It was the evening of Friday, the 16th of June, 2023, I鈥檇 spent roughly three hours in traffic trying to get to Victoria Island. I was in a chipper mood though, eating boiled groundnuts and gisting with two of my colleagues as we navigated the insanity of Lagos roads. Nothing could ruin my mood because I was on my way to to see Wande Coal do magic with his voice at the Trace Live event. 

When we finally arrived at 7:30 p.m., the place was teeming with people, all bright-eyed, anticipating the inevitable insanity of a night with Wande Coal鈥檚 music. You could feel the anticipation in the air. 

Opposite the registration stand where people were getting their tags, there was a wall on which people could sign their names. So I grabbed a red marker from one of the ushers and signed: 鈥�91大神!鈥�

Free drinks from Legend (the beer, not Wande himself, unfortunately,) Pepsi and Lord鈥檚 Gin were flowing. When the doors finally opened at 8, we trooped into the hall, to find already playing. The crowd鈥檚 excitement doubled, becoming almost palpable, as people started dancing and gearing up for Wande Coal鈥檚 appearance. 

After DJ Tough鈥檚 20 minutes set, the hosts 鈥� stand-up comedians, Lasisi and Pencil 鈥� came on stage to welcome us. They had the crowd laughing at their antics as an artist, Oje Ohis, live-painted a portrait of Wande Coal in less than five minutes.

As even more people poured into the already full room, music promoter and hypeman, Shody, came on stage to get us ready for the Black Diamond. Not a single soul was seated as the combination of his hype skills, and dance moves and DJ Consequence鈥檚 music mixing got our excitement to a near frenzy. 

The drinks were hitting, everyone was dancing, and the vibe was so right, we knew it was almost time to see the Black Diamond. And sure enough, when our excitement was like something alive, Shody announced Wande Coal to loud cheers from the packed room. I鈥檓 sure mine was the loudest.

After thanking us for coming out to see him (I wouldn鈥檛 have missed it for the world, Wande please DKM) the Black Diamond performed a song from his latest album Legend or No Legend. Then he serenaded us with Ololufe and a delightful acoustic version of Booty Call. The crowd went wild as the soft beats of So Mi So and the bold instrumentals of Amorawa and Kpe Paso came on. We lost our minds when we heard the band play tunes like Pere, Kiss Your Hand and Bumper to Bumper from his iconic Mo鈥橦its days. 

He had such a beautiful sync with his backup singers and the instrumentalists, reminding us what a talented and fantastic performer Wande Coal is. I sang along loudly to every song that came on, gladly losing my voice in the process. 

The Trace Live with Wande Coal thrilled all of us and was over way too soon, with everyone reluctant to leave the electrifying atmosphere we鈥檇 all been a part of. The Live show is monthly though, and I can’t wait for the next one!

Wande Coal鈥檚 distinct sound has influenced many of the artistes we listen to today, so we鈥檙e here to give him his flowers ahead of his special performance at Trace LIVE on June 16, 2023. 

Wizkid

Wizkid is one of the biggest Nigerian exports since crude oil. But before becoming Big W with the Grammys and Billboard Number Ones, Wiz lived with Wande Coal while making his debut album, Super Star. From songs like Love My Baby on that album to Pressure on his latest album, More Love, Less Ego, Wizkid has shown countless times that he has a degree from the Wande Coal University of Afrobeats. 

Fireboy DML 

Till date, mandem are on the street arguing about who sang the second verse on Fireboy DML鈥檚 2021 hit, Peru. 

The influence Wande Coal has on Fireboy DML鈥檚 music has been clear from his debut album Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps. If you think about it, their on Wande Coal鈥檚 Legend Or No Legend album was written in the stars. 

Oxlade 

翱虫濒补诲别鈥檚 Ku Lo Sa was undoubtedly one of the biggest songs of 2022. 100 million TikTok challenges later, we can鈥檛 look at green walls the same ever again. 

One thing that stands out in Ku Lo Sa is 翱虫濒补诲别鈥檚 falsetto and vocal run at the end. Listen closely and tell me it doesn鈥檛 remind you of Wande Coal serving vocals while singing: 鈥淕irl, you鈥檙e so damn fine鈥� on Kiss Your Hands from his Mushin 2 Mo鈥橦its album? 

Davido

Davido has claimed to be many things: the best, omo baba olowo and an assurance provider. But we think it鈥檚 high time we add Wande Coal prodigy to the list. Fun fact: Wande Coal鈥檚 influence on Davido goes beyond music. In an interview with , Wande shares how Davido left school in Atlanta to look for him twice and how he鈥檚 actually the one who first called the FEM singer OBO. Mad oh!

RECOMMENDED: Wande Coal鈥檚 鈥淢ushin 2 Mo鈥橦its鈥� Was Way Ahead of it鈥檚 Time

Teni 

Teni is one of the few female musicians in Nigeria that has found a unique niche and sound that works perfectly for her songwriting. Songs like Askamaya and Uyo Meyo are solid hits thanks to Teni鈥檚 mix of Afropop and the Juju music most millennials heard their parents listening to. While her influences include Salawa Abeni, Shina Peters and co, we can鈥檛 discount Wande Coal鈥檚 Mo鈥橦its days influence on her sound. 

Peruzzi 

Peruzzi popped up on our radars with his feature on 2Face鈥檚 2018 hit Amaka. While Peruzzi has collaborated with many  artistes over the years, including Wande Coal himself, his solo music, especially songs like D-Side and Show Your Working, have given us a glimpse into his love for Wande Coal鈥檚 music post Mo鈥橦its. 

Tay Iwar 

Only a few artistes are touching the hem of  Tay Iwar鈥檚 cargo pants when it comes to vocals and songwriting in the Nigerian music industry. While many Nigerians have placed Tay in an alt茅 box, the singer steadily delivers insane R&B vocal performances and melodies that remind us of R&B Wande Coal circa Private Trips and Again. 

ALSO READ: The 7 Nigerian Singers Guaranteed to Give You a Hit Song in 2022

At the time Mushin 2 Mo鈥橦its dropped, Don Jazzy was the most in-demand Nigerian producer 鈥� and back-up singer, if he liked you 鈥� with Wande Coal coming in as the label鈥檚 latest addition poised to continue its growing legacy of back-to-back hits. The duo ended up being infectious, and every time we heard, “It’s WC. Na who do the beat o? Don Baba J鈥�, we knew it was going to be a banger. 

We’d all heard albums about love and romance before, but most of them were shy about sex. Sure, we’d also gotten songs about sex, shoutout to P-Square for Do Me, but on Mushin 2 Mo’Hits, Wande Coal masterfully conveyed the sexual awakening that came with falling in love. His idea of love wasn’t PG, but it wasn’t R18, either. It comfortably sat in a seductive space between “I’m in love with you” and “You make me horny.” And as a young teen going through the motions of puberty, this album was perfect for me. 

Now, 13 years after making it into Discmans and iPod playlists, Wande Coal’s magnum opus is finally available on streaming apps. Since I’ve been begging for the album at odd hours of the morning: 

It’s only fitting to revisit it for myself and the culture. 

RECOMMENDED: Davido鈥檚 鈥淥BO: The Genesis鈥� Doesn鈥檛 Slap 10 Years Later, But It鈥檚 Okay

The Breakdown

Wande Coal kicks things off by exploring his inner Christian Grey with the album opener, I Know You Like It, and its follow-up, You Bad. Singing about making you beg for it while you scream his name, we’re introduced to an artist who can seduce you with a masterful mix of Yoruba, pidgin and unmatched vocals. These two tracks lay the groundwork for a sexy album, proving Wande was a Yoruba demon before we even knew what the term meant. 

For the compulsory song about social justice and Nigerian wahala, Wande Coal’s synth-heavy, Se Na Like This? is as poignant now as it was in 2009, especially when you realise $1 was going for 鈧�148. I love this song, but it’s a cruel reminder that we’re no longer knee-deep in the trenches. At this point, we’ve been submerged by it. 

We all lost our shit this year [2022] because of how much Wande Coal sounded like Michael Jackson in his collab with Olamide, Hate Me. 

But listening to his badass falsettos on Kiss Your Hands with Ikechukwu, especially around the 2:29 mark where he belts out MJ’s signature “He-he”, I feel stupid for being shocked by Hate Me. Wande Jackson has always been a thing. 

Confused, another banger on the album, finds Wande Coal ignoring all the red flags to be with the person he loves. He even goes as far as singing, “Wo l’ashewo ni e, but emi o boda,” and honestly, I can’t help but stan a king who supports sex work. 

Every Nigerian artist has that one random gospel song on their album to appease their mothers and choir instructors. Wande doesn’t disappoint, giving us two: Se Ope, which reminds me of the suffer-head 鈥渟ome have food鈥� song from boarding house, and Jehovah, a song that talks about his literal journey from Mushin to Mo’Hits.

Bumper to Bumper is Wande Coal announcing he’s deep in his bag and no one can stop him. It was the first single off the album and a song that still reminds me of secondary school birthday parties, bootcut jeans and Axe body spray. Good times.

Two features that work are Bananas with Dr Sid and Who Born The Maga with Kayswitch. Bananas is the more romantic older brother of D’Prince’s Take Banana (a banger, by the way), while Who Born The Maga finds Wande confident in something more than his sex game, his talent. Random thought, but when did we decide to stop using the word, 鈥淢aga鈥�? I don’t get it. 

It’s impossible to do a top 10 of the most iconic Nigerian love songs of all time and not mention Wande Coal’s Ololufe. While his other songs talk about love in their own way, Ololufe reveals a more vulnerable Wande Coal as he tries to reassure his lover that their love is real. It’s equal parts joyful and heartbreaking, which I now appreciate as an adult who finally understands the complexities of navigating love. 

Now It’s All Gone, which features label mate D’Prince, is the first underwhelming song on the album. It sounds a lot like Omarion’s IceBox, and not in a good way. Other forgettable tracks include That’s Wats Up and My Grind. They’re not bad songs. It’s just, they fail to hold their own when compared to the others. 

My best song on Mushin 2 Mo’Hits has to be Taboo. The production of this song is insane. But my favourite part is the casual switch from the mellow “Even if dem say na taboo” to the crowd call and response, “Ki le leyi? Ileke”. It sounds so simple, yet incredibly well thought out, making Taboo one of the best Afropop songs of all time. 

Final thoughts 

People say “way ahead of its time” loosely, but it鈥檚 like the perfect way to describe Mushin 2 Mo鈥橦its. From the synth-heavy production to sexy lyrics and melodies, this album has influenced everything from Wizkid’s 2011 Superstar to Fireboy DML’s 2021 hit, Peru 鈥� I鈥檓 not the only one who thought Wande was the one singing the second verse. 

Wande Coal and Don Jazzy created something special with Mushin 2 Mo鈥橦its. Revisiting it all these years later makes it an even more profound body of work. Wande has been and will always be the GOAT. Period. 

ALSO READ: Do We Love Burna Boy鈥檚 鈥淟ove, Damini鈥�?

Let’s see how you’ll do:

Davido 鈥� 鈥淔EM鈥�

Following the success of his outstanding sophomore album, A Good Time, Davido is now gearing up to drop his third LP, the promisingly titled A Better Time.

For his first single off the upcoming project, the听Napji-produced 鈥淔EM鈥�, the afropop juggernaut sends a clear and concise message to his hoard of haters: “Shut the hell up”.

Mr Eazi & Major Lazer 鈥� 鈥淥h My Gawd鈥� ft. Nicki Minaj & K4MO

One of Nigeria鈥檚 hardest-working stars, Mr Eazi has dropped a number of solid singles this year, from the stellar 鈥淜palanga鈥� to the infectious 鈥淚 No Go Give Up On You鈥�

Now, he鈥檚 back with 鈥淥h My Gawd鈥�,听 a vibrant track that feels primed to be his biggest hit yet, thanks to major assists from Major Lazer and the always impressive Nicki Minaj.

Wande Coal 鈥� 鈥淐heck鈥�

After dropping some of the best tracks he鈥檚 had in years, Wande Caal has now released his new EP, , which includes three previously heard singles and three new songs.

Out of the three new tracks, the one that instantly stands out is the dynamic 鈥淐heck鈥� 鈥� a song that greatly benefits from sounding like an amalgamation of the old Wande hits we all fell in love with.

Peruzzi 鈥� 鈥淕unshot鈥�

While undeniably talented, both as a songwriter and a performer, Peruzzi can be pretty hit or miss with his releases. Thankfully, his latest single, 鈥淕unshot鈥� falls squarely into the 鈥榟it鈥� category.

On the solidly produced track, Peruzzi sings about an attractive woman he鈥檚 powerless to resist. Peruzzi has released a few impressive solo tracks since he broke out, but 鈥淕unshot鈥� rises above the rest due to sheer catchiness.

Wande Coal 鈥� 鈥淎gain鈥�

At this point in his career, Wande Coal has nothing left to prove. He鈥檚 already dropped enough gems to validate his status as one of afropop鈥檚 greatest stars, but that hasn鈥檛 stopped him from continuing to deliver.

His newest single, 鈥淎gain鈥� finds him at the peak of his considerable powers, utilising his standout voice and typically heartwarming lyrics, making this the best thing he has put out in over a year.

Patoranking 鈥� 鈥淚鈥檓 In Love鈥�

Patoranking has been one of Nigeria鈥檚 most consistent stars since he broke out, dropping at least one defining banger every year. To kick off the new decade, he鈥檚 come through with another solid single, 鈥淚鈥檓 In Love鈥�.

On the dancehall-influenced track, Patoranking sings about feeling blessed to have found the woman of his dreams. It鈥檚 a delightful love song that continues the singer鈥檚 seemingly endless streak.

Johnnie, Jazz & Whisky, the nation鈥檚 premier platform for live, truly sensational afro-jazz music experiences, is back in Lagos following a nationwide tour of Abuja, Port Harcourt and other Nigerian cities. 

Get ready for an exciting evening assortment of the finest cocktail serves, with unforgettable live performances by melodious Adekunle Gold, jazzy Lagbaja, and soulful Wande Coal on Saturday, August 24^th 2019.
 
Johnnie Walker, the world鈥檚 most desired Scotch whisky, will showcase 鈥�The Johnnie Walker Highball Cocktail Serve鈥�, a new, vibrant and inspiring way to enjoy the smooth flavours of Johnnie Walker Black Label, specially curated for palates seeking to add spice to lifestyle.

To lovers of fine live music and finest whisky, stay connected to to get the chance of an invite to JJW Lagos.

Join the conversation with #JJWLagos #JJWwithMTN #KeepWalkingNigeria.

18+. Drink Responsibly.

One day, you鈥檙e streaming music, then you remember that jam way back you haven鈥檛 heard in years. So you go to the search tab on your Apple Music or Spotify, enter the song title and voila, nothing dey there.

This is usually when you begin to doubt your childhood. You wonder all those memories were just uploaded to your brain and Wande Coal鈥檚 鈥淵ou Bad鈥� never really happened. But that鈥檚 not why we鈥檙e here.

Welcome to the world of streaming music, where for a small fee, every song is just a couple clicks away, (except, in this case, the one you actually want to listen to).

You know that infamous story about the record industry鈥檚 collapse and the rise of streaming (pronounce: Apple鈥檚 iTunes) that started in 2009?

Well, streaming is pretty much the main reason music has broken borders, become profitable again and dominated culture in the last few years.

But iTunes wasn’t available in Nigeria until 2013.

Spotify, that best friend that knows the music you like, isn鈥檛 available in Nigeria 11 years after it launched. Boys have their ways of course.

And what they often found was that there were certain classics missing from these libraries.

Here are some that we all have noticed and we just really want to listen to because we paid money for it and whatnot (obvs, this doesn鈥檛 apply to Spotify users).

Wande Coal – You Bad

Too many games of PES 09 played to this album. Too many hopes lifted on dancefloors covered in sweat and (sometimes) cheap liquor. Too many drives home, along with conversations about Wande Coal was the goat.

As far as we know, this album, Wande鈥檚 first and only project under Mo鈥� Hits, is tied up under the terms of his contract with Don Jazzy鈥檚 team. There鈥檚 also some talk about samples that turned out too difficult to clear.

Too bad.

听

听

SDC – Clone Wars 3: The Recession

After years of doing the deal, Nigeria鈥檚 most fearsome duo is finally getting their respect. But one worries that the generation vioa alte hooks on 鈥淧almwine Music鈥� is missing a vital part of the puzzle 鈥� Clone Wars, particularly the third instalment of the series.

Yes. It鈥檚 a mixtape. Yes. It鈥檚 on Soundcloud. But considering that Clone Wars IV is available on Apple Music, the lines begin to get blurred. Surely, it can鈥檛 be too much to ask.

MI Abaga – Illegal Music 2

The few times I鈥檝e met the rapper who soundtracked my late teens, I鈥檝e often joked that this is the album where he decided to work with every young artiste he liked at the time. He denies it every time.

As far as Nigerian rap albums go, this was a passing of the baton, unlike anything before it. Today鈥檚 OGs built around an MI in his prime. This is where you can get Boogey as Brain, and Yung6ix as a Lil Wayne re-incarnate.

I know he said 鈥淚llegal Music Free, No Mason鈥� on the opening track. But you can鈥檛 hide history.

Lagbaja – His Entire Bl**dy Discography

The masked one. Omo baba m鈥檜ko m鈥檜ko. Forebearer of a whole generation of pop acts who today skirt that thing like between pop and indigenous music.

If you鈥檙e lucky, your parents (first generation Lagos baby boys and girls) introduced you to Lagbaja鈥檚 music as a toddler.

Or you heard him on the television, on videotapes of Lekki Sunsplash or on the radio. Either way, Lagbaja was a staple of a generation鈥檚 childhood. Sadly, a generation may never get to hear classics like 鈥淎fricalypso鈥�.

2face Idibia – Grass 2 Grace

The greatest pop musician in Nigerian history. 2baba has been a staple of our lives for god knows along. He鈥檚 probably not a vampire but 2face and his music have stayed young since we were kids.

SO CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN I CAN鈥漈 LISTEN TO 鈥淕RASS TO GRACE鈥� ON APPLE MUSIC?

The second chapter of his journey post-Plantashun Boyz is missing from pretty much every music streaming site. That means classics like 鈥淔or Instance鈥�, 鈥淥ne Love鈥� and 鈥淣o Shaking鈥� exist largely in your memory.

WHAT. THE. HELL. MAN.

1. The first single ‘Ashimapeyin’ released in July proved to be a certified banger!

2. The second single ‘Same Shit’ featuring AKA is equally impressive.

3. Nigerian Twitter can’t get enough of the album!

4. The album includes production from Maleek Berry, Killa, DaBeatFreakz, Leriq, Major Bangz and more.

5. Track 6 on the album, ‘Monster’ produced by Legendury Beatz has quickly become a fan favourite!

6. The album includes hilarious skits and intros featuring Falz and Seyi Law making fun of the 6-year wait for ‘Wanted’.

7. The 23-track album includes collaborations with Maleek Berry, Jimmie, 2face Idibia, Burna Boy, Wizkid, King Spesh and more.