Even though Mushin 2 Mohits is Wande Coal’s debut album, he is not a stranger on the Nigerian music scence, having enjoyed ridiculous levels of airplay on the various tracks he has featured on from fellow label mate D’Banj. He also featured on several tracks on the Mohits All Stars album C.V. All this combined to make him a household name before his debut Mushin 2 Mohits was released. You’ve got to give it to his management and Mo Hits Records, if nothing else, they know how to create stars. This was definitely one of the most anticipated debut’s in recent times, with perhaps only MI in the same range.

Check out Wande Coal’s official sites here and here.

I KNOW YOU LIKE IT

It starts off like a dance track but right about the first hook, it throws you off a little.  There’s a nice blend of electronica and the naija pop feel that Don Jazzy is becoming quite adept at. I really love the Nigerian feel of the xylophone barely under the surface. It’s not likely to get much airplay or club play but it is a decent song with great production.

YOU BAD FEAT. D’BANJ

It starts off like something out of Kung-fu Hustle and then rapidly develops into a pretty standard Don Jazzy dance track. The hook leaves me asking “is that really all you could come up with?”. As for the rest of the lyrics it’s really pointless as it’s obviously made for the clubs and I’m sure it’ll do well there. All the “lepa’s” will develop early arthritis and “orobo’s” will lose that weight dancing to this. Something I thought was impossible actually happened on this song. I didn’t notice D’Banj. I had to go back and search for his part. That’s a good sign for Mr. Coal.

SE NA LIKE THIS

Wande Coal dropping a little social commentary? Interesting. The unexpected subject matter is very refreshing. It’s a pretty standard Don Jazzy production though, nothing really strikes me while listening to the track apart from that kid. Damn I love that kid. Nice touch by Mr. Jazzy.

KISS YOUR HANDS FEAT. IKECHUKWU

What if Michael Jackson was still black? What if he was Nigerian? What if he had Don Jazzy for a producer. Well this might be what he would sound like . The beat is just plain sick. It’s like a cross between a Neyo production, the new Nigerian pop sound and the caribbean sound. There’s just so much going on instrumentally it’s occasionally overwhelms the vocals especially during Ikechukwu’s verse, which was a shame because it was quite nice.

CONFUSED FEAT. D’BANJ

This track had me dancing before it even started. It’s got this energy that makes you want to push your girl away and start break dancing like a fool and at the same time pull her close stare in her eyes and sway gently. That is hard to do. D’banj rocks this track but when all’s said and done Wande holds it down and doesn’t even come close to being overshadowed. Don Jazzy is just a sick bastard. How does he do it? It takes me back to the mid 90’s feel in a very good way. What I want to know now is who is this girl??

SE OPE

By far my best track on this album. When I first heard it I was like, damn this is just plain corny but the truth is it’s that simplicity that brings out the true beauty of this song. Some can sing but have no Don Jazzy, some have Don Jazzy and cannot sing. Wande Coal has both thank God he’s using it well.

NOW IT’S ALL GONE FEAT. D’PRINCE

This track was disappointing not because it’s bad, on the contrary it’s quite good and once again, Wande tapped into that mid 90’s Dru Hill type feel and pulls it off. D’Prince was really out of place on this song and just kinda killed the nice little buzz the song had going on.

BUMPER TO BUMPER

Heard this song first probably last year or so and loved it but I was surprisingly surprised again. The track has been upgraded. A few more instruments, a more dynamic drum pattern and sprinklings of adlibs here and there from Wande and Don Jazzy spice the song up just right. Can I hear someone say club banger? Listen to your potential new national anthem.

WHO BORN THE MAGA FEAT. K-SWITCH

Hmm seems like a formula song to me. Remember If You Dey Crase featuring the same K-Switch on D’banj’s The Entertainer? It’s a good song though and Wande’s lyrics are interesting and provide enough “gen-gen” for the dark super bass track. The high pitched singing is a little awkward though. Good song even if formulaic.

THAT’S WOTS UP

Blending old and new? That’s what’s up. Adding some screwed samples to this track and not sounding stupid? That’s what’s up. Lyrics about bling but still make people like me who don’t particularly like the culture listen? That’s what’s up. The organ? That’s what’s up. The drums on this track? That’s definitely what’s up.

BANANAS FEAT. DR. SID

This is one time the corny lines just don’t cut it for me. No doubt some folks will absolutely gobble this up after all the beat is solid, I just think it’s a waste. Dr. Sid did little to improve my opinion of the track.

TABOO

I’ve heard this song too much. Lagos clubs are over playing it. Doesn’t mean I’m not dancing and singing along though. It’s got a very catchy hook and a very club friendly vibe and bass line. Nuff said. You’ve probably heard it a million times.

JEHOVAH

Ah, the Nigerian token track to God. I just don’t get why they do it. You’ve talked about fucking people up, stealing people’s wives and all sorts of non Christian things all through the album but you think that one song somehow makes up for all that? Actually it’s not limited to musicians, it’s just a Nigerian thing I guess. That said it is a very good song.

OLOLUFE, TEN TEN, MY GRIND (BONUS TRACKS)

I’m ignoring them.

FINAL WORDS

I enjoyed listening to Mushin 2 MoHits, and I think it’s solid first effort from Wande Coal. In an industry plagued by mediocrity, an album like M2M with a consistent ambience and energy definitely stands out well ahead of the pack. Wande Coal chooses to play it very safe and sticks quite rigidly to what I’ll call the Don Jazzy template. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though I would have loved to see some more artistic expression and character. There was quite a bit of creativity on the album though but it was mostly limited to the backing instrumentals and Don Jazzy’s production which Wande Coal used effectively but not creatively. The one thing that really impressed me about M2M is that I was constantly aware of the concept of Mushin 2 Mohits, and that is something few Nigerian albums have been able to achieve.

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS

CONFUSED, SE OPE, SE NA LIKE THIS, BUMPER TO BUMPER, TABOO