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Album review: A critical look at Mode 9's Paradigm shift

Written by Ugolee Emmanuel

Sunday, 29 March 2009

Mode 9 happens to be top of charts when it comes to Hip hop acts here in Nigeria. As a fan of Super lyricism its obvious Mode is got what it takes to be on top. His 1st and Sophomore Album can easily be called classics in this clime. Will the Paradigm shift be remembered as one? Well we wait and see.

1.The Intro -
is aggressive and steps up my adrenalin even more. A ferocious yet comedic warning to his adversaries of the battle that lies ahead and an assertion that he’s gonna win. This intro kinda reminds me of “Stillmatic” the intro on Nas’s classic album “Stillmatic”. Made we wonder is this some kinda response album? The lyrics and rhymes were tight except for “Hey pal you not a dot on ma radar now feel the pain like a skinny chic in labour” not feeling that! However, he quickly redeems himself in another line “You better pick new recruits, cos im ahead of my time like silver suits, laser gun flow kill your troops, underground status still yielding fruits. Classic Intro got my mouth watering already.

2.Big Boi –
The track is a fusion of hip hop and jazz and attempts to get you in matured mood as Mode takes you on a victorious lap as Naija once again rules hip hop again in the hiphop map with Mode the anchor man. The production is flawless and the delivery expected of Mode. The jazzy feel is gotta be pioneering in Naija! I like the way they let the beat exit giving us a chance to appreciate its creativity.

3.Talking to you –
This hit me like ballistic missile!!!! The delivery is spot on and the beat off the hook! Mode rips this track apart and takes full control of the beat!! It’s hip hop at its best and reassures us that hip hop can co exist with RnB without sounding like a love song. The lyrics tight, flawless and once again makes Mode untouchable. “You got intellect myopia so when a –dis- a-ba ba its not Ethiopia”! Thats the shiz. Special mention to Banky W for his impressive rendition. The kids got game!

4.Spartans –
Well we all know Mode 9 is a super lyricist. However I wasn’t sure how he could last on a battle field. Well I got my answer. A brave and ferocious fighter mirrored by the medieval Spartans in the movie 300. Mode takes his gloves off and tells his enemy “I’m a fighter not a lover”. The chorus is also weaved perfectly with Mode responding to the “Spartan Question”. This is looking like a classic album already.

5.Your girl –
I was wondering if my mp3 player had skipped to the R n B section of my playlist ,as is frequent with some of this gadgets, when this track filtered in!! “your girl”?? On further listening I reckoned this was mode showing he can be a casanova as well as a super lyricist. I’m not sure if this track blends in but I could accept it if he is trying to show his adversaries that he can take on their girls as well as their mics. After all 2pac also showed us that you gotta be able to fuck your friends’ wife. The delivery is smooth and the beat reminiscent of the Tribe called quest at their best!!

6.Kick You –
“One line of mine messes with your whole album” that line once again gave me the chills. Once again the flow is tight as mode effortlessly moves form hip-hop to raga. The only down side to this is the beat. Could have been better.

7.Follow your heart –
This seems like a self tale about a super lyricist who’s not getting the paper he deserves. The message is clear and easy to understand however the chorus does no justice as it sounds like a grave yard plea to by a friend to his dead comrade to come back alive. Mode, you gotta realize if you’re gonna get your paper in hip hop then tracks like this is gotta have intensity in its beat and impact in its delivery. It doesn’t fit in for a rapper who is raging war on his opponents to come and start talking about not getting his paper. More like advocating diplomacy in the battle front of a war. You gonna get blown out Mode. I kinda like the rhyme “cashless with no dough like a broke baker” typical Mode.

8.Hip Hop -
This is sound like a good message being delivered by the wrong messenger. The track is dull and smacks off a jealous artist enviously of his less talented but more successful contemporaries. Mode’s gotta realize in hip hop we will always have legends like Rakim & KRS 1 and millionaires like Lil Wayne and TI. “That’s the irony of hip hope dawg get used to it”.

9.Imperial –
In this track Mode reasserts himself as an artist who has come to stay and be known. He is king and will rule as long as he wants. Another gallant rendition. Super delivery!!

10.Fiyah Burn –
Kinda like the only commercial material thus far!! A classic fusion of dance hall and hip hop. Mode is not the lead role here but he however compliments the raga with a majestic flow that makes me wanna climax. Phat track.

11.My Skin is Black –
Another impressive delivery. This politically inclined track engages the word “black” metaphorically as it depicts various meanings that can be attributed to that word. Mode 9 at his best.

12.Bush Girl Tush Girl –
Hardcore amidst comedy. Now working for me man! This track just found its way to my sewar. A complete mismatch. Half way now on my review and this is struggling to be a classic album.

13.Forbidden Love –
Sound like a typical P Square track name. Sounds like Cannibus trying to be LL Cool J. How can? Good story but the beat is amateurish.

14.A Hero Comes Home -
Another brilliant use of word play as Mode stylishly brands himself as a hero “Optimum 9” who has come to save hip hop from a scene already dominated by whack MC’s with DJ Whack Mix as the bad character. A “superman” like delivery in its rendition and “Transformer” of some sort in its battle ways. Only down side is the beat, doesn’t do justice to a creative song.

15.Nine –
Another battle rap but with the same flawless delivery. Mode is gotta be feared now as he’s got his adversaries on the ropes. An underground type flow that’s probably got no place in a commercially stifled audience of hip hop listeners. If this track was made like some 10 years ago it’ll go down as masterpiece.

16.Crazy –
Not sure what he was trying to achieve on this track but I must admit I admire his bravery and courage to take on a raga rendition. An average track but as mentioned strictly belongs to the underground.

17.Mathematical Sege –
If this album has got any chance of being a classic then this track just blew it. I guess Modes thirst and desire to always want to use metaphors in his expressions or message must have guided his thoughts for this track. This time its just a joke. Would Nas rap about Kareem Abdul Jaber? Or Jay Z rap about OJ Simpson as a sporting Enigma? I think not as they will rather rap about Marley Marl and African Baambaata. This is way below average. The producer is gotta take a smack for this track

18.Green Passport –
This track bring to the purview what we face every day as Nigerians travelling outside our shores. I just wonder why it’s gotta take Mode and Sound Sultan to tell us? Songs like this will be better done by Ras Kimono or Majek Fashek. Not one for Hip hop.

19.The Game Needs me –
The Game just started Mode and no one is leaving yet. Feels like the sun setting in the Morning. I don’t get it. Tries to sound like Jay Z on this one but not near the Legend.

20.Still Love you –
Mode once again states his disdain for those who loathe his kinda rap. He lyrically takes them to the cleaners. The only flaw on this is that the message clould have been told in “Nine” or “Spartans”. The beat is equally weak and uninventive.

21.Outside –
An insight into how an hip hop enigma called Mode 9 evolved. Kinda like a tribute to his success as a super lyricist overcoming pain and challenges in a society who just won’t embrace talent and creativity. The beat equally gave him the latitude to come clean and allowed his voice dominate the airwaves.

22.Death Blow –
If there is one battle rap I rank high up then it’s gotta be this one. This got me punching my fist in the air. Mode simply took Rugged to the cleaners here tearing him up like a piece of foil paper. Rugged Man is gotta sit back and wonder how he is gonna come up with another “eh he”! Even though it’s not in the class of “Ether” it’s definitely better than what Cannibus can ever spit. Mode rapped non- stop for over 4 minutes. “Your track with 9ice was nice cos 9ice was on it” To much spitting for Rugged. He surely knocked him to coma on this one.

Final thoughts
On getting this album I expected a classic delivery of hip hop Naija way. The Intro made me yearn and got my adrenalin pumping. At the end I must say I was a bit disappointed as I expected more. Obvious flaws were as follows;

1.The sequence of the tracks was not optimally selected. Too many dry songs in between the good ones. As the name of the album depicts a "Paradigm" Shift has gotta have a systematic arrangement of tight tracks and not tight and not so tight.

2.The Album was just too long. I would have done away with about 8 tracks here which will even still put the track listing at 14.

3.He has gotta be creative in selecting his beats that’s what distinguished 2pac from the others. Seemed too monotonous at a point.

4.I thought mode should exploit his word play to his full ability as he has got it in him. Battle rapping sometimes makes you sound like Hitler. I expected a bit more storytelling and adventure in his delivery. Like tongue twisting or voice engagement. That’s the level you should be attaining in your 3rd album.

5.A classic is gotta be a list of flawless tracks etched in the memory of the listener forever and one to stand the test of time. This for hip hop is indeed hard to achieve. This album could have been if it aint for the trashy on it.

Album High Points
Intro, Bigboi, Talking to you, Spartans, Imperial, Fiyah Burn, My skin is black, Nine, Outside, Deathblow
In my humble opinion, I rate this "3 MICS" out of a possible "5".

Source: Worst lines ever used on Nigerian songs (A facebook group)

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Comments (3)

	1. Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it on 28-05-2009 13:26 - Guest
	nine is the man. nine is back again with another cracker,for a good head like nine rightly mentioned who knows what hiphop is will feel what i feel. its done, mode nine is classical his level of info n vocabulary is wot rugged cannot stand on any day, lets learn to call a spade a spade.

	2. Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it on 06-07-2009 13:29 - Guest
	I do not totally agree this album is a classic to some extent. Lines are original and tight. I particularly likes Mathematical Sege and Hero Comes Home. In my opinion paradigm shift is not as classic as Malcolm IX and Pentium IX reasons because it is mainly a Battle Album. Kinda similar to 2pac after coming back from jail. Notwithstanding we have to give it up to Mode 9 as the King of the Jungle of Naija Hip-Hop.

	3. Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it on 15-09-2009 16:04 - Guest
	dry mode 0 u see am no comment.dry flow dry swagg............ i hate mode ix

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