Empire Mates State of Mind
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Empire Mates State of Mind is a compilation album by recording artists of Nigerian record label Empire Mates Entertainment. It was released on June 18, 2012 by the label.[9] Banky W and Segun Demuren, heads of the label, executive produced the album. Stanley "Tino Bendel" Ekure and Tunde Demuren co-executive produced the album. Legendury Beatz, Sarz, Masterkraft, Cobhams Asuquo, Kid Konnect and Spellz were enlisted by the heads of the label to assist with production.[10] The album features guest appearances from X.O Senavoe and Rotimi, as well as skits by Basketmouth.[11][12]
The album produced the singles "Baddest Boy", "Dance for Me", "Get Down Tonight", "Ko Mo Le", "Sun Mo Mi", "Don't Delay Me (Don't Go There)" and "Change". On July 4, 2012, Empire Mates State of Mind was made available for purchase on iTunes,[13] Amazon.com,[14] Barnes & Noble,[15] CD Baby[16] and Spinlet.[17]
Background and recording
Banky W, Wizkid and Skales started recording songs for the album in 2011. Most of the songs were recorded at E.M.E headquarters. Banky W told Beverly Bryan of MTVIggy that living with Skales and Wizkid made the album easier to record.[18] According to an article posted on YNaija.com, Banky W commented on the release and buildup of the album, saying: "We’re very proud of the EME Album. We took our time to put together a fantastic blend of our talents as a collective, while also showcasing what each artiste is able to do individually. It felt like the right time to drop this record; each artiste is bringing his/her A-game, and the production quality is out of this world. There’s something for everybody… songs to dance to, songs to listen to, songs that make you think… We’re very excited about being able to share this with our fans worldwide, and we hope that we’ve been able to live up to and/or surpass their expectations of us. Our work is done. All that remains is for y’all to sit back, relax and press play…"[10]
Spinlet
Empire Mates State of Mind was released exclusively on Spinlet, one of Africa's premier digital distribution platforms.[19][20] As a means of promoting the album and its brand, Spinlet gave away 100,000 copies of the album to its subscribers.[19][20] Moreover, the album was made available for free digital download to the first 75,000 people who downloaded Spinlet's official mobile application.[21][22] Nigerian Entertainment Today posted a 'step by step' tutorial on how Spinlet subscribers can download the album.[23]
Initial release date, track listing release, and album launch
The album was initially scheduled for release on June 12, 2012.[24] Instead of releasing the album on June 12, 2012, Empire Mates Entertainment released the album's final track-listing.[10] On June 15 and 16, 2012, the record label organized a listening party/album launch to celebrate and promote the release of their compilation project.[25][26] The listening party was held at the Deuces Bar & Lounge in Victoria Island, Lagos.[27][28]
Singles
On April 2, 2012, "Baddest Boy" was released as the album's lead single. The song was produced by Legendury Beatz and features contributing vocals from Wizkid, Skales and Banky W. Its music video, directed by Clarence Peters, was uploaded onto YouTube on July 18, 2012. "Dance for Me", the second single from the album, was released on July 25, 2012. The song was produced by Sarz. Its music video was directed by Sesan. "Get Down Tonight" was released as the third single from the album. The song was produced by Sarz.[29][30][31][32] The music video for the single was shot in London and directed by Moe Musa.[33][34] The release of the music video marked the end of E.M.E Wednesdays.[35] "Ko Mo Le" was released as the fourth single from the album. The song was produced by Sarz. The music video for "Ko Mo Le" was uploaded onto YouTube at a total length of 4 minutes and 22 seconds. It was shot by 1st Impression in Washington DC during EME's U.S Tour in summer 2012.[36] "Sun Mo Mi" was released as the fifth single from the album. The song was co-produced by Masterkraft and Banky W. Its music video was shot in Lagos by Clarence Peters. Wizkid, Niyola, DJ Xclusive, Iyanya, Flowssick, Iceberg Slim and Slim T, among others, made cameo appearances in the video.[37] "Don't Delay Me (Don't Go There)" was released as the sixth single from the album. The song was produced by Spellz. Its music video features cameos from Lynxxx, Gbenro, Dammy Krane, Skales, ShayDee and Dj Xclusive.[38] "Change" was released as the seventh single from the album. The song was produced by Spellz. It touches on some of the plights Nigeria is currently facing.[18] The music video for "Change" was directed by Clarence Peters.
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
TAYOTV | 8.5/10[1] |
360nobs | 7/10[39] |
tooXclusive | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Nigerian Entertainment Today | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Upon its release, the album received generally mixed to positive reviews from music critics. Tayo Ayomide of Nigerian Entertainment Today gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5, adding: "The Empire Mates States of Mind album is one directional at times, with its emphasis on party music. What makes the project work is the way each artiste brings their own style to each song. This ends up saving the project from not being too repetitive."[41]
Ogaga Sakapide of Tooxclusive gave the album 3 stars out of 5, adding: "Monotonous, tired club-beats, under-usage of Niyola, too lengthy, are some of the adjectives or phrases that can be used to describe ‘Empire Mates State of Mind’.Wizkid, Niyola and Wellington stood out from the pack; that said the album is pretty solid."[40]
Wilfred Okiche of 360nobs gave the album an overall rating of 7 out of 10, stating: "The hard hitting hip hop beats may become repetitive at some point despite the variety of producers involved, and the record may come across as lightweight, plus you might eventually get sore from all the getting down low required of you but it is unabashed in owning up to its motives."[39]
A writer for TayoTV gave the album 8.5 stars out of 10, adding: "Being the Head of EME, I feel he [Banky W] has done a great job assembling this team, he has focused more on Wizkid thus not giving the rest of the crew equal attention. Weeezy [Wizkid] needs to cut down on the Jamo/Raggae theme and go back to the old Wizkid we fell in love with. He [Skales] needs to work on his bars if he really wants to be a rapper, as per singing he has proved himself. His [Shaydee] voice is unique as in one track he sounded like Slim and then switched it up in other tracks. Niyola is no doubt the 1st lady of this camp."[1]
Accolades
Empire Mates State of Mind was nominated for "Best Album of the Year" at the 2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.[42]
Year | Awards ceremony | Award description(s) | Results |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Album of the Year | Nominated |
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Baddest Boy" (featuring Wizkid, Skales, and Banky W.) | Ayodeji Balogun, Olubankole Wellington, and Raoul John Njeng-Njeng | Legendury Beatz[43] | 4:00 |
2. | "Get Down Tonight" (featuring Wizkid, Skales, and Banky W.) | Ayodeji Balogun, Olubankole Wellington, and Raoul John Njeng-Njeng | Sarz[36] | 3:49 |
3. | "Sun Mo Mi" (featuring Shaydee, Skales, Banky W.) | Shadrach Adeboye, Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, and Olubankole Wellington | Masterkraft and Banky W[37] | 4:06 |
4. | "Hate, Pt. 1" (featuring Basketmouth) | Bright Okpocha | — | 1:12 |
5. | "Roll It" (featuring Wizkid and Banky W.) | Ayodeji Balogun and Olubankole Wellington | Spellz | 2:51 |
6. | "Find My Trouble" (featuring Banky W., Shaydee, and Skales) | Olubankole Wellington, Shadrach Adeboye, and Raoul John Njeng-Njeng | Spellz | 3:56 |
7. | "Body" (featuring Wizkid) | Ayodeji Balogun | Shizzi | 2:57 |
8. | "Ko Mo Le" (featuring Skales) | Raoul John Njeng-Njeng | Sarz[36] | 4:19 |
9. | "Dance" (featuring Banky W. and X.O Senavoe) | Olubankole Wellington and X.O Senavoe | Cobhams Asuquo | 3:51 |
10. | "Don't Delay Me (Don't Go There)" (featuring Niyola) | Eniola Akinbo | Spellz[44] | 4:16 |
11. | "London Girl" (featuring Wizkid) | Ayodeji Balogun | Spellz | 3:43 |
12. | "Hate, Pt. 2" (featuring Basketmouth) | Bright Okpocha | — | 1:08 |
13. | "Dance for Me" (featuring Wizkid) | Sarz[45] | 2:51 | |
14. | "Follow Go House" (Skales, Shaydee and Banky W.) | Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, Shadrach Adeboye, and Olubankole Wellington | Spellz | 4:47 |
15. | "My Baby" (featuring Skales) | Raoul John Njeng-Njeng | Sarz | 3:56 |
16. | "Only You" (featuring Banky W., Shaydee, and Rotimi) | Olubankole Wellington, Shadrach Adeboye, and Rotimi | Masterkraft | 4:52 |
17. | "Reppin' Emeazzyyy" (featuring Wizkid, Skales, and Banky W.) | Ayodeji Balogun, Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, and Olubankole Wellington | Kid Konnect | 4:31 |
18. | "Wetin' I Want" (featuring Skales and Niyola) | Raoul John Njeng-Njeng and Eniola Akinbo | Legendury Beatz | 4:26 |
19. | "Change" (featuring Banky W., Wizkid, Skales, Shaydee, Niyola, and DJ Xclusive) | Olubankole Wellington, Ayodeji Balogun, Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, Shadrach Adeboye, and Eniola Akinbo | Spellz | 4:23 |
20. | "See My Mama" (featuring Wizkid, Banky W., and Shaydee) | Ayodeji Balogun, Olubankole Wellington, and Shadrach Adeboye | Legendury Beatz | 4:07 |
21. | "Hate, Pt. 3" (featuring Basketmouth) | Bright Okpocha | — | 1:16 |
22. | "Can't Stop Us" (featuring Banky W., Wizkid, Skales, Shaydee, Niyola, and X.O Senavoe) | Olubankole Wellington, Ayodeji Balogun, Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, Shadrach Adeboye,Eniola Akinbo, and X.O Senavoe | Masterkraft | 4:09 |
Total length: | 74:86 |
- Notes
- "—" denotes a skit
Personnel[46]
- Olubankole Wellington - Primary artist, writer, executive producer
- Segun Demuren - Executive producer
- Stanley "Tino Bendel" Ekure - A&R, co-executive producer, management
- Tunde Demuren - A&R, co-executive producer
- Ayodeji Balogun - Primary artist, writer
- Raoul John Njeng-Njeng - Primary artist, writer
- Shadrach Adeboye - Primary artist, writer
- Eniola Akinbo - Primary artist, writer
- X.O Senavoe - Featured artist
- Rotimi - Featured artist
- Bright Okpocha - Skit performer, writer
- Legendury Beatz - Producer
- Sarz - Producer
- Masterkraft - Producer
- Cohbams Asuquo - Producer
- Kid Konnect - Producer
- Spellz - Producer
- Suka "The Surgeon" Andrew - Mix and master engineer
- Anuel Modebe - Photography
- Seyi Charles George - Photography
- Obi Somto - Photography
- Osagie Osarenkhoe - Management
Release History
Region | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
Nigeria | July 4, 2012 | CD, Digital download | Empire Mates Entertainment |
References
- ^ a b c "[Review] Empire Mates State Of Mind - E.M.E All Stars". TayoTv. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
{{cite web}}
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- ^ "Video: Wizkid 'Dance For Me'". OkayAfrica. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- ^ "New Video: E.M.E ft. WizKid, Banky W. & Skales – Get Down Tonight". Jaguda. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- ^ "New Video: Skales – Komole". Bellanaija. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- ^ "VIDEO: EME ft Banky W, Skales & Shaydee – Sun Mo Mi". 36NG. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- ^ "BN Video Premiere: E.M.E. Presents Niyola – Don't Go There (Don't Delay Me)". Bellanaija. 21 November 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- ^ "Video:- Banky W, Skales, Shaydee, Niyola & Wizkid [EME All Stars] - Change". Nigerian Sounds. 28 November 2012. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "News:-EME's Empire Mates State of Mind Album Gets New Release Date". Nigerian Sounds. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (|url-status=
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- ^ "BN Bytes: Empire Mates State of Mind - The First Ever EME All Stars Collaboration Album". Bellanaija. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ "New Music: 'Empire Mates State Of Mind' Album by EME". NGTrends. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
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(help) - ^ "Empire Mates State of Mind". Barnes&Noble. 4 July 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ "Empire Mates State of Mind by Various Artists". CD Baby. 4 July 4, 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
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(help) - ^ "Empire Mates State Of Mind (The Album)". Spinlet. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ a b "Welcome To The Empire Mates State Of Mind". MTVIggy. September 7, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
{{cite web}}
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- ^ a b "EME's All-Star Album 'Empire Mates State of Mind' Debuts Exclusively on Spinlet". American City Business Journals. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ "Press Release: Spinlet to give away 75,000 copies of EME Records' Empire Mates State of Mind Album". CP Africa. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
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- ^ "EME'S EMPIRE MATES STATE OF MIND ALBUM RELEASE DATE AND TRACK LIST ANNOUNCED; NEW LABEL MATES FEATURED". HipHopWorldMagazine. Archived from the original on September 23, 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
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: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
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ignored (|url-status=
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- ^ "BN Exclusive: 2Face, Sasha, Kel, Tiwa Savage, eLDee, Lynxxx, Samklef, Praiz, Don Jazzy & More Party with EME Artistes at their "Empire Mates State of Mind" Album Launch Soiree in Lagos". Bellanaija. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ "Pictures from EME album launch party". DailyPost. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ "Get Down Tonight- E.M.E ft Wizkid, Banky W, & Skales". Empire Mates Entertainment. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "VIDEO: E.M.E ft. WizKid, Banky W. & Skales – Get Down Tonight". Notjustok. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
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{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) Cite error: The named reference "Empire Mates Entertainment" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ a b "Sun Mo Mi- E.M.E ft Banky W, Skales, & Shaydee". Empire Mates Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
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- ^ a b "EME – Empire Mates State of Mind …Naija Listening E.A.R. (Essential Album Review)". 360nobs. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
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- ^ "Dance for Me - E.M.E ft Wizkid". Empire Mates Entertainment. Retrieved 21 November 2013.[dead link]
- ^ "Tracklisting Image". YNaija. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- Pages with empty short description
- 2012 compilation albums
- Albums produced by Masterkraft (producer)
- Banky W. albums
- Wizkid (musician) albums
- English-language albums
- Yoruba-language albums
- Albums produced by Shizzi
- Albums produced by Legendury Beatz
- Albums produced by Cobhams Asuquo
- Albums produced by Spellz
- Albums produced by Kid Konnect
- Albums produced by Sarz