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Mirage by Mannywellz


BACKGROUND

If 'Outside' Burna Boy and Masego had a child, his name would be Mannywellz. His Afro-take to R&B/Soul music is otherworldly, on par with the likes of Tems and Wurld. Mannywellz's ability to layer soul-touching lyrics onto a nu jazz-infused beat has gained him significant recognition over the years. A true student of the art, he has mastered the ability to cut across many genres with his silky bars and versatile voice. Mannywellz has released 2 full lengthed projects throughout his career, the second of which I will review in this blog.

Mirage

This album is a subtle masterpiece. Many other artists would struggle to fit so much into a 22-minute-long album stretched over 7 songs (Unless the said artist is Kanye West). This album fits into multiple genres, and every song on this project would fit seamlessly into a 'late night drive' playlist. Mannywellz effortlessly glides over the tracks, making it incredibly easy for the listener to recline and subtly bop their head. In short, this project would massage your brain.

Peace


The project starts off with an absolute BANGER! The relaxing melodies and laidback tones used by the artists on this song would almost make you miss the toxicity of the lyrics. The song describes the artists' thirst for freedom from a very potent addiction; Love. The piece is sonically pleasing to hear while also being awfully relatable. It also serves as a teaser of the album's context, the story of a hopeless romantic. 
(oh, and Tems absolutely bodies her verse!)
Rating: 8/10


So Good


A 'simps' track. This song is a poem of affection. Mannywellz made sure that every second of this song was used to sing praises of a woman's aura. 'So Good' explores the marvels of a beautiful woman and dives into the inner thinking of a man who comes across one. The spectacle of the song does not lie in its lyrics, however, but in Mannywellz's vocal range. Being only the second track on this project, Mannywellz made sure to set the tone for the rest of it with these first few songs.
Rating: 8/10

Danfo

A contender for my favourite track. Not much to be said here; chale, just listen and see.
Rating: It's a 10, no buts


Dangerous

The other contender for my favourite track. If you are/have been in a toxic relationship, this song would hit VERY different. The song starts off by describing the euphoria of being in a power couple with your significant other, a Bonnie and Clyde dynamic. This transitions into a period of self-reflection as Mannywellz begins to see cracks. Although his love for his partner makes him question who he is, he still holds on at the expense of his sanity. Mannywellz uses his lyrics and cadence to tell a beautiful yet toxic story.
Rating: A solid 9.5/10

Floating

This song almost has a psychedelic feel to it. It is probably the most laidback song on this laidback album. Although it is an all-around good song, I am not as enthused with the featured artist. It's still a solid song in my books.
Rating: 6/10


Sweet & Tender


Lover Boy Manny is back on this song. Another beautifully produced piece that embraces his passionate love for a woman. I definitely loved this song a lot.
Rating: 8/10


A Million


Just when I thought I had escaped from the shackles of rap for a solid 20 or so minutes, uncle Wale came to ruin everything. Manny's verse on this song was the direct antithesis of his lyrics on 'Dangerous'. In this song, he rediscovered his self-worth and realized he did not need female validation to love himself. This song would have been way better without the Wale feature, but how we go do am?
Rating: Mid (solely because of Wale)


Conclusion

Overall I LOVED this album. Hearing this album for the first time in 2020 as a die-hard hip-hop fan who was getting into R&B, this album opened my eyes to the nuances of that genre in Africa. Mirage, by extension, led me to discover other artists with a similar vibe as Mannywellz and introduced me to many different genres of music. Mirage, to this day, holds a place in my heart as a top 10 African project of its kind.
Final rating: 7.7




Mirage live:



Article written and edited by Shawn 'Don' Owusu-Nortey.





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