A Track-By-Track Review of Patoranking’s Three Album

Patoranking scarcely need any further introduction in the fast-growing Nigerian music industry, the reggae/dancehall king introduced himself to the music industry with his 2014, Alubarika then girlie O, he followed it up with his 2016 God Over Everything debut album.

In 2019, an eponymous album(Wilmer) was released with Confirm being the lead single.

The industry was caught off guard a few weeks ag, when Patoranking announced the release of his third album “THREE” it was unexpected judging from the lukewarm Patoraking we knew in 2020. The artiste only picked up in the second half of the year with the Ajegunle inspired Abule.

All effort by his team to leverage on his humanitarian activities to sell his music never flew, the covid was a stumbling block, they were quick to realize their mistake.

A quick check at his two projects reveals an artiste who was always ready to learn, he recreates popular sounds, passes messages in his music and you still find elements of dance, Girlie oh was about domestic violence, No Kissing preaches about Love, it goes on.

Three contains 12 tracks with assistance from Tiwa Savage, Sauti Sol, Flavour, and King Promise.

Funkula (Telz) produced three tracks off the project with Dera, Jaydot, Ctea,Kamera,Culan,Hysaint, and Killashay also had a hand in the production.

Patoranking has never been scared of touching sensitive topics, on the last track of this project he went political, talking about black power, serial racial discrimination, gun war etc.

Track by Track Review:

Mon Bebe is the French way of saying My Baby, on this ballad, he serenades his supposed lover with some tune. A guitar riff preceded his vocal. Itan a hybrid of Hi-life and Afrobeats with percussion coming at the right time and pace. Who else to feature if not the king of highlife, Flavour Nabania. The song ended with his verse, thead-libs that followed were not consequential.

Ya body was the typical Patoranking, Dancehall, dance, shake what your mama gave you, and go vain.

Same as whine it featuring Kenya Band Sauti Sol, they came early and almost took over the song but Patoraking was quick to collect it back from them.

Nobody tapped from South Africa Amapiano sound, the baseline on the song was similar to the one he used on the Gqom sound influenced 2017 Available. He used a Zulu soundint the background too. Minimal beat, a stretch between the lyrics and the beat.

Black girl magic is a 1990 disco sampled song, with a horn, syncopated bassline, four on the floor beat, DJ Coublon optimally used the electronic guitar on this joint. While dancing, he excitedly gushes about her Melanie beauty. The song was not created for Nigerians, it is better released as a single for people outside the country, sadly, the album has been released.

Abule was conspicuously positioned as the fifth track on the album, the lead single, Abule was sexual, was an ode to Abule Egb,a and a remembrance of the good-bad old days he experienced while growing up.

Ghetto parties are incomplete without violence, one frat must sha fight or you dance with another man gal. Abule is one of the best written songs on this album, the sequential arrangement deserves a kudos.

After the high tempo Abule, Patoranking took it low. The matter is an Rnb which featured Tiwa Savage. Both singers were vulnerable to this joint, their happiness was tied to the decision of someone. While they both crave for sex, they were both discreet in asking for it.

Brr shared the same baseline with his 2018 song Suh different, thematically, it the second coming of that song, it a dancehall song.

Do Me is about a guilty pleasure, too sweet to resist.

On this Ghana Hi-life joint, Patoranking featured King Promise who enchants a lover with words, this would be perfect for a wedding ceremony.

Lion in the Jungle sampled Bob Marley Iron Zion Lion song. On this particular track, the singer bemoan the state of condition of his growing up. When Rick Ross said Never gonna be broke, he had people like Patoraking in mind.

THREE was released a year after Wilmer and both contained 12 tracks was that coincidental?

Patoranking tapped from a lot of sounds for this project with Afrobeats forming a large chunk, it was expansive. Unlike his debut, Patoraking has deliberately reduced the features on his album, he continued the trend on this project.

The repeat value of this album would be between 10/30%, Mon Bebe and Abule were catching and might be responsible for replay buttons.

Grade: C6