The Chairman is the third studio album by Nigerian rapper and record producer M.I. It was released on October 30, 2014, by Chocolate City and Loopy Music.[2] The album features collaborations with producers and guest artists such as 2face Idibia, Wizkid, Reinhard, Sarz, and Ice Prince, among others. The Chairman was supported by the singles "Bad Belle", "Monkey" and "Bullion Van". It won Best Rap Album and was nominated for Album of the Year at The Headies 2015.
Background and promotion
M.I spent two years recording the album. He describes the album as a collaborative album due to the number of music personnel who contributed to it. The album features collaborations with producers and guest artists such as 2face Idibia, Wizkid, Seyi Shay, Ice Prince, Olamide, Phyno, Reminisce, Oritse Femi, Patoranking, Reinhard, Runtown, Sarkodie, Nosa, Beenie Man, Koker, Moti Cakes, Wilson Alao, Sound Sultan, Emmy Ace, Sammy Gyang, Chigul, Milli, Frank Edwards, Nanya, G-Plus, Morell, Loose Kaynon, Pheelz, Debbie, DJ Lambo, Sarz, Stormrex, L-37, VSTOL and I.J. Its production began in 2012 and continued through the third quarter of 2014. M.I worked with several collaborators while enlisting new producers. Much of The Chairman tells the story of the rapper's journey into limelight. According to M.I's team, the album sold 30,000 copies in pre-order sales.[3]
The Chairman was initially slated for release in June 2013, but was postponed due to the rapper partaking in other business ventures. In an interview with Sunrise Daily in 2014, M.I said Jesse Jagz's departure from Chocolate City also delayed the album.[4][5] In another interview with Leadership newspaper, he said he was inspired to name the album The Chairman after hearing people address him as such.[6] The album comprises seventeen tracks and every track, excluding "The Middle", has an opposite. On October 22, 2014, the album was made available for pre order.[7] Seven days later, its official cover art and track list were released.[8] M.I held a listening party for the album at an Industry Nite event on the same day. He performed alongside Jesse Jagz and dedicated the record "Brother" to him.[9][10]
The Chairman was supported by two promotional singles. The first promotional single, "Chairman", was released on March 19, 2013. It was initially announced as the album's lead single and was jointly produced by E.Kelly, Chopstix and M.I. The song was launched via a Google Plus hangout, which was streamed live on Google Plus and YouTube.[11] On May 13, 2013, the music video for "Chairman" was uploaded to YouTube; it was filmed and directed in Los Angeles.[12] According to Saturday Beats, M.I spent ₦10 million on the video shoot.[13] The second promotional single, "King James", was released on August 21, 2014.[14] M.I describes the song as a non-profit project designed to create awareness and inspire social change. "King James" received generally mixed reviews from music critics.[15]
Composition
The Chairman encompasses several layers of M.I's autobiography. On the album's opener "The Beginning/Nobody", M.I plays the role of a crazy teacher with his voice. In the Chigul-assisted track "Monkey", he raps with a gospel flow over a highlife instrumental. In "Human Being", he reminds listeners that celebrity is not all its hyped up to be. In "Rich", M.I narrates his grass to grace story, and in "Brother", he enlists Nosa to help him depict the cracks at Chocolate City. "Shekpe" is a song that celebrates street life and low-cost highs. In "Enemies", M.I and Patoranking tell listeners that the world of celebrity is a land filled with haters. "Yours" is an ode to his core fans who supported him from day one. On the album's closing track, "The End/The Chairman", M.I tells listeners that the real chairman is God.[16]
Singles
"Bad Belle" was released as the album's lead single. Recorded and directed in Nigeria by Mex, the song's music video features cameo appearances from Basketmouth, Mode 9, Sound Sultan, Yung6ix and Show Dem Camp, among others.[17] The album's second single, "Monkey", was released on March 26, 2015. Its accompanying music video was self-directed by M.I.[18] "Bullion Van" was released as the album's third single. Its official music video was directed by Mex.[19]Kemi Adetiba recorded an unreleased music video for the song at Koga Studios.[20]
The Chairman received generally positive reviews from music critics. Toni Kan of Thisday newspaper called the album a "chockfull of hits" and characterized it as an "autobiography and memoir, manual and manifesto, pure fiction and drama, as well as poetry on an epic scale."[16][27] Oscar Okeke of Lobatan gave the album an A rating, noting it "sounds like the result of an extended period of anxiety, overweighing thoughts, pressure, and other deep seated emotions that can only manifest through music."[21] Writing for Pulse Nigeria, Ayomide Tayo awarded the album 4 stars out of 5, calling it "an inspiring, entertaining and a brilliant body of work from a master who has regained his magical touch."[24]
Dayo Showemimo of Nigerian Entertainment Today granted the album 4 stars out of 5, describing it as "legendary" and commending its production and technical detail.[25]The Breaking Times rated the album 7 out of 10, saying he "hasn't lost much (in terms of song crafting and ear for beats), and therefore, has nothing to prove to naysayers".[22] Reviewing for NotJustOk, Tola Sarumi rated the record 6.5 out of 10, concluding it has something for everyone.[23]YNaija's Wilfred Okiche believes the album's defining experience came from its subtle songs.[28] Henry Igwe, another YNaija contributer, said the lyrics and production on "Human Being" are nonpareil, when compared to "Shekpe" or "Bullion Van".[29]
In a less enthusiastic review, Jim Donnett of TooXclusive gave the album 2.5 stars out of 5, criticizing M.I's solo abilities and decision to feature 26 artists.[26]The Chairman won Best Rap Album and was nominated for Album of the Year at The Headies 2015.[30][31]
^Opeoluwani, Akintayo (30 October 2014). ".I's 'Chairman' Album Out!". Daily Times of Nigeria. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
