Soundman Vol. 2
| Soundman Vol. 2 | ||||
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| Released | 22 December 2023 | |||
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| Length | 12:01 | |||
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Soundman Vol. 2 (often shortened to S2) is the second EP by Nigerian singer Wizkid. It was released on 22 December 2023, through RCA Records and Starboy Entertainment, and features guest appearances from Wande Coal and Zlatan. Production was handled by P.Priime, The Elements, Cake, and Bigfish. It serves as a follow-up to More Love, Less Ego (2022), and serves as a sequel to his first EP, Soundman Vol. 1 (2019).
Background
[edit]Fellow Nigerian singer Davido announced the release of the EP and expressed his excitement for it via a Twitter post on 19 December 2023 as he announced the release date.[2] Wizkid confirmed its release the same day.[3] He revealed the tracklist for the album on 20 December 2023.[4]
Critical reception
[edit]Adeayo Adebiyi of Pulse Nigeria reviewed Soundman Vol. 2, noting that the EP offers familiar music and doesn't signal a shift in Wizkid's sound. He described the project as similar to his previous work, with Wizkid opting for mid-tempo R&B flows and lush production. Adebiyi states, "Nothing in 'S2' suggests Wizkid intends to vie into a different sonic direction", and gives the EP a rating of 7.0/10, marking it as a "Victory".[5]
Friday Omosola of the Premium Times noted that Soundman Vol. 2 showcases Wizkid's musical growth, featuring collaborations with Wande Coal and Zlatan Ibile that add diversity to the EP. He praised the high production quality but criticized the lyrics for being clichéd and repetitive, stating, "The EP feels flat and riddled with clichés". Despite this, he acknowledged that Wizkid’s sound remains strong, though the EP lacks deeper emotional connection, making it "easy to forget." Omosola concluded that the EP reminds listeners of the need for continuous creative evolution.[6]
Emmanuel Daraloye's review for the Cable highlighted Wizkid's return to his musical roots with Soundman Vol. 2, noting its appeal to Nigerian audiences. He praises tracks like "Diamonds" and "Ololufe", but criticized the lack of consistency in Wizkid’s performance, stating, "Zlatan Ibile outshines Wizkid on the last track 'IDK'." Daraloye concluded that the EP is a solid comeback for Wizkid, marked by themes of love and grief, though he points out some lyrical and delivery flaws. He rated the EP 3/5.[7]
Tomide Marv of Zikoko! reviewed Soundman Vol. 2 positively, noting that it blends Wizkid's Afrobeats, dancehall, and amapiano influences effectively. Marv pointed out that the EP's highlights include the collaboration with Wande Coal on "Ololufe" and Zlatan's standout performance on "IDK," with the latter being described as the best track. Marv stated, "Wizkid likes music, and he’s having fun with it," concluding that the EP is a fun listen, catering to various fanbases.[1]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ololufe" (featuring Wande Coal) |
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| 3:30 |
| 2. | "Diamonds" |
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| 2:29 |
| 3. | "Energy" |
| P.Priime | 3:01 |
| 4. | "IDK" (featuring Zlatan) |
| TheElements | 3:00 |
| Total length: | 12:01 | |||
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from Apple Music.
Performing artists and composers
[edit]- Ayodeji "Wizkid" Balogun - vocals, songwriter
- Oluwatobi "Wande Coal" Ojosipe - vocals, songwriter (track 1)
- Omoniyi "Zlatan" Raphael - vocals, songwriter (track 4)
- Damilola Tolulope Ogunleye - lead guitar (track 1, 2)
- Chimamanda "Qing Madi" Chukwuma - background vocals (track 2)
- Oladapo - background vocals (track 2)
- Iniobong Asukwo Edet - bass (track 2)
- Nicolas Georgakis - songwriter (track 2)
Production and engineering
[edit]- Peace "P.Priime" Oredope - producer, songwriter (track 1, 2, 3, 4)
- Olajumoke "Cake" Olayiwola - producer, songwriter (track 1)
- Abayomi "Bigfish" Ilerioluwa - producer (track 2)
- The Elements (Paul Bogumil Goller and Keven Wolfsohn) - producers, songwriters (track 4)
- Sam Harper - engineer (track 1, 2, 3, 4)
- Leandro "Dro" Hidalgo - mixing engineer (track 1, 2, 3)
- Dale Becker - mastering engineer (track 1, 2, 3, 4)
- Aidan Duncan - assistant mixing engineer (track 1, 2, 3)
- Nate Mingo - assistant mastering engineer (track 1, 2, 3, 4)
- Kate Harvey - assistant mastering engineer (track 1, 2, 3, 4)
Release history
[edit]| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 22 December 2023 |
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References
[edit]- ^ a b Marv, Tomide (23 December 2023). ""S2" Review: Inside Wizkid's Sound-bending Sandwich of Fun and Introspection". Zikoko!. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- ^ Adebiyi, Adeayo (19 December 2023). "Davido announces surprise new EP from Wizkid set to drop on Friday". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- ^ Bolawa, Pelumi (19 December 2023). "Davido ecstatic as Wizkid drops new EP on Dec 22". TheCable. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- ^ Kanmodi, Funmilayo (20 December 2023). "Wizkid announces a mouthwatering tracklist for Soundman 2". NotJustOk. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- ^ Adebiyi, Adeayo (22 December 2023). "Wizkid retains similar elements for 'S2'". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- ^ Omosola, Friday (23 December 2023). "MUSIC REVIEW: Despite polished production, Wizkid's 'Soundman Vol. 2' is lukewarm offering". Premium Times. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- ^ Daraloye, Emmanuel (22 December 2023). "REVIEW: Wizkid's 'Soundman Vol. 2' EP is not very impressive". TheCable. Retrieved 23 November 2024.