Critical Breakdown:- Boogey And Charlie X – This Is Not An Acronym [Mixtape Review]

Reviewed By Obinna Fred

This Will Perhaps Burn Bridges / But I Heard People Who Suck At Rap Turn Critics – Boogey [ All Love ]

Artiste(s):- Boogey And Charlie X
Mixtape:- This Is Not A An Acronym [ T.I.N.A.A ]
Record Label:- Independent
Distributed By:- Soundcloud/Online Media Platforms
Guest Appearances:- Fefe, Lord V, Aduke, Sabre, Eclipse, Yvonne, Danny Gomez, Dominique Larue, Morell, Zee And Pryse
Producers:- Charlie X, Teckzilla,Eclipse and D’Lyricist

Critical Breakdown

Boogey’s verse on “Ridiculous” off M.I Abagas critically acclaimed sophomore mixtape Illegal Music 2 was the moment when a new ferocious MC was catapulted into the hearts of Nigerian hip-hop listeners, as he almost stole the show, and out of the 19 MCs featured on the project, his verse stood head and shoulders above the rest (yeah, we thought so and called it the best verse on the tape in our review) and got everyone ( at least those who were not hip to him yet) wondering who the MC that rapped, “I love hip-hop to death; I am Romeo in a body bag,” was. Towards the end of the year, he dropped his Artificial Intelligence Mixtape, a project hailed by hip-hop purists as the best offering of the year, which ignited a cult following, got him signed to AbOriginal Music, and earned him nominations for the coveted Lyricist on the Roll Award at the 2013 Edition of the Hip-Hop World Awards and an NMVA Nomination for Best Rap Video. Amidst industry politics and record label drama, Boogey spent the whole of 2014 recording music, appearing on collaborations with fellow rappers, and widening his reach to satisfy his teeming fan base. Having announced the T.I.N.A.A Mixtape with the masked producer Charlie X in an exclusive interview with MADC, He had his fans and lovers of hip-hop waiting for when he would release the project, which eventually dropped last month and is currently one of the big talking points in Nigerian hip-hop.

The Mixtape starts off with an Intro which has cut-up samples of a famous viral parody rap battle: “Look, I know what’s on your mind before you say it chill / Yeah, I know this ain’t the type of music that can pay the bills / or get me groupies who be making my mayo spill / All because of fame and not because I be displaying skill.” he raps over a mellow boom-bap production with a very melodious flute playing in the background, which helped bring the tape to life with a solid opening track. Lord Vino and Sabre traded bars with him on the next song, Salute Me, which also featured alternative folk/soul singer Aduke who executed a fire hook that gave all three MCs an opportunity to display their lyricism over a thumping bass instrumental, and they did just that, though female MC Sabre struggled to keep up with her male counterparts with her hybrid patois-inspired flow. Goretti Company’s new artist, Fefe, links up with Boogey on the next track, Back For Ground, a song named after one half of Nigerian prostitutes’ favourite lingo; Fefe gave a performance that somehow reminded me of late American singer Aaliyah, and Boogey rapped about his liaisons with different girls that ultimately resulted in him being billed. It’s a good song on the tape, full of bars that show the MC’s cheeky side. Former labelmate Eclipse is assisting on the next track with an aggressive Igbo chorus, as well as a solid verse to match Boogey bar for bar, rapping, “Rappers are like unicorns; to me, you don’t exist. ” If I saw a video for this song tomorrow, I wouldn’t be surprised. Storytelling is one of Boogey’s strong suits, as was evident in his single Sanctum, and he displayed this skill in full effect on the next song, Said No , a song which is a story about rape. Singer Yvonne who was featured on the song, complimented the production on the song with a melancholic hook that was suited perfectly and had Boogey narrating a quite gripping tale with lyrical adroitness.

Boogey – Sanctum [Official Video ]

The transition to the next song Basement Featuring Danny Gomez, is flawless, and this is one of the most lyrical moments on this tape, as Boogey exorcises himself of his demons rapping, “I’m looking down from this balcony/As you bow to me,/I’m about to be/crowned in the presence of those that doubted me/But I fear they want to put a spear in me/bury me/as I drown in tears of family, friends and foes who surround and grieve,” dropping arguably one of his most pungent verses yet. I am not really a fan of producers recycling samples, and the Ameno Sample by Era had already been utilised by producer Pheelz for Olamide’s street hit Voice of the Streets, that is the sole reason why the next song, Ameno featuring Zee is more or less filler to me, despite the featured artist rapping feverishly like she was trying to prove a point. The Teckzilla-produced Make it features Americans [Columbus, Ohio, to be precise]. Female rapper Dominique Larue delivered a verse that made me want to hear more of her music, while the jazzy instrumental provided a fitting backdrop for both MCs to shine. “Emi Ni Kabiyesi, Oba Olori Mic” is the sample which was chopped and screwed to create the hook on the next track, Kabiyesi, a song that featured Chocolate City first lady Pryse; it’s actually my least favourite track on the tape, and though Boogey styled all over the beat, it sounded out of place for him and didn’t synchronise with the sound on the tape. At the beginning of the closing track All Love, DJ Klem and Toya express their admiration for Boogey’s artistry before Boogey concludes the tape with a confident declaration that he is on the same level as two prominent Nigerian rappers, Modenine and M.I. Abaga.
With Artificial Intelligence which was more of a revelation, all Boogey wanted to prove was “I’m a damned good rapper”, and he married his raw rap skills with his ability to make songs over gritty rap instrumentals. The result was a raw, undiluted hip-hop mixtape, but with T.I.N.A.A, he shows growth musically, more composure on the mic, and a bit of swaggering confidence, catching a glimpse of the big league, having experienced what it feels like to be a signed recording artist. The mixtape offers a glimpse into Boogeys mind, his outlook on the world, his interpretation of hip-hop music, and the demons he has to fight. From his tone, you can hear that he finally feels a bit appreciated and respected, but he still demands more, unlike his first mixtape, which had the “I’m too lyrical for you, and I don’t get what I deserve” aura looming all over it. T.I.N.A.A.’s core is that of an MC offering an array of content combined with lyrical dexterity and storytelling abilities. Though he is not your “conventional” rapper who raps over pop beats and talks about girls and flossing, his mixtape offers a glimpse of hope in Nigerian hip-hop and is an offering any self-respecting rap head should have in his collection.

Beats/Production: 8/10

Lyrics:- 9/10

Flow:- 9/10

Composition/Arrangement:- 7/10

Best Verse:- Basement [Full Track]

Standout Track:- Said No Featuring Yvonne

Mixtape Moment:- I haven’t heard a more engaging tale than Said No on wax from a Nigerian MC in a while.

Overall Rating:- 8.3/10

DOWNLOAD AND STREAM BOOGEY AND CHARLIE X – THIS IS NOT A MIXTAPE T.I.N.A.A. HERE