Nigerian singer, Mr Eazi today released his new music and revealed the title of his eagerly anticipated debut solo album, a project that has been a decade in the making. The track “Advice,” produced by Ghana’s M.O.G. Beatz, is the latest single from his freshly named album, “The Evil Genius,” scheduled for release on October 27, 2023.
Mr Eazi is the most recent artist to be featured in Vevo’s original content series Ctrl., offering a compelling and resolute performance of the drill-infused “Advice” in support of the track’s release.
The lyrically rich “Advice” references several African figures, including former Democratic Republic of the Congo president Joseph Kabila and Ken Saro-Wiwa, a Nigerian writer and activist whose 1995 execution stirred both domestic and international outrage. “I was coming from a place of having that energy,” Eazi explains.
Recorded over a span of two years in locations spanning from Ouidah and Cotonou, Benin; Kigali, Rwanda; Accra and Kokrobite, Ghana; Lagos, Nigeria; London; Los Angeles; to New York City, “The Evil Genius” showcases some of Mr Eazi’s most personal work. The album delves deep into themes such as love, betrayal, loneliness, and family, expressed through three distinct acts.
In an unprecedented fusion of African music and art, Mr Eazi commissioned visual artists from across the continent to create a unique, physical art piece representing each of the album’s 16 tracks. For “Advice,” he collaborated with Nairobi, Kenya-based artist Alphonce Odhiambo, known as Alpha ODH, whose acrylic painting aligns with the track’s defiant lyrics.
Mr Eazi personally selected 13 artists from eight African countries to take part in this creative process, which he describes as ‘informal and instinctual.’
Regarding this artistic collaboration, Mr Eazi stated, “Inviting artists to create for the album was from my passion for creativity and expression. The artworks visually unlock the ideas, emotion, and energy within my music.’
These artworks created for the album will be showcased in a multi-sensory exhibition experience, premiering in Accra, Ghana, from September 13-17, before moving to the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair at Somerset House in London from October 12-15. Expect more exhibition announcements in other cities soon.
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