ALBUM REVIEW: ‘UY Scuti’ is another proof of Olamide’s versatility

BY DAMILOLA OLUFEMI

In April, Olamide, award-winning Nigerian rapper, took to his social media to announce the release date for ‘UY Scuti‘ album — about six months after he put out ‘Carpe Diem‘. He kept his promise and dropped the project on Friday.

Since its release, music lovers and critics have been expressing their views on the album. The project is Olamide’s ninth studio album ever since he released ‘Rapsodi’ as his debut album in 2011.

The intervals at which he releases the albums are indicative of his consistency in the game. In 2016, Olamide switched from Compact Disk (CD) to streaming and has had numerous singles, album collaborations with both renowned and up-comings in the music industry.

His record label, YBNL, has been outstanding, distinct, and unique among other record labels of his contemporaries. The versatility of Olamide exists right from his label, YBNL, which has produced many known musicians some of which are: Adekunle Gold; Chinko Ekun; Lyta; Picazzo; Temmie Ovwasa; and the current YBNL-Empire star, Fireboy DML.

In 2020, Olamide signed a contract with a foreign label, “Empire,” to work together in pushing his brands which eventually started with Fireboy DML whose album track got featured in the FIFA 2021 soundtrack.

As expected, ‘UY Scuti’ is another mind-blowing body of work. The new album has gotten the attention of many music lovers including celebrities. Seeing Olamide perform excellently on reggae beat with solemn and meaningful lyrics is commendable. The infusion of both Reggae and Afro-Pop combined in the album makes Olamide stand out, and prove he can “kill” any genre of music put before him.

The “Lord of versatility” has more love songs in the UY SCUTI album which can stand the test of time. The lyrics, instrumentals, and patterns executed by Olamide in the album are top-notch.

While previous albums were exciting, ‘UY Scuti’ has again demonstrated the standard of quality delivery of Olamide. It is a convincing proof that Olamide is superb being the “Lord of versatility.”

His previous albums released are:

1. Rapsodi – (2011)

2. YBNL – (2012)

3. Baddest Guy Ever Liveth – (2013)

4. Street OT known as Voice of the Street (VOC) – (2014)

5. Eyan May Weather – (2015)

6. The Glory – (2016)

7. Lagos Nawa – (2017)

* YBNL Mafia Family (2018)

8. Carpe Diem – (2020)

9. UY Scuti – (2021)

The ‘YBNL Mafia Family’ album was a special collaborative album of all the YBNL artists in 2018. It was not named nor credited as an album to anyone but a joint work as a label. Some of the tracklists in the album are ‘Ika’ by Yomi Blaze featuring Olamide; ‘Finally’ by Temmie Ovwasa and Fireboy DML; ‘Send Her Money’ by DJ Enimoney, LK Kuddy, Kizz Daniel, Olamide, and Kranium.

The 10-track in the ‘UY Scuti’ album had unknown artists in it. They include Layydoe, Jaywillz, and Fave. Phyno is the only well-known artist featured in the album.

Time will tell if his collaboration with the fast-rising artistes implies they are the new set of musicians to be signed into the YBNL record?

When it comes to rap, Olamide knows his onions, and that does not exclude that with the songs he birthed on ‘UY Scuti’ album. The composure and background serenity of the songs caught the attention of many; as he was able to infuse reggae, pop, and other genres in it. That explains the fact that the entire album cuts across almost popular musical genres.

In one of the songs, ‘So Much More,’ Olamide displayed a combination of Reggae and Rap, which flows with the style of the late Nigerian music icon, Majek Fashek. The ‘Rock’ and ‘Jailer’ songs are embellished with dancehall-type beat in which Olamide poured out his mind on the type of women he likes; despite being amorous. The songs had the ‘Rap Lord’ keying to the street design in expressing his mind.

The ‘Need for Speed’ had him flashback to his starting point and his non-stop focus for the dough. “…Hustle gat me high standing, grinding for the dough. Destination far, time flying no be small…” It is of mild, solemn lyrics of R&B, filled with in-depth meaning; narrating the experiences and expectations of both upcoming, and the established in the music industry coupled with every other path of life.

While we keep our fingers crossed on that, and more as they unveil, enjoy the new vibe of Olamide by listening to ‘UY Scuti’ and know he’s qualified enough to be the “Lord of Versatility.”

Damilola Olufemi is a graduate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko. He is a media personnel with several awards.