Crayon has been in the trenches, now he is living in triumph(Album review)
The career-altering potency of a hit song can not be over emphasized and Crayon is a testament to that. Since his debut in 2019 with the Cray Cray EP that produced the timeless record So fine, Crayon has been dropping great music.
The only problem was that the records were not catching fire and he did not have a fan base big enough to propel those records to hit record status. Kpano and Too correct sounded like surefire smash hits but unexplainably didn't live up to their immense potential.
Sometimes it also sounded like something that could have become a massive record. Man dem with one acen was touted as the record that would mark the beginning of his international success but sadly, that didn't pan out as expected.
In 2022, all that changed. First, he outshined all of his label mates on overdose with arguably the most lethal hook on any afrobeats record last year. Then the Sarz produced Ijo(laba laba) caught fire and grew to become one of the biggest Nigerian songs of 2022. He followed it up with a fine performance on Won da mo and was a shining light on the Mavins chapter X album.
Surely the stars seem to be aligning with this young man. He is currently on tour with Rema in the US and is booked as one of the headline performers for the One Africa music fest in the UK in three separate venues. He headlined his sold out show in Uganda last year as well as multiple sold out dates in Ghana.
The story has changed. He has left the trenches and he is now triumphing on the world stage. The timing of his debut album couldn't have been any better. More importantly, the title of the album perfectly encapsulates the story of this young man who has been through a lot and is finally living his dreams. So when he sings 'Cos I fought so many wars, Been through many struggles', you can feel he is not gassing you up. There is a certain level of honesty that is felt when he delivers that line.
He follows that stunning opener with the Oxlade assisted Trench kid when he reveals his battle with depression and having to deal with the responsibilities of being the first born child. In the end, he acknowledges his background and chooses to stand strong. He also gives props to God for assisting him throughout the journey. He sings 'I dey give my days to jah (El Shaddai)'.
It is this adoration of God that is the bedrock of the church, inspired 'Modupe' where he sings 'Mo dupe fun olorun e, We don't look like where we come from, eh, I give thanks to highest eh'. He also dedicates an entire record to the capital of Afrobeats.
L'eko is a swashbuckling amapiano record that showcases Crayon's ability to use lambas and one-liners to create a banger of a record. He also doesn't stand still on the record. He switches cadences with flinching. It's one of the best songs on the album.
When he is not talking about the struggles he faces and the good life he is currently living, he is busy adulating his heaven-sent 'superwoman', the beautiful 'Ngozi' whose love is enough to leave his stomach filled to the brim. The Victony assisted 'Belle full' is one of this writer's favourite songs of 2023 and it's not difficult to understand why. Its a record with eclectic production and vivid songwriting that combine perfectly to create three minute eleven seconds minutes with undiluted sweetness. 'Superwoman' is such a powerful record, while Ayra Starr is the undisputed star of the show on 'Ngozi'.
'You vs You', with Magixx promises a lot but unfortunately doesn't deliver enough. Magixx on the record feels forced, he wasn't needed on the record. 'Wetin go be' is also a very unnecessary addiction to the album. If it wasn't on the album, nobody would have noticed. Regardless of those minor flaws, this is a powerful debut album from Crayon.
All things being equal, 'Belle full' and 'Ngozi' have the potential to become hits, while L'eko sounds like something that can be really big on the streets. Its relatable, filled with lamba and has a banging beat to go. Crayon has come a long way since his debut in 2019, and its beautiful to see him winning and living his dreams.
It was only a matter of time and now the moment he has been waiting for is right here. He has been in the trenches, now he is living in triumph. His moment has come and now he is dancing all his pains away.
4/5
