Ikechukwu Life and times of Killz Vol. 1 Review!

The Son of the Soil is here. Geez the album cover sure got me buying the CD and I must give props to who done it. I’ll conveniently refer to him as Killz for ease of writing and I kind of like the name. I expect to see an intense delivery full of verve and imaginative lyrics. Will my expectations be met? Let’s just wait and see…

1. Vexing –
I’m not too sure who he is vexing for in this intro but it sure sounds fierce enough. I kind of like the piano play and the soft rock production. So let’s dissect the life and times of Killz…

2. Da Intro –
“a million naira out of 15 cents” well that threw me off. Not sure what he was referring too. This track serves as a peek into the life of Killz from his childhood up to his present state. The delivery is smooth and revealing. I like the way he weaves his rap on the beats. The storey telling is kind of impressive and I like the way he flows effortlessly. A nice “rapography”!

3. It’s your life (shekpey) -
I got my head bopping for about 35 seconds as the instrumentals of the beats (produced by TY I guess) filtered in. A techno beat yes but designed to move ya! Once again Killz raps effortlessly and ensures his voice matches the quality of the beat. The chorus also completes it as a dance track. I like to see rappers flow without fuss on fast pace beats. His voice interplay is also majestic and display how skillfully he can employ a great accent with a local feel

4. Finding Killz –
On this track he does a bit of soul searching. It is a slow song with a gentle flow. The production is average though but allows him come out clean. An interesting tell tale, you can call this the slower version of track 2. However, the chorus leaves much to be desired. Dry and almost dulls the track. I hope he has soon found himself.

5. No more Mr. Nice Guy –
“Hey” yeah my man Naeto C featured on this track. And then I’m like” southern beat”!! Anyway the track spikes from an Ibo Boy point of view of how “Mr. Nice Guy came into the industry. A different voice entirely. Killz sure knows how to use his voice. The beat sounds better as you listen more. Naeto C also delivers a short but smooth chorus which more than compliments the rap. I won’t be surprised if the ladies like this track. No catchy lines yet though, no need to rush we’re just less than a quarter into the LP.

6. Killz –
Another TY production so I expect a quality production? The beats have got a classical feel and gets better and the song wears out. “No pain no glory, that’s the life story, the pretty and the gory” don’t know what to make of that rhyme. The song is yet another Killz epilogue. The chorus makes reminds me of the intro of the cartoon series “Danger Mouse”. Well below average! “He strikes like thunder the people wonder”. The track is below average as it just bores you as you try to figure it out. It must be noted that he changes his voice output in all three verses. Still didn’t impress me!!

7. Girl Friend –
This techno like kind of song was a sign I was going to hate this song. I’m not even sure if his voice was auto tuned here as it sounds so horrible. Honestly it is a drab attempt at singing. This track should be wiped out and the producer spanked thoroughly.

8. Shobeedoo –
First heard this track on TV so I’m not sure if my opinion is biased already. However, I’ll try not to. A beautiful song and once again Killz uses his masterful skill of voice interplay impressively. The choruses compliments the track well and can make you hum it all day and night till you fall asleep. The content is short though but then the shorter the sweeter right?

9. Like You –
I felt the chills when I saw Wande Coal and Don Jazzy’s names on this track. I must confess the pair could have done this song without Killz or with anyone. Anyway, Killz doesn’t disappoint as he flows pretty well. Wande Coal also makes it sound easy with his silky voice. The production is expected of Don Jazzy as he provides another good party track.

10. Ogodo –
What can I say? This is also an average track but a very interesting one for that matter. “Ogodo” sounds more like a metaphor for something I’m not sure off. Killz gives us an insight into his wooing skills as he sweet talks an assumedly Ibo Lady. The chorus is nice as the girl makes no hash of her accent. However, this is yet another average song. The production does no justice to the track and must be the sour grape to this track.

11. Back to you -
Half way now and it already seems like I’m wasting my time. Not for the content of the album but for its quality thus far. Back to the review – Well auto tune is the order of the day so I shouldn’t be surprised. Only here Ikechukwu actually sings a bit better and in some parts with his voice, makes it difficult to differentiate though. The 2nd verse sounds more like his vintage style of rapping. The beat however doesn’t make for quality listening pleasure as it lacks any form of creativity. An average song nonetheless and it should not be categorize as hip-hop.

12. Summertime –
Right now I feel like dropping this review because I’m kind of confused. Is this a hip hop album? Seems like an attempt to do a Naija version of a summer time track. The problem is summer is all year round in Naija and this track comes nowhere near its predecessors. Anyway Naeto C (who I’m ironically a fan of) takes the first verse in his usual ABC rhyme style. The song is yet another average song and can’t inspire further listening.

13. Wonderful –
Wow this brings back nostalgic feeling of those disco days. Killz must get his inspiration from Kanye West or how else can he conjectures such techno, auto tuned inspiring album thus far. Even Lil Wayne will be envious!! Well not one for a hip hop review old school or not! Only silver lining is the beats. However, this track is destined for my bin.

14. Race –
“Race” well this song is surely the opposite – A silky smooth delivery and a flash back in time kind of rap. The chorus is impressive and kind of makes the song pleasurable and also makes you ponder. His best delivery since the commencement of the album except that it lacked catchy lines. I also like the way the track fades out. The only down side was the beats it was way below average and robbed this track of a near 3 quarter percentage score.

15. We go hard –
With MI on this track I expect interplay of smooth delivery, voice play and clear output. Well it had all of it except for the annoying trumpet (or whatever it was) sounds on the chorus.”All this lame ass rappers be the prey we stalk/ outlining all these fools in chalk” or was it “icon of the bomb track in your face like a contact”, or “…Picture this, a free mason building with no brick”. Here is his other attempt to force rhymes? I didn’t expect much lyrically from this collabo so I’ll just rate this track average leaning on a thread.

16. Igbo Boyz –
A tribute to Igbo boyz I suppose letting peeps know Igbo boyz are everywhere and anywhere money flows. This is a well below average track. However, Naeto C flows effortlessly, albeit with weak lyrics, but with impressive delivery. Not even sure Igbo boys will feel this track.

17. Mo Fowo –
Gosh this review is looking like a punishment thus far. But I will continue. I’m not a fan of Alaye but liked his delivery on P Squares remix so I won’t be banking on a classic. Not sure is I was listening to rap on this track, the chorus must have sliced off about 50% of the track time. A well below average track with disturbing beats. The message also seems lost here so no need discussing it.

18. Wind am well -
A song made popular in clubs and a welcome track any day. I like his delivery and the way he makes you yearn. Not sure if you can call this hip hop but it’s got be bopping. The production of this track is above average. Killz rap verse is top notch here!

19. Exploding –
I expected a cataclysmic sound but hey exploding here actually refers to an explosion of the brain full of lyrical weaponry. Well, except that the weapons lack the ability to irk a nerve let alone harm. The intro sound like something sampled from Cold Play. Punk, skunk, dunk, debunk rhyme makes my stomach quiver. It’s pretty much explosive in that sense.

Final Analysis
I reviewed this album with high hopes evident in his reputation as one of Naija’s best hip hop acts. However, the album is far from impressive and makes nonsense of his reputation as one of Naija’s best. I guess Killz killed himself with a weak attempt at commercializing a biographical laced album. His desire to sell records and please his record company must have forced him to singing and flirting around with auto tunes.

Strong Points
Except for tracks 2, 3, 4 and 8, which i must admit are just average tracks, there’s not much to gloat about. However, Killz has got delivery and an excellent command of his voice. He just needs to do a lot more work on the quality of his songs, in terms of production and lyrical content. His accent naturally gives him an edge as he can sounds both Nigerian and American effortlessly.

Weak Points
A well below average album, that can’t be recommended beyond its beautiful album cover. Lyrically it lacks depth and must have been rushed for a possibly commercial stand point. I doubt its performance commercially anyway. I lack words to describe my disappointment and will just grade it a 1mic out of a possible 5.

Reviewed by Ugochukwu Obi – Chukwu.