ASAKE - LUNGU BOY: ALBUM REVIEW

Following the release of recent singles “Wave” featuring British rapper Central Cee and “Active” featuring American rapper Travis Scott, the president of Giran Republic drops his third studio album LUNGU BOY, a postulated trilogy alongside his previous albums, Mr. Money With The Vibe (2022) and Work of Art (2023). In an interview with Apple Music, Asake reveals that the term "Lungu" refers to "ghetto," and the album delves into his early background, his journey in music, and how it has shaped him into the person he's becoming.

The 15-track project is an admixture of rhythm, time, and genre, featuring a combination of different styles ranging from Afropop to Samba, which grants Asake the freedom to experiment and pushes him beyond his creative limits.

Start: The album kicks off with a sample of Asa's "Eye Adaba." Asake emphasizes the importance of his presence in the industry, starting with, "Mr. Money steady killing show, anywhere me I enter issa big intro." He goes on to advocate for maintaining a free mind with "Me I wan free mind, make I no yarn too much." Ultimately, this track sets the tone for what's to come.

MMS ft. Wizkid: On this track, Wizkid graces the track alongside Asake as they embark on a journey of reflection, expressing their deepest feelings on life. MMS stands for "Mr. Money Sound," and Asake narrates the evolution of his sound from the start of his career to the point where he finds "the sound" among many others, even though he doesn't have a name for it yet.

The chorus includes lyrics that reflect the philosophies of vanity. Wizkid begins his verse with "Wabillahi-taofeeq-gan," which translates to "Allah/God is the One whom we depend on for help and success," and continues by discussing how he found his purpose after losing himself.

In a nutshell, MMS is an appreciation to God for the journey of life from where they started to where they are now.

MOOD: Remember when Asake said, "Oya, hola, como estas?" on Joha? We should have known it was an experiment in how we'd receive Spanish lyrics—or maybe it was just a coincidence. On this track, Asake talks about his different moods. Some days he's jovial; other days, he's gloomy—a mixture of emotions. This illustrates that, despite rising from the bottom to feeling lonely at the top, he's still human, and his emotions are valid.

MY HEART: Another discovery on this album is that the President of Giran Republic is a lover boy. Here, Asake pours out his heart as he describes the kind of woman he desires. He gives us a glimpse of his romantic side with lyrics:

"Roses are red, violets are blue

I wanna fuck with you

Fly you to Bali, table for two

I love your attitude"

WORLDWIDE: "Worldwide, E don go oh."

Following the success of his last album and his Grammy nomination, it's clear that this Lungu Boy has gone global, and he wants us to know it. Asake's intention is to make a difference in music—not just in Africa, but globally.

ACTIVE ft. Travis Scott: Mr. Money teams up with La Flame on this one, showing us just how creative he can be. It's an absolute party banger, and the title speaks for itself. It's amazing to see Travis Scott hop on what seems to be a Contemporary-Fuji track infused with log drums and a sample of Jazzman Olofin and Adewale Ayuba’s Raise the Roof.

Suru ft. Stormzy: Mr. Money preaches patience here, reminding us that good things come to those who wait. According to him, if you're patient and focused, you will be rewarded.

SKATING: Asake has a new hobby, and we're not sure where or when he picked it up, but who cares? Skating is now part of his lifestyle. For people who grew up in the Lungu, skating might seem like a boujee sport/hobby, but Mr. Money is worldwide now, and he's made skating a part of himself. This song reflects the joy of finding fun in adulthood.

WAVE ft. Central Cee: You might say this is the twin of Active. There's so much flair from both artists here. All Asake needs is good energy and more money to take care of his mummy and flex in Germany. Meanwhile, Cench tells us how he went from selling Class A to the fiends to getting an 18-karat AP plus 8 cribs along with some AMGs.

"We dey ball it's a normal thing."

Mentally: Mr. Money is never having a dull moment. No matter how hard it gets, he's going to enjoy his life because there won't be a second chance. He refuses to slack or slow down, staying mentally sharp, strategizing, and taking charge of his destiny to ensure nothing stops him.

Uhh Yeahh: Faji lawa, Ma lo se jagajaga 💃

First off, Sarz is probably the greatest African producer of all time.

There's a reason why Asake is Mr. Money with the vibe. I mean, he fused Fuji and club music on this track, and you can't resist moving a part of your body. You no go dance keh? Dey play. Whenever you hear this at an event, head straight to the dance floor and "jo bi serpent."

I Swear: Yes, Asake continues his tales of enjoyment. "Mr. Money issa vibe; them know I'm a superstar." Now, let's skip to the second verse, where Asake tells us how he moved from a "somebo" to a "somebody," and now all the girls in America want him. Meanwhile, he's in a convoy with all his guys, and he smells amazingly nice now. What a guy!

Ligali: Are you looking for Asake? You can find him in California. Asake is still serving us Fuji in track 13, and it's clear the genre has a massive influence on him.

Ligali resumes the dancing and gyration. If you're a bad boy looking for the right girl in your life, appreciating her efforts to stay beautiful while traveling the world, having fun, taking risks, and being responsible at the same time, this is your track.

Whine: I'm unclear whether Asake said "Razor or Raise am" at the beginning, but that's not the point. Asake can do Reggae too? Or Dancehall. Whatever it is, he's a work of art. I honestly don't want to speculate on how sex feels to Asake, but it must be good enough for him to go this groovy here. Ludmilla joins Asake on this track, and they both go verse for verse.

FUJI VIBE: What's a better way to close a 15-track album than with a 5-minute Fuji record featuring traditional and modern drums, and the trumpet he was telling someone to blow for him on Ligali, including instrumental renditions of Adewale Ayuba’s Ijo Fuji and his breakout single Mr. Money.

In conclusion, Asake's Lungu Boy album is nothing short of a Work of Art.

To God be the glory, we have come to the end of this album review. See you next time. Remember to stay Solid!

Yours sincerely,

Finnix