EP Review: ‘Icen B4 the Cake’ continues Dremo’s creative conundrum

As a follow-up to his 2018 album/EP, ‘Code Name Vol. I,’ and as Nigerians await the much-vaunted, ‘Code Name Vol. II,’ the rapper has decided to whet the appetite.

On the morning of August 26, 2019, he released the 5-track EP, Icen B4 the Cake under DMW and The Plug Entertainment. The EP is a collection of some loosies Dremo has released over the past one year.

Usually, Pulse refrains from doing reviews on the day certain projects drop, but after three-excruciating listens that basically terrorized this writer’s brain, he discovered that there was nothing special with this EP.

You can stream the project on Apple Music HERE.

Can Dremo rap?

I think everybody knows Dremo has talent and that he can rap. This was clear in 2017 with the loosies and features. If he hoped to prove anything to anybody with this EP, it was unnecessary. The question has always been whether Dremo can make worthy music and quality projects.

With Code Name Vol. I, he answered some of those questions, but the holes on the project knocked him right down to earth.

With Icen B4 the Cake, he again tries to balance his rap side with his more commercially viable, afrobeats side. But again, something is off. Again, potential is there, but the end product is just off.

What is wrong with Dremo?

The problem seems Dremo’s constant appetite to prove he can rap while he also makes commercially viable, radio-friendly music. That is fine because money must be made and rap doesn't really pay. To succeed at that, he’s not short on inspiration from Eedris Abdulkareem, to Ice Prince.

However, he has been unable to really find the balance. What the problem is with him is that the growth he seemingly seeks on both sides makes it hard for either side to flourish. While it’s bad to condition creatives and try to tell them exactly what to do, everybody needs some outside opinions. Opinions here are there might be worth it.

If Dremo is really dead-set on moving ahead with his singing and rapping sides, he might need to release two separate projects. One filled with dance tracks and afrobeats gbedu while the other is strictly rap. It will take time, but it might help him to finally compartmentalize.

Another thing dear Dremo, please cut the corny pop culture/trending story references. They always seem forced.

What is wrong with Icen B4 the Cake?

It has potential, but asides ‘Babysitter,’ it’s either a problem of boring beat selection with good flows or terrible flows with good beats - Dremo is slightly similar to Sute Iwar for this. The thing to do is not select a beat that works for the act, but a beat that could help you break down barriers and endear you towards fans.

It also doesn’t help that on ‘Sighs,’ Dremo rapped a quite insensitive, corny, nonsensical and reckless line like, “I beat the pussy up like Senator Elisha Abbo…”

While he actually did start the bar with, “I’ll never treat my women like Senator Elisha Abbo,” it’s still a very problematic bar that’s both inherently bad and open to negative interpretation.

We have to be more accountable for the things we say. No, this is not about wokeness, some analogies and metaphors are just inherently terrible.

'Fara Buruku Bale' has potential, but there's a problem with the verses.

You can listen to the EP on Deezer HERE.

Ratings: /10

• 0-1.9: Flop

• 2.0-3.9: Near fall

• 4.0-5.9: Average

• 6.0-7.9: Victory

• 8.0-10: Champion

Pulse Rating: /10

Tracklist: 1/2

Content and Themes: 0.5/2