Empire Mates State of Mind
Empire Mates State of Mind is a compilation album by musicians of Nigerian record label Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E). It was released by the label on 18 June 2012.[1] The album's production was handled by Legendury Beatz, Sarz, Masterkraft, Cobhams Asuquo, Kid Konnect and Spellz.[2] Empire Mates State of Mind features collaborations with X.O Senavoe, Rotimi and Basketmouth.[3][4] It produced seven 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".
| Empire Mates State of Mind | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 18 June 2012 | |||
| Recorded | 2011–2012 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Label | Empire Mates Entertainment | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Banky W. chronology | ||||
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| Wizkid chronology | ||||
| Singles from Empire Mates State of Mind | ||||
| ||||
Background and recording edit
Banky W, Wizkid and Skales started recording songs for the album in 2011. Most of the songs on the project were recorded at E.M.E headquarters. Banky W told Beverly Bryan of MTV Iggy that living with Skales and Wizkid made the album easier to record.[5] Empire Mates State of Mind was initially scheduled for release on 12 June 2012, but ended up being postponed.[6] E.M.E released the album's final track listing instead.[2] On 15 and 16 June, E.M.E organized a listening party and launch event to celebrate and promote the album.[7][8] The listening party was held at the Deuces Bar & Lounge in Victoria Island, Lagos.[9][10]
Empire Mates State of Mind was released exclusively on Spinlet, a digital media company.[11][12] As a means of promoting the album and its brand, Spinlet gave away 100,000 copies of the album to its subscribers.[11][12] The album was made available for free digital download to the first 75,000 people who downloaded Spinlet's official mobile application.[13][14] Nigerian Entertainment Today posted a step-by-step tutorial on how Spinlet subscribers can download the album.[15]
Singles edit
The album's lead single, "Baddest Boy", was released on 2 April 2012. The song was produced by Legendury Beatz and features contributing vocals by Wizkid, Skales and Banky W. The accompanying music video for "Baddest Boy" was directed by Clarence Peters and uploaded to YouTube on 18 July 2012. The Sarz-produced track "Dance for Me" was released on 25 July 2012, as the album's second single. The visuals for the song were directed by Sesan. "Get Down Tonight", which Sarz also produced, was released as the album's third single.[16][17] The song's music video was directed by Moe Musa, with its release marking the end of E.M.E Wednesdays.[18][19]
"Ko Mo Le" was released as the album's fourth single. Its music video was shot by 1st Impression in Washington DC.[20] "Sun Mo Mi", co-produced by Masterkraft and Banky W, was released as the album's fifth single. The Peters-directed music video for the song features cameo appearances from Wizkid, Niyola, DJ Xclusive, Iyanya, Flowssick, Iceberg Slim and Slim T.[21] The Spellz-produced track "Don't Delay Me (Don't Go There)" was released as the album's sixth single. The visuals for the song feature cameo appearances from Lynxxx, Gbenro, Dammy Krane, Skales, Shaydee and DJ Xclusive.[22] "Change" was released as the album's seventh single. The song addresses some of Nigeria's current plights.[5] The music video for "Change" was filmed by Peters.
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| TayoTV | 8.5/10[23] |
| 360nobs | 7/10[24] |
| TooXclusive | [25] |
| Nigerian Entertainment Today | [26] |
Empire Mates State of Mind received generally positive reviews from music critics. A writer for TayoTV awarded the album 8.5 stars out of 10, commending the work of each artist.[23] Wilfred Okiche of 360nobs granted the album a rating of 7 out of 10, acknowledging it for being "unabashed in owning up to its motives" and saying its production "may become repetitive at some point despite the variety of producers involved".[24]
Ayomide Tayo of Nigerian Entertainment Today gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5, characterizing it as "one directional at times, with its emphasis on party music" and commending the artists for bringing "their own style to each song, saving the project from not being too repetitive."[26] Ogaga Sakapide of TooXclusive gave the album 3 stars out of 5, describing it as "monotonous, tired club-beats and too lengthy". Sakapide acknowledged Wizkid, Niyola and Wellington and said the record is "pretty solid".[25]
Accolades edit
Empire Mates State of Mind was nominated for Best Album of the Year at the 2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.[27]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Baddest Boy" (featuring Wizkid, Skales, and Banky W.) |
| Legendury Beatz[28] | 4:00 |
| 2. | "Get Down Tonight" (featuring Wizkid, Skales, and Banky W.) |
| Sarz | 3:49 |
| 3. | "Sun Mo Mi" (featuring Shaydee, Skales, Banky W.) |
|
| 4:06 |
| 4. | "Hate, Pt. 1" (featuring Basketmouth) | Bright Okpocha | — | 1:12 |
| 5. | "Roll It" (featuring Wizkid and Banky W.) |
| Spellz | 2:51 |
| 6. | "Find My Trouble" (featuring Banky W., Shaydee, and Skales) |
| Spellz | 3:56 |
| 7. | "Body" (featuring Wizkid) | Balogun | Shizzi | 2:57 |
| 8. | "Ko Mo Le" (featuring Skales) | Njeng-Njeng | Sarz[20] | 4:19 |
| 9. | "Dance" (featuring Banky W. and X.O Senavoe) |
| Cobhams Asuquo | 3:51 |
| 10. | "Don't Delay Me (Don't Go There)" (featuring Niyola) | Eniola Akinbo | Spellz[29] | 4:16 |
| 11. | "London Girl" (featuring Wizkid) | Balogun | Spellz | 3:43 |
| 12. | "Hate, Pt. 2" (featuring Basketmouth) | Bright Okpocha | — | 1:08 |
| 13. | "Dance for Me" (featuring Wizkid) | Balogun | Sarz[30] | 2:51 |
| 14. | "Follow Go House" (Skales, Shaydee and Banky W.) |
| Spellz | 4:47 |
| 15. | "My Baby" (featuring Skales) | Njeng-Njeng | Sarz | 3:56 |
| 16. | "Only You" (featuring Banky W., Shaydee, and Rotimi) |
| Masterkraft | 4:52 |
| 17. | "Reppin' Emeazzyyy" (featuring Wizkid, Skales, and Banky W.) |
| Kid Konnect | 4:31 |
| 18. | "Wetin' I Want" (featuring Skales and Niyola) |
| Legendury Beatz | 4:26 |
| 19. | "Change" (featuring Banky W., Wizkid, Skales, Shaydee, Niyola, and DJ Xclusive) |
| Spellz | 4:23 |
| 20. | "See My Mama" (featuring Wizkid, Banky W., and Shaydee) |
| Legendury Beatz | 4:07 |
| 21. | "Hate, Pt. 3" (featuring Basketmouth) | Okpocha | — | 1:16 |
| 22. | "Can't Stop Us" (featuring Banky W., Wizkid, Skales, Shaydee, Niyola, and X.O Senavoe) |
| Masterkraft | 4:09 |
| Total length: | 74:86 | |||
- Notes
- "—" denotes a skit
Personnel edit
Credits adapted from the album's back cover.[31]
- 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 edit
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 4 July 2012 | CD, Digital download | Empire Mates Entertainment |
References edit
- ^ . Nigerian Sounds. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ a b "Tracklisting from EME All Stars' 'Empire Mates State of Mind' released". YNaija. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b . MTVIggy. 7 September 2012. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ . HipHopWorldMagazine. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ . HipHopWorldMagazine. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ "In Pictures: EME Empire State Of Mind Album Launch". Jaguda. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "EME's All-Star Album 'Empire Mates State of Mind' Debuts Exclusively on Spinlet". Reuters. 18 June 2012. Archived from the original on 22 November 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "DOWNLOAD: 'Empire Mates State Of Mind' Album by EME on SPINLET". Naijareview. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ "How to Download Empire Mates State of Mind Album On Spinlet". Nigerian Entertainment Today. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ . Empire Mates Entertainment. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
- ^ "VIDEO: E.M.E ft. WizKid, Banky W. & Skales – Get Down Tonight". Notjustok. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
- ^ "WATCH: EME premieres Get Down Tonight video featuring Banky W, Skales and Wizkid". YNaija. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
- ^ "VIDEO: E.M.E – Get Down Tonight ft Wizkid, Banky W & Skales". tooxclusive. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
- ^ a b . Empire Mates Entertainment. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ a b . Empire Mates Entertainment. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ "BN Video Premiere: E.M.E. Presents Niyola – Don't Go There (Don't Delay Me)". Bellanaija. 21 November 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ a b . TayoTv. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ a b "EME – Empire Mates State of Mind …Naija Listening E.A.R. (Essential Album Review)". 360nobs. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ a b "ALBUM REVIEW: EME 'EMPIRE MATES STATE OF MIND'". tooxclusive. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ a b "EME – Empire State of Mind [Album Review]". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ "Nigerian Entertainment Award announces 2013 nominees". Premium Times Nigeria. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ . Empire Mates Entertainment. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ "Niyola debuts with 'Don't Go There (Don't Delay Me)' music video featuring Lynxxx". Ameyaw Debrah. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ "Dance for Me - E.M.E ft Wizkid". Empire Mates Entertainment. Archived from the original on 22 November 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ "Tracklisting Image". YNaija. 12 June 2013. Archived from the original on 22 November 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.