘Wall of Sexism’, lay a foundation, and set a standard for up and coming female MCs.

She raps with a style and class that contradicts the image many have of female rappers. A veritable talent who blends an ethereal beauty with a beautiful haunting voice something that we don’t see too often in the hip-hop world as far as female MCs goes (you might want to glance at Lil Kim’s recent pictures). Let’s hope lip gloss won’t kill female rap in the Afro hip-hop scene with a female MC like Kel bringing some skills and class to the table.

Waa Wa Alright (ft. Skin)

Don’t let her look fool you because behind that pretty face lurks a dragon that spit rapid conflagration lyrics over a sick beat. Kel’s vocal alone is ponderous that it can stomp out much of the competition. Kel is a quadruple threat: she writes, raps, sings and looks smokily hot. When you add those qualities to the kicks, claps, and snares of Tha Suspect all you get is a winner, which ever way you might want to look at it. And if you are feeling dejected just play this track and “Waa wa alright” immediately.

Nobody Else (ft. Shank & Suspect)

Shank blazed throughout this track with his wicked unique voice bringing an exceptional blend of reggae and hip-hop to this fine production by Tha Suspect. A repetitive listen of this track will lift the pleasant-sounding voice of Tha Suspect over you while it gently settles in with the rhythm of the beat.

Turn By Turn (ft. Wizkid & YQ)

Turn By Turn harkens back to those days when music used to embodies powerful emotions and messages. Kel shared her little life experiences on this track with the aide of Wizkid’s archetypal delivery. YQ as usual came correct on this record with his distinct voice and I must say that you should be on a look out for Wizkid because that kid is going to be a problem.

Beautiful Life (ft. Aique)

With a track like this you cannot categorize Kelechi Ohia (Kel) or put her into one box of music. This soulful kind of track only make her musical talent to run the gamut of all genres of music. And the continuation in this path will broaden her audience and make her the darling of Nigerian soul (Asa is still my favorite though). Aique is a rare talent that I still have to discover his music.

Jeun Soke

With production credits that range from Modenine to M.I., Jesse Jagz has become Nigeria’s next top producer to make the list of “must work with” producer by every Nigerian artist’s. His background in classical music reflects in his finely crafted beat that enhances the sultry voice of Miss Kel.

Too Fine (ft. Alaye & MayD)

Featuring Alaye a.k.a Pluto (an undeniable talented MC with deep roots in the 1970s funk and reggae) makes this track one of my favorite off the album. “You too fine, girl you dey blow my mind, my mind girl. You too fine, Kel you be one of a kind, a kind girl” MayD sings in hushed tones with his haunting silky tenor that blends with the groove-driven production of Tee-Y Mix.

Omo Yapayaski (ft. Durella)

Kel restates her claim has the lyrical best over this unique beat that consists of pianos, hand-claps, and a drum loop. And she might have even won over a number of “Zangalists” with Durella (King of the Zanga) throwing in some Zanga argot to light up the song.

Need You In My Life (ft. Six & Darey)

This song is a mid-tempo harmonic rap about a boy that is trying to sweet talk a girl. The song moves between Darey’s smooth vocal (“oh Kel you got me going wild/could it be your eye? /Maybe it’s your thigh/probably your size”) to Six calculated staccato pidgin rap (come on ma ain’t trying to play you/anta lomo boy just wanna be with you/ok no shitting/loving what am I seeing/all of you get meaning/my Nubian queen”). This is definitely a radio-friendly song.

Boy Meets Girl (ft. SLK)

Kel display her story-telling ability and razor-sharp lyricism, such as “You find love in the strangest of places/you even find lust in the strangest of faces/what I felt was way beyond me/the kind of love we all assume is way beyond reach.” This is another standout track off the album.

Love (ft. M.I. & OC)

This is, without a doubt, a timeless music created by Naija Poster Child of Rap. This is a song that we can all grasp something from when it comes to the things of the heart. M.I. & OC were huge asset to Kel on this record.

Dem Don Dey Move (ft. IllBliss, Tha Suspect & Uchie)

This track is infused with the hyperactive energy of IllBliss’s lyrics; Dem Don Dey Move features Tha Suspect gritty sounding beat and Tha Suspect also featured on the track. IllBliss ego enhancing rhymes were on point as usual and Uchie another guest appearance pulled it off quite well.

Die Hustling (ft. IllBliss)

Nearly 97 percent of the tracks on the album had guest appearances but I’ll pre-empt any criticisms by saying that the guest appearances make the album an exceptional debut for Kel. IllBliss took control of the track with his not too complex punchlines, verbal wordplay, name dropping, and ability to grab-attention with his emphasizing voice. Kel wasn’t intimidated at all by IllBliss’s wordplay as she was just “packing what dudes are lacking”.

Push (ft. Nyore)

Nigeria reggae sensation did justice to this track with her strong reggae base and I should quickly chip in that her performance on “Rodeo” has made a lasting impression on her fans. This is truly an enjoyable soothing song.

Waa Wa Alright (ft. Iceprince)

Iceprince’s chest pounding rhymes can be compared to those of eLZhi’s (the member of the Detroit group Slum Village) and his intelligentsia approach reflects on the track. His heavy metaphors were leaking all over the record as this Chocolate City cat took us on a lyrical quest. Kel’s self-assertiveness and braggadocio come to life on the track with lines like “Cos I’m capital real/I’m copping the wheels/while you checking the bills/I’m locking dem deals”. This is a 3 mics for the hip-hop heads that loves rating.

Sitting On Top (ft. Waje & Jesse Jagz)

Kel decided to have the last track on the album auto-tuned that the digital pitch-correction device overshadows the message of the song. The T-Pain robot voice is so annoying that I will recommend Jay’s “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” to Miss Kel. It’s just tough love Kel no pun intended at all.

Rating: 3.5/5

IllBliss – Can’t Lose In Lagos

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

New drop from Nigeria’s hip hop lawmaker ILLBLISS, the track is off his still in work LP “The Action Congress”. Remember to #lightupnigeria on twitter…

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Download: IllBliss – Can’t Lose In Lagos

IllBliss – Dat Ibo Boy [Review]

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

My first taste of Ibo boy was his video featuring Kel and I was gob smacked!! What veracious delivery with so much verve and control. I was actually more impressed with Kel and I became an instant fan. So I review this album with much expectation and hope the 3 hours of review is worth it. So pick up the CD if you’ve got it and let’s jam.

Intro
A Mike Works production with a little help from Nas makes this Intro a stand out. Reminds me of Nas’s intro on Stillmatic and I’m quite impressed with the near replica. Smooth delivery and quality production. It seems like we are in for some exciting ride.

U go wound
Tight track laden with vibe and energy! The chorus is daring and a warning to those who dare step into Illbliss’s territory. I think the video cut was better but that’s not taking anything away from this piece. No punch line but an anthem all the same. I’m feeling it.

Dat Ibo Boy
A fast paced production targeted at the party boppers. Not sure it goes all the way as one to raise the roof. But the delivery is smooth and compliments the production. The lyrics relate to Ibo boys not afraid of flaunting their wealth and buying drinks in the club. Not sure about the drugs and 19 boys thingy in the first verse. All the same an average attempt at bragging.

Enuf Space
Ok, now I’m getting confused. I’ve never heard more Ibo burdened rants on a track like I have in the past 10 minutes. So much for tribal philosophy! Oh well guess I must have gotten carried away with the intro. Back to the song, a sampling of a popular party banger by Terry G, who incidentally features as well; Illbliss continues to display with confidence his proud heritage. Ironically, the chorus is in Yoruba but doesn’t deter him. The production is fast pace and well arranged. The delivery is intense and the lyrics hold through to its theme. Not one for the shelves though. Kudos to Terry G as he effortlessly makes the track sound better

Glory
I kind of like his voice as he uses it effectively. “I don’t give a hoot so far boyz getting loot”. Well that probably sums up the song. Here, Ibo Boy venerates his Ibo Boy status yet again and delivers a tight rap and ensures you realize he’s getting his money and will knock you out if you’re in his way. The chorus is kind of childish as it reminds me of some boys scout chant. An average track all the same.

Feeling U
Some techno baby!! A different direction on this track!!! Illbliss displays his “swagger” (Lately, I hate to use that word) and his softer side. The production is good so is the chorus. However, the rap just doesn’t fit. “Can I buy you a drink/depends on what you think/about us cuddling in the…”sure didn’t help. Apparently the chick is swayed by his lies. A stale tale hommie!!!

Turn my head
Guess “Wage” took the chorus. Ibo Boy continues with his softer side but this time he is dreaming of his wedding day with his boys in their “black suit”. The girl responds by saying he is “turning his head”. Well in Naija terms it means she is head over heels. The production is remarkably good again as it got me nodding “my head too”. In the second verse he assures the girl he wasn’t down with groupies and just loves his tall Ibo chic. This song would have done better without the rap.

Don’t dirty my shirt
Don’t be deceived by the lack luster chorus as the beat once again maintains the standard of its predecessors. The delivery is also matching and compliments the intensity of the production. Well below average lyrically but his voice and delivery makes you forget. As stated the beat stands out and will probably sound better with better vocals.

Currency Boys
The intro to this song is disgusting (I mean the chorus). He’s weakest link has got to be his chorus especially when he does it himself. However, I was blown away by the delivery in the first verse. If that’s eLDee then that brother’s still got game. Almost flawless delivery and by far the best 35 seconds of this album thus far! All punch lines!! Illbliss also matches with his best delivery yet. Without the chorus and the hooks, this song would be up there as a classic.

Da Boss
Half way ok and I’m a little disappointed as I expected more. However it’s a 20 song album so let’s not give up. Another scary intro as the voice on the chorus was almost crying for attention. Don’t mistake the track for a Killz chant as the “hey” may deceive you. I like it when rappers extol themselves with due respect for others. I call that diplomatic bragging!! He does it well on this track as he calls himself the greatest amongst greats such as Mode 9 and MI. Not sure what the pair will think about that but then that’s a direct affirmation that shouldn’t be left to go unnoticed. He also takes a swipe at the SA loving video artists and maintains music can’t be his only hustle. The most daring attack at the industry I’ve seen in a while.

Leader
With Durella on this track I wasn’t sure what to expect. A near gusty track if not for the artist he featured. The production is as expected and is worth a remake with artistic and stronger vocals.

Tobechukwu
A religious track going by the title, oh well so I thought! A smooth delivery and an even better control of his voice! Don’t know why he curses on this track. “Between the nice clothes and stardoms/still log on to problems dot com”! Kind of reminds you of the mo money problems catch phrase. Apparently he tries to demonstrate his resilience to adversities and lets us know his only conqueror is God. Amongst the best thus far!

Side of your mouth
Oh well so far, the second part of this album has quite impressed me. Hip hop is running the show for now as he tries to come out harder on his lyrical content. With a little help from Thorough Breads (hope I got the name right) this track just makes it to the very top. Aided by quality production the guys just make rap sound so sweet and easy. Voice clarity is top notch on both verses and compliments the tight lyrics. Notably “Salute the Thorough Team/yes boss/we play to win/delete fake cats/leave ‘em in recycle bins”. This track makes it to my play list!!!

Limelite
A pure mismatch! A trio of wrong beats, chorus and delivery! Killz would have done better with this track. He actually vents his anger and disdain at the print media, haters and anyone else who cares to listen. Letting them know he is no faker and stays true to his down to earth self. Unfortunately, he finds the wrong platform for this message on this track. Actually, he is his own enemy!

National Cake
Another quality production and a politically motivated track! He uses a cake as a metaphor representing the Nation’s resources badly used by those in power. The lyrics are revealing and daring. His voice clarity ensures the message is clear and crisp and leaves no stone unturned. In three verses he touches on corruption, brain drain, unemployment, mass exodus of our nation’s youth, Niger Delta crisis and everything that’s has been a bane to our Nation hood. The delivery left me reeling while the production just keeps me focused. An “A” track any day!

Blessing
What’s a hip hop album without a bit of ragamuffin?? An attempt to blend some raga with rap! The production is creative but lacks the intensity the vocals require. The lyrics are tight and spare no blushes as the delivery once again is above average. The track is a compliment to his wife who he thanks for being a blessing to his life. He should have left the chorus for the Raga to flow without interference. An average track all the same.

Lead the way
C-Mion sounds like your typical gospel singer on this track and won’t be surprised if he is one. Another glorifying joint to a female companion probably his wife or girlfriend. This is the 4th track dedicated to either a girl/lover/girlfriend/wife. Not outstanding either!

Music na hussle
“Not connected at Glo but my pocket is all green for my effort”! Well that’s a direct talk To Whom It May Concern. Another daring track and Ibo Boys spares no blushes. He takes on anyone who dare to question his “hussle”. Sounds like what any artist looking for attention will gloat about, so don’t be alarmed it’s nothing new. The beat is once again creative and top notch.

Change
It’s either Illbliss has got a good ear for beats or is just damn lucky with his selections. A near departure from his usual vernacular or home grown chorus as it sounds very foreign. This time he takes on the world and its need for change. He references the music revolution taking place in Nigeria and relates that to the signs that change is coming. Not many Nigerian acts will put this kind of track on an album let alone sound so impressive on it.

Uwa Afufu
Another conscious rap that’s well crafted and well delivered. A beautiful epilogue of his rise from a young unemployed graduate, to a young uncle and eventually to a young immigrant hustler! The production is perfectly suited for this track as it allows him lace the mic without much hindrance. The only down side was the lyrics. The rhyming was poor and almost nonexistent a crucial ingredient for hip-hop.

Final Analysis
I got to say I thoroughly enjoyed reviewing this album even though it’s far from being a classic. I’ve got mixed feeling about it as it at time appears inspiring and then stuck in mediocrity. Such is the mixed bag associated with this LP.

High Points
I noticed the album is divided into 3 parts with Part 1 eulogizing his heritage and affirming his presence for good. The second part addresses his softer side as well as his appeal to the party lovers. The final part takes us on a philosophical path way as he weaves politics with personal struggle and industry superiority.
It’s also worthy to note that his choice of beats were near spot on as the quality of his sounds grew from strength to strength except for one or 2 tracks.

Low points
The album could well have excelled with fewer tracks as its 20 list content was packed with a lot of mediocre joints. Close to ¾ of the entire album had watery lyrics only made to sound better by the near excellent quality of its beats!
The album also had a lot of repeated hooks and lines (which is predominant in main stream rap these days) at times providing a filler effect.
With a little more effort on its lyrical content, better composition and controlled delivery this may have just turned out a classic.

Without much ado, I personally rate this album 2 1/2 mics (with 1 ½ for the quality of its production)!!!

Reviewed by Ugochukwu Obi – Chukwu.

IllBliss – Currency Boys ft. eLDee & Suspect

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

Lifted from IllBliss recently released album “Dat Ibo Boy”.

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Download: IllBliss – Currency Boys ft. eLDee & Suspect

Knighthouse ft. Kel, eLDee, Y.Q and Othello – Ijinlé Pam-Pam

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

kn

Knighthouse Street Scriptures is compiling one the sickest albums featuring the industry’s best talents like Mode IX, IllBliss, Terry Tha Rapman and having some of the newest names like Sauce Kid, Othello, M.I., Kel, Blaise, Nyore, Mo’Cheddah, Teeto C-Mos, Teckzilla, Loose Kaynon, Skuki on its roster.

Ijinlé Pam-Pam started with a shout out to the Naija DJs and it just played through from there on to the end. I should also add that Knighthouse has the best match up’s when it comes to putting artists together on the same track – if you think this is a fluke you should check out Da Finest featuring Sauce Kid, Mo’Cheddah & Teeto C-Mos.

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Download: Knighthouse ft. Kel, eLDee, Y.Q and Othello – Ijinlé Pam-Pam

IllBliss – Everybody Move [Ruggedman Diss]

Monday, May 25th, 2009

illblissnas

Okay…I won’t hold on to this any longer and for those that are still wondering whether IllBliss recorded a Ruggedman diss track or not well he did. And who is going to safe Ruggedman from these top-notch lyricists as it is now looking as if the head warmer man (Ruggedman) is getting boxed in a corner. The question is who is next in line to take a jab at Ruggedman?

“…unlike uhm the head warmer man, I no be Modenine man I go tear your head commot…”

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Download: IllBliss – Everybody Move [Ruggedman Diss]

IllBliss – Dat Ibo Boy [Album]

Sunday, May 24th, 2009

illbliss

The name IllBliss might not ring a bell to you, if you haven’t been following closely the Nigerian music scene, but he has been around for some time now schooling rappers with his lyrical prowess. Tobechukwu Melvin Ejiofor adopted the name IllBliss while a member of the much talked about underground group THOROUGHBREDS which gave him the opportunity to have worked with some of the biggest names in the industry like Paul Play, M.I., and Blaise just to name a few.

But while crowned by one of hip-hop’s great Nas and rubbing shoulders with some of hip-hop’s elite in Nigeria, IllBliss has never lost focus when it came to releasing his own materials, and now he has released his much anticipated album Dat Ibo Boy fresh off a collaboration with Terry G on Aiye Po Gan.

Some tracks have been leaked to the internet to stimulate your appetite before the album is made available on iTunes and other digital stores for purchases. Enjoy!!!

1. Intro (produced by Micworx)

2. U Go Wound (produced by Frenzy)

3. Dat Ibo Boy (produced by Frenzy)

4. Enuff Space (Aiye po gan) (featuring and produced by Terry G)

5. Glory (produced by Wazbeat)

6. Feelin’ U (produced by Micworx)

7. Turn My Head feat. Waje ((produced by Smyl)

8. Don’t Dirty My Shirt (produced by Osh)

9. Currency Boys feat. eLDee and Suspect (produced by Suspect)

10. Da Boss feat. Suspect (produced by micworx)

11. Leader feat. Durella (produced by Micworx)

12. Tobechukwu (produced by Elajoe)

13. Side Of Your Mouf (produced by XYZ)

14. Limelite feat. Ijeoma (produced by Smyl)

15. National Cake (produced by Jonah D’Monarch)

16. Blessing feat. Pype (produced by Paul Play)

17. Lead The Way feat. C-mion (produced by Micworx)

18. Music Na My Hussle (produced by TY mix)

19. Change (produced by M.I)

20. Uwa Afufu -life (produced by Jonah D’Monarch)

21. Outro (produced by Micworx)

DJ Sose Presents What Summer Is Saying [Mixtape]

Sunday, May 10th, 2009

I have been seeing DJ Sose’s pictures but I have never really heard his mixes but when he personally sent this in I took my time to listen to it and honestly the mix is amazing. So download the mixtape while it last and shout out to DJ Seso for blessing us with his mixtape – good looking out man. Side note “DJ Sose was nominated twice as the Best World Dj at the 2008 edition of the NEA”.

Tracklist

01. Dr. Pat ft. Sheyman – Hotter Than Fire

02. Nigga Raw – Shake Una Body (Remix)

03. Darey ft. 2face & Naeto C – Se Ti Gbo

04. Tonestar – Gongo Aso (Remix)

05. Deebee – Party Banger

06. Bigiano – Shayo (Remix)

07. IllBliss ft. Terry G – Aiye Pon Gan (Enough Space)

08. Wande Coal ft. Dr. Sid – Ten Ten

09. Dampte ft. Y.Q – Wine Your Tonkolo

10. Chuddy K – Slow Slow (Remix)

11. Sauce Kid ft. Teeto – Da Finest

12. Loose Kaynon – Swagger101

13. Duncan Mighty – Ijeoma

14. KC Presh – Shokori Bobo

15. 2face – Jungle Don Mature

16. AY.Com ft. Terry G – Pass Me Ur Luv

17. D’banj – Igwe

18. Wande Coal – Se Ope

19. IKnow You Like It vs. Party Rider (Remix)

20. Wande Coal – Instrumental

Download: DJ Seso Presents What Summer Is Saying [Mixtape]