NAETO C SUPER C SEASON Nigerians Listening E.A.R.

(Essential Album Rating)

A strong review of Nigerian (Naija) albums 18/11/2010 | Oyebowale oyeakd Akideinde http://www:360nobs.com; http://www.twitter.com/oyeakd; http://www.scribd.com/oyeakd
GENRE: Rap/Hip Hop LABEL: Storm Records Year of release: 2011

Theres a massive storm brewing!! Burdened by the responsibility of carrying Storm Records into the next decade of Hip-Hop after seeing 2 top MCs leave the label and Armed with an MSc degree, a very successful debut album where everyone got to know his P, several awards and ordinary weapons (or so we thought) like a mic, visors & a seemingly air of invincibility around him, Naetochukwu Chikwe seems stronger than ever. In an industry where 1 year Sabbatical is more than enough for other MCs to grab your shine off you, Naeto C realized that it would take something Super to ensure that wouldnt happen on his return from his studies. From the moment the joint Super C Season hits your ears, you can sense that the weather on the steady Nigerian Hip-Hop climate is indeed about to change. The albums title track gets you overprepped for the rest of the album with Naeto C zeroing in with laser like focus over the hard bumping Sarz production Im insane Amy Winehouse, you wanna drink I got a wine-house/Enough free shacks to make yo memories wipe-out U wanna know my P, heres an invite to find out/Table manners when we dine out/I do the things that these other rappers lie about/yeah, I brought my blueprint design out/so they can go through the pages like a time-out .Person wey dey wear white no suppose 2 fight mechanic/I need my own space, my brain is in anuver panic. The joint goes into my playlist instantly after only a half listen.

Naeto teams up with Omawumi to mellow down our heart-rates after the super-charged 1st track on the Dokta Frabz sweetly produced True (Dem No Fit Do Am). We get to see Naeto C in very familiar territory as he breezes over the joint in his laid-back sitting on top mode. Omawumi blows your mind with her honey-laced strong vocals as she admits she rolls with Naeto C cos not many can do it like we. The 2009 massive hit Ako Mi Ti Poju (My swag is too much) sneaks into the album as a revamped Extended Mix which features a never heard before verse from the CEO DaGrin (RIP) Dagrin ati Naeto C/Wo awon omoges bose la mi bi Nutri C. The Nsayne Doktas beats still remain the same and I wish it was tweaked so it would sound fresher. Carry Your Shoulder, an uptempo joint produced by Tee Y Mix is another jam that I liked immediately I heard it. On this grandiose joint, Naeto C drops sublime bars addressing kats who act proud for no reason whatever; urging peeps to carry your shoulders to check em haters Why they copying the way that I rap/Its a shame that they claim its authentic at that/haha-haha-haha how?/fafa-fafa-fafa foul. Ride Tonite is another chilled-out track that is beautifully produced bySossick. Its one of those joints that should get much love in cars. Assisted by YQ, Naeto shows his diversity by jumping on a Terry G tinkolo produced beat. Never thought Naeto could pull it off, but the display by all 3 on Skimpololo produces a banger alert for the clubs and DJs. The girls will definitely get low and dip to this. Duro (Stay), the 2nd released single is still one of my faves, everything just seems to fit in perfectly from Dokta Frabz productions to YQs silky vocals to Naeto Cs very smooth flow. This is one joint the ladies will love. Afrurum Gi Nanya (I Luv U) which features the extremely talented Waje, is a Hi-Life feel-good song which professes Love as the greatest gift of all. Nice joint with its only flaw being that Wajes mad vocal range wasnt explored. My favorite track on the album 5 & 6 bumps in. Oozing of love all over with a very soulful production, Naeto C spits cleverly thought out bars and serenades our ears into love. Its a music lovers perfect companion. After the relatively smooth cut, Naeto kicks in the door with the strategically placed monster hit 10/10. The beat is an absolute monster, as Naeto waxes ferocious verses over Tee Y Mixmenacing percussions and keys. Spits Naeto: The only MC with an MSc/So dont be surprised when they jealous me/I know levels don change, so dont select me. Here we go again on Dj vu (Our Drinks)! Ikons Bare percussion, soft Soul samples, light synths & blares and Omawumi &Dokta Frabz background vocals provide the perfect backdrop for Mr Chinwe to think aloud, Why is everything around him so familiar? Naeto C surprisingly reaches out to the talented Alternative Soul Asa for what is arguably the best track on the album Share My Blessings, and it turns out to be a wise decision. Naeto C searches and tries to find relief to his emotional pains in retrospect. First day of the year, my best friend died in a car crash/couple of months before that, I survived in a car crash/now thats the irony of life/And she was good enough to be a wife/I only cry once a year, but that year I cried thrice/So dear friend, let me give you an advice/keep your loved ones close cos they wont live 2ce/I should have told her how I felt but I couldnt be precise/I didnt reply her emails/Even though she broke down her feelings in detail/I was busy dealing with all sorts of females/Now its hard for me to even open up my gmail Its a deep moving track urging people to show the ones around you, how much you love them cos the future is uncertain. TY Mix delivers again on this joint and Asa lends her assistance beautifully. When Heaven puts a hand on you, please share your blessings. Voodoo is really the albums 1st misstep (impressive considering its the thirteenth track). The joint falls short of the super quality, the other tracks have shown so far. The monotonous hook and low energy beats are the culprits here, despite a fair effort from Naeto C with solid bars like losing my morals over quarrels/they dont wanna see this picture that Im drawing like Corel, I wished they had swopped it with the bonus Super joint Ex-Girlfriend on which Dokta Frabz supplies the vocals. C Me Finish closes the album out on a high as we reach the finishing line and enter the bonus round. Naeto C picks a great closer as the Imo native waxes lyrically about how those hating only

bring the best out of him Let em hate, let em hate, its free promo/After all we getting Naira not kobo Naeto C show more hunger and zest on his sophomore album than on his debut ou Know My P. Y He isnt complacent, simply dropping tracks just to satisfy his fans. No! He shows the appetite for that Top Spot working with his Cerious Music Production crew and other top notch producers to deliver a Hip-Hop Climate (positive) change. Outstanding Tracks: Share My Blessings, Duro, Super C Season, 5&6, Carry Your Shoulder, 10/10 Disappointing Tracks: Vodoo VOCAL DROPS Rating System VERSATILITY: 8/10 OPINION (Personal): 8/10 CREATIVITY: 8/10 ACCEPTANCE: 7/10 LYRICS: 8/10 DELIVERY: 8/10 RHYTHM: 8/10 ORIGINALITY: 8/10 PRODUCTION: 8/10 SKIP FACTOR: 9/10 THE VERDICT: 8.0/10 With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility! Theres no denying Naeto C has learnt so much in the break between the 1st album and this one. The much anticipated Super C Season is a very easy spin, and should go into the listeners steady rotation in a pinch. It shows off Naeto Cs delivery brilliance, as heard in 5 & 6 and you can hear the growth in his song writing and versatility. In total, its a solid, cohesive package with a lot of super tracks on it. This has certainly set the bar high for other Hip-Hop albums dropping this year. Naeto Cs swag resonates all thru the joints this album is about to become a cars BEST FRIEND. Once again the day is saved by Super Naeto C. This album MAKES THE iPOD. http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/super-c-season/id418889563