Ayo (Wizkid album)

Ayo (Joy) is the self-titled second studio album by Nigerian singer Wizkid. It was released on 17 September 2014, by Starboy Entertainment and Empire Mates Entertainment. Ayo was postponed twice due to difficulty in track selection. Preceding its release were the singles "Jaiye Jaiye", "On Top Your Matter", "One Question", "Joy", "Bombay" and "Show You the Money". The album also contains the song "Ojuelegba", which won Song of the Year and was nominated for Best Pop Single at The Headies 2015. Wizkid enlisted Sarz, Shizzi, Uhuru, Del B, Dokta Frabz, Maleek Berry, Legendury Beatz and Spellz to produce the album. Ayo features collaborations with Femi Kuti, Seyi Shay, Yemi Sax, Akon, Banky W., Phyno, Tyga and Wale. It received mixed reviews from music critics; some commended its production, song arrangement and sound quality, while others panned its lyrics.

Background and promotion
Wizkid started recording Ayo after the release of the compilation album, Empire Mates State of Mind (2012). Ayo was initially meant to be a mixtape. In an interview with MTV's The Wrap Up, Wizkid said the mixtape would include production and guest vocals from Rodney Rhymez, Maleek Berry and Wale. Wizkid later said the mixtape would feature Tinie Tempah and would be released in April 2013. Moreover, he announced on Twitter he would release the mixtape after he released an album in June. That same month, he posted a picture on Instagram revealing most of the album's track list. The photo revealed features with Femi Kuti, Efya, Don Jazzy, Seyi Shay and Banky W.

In October 2013, Banky W. revealed to HipTV that the album would be called Chosen. In December 2013, Wizkid spoke to iCR8Media about the album and said he worked with producers such as Don Jazzy, Dokta Frabz, Legendury Beatz, Maleek Berry, Spellz and Sarz. He also said he collaborated with Olamide, Efya, Seyi Shay, Shaydee, Banky W., L.A.X and Dammy Krane. In May 2014, Wizkid said the album would be released on 12 June 2014, a day that acknowledges the annulled 1993 Nigerian presidential election. Moreover, he said it would be self-titled Ayo, which translates to Joy in English. On 6 September 2014, Wizkid unveiled the album's official cover and track list on Instagram. A week earlier, he informed Olisa Adibua that the album would be his final body of work under Empire Mates Entertainment.

Wizkid promoted the album by releasing several promotional singles and headlining a few concerts. On 29 July 2013, he released his first ever collaborative single with Wale, titled "Drop", which was produced by Legendury Beatz. Wizkid's second collaborative single with Wale, titled "Nobody But You", was released on 24 October 2013; the song was produced by Maleek Berry. On 17 December 2013, Wizkid premiered the Legendury Beatz-produced track "Eledumare", which was performed at the 2013 Felabration concert. On 24 March 2014, MTV Base reported that Wizkid was invited as a special guest for some shows in Tinie Tempah's tour of the UK in 2014.

Singles and other releases
The Femi Kuti-assisted track "Jaiye Jaiye" was released on 2 May 2013, as the album's lead single. The song was produced by Sarz and mastered by Foster Zeeno. The music video for "Jaiye Jaiye" was shot and directed in Lagos by Sesan. The album's second single, "On Top Your Matter", was released on 25 October 2013, in celebration of Valentine's Day. The song's accompanying music video was shot and directed in Johannesburg by Sesan. The album's third single, "One Question", was released on 14 February 2014. It features a saxophone riff by Yemi Sax and was produced by Dokta Frabz. Wizkid performed the song for BBC's Destination Africa in March 2014.

On 9 June 2014, "Joy" and "Bombay" were released simultaneously as the album's fourth and fifth singles, respectively. Both songs were produced by Dokta Frabz. Wizkid performed a cover of "No Woman, No Cry" at Koga Studios for BBC's Destination Africa and merged "Joy" with the cover. On 13 June 2014, the music video for "Bombay" was uploaded to YouTube. On 16 July 2014, the Shizzi-produced track "Show You the Money" was released as the album's sixth single. The visuals for the song were directed by Patrick Elis and feature cameo appearances from Ehiz and Dokta Frabz. Lekan Oladimeji of P.M. News awarded the video a 6.5 rating out of 10, stating: "though a video that lacks a sense of direction, low creativity and could have been achieved with next to no technical know how, it remains a video you might want to see time and over again as there’s always something to smile about."

The bonus track "Caro", which features vocals by L.A.X, was produced by Legendury Beatz. The music video for "Caro" was shot and directed in London by Moe Musa and uploaded to YouTube on 20 August 2013. "Caro" was nominated for Hottest Single of the Year at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards and for Song of the Year at the 2014 African Muzik Magazine Awards. On 22 September 2014, Wizkid released the Soto Jose-directed music video for "In My Bed". The following month, "In My Bed" charted at number five on The Tide's list of the Top 10 Songs of the Week. The music video for "Ojuelegba" was released on 5 January 2015. It was shot and directed in Lagos by Clarence Peters.

Critical reception
Ayo received generally mixed reviews from music critics. Oscar Okeke of Lobatan awarded the album an A rating, saying it "reminds us why he has earned our respect and why he continues to rule over the realm of sound, money and girls." Rolling Stone magazine included the album on its list of the 15 Great Albums You Didn't Hear in 2014, and stated that Wizkid "uses deft, nimble flows to glide over complex beats and he writes hooks that will keep you humming for weeks."

Ayomide Tayo of Nigerian Entertainment Today awarded the album 3 stars out of 5, criticizing Wizkid for not having "what it fully takes to make creative gambles for an artiste of his calibre" and saying the singer is "pretty much comfortable in flogging a dead horse until it has no more skin or flesh." Also reviewing for Nigerian Entertainment Today, Dayo Showemimo granted the album 3.5 stars out of 5, noting the record lacks a wow factor and climax.

In a less enthusiastic review, Tola Sarumi of NotJustOk assigned a rating of 4.5 out of 10, criticizing the album for relying profoundly on the popularity of previously released content. The duo at Should You Bump This characterized Ayo as lacking direction and described it as a "sack of undiluted disappointment." Jim Donnett of TooXclusive gave the album 2 stars out of 5, calling it "weak".

Accolades
Ayo won Best R&B/Pop Album and was nominated for Album of the Year at The Headies 2015. The album was also nominated for Album of the Year at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.

Personnel
Credits adapted from the back cover of Ayo


 * Ayodeji Balogun – main artist, executive producer, writer, performer
 * Segun Demuren – executive producer
 * Banky Wellington – executive producer, featured artist, writer
 * Osaretin "Sarz" Osabuohien – producer
 * Sheyi "Shizzi" Akerele – producer
 * Uhuru – producer
 * Del B – producer
 * Dokta Frabz – producer
 * Maleek Berry – producer
 * Legendury Beatz – producer
 * Ben'Jamin "Spellz" Obadje – producer
 * Femi Kuti – featured artist
 * Yemi Sax – featured artist
 * Deborah Joshua – featured artist, writer
 * Aliaune Thiam – featured artist, writer
 * Azubuike Nelson – featured artist, writer
 * Michael Nguyen-Stevenson – featured artist, writer
 * Olubowale Akintimehin – featured artist, writer