Mr. Eazi drops debut studio album The Evil Genius
The Nigerian Banku music pioneer and label exec has released his first official full-length.
Mr. Eazi has shared his official debut LP, The Evil Genius. The project follows several mixtapes and EPs, across which the 32-year-old singer has built his signature Banku sound — a blend of his home country’s Afrobeat grooves and the highlife sound of Ghana, where he moved as a teenager. For the past five years, he’s also been running emPawa Africa, a Lagos-based talent agency.
The new project is a 16-track, pan-African affair with production from Burna Boy collaborator Kel-P and Eazi himself, among others. The record hosts features from Angélique Kidjo, Tekno, Efya, Joeboy, Whoisakin, and the Soweto Gospel Choir. It’s visual identity is similarly rooted in the continent: Eazi handpicked 13 African artists from eight countries to create pieces that correspond with specific songs on the album, according to a press release.
“I’m happy to finally be releasing this project, after years of work,” Mr. Eazi says in the release. “I had to go through this process to let go of emotions and thoughts that were deep within my subconscious. It’s come together beautifully and meaningfully, aided by art, and I am proud to share it with the world.”
Check out The Evil Genius’ front and back cover art below, and scroll further to stream the full album.