Reminisce Serves Premium Music Across Board on ‘Vibes and Insha Allah’ [EP Review]

Coming four years after El-Hadj, Reminisce’s fourth studio project, Vibes & Insha Allah, bounces on aligning vocals and tunes for success. The project sails into consumption spaces with saccharine input from Tiwa Savage and Fireboy DML, who featured on the EP as guest artistes. 

“Daddy, Daddy.” 

“Yes.”     

“Why do you record, why do you have to make music?”

This spicy but inquisitive conversation is a solid hook, introducing and prepping music lovers for pure entertainment on Reminisce’s fifth studio project – Vibes & Insha Allah. The conversation has the accomplished rapper responding to two of his three daughters, MO and Fatimah Safaru, on the driving forces behind his craft. Carrying a fitting title – Vibes, the record leads consumers on an intimate journey into the rapper’s everyday struggles with being a father of three daughters, rapper and singer. 

On the joint, Reminisce announced that he is a perfectionist. And two verses helped to solidify his assertion: “The perfectionist in me is always undecided/gbogbo verse mi lo gbodo ni pass mark Nike” (my verses must carry pass marks, just like footwear brand, Nike’s logo). The 39-year-old, who is head honcho at Les Roses Rouges Records (LRR), doesn’t mince words with the struggles of balancing work and life. The words of wisdom he suggests, afterwards, established that he’s managing the situation perfectly. It’s a decent interpretation backed by the efforts of producer Tmxo.  

READ MORE: Why I Took A Break From Music -Reminisce

Prior to hitting the mainstream in 2010, a couple of years after fellow collaborators game 9ice and Olamide got their taste of fame and fortune, Reminisce struggled with finding space for his kind of rap and music. You’ll find bits of his success story, despite setbacks on ‘Ogaranya’. 

He’s comfortable, balling, and having a good time altogether. The groovy track stamps everything Reminisce can afford now with funds rolling in from revolutionary rap projects and endorsement deals. There’s a brief pause that attempts to steal a bit of the shine from the chorus delivered by Fireboy DML, but the production work put in by legendary producer, Sarz filled up the space. Coincidentally, Sarz produced the 2010 smash single, Kako Bi Chicken that would change Reminisce’s story forever. 

With Gbedu, Reminisce brings the personal affirmation of being a “Champions league player” to the party. In a recent chat with music journo, Joey Akan, the rapper disclosed: “I play Champions League football. Everything is premium.” Running with Afrobeat and pop fusions, ‘Gbedu’ reinforces the depth of the rapper’s craft and sustained focus on his audience and demography. He’s served premium bars and records, receiving multiple accolades and securing a successful Nollywood run in ‘King of Boys’, a record-breaking movie directed by Kemi Adetiba. Produced by Krizbeatz, ‘Gbedu’ houses some lamba limbo in a delivery that gives hints to consumers on what to expect. 

LooneyTunes’ touches on ‘Jogodo’ extend the rhythmic feel Ogaranya and Gbedu offer. Reminisce attempts an elaborate commentary on the track, interspersing hip hop, politics, and women. The commentary stops abruptly and keeps you guessing, as there is a certain lady who throws in distraction. There is room for some street slangs that conveys the rapper’s state of mind on the bilingual delivery. 

Reminisce’s obsession with football and the business side of things is the dominant factor in Over 2.5. The lingo, “it will end in tears” gets you chuckling as you stamp your feet, while the rapper-singer does his job: supplying premium entertainment. For one, it transports elements of caution to betting enthusiasts and punters. Both Reminisce and Tmxo score another hit with vocals and production respectively. While you’re engulfed in the vibe, the rapper makes reference to the God factor in everything we do. The humorous Yoruba Nollywood cut on the joint finely draws the curtain. 

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And just when you probably thought the vulgarity was enough, Reminisce tells you it’s not done with Eja Osan. It’s a decent effort and has new entrant, Aivert holding things down with top-notch production. Tiwa Savage doesn’t disappoint, but the track bandies expansive vulgarity from the singer and the Champions league player who is looking to have a successful and extended run in music. Just like Ryan Giggs did at Manchester United. Just like Zlatan Ibrahimović with his current exploits at Italian Serie A football side, AC Milan. 

It’s hard to fault the songwriting, delivery, and production efforts that collectively shaped the success of Vibes & Insha Allah. The disconnection between vocals and sounds in a few places is forgivable. Vibes & Insha Allah is an important manifestation of a revolutionary wave for rap music with Reminisce at the forefront of this movement. This is premium music for everyone. 

Written by Afeez Odunoye