Ayo (Wizkid album)

Ayo (Yoruba: Joy) is the self-titled second studio album by Nigerian singer Wizkid. It was released on September 17, 2014, by Starboy Entertainment and Empire Mates Entertainment.[1] The album is the follow-up to his debut album Superstar (2011). Ayo was postponed twice due to difficulty in track selection.[2] Preceding its release were the singles "Jaiye Jaiye", "On Top Your Matter", "One Question", "Joy", "Bombay" and "Show You The Money". Wizkid enlisted Sarz, Shizzi, Uhuru, Del B, Dokta Frabz, Maleek Berry, Legendury Beatz and Spellz to produce the album. Ayo features collaborations with Femi Kuti, Seyi Shay, Yemi Sax, Akon, Banky W., Phyno, Tyga and Wale. It received mixed reviews from music critics, who had a difference of opinion about the album. Some critics commended its production, song arrangement and sound quality, while others panned its lyrics.

Ayo
Studio album by
Wizkid
ReleasedSeptember 17, 2014
Recorded2012–2014
Genre
Length71:00
Label
Producer
Wizkid chronology
Empire Mates State of Mind
(2012)		 Ayo
(2014)		 Sounds from the Other Side
(2017)
Singles from Ayo
  1. "Jaiye Jaiye"
    Released: May 2, 2013
  2. "On Top Your Matter"
    Released: October 25, 2013
  3. "One Question"
    Released: February 14, 2014
  4. "Joy"
    Released: June 9, 2014
  5. "Bombay"
    Released: June 9, 2014
  6. "Show You The Money"
    Released: July 16, 2014

Background and development

Wizkid started recording Ayo after the release of the compilation album Empire Mates State of Mind (2012). The album was initially meant to be a mixtape. In an interview with MTV's The Wrap Up, Wizkid said the mixtape would include production and guest vocals from Rodney Rhymez, Maleek Berry and Wale.[3] Wizkid later told Ok!Nigeria TV the mixtape would feature Tinie Tempah and would be released in April 2013.[4] Wizkid announced on Twitter he would release the mixtape after he released an album in June.[5] That same month, he posted a picture on Instagram revealing most of the album's track list.[6] The photo revealed features with Femi Kuti, Efya, Don Jazzy, Seyi Shay and Banky W..[7]

In October 2013, Banky W. revealed the album's initial title and told HipTV it would be titled Chosen.[8] In December 2013, Wizkid spoke to iCR8Media about the album and said he worked with producers such as Don Jazzy, Dokta Frabz, Legendury Beatz, Maleek Berry, Spellz and Sarz. He also said he collaborated with Olamide, Efya, Seyi Shay, Shaydee, Banky W., L.A.X and Dammy Krane.[9] In May 2014, Wizkid told the website Fuse the album would drop on June 12, 2014, a day that acknowledges the annulled 1993 Nigerian presidential election. Moreover, he said the album would be self-titled Ayo (Yoruba: Joy).[10] On September 6, 2013, Wizkid unveiled the album's official cover and track list on Instagram. A week earlier, he told Olisa Adibua the album would be his last body of work under Empire Mates Entertainment.[11][12]

Promotion

Wizkid promoted the album by releasing several promotional singles and headlining a few concerts. On July 29, 2013, he released his first ever collaborative single with Wale, titled "Drop". The song was produced by Legendury Beatz.[13] Wizkid's second collaborative single with Wale, titled "Nobody But You", was released on October 24, 2013. The song was produced by Maleek Berry.[14] On December 17, 2013, Wizkid premiered the Legendury Beatz-produced track "Eledumare", which was performed at the 2013 Felabration concert.[15] On March 24, 2014, MTV Base reported that Wizkid was invited as a special guest for some shows in Tinie Tempah's tour of the UK in 2014.[16]

Singles

The Femi Kuti-assisted track "Jaiye Jaiye" was released on May 2, 2013, as the album's lead single. The song was produced by Sarz and mastered by Foster Zeeno.[17][18] The music video for "Jaiye Jaiye" was shot and directed in Lagos by Sesan.[19]

The album's second single "On Top Your Matter" was released on October 25, 2013, in celebration of Valentine's Day.[20] The accompanying music video for "On Top Your Matter" was shot and directed in Johannesburg by Sesan.[21] The album's third single "One Question" was released on February 14, 2014. It features a saxophone riff by Yemi Sax and was produced by Dokta Frabz.[22] Wizkid performed the song for BBC's Destination Africa in March 2014.

On June 9, 2014, "Joy" and "Bombay" were released simultaneously as the album's fourth and fifth singles. Both songs were produced by Dokta Frabz. Wizkid performed a cover of "No Woman, No Cry" at Koga Studios for BBC's Destination Africa and merged "Joy" with the cover.[23] On June 13, 2014, the music video for "Bombay" was released to YouTube at a total length of 3 minutes and 23 seconds.[24]

On July 16, 2014, the Shizzi-produced track "Show You the Money" was released as the album's sixth single. The visuals for the song was directed by Patrick Elis and features cameo appearances from Ehiz and Dokta Frabz. Lekan Oladimeji of P.M. News awarded the video 6.5 stars out of 10, stating: "though a video that lacks a sense of direction, low creativity and could have been achieved with next to no technical know how, it remains a video you might want to see time and over again as there’s always something to smile about."[25]

Bonus song and other releases

The Legendury Beatz-produced track "Caro" was added to the album as a bonus; the song features vocals by Wizkid and L.A.X. The music video for "Caro" was directed in London by Moe Musa and uploaded to YouTube on August 20, 2013.[26] "Caro" was nominated for Hottest Single of the Year at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards, and for Song of the Year at the 2014 African Muzik Magazine Awards.[27][28] On September 22, 2014, Wizkid released the Soto Jose-directed music video for "In My Bed".[29] The following month, "In My Bed" charted at number five on The Tide's list of the Top 10 Songs of the Week.[30] The music video for "Ojuelegba" was released on January 5, 2015. It was shot and directed in Lagos by Clarence Peters.[31]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
LobatanA[32]
Nigerian Entertainment Today
TooXclusive
NotJustOk4.5/10

Ayo received generally mixed reviews from music critics and consumers. Oscar Okeke of Lobatan awarded the album an A rating, concluding: "His eponymously album reminds us why he has earned our respect and why he continues to rule over the realm of sound, money and girls."[32] Tola Sarumi of NotJustOk assigned a rating of 4.5 out of 10, criticizing it for relying profoundly on the popularity of previously released content.[33] The duo at Should You Bump This characterized the album as lacking direction and described it as a "sack of undiluted disappointment."[34] Jim Donnett of TooXclusive gave the album 2 stars out of 5, calling it "weak".[35]

Ayomide Tayo of Nigerian Entertainment Today awarded the album 3 stars out of 5, concluding: "On Ayo (Joy), Wizkid shows that he either doesn't have what it fully takes to make creative gambles for an artiste of his calibre or he is pretty much comfortable in flogging a dead horse until it has no more skin or flesh."[36] Also reviewing for Nigerian Entertainment Today, Dayo Showemimo granted the album 3.5 stars out of 5, stating: "Wizkid remains the same old Wizkid we all know on this album, the style of singing is the same, no wow factor, no climax, nothing out of the ordinary, nothing spectacular in Wizkid’s delivery."[37] Rolling Stone magazine included the album on its list of the "15 Great Albums You Didn't Hear in 2014", and stated that Wizkid "uses deft, nimble flows to glide over complex beats and he writes hooks that will keep you humming for weeks."[38][39]

Accolades

Ayo won Best R&B/Pop Album and was nominated for Album of the Year at The Headies 2015.[40][41] The album was also nominated for Album of the Year at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.[42]

Year Awards ceremony Award description(s) Results
2015 The Headies Best R&B/Pop Album Won
Album of the Year Nominated
Nigeria Entertainment Awards Album of the Year Nominated

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Jaiye Jaiye" (featuring Femi Kuti)Ayodeji BalogunSarz4:06
2."Show You The Money"BalogunShizzi3:11
3."In My Bed"BalogunUhuru3:50
4."Mummy Mi"BalogunSpellz3:17
5."Ojuelegba"BalogunLegendury Beatz3:36
6."Kind Love"BalogunDel B3:51
7."On Top Your Matter"BalogunDel B4:44
8."In Love" (featuring Seyi Shay)
  • Balogun
  • Deborah Joshua
Spellz3:21
9."For You" (featuring Akon)
  • Balogun
  • Aliaune Thiam
Uhuru3:57
10."Dutty Whine" (featuring Banky W.)
  • Balogun
  • Banky Wellington
Legendury Beatz4:13
11."Kilofe"BalogunSarz2:29
12."Omalicha"BalogunLegendury Beatz3:22
13."Bombay" (featuring Phyno)
  • Balogun
  • Azubuike Nelson
Dokta Frabz3:20
14."One Question" (featuring Yemi Sax)BalogunDokta Frabz4:55
15."Celebrate"BalogunShizzi3:34
16."Show You The Money" (remix; featuring Tyga)
  • Balogun
  • Michael Nguyen-Stevenson
Shizzi4:13
17."Murder" (featuring Wale)
  • Balogun
  • Olubowale Akintimehin
Maleek Berry4:02
18."Joy"BalogunDokta Frabz3:15
Bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
19."Caro" (Starboy featuring Wizkid and L.A.X)
  • Balogun
  • Damilola Afolabi
Legendury Beatz4:06

Personnel

Credits adapted from the back cover of Ayo

  • Ayodeji Balogun – main artist, executive producer, writer, performer
  • Segun Demuren – executive producer
  • Banky Wellington – executive producer, featured artist, writer
  • Osaretin "Sarz" Osabuohien – producer
  • Sheyi "Shizzi" Akerele – producer
  • Uhuru – producer
  • Del B – producer
  • Dokta Frabz – producer
  • Maleek Berry – producer
  • Legendury Beatz – producer
  • Ben'Jamin "Spellz" Obadje – producer
  • Femi Kuti – featured artist
  • Yemi Sax – featured artist
  • Deborah Joshua – featured artist, writer
  • Aliaune Thiam – featured artist, writer
  • Azubuike Nelson – featured artist, writer
  • Michael Nguyen-Stevenson – featured artist, writer
  • Olubowale Akintimehin – featured artist, writer

Release history
Region Date Version Format Label
  • Various
 September 17, 2014 Standard
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