When Asake dropped his album, I’ll admit I didn’t instantly connect with most of the songs. I think that’s normal, though, especially with new releases. But I had faith that he wouldn’t disappoint, so I decided to give the songs a few more listens. The album has about 15 tracks, but I want to focus on my top four favorites.
The first track I really fell in love with was Mentally. What actually hooked me was the fast pace—it was electric from the moment the beat kicked in. Then, when he came in with his vocals, it just all flowed perfectly. I loved the rhythm and the way the song made me at least want to nod my head and vibe along. I ended up playing it so much that now I’m pretty familiar with the lyrics. Even though they don’t all make perfect sense to me, I appreciate the effort he put into creating such a banger because, to me, that’s exactly what it is.
My second favorite is Fuji Vibe. I actually heard this one before the official release since he performed it live at a concert. The beat caught my attention immediately. As the title suggests, it has more of a Fuji vibe than Afrobeat, and that’s exactly what I love about it. The rhythm just pulls you in; there’s no way this song comes on and you don’t feel like moving to it.
Next up is Mood. This one surprised me. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did on the first listen, but something about the lyrics put me in a vibe. I even made an effort to learn the words, and it resonated with me. The chorus is exceptional—it’s definitely the highlight for me. I also loved that he switched it up and sang part of the song in Spanish. That was a total surprise, and it made me appreciate his creativity even more. He clearly went all out to make this track special.
Lastly, there’s Skating. This song stands out from the others because he talks about his love for skating and how it’s part of his lifestyle. I’ve never tried skating myself, but I connected with the song anyway, from the lyrics to the melody and rhythm. It’s one of those tracks I’ve played over and over, to the point where I can almost recite the lyrics without even trying.
Those are my top picks from the album. Each song has something unique that keeps me coming back for more.
image is from Meta Ai
