Alaga Ibile


Alaga Ibile is the second studio album by indigenous Yoruba rapper Reminisce. It was released on 15 November 2013 by Edge Records and LRR Entertainment. The album features a blend of Afrobeat and hip hop, and spawned the singles "Nigboro", "Government", "Fantasi", "3rd World Thug", "Eleniyan", and "Daddy". Spanning fifteen tracks and a bonus track, it features artists such as Wizkid, Obadice, Burna Boy, Naeto C, Sossick, Davido, Endia and Olamide. Production was handled by Sossick, Sarz, Jospo, Chopstix, DeeVee and Shizzi. The album was nominated for Best Rap Album at The Headies 2014 and won Rap Album of the Year at the 2014 City People Entertainment Awards. Alaga Ibile follows up to Book of Rap Stories.

Background and promotion

Following the release of his debut album, Book of Rap Stories, Reminisce began work on his second studio album, Alaga Ibile, which initially was meant to have around 10 tracks. It was also supposed to be titled Alaye. In an interview with OkayAfrica reflecting on his debut, he said that the album didn't earn him the critical acclaim he had hoped for, as his songs "2Mussh" and "Kako Bi Chicken" led some to question his credibility as a rapper. He later met producer Sossick, who he said recognized his talent, and the pair began working together on Alaga Ibile. On 5 October 2013, Reminisce released a promotional single titled "Hurricane" featuring PayBac; the track did not make it to the album.

Composition

The album's opener, an intro track, which features piano-driven production and lyrics about Reminisce's upbringing and challenges. "Government", featuring Olamide and Endia, blends a heavy Chopstix-produced beat with Yoruba-language verses and a mix of rap and dancehall. "Sunkere" and "Fantasi" see Reminisce blending hip-hop with fuji. "Agidigbo" is an ode to sex workers.

Singles

The lead single and only bonus track, "Nigboro", was released on 26 January 2013. The Sarz-produced song is a remastered version of one of Reminisce's older songs. The second single, "Government", was released on 4 March 2013. It features Olamide and Endia, and was produced by Chopstix. The Fuji-influenced third single, "Fantasi", was released on 16 July 2013. The song was produced by Sarz. The fourth single, "3rd World Thug", was released on 21 September 2013. The song was produced by Sossick. The fourth single off the album "Sunkere" was released on 8 October 2013 and features production from DeeVee. The sixth single, "Eleniyan", was released on 31 October 2013 and features Wizkid. The song was produced by Sarz. The seventh and final single "Daddy" featuring Davido was released on 24 January 2014 alongside its music video directed by Patrick Elis. It received nominations for Best Collaboration at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards, Best Collabo of the Year at the 2014 City People Entertainment Awards, and Best Collaboration at the Ben TV Awards in 2014.

Critical reception

Ayomide Tayo of Nigerian Entertainment Today rated the album a 3.5, stating that "despite his limited range, Reminisce has dropped a solid album that should see him in the top spot with his contemporaries". Wilfred Okiche of YNaija had mixed feelings about the album, stating that "Towards the final arc, Alaga Ibile loses a lot of steam and starts to bore with its sub-stellar tracks." He then pointed out that while the album "won't set the charts or market on fire," it "serves some purpose, introducing Reminisce to a wider audience."

Track listing

Notes
;Samples

Personnel

  • Reminisce – primary artist
  • Wizkid – featured artist
  • Obadice – featured artist
  • Burna Boy – featured artist
  • Naeto C – featured artist
  • Sossick – featured artist
  • Davido – featured artist
  • Endia – featured artist
  • Olamide – featured artist
  • Sossick – producer
  • Sarz – producer
  • Jospo – producer
  • Chopstix – producer
  • Dee Vee – producer
  • Shizzi – producer
  • Accessways Production - video director
  • Jassy Generation - video director
  • MEX Films - video director
  • Patrick Elis - video director
  • Unlimited L.A - video director