Olamide would always be the ‘voice of the street’ not because he follows the rules because he created it and Carpe Diem proves this point well.
A few days before the revolutionary #EndSars protest began, Olamide dropped his seventh body of work, “Carpe Diem“, unfortunately, the protest began and priorities shifted not giving the album time to be promoted well.
However, ‘Carpe Diem’ did get the internet talking on the day of its release as the album showcased a different and calm side of Olamide we don’t always get.
The phrase ‘Carpe Diem’ is a Latin word for “pluck the day” or “seize the day”.
It was used by the Roman poet Horace to express the idea that we should enjoy life while we can. His full injunction, “carpe diem quam minimum credula postero,” can be translated as “pluck the day, trusting as little as possible in the next one,” and this is what Olamide sets out to achieve.
Olamide has been in the music industry for more than ten years, he has had his fair shares of ups and downs and held the crown of ‘Street King’ since his entrance into the music scene.
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His arrival was seen as what would fill the void Dagrin left behind. And he has more than filled the void with the release of eleven projects so far.
In ‘Carpe Diem’, Olamide takes us something more of a different ride than he often does in his previous albums.
The first release was “Eru” which was more of a surprise as fans woke up to Olamide dropping the song out of the blues.
The song didn’t get the publicity as it should have been but it gave us an insight into what the album, in general, was going to be about.
The song which was produced by Young fast-rising producer, P.Prime who produced much of the album showed a calm and level-headed Olamide singing for a new target base, ‘Women’.
The next release from the album was Greenlight, which is one the best songs from the album proved everyone’s theory right with “Eru”.
Greenlight was Olamide fusing Afrobeat, Afropop, and R’n’B together and the dish was nicely put. The song was produced by P.Prime which as usual bore his now popular signature.
Then on October 8th, he dropped the full body of work. The album which contained twelves songs boost of excellent and tight production.
One of its leading song, “Truimphant” featuring Bella Shmurda is inspiring and vibe worthy. Bella’s vocals on the song did its job with laying what would be an interesting ride.
In this song, Olamide opens up abput his mental health challenges and how the death of his parents especially his mother affected him.
Produced by his trusted friend and music producer, Pheelz, “Trumphiant” is bound to become the new motivational song that everyone needs.
“Infinity” features Omah Lay who doesn’t disappoint with his soothing but cunning vocal. His entrance into the song is catchy and helps make one receptive to the song.
His wordplay is almost as good as Olamide’s which is courtesy of his Port Harcourt’s roots.
In “Plenty”, Olamide tries to find a balance with his protege, Fireboy DML whose range is in a different orbit from his.
In an interview, Olamide revealed that the collaboration was his most difficult one ever. They recorded close to seven songs before they settled on ‘Plenty’.
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Bad Boy Timz and Olamide atempt to create a club banger, “Loading”, while they try, the song is however underwhelming. Olamide has created better club bangers than that but still the song does have replay value. The hook however is ts saving grace.
Unlike Bella Shmurda and Omah Lay, Bad Boy Timz is only sidelined to the chrous where it almost like he is invisble.
Music Powerhouse, Perruzi just like Fireboy DML tries to find a balance with Olamide on “Unconditionally”.
Olamide’s lyrics and wordplay on this song are amazing but apart from that, the song still feels unbalanced.
“Shilalo” which features Olamide’s friend and accomplice in music, Phyno is another underwhelming but good song. These two have created music togeher on several ocassion and ‘Shilalo’ won’t be on top 5 of their best collaborations.
Then on Olamdide’s solos apart from Greenlight and Eru, “At Your Service” is another good song that would be good on a sex playlist.
“Another Level” and “Chimichanga” are good Album’s fillers. They are fit for those mood when one
“Do Better” reminds one of Olamide’s earliest days on songs like “Melo Melo”, “Falila Ketan”, “Eleda Mi”. Take not, these songs don’t alike but they give the same feel.
The interesting thing to note about ‘Carpe Diem’ is Olamide’s use of trailblazers currently dominating the industry on the album.
P.Prime got the chance to be the lead producer of a major album with “Carpe Diem”, though his job wasn’t perfect but commendable as he tried to hold his ground.
The collaborations included New School artists like Fireboy DML, Omah Lay, Bella Shmurda, Bad Boy Timz, and Peruzzi. Phyno who is his usual accomplice was the only oldie in the album.
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Some people have theorized that his use of new school artists is thanks to the album’s name. Meaning he sees them as the future and new pillars of the Nigerian Music Industry.
While that isn’t far-fetched, the new School artists are popularizing and pushing the new soundscape that is currently taking over the music industry and the feel of Carpe Diem fits right into this.
One should note that Olamide isn’t trying to break out of a mould but remoulding. This album is done by a man who has spent more a decade in an industry he helped modify. He laid the rules, now its time to reinevnt them.
Olamide shows a more vulnerable but matured side of him and isn’t afraid to make people understand that he like any human being have weaknesses and bad days.
The album’s weakest point is not in its songs but in the cover art as it doesn’t do much to showcase the spirit and theme.