His ability to effortlessly shape melodies, his versatility and his famous voice set him apart in the industry and while he has failed to deliver a project that replicates the quality of his debut, his influence is palpable and lasting.
His second album ‘Sought‘ came 7 years after their debut and their third project came five years after their sophomore year. While ‘Wanted’ offered a number of enjoyable tracks, the album failed to achieve the critical acclaim needed to re-establish its dominance. And although different factors explain the shortcomings, one of the main ones would be the distance between the two albums.
Wande Coal’s talent is superlative and perhaps this is his Achilles heel as he has always displayed a playful approach to music. Her effortless ability to navigate sounds allowed her to move freely through the music, and while this laid-back approach has produced multiple timeless hits like “kiss your hand”it would gradually become tedious as the soundscape evolved.
when he released ‘kingdoms’ amid the pandemic-inspired music release fever, the 7-track EP already had 3 tracks released and a remix of one of those tracks. The decision to release said EP at that particular time when the industry was undergoing a major shift in music creation, release, and consumer behavior epitomizes Wande Coal’s reluctance to leave their comfort zone.
Between 2020 and 2023, Wande Coal will experience strong moments with themes such as ‘iskaba’, ‘My wife’ achievement Patoranking, ‘somiso’and “Come My Way”. However, as has been a recurring issue since their debut, Wande Coal struggles to tie these moments together for a compelling project.
‘Legend or no legend’
Wande Coal told Dada Boy Ehiz that the reason he chose to name his album ‘Legend or no legend’ it was because of the conversation surrounding his status in the industry. This conversation is familiar to any music fan with a Twitter account, and no matter which side of the divide you’re on, you’ll likely find the title choice curious.
The album was heralded by the hit record “Come My Way” which extended Wande Coal’s run of success for over a decade. ‘Kpe Step’ Olamide’s feat was important in generating excitement, which was largely dampened by the artistic banality of ‘Let them know’.
The album was eagerly awaited by listeners as it appears to be an important point in Wande Coal’s career and decisive in determining their place in the scheme of things.
‘Legend or no legend’ It was expected to be Wande Coal’s effort to turn back the years and remind listeners of the heavenly ability that made him so revered. And indeed, the album reminded listeners of Wande Coal’s talent, but more than that, it’s a reminder of his excessively laid-back approach to music.
While Wande Coal is a great freestyler who can deliver great leads in an instant, his confidence in this approach hasn’t resonated as strongly with young listeners as it has in the past.
The album started on a disappointing note, as the mix of Afrobeat and Calypso offered up a nice deep cut which, frankly, isn’t a proper start.
Even as he talks about finding motivation in his financial struggles on the Swing record ‘3 square meal’ the writing, melody and delivery mostly land as a freestyle and this is even more noticeable in the final seconds where he was speaking like Colonel H. Stinkmeaner.
Now, while most Afropop records have heavy freestyle components, none are as notable as Wande Coal, whose tracks seem to be just one take.
His versatility shines through on the record as he explores different genres. He delivers cheat on ‘Debts’ which reminds listeners of the Wande Coal of a decade ago. And while it’s one of the more enjoyable tracks on the album, the final chants may prove off-putting to some listeners. Although the traditional Yoruba elements are better suited to another song, the rousing effects it contains and the deification it symbolizes are remarkable.
Wande Coal is always in his element when he talks about himself and ‘Drown E’ is one of the good moments on the album that rolls back the years and stays in the present through kelpThe memorable production of .
Listeners finally got to experience what it would be like to have wande Coal and you pain with whom he shares sonic familiarity on a track together. The result is the best track on the album that is aided by a smooth combination of street essence in Wande Coal’s incorporation of Fuji’s techniques and street-appropriate writing.
‘Ebelebe’ with magician shows two defining curves in the evolution of Afropop. Two curves that have now run their course and offer little artistic excitement. The final four tracks maintain a pedestrian approach which makes for a disappointing race. Essentially, the last few seconds of ‘jabo’ achievement fire child captures most of the album as Wande Coal engages in a falsetto display to add some emotion to an underwhelming song.
Throughout the album, Wande Coal did not fully address the issue of their place in the industry. He was mainly concerned with showing his cadences.
‘Legend or no legend’ It has good moments, especially on the part of the production of the album. However, it is not a complete body of work that offers compelling artistic elements. The album relies almost entirely on Wande Coal’s vocal range and freestyling ability rather than exciting compositions.
While Wande Coal may be a bit too Wande for its own good, the album’s focus, track selection, sequencing, and overall execution is an indictment of those tasked with offering it artistic guidance.
It can be relatively easy to freestyle on a track, but it’s pretty hard to freestyle on a project, even for a special talent like Wande Coal. And this is the nightmare of ‘Legend of no legend’. This is to familiar limitation that most listeners have come to accept but still find inevitably disappointing.
Is ‘Legend or No Legend’ a determining factor of Wande Coal’s status in the industry?
It might seem that Wande Coal might have further opened the door for conversation about his status in the industry, as the album’s title suggests that he might not be sure of his place.
However, this writer would like to see the title as Wande Coal’s response to the conversation about his status in the industry. He shows that he doesn’t care about public opinion. However, he would have helped if the album had a compelling quality rather than a carefree approach.
To answer this question, ‘Legend or no legend’ it should not and cannot determine Wande Coal’s place in the industry. In the opinion of this writer, it is a chapter of a book already written. The book of legend of him.
Composition, themes and delivery: 1.5/2
Enjoyability and Satisfaction: 1.4/2
