Rappers
who make albums that are widely considered underwhelming – from Mode
nine to Reminisce – are quick to go on the defensive, eager to excuse
themselves from complicity in the churning out of subpar material.
“We gave the people what they want|,”
they say with all the condescension worthy of their talent. “We wanted
to go commercial,” their noisiest trumpeters holler before going on a
mostly pointless and usually long winded rant about how compromises have
to be made on the long journey to fame. As if the very idea of popular
music and quality are mutually exclusive.
Stories That Touch… Perhaps, they’ve never heard of Taylor Swift.
It is against this backdrop that Falz
(born Folarin Falana) drops his sophomore album, a red-hot
light-on-its-feet accomplishment that floats like a butterfly but stings
like a bee. His debut disc, Whazup Guy released last year was a
painfully underrated, perhaps premature product that nevertheless
introduced him properly to an accepting audience, thanks in no part to
breakout songs like Marry Me with Yemi Alade and Poe.
But it was with comedy that Falz found
mainstream success as he leveraged on his comic talents and social media
clout to penetrate the music market further. His alter ego, created in
the mould of Funke Akindele’s Jenifa is that of an unrefined Yoruba demon, who manages to ride the crest of whatever pop culture phenomenon is hot at the moment. Ello Bae
was the perfect mix of music, comedy and social media light bulb
moment. With major visibility going for him, a follow up album was a no
brainer.
Stories That Touch opens smartly with Kabiyesi
featuring the ululating drama soul of Oyinkansola. It goes down easy
and sets the stage for finer things to come. Of these, few are better
than Soft Work produced by Sess (who does the bulk of the album’s
work), a bright bubbly rap single featuring breezy wordplay and punch
lines that come across so effortlessly yet hit their mark with
precision. Exhibit 1: Even real talent gan still need promo/If you fake your own death you fit still no blow. Skibii probably dies a little more every time this song comes on.
The eargasm continues with the previously released Karishika
where Falz and Phyno put in effort to outperform the other with lines
that stick. It is an aural delight, this one. The piano strings that
begin Soldier are deceptively mellow as Simi launches into a
stunning chorus that is far from demure. She proves a more than
formidable match for Falz’ bullying soldier and gives as good as she
gets. Airing their frustrations with the other, both make up the one of
the strongest collaborative teams heard on record in a while.
Clap with Reminisce is a venture into trap music that plays well. It is in similar territory with Reminisce’s innuendo heavy Tesojue and Skilashi and the rapper is all too happy to dish out lines like Oya spread your legs like a rumour. Chardonnay Music
is almost perfect, boasting a superior verse about Lagos from Falz’
regular collaborator, Poe that should be ingested, digested and
regurgitated again for its sheer awesomeness.
Falz may be born of privilege (his father
is prominent lawyer, Femi Falana) but the workingman theme runs deep in
his work. His regular Joe appearance, relatable lyrics and alter ego
all identify with the common man.
Workaholic, heavily inspired by
Fela’s Afrobeat sharply reminds why it’s important to remember to catch
up on much needed rest despite gruelling schedules. On Soft Work, he traces the importance of working smart as opposed to working hard.
My People is more upscale in
ambitions, as Falz casts himself in the role of the jet setting lover
boy with a paramour in every part of the country.
He also finds time to recognise the ambition and industry of the average Nigerian. Celebrity Girlfriend is a fun, harmless fantasia of dating above one’s means, using every popular Nollywood actress as a reference point.
The downers here are Kawosoke, a
party starter that doesn’t quite get the party started and a midway skit
that isn’t as funny as Falz fancies. He falls into the trap of making a
wedding song and deceives Bez into slumming it on a pseudo highlife Love You Pass.
Falz succeeds in making a sophomore record that is more accessible than his debut without exactly dumbing down his material. Stories That Touch
is welcoming, witty and does not fall into the trap of taking itself
too seriously. It is what popular music should be – fun and enjoyable
with no paid PR guru lurking in the shadows at every turn to explain
reasons for the selection of songs that made the final cut.
No one cares sir.
Just give us music to entertain and inspire. Falz gets that.
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