Draft:The Gehn Gehn Album

The Gehn Gehn Album is the debut studio album by Nigerian singer Orezi. It was released on September 9, 2015, by Sprisal Entertainment. The album features a fusion of Afrobeats and Dancehall genres and includes collaborations with notable artists like Timaya, 9ice, Ice Prince, Davido, Wizkid, M.I Abaga, Kiddominant and Flavour. Producers who worked on the album include Mystro, Dr Amir, Dapiano, Kiddominant, Ex o, and Popito.

Background
Prior to the release of The Gehn Gehn Album, Orezi had established himself as a prominent figure in the Nigerian music scene with hit singles like "Rihanna" and "Shoki". The anticipation for his debut album was high, as fans and critics alike were eager to see how he would expand on his earlier successes. The album title, "The Gehn Gehn Album," reflects Orezi's signature catchphrase, "Gehn Gehn," which, according to him, means "something extraordinary and unique".. Released on September 9, 2015, under Sprisal Entertainment, the album represents a milestone in Orezi's career, as Orezi started out in late 2009, showcasing his growth as an artist and his ability to blend Afrobeats and dancehall together.

Singles
The Gehn Gehn Album was supported by seven singles, six of them were released prior to the album's release. The lead single, "Rihanna," was released on February 18, 2013. It was produced by Kiddominant. The music video for "Rihanna" was directed by Nic Roux and released on September 6, 2013. For the music video, since Orezi's label failed to get the real Rihanna for the video, Orezi instead asked for a lookalike, as the next best thing. "Rihanna" was nominated for Best Reggae/Dancehall Single at the 2013 edition of The Headies.

"Maserati," the second single, was released on October 14, 2013. The song is an ode to Fela Kuti, the legendary Afrobeat singer. It was also produced by Kiddominant.

On November 15, 2013, Orezi released two singles, "You Garrit" and "Zarokome," the latter made it to the album while the former got a remix with Wizkid. "You Garrit" was produced by Del B while "Zarokome" was produced by Kiddominant.

The fourth single, "Shoki", was released on March 27, 2014, with an instructional dance video released on April 4, 2014 and the official music video was released on July 28, 2014

The fifth single is the remix to Orezi's 2014 single, Shuperu. The remix features Nigerian pop artist Davido and was released on April 27, 2015, with a music video directed by Paul Gambit, released on May 1, 2015.

"Ogede", the sixth single features vocals from Wizkid and Timaya. It was produced by Kiddominant and released on September 10, 2015. The video was directed by Paul Gambit and released on November 25, 2015. "Double Your Hustle" is the seventh single and last single from the album and was released on November 6, 2015. The music video for "Double Your Hustle" was directed by Paul Gambit and released on April 5, 2016.

Critical reception
The Gehn Gehn Album received mixed reviews from critics. The album was praised for its fun and engaging pop production, with standout tracks like "Shuperu" and "Ogede" gaining particular attention. Critics highlighted Orezi's ability to create catchy melodies and danceable beats, often crediting the album's success to its high-quality production and notable collaborations with artists such as Wizkid, Davido, Flavour, Ice Prince, Timaya, and M.I Abaga.

Should You Bump This described the album as a mix of hits, enjoyable tracks, and fillers. They praised songs like "Shuperu," "Under The Blanket," and "Ogede" for their catchy beats and memorable lyrics. However, they noted that some tracks, such as "Low Low" and "Double Your Hustle," were unremarkable and skippable. The review concluded that Orezi took a "creatively safe" route with the album, balancing between creativity and commercial appeal, and rated it 3 out of 5 wRaps.

Music in Africa highlighted Orezi's lack of a distinct musical identity, contrasting him with other Nigerian artists like Wande Coal and Banky W. While the album's stellar pop production and dance beats were praised, the reviewer pointed out Orezi's frequent focus on women and physical attributes in his lyrics. The review noted that songs like "Maserati" and "Big Something" showcased Orezi's ability to create enjoyable music but ultimately left listeners uncertain about his artistic persona. The review concluded that while the album is filled with hits and has strong production, Orezi's pop success may come at the cost of a distinctive artistic identity.

Generally, The Gehn Gehn Album was recognized for its strong production and potential to perform well on radio and in clubs. Despite this, critics emphasized Orezi's need to establish a more defined identity as an artist for his long-term recognition in the music industry.

Personnel
Credits adapted from back cover of The Gehn Gehn Album.


 * Orezi – primary artist
 * Timaya – featured artist
 * 9ice – featured artist
 * M.I Abaga – featured artist
 * Flavour – featured artist
 * Kiddominant – featured artist
 * Davido – featured artist
 * Wizkid - featured artist
 * Ice Prince - featured artist
 * Popito – producer
 * Dr Amir – producer
 * Ex o – producer
 * Mystro – producer
 * Dapiano – producer
 * Kiddominant – producer
 * Suka "Suka Sounds" Andrew – mixing/mastering engineer
 * Sheyman – mixing/mastering engineer
 * Ex o - mixing/mastering engineer
 * Zeeno Foster - mixing/mastering engineer
 * Paul Gambit – video director
 * Igho – video director
 * Fiokee - guitar
 * Mikifa - guitar
 * Alhaji Jibola "Fatgbems" Gbemisola - executive producer