Cop @MI_Abaga #Rendezvous Album Today

Nigeria's great, M.I Abaga, just released a project titled Rendezvous featuring some of the continent's greatest and biggest artists. Apart from doing shows and interviews, M.I has been relatively quiet when it comes to making music - looks like he's been making some silent moves. For his latest mixtape (which he deems as a playlist), not only did he go on to feature some of Nigeria's top artists like Wande Coal and Nonso Amadi, he also featured South African giants, AKA and Cassper Nyovest. This playlist is an artful curation of a typical Friday if you ask me. If anything, I am going through all these motions (or at least know what they feel like). M.I cunningly curates the time cycle of 24 hours coming from the office and trying to get home and unwind on a great night on the town, right till you finally get home the next day to recoup your body. 

The concept immediately comes to life as soon as Sunset falls in with it's lazy, slow, and almost tired atmospheres as M.I croons the common exhaled phrase after a stressful day, "What a day..." The track is very dreamy almost like a drowsy routine of someone undoing their office suit up in exhaustion. You can already tell that the "playlist" is about to be engaging. Up next is Soup which opens with Cassper Nyovest's infectious ad-libs before M.I takes his seat on the thrown with flawless writtens that slowly awaken you. Cassper comes on with a boxing verse to match as the beat has you bumping your head in attention. As your energy begins to rise, a sexy dance-hall tinged number in Playlist comes on and has you feeling yourself as Nonso smoothly croons on the hook. M.I shows a smooth oga side of himself as he hangs up the hard rapper for a gentleman trying to impress you. So romantic. SHU! 

At this point of the mixtape you're reenergised as Jungle escorts you to a breezy evening get together continuing from the sexiness of Playlist. M.I shows his heart for collaborating with fresh talent on this mixtape as he calls upon some talented artists to add to his chosen playlist. Added to that, he shines with his own versatility which keeps you on your toes the whole listen through. From here on you dip into the boy zone as the music gets hard with Wats D Level. Might we add that the native Nigerian dialects added by every Nigerian artist on this project make for colourful listening pleasure. We also love it when M.I goes into some playful Pidgin in his rhymes. FINESSE ON EM GREAT ONE. Kososhi with Wande Coal goes by really quickly sounding more like an interlude than a full track. It leads to Your Father which sounds like a full blown trap out which fits into the beginning of a "lit night" if we're keeping track with M.I's conceptual clock on this playlist. As we step into One Way you are very well forgiven for initially hearing some Chris Brown, we also had to double check - rest assured. Moelogo's versatile vocals are undeniably infectious on this transcending track that carries you immediately to some intergalactic dance floor. M.I has been a constant pillar throughout the diverse sounds on this playlist and it cements him as a formidable artist. We drip well into On Code with AKA and it's all coolness out the window as you lose your mind over how hard hitting this track is. SHU! The combination of AKA's unwavering braggadocio and signature voice with M.I's godfather attitude make for "stadium status" music on the track. This is that one track that will have you making that ugly rap face as you bump your head to this song. Impeccable execution. The boss attitude is present, and there is a level of urgency and danger inherent in the song that makes you feel apprehensive about stepping incorrect to M.I and Supa Mega. 

We slow things down on Popping as M.I simmers it down to deliver the bars with a bouncy flow that will keep your ugly rap face still switched on. At this point you are endlessly bowing your head at how polished Mr Incredible is sounding despite not putting music out every other day like a lot of artists are right now. As Ghost enters the second verse, he keeps the standard of lethal word delivery in line with M.I sealing the whole track. Cleverly, Odunsi's vocals match very well with Terry Apala's husky contribution to Jiggy which is a hazy confusion of a party and leaving the vibe. 

We get a wake up call on Lekki which almost seems to throw you back into the party but is actually the soundtrack of time outside of the party somewhere in the street. The contribution of Odunsi, Falz and Ajebutter only equate to a groovy time. M.I seems to be the gang leader with his Pidgin infused flow on here. Does this party ever end? APPARENTLY NOT! As you move away from the noise, things begin to Slow down as M.I seems to simmer down his energy as he attempts to grasp himself - you know, pulling yourself to yourself? Yeah that. The track is mad dreamy which almost imposes a trance on you to sit down and recount your night. With everything we've been through on this tape, I think all the memories might be too much for your mind to handle all at once so we move on to The Crew. This track, although dancehall tinged, has a grown and sexy feel to it and it's also relaxing at the same time. You can't help but think, "What a ride its been," as this song simmers you down for the end of the playlist. This is when M.I gets exclusive in his curation calling it, "Grown folk time," which immediately alerts you to not disturb. By the time you get to Sunshine you feel like you need a nap from all the happenings of the past 24 hours. M.I makes sure to close the playlist with stealthy bars of love to ensure a memorable exit. Such a beautiful sign out from a piece that portrayed many sides of his artistry, character, and personality as he brought us along in painting Lagos city red. WHAT A DAMN RIDE!

The fifteen-track project explores different sounds and concepts, M.I and the featured artists do the most on their individual singles which makes it hard to pick a highlight. "Inspired by the renaissance of music, food, art, and fashion taking place in Lagos today. Rendezvous is the soundtrack to an evening out in Lagos - if you know the right people." The project is out on iTunes so be sure to check it out and show love to M.I for bringing different African talents together.