EL - "SOMETHING ELSE"

Considered one of the ‘Original Kings’ of Azonto after churning out hit tracks for the likes of Sarkodie, VIP, Keche and a torrent of others, E.L. (Elorm Adablah) had no excuse but to excel with his maiden double-disc album, ‘something ELse’.

Apart from some minor infractions, ‘something ELse’ is a magnificent album from the debutant, who multi-tasks as a rapper, producer and a singer.

How often do you get a double-disc for an album? How often do you get 25 banging songs on an album? ‘something ELse’ has it all.

The two-disc album is a mixture of ‘azonto’ and hip-hop characterized by good productions, rhythmic flow, witty wordplay and some pompous braggadocio. EL handled all the production for almost all the tracks with few additions from Eben, Nii Soul, and Krynk Man – and the productions were just tremendous.

Disc one presents an all-round azonto album where EL opens up on a subtle note with ‘BAB’ (Barbara Araba Bannerman). ‘Obuu Mo’ is a club banger that causes the listener closer to the speaker instead of just causing just mindless head-nodding but there’s no direction with the lyrics as EL talks on Drogba to practicing sex safe.

The Donaeo-assisted ‘Lifesaver’ is a good collaboration were the rapper flips from singing to doing pidgin rap which makes it a must-listen-to track. Another danceable tune ‘Kaalu’ has the rapper getting obnoxious with his rhyme, “Flatu always go mell like Korle Lagoon.”

In ‘One Ghana’, another ‘bump-n-grind’ track, EL gets cozy on his azonto production and blurts out some incoherent subject matter. Songs like ‘Maame Wassup’, ‘Egbee Mli’ and ‘Make You Go’ all make up good listening but EL falls short in songs like ‘Joli your Body’ which has a similar production and chorus of VIP’s ‘Pampana’- also produced by EL.

Disc two is a rap purist’s dream as EL dons the hip-hop cap and exhibits his craft in the genre with exemplary assistance from Raquel, M.anifest, Sarkodie, Edem and C-Real. In all the songs, the beats do the match the intensity of the rap skills.

Raquel glistens in ‘Amenaa Mi’ and compliments EL’s rap efforts to make it one of the stand- outs on the disc. There’s battle for rap supremacy as EL grants the opportunity to M.anifest and C-Real on ‘Fear Nobody’ and without a doubt, M.anifest rises above the rest. EL however, expresses himself better and excels in ‘Turn the Lights Down’ as he shows his splendid expertise in singing and rapping. The Sarkodie and Edem-assisted ‘I’m so Fly’ presents a variety of hip- hop styles in English, Twi and Ewe and the combination is ear-pleasing.

Produced by BBnZ Limited, ‘something ELse’ is an excellent debut and it will be gratifying for any patron.

BY: Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo