BY EMMANUEL DARALOYE
Adekunle Gold embraces his roots, the public relations material states. Did he embrace his roots, or were the PR heads just looking for a marketing strategy to sell his album? Eleven years after the release of his breakout single, AG, as he is fondly called, returns with a new album, ‘Fuji’.
Strategically named Fuji, contextually, it is a combination of Juju, Apala, R&B and Afrobeats with Fuji being the manpower. The Gangan drum remains the most poignant instrument on this album; this instrument dots the Fuji genre.
A descendant of the Kosoko (got name mentioned in Big Fish) royalty of Lagos, a stronghold of Fuji. This is a refined Fuji, curated for Gen Z, sophisticated souls. While Fuji is known for his trademark name-calling, AG keeps it simple on this album; he mentions heavyweights like Saraki, Don Corleone, and Bourdillon (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) on this album.
“Many People” features Yinka Aiyefele, the Tunga gospel crooner, only interpolating while AG takes command of the song. Davido powered “Only God Can Save Me,” preaches fidelity, while ‘Oba,’ finds the artiste embracing his cocky side, who wouldn’t be? In an industry where stars are made and shatter, AG has remained a shining brand, although he has never been in the top three discussions, yet he has remained seen and heard; he maintains his lane, waters it, grows and evolves.
The previously released ”Bobo,” “Coco Money,” “Obimo,” and ”Believe” all make the tracklist.
Fuji is a mild dash of victory. AG takes the gamble, what Asake was running from, AG embraced it like Jude Bellingham’s goal celebration. Fuji finds AG tickling Apala, serenading Fuji, blowing kisses to R&B, while saluting Juju.
An unsophisticated musician will find it difficult to take this detour or experiment with the array of sounds on this album. AG shows that he is a solid and well-grounded artist; his velvety vocals shine through the 15 tracks, and when he brags, he does it with substance.
Simi, his better half, almost took over ”Don Corleone,” with her backup vocals; her excitement is noticeable when she croons ”Godfather, dekunle ni Godfather,” on the Apala-Fuji tune. Their daughter Deja opens” My Love is the Same,” a heart-aching song marinated in reassurance. AG tickles Amapiano on the fleeting “Love is an action,”. “Attack” is a bouncy, high-energy spiced track with Mavo coming through with an infectious verse. R& B inclined “Lailo,” intro copies
Michael Jackson’s They Don’t Care About Us. “Oba is an angelic, chorister uplifted track. The sombre “I’m Not Done” treats life complexities, human insatiable needs.
Fuji is a brilliant return to what AG baby is known for. Now, it is more refined; the topics are broad—grief, fatherhood, legacy, etc. Just like his debut, the features on this album are minimal; AG takes the creative touch, beams it, and gives the fans a potential contender for album of the year.
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