Though, he said the early to grave of his parents prepared him for the big task ahead, notwithstanding he said he came into entertainment world to create his own history.
First of all, the discipline I got from my parents and the karaoke session I was always going to sing as a staff prepared me for Project Fame, because it was there I got bolder, my voice got stronger, I wasn’t just singing songs, I was singing classical songs.
I was singing these old songs so it made my voice bolder. So by the time I came to Project Fame, if I had sang like 20 songs in Project Fame, I had been singing like 18 in the bar before. So, all I had to do was just to perfect it. I was browbeaten; some people would say I am singing to steal their girlfriends. I have a scar on my head, I got that when somebody used a chair on me. I slept at the bar basically everyday, where people smoked I slept there and I always came out reeking of cigarette, he explained.
He further said, ‘’definitely people will look down on you doing jobs like that, but this is the same people when I get back there, they have to beg to take pictures with me. The place is now a club, so when I go there, I don’t go as a staff, I go as a star.
These days before I go there, I have this chair waiting for me in the VIP section. Sometimes you are just somewhere and you know the job is crap; people come there and laugh at you. When I was there, some boys will come with their girlfriends and spend money, they will tell me, “My girl wants you to sing.” Sometimes, if I say I can’t sing, they will be insulting me, “Are you mad? You are just a karaoke guy, what is wrong with you”, and I would start crying. Whatever negative thing people told me, I never really took it to heart.
I just channelled all my energy into hard work. So, whatever anybody told me that was bad, I just want to make good out of it. That is what I do. I am very thankful to everybody who had looked down on me, because they are the reason why I am here today,’’ he told us
Gorgeous diva EMMA NYRA drops the long anticipated video – Everything I do featuring one of the most sought after artists, Iyanya, presented to you by Triple MG. The Everything I do musical video leaves you with one feeling… making you fall in love over and over again. Awesome performance from label mates Emma Nyra & Iyanya as this is one of the biggest love music videos released this year. The location, scenes, costumes… Brilliant! Video directed by Mr. Moe Musa
CAUTION: You might hear the word/name ‘Ronaldo’ in every song on this album, do not be offended. Apparently Iyanya Mbuk is a desperate fan of the soccer star.
We will not waste time debating about the angle Iyanya and his team had in mind when creating his sophomore album. We’ll go ahead and hit the nail on the head by labelling ‘Desire’ a near-monstrous disappointment simply because the Project Fame winner refused to push his art, making the LP feeble, unfulfilling and far from adventurous. Notwithstanding ‘Desire’ might be the most commercial album of the year, if caution is not exercised. The LP not only houses the hits that catapulted Iyanya to the top of the music food chain, it also features celebrated producers and guest appearances from international pop act D’banj, Mavin beauty Tiwa Savage, high-life prince Flavour to star-boy Wizkid. Is it all hype? Digest this track to track review:
Badman (feat. M.I): Interestingly, Iyanya’s debut album ‘My Story’ opened with M.I on the R&B/Hip Hop track titled ‘Gbadun You’. Yet again, he employs Mister Incredible to kick off the ceremony on his sophomore album with the daring ragga tale about surviving hate tagged ‘Badman’. Iyanya proves he is indeed the leading man as he rides the Mr. Chido beat like a hot knife slicing through ice. The track which is complimented by M.I’s bars will surely leave tongues wagging.
Ekaette (feat. Tekno): Ekaette loves to dance, and so do we. The chorus of the song sealed the destiny of becoming a moderate club hit at least despite the very blonde lyrics and production similar to Kcee’s ‘Okpete’.
Gasegbe: Iyanya refuses to leave the corner of the box he is thinking in and it results in another production driven number. ‘Gasegbe’ might be catchy when you are under the influence but on a regular day, it is simply unmemorable.
Marry Me: The lyrics of this mid-tempo romantic ballad are a bit controversial as the vocalist sings; ‘Do you remember the way dem they criticize our matter for Twitter? For you love my dear, girl I surrender…’ Tonto Dikeh or Yvonne Nelson? Well the much-desired singer belts to his lover to marry him regardless of observers’ opinions. Lovely tune.
Flavour: Retouched for the album is the third lead single off the album ‘Flavour’. D’tunes magic fingers are to be blamed for the strength of this number. It’s a fusion of highlife and francophone music showcasing ear-teasing strings, trumpets, drums and piano. Iyanya shines on this cut.
Limbo: In less than 3 minutes, Iyanya delivers yet another empty but promising up-tempo dance number. Yet, Young D’s stellar production saves the day and makes up for Iyanya’s flaws.
Whine (feat. May D): Iyanya and May D fall hands with ‘Whine’. Their collision gives birth to a lyrical joke and the beat marks the start of the monotonous track.
Jombolo (feat. Flavour): Kudos to Flavour, the high-life royal brought it on this cut. That said, either it is outright laziness or Iyanya just wanted to sample almost the same chorus used by Ay dot com and Timaya for the fast rising hit ‘Jogodo’. Whatever the case, we cannot get past it…
Some More (feat. Yung L): Grip Boy ‘Yung L’ makes a memorable appearance on ‘Some More’. Creamy vocals, nice delivery…
Ur Waist (feat. Emma Nyra): ‘It’s D’tunes again oh’ and Iyanya wants ‘Ur Waist’. Challenging and sonically daring, Iyanya pushed boundaries with this track and it paid off big time.
I Gat It: The only low-tempo or slow song in the bunch, is a love ballad’ titled ‘I Gat It. Iyanya reminds us that he can sing.
Somebody (feat. Tiwa Savage): Reminiscent of ‘Flavour’ is the Tiwa Savage assisted ‘Somebody’. The over usage of auto-tune or vocoder on Savage’s vocals comes off a bit unpleasant to the ears. However the duo ‘jonze’ around and Iyanya disses singers as he interrupts Tiwa Savage’s vocal runs and tells her to stop over-singing saying: ‘…Hold it! That one no they pay oh!’
Little Things: Shockingly he shines like a little diamond as he sings on ‘Little Things’. D’tunes showcases his versatility as a producer as he abandons his xylophone which has being over-used already on the album.
Sexy Mama (feat. Wizkid): Wizkid steals the entire show on the heavy ‘Sexy Mama’. He even sang roughly 80% of the song, thereby putting Iyanya in the shoes of the featured artiste. D’tunes again brought his A-game though the track still sounds very rushed, forced and makes Iyanya look out of place.
Kukere: ’Kukere’ redefined ‘Iyanya’ as an artiste. It became the un-official anthem for the dance ‘Etighi ‘and was arguably the biggest song of 2012. Iyanya and D’tunes experimented and broke sound barriers resulting in a classic. Yes! Kukere is timeless.
Your Man (feat. Vector): It seems the closing minutes of the albums have some gems: starting with ‘Your Man’, which features an exceptional rap verse from Vector. Iyanya returns to his ‘My Story’ form on the 16th track. It’s a feel good R&B number that is made that much more soothing with the background vocals.
Drowning: Tee Y Mix crafted what might be the best song on ‘Desire’. Despite the title, Iyanya soars far above the ocean level on ‘Drowning’. He makes camp on the dance-pop beat, flaunting his rich, silky, and falsetto singing voice. He belts deep lyrics about the heartache because by the absence of his love.
Kukere (Remix) feat. D’banj: The end of Iyanya’s ‘Desire’ is the mega remix to the lead single featuring G.O.O.D music recording artiste D’banj. The remixed track aims to please the high men of the society.
Bust My Brain: The bonus track is a brilliant ragga song sampling classic ragga/dancehall numbers.
‘Desire’ is a jam-packed with very shallow and monotonous club and radio friendly cuts which will hold grounds individually but as a body of work, it falls flat on its face.
Random Fact: Iyanya means ‘Desire’ in English language.
Reviewed by Ogaga Sakpaide [ @Ogagus ]
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