Maverick (Kizz Daniel album)
| Maverick | ||||
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| Released | 28 July 2023 | |||
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| Length | 53:00 | |||
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| Kizz Daniel chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Maverick | ||||
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Maverick is the fourth studio album by Nigerian singer Kizz Daniel. It was released on 28 July 2023, through Flyboy Inc and Empire Distribution. The album features guest appearances from Johnny Drille, Yemi Alade, Blaqbonez, Becky G, Young Jonn, Jahmiel, Tekno, Pryme, Nomcebo Zikode, Chike, Not3s and DJ Big N, and Daniel's two children Jalil and Jelani. Kizz Daniel enlisted production from Philkeyz, DeeYasso, Yung Willis, Shugavibez, Reward Beatz, Xtofa, Roc Legion, M.O.G Beatz, Ayzed, DJ Coublon, Mr. Soul, Johnny Drille, Blaisebeatz, Fiokee, Sparrq and Juwonmix.
Background and recording
[edit]Kizz Daniel began working on Maverick at his Lagos residence just three months prior to its release. Originally, the artist had planned to release an album titled Color of Happiness in 2023, but due to "in-house reasons," he decided to create a new project, which became Maverick. The album explores personal themes related to family, life, and loss, reflecting on Kizz Daniel's experiences over the three years since his last release. As the title suggests, Maverick embodies Kizz Daniel's decision to create music on his own terms, combining introspective moments with his signature Afrobeats sound.[1]
Singles
[edit]The lead single "Flex," was released on 26 February 2021 and was produced by DJ Coublon.[2] The second single, "Buga," features Tekno and was produced by Blaisebeatz, Yung Willis and Reward Beatz. Kizz Daniel announced the release of "Buga" on Instagram on the day of 4 May 2022, offering a ₦1,000,000 prize for the best Buga video content, with fans serving as the judges. He encouraged followers to participate and provided the link to the song in his bio.[3] The third single "Cough (Odo)" was released on 14 October 2022, and was the lead single off the Empire Distribution compilation album, Where We Come From, Vol. 01 (2022). The song was produced by Blaisebeatz with uncredited production from Philkeyz.[4] The fourth single off Maverick, "RTID (Rich Till I Die)" was released on 6 January 2023, with production from Reward Beatz and Blaisebeatz, and a video directed by TG Omori that reached over 1.7 million views in the span of three days.[5][6] The Reward Beatz-produced fifth single off Maverick, "Shu-Peru," was released on 12 May 2023, and was mixed and mastered by Jaycen Joshua.[7] The sixth single is the remix of the third single, "Cough (Odo)," and was remixed with Becky G on 21 July 2023.[8] The seventh single off the album "My G" was released on 9 October 2023 with a TG Omori-directed music video.[9]
Critical reception
[edit]The album received mixed reviews from critics. Adeayo Adebiyi of Pulse Nigeria critiqued Maverick for lacking artistic depth, variety, and excitement, calling it a monotonous experience. While praising the album's opener "Red & Green" and some moments like "Feran You Two," Adebiyi found the project to be disappointingly unvaried across its 20 tracks. He gave the album a rating of 5.5/10, labeling it "average."[10] Patrick Ezema of Afrocritik described Maverick as an uncertain and directionless album, noting that Kizz Daniel struggles to evolve musically. While the album has its good moments, the writing often falls flat, and the music feels repetitive. Ezema summarized, “Ultimately, Maverick fails to find its footing.” He also gave the album a rating of 5.5/10.[11]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Red & Green" | Oluwatobiloba Anidugbe | Johnny Drille | 1:54 |
| 2. | "My G" | Anidugbe |
| 2:40 |
| 3. | "Flex" |
| DJ Coublon | 3:07 |
| 4. | "Cough (Odo)" | Anidugbe |
| 2:56 |
| 5. | "Show You Off" (featuring Pryme) |
|
| 2:27 |
| 6. | "Shu-Peru" |
|
| 3:10 |
| 7. | "Buga" (featuring Tekno) |
|
| 3:03 |
| 8. | "Feran You Two" (featuring Jalil and Jelani) | Anidugbe |
| 3:37 |
| 9. | "Feran Mi" (featuring Johnny Drille) |
|
| 3:16 |
| 10. | "Complicated" (featuring Jahmiel, Nomcebo Zikode and Not3s) |
|
| 2:47 |
| 11. | "E'better" | Anidugbe |
| 3:13 |
| 12. | "Blood is Thicker" | Anidugbe |
| 2:27 |
| 13. | "One Dollar" (featuring Blaqbonez) |
| Blaisebeatz | 2:01 |
| 14. | "Easy to Love" (featuring Chike) |
| DeeYasso | 2:46 |
| 15. | "Pour" | Anidugbe |
| 2:13 |
| 16. | "Never" | Anidugbe | Ayzed | 2:13 |
| 17. | "Anchovy" | Anidugbe |
| 2:24 |
| 18. | "RTID (Rich Till I Die)" | Anidugbe |
| 2:52 |
| 19. | "Side Chick" (featuring DJ Big N, Yemi Alade, Young Jonn) |
|
| 2:27 |
| 20. | "Cough" (remix; featuring Becky G) |
|
| 2:57 |
| Total length: | 53:00 | |||
Personnel
[edit]- Oluwatobiloba "Kizz Daniel" Anidugbe – vocals, writer, executive producer
- Augustine "Tekno" Kelechi – vocals, writer
- Emeka "Blaqbonez" Akumefule – vocals, writer
- Rebbeca "Becky G" Gomez – vocals, writer
- Chike Osebuka – vocals, writer
- Promise "Pryme" Nwabueke - vocals, writer
- Lukman "Not3s" Odunaike - vocals, writer
- Yemi Alade - vocals, writer
- John "Young Jonn" Udomboso - vocals, writer
- Nomcebo Zikode - vocals, writer
- Nonso "DJ Big N" Ajufo - vocals, writer
- John "Johnny Drille" Ighodaro – vocals, writer, producer
- Akwuba Charles Ugochukwu – producer, writer
- Marcel "Blaisebeatz" Akunwata – producer
- Philip "Philkeyz" Chukwuka – producer
- Dennis "DeeYasso" Yasso - producer
- Daniel "Yung Willis" Williams - producer
- Godwin "Shugavibez" Ifeanyi - producer
- Olawale "Reward Beatz" Isaac - producer
- Mbah "Xtofa" Christoper - producer
- Joseph "Roc Legion" Watchorn - producer
- John "M.O.G. Beatz" Dosunmu-Mensah - producer
- Azuka "Ayzed" Akaeze - producer
- Koroma "Mr. Soul"Richard - producer
- Ifiok "Fiokee" Effanga - producer
- Ayomikun "Sparrq" Emmanuel-Aro - producer
- Juwonmix - producer
Release history
[edit]| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 28 July 2023 |
|
References
[edit]- ^ Esomnofu, Emmanuel (17 August 2023). "Kizz Daniel Is Nigerian Music's 'Maverick'". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ Onabanjo, Adedamola (26 February 2021). "Kizz Daniel's Desire For The Good Life Shines Bright On 'Flex'". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.). Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ Courage, Onyema (4 May 2022). "Kizz Daniel and Tekno release new single 'Buga'". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ Esomnofu, Emmanuel (17 October 2022). "BEST NEW MUSIC: KIZZ DANIEL'S "COUGH (ODO)" REINFORCES HIS HITMAKING GENIUS". The Native. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ Adebiyi, Adeayo (6 January 2023). "Kizz Daniel drops visuals for new single, 'RTID (Rich Till I Die)'". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ Taiwo, Efosa (9 January 2023). "Kizz Daniel's 'RTID' hits 1.7m YouTube views in three days". Vanguard. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ Emmanuel, Solution (12 May 2023). "Kizz Daniel returns with new single 'Shu Peru'". Premium Times. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ Okhide, Peter (21 July 2023). "Kizz Daniel gives 'Cough (Odo)' an international remix, features Becky G". NotJustOk. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ Okhide, Peter (10 October 2023). "Off the Maverick LP, Kizz Daniel shares the visuals for 'My G'". NotJustOk. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ Adebiyi, Adeayo (1 August 2023). "'Maverick' is a notice for Kizz Daniel to switch it up". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ Ezema, Patrick (4 August 2023). "'Maverick' Fails To Solve The Debate On Kizz Daniel's Status As A Nigerian Music Top Gun". Afrocritik. Retrieved 15 September 2024.