Recorded in Accra, Lagos, London, New York, Cotonou, and Los Angeles, The Evil Genius comprises 16 captivating tracks that seamlessly showcase Mr Eazi’s signature Banku music (a blend of Afrobeats and Highlife).
By Emmanuel Okoro
Nigerian singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur, Mr Eazi, has once again taken the music scene by storm with the release of his highly-anticipated full-length album, The Evil Genius.
Recorded in Accra, Lagos, London, New York, Cotonou, and Los Angeles, The Evil Genius comprises 16 captivating tracks that showcase Mr Eazi’s signature Banku music (a blend of Afrobeats and Highlife). This project sees him joining forces with some of Africa’s most talented artistes, including Angelique Kidjo, Tekno, Efya, Joeboy, Soweto Gospel Choir, and Whoisakin, bringing together diverse rhythms and cultures to the album.
This album marks a significant addition to Mr Eazi’s musical journey following his previous releases, including, the 2017 Life is Eazi, Vol. 1 – Accra to Lagos, the 2018 Life is Eazi, Vol. 2 – Lagos to London, One Day You Will Understand EP from 2020, the 2021 Something Else EP, and Chop Life, Vol. 1: Mzansi Chronicles with ChopLife SoundSystem, released earlier this year.
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Mr Eazi’s creative vision extends beyond the musical aspects of the album. In an innovative move, he commissioned art pieces to accompany each track on the project. These striking artworks were recently on display at the prestigious 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair 2023, hosted by Somerset House in London earlier this October.
The artworks feature contributions from 13 talented visual artistes from across the continent, including Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and the Benin Republic. Each piece of art complements the music, enhancing the sensory experience of the album. This is a first-of-its-kind project that bridges African music and visual arts in an immersive manner. The Evil Genius not only showcases the artiste’s evolution but also explores his commitment to promoting African culture and art on a global scale.
The album is now available on all major streaming platforms.