By Osagz

ARTISTE: Overdose

ALBUM: H.O.D (Hustle or Die)

RECORD LABEL: Extreme Records

DISTRIBUTED BY: Obaino Music

After a very impressive debut album that got every rapper in the country wondering what he was influenced by, Overdose shot straight up through the rap list earning respect from fans as well as critics. A couple of years later Overdose is back.

Bearing out a new state of mind, Overdose shows a new or better yet transformed side of him on “Hustle or Die”. The album cover art even does justice to this as Overdose brushes off the usual ranting of the Nigerian MC and faces other issues. Let’s go in:

Right from the first track “Got to luv me”, Overdose addresses his new status; “….never had a kid but they say I turned pop….” with lines like “…I’m the truth and the answer, took the game beyond the reach of these pranksters”. On “I can’t shout” Overdose rhymes eloquently on an electro infused beat, a sure party starter that will get the crowd moving and shaking with a hand full of quotable lines

Overdose takes to “Alujo” on a syrupy beat with a catchy hook which will get the ladies moving anytime; simple with the words and delivery Overdose plays it easy to the appealing ears. The energy remains constant on the album with tracks like “Drinks in a Glass” and “Ginjah me up”; the former being an ode to the bottle and the latter a heavy 808 thumping track but kills the feel with repetitive verses and too much auto-tune.

And even when Overdose introduces a slower but intense feel as the album goes on, he does it with such art. On “Run if you want you”, he verbally teases a female with lines like “damn you impress me, see you’re looking so sexy, you’re different from the rest see you make me wanna score like Lionel Messi”, but goes wrong with the line “A Jberg (Johannesburg) gal – bafana bafana”.  OD also recites softly on “If you want me”, another song intended for the female ear.

Overdose seems to slow down on the punchlines and metaphors but stays sharp with the similes, on “Who know you”, he goes bunkers rhyming at length without a hook, dishing out lines like “…I’m the one you can’t move or scare, y’all just like Pro Tools without the hardware...” and “Your frontman spat but I ain’t feeling him, my verse’s a death threat so I just might be killing him”.

All through the album Overdose sticks to the theme; a little dark but inspirational. On “Crazy World”, Overdose takes to the art of storytelling describing stories of mishaps while Black Solo blends in with hard croons. OD rounds up with “Reach for the stars” a slow, influential ballad that drags the curtain and brings the album to an end.

Conclusively, Overdose’s “Hustle or Die” ushers in a new feel of rap; you don’t need to dig your fingers in the dirt to rhyme hard. It’s an album that will grow on the listener eventually if it doesn’t hit hard at first. Brilliant attempt.

Beats: 4/5

Lyrics: 3.5/5

Originality: 4/5

ALBUM RATING: 4/5