Asake – Work Of Art

Asake is a phenomenon. The latest breakout star from Nigeria, the past 24 months have witnessed explosive growth, and a degree of tragedy. Last year’s full length ‘Mr. Money With The Vibe’ well and truly put him on the map, while single ‘Peace Be Unto You’ became one of 2022’s most instantly identifiable ear-worms. It’s this reason that took so many people to O2 Academy Brixton, the star oblivious to the crush outside. Appearing on a flurry of features, Asake’s work-rate is second to none – ‘Work Of Art’ is aptly named, the product of someone who cares deeply about every single detail on display.

Ridiculously entertaining from start to finish, ‘Work Of Art’ begins at top speed then hits the accelerator. Peppered with fantastic hooks, previous singles such as ‘2.30’ and ‘Yoga’ take their rightful place here, while ‘Amapiano’ is a fantastic salute to South Africa’s iconic export from a modern Nigerian icon.

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Packed with light, ‘Work Of Art’ races past in a blur of auto-tune and brag-a-licious lyricism. Virtually every luxury brand gets a shout out, while the likes of ‘Mogbe’ and ‘I Believe’ ae punchy statements of intent. ‘Sunshine’ has a neat line in 80s chorus-drenched guitar, but ‘Lonely At The Top’ points to some darker emotions, the isolating impact of fame separating Asake from his man-of-the-people stance.

Indeed, if there’s one fault here it’s that ‘Work Of Art’ never strays far from formula. Asake knows what fans want, and he delivers – ‘What’s Up My G’ is superbly tongue-in-cheek, ‘Awodi’ is peppered with in-jokes, and ‘Great Guy’ keeps you on your toes. But while ‘Basquiat’ may be name-checked, Asake doesn’t quite breach those heights. In the end, ‘Work Of Art’ is fun and eye-catching, but you’re left thinking that more depth will surely come as Asake evolves into his place in the top tier of international music.

7/10

Words: Robin Murray