The Chairman (M.I album)

The Chairman
Studio album by M.I
Released	October 30, 2014 (2014-10-30)[1]
Recorded	2012-2014
Genre	Hip hop
Length	75:00
Label	Chocolate City Loopy Music
Producer	Executive producers Yahaya Maikori Audu Maikori Paul Okeugo Jude Abaga Additional producers Reinhard Sarz Pheelz Sammy Gyang G-Plus L-37 VSTOL Frank Edwards
M.I chronology
Illegal Music 2 (2012) The Chairman (2014) Illegal Music 3: The Finale (2016)
Singles from The Chairman
"Bad Belle" Released: December 4, 2014 "Monkey" Released: March 26, 2015 "Bullion Van" Released: August 26, 2015

The Chairman is the third studio album by Nigerian hip hop recording artist M.I, released on October 30, 2014 by Chocolate City and Loopy Music.^[2] The album features collaborations with producers and guest artists such as 2face Idibia, Wizkid, Seyi Shay, Ice Prince, Olamide, Phyno, Reminisce, Oritse Femi, Patoranking, Reinhard, Runtown, Sarkodie, Nosa, Beenie Man, Koker, Moti Cakes, Wilson Alao, Sound Sultan, Emmy Ace, Sammy Gyang, Chigurl, Milli, Frank Edwards, Nanya, G-Plus, Morell, Loose Kaynon, Pheelz, Debbie, DJ Lambo, Sarz, Stormrex, L-37, VSTOL and I.J.

The album's production began in 2012 and continued through the third quarter of 2014. The rapper worked with several collaborators, while enlisting new producers. Much of The Chairman tells the story of the rapper's journey into limelight. According to the rapper's sales team, the album sold 30,000 units in pre-order sales.^[3] The album was supported by "Chairman" and "King James", two promotional singles that didn't make the cut.

Background and composition

M.I took two years recording the album. He describes the album as a collaborative album due to the number of music personnel who contributed to it. The Chairman was initially slated to be released in June 2013, but was pushed back due to the rapper partaking in other business ventures. In a 2014 interview with Sunrise Daily, M.I said that Jesse Jagz's departure from Chocolate City also delayed the album.^[4][5] In an interview with Leadership newspaper, M.I said he was inspired to name the album The Chairman after hearing people address him as such.^[6] The album comprises 17 tracks and every track, excluding "The Middle", has an opposite. On October 22, 2014, the album was made available for pre order.^[7] On October 29, 2014, the album's official cover art and track list were released.^[8] Also on October 29, 2014, M.I held a listening party for the album at Industry Nite. He performed alongside Jesse Jagz and dedicated the record "Brother" to him.^[9][10]

The Chairman encompasses several layers of M.I's autobiography. On "The Beginning/Nobody", the album's opener, M.I plays the role of a crazy teacher with his voice. On "Monkey", a song that features the comedian Chigurl, M.I raps with a gospel flow over a Highlife instrumental. On "Human Being", the rapper reminds listeners that celebrity is not all its hyped up to be. On "Rich", M.I narrates his grass to grace story. "On Brother", he enlists Nosa to help him depict the cracks in Chocolate City. "Shekpe" is a song that celebrates street life and low-cost highs. On "Enemies", M.I and Patoranking tell listeners that the world of celebrity is a land filled with haters. "Yours" is an ode to his core fans who supported him from day one. On "The End/The Chairman", M.I tells listeners that the real chairman is God.^[11]

Promotional singles

The Chairman was supported by two promotional singles. On March 19, 2013, M.I released the first promotional single "Chairman" which was initially announced as the album's lead single. The song was produced by E.Kelly, Chopstix and M.I. It was launched via a Google Plus hangout. The hangout was streamed live on Google Plus and YouTube.^[12] On May 13, 2013, the music video for "Chairman" was uploaded onto YouTube.^[13] It was shot and directed in Los Angeles. According to Saturday Beats, M.I spent ₦10 million on the video shoot.^[14]

The second promotional single, titled "King James", was released on August 21, 2014.^[15] M.I describes the song as a non-profit project designed to create awareness and inspire social change. "King James" received generally mixed reviews from music critics.^[16]

Singles

"Bad Belle" was released as the album's lead single. Its music video was shot and directed in Nigeria by MEX. The video features cameo appearances from Basketmouth, Mode 9, Sound Sultan, Yung6ix and Show Dem Camp, among others.^[17]

M.I released "Monkey" as the album's second single on March 26, 2015. Its music video features comedian Chigurl and was self-directed by M.I.^[18] "Bullion Van" was released as the album's third single. Its official music video was shot and directed by Mex.^[19] Kemi Adetiba shot a music video for the song at Koga Studios that was never released.^[20]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Lobatan	A
Pulse
Nigerian Entertainment Today

The Chairman received generally positive reviews from music critics. Toni Kan of THIS DAY concluded that the album "is a chockfull of hits. It is autobiography and memoir, manual and manifesto, pure fiction and drama, as well as poetry on an epic scale. This is a mature, confident and sure-footed album. It is a smorgasbord of styles, with something for everyone from hard-core hip hop aficionados to dilettantes as well as hip-life and afrobeats fans."^[11][21]

Oscar Okeke of Lobatan gave the album an A rating, concluding "The chairman album sounds like the result of an extended period of anxiety, overweighing thoughts, pressure, and other deep seated emotions that can only manifest through music. The album is an asylum, a sanctuary for not just rap but music lovers. And for the record if hiphop is really dead, then M.I is the Grim Reaper!"^[22]

Ayomide Tayo of Pulse gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, concluding: "M.I's new album 'The Chairman' is that moment of inspiration that pushes the hero into the zone where he defies death. On Jude Abaga's third studio LP, he repays for his sins, and less than stellar releases within his barren spell. Chairman is an inspiring, entertaining and a brilliant body of work from a master who has regained his magical touch."^[23]

Dayo Showemimo of Nigerian Entertainment Today also gave the album 4 out 5 stars and described it as legendary. In addition, Showemimo commended the album's production and technical detail.^[24]

Track listing

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies a co-producer
• ^{^[b]} signifies an additional producer
• "Monkey" and "Bad Belle" contain additional vocals by Milli
• The skit performed on "Enemies" was done by Erica
• "Bullion Van" contains additional vocals by L37 and T-Soul
• "Millionaira Champagne" contains additional vocals by Reinhard
• "The End/The Chairman" contains additional vocals by Jade Abaga

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from M.I's website.^[25]

Release history

References