REVIEW OF KIZZ DANIEL’s KING OF LOVE.
Towards the climax of 2018, Kizz Daniel (formerly Kiss Daniel) released his highly anticipated sophomore album. Just a year before that, he had a major fallout with his. former label, G-Worldwide which resulted in a name change for him. This however did not derail the 26-year old pop sensation. In fact, he came back even stronger and was confident enough to title his album No Bad Songz. In truth, the 20-track album had major highlights and just a few duds. It also produced a couple of smash hits like One Ticket and Madu. Generally, the album was regarded a success.
Kizz Daniel did not put his foot off the gas as he kept releasing music and doing features, some of which made the rounds. About a year and a half has passed since the release of his sophomore album, he’s however back again but this time as the self-acclaimed King Of Love.
‘Jaho’, the pre-released smash hit-single opens up the album and spunkily sets the tone. What however follows is a couple of redundant tracks that sound like leftovers from his previous work. Soiled in the same formulaic sound, ‘Ada’, ‘Boys are Bad’ and ‘We Wan Comot’ all sound like lazy reworks of songs from his sophomore album. The first time we come close to hearing anything remotely fresh is on the objectionable ‘Pak ‘n’ Go’. Here, Kizz Daniel looks to address insatiable women and dishes out mawkish advice, he also garnishes it with a bit of body shaming and hints of patriarchy with questionable lyrics like: ‘’Ol’omoge, picky-picky, when will you marry? / Until your bobby touch your belle oh, wey man no wan collect / Take am easy oh’’.
In the midst of this pretty monotonous album appears one of Kizz Daniel’s best songs till date. On the well-written ‘Tempted To Steal’, he cleverly tells a short story about robbing a convenience store just to provide for and satisfy his significant other. On the hook, he sings ‘Girl i am tempted to steal /Just to give you what you need’ which is quite ironic after offering contradictory advice on ‘Pak ‘n’ Go’. Seems Kizz Daniel can’t take his own advice.
The second half of the album is filled with mid-tempo songs most of which would only pass for background music and have titles that read like words you’ll find in a Queen Primer for slangs if there was ever one. On ‘Padi’ he narrates a short story over highlife production by Runtinx about being in love with his friend’s woman albeit with slightly clumsy writing.
‘Yapa’ would serve as a good backdrop for evening parties as he rides soft percussions with a simple flow. The highlight of the album however comes in form of ‘Chana’. Here, Kizz Daniel puts on his lover boy garment as he beautifully sings ‘I know with you I’m Superman / Every other girl zoom zoom’ over sparkling. piano chords. He shows how pleasant and reassuring he can be when he loses his peevish edge. The album closes with ‘Hook’, a song where he sounds like he’s trying to do his best Falz impression.
For an album that’s titled King Of Love, Kizz Daniel barely sings enough about love let alone explore it’s different facets. He spends most of his time either sounding like an aggrieved man, nagging about women’s shenanigans or singing about something totally unrelated over mostly humdrum production. After almost two years since his last project, King Of Love does not necessarily present any growth in his sound or artistry as a whole. Even though there are a few bright spots here and there, the album is mostly a let down. They say the third time’s the charm, I guess not for Kizz Daniel.
