Rendezvous (playlist)

Rendezvous (stylized as Rendezvous: The Playlist) is a playlist by Nigerian rapper M.I Abaga. It was released by Chocolate City on February 9, 2018.[1] The playlist features guest appearances from Cassper Nyovest, AKA, Wande Coal, Falz, Yung L, Dice Ailes, Ckay, Nonso Amadi, Santi, Odunsi the Engine, Chillz, Tomi Thomas, Joules Da Kid, Ajebutter22, Terry Apala, Strafitti, Trigga Madtonic, Blaqbonez and UA.x. It also features skits from a number of radio personalities, including Vic-O, Charles Okocha, Douglas Jekan, Kemi Smallz and Do2tun.[2] Rendezvous was supported by the singles "Your Father" and "Lekki".

Rendezvous
Recording by M.I Abaga
Released	February 9, 2018 (2018-02-09)
Recorded	2017
Genre	Hip hop trap R&B reggaeton
Length	52:00
Label	Chocolate City
Producer	Audu Maikori (exec.) Paul Okeugo (exec.) Jude Abaga (exec.) Chillz Ckay TMXO Higo Nonso Amadi Chopstix Odunsi the Engine HVRRY
M.I Abaga chronology
Illegal Music 3 (2016) Rendezvous (2018) Yxng Dxnzl (2018)
Singles from Rendezvous
"Your Father" Released: December 1, 2017 "Lekki" Released: October 2, 2018

Background

Rendezvous was recorded after Yung Denzel and contains leftover tracks that did not make the latter project.[3] M.I released the playlist after announcing the release date for Yung Denzel. Inspired by Drake's More Life project, its release marked the first of its kind in the Nigerian music industry.[4] Rendezvous was recorded in a haphazard nature. Wande Coal recorded the chorus for "Kososhi" in 2013. M.I began working with Odunsi the Engine and GMK after meeting them in February 2017.[3] In an interview on the Loose Talk podcast, M.I said he scrapped some of the tracks on the playlist after being told by Odunsi the Engine to do so.[5] He also said he had to switch up from doing 4-bar loops to 3-bar loops.[4] Primarily a hip hop playlist, Rendezvous combines elements of trap music with groovy R&B and lyrically-driven reggaeton.[6] Rendezvous is not M.I's most personal project, but is considered less playful than his third studio album The Chairman (2014).[6]

Composition

In the playlist's opener "Sunset", M.I throws a subliminal diss at N6, a rapper and OAP.[2] In the energetic track "Soup", he and Cassper Nyovest recount their victories against hatred and negativity.[2] The soothing melodic track "Playlist" is a seductive ode to M.I's love interest. M.I made braggadocios assertions on a number of tracks, including "Kososhi", "One Code" and "Your Father".[2] "One Way" features a comical skit by comedian Charles Okpocha, who lectured listeners about the monetary differences between "the small boys and the big boys".[6] The Ghost-assisted track "Popping" is a reincarnation of "Safe", a song from M.I's debut studio album Talk About It (2008).[5] The reggae-infused track "The Crew" has been described as "groovy".[7] The electropop track "One Time" features vocals by Moelogo. The Dice Ailes-assisted trap song "Your Father" has been described as a "juvenile, belligerent energy that fits its guest more than Mr. Abaga".[4]

Singles and other releases

The Dice Ailes-assisted track "Your Father" was released on December 1, 2017, as the playlist's lead single.[8] The accompanying music video for "Your Father" was directed by The Myth.[9] In a review for Konbini Channels, Daniel Orubo said the "Humble"-inspired video is "nowhere near as cohesive or satisfying".[10] The playlist's second single "Lekki" was released on October 2, 2018. The song's music video highlights the nightlife scene in Lagos and features cameo appearances from Nedu, Blaqbonez and Zoro.[11]

On August 2, 2019, M.I released the music video for "Playlist". It was directed by Seyi Akinlade and features retro themes, particularly a 70s-inspired look blended into a modern context. The Nonso Amadi-assisted track is a fusion of jazz and hip-hop.[12][13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
BellaNaija	7/10
Pulse Nigeria
TooXclusive

Rendezvous received generally positive reviews from music critics. Twitter reactions to the playlist were positive.[14] Victor Okpala of Nigerian Entertainment Today described the playlist as a "decent crossroad of musical diversity" and said it "reflects a laudable degree of evolution and flexibility that not so many rappers can boast of".[2] A writer for Pulse Nigeria characterized it as "an extension of his relevance to an age and class of younger musicians and their fans", and opined that all of the acts featured on it won from a musical standpoint.[6]

Jim Donnett gave the playlist 3.5 stars out of 5 in a review for TooXclusive. Donnett stated: "Longtime M.I fans who fell in love with his reflective lyricism on Illegal Music 2 for instance, and his ironically tall posture on MI 2: The Movie, would love this playlist less than his potentially new set of listeners who I expect to appreciate his syncing with their favourite alternative artistes".[5] A writer for BellaNaija, who goes by the moniker Black Boy, said Rendezvous is being celebrated because of the "transient satisfaction it offers, even though its long-term impact remains uncertain".[7] Black Boy also said it "isn't his best project but it has enough quality to rank high on the Nigerian Hip Hop chart of today".[7] Dennis Peter, writing for Filter Free Nigeria, said the playlist is "a better repeat of the same communal tactic integral to The Chairman, with each artist and producer playing to their strengths, while still in service to a project that is Mr. Abaga's most diverse and most sophisticated fabric yet".[4]

Track listing

Digital download / streaming

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Sunset" (feat. Chillz)	Jude Abaga Onome Ojoboh	Chillz TMXO^[a]	3:04
2.	"Soup" (featuring Cassper Nyovest)	Abaga Refiloe Maele Phoolo	Higo	3:46
3.	"Playlist" (featuring Nonso Amadi)	Abaga Nonso Amadi	Nonso Amadi Jude Abaga^[b]	3:34
4.	"Jungle" (featuring Tomi Thomas and Santi)	Abaga Tomi Thomas Osayaba Andrew Ize-Iyamu	Chopstix Jude Abaga^[a]	3:44
5.	"Whats D Level" (featuring Ckay and Joules Da Kid)	Abaga Chukwuka Ekweani Kayode Joules Oguntayo	Ckay	3:35
6.	"Kososhi" (featuring Wande Coal)	Abaga Oluwatobi Wande Ojosipe	TMXO	1:34
7.	"Your Father" (featuring Dice Ailes)	Abaga	Ckay	2:43
8.	"One Way" (featuring Moelogo)	Abaga Mohammed Animashaun	Jude Abaga Chopstix^[a]	4:04
9.	"On Code" (featuring AKA)	Abaga Kiernan Jarryd Forbes	Jude Abaga	3:07
10.	"Popping" (featuring Odunsi the Engine and Ghost)	Abaga Bowofoluwa Odunsi Olumide Ayeni	Odunsi the Engine	3:43
11.	"Jiggy" (featuring Terry Apala)	Abaga Terry Alexandar Ejeh	Chillz TMXO^[a]	3:13
12.	"Lekki" (featuring Odunsi the Engine, Falz and Ajebutter22)	Abaga Odunsi Folarin Falana Akitoye Balogun	Odunsi the Engine	4:09
13.	"Slow" (featuring Straffitti and Blaqbonez)	Abaga Olawale Olukolade Akumefule Chukwu-Emekaz	HVRRY Higo^[a]	4:11
14.	"The Crew" (featuring Yung L and Ua.X)	Abaga Chukwuemeka Omenye Ua.X	Jude Abaga G Plus^[a] Chopstix^[a]	4:29
15.	"Sunrise" (featuring Trigga Madtonic)	Abaga Trigga Madtonic	Chopstix Jude Abaga^[a]	3:39
Total length:				52:00

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies a co-producer
• ^{^[b]} signifies an additional producer

Personnel

Credits were adapted from the album's back cover.[15]

• M.I Abaga – primary artist, production (track 3, 8, 9, 14)
• Cassper Nyovest – featured artist
• Tomi Thomas – featured artist
• Santi – featured artist
• Joules Da Kid – featured artist
• Wande Coal – featured artist
• Dice Ailes – featured artist
• Moelogo – featured artist
• AKA – featured artist
• Ghost – featured artist
• Terry Apala – featured artist
• Falz – featured artist
• Ajebutter22 – featured artist
• Straffitti – featured artist
• Blaqbonez – featured artist
• Yung L – featured artist
• Ua.X – featured artist
• Trigga Madtonic – featured artist
• Chillz – featured artist, production (track 1, 10)
• Nonso Amadi – featured artist, production (track 3)
• Odunsi the Engine – featured artist, production (track 10, 12)
• Ckay – featured artist, production (track 5, 7)
• Chopstix – production (track 4, 8, 14, 15)
• Higo – production (track 2, 13)
• TMXO – production (track 1, 6, 11)
• HVRRY – production (track 13)
• G Plus – production (track 14), mixing and mastering (track 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15)
• GMK – mixing and mastering (track 3, 4, 6, 10, 12)
• Dapo Oyewusi – mixing and mastering (track 8)

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Version	Label
Various	February 9, 2018	CD, Digital download	Standard	Chocolate City

References

1. Rendezvous by M.I Abaga, 2018-02-09, archived from the original on 2018-04-18, retrieved 2018-04-17
2. Victor Okpala (February 15, 2018). "REVIEW: M.I Abaga's "Rendezvous" Is a Decent Crossroad Of Musical Diversity". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
3. Oris Aigbokhaevbolo (19 September 2018). "How MI Abaga made two albums in one year". Music in Africa. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
4. Dennis Peter (February 12, 2018). "MI EXPANDS HIS SOUND AND BRIDGES ERAS ON THE "RENDEZVOUS" PLAYLIST". Filter Free Nigeria. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
5. Jim Donnett (May 14, 2018). "Are M.I Abaga's Best Days Behind Him? [Rendezvous Playlist Review]". TooXclusive. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
6. "With "Rendezvous" M.I steps into his New Wave era". Pulse Nigeria. February 9, 2018. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
7. Black Boy (February 18, 2018). "Black Boy: M.I's "Rendezvous" Playlist is a Step Up but not Enough". BellaNaija. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
8. "360Hawt: M.I Abaga Ft. Dice Ailes – Your Father (Prod. Ckay)". 360 Nobs. December 1, 2017. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
9. "New Video: M.I Abaga feat. Dice Ailes – Your Father". BellaNaija. January 15, 2018. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
10. Daniel Orubo. "Watch The Trippy Video For M.I Abaga & Dice Ailes' 'Your Father'". Konbini Channels. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
11. Adebayo Laketu (October 5, 2018). "Through The Lens: M.I Abaga Releases Music Video For 'Lekki', Featuring Odunsi, Ajebutter22 & Falz". More Branches. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
12. "Video: M.I Abaga drops 'Playlist' featuring Nonso Amadi". P.M. News. August 3, 2019. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
13. Adedamola Onabanjo (August 5, 2019). "M.I SHARES VINTAGE VIDEO FOR NONSO AMADI COLLAB 'PLAYLIST'". Culture Custodian. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
14. Billy Praise (9 February 2018). "Twitter Reactions To M.I's New "Rendezvous" Project Are Incredible". Guardian Life. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
15. Dami Ayo-Vaughan. "M.I ABAGA – RENDEZVOUS REVIEW". Lucid Lemons. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.