The Guy is the fifth studio album by Nigerian rapper M.I Abaga. It was released on 19 August 2022, through Incredible Music and Chocolate City Music. The album features guest appearances from Nas, Olamide, Duncan Mighty, Phyno, Cavemen, Wande Coal, Bnxn, Temi Owo, Lord Vino, Ossi Grace, Chillz, Ice Prince, and Jesse Jagz.
Background.
M.I first hinted at an album via his social media where he announced that he would consider changing his stage name after performing under it for fifteen years. He stated that he would change his name to "The Guy" and release an album of the same name. M.I cited that the reason for the name change was because his album was going to be "hard AF and it deserves a new name." He announced the release date of the album a month before its release, on 19 July 2022, and revealed the tracklist to the album on 15 August 2022 with an accompanying album trailer.
Singles.
The album was preceded by two singles. The lead single "Daddy" features vocals and production from Chillz and was released on 25 March 2022. The song is a mixture of Afrobeats and rap, and features additional production from M.I and G-Plus. The second single and title track, "The Guy," was released on 22 July 2022. It was produced by G-Plus and Geek Beats.
Music and lyrics.
"The Guy" is a 12-track album blending various themes such as gratitude, fame, love, mental health, and masculinity. The album's opening title track, "The Guy," highlights M.I's self-assuredness and new status as he reflects on his career journey. Love is another theme present in songs like "The Love Song" featuring Wande Coal, and "The Inside" with Phyno and The Cavemen, which blend romance with introspective lyricism. Mental health and social issues are tackled in songs like "Soldier" and "Crazy," both addressing societal pressures and personal struggles.
Tracks like "Bigger" (featuring Nas and Olamide) explore success and its complexities. The album concludes with "More Life," a celebration of growth and collaboration with Jesse Jagz and Ice Prince, signifying a sense of brotherhood and reflection. Musically, the album showcases a mix of Nigerian bounce, mid-tempo beats, and influences from boom bap, as seen in tracks like "Bigger," produced by M.I and the late BeatsByJayy. "The Hate" addresses critics and doubters of his legacy.
Critical reception.
Adeayo Adebiyi of Pulse Nigeria noted that in "The Guy", M.I Abaga aimed to showcase the personal side of the man behind the art, blending themes of love, gratitude, masculinity, and mental health, while balancing playful and serious subject matter. Adebiyi highlighted M.I's talents in both rap and production, stating, "M.I is one of those Nigerian artists who can't make a bad album." He gave the album a rating of 8.2/10.
Grace Hans-Bello of Digimillenials described "The Guy" as a progressive album that blends M.I Abaga's experiences with themes like mental health, toxic masculinity, and love, praising it for being "the most progressive body of work released in 2022." She also highlighted M.I's poetic quality, calling the album a potential blueprint for Nigerian rappers.
Emmanuel Daraloye, writing for Afrocritik praised M.I Abaga's "The Guy" as a diverse and emotionally rich album that explores themes like mental health, love, and success while reinforcing his legendary status, describing it as "something to dance to, meditate on," and rated it 8/10.
Uzoma Ihejirika of The Native described M.I Abaga's "The Guy" as a reflection of his enduring legacy, with M.I blending decades of lyrical prowess and evolving with the times. M.I delivers "a melting pot" of his skills while asserting his dominance in Nigerian rap. Ihejirika wrote, "he came, saw and is still here conquering," giving the album a 7.4/10.
Michael Aromolaran's review of "The Guy" for the Culture Custodian, he critiqued the rapper's tendency to rely on repetitive themes and weak lyrics, suggesting that at 40, M.I's artistry feels stale, with lines like "some of you no dey ever hear the message, and that's on Glo" lacking innovation. Aromolaran noted, "If youth breeds ambition, middle age tames it," highlighting a shift in M.I's focus from bravado to more personal themes, ultimately finding the album to lack the energy and joy of his earlier work.
In Tayo Odutola's review of M.I Abaga's album "The Guy" for Earmilk, he noted that the project, which blends rap, afropop, soul, and highlife, showcases M.I's versatility and growth while addressing past controversies and personal themes, stating, "MI holds his own on the record but also calls up names like Olamide, Phyno, The Cavemen, and even Nas to help embellish the project." Odutola concluded that the album feels cohesive and consistent, highlighting its well-crafted tracks and effective collaborations.
Modaculture's review about "The Guy" was praised for showcasing his evolution as an artist while addressing themes of growth, masculinity, and gratitude, with the review stating, "The Guy as an album showcases a new side to M.I, highlighting his formerly unknown production skills." The album features collaborations with notable artists and affirms M.I's status as a leading figure in Nigerian hip-hop.
References.
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