Solar Plexus (album) explained
Solar Plexus is a compilation album released by Mavin Records on May 8, 2012. Produced entirely by Don Jazzy, the album comprises thirteen tracks and was made available for free digital download. It contains solo tracks recorded by D'Prince, Tiwa Savage, Wande Coal and Dr SID.[1] The album's release coincided with the record label's launch date. Solar Plexus was supported the singles "Take Banana" and "Omo Ga". The album received generally negative reviews from music critics, who called it a rushed project and considered it be Don Jazzy's weakest produced album of his career.
Background and singles
The album's recording sessions took place in Lagos, at Mavin Records Studio. Solar Plexus was mixed and mastered by James "LeRock" Loughrey at Tardis Studios in the United Kingdom.[2] Fans hoped for reconciliation between Don Jazzy and D'banj, but weren't certain on the future of Mo' Hits Records. In the midst of this, Don Jazzy used Twitter to announce the launch of Mavin Records and sought support from fans.[3]
"Take Banana" was released as the album's lead single. D'Prince remixed the song for his debut studio album, Frenzy (2012).[4] "Omo Ga" was released as the album's second single; a teaser of its music video was released.[5] [6]
Critical reception
Solar Plexus received negative reviews from music critics. A writer for Nigerian Sounds granted the album a 6.8 rating out of 10, applauding Don Jazzy for producing the entire album in three days.[7] Amb Noni, writing for the website Tayo TV, awarded the album a rating of 6 out of 10, characterizing it as a "rushed" project.[8] In a review for Hip Hop World Magazine, James Silas gave the album 2 stars out of 5, saying the "haste to put out an album to officially unveil Mavin Records sort of affected the total composition of the project."[9] Ogaga Sakapide of TooXclusive also assigned 2 stars out of 5, describing Solar Plexus as "a hurriedly packaged work with so-so lyrics, ill-matched materials and several hit-miss moments."[10]
Wilfred Okiche, whose review was posted on 360nobs, called Solar Plexus a "vanity project for Don Jazzy to prove he's still got it after all that happened and unfortunately everyone else is relegated to second place".[11] Chi Ibe of YNaija said the album was "a mistake".[12] Ayomide Tayo of Nigerian Entertainment Today assigned a score of 2 out of 5, calling it Don Jazzy's weakest produced album of his career."[13]
Personnel
- Michael Collins Ajereh – executive producer, creative director, writer, producer
- Tiwatope Savage – primary artist, writer
- Sidney Onoriode Esiri – primary artist, writer
- Oluwatobi Wande Ojosipe – primary artist, writer
- Charles Enebeli – primary artist, writer
- Towa Ojosipe – writer
- James "Lerock" Loughrey – mixing engineer
Notes and References
- Web site: Nyingifa Theodore . New Music- Solar Plexus By Mavin Records Allstars . Pulse Nigeria . 20 February 2019 . 16 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190221112101/https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/new-music-solar-plexus-by-mavin-records-allstars/pknp2rx . 21 February 2019 . live .
- Web site: DISCOGRAPHY of James 'Lerock' Loughrey. Kick-Ass Productions. 20 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130527085510/http://www.jamesloughrey.net/discog.html. 27 May 2013. live.
- Web site: Industry Moves: Don Jazzy Makes NBA Thunder Move, Launches Mavin Records, Picks #WINNING Team – Tiwa Savage, Wande Coal, Dr. Sid, D’Prince. Africanmusiclaw. 21 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20120510042326/http://africamusiclaw.com/2012/05/industry-moves-don-jazzy-makes-nba-thunder-move-launches-mavin-records-picks-winning-team-tiwa-savage-wande-coal-dr-sid-dprince.html. 10 May 2012. dead.
- Web site: Take Banana Till You Go Yo! Watch D’Prince’s Smashing New Video for "Take Banana Remix". Bellanaija. 24 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191414/http://www.bellanaija.com/2012/10/31/take-banana-till-you-go-yo-watch-dprinces-smashing-new-video-for-take-banana-remix/. 29 October 2013. live.
- Web site: BN Exclusive: Tiwa Savage Gets Gangsta for "Oma Ga"! Watch the Teaser for Her New Music Video. Bellanaija. 24 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131018234732/http://www.bellanaija.com/2013/10/16/tiwa-savage-gets-gangsta-for-oma-ga-watch-the-teaser-for-her-new-music-video/. 18 October 2013. live.
- Web site: Video Teaser: Tiwa Savage – Oma Ga. 360nobs. 24 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131018235737/http://www.360nobs.com/2013/10/video-teaser-tiwa-savage-oma-ga/. 18 October 2013. live.
- Web site: Critical Album Breakdown:- Mavin Records All Stars - Solar Plexus [Album Review]]. Nigeriansounds. 20 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20120524225320/http://nigeriansounds.com/archives/3912. 24 May 2012.
- Web site: [Review] Mavin - Solar Plexus]. TayoTv. 20 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20120511191305/http://www.tayotv.net/2012/05/review-mavin-solar-plexus.html. 11 May 2012.
- Web site: MAVIN ALL STARS – SOLAR PLEXUS [Album Review]]. HipHopWorldMagazine. 20 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130420001214/http://hiphopworldmagazine.com/2012/08/18/mavin-all-stars-solar-plexus-album-review/. 20 April 2013.
- Web site: ALBUM REVIEW: MAVIN RECORDS ‘SOLAR PLEXUS’. tooxclusive. 20 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131023025205/http://tooxclusive.com/2012/05/08/album-review-mavin-records-solar-plexus/. 23 October 2013. live.
- Web site: Where Are The Mavins?- ‘Solar Plexus’ Album Review. 360nobs. 20 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20120605195030/http://www.360nobs.com/2012/06/where-are-the-mavins-solar-plexus-album-review/. 5 June 2012. live.
- Web site: Album Review: Shall we say the truth about Don Jazzy’s ‘Solar Plexus’?. YNaija. 20 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130815000607/http://www.ynaija.com/album-review-shall-we-say-the-truth-about-don-jazzys-solar-plexus/. 15 August 2013. live.
- Web site: Solar Plexus [Album Review]]. TheNetNigeria. 20 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131024075202/http://thenet.ng/2012/05/solar-plexus-album-review/. 24 October 2013.
