Review: ‘Mafia Culture Volume 2’ exemplifies Idowest’s growth
By Emma Tallest
Idowest is a rapper who employs the Yoruba language as a mode of rap. He also trap. Switching between the two at ease. For those who have been conversant with his music, he has been the nonconformist, a rebel against the norm around, no wonder he referred to himself as Idowest, awon Mafia.
During the week he released the sequel to his 2019 debut extended play, it was titled “Mafia Culture 2″. A ten tracks project which some industry folk read as a mixtape.
Unlike the first track on his debut project where he chronicled his life story before the DMW deal, this time around, he went the celestial way, the intermittent claps, horn, and bass drum collide with his introspective line. Even though you can’t pinpoint the central theme of this song, you will move your head. Idowest muddled a lot of points together on this song, from the girl who played him, to his la vi da local trip in Malay to his escapade with Sade and others.
Nu level was an introduction to the project, a welcome package, it trappy, could have been the ideal opener.
Caro featured his label boss ” Davido” on CARO, it was an Amapiano inflected ditty. Davido’s vocal was hoarse. Too much stress I guess. There was NO connection between the verse and chorus.
Can Mayorkun make mistake on featuring? I have my doubt on that. Kabaa is a slang that means hood, street, abode. In this context, it refers to a hood. Idowest reaffirm his street credibility. Three Gbosa can be replaced with three gunshots.
Mafia fall in love too, forget the hard guy, when they fall in love, it deep. Ayanfe was on the hook for JORO. Even though the youngster gave Idowest an earworm hook, he could not marry the too. Idowest goes off topic a lot of times. I don’t know the reason for this, could it be because of the vibe?
The beat of Famo was made from Trumpet, bass, shakers, and horn, it formed the bedrock of Idowest and Zlatan retrospective rap line. A cruise mode was activated on this joint despite the brevity.
Shamaya featuring Patoranking was the first single, a groovy ditty, the call and response was an ice on the cake. The groovy tempo was replicated on Mafia Tension which featured Bella Shmurda.
Ewe was an homage to weed. Gbe Body featuring Mohbad ended the sonic trip.
Mafia Culture Volume 2 was another entry into the street-centric Idowest self-styled narrative.
Unlike the first which featured just two artists, I think Idowest is currently at a point in his career where he is opened to sharing ideas, this mixtape is more of a collaborative project. It featured nine artists.
The project art cover was poignant, it preaches the mafia culture narrative. Idowest was grim and enamored in all black clothing, you don’t need anyone to tell you that Idowest was truly a mafia.
He subconsciously registered the term on each track, the only problem with this project would been Idowest disconnection with his hooks, he goes off a lot of time, even when the hook singer drop something awesome like Ayanfe and Bella did.
To have a better listening experience, substitute the second track for the first track, with that, I can bet you would have a good listening experience.
Grade: 3/5