Away and Beyond is the fifth studio album by veteran Nigerian musician 2Baba. It was released on 30 April 2012 by Hypertek Entertainment, now Hypertek Digital. The album features additional vocalists such as Naeto C, Dammy Krane, Terry Tha Rapman, Huma Lara, Becca and Rocksteady. Producers that worked on the album include Femdouble, G.$ol, Jay Sleek, Kas, Clutchie, DJ Willie O, Kaywa, Spellz and Kiki Banson.
| Away and Beyond | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 30 April 2012 | |||
| Recorded | 2011–2012 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 58:43 | |||
| Label | Hypertek Entertainment | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| 2Baba chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Away and Beyond | ||||
| ||||
Background and launch party
editIn 2012, Nigerian musician 2Baba, formerly known as 2Face Idibia, released his fifth studio album, Away and Beyond. This album followed the success of his previous works, including The Unstoppable and its international edition. The album was produced by a team of professionals, including Femi Ojetunde, Jay Sleek, Spellz, and DJ Willie O. 2Baba drew on personal experiences and observations for inspiration, with the album's lyrics addressing themes such as love, unity, perseverance, and social justice.[citation needed]
The release of Away and Beyond was marked by a launch event at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, Nigeria, during the 2012 Buckwyld 'n' Breathless concert. The event attracted a substantial audience, reflecting the high anticipation surrounding the album's release.[1]
Singles
editThe lead single "Chemical Reaction" features Naeto C and was released on 20 September 2011 and produced by DJ Willie O.[2] The second single "Bad Man, Bad Girl" features Ghanaian singer Becca and was produced by Kiki Banson and Kaywa.[3] The song was released on 28 February 2012, while the music video was released on 16 December 2012.[4] The third single "Rainbow" was released on 4 April 2012. The song was produced by Femdouble and G.$ol the Producer.[5] The music video was released on 11 June 2013 and is a collage of 2Baba's wedding clips with Annie Macaulay-Idibia.[6] The fourth single "Omo No Dulling" was released on 30 April 2012 and features label mates Rocksteady and Dammy Krane. The song was produced by Spellz and the music video was released on 16 May 2013 and directed by Sesan.[7] The fifth single "Ihe Neme" was released on 22 September 2012 and produced by Jay Sleek. The music video was directed by Clarence Peters.[8] The sixth single "Dance Floor" was released on 17 February 2013 and produced by Femi Ojetunde, G.$ol and DJ Willie O. The music video was directed by Godfather Productions.[9] The seventh single "Dance in the Rain" was released on 27 March 2014 and directed by Luke Biggins.[10] The eighth and final single "Higher (Spiritual Healing)" features vocals from Huma Lara and was released on 4 April 2014 with an accompanying animated music video.[11]
Critical reception
editThe album received generally positive reviews from critics. Sho, Tunde and Toolsman of Should You Bump This rated the album a three out of five, praising the album's production and lyrics, but saying that it wasn't his best effort. Ayomide Tayo of Nigerian Entertainment Today rated the album a four out of five, saying that the album was "matured, calm and layered with emotion" and had "well-thought concepts".[12] Music reviewer Wilfred Okiche liked the album, saying that the album gives "a more mature 2Face Idibia, in content, sound, lyrics and vocals".[13] Music blog We Plug Good Music said that "2Face Idibia outdoes himself on Away & Beyond and surpasses 2010's The Unstoppable to deliver this amazing new album." They also said that the album has "stellar production and a huge versatility of sounds" and that the album would be hard to top in the year of 2012.[14]
Accolades
editThe album was nominated for Best R&B/Pop Album at The Headies 2013.[15]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Higher (Spiritual Healing)" (featuring Huma Lara) |
| Femdouble | 3:55 |
| 2. | "Omo T'osan" | Idibia | Jay Sleek | 4:34 |
| 3. | "Bother You" (featuring Terry Tha Rapman) |
| Femdouble | 4:16 |
| 4. | "Spell Bound" |
| Dark Secret International | 3:30 |
| 5. | "Steady Steady" | Idibia | Jay Sleek | 4:16 |
| 6. | "Dance in the Rain" |
| Femdouble | 3:38 |
| 7. | "In Your Eyes" | Idibia | Jay Sleek | 4:15 |
| 8. | "Freedom Is Life" |
| Clutchie | 3:09 |
| 9. | "Rainbow" |
|
| 4:18 |
| 10. | "Dance Floor" |
|
| 4:13 |
| 11. | "Keep On Pushing" | Idibia | Spellz | 2:58 |
| 12. | "Ihe Neme" | Idibia | Jay Sleek | 4:13 |
| 13. | "Omo No Dulling" (featuring Dammy Krane, Rocksteady) |
| Spellz | 4:20 |
| 14. | "Bad Man, Bad Girl" (with Becca) |
|
| 3:22 |
| 15. | "Chemical Reaction" (featuring Naeto C) |
|
| 3:38 |
| Total length: | 58:43 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16. | "Omo T'osan" (Drey Beatz remix) | Idibia | Drey Beatz | 3:52 |
| 17. | "Dance Floor" (remix; featuring Sarkodie) |
|
| 3:58 |
| 18. | "Rainbow" (remix; featuring T-Pain) |
|
| 4:26 |
| Total length: | 58:43 | |||
Personnel
edit- Innocent "2Baba" Idibia – primary artist, writer, producer
- Oyindamola "Dammy Krane" Emmanuel – featured artist, writer
- Ibrahim "Rocksteady" Oboromboro – featured artist, writer
- Rebecca "Becca" Acheampong – featured artist, writer
- Terry "Terry Tha Rapman" Madaki – featured artist, writer
- Michael "Sarkodie" Addo – featured artist, writer
- Naetochukwu "Naeto C" Chikwe – featured artist, writer
- Iva "Cabo Snoop" Lemus – featured artist, writer
- Huma Lara – featured artist, writer
- Faheem "T-Pain" Najm – featured artist, writer
- Efe Omoregbe – writer
- Ben'Jamin "Spellz" Obadje – producer
- Jerry "Jay Sleek" Shelika – producer
- Clutchie – producer, writer
- David "Kaywa" Kyei – producer, writer
- Kiki Banson – producer, writer
- DJ Willie O – producer, writer
- Femi "Femdouble" Ojetunde – producer, writer, mixing engineer
- Olubunmi "G.$ol" Afolabi – producer, writer, mixing engineer
- Zeeno Foster – mixing engineer
- Godfather Productions – video director
- Sesan Ogunro – video director
- Clarence Peters – video director
- Luke Biggins – video director
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 30 April 2012 | CD, Digital download | Hypertek Entertainment |
References
edit- ^ "Buckwyld 'N' Breathless Concert Thrills Lagosians". Funsho Arogundade. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "BN Exclusive: 2face Sets Off THE 'Chemical Reaction'". Jibola L. 24 May 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Becca & 2Face Team Up On "Bad Man Bad Girl" – Listen to the Track". Onos. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "New Music Video: 'Badman Badgirl' By Becca Feat. 2Face". Chris-Vincent Agyapong. 15 December 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "BN Music Premiere: 2Face Idibia – My Rainbow". Onos. 4 April 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "2face Idibia – RAINBOW [Official Video]". DJ Sean. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "The HyperTek Anthem! Watch 2Face Idibia Featuring Dammy Krane & Rock Steady – Omo No Dulling". Onos. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Video: 2face Idibia 'Ihe Ne Me'". Killakam. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "New Video- Dance Floor By 2face Idibia". JONATHAN. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Video: 2Face Idibia-Dance in the Rain". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.). 28 March 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Video: 2Face Idibia- Spiritual Healing". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.). 5 April 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "2face – Away and Beyond [Album Review]". Ayomide Tayo. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ "Wilfred Okiche: One Wild Ride! 2face Idibia's 'Away and Beyond' Album Review". admin. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ "We Plug To You... 2Face Idibia – Away & Beyond". We Plug Good Music. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ "The Headies 2013: Full List of Nominees". The Headies. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2024.