The Unstoppable
The Unstoppable is the third solo studio album by the Nigerian R&B artist 2Face Idibia, released on 20 December 2008, through his label Hypertek Entertainment. The album was produced by Jay Sleek, Jiggy Jegg, Ozzy, Spankie, and Sharks, with one track "Flex" produced by R. Kelly and featuring him on the track. The release of the album was marred with a number of delays and difficulties and relatively poor reviews as actual sales of the album in comparison to the initial two solo albums Face 2 Face and Grass 2 Grace were below expectations.
In 2010, 2Face Idibia went on to release his fourth studio album called The Unstoppable International Edition that contained some of the materials of the album with some other added tracks.
Background
The Unstoppable followed a period of negative press around 2Face Idibia. Between 2006 and 2009, media attention shifted from his music to his personal life, which included several robbery incidents and reports about his relationships. He also faced criticism after the Plantashun Boiz split and disputes over the credit for "African Queen". These events affected the reception of The Unstoppable, which he later described as poorly received due to mixing issues and intense media focus on his private life. In 2008 and 2009, he released singles like "Flex" and "Enter the Place", which drew controversy, including reports that the latter's video had been banned. During the same period, he worked outside the structure of a major label and experimented with more creative freedom. He titled the album The Unstoppable as a response to the press coverage, saying it reflected his attempt to show that he intended to move forward.Singles
The first and only single from the album was the pre-released "Enter The Place", in anticipation of the release of the album. The single featured the Nigerian recording artist Sound Sultan and was released on 27 August 2008.Critical reception
In a review for the Independent, the reviewer noted that while some tracks on The Unstoppable were less engaging, the album "has somewhat redeemed musically." They deemed the songs "Take It Back", "Outside", "Feeling You", and "I Sing", reminiscent of his debut album Face 2 Face. The review also mentioned collaborations with R. Kelly and Chaka Demus and Pliers, but observed that the most compelling songs did not feature any high-profile artists.Accolades
Track listing
Notes- "—" denotes a skit
''The Unstoppable International Edition'' (2010)
Background
After the first version of The Unstoppable struggled, 2Face began work on a new edition. He recorded new songs with Jay Sleek, including "Implication" and "Only Me", both of which originated from earlier sessions but became central to the project. Before the album’s release, Hypertek issued an EP featuring its artists, and some of the tracks were later included on the International Edition. For the International Edition, he aimed for a different sound and presentation. He said he wanted fewer distractions and focused on making a project that met what he considered international standards. The album was sold at a higher price point and packaged to match that approach. He said piracy shaped the release strategy, as pirates often bought distribution rights upfront. He reported earning about ₦30 million from these deals.Singles
The album's lead single, "Implication", is an up-tempo party track with Idibia only. It was initially leaked in December 2009 and officially released on 22 January 2010. Its accompanying music video features a different mix than the single version The second single, "Only Me" was released on 21 May 2010, coinciding with the album's release in Nigeria. It is a slow soul song in which Idibia's lyrics and rhythm fuse every day issues into an enjoyable track. Both singles were produced by Jay Sleek.Critical reception
Oye Akideinde of 360nobs praised The Unstoppable International Edition as 2Face Idibia's most intimate and versatile work, calling it a timeless and genre-blending album that reaffirmed his legacy. He concluded that "for Nigeria, Africa & all the fertile ladies, he is UNSTOPPABLE," and rated it 9.0/10.Accolades
The Unstoppable International Edition won two awards at the 2010 SoundCity Music Video Awards. The album also won Best R&B/Pop Album at the 2011 The Headies. 2 Face won the Channel O Music Video Awards' Best African Western award and the MTV Africa Music Awards for Best Male and Artist of the year.| Year | Awards ceremony | Award description | Results |
| 2011 | The Headies | Album of the Year | rowspan="2" Won |
| 2011 | The Headies | Best R&B/Pop Album | - |