I was requested to review this soulful singer’s album after its recent release and here is a reproduction.

If Djinee asked me to make three wishes that he were obliged to grant, they would be…

1. Sing! 2. Keep singing!! 3. Pleeeeez sing some more!!!

Delivering timeless romantic lyrics with the timbre of an operatic tenor and the swish tone of a contemporary Nigerian artiste, Djinee (pronounced as Jinee) has turned out to become a fascinating singer and he ‘no dey shame’ to show it.

Four years after he blasted into our auditory senses with the award-winning ‘Ego’, the ballad singer recently hit the market with a debut 17-track (including bonuses) self-titled album Djinee!

Pooling together an array of top-notch musicians, vocalists and producers (Cobhams, Frenzy, M.I, Nikki Laoye, Ego, Jesse Jags, Mike Osadolor, Don Jazzy etc) to collaborate with him on the album guaranteed the compilation a work of dedicated professionalism. Primarily, the album Djinee! is a collection of ballads and songs that celebrate the good life and love uninhibited in expression and unrestrained in intensity.

Lyrically, men secretly identify with the often repressed instinct to selflessly pleasure a lover and likewise bask in her undivided reciprocation. And for us girls… we just so hate ‘Ego’ and ‘Lade’ (female love subjects in his songs) fantasizing his lines have been desirously sang with our name, melodious or not!. Haba! How often do you hear a man tell you ‘I go naked for road for you baby’? Sounds obsessive and psychotic abi..? Well, we like!

Vocally, Djinee has shown amazing dexterity in pitches and modulating so adeptly that he may be considered somewhat of a show off.

Conceptually, Djinee! debunks stereotypes associated with ballads by innovatively arranging lyrics over beats from music genres not classified as traditional rhythms for heart and soul music. Afro-centricism dominates the core of this album; our swagger, our vernacular, our beats and our culture can be heard throughout the album.

In the critically-acclaimed ‘Lade’ ft M.I, we hear House music-influenced psychedelic sounds overlaid by Djinee’s soothing lyrics, which is an enchanting reverie.

‘Na my Wife’ infused with highlife rhythms, extols the beauty of an African bride. Songs following ‘Forever’ and ‘Uruese’ (a thank you God track) are similar in style and melody. There’s also ‘Overkillin’ a fast-paced hip hop track that is quite the rave with radio presenters. The song, which confirms Djinee’s versatility as an artiste, is deeply philosophical and takes jibes at vainglorious living. It is so hot the hit-making lyricists at Chocolate City had to drop their rhymes on a remix.

‘My Pillow’ is a seductive ballad that personifies what Djinee’s music does to hordes of his female fans. However, coming closer to epitomise his trademark My-life-is-empty-without-you-music is the 2007 hit ‘I No Dey Shame’ a soft rock composition that talks about unconditional and self-assured love. I did hear someone say that she shed tears first time seeing the music video; that’s the kind of effect his songs have on emotions. Djinee simply cannot hide his classical training background, it is evident in the beautiful song ‘Thank You’ and ‘My Love’ a techno love song produced by the magical Frenzy.

Come sun, come rain ft Ego Ogbaro is one of the most outstanding songs on the album but also with the most conspicuous flaw. On the strength of its lyrics, sound composition (Midas touch by Cobhams) and individual performances from Ego and Djinee, it should be a masterpiece across board. However, it takes more than two great singers to transform a song from … oh! a duet… to an all-time unforgettable music. Every other ingredient for this was in place but the song was missing a vocal synergy between the two artistes. The kind of consonance Keri Hilson and Chris Brown pulled off in Superhuman or more appropriately the chemistry Lionel Richie and Diana Ross had on Endless Love, that timeless ballad.

Listening to the songs in running order, a monotonous melody pervades the album after the eight track or so. Almost like you’ve heard one, you’ve heard it all. This is quite misleading because there are yet fabulous pieces further down. I particularly like the Opera Skit with Cobhams on Piano and Ego Skit accompanied by M.I on piano.

However, the clincher lies in the artiste’s singing style, it is so distinctly peculiar that it may require variations occasionally just to keep us guessing but entertained.

I think Djinee! The Album is an evolutionary phase for the artiste; discovering new techniques and exploring possibilities of making music not only for the mainstream but for discerning music aficionados. There is evidently something for everyone. Without fear of contradiction, I would say this is impressive effort from a consummate performer.

Quoting 9ice’s ‘don’t doubt me I go bring home Grammy’ coupled with respectable debuts like this compilation, I do look forward to a day when the content and quality of our music will get us that famous statuette.

This article was first published in Questionmark Magazine (online) in September 2009.