IllBliss – Dat Ibo Boy [Review]

My first taste of Ibo boy was his video featuring Kel and I was gob smacked!! What veracious delivery with so much verve and control. I was actually more impressed with Kel and I became an instant fan. So I review this album with much expectation and hope the 3 hours of review is worth it. So pick up the CD if you’ve got it and let’s jam.

Intro
A Mike Works production with a little help from Nas makes this Intro a stand out. Reminds me of Nas’s intro on Stillmatic and I’m quite impressed with the near replica. Smooth delivery and quality production. It seems like we are in for some exciting ride.

U go wound
Tight track laden with vibe and energy! The chorus is daring and a warning to those who dare step into Illbliss’s territory. I think the video cut was better but that’s not taking anything away from this piece. No punch line but an anthem all the same. I’m feeling it.

Dat Ibo Boy
A fast paced production targeted at the party boppers. Not sure it goes all the way as one to raise the roof. But the delivery is smooth and compliments the production. The lyrics relate to Ibo boys not afraid of flaunting their wealth and buying drinks in the club. Not sure about the drugs and 19 boys thingy in the first verse. All the same an average attempt at bragging.

Enuf Space
Ok, now I’m getting confused. I’ve never heard more Ibo burdened rants on a track like I have in the past 10 minutes. So much for tribal philosophy! Oh well guess I must have gotten carried away with the intro. Back to the song, a sampling of a popular party banger by Terry G, who incidentally features as well; Illbliss continues to display with confidence his proud heritage. Ironically, the chorus is in Yoruba but doesn’t deter him. The production is fast pace and well arranged. The delivery is intense and the lyrics hold through to its theme. Not one for the shelves though. Kudos to Terry G as he effortlessly makes the track sound better

Glory
I kind of like his voice as he uses it effectively. “I don’t give a hoot so far boyz getting loot”. Well that probably sums up the song. Here, Ibo Boy venerates his Ibo Boy status yet again and delivers a tight rap and ensures you realize he’s getting his money and will knock you out if you’re in his way. The chorus is kind of childish as it reminds me of some boys scout chant. An average track all the same.

Feeling U
Some techno baby!! A different direction on this track!!! Illbliss displays his “swagger” (Lately, I hate to use that word) and his softer side. The production is good so is the chorus. However, the rap just doesn’t fit. “Can I buy you a drink/depends on what you think/about us cuddling in the…”sure didn’t help. Apparently the chick is swayed by his lies. A stale tale hommie!!!

Turn my head
Guess “Wage” took the chorus. Ibo Boy continues with his softer side but this time he is dreaming of his wedding day with his boys in their “black suit”. The girl responds by saying he is “turning his head”. Well in Naija terms it means she is head over heels. The production is remarkably good again as it got me nodding “my head too”. In the second verse he assures the girl he wasn’t down with groupies and just loves his tall Ibo chic. This song would have done better without the rap.

Don’t dirty my shirt
Don’t be deceived by the lack luster chorus as the beat once again maintains the standard of its predecessors. The delivery is also matching and compliments the intensity of the production. Well below average lyrically but his voice and delivery makes you forget. As stated the beat stands out and will probably sound better with better vocals.

Currency Boys
The intro to this song is disgusting (I mean the chorus). He’s weakest link has got to be his chorus especially when he does it himself. However, I was blown away by the delivery in the first verse. If that’s eLDee then that brother’s still got game. Almost flawless delivery and by far the best 35 seconds of this album thus far! All punch lines!! Illbliss also matches with his best delivery yet. Without the chorus and the hooks, this song would be up there as a classic.

Da Boss
Half way ok and I’m a little disappointed as I expected more. However it’s a 20 song album so let’s not give up. Another scary intro as the voice on the chorus was almost crying for attention. Don’t mistake the track for a Killz chant as the “hey” may deceive you. I like it when rappers extol themselves with due respect for others. I call that diplomatic bragging!! He does it well on this track as he calls himself the greatest amongst greats such as Mode 9 and MI. Not sure what the pair will think about that but then that’s a direct affirmation that shouldn’t be left to go unnoticed. He also takes a swipe at the SA loving video artists and maintains music can’t be his only hustle. The most daring attack at the industry I’ve seen in a while.

Leader
With Durella on this track I wasn’t sure what to expect. A near gusty track if not for the artist he featured. The production is as expected and is worth a remake with artistic and stronger vocals.

Tobechukwu
A religious track going by the title, oh well so I thought! A smooth delivery and an even better control of his voice! Don’t know why he curses on this track. “Between the nice clothes and stardoms/still log on to problems dot com”! Kind of reminds you of the mo money problems catch phrase. Apparently he tries to demonstrate his resilience to adversities and lets us know his only conqueror is God. Amongst the best thus far!

Side of your mouth
Oh well so far, the second part of this album has quite impressed me. Hip hop is running the show for now as he tries to come out harder on his lyrical content. With a little help from Thorough Breads (hope I got the name right) this track just makes it to the very top. Aided by quality production the guys just make rap sound so sweet and easy. Voice clarity is top notch on both verses and compliments the tight lyrics. Notably “Salute the Thorough Team/yes boss/we play to win/delete fake cats/leave ‘em in recycle bins”. This track makes it to my play list!!!

Limelite
A pure mismatch! A trio of wrong beats, chorus and delivery! Killz would have done better with this track. He actually vents his anger and disdain at the print media, haters and anyone else who cares to listen. Letting them know he is no faker and stays true to his down to earth self. Unfortunately, he finds the wrong platform for this message on this track. Actually, he is his own enemy!

National Cake
Another quality production and a politically motivated track! He uses a cake as a metaphor representing the Nation’s resources badly used by those in power. The lyrics are revealing and daring. His voice clarity ensures the message is clear and crisp and leaves no stone unturned. In three verses he touches on corruption, brain drain, unemployment, mass exodus of our nation’s youth, Niger Delta crisis and everything that’s has been a bane to our Nation hood. The delivery left me reeling while the production just keeps me focused. An “A” track any day!

Blessing
What’s a hip hop album without a bit of ragamuffin?? An attempt to blend some raga with rap! The production is creative but lacks the intensity the vocals require. The lyrics are tight and spare no blushes as the delivery once again is above average. The track is a compliment to his wife who he thanks for being a blessing to his life. He should have left the chorus for the Raga to flow without interference. An average track all the same.

Lead the way
C-Mion sounds like your typical gospel singer on this track and won’t be surprised if he is one. Another glorifying joint to a female companion probably his wife or girlfriend. This is the 4th track dedicated to either a girl/lover/girlfriend/wife. Not outstanding either!

Music na hussle
“Not connected at Glo but my pocket is all green for my effort”! Well that’s a direct talk To Whom It May Concern. Another daring track and Ibo Boys spares no blushes. He takes on anyone who dare to question his “hussle”. Sounds like what any artist looking for attention will gloat about, so don’t be alarmed it’s nothing new. The beat is once again creative and top notch.

Change
It’s either Illbliss has got a good ear for beats or is just damn lucky with his selections. A near departure from his usual vernacular or home grown chorus as it sounds very foreign. This time he takes on the world and its need for change. He references the music revolution taking place in Nigeria and relates that to the signs that change is coming. Not many Nigerian acts will put this kind of track on an album let alone sound so impressive on it.

Uwa Afufu
Another conscious rap that’s well crafted and well delivered. A beautiful epilogue of his rise from a young unemployed graduate, to a young uncle and eventually to a young immigrant hustler! The production is perfectly suited for this track as it allows him lace the mic without much hindrance. The only down side was the lyrics. The rhyming was poor and almost nonexistent a crucial ingredient for hip-hop.

Final Analysis
I got to say I thoroughly enjoyed reviewing this album even though it’s far from being a classic. I’ve got mixed feeling about it as it at time appears inspiring and then stuck in mediocrity. Such is the mixed bag associated with this LP.

High Points
I noticed the album is divided into 3 parts with Part 1 eulogizing his heritage and affirming his presence for good. The second part addresses his softer side as well as his appeal to the party lovers. The final part takes us on a philosophical path way as he weaves politics with personal struggle and industry superiority.
It’s also worthy to note that his choice of beats were near spot on as the quality of his sounds grew from strength to strength except for one or 2 tracks.

Low points
The album could well have excelled with fewer tracks as its 20 list content was packed with a lot of mediocre joints. Close to ¾ of the entire album had watery lyrics only made to sound better by the near excellent quality of its beats!
The album also had a lot of repeated hooks and lines (which is predominant in main stream rap these days) at times providing a filler effect.
With a little more effort on its lyrical content, better composition and controlled delivery this may have just turned out a classic.

Without much ado, I personally rate this album 2 1/2 mics (with 1 ½ for the quality of its production)!!!

Reviewed by Ugochukwu Obi – Chukwu.