Olu Maintain presents Kentro World
With All Due Respect Press Play
CN Media (2009)
Okay! So Olu Maintain has unleashed the boys of Kentro World on us the listening masses - Bondo Krazzy, Da Folz, DJ Freaky T and Flo. Understandably, they’re not quite as hot as the Mo’ Hits Crew but that’s another conversation.
Let’s talk about the music...
I seriously do not know where to place Olu Maintain’s work and it shouldn’t be difficult, really, considering the album is too long (21 tracks). Even the titles of the tracks are lengthy and I’m afraid this review will follow in those steps. Also, Olu Maintain shouldn’t be putting out albums; he should make a career from singles, remixes and mixtapes (that other people have created)!
Now, the tracks...
The intro is chaotic and the outro sounds exactly like it - which I don’t. First impressions of “Kentro N D Building” were ‘This will survive the club circuit’, but after two or three listens it didn’t seem so bad - usual for Naija music.
The “hit” tracks...
“Arab Money” has no business being over four minutes long. And you can imagine my shock to discover that “Kamikaze” is on this album... way down at track 19, presumably to entice us to listen to the entire CD. Take my advice. Skip to 19 but stopover at 14 first - “Speechless (2 Good 2 Be True)” is just that: No lyrics, which is a relief, just some really nice music.
The others you may or may not listen to...
Track 6, “Legends (We Are Loyal)” is so long I had forgotten I was listening to it until the most forgettable track 7, “Marry Juana” began playing. Tracks 8 through 10 prove that there are too many songs on this CD! While “Lady” featuring Femi Kuti, has a lot more potential, there’s just something iffy about it. To quote the track ‘ what’s that smell?’ I’d say trying too hard.
Trying not to pass out to “Keeping Faith” I had an epiphany: These guys are serious o! They weren’t just messing around in the studio. They put this stuff together as an album!
GRADE - F9
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