Nigerian musician Asake has established himself as a rebirth of ancient tunes and pop inventiveness in just two albums. This new era of genius fit by Asake mostly results from an original renovation of several genres, enhanced by vivid storytelling and an impassioned rap-singing technique. “Work of Art” is really pure work of art!

Notably, Asake’s Afro-Fusion music was elevated by his Amapiano blend, a type of South African house music descended from kwaito. Asake’s ability to create a distinctive sound by fusing choral harmonies, string arrangements, and parts of the Indigenous Yoruba music known as Fuji distinguished him from his contemporaries. The Nigerian superstar went on to flourish on his beautiful “Work of Art” album.

Remarkably, Asake deftly avoids the predictable music that dominates our airwaves as he comes through with so much diversity on the “Work of Art” album. The talented artist chooses Magicsticks, a collaborator on Asake’s last project and a key figure in the development of his distinct sound, to handle the production of the album. As a result, there is a striking display of regimental beauty, which is emphasized by the traditional use of delicate string and wind instruments, ethereal vocals, and the significant reappearance of rhythmic log drum rhythms.

Meanwhile, as Anoop D’Souza, P.Priime, and Blaisebeatz are given additional producing credit. Renowned veteran rapper and Asake’s record label, YBNL, boss – Olamide – is the only featured artist on the 14-track album. Together, these talented producers have contributed their knowledge to mould the album’s lush soundscapes, giving Asake’s already great tunes depth and character. Work Of Art will get you moving despite the language barrier because of the talking drums, continuous log drums, and guitar strings that serve as percussion.

Track by Track Review of Asake’s Work of Art album

Asake is currently at the top of the world and he isn’t losing his pace at all. He uses his second album, Work of Art, to good effect as he opens with the contemplative Song “Olorun”, in which he praises both himself and the Divine One. The superstar uses the song to appreciate God as he won’t have come this far without him.

Asake released the intriguing new song “Amapiano” as the first taste of his much anticipated sophomore album. Notably, his label head, Olamide, contributes another fascinating level of perfection to the great song as a guest act. It should be noted that Asake uses the song “Amapiano” as a prelude to revealing to listeners what to anticipate from his album, “Work of Art”, as he continues the astonishing ascent to fame that has made him one of the most prolific hitmakers in Afrobeats since 2022.

In “Basquiat,” he makes it clear that the “work of art” that his album’s name alludes to is, in fact, him. The song’s choruses serve as a gentle reminder that celebration may and should involve a community effort. Asake may seem to be drawn to amapiano because it exemplifies how avant-garde African music can be. Naturally, some of Work of Art’s most catchy tunes are upbeat like this one.

“Sunshine” is a reassuring remedy that captures the warmth of time spent with loved ones with its bubbling keyboards and rising choral melodies. Though less sunny, “Awodi” is equally as upbeat. Asake sings of leaving the shantytowns, and his slow, deliberate delivery makes you feel as though he’s reaching out to pick you up beside him.

On “What’s Up My G”, the melancholy chords add solitude to the record, and as you know you would hear Asake’s signature log-drum loop creates an upbeat beat we all enjoy hearing, moreover, the talented Afrobeats artist deftly changes the cadence and tone of his voice to fit the tune aptly. Plus, his agile delivery suggests that his wealth has various aspects. And the chorus of voices behind him frames his pompous energy as a choir act as he lyrically counts off designer labels and expensive cars.

Seems like Asake intends to capitalize on this album as a medium for a personal narrative in the form of short pop songs in the projects. This is not to argue, however, that the production lacks distinction: songs like “Great Guy” transforms amapiano’s savage bass synths into a pure, rumbling texture that shows Asake’s lyrical depth, while “2:30” allows Asake to reverberate in a way that evokes some Fuji’s talking drums. Meanwhile, the album’s outro, “Yoga”, even transforms the traditional aura and music that was created by Africans who were held as slaves in Réunion and Mauritius, into a modern call for peace.

Final Thoughts

The superstar, Asake, seems to be in a fantastic creative position right now, one that supports a system of reliable output and high calibre as we’ve seen the consistency in this album. Maybe that’s why he can afford to compare himself to American artist genius Jean-Michel Basquiat by using an endless stream of positive phrases. After all, Asakes mentions on this record that his craziest inner visions have come true.

Remember that the album peaked at #1 on Apple and is currently in the top three on the majority of streaming services in Nigeria, as well as being at the top of the charts on platforms like Spotify, Boomplay, Audiomack, and iTunes. It’s hardly surprising that he now seems to have a revitalised, insatiable zest for life, adoring assiduously and chasing passion with fervour. This is an incredible work of art that has portrays Asake in his full glory yet.

Rating

• Delivery: 1.9/2
• Lyricism: 1.8/2
• Relatability: 1.8/2
• Mixing and Production: 1.8/2
• Replay Value: 1.9/2

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