How singer unveiled his debut album to the music industry

Reekado Banks has talent. Enough to make him the next great act to lead the Mavins through another era. Discovered, molded and minted by Don Jazzy, he has continuously wowed the country with hit tunes, deft songwriting skills, and a penchant for finding the right melody to hit. He has been compared to Wande Coal and Wizkid; two of Nigeria’s greats, a great testament to the potential he holds, and the skill he currently displays.

But during the run up to the release of his debut album, Reekado Banks showed us another side of his personality – his mouth. The small boy who was signed, and made a big man, developed a big mouth to hype his album. Declarations of the greatness of his forthcoming album was a weekly event. From being “Album wey dey burst brain”  On Instagram and Twitter hashtags, the work moved through the various stages of creation, and became, according to Reekado Banks’ newfound big mouth; “…the best album you heard this year or probably the last ten years or in the next ten years.”

So it was with great pleasure, anticipation and happiness that we all moved to Hardrock Café, Victoria Island, Lagos on Wednesday, August 31, with hearts ready to listen to a great piece of art, which according to the creator, will obliterate anything we have ever heard, and perhaps still hold dominance over anything we will hear. We were prepared to have our music history chewed up, spat out and rewritten by the man from Mavin Records.

Did that happen? Have we fallen under his spell? How did he introduce the album to us? What was the lingering feeling after we experienced this body of work? Is Reekado Banks our messiah? Is he the son of God?

Well, the house was packed full. Don Jazzy arrived with a caravan of hangers-on and attendant crowd; a befitting entrance for a man who many regard as King. Reekado Banks is his creation, an idea which he gave life to, put money on, and made a star. In other words, if Reekado Banks was the magician of the night, Don Jazzy was his oracle, the ethereal fountain from where he draws power and magic.

There were members of the industry scattered all around. Each showing support to the young man, who is sincerely loved for his talent and humility. Banky W, Sean Tizzle, DJ Cuppy, DJ Spinall, Jay Jay Okocha, Dr Sid, Korede Bello, D’Prince, Vanessa Mdee, and the Lagos State Comissioner for Tourism and Inter-governmental Relations, Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, made an appearance too.

A number of opening acts rocked the stage. A necessary evil in affairs of this magnitude, as Viktoh, Wale Turner, Thelma, Tolu and Mayorkun warmed up the guest.

Finally the hour was here. The world was ready for greatness. Reekado Banks was about to unveil his magic and everyone strained for it. We, mere mortals of Lagos, are not worthy of such an honor. But Reekado was gracious.

He showed up, but not without the assistance of MTV Base’s Ehiz, who acted as host, director of presentation affairs, hypeman, emotional support, comedian, mimer, backup singer, actor, animate questionnaire, host and prompter. In a way he had the hardest job of the night. All of these portfolios can make a man weary. But he shouldered it like a pro, and soldiered on,

Reekado Banks came on, answered what was thrown at him, thanked everyone, and distributed shout outs to everyone. Don Jazzy got a shout out, Banky W gets a shout out, everybody gets a shout out!

But when all of that public posturing and humility was gone, the music was unleashed. It was a 30-minute display of his project, where everyone got to hear his new tracks.

And then we went home.

PS: For those who want me to explain what the album felt like, or what was contained in it, This article is already too long for this. Article wey dey burst brain. Shout out to you.