Music
BNM Critique: Modenine Waxes Artistic With Da Vinci Mode
For the umpteen time, Modenine returns to the verbal acrobatics that define his early works and thankfully, some dance tones.
ALBUM FACTFILE
RELEASE DATE: March 19, 2010.
RECORD LABEL: RED EYE MUZIK
PRODUCERS: Kraft, Wassbeats, 2muchmuzik, XYZ, Kid Konnect, X-Blaze, Myme, Mode 9, Bigfoot, DJ Clem
GENRE: RAP/HIP-HOP
For the umpteen time, Modenine returns to the verbal acrobatics that define his early works and thankfully, some dance tones. Admirably, Modenine has always ignored current trends but with the single âBad Manâ serving as a manifesto for his newfound style comes the in-your-face âWhat you wantâ. He raps, âThey want another rapper with the same ass flow, fake bling-bling, chain hanging low, Soulja Boy frames, rocking every show. They want a repetitive flow but uh, noâ. And he went ahead to say he wont be drag down to that level, while taking a swipe at average rappers. As self-denying as that may sound, he backs the track up with a danceable tone and melodious hook done by singer/rapper MoâCheddah, just to drive home the point.
Even âBad Manâ is self-denying â using the ladies as an excuse for doing âBad Instrumentalâ. Take that, then add âLokeâ and thatâs all Modenine you can take to the clubs.
Skip the inaudible Will.i.am endorsement intro and Modenine is âat it againâ, back to his one mic one emcee persona. The narratives (âOkomiakoâ, âTales of the Potsâ, âRememberâ); the reflective Modenine (âMy Lifeâ); the braggadocios Modenine (âthe only time I failed the polygraph test was when I said I wasnât the bestâ); and even recycling old concepts: âTop Elevenâ (reminiscent of âGoalâ). Throughout Da Vinci Mode, he weaves dazzling internal patterns and clever wordplay. On âWe at it againâ, he quips âfirst name Sege, second name Wale/not the one with the single with Lady Gaga/but I can make your babies go goo-goo-ga-ga/search the ânet to decipher that – google Gagaâ.
He still has the familiar astonishing intricate rapping. On the anger-driven cut with 2face, he spits, âif you love to role play, roll over and play dead/âŠme and you are prime numbers â we are not even/âŠfollow me blindly like Stevie Wonderâs twitter pageâ. He sounds far more invigorated than on anything heâs released since Pentium IX.
In an era when flimsy lyrics rule hip-hop, the re-styled craftsmanship that screams from Modenineâs verses deserves all the more respect, though heâs still undecided about switching his style. Da Vinci Mode could have been an opportunity for redefinition, a record that would steer Modenine into new, possibly difficult topical terrain.
But instead, heâs used it as a platform to reassert his core values. He still prefers to ârhyme tightâ â he sampled Fela to drum in this point on âMy lifeâ. He raps, âIâm tired of the fables and frauds, tired of you liars, tired of awards/cos even if I win they say itâs arranged/Iâm just tryna be a rangeâ.
That may explain why he collected his last Hip Hop World Award without giving any speech. He sees himself as the âRap Messiahâ and never fails to take a crack at whack rappers. He addresses skinny jean-wearing rappers, âyaâll just need more space in your jeansâ. But like them, Modenine wants to get paid and that just might make him go more commercial in the future: âI just wanna be in a Range/âŠpull up in a Silverbird like Iâm one of the Brucesâ.
With a reference to the art genius, Modenine identifies with his virtuosity and peculiarity by naming his fourth effort Da Vinci Mode. That he is as brilliant as the great Da Vinci himself is not overstating it â he has four lyricist-on-the-roll Hip Hop World Awards to show for it. He is undeniably Naijaâs rap maestro and has proved that once again. With an improved delivery, Mode does it like itâs too easy.
Production on this album is very superb, save for the inaudible âintroâ and âbad manâ. The samples and hooks add so much beauty to the songs. Mode likes to ride alone, but the helps he got on this album are so on point, save for the lack of coherence on the track with 2face. The danceable tracks (âbad manâ, âWhat You Wantâ, âlokeâ), samples (âMy Lifeâ, âRhyme Tightâ), collaborations (âTears of painâ featuring Ososensi, âDownâ featuring Blaise, Kraft & Terry tha Rapman), humorous tracks (âOkokomaikoâ, âComedy Moneyâ, âDeath blow pt 2â) all work together to make this album an enjoyable listen