Desire (Iyanya album)

Desire (often stylized as Iyanya vs. Desire) is the second studio album by Nigerian singer Iyanya. It was released on February 6, 2013, by Made Men Music Group. The album's production was handled by Tee-Y Mix, D'Tunes, Mr. Chidoo, GospelOnDeBeatz and Young D. The album features guest appearances from M.I, Wizkid, D'banj, Emma Nyra, Tiwa Savage, Flavour N'abania, May D, Vector, Tekno and Yung L.[1] It was supported by six singles—"Kukere", "Kukere" (Remix), "Flavour", "Jombolo", "Ur Waist" and "Sexy Mama".

Desire
Studio album by Iyanya
Released	February 6, 2013 (2013-02-06)
Recorded	2012-2013
Genre	Afrobeats R&B
Length	67:41
Label	Made Men Music Group
Producer	Tee-Y Mix D'Tunes Mr. Chidoo GospelOnDeBeatz
Iyanya chronology
My Story (2009) Desire (2013) The Evolution (2014)
Singles from Desire
"Kukere" Released: December 4, 2011 "Ur Waist" Released: July 8, 2012 "Kukere (Remix)" Released: August 20, 2012 "Flavour" Released: November 10, 2012 "Sexy Mama" Released: February 6, 2013 "Jombolo" Released: June 12, 2013

Background and recording

The meaning behind Desire stems from the concept of one having an alter ego. In a nutshell, Iyanya compares and contrasts his dualistic personalities. He said, "Desire was just an R & B guy with a great voice who took time to write music and talk about his feelings but just a few people appreciate Desire. Desire never made so much money. Desire always begged for shows, hustles for everything but Iyanya is global. Iyanya is accepted by all."[2] Iyanya started working on the album after wrapping up his debut album My Story. He got inspired to record the hit single "Kukere" during a visit to his hometown of Calabar. Iyanya realized the Etighi dance didn't have a unique song to it. In order to popularize the dance, he teamed up with producer D'Tunes to record "Kukere".[3]

Promotion and release

Iyanya and his management team celebrated the successful completion of the album by launching the two-concert series called "Iyanya vs. Desire". The first concert was held at Abuja's International Conference Centre on February 24, 2013; it featured additional performances from D'banj, M.I, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Flavour N'abania, May D, Vector, Kcee, Slo-Flo, Addiction, I-Sick and Tekno Miles. The second concert was held at the Eko Hotel & Suites on March 2, 2013; it featured additional performances from D'banj, M.I, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Timaya, Flavour N'abania, Davido, Seyi Shay, May D, Bracket, Vector, Iceberg Slim and Lola Rae.[4][5]

Iyanya promoted the album in London by performing at the Indigo02 Arena in London and at the HMV Ritz in Manchester. The Indigo02 concert was held on June 9, 2013 while the gig at HMV Ritz was held on June 14, 2013.[6][7]

Singles

The D'Tunes-produced track "Kukere" was released on December 4, 2011, as the album's lead single. Its music video was directed by Patrick Elis.[8] The Emma Nyra-assisted track "Ur Waist" was released on July 8, 2012, as the album's second single. Its music video was directed by Clarence Peters.[9] The D'banj-assisted remix of "Kukere" was released on August 20, 2012, as the album's third single. The D'Tunes-produced track "Flavour" was released on November 10, 2012, as the album's fourth single. The music video for the song was directed by Mr. Moe Musa.[10] "Sexy Mama" and "Jombolo" were released on February 6 and June 12, 2013, as the album's fifth and sixth singles, respectively. The former features vocals by Wizkid while the latter features vocals by Flavour N'abania.[11][12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Nigerian Entertainment Today	[13]
Jaguda	[14]

Desire received generally mixed reviews from music critics. A writer for TayoTV assigned 7 stars out of 10, saying some of the tracks on the album were "awesome and some were below par."[15] In a less enthusiastic review, Ayomide Tayo of Nigerian Entertainment Today said the album is "nothing more than a product of the times we live in" and called it a "pop driven LP aimed at pleasing a demography that loves beats and dance, at the expense of lyrics". Music blog Jaguda gave the album 2.5 stars out of 5, criticizing it for being a "jam-packed project with very shallow and monotonous club and radio friendly cuts which will hold grounds individually but as a body of work, it falls flat on its face." Wilfred Okiche, whose review was on YNaija website, called the album "mediocre" and said majority of the artists on the project "cannot see past their hunger for fame and today’s club banger".[16]

Accolades

Desire was nominated for Album of the Year and Best R&B/Pop Album at The Headies 2013.[17]

Year	Awards ceremony	Award description(s)	Results
2013	The Headies	Album of the Year	Nominated
		Best R&B/Pop Album	Nominated

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Badman" (featuring M.I)	Iyanya Mbuk Jude Abaga	Mr. Chidoo	3:59
2.	"Ekaette" (featuring Tekno)	Mbuk Augustine Kelechi	D'Tunes	3:22
3.	"Gasegbe"	Mbuk	GospelOnDeBeatz	3:03
4.	"Marry Me"	Mbuk	Mr. Chidoo	3:08
5.	"Flavour"	Mbuk	D'Tunes	4:18
6.	"Limbo"	Mbuk	Young D	2:50
7.	"Whine" (featuring May D)	Mbuk Akinmayokun Awodumila	D'Tunes	3:08
8.	"Jombolo" (featuring Flavour N'abania)	Mbuk Chinedu Okoli	GospelOnDeBeatz	3:33
9.	"Some More" (featuring Yung L)	Mbuk Christopher Omenye	D'Tunes	4:46
10.	"Ur Waist" (featuring Emma Nyra)	Mbuk Emma Obi	D'Tunes	4:14
11.	"I Gat It"	Mbuk	Mr Chidoo	3:07
12.	"Somebody" (featuring Tiwa Savage)	Mbuk Tiwatope Savage	GospelOnDeBeatz	3:50
13.	"Little Things"	Mbuk	D'Tunes	3:02
14.	"Sexy Mama" (featuring Wizkid)	Mbuk Ayodeji Balogun	D'Tunes	3:31
15.	"Kukere"	Mbuk	D'Tunes	3:43
16.	"Your Man" (featuring Vector)	Mbuk Olanrewaju Ogunmefun	D'Tunes	3:05
17.	"Drowning"	Mbuk	Tee-Y Mix	4:03
18.	"Kukere (Remix)" (featuring D'banj)	Mbuk Oladapo Oyebanjo	D'Tunes	4:28
19.	"Bust Me Brain"	Mbuk	D'Tunes	5:11
Total length:				67:41

Personnel

• Iyanya – primary artist
• Emma Nyra – featured artist
• M.I – featured artist
• D'banj – featured artist
• Wizkid – featured artist
• Tiwa Savage – featured artist
• Flavour N'abania – featured artist
• May D – featured artist
• Tekno – featured artist
• Yung L – featured artist
• Tee-Y Mix – producer
• D'Tunes – producer
• Mr. Chidoo – producer
• GospelOnDeBeatz – producer
• Young D – producer
• Patrick Elis – video director
• Mr. Moe Musa – video director
• Clarence Peters – video director
• Sesan – video director

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Nigeria	February 6, 2013	CD, Digital download	Made Men Music Group

References

1. "iTunes - Music - Desire by Iyanya". Itunes. Archived from the original on 16 August 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
2. "My Manager tricked me into doing Kukere – Iyanya". Vanguard Media Limited. 12 January 2013. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
3. "iROKtv - Iyanya Interview". iROKtv - Iyanya Interview. YouTube. 18 May 2012. Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
4. "IYANYA Vs DESIRE Album Launch Concert in Lagos". ZenMagazineAfrica. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
5. "BN Red Carpet Fab: "Iyanya vs Desire" Album Launch in Lagos". BellaNaija. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
6. "Iyanya 'Kukere' Live In Concert tickets - The o2". the02Areana. Archived from the original on 11 August 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
7. "VIDEO: Iyanya Kukere Concert, London | Backstage Interviews, Performances & More". NotJustOk. Archived from the original on 9 August 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
8. "BN Video Premiere: Iyanya – Kukere". BellaNaija. Archived from the original on 15 September 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
9. "VIDEO: Iyanya – Ur Waist". tooxclusive. Archived from the original on 7 August 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
10. "VIDEO: Iyanya – Flavour". tooxclusive. Archived from the original on 19 July 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
11. "New Video: Iyanya ft. Flavour – Jombolo". 360nobs. Archived from the original on 12 August 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
12. "NEW VIDEO: Iyanya – Sexy Mama Ft. Wizkid [Official Video]". 360nobs. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
13. "Iyanya Vs Desire – A product of its environment [Album Review]". The Net Nigeria. Archived from the original on 30 July 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
14. "Album Review: Iyanya – Desire". Jaguda. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
15. "Review (Iyanya) - Iyanya vs. Desire". TayoTv. Archived from the original on 24 August 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
16. Wilfred Okiche (24 March 2013). "Album review: Let me tell you why 'Iyanya vs Desire' sucks". YNaija. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
17. "The Headies 2013 - View Nominees List". Notjustok. 5 December 2013. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.