A wise man once said, “Something must kill a man.” for Wizkid, that thing is bumbum. Following up his goated 2020 album, Made in Lagos, Wizkid’s new record, More Love, Less Ego is light on the features and heavy on the seduction. While the pressures of a Grammy and song of the summer title might bend other artists, Wizkid seems well rooted in his “no stress” vibe.
For his new album, Wizkid doesn’t try to top himself — but is that really a good thing?
These are our first thoughts after listening to each track on More Love, Less Ego for the first time.
Money & Love
Wizkid has a record of solid album openers, from Sweet One on 2017’s Sounds From the Other Side to Reckless on 2020’s Made in Lagos. Big W doesn’t disappoint in the new album’s opener, Money & Love. Name-dropping all the Bujus he knows, Wizkid lays the foundation for the his new album by singing about the usual: his sex game and bank account.
Money & Love doesn’t offer anything new, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad song. It’s just Wizkid catching cruise — something he seems to do throughout the album.
Balance
I’ve listened to Balance four times and zoned out each time. I kept hoping to find something that stuck, but alas. Maybe one day, Balance will find a home on my list of Wizkid faves, but for now, no can do.
Bad to Me
Like most of Wizkid’s lead singles (remember, Smile featuring H.E.R?), I didn’t like Bad to Me when he dropped the song back in September [2022]. Wizkid’s singles have a thing for growing on you when you least expect it to.
Tapping into the amapiano sound Nigerians have refused to give up, Bad to Me is a great party starter that’ll get everyone hyped up in the club. It’s not the best Wizkid lead single, but it’s definitely not the worst (I’m saving that position for Daddy Yo).
2 Sugar (featuring Ayra Starr)
If you thought Wizkid and Ayra Starr were going to try and create the magic of Wizkid and Tems on Essence, then, my dear, get ready to be shocked by 2 Sugar. Even though Wizkid takes the verses on 2 Sugar, it’s very much an Ayra Starr show.
Switching from summer love on Essence, 2 Sugar focuses on creating boundaries and not letting bad vibes mess up your inner peace. Ayra and Wizkid basically float on this song that’ll make you want to relax, sink into the good vibes and tell bad energy to stay far away.
Everyday
Wizkid and Maya Angelou are two names I never thought I’d say in the same sentence, but here we are. Everyday kicks off with a beautiful speech about love from the iconic poet before Wizkid steps in to sing about struggles everybody can relate to, famous or not.
Everyday is pure magic, from the melodies to the chants of “Yebo” in the background. This is probably the most introspective song on the album.
Slip N Slide (featuring Skillibeng and Shenseea)
Slip N Slide is Wizkid at his horniest. Featuring Jamaican acts Skillibeng and Shenseea, Wizkid goes all out with all the fornication vibes you can think of, dropping lyrics like: “24 days we dey fuck with no brakes.” Twenty-four days? Ayodeji, what type of agbo are you drinking? Just asking for a friend.
If I had a sex playlist, Slip N Slide would be a sexy addition. But I don’t fornicate like the rest of you, so I don’t have one.
RECOMMENDED: Zikoko’s Guide To Making A Sex Playlist
Deep
I stan an honest man, and on Deep, Wizkid is honest about what he wants — your body, not your love. If Slip N Slide was recorded for fornication, then Deep was recorded for the seductive dance and whining that’ll eventually lead to the offing off pant.
Flower Pads
Just like Harry Styles announced to the world that he loves a little bit of cunnilingus on Watermelon Sugar, Wizkid employs the lyrics of Flower Pad to make the same announcement. Encouraging his lover to “wrap their legs around his neck”, Wizkid proves once again that he’s capable of creating baby-making music, and I’m totally here for it.
PS: Something about the Spanish at the end of the song that just makes it 1000 times more erotic.
Wow (featuring Skepta and Naira Marley)
Skepta and Wizkid are quickly becoming one of my favourite musical pairings. From Energy to Made in Lagos’ Longtime, these two have served us back-to-back hits, and Wow is no different. But despite Wiz and Skepta’s work on the Wow, something about the beat and flow of the song makes it sound like a Rexxie-produced Naira Marley jam.
That being said, Wizkid, Naira Marley and Skepta on one song is a train I’m comfortable getting on. Choo! Choo! Choo!
Pressure
Pressure is a playful bop that stands out as one of my faves on the album. The beat slaps. The “beep beep beep” sound he makes right after the chorus slaps. The talking-singing thing he does in the second verse slaps. Damn, everything on this song slaps, and I just have to give it tenss across the board.
Plenty Loving
On Plenty Loving, Wizkid touches amapiano again. I might actually prefer this song to Bad to Me. Maybe it’s because Plenty Loving is still fresh, or is it because it has that sprinkle of the signature Wizkid sax that made Made in Lagos an absolute banger?
Special (featuring Don Toliver)
How do I say this? For a song produced by Juls and featuring Don Toliver, Special sounds Mid AF. Maybe Special will grow on me, but for now, it’s not giving what it’s supposed to give, so I’m skipping it.
Frames (Who’s Gonna Know)
Frames (Who’s Gonna Know) provides perfect closing for the album’s 40+ minutes runtime, with Wizkid dropping the seduction tactics and initial gragra to have an honest conversation with his lover. Don’t get me wrong, shaking bumbum is still a priority here, but all of that is hidden behind Wiz’s yearning for his lover to give him more of them, something he could never lose.
Gosh, love sweet die.
