#AlbumReview: Asake speeds on but is unable to surpass own standards on ‘Work of Art’
Ahmed 'Asake' Ololade continues his amazing run with the release of his second album in the space of 9 months but how does his sophomore project compare with his debut?
When the COVID-induced lockdown of 2020 happened, every human endeavour was brought to its knees, including music, and many feared the world would never recover from such an onslaught.
Equally, there were doubts if music shows and concerts would return as well but the overdrive that the Nigerian music industry would go into was a disguised blessing only a clairvoyant few could have seen coming.
In August 2020 alone, a host of artistes including Fireboy, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage and Adekunle Gold released albums. Niniola, Qdot, Olamide, Wizkid, Davido followed in the ensuing months and the pace of music industry never went down from there. There was no dry period as EPs followed LPs and tours and award nights resumed.
Fast forward to 2022, Asake, unprecedentedly, joins the pacy music train, moves straight to the vanguard coach and drives up the gear a notch. It was one hit after the other, ultimately climaxing with an album.
Just when his burgeoning fanbase thought he would take a break after his debut album, Loaded dropped. When 2:30 (Tranquility) went live, even Davido couldn’t keep his cool given it was days after Timeless dropped
The speed at which the YBNL/Empire act has been moving since the turn of 2022 is nothing short of astounding. To even sustain it at such ridiculously high standards is more incredible.
His sophomore album, Work of Art, which dropped on June 15th, would have taken otherworldly efforts to surpass the trendsetting Mr Money With The Vibes. Unsurprisingly, it couldn’t. This is not to say that the album is unimpressive. No, it’s rather the opposite.
However, Asake is now a victim of his own extraordinary heights. The buildup to his debut album was sizzling but eerily monotonous. This raised questions about his versatility and adaptability to the expansive demands of an album. Emphatically, Mr Money With The Vibes (MMTV) answered all the questions and consolidated Asake’s talent and superstardom.
With Work of Art, he sticks to his tested and trusted album-making template. Olorun, which thematically imitates Dull as the album opener, is a tribute to God and a reflection of how far he has come. He embraces his fame and prominence after almost giving up in 2020.
The tracks that followed didn’t really flow until Basquiat brought the glide till Yoga the closing track. Mogbe sticks out for its uncharacteristic sex talk by the artiste while Lonely at the Top and Great Guy are a further acknowledgement of the Lagos-born singer’s renown. I believe is a decent attempt at being motivational but lacks the sobriety of Nzaza - which would have been more befitting.
In all, it is difficult to imagine any track on Work of Art that can outdo the likes of Organise, Joha, Nzaza (a personal favourite) and Sungba, making Asake’s second shot at an album a success-sustaining venture but one that painfully falls short of the cohesion, explosiveness and the surprise element of MMWTV.
The dynamics of the industry don’t allow for slowing down and Asake is keen on milking the momentum for as long as possible. However, a pause of breath and dusting of templates will become inevitable, eventually.