AKA’s ‘Bhovamania’ is laced with great production and insufficient substance [Album Review]

Bhovamania might be AKA’s best-produced album after Levelz, however the fear stays its dearth of lyrical content material to match. Nonetheless, at no level did one get the sensation that AKA had misplaced the flexibility to ship resonant lyrical content material.

As an alternative, the sensation is that that is what AKA needs to speak about – braggadocio, debauchery, a number of bars and feel-good manufacturing for a hedonistic hue. There are occasions when the braggadocio takes on distinctive resonance although.

One in every of such examples got here on ‘Power’ that includes Gemini Main. AKA raps, “Information is energy, I’m prime of the mountain. I’m on the peak of my vitality, I really feel like Tony Montana…” because the thudding drums crash into the staccato strings and legato bass.

Gemini Main additionally raps about how he spends his cash together with his cash. It didn’t take lengthy earlier than AKA descended again into the tasteless self-importance although, “F*ck a debate, who received higher vehicles? F*ck a debate, who received higher bars?”

One other instance of that substance got here on, ‘Monuments’ as AKA raps, “It’s straightforward to remain residence if you ain’t gotta take care of home abuse, please depend your blessings… Pondering to myself was the one motive I began making music within the first place…”

Largely, AKA appears jaded and too laidback to trouble. It is also as a result of he tried to make this album for a youthful viewers. Nonetheless, he struggles to flee the lofty lyrical expectations of his OG standing. As a lot as he has the correct to make completely something he needs, the raps appear recycled and too empty sooner or later and all of it will get tiring.

He seemed like a mature Lure artist from Atlanta all through the album. On ‘Mufasa’ he raps, “Over 10 years I don paid my dues. I don’t give a sh*t who mad… The whole lot I do is Dejavu, by no means Hushpuppi…”

However his circulation scheme saves a lot of every little thing he’s saying by making these issues sound extra attention-grabbing – till you truly hear. His tendency for aphorism and bland braggadocio can be aided by moments of creativity like how he reworked Ayo Ajewole’s [Woli Agba] well-liked meme, “After I’m by means of with you, oh my gawd…”

Moozlie’s spectacular verse can be a shining gentle on the music. The previous MTVBase VJ’s rapper transition appears to be going impressively. Balanced songs like ‘Cross My Coronary heart’ and ‘Holy Water’ struggle to avoid wasting the album’s content material, however their respective claims to substance get diluted by AKA’s tendency for bland self-importance.

‘Cross My Coronary heart’ can be too lengthy, however AKA’s raps between 1:21 and 1:46 are spectacular as he discusses a 21-year-old girl from the center. Any listener will probably be forgiven for accepting and appreciating songs like ‘On line casino,’ ‘Finessin,’ and ‘Heavy Drank’ for what they’re although. Ok.O’s verse on ‘Fairly Drank’ can be tremendous flames – for what it’s.

The guitar solo on ‘Holy Water’ is superb as AKA talks concerning the consumption of vodka within the morning to take care of his psychological well being, loss and paranoia. He understands the damaging tendencies of that act. He raps, “What don’t kill you makes you stronger…”

He then borrows from Kanye West’s line from ‘Otis,’ as he raps, “ I ought to write all my lyrics in cursive…” On ‘Otis,’ West had rapped “Write my curses in cursive…”

‘Finessin’ appears to be screaming for involvement from children like Zooci Coke Dope or Flvme. They might have offered the steadiness that AKA wants by complimenting him with their up to date verses. The music actually subtly feels like ‘Steppin’’ off RedLightDistrict by Flvme and Die Mondez.

AKA begins the music amazingly as he raps, “P*ssy, cash, weed, that’s all I would like…” He then descended into the problematic line, “If I take you procuring, you gon bow down in your knees…”

Someone higher maintain that from the feminist – the music continues to be flames although… The lady on the hook is by far the star of this music. Kudos to AKA for placing her on it.

“All you fundamental b***ches is my menus…” is without doubt one of the greatest African strains of 2020 on among the best rapped African hooks of 2020. L-Tido’s bar, “Fuck your opinion, you may maintain it like a memento…” goes straight in too!

‘African Man’ is comprehensible for its industrial potential as a Dancehall monitor, however this album didn’t want it. The identical goes for ‘Mr. Excellent.’ At 56 minutes, the album can be too lengthy for simply 13 tracks, man.

The Davido interpolation on ‘African Man’ is engaging although. AKA raps, “Shawty needs 1,000,000 …” It’s good to see Africans encourage one another with out hate.

God

All through the album, God and AKA’s religion stay central figures. On ‘Holy Water’ he raps, “God give me some perspective, path to your message. We don’t actually perceive why you check us, take away earlier than you bless us… I rediscover my objective. All of my albums is basic…”

On ‘Monuments,’ he raps, “God forgive me for my errors, your holy spirit flowing in me like a river, Saint John, King James, LeBron James, Ok Paul, Bruce Wayne”

Beef

On ‘Cross My Coronary heart,’ AKA refuses to speak about beef. However by ‘Monuments,’ he appears to take photographs at somebody when he raps, “I can’t relate due to the requirements I put in place, you taking us backwards. I like your beats, however all of your lyrics is plastic…”

For what it’s price, ‘Monuments’ appears like a response to diss or a beef monitor in itself. Additionally it is probably the most balanced music on this album. The whole lot on the music appears pungent and obligatory, not like expletives. The beat can be ludicrous!

Scores: /10

• Zero-1.9: Flop

• 2.Zero-Three.9: Close to fall

• four.Zero-5.9: Common

• 6.Zero-7.9: Victory

• eight.Zero-10: Champion

Pulse Score: /10

Album Sequencing: 1.2/2

Songwriting and Themes: Zero.eight/2

Manufacturing: 1.eight/2

Enjoyability and Satisfaction: 1.2/2

Execution: 1.2/2

Whole:

6.2 – Victory