ALBUM REVIEW - IS IT YOUR MONEY VOLUME 1 - ELDEE

With a title like “is it your money volume 1”, eldee’s third solo album sounds like something that shouldn’t be taken too seriously until you find out that it is everything his sophomore album wasn’t. Eldee single handedly produces the album with a little bit of help from Dokta Frabz & Silvastone here and there. In a bid not to make this a one man band thing, Eldee co-opts the likes Naeto C, Ikechukwu, Sauce Kid, Kel, Lkt, Proto, Chiddy Bang, Jimmy Flamez and steps outside the shores of Nigeria to snap up Yung joc & black thought for guest appearances on the 16 track album.

Eldee does away with all the singing that marred his sophomore effort and gets down straight to business on the intro “respect me” where he lays claim to the naija rap throne like never before. On the lead single “you blow my mind” he tries and fails to recreate another hit as catchy as “bosi gbangba” but what makes the track stand out is the way Eldee seamlessly weaves Yoruba, Hausa & pidgin together bar after bar. With Sauce kid & killz riding shotgun, “fly away” turns out to be a solid posse cut.

After struggling along with Kel on the cheesy “do it”, Eldee stokes the fire with the braggadocios “koleyewon” where he clowns his haters. One thing that is noticeable on this LP is Eldee’s new way of rapping about his usual concepts like on the conscious and highly convincing “e go better” where he pictures a better Nigeria in the nearest future and the K1 inspired “ota mi” featuring Lkt. The album hits its peak with the Dokta Frabz, Jimmy Flames & Naeto C assisted “feel good music” which is exactly what it claims to be, here you find a rejuvenated Naeto C delivering a staccato verse like he just sharpened his tongue.

It is pretty difficult to find a low point on the album as both the host and guests keep things moving along smoothly. Even Yung joc reps ATL well on the international remix of “big boy” and Eldee’s protégé  Proto puts in a good shift on “bosi gbangba (pop remix)”, but it is eldee’s African remix of Drake’s summer hit “best I ever had” that is bound to appeal to every girl out there. The album eventually comes to a resounding close with the raunchy and explicit “ogede”.

In “is it your money volume 1”, Eldee has successfully crafted his best work till date and has re-established himself at the pinnacle of naija hip hop.

RATING – 8/10

PLAY – Fly away, Feel good music, E go better, Ogede, Ota mi, Koleyewon, Best I ever had (African remix).

SKIP – Do it.