Catch Me If You Can is the fourth studio album by Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold. It was released on 4 February 2022 by Afro Urban Records and distributed by Splatoon. The album features guest appearances from Stefflon Don, Davido, Ty Dolla Sign, Fatoumata Diawara, Lucky Daye and Fousheé. Adekunle Gold enlisted production from Pheelz, Blaisebeatz, Seyifunmi, Tay Iwar, Synematik, Bigfish, Kali, Rymez, Lekaa Beats, Quebeat and TMXO.
| Catch Me If You Can | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 4 February 2022 | |||
| Recorded | 2020–2023 | |||
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| Length | 41:00 | |||
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| Adekunle Gold chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Catch Me If You Can | ||||
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Background and recording
editAdekunle Gold began working on Catch Me If You Can while still recording his last album, Afro Pop Vol. 1 in 2020. Initially planned as a continuation, Afro Pop Vol. 2, he decided to focus on a new project when the songs started to feel like a distinct body of work. “It didn’t feel like a mixtape or volume of anything,” he told Billboard. “It felt like a project of its own that needed exploration.” Much of the album was written in Los Angeles during his U.S. tour. He also collaborated with artists like Ty Dolla Sign, who took the time to learn Yoruba for their track “One Woman.” Gold's use of Yoruba throughout the album reflects his deep connection to his heritage, something he proudly showcases in his music.[1]
Singles
editThe album's lead single "It Is What It Is" was released on 30 April 2021 and was produced by Kali and Blaisebeatz.[2] The album's second single "Sinner" features Lucky Daye and was released on 9 July 2021. The song was produced by Blaisebeatz.[3] The Pheelz-produced third single "High" features Davido and was released on 3 September 2021.[4] The fourth single "Mercy" was released on 21 January 2022. It was produced by Blaisebeatz and features additional vocals from wife Simi, who also mixed it.[5] The fifth and final single "One Woman" features Ty Dolla Sign. The Blaisebeatz-produced single arrived on 11 May 2022 with a Mike Amofah-directed music video.[6]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Afrocritik | 7/10[7] |
| The Native | 7.6/10[8] |
| Pulse Nigeria | 7.8/10[9] |
| The Lagos Review | 7.5/10[10] |
Dennis Ade Peter from The Native Magazine praises Adekunle Gold's Catch Me If You Can as a confident and refined culmination of his previous work. He highlights the album's mix of early AG's rustic influences with contemporary Nigerian pop. Peter notes, “Throughout this album, AG sings with the sure-footedness of someone that doesn’t have much to prove.” The review reflects the singer's growth and self-assurance, giving it a rating of 7.6/10.[8]
Jessica Kariisa from Pitchfork's review views Catch Me If You Can as an artist conforming to Afropop trends rather than leading them. Despite his clear vocal and songwriting abilities, the album "feels like a completed to-do list of Afropop trends" rather than a cohesive project. While some tracks like “Mase Mi” and “Selah” stand out, the overall album misses an opportunity to bring pop closer to Gold's highlife roots. The rating was a 6.8/10.[11]
Pulse Nigeria's Motolani Alake's review of Adekunle Gold's Catch Me If You Can highlights his transformation into "Bad Boy Deks," emphasizing a more confident and self-assured pop star persona. Alake praises the album's thematic depth, noting that it reveals the "dreamer, the doer, and the achiever," while balancing ego and vulnerability. However, he critiques some tracks for being "slightly too minimalistic either in chorus or by way of production." He ranked it a 7.8/10.[9]
Chinonso Ihekire of Afrocritik's review of Adekunle Gold's Catch Me If You Can describes it as a significant and introspective album that marks a notable evolution in Gold's music career. The review highlights the album's high replay value, impressive collaborations, and intimate nature, noting, "It radiates as Gold’s most intimate, confident and profound body of work, so far." However, it also mentions some issues with content direction and identity crisis. The album is rated 7/10.[7]
The Lagos Review describes Adekunle Gold's Catch Me If You Can as a continuation of his signature style, blending familiarity with fresh elements. The review notes, "Catch Me If You Can is more of a kinetic testimony, than it is a cynical brag," highlighting that despite the album's unpredictable nature and evolution, it remains true to Gold's themes of affection and optimism. The review suggests that while Gold's music continues to evolve, his core elements and themes remain consistent. The album is rated 7.5/10.[10]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Born Again" (featuring Fatoumata Diawara) |
|
| 1:51 |
| 2. | "Win" |
| TMXO | 3:02 |
| 3. | "Mase Mi" |
| Blaisebeatz | 3:12 |
| 4. | "One Woman" (featuring Ty Dolla Sign) |
| Blaisebeatz | 2:40 |
| 5. | "Mercy" |
| Blaisebeatz | 2:47 |
| 6. | "More Than Enough" |
| Quebeat | 3:08 |
| 7. | "Sinner" (featuring Lucky Daye) |
| Blaisebeatz | 2:54 |
| 8. | "FYE" (featuring Stefflon Don) |
|
| 3:30 |
| 9. | "Sleep" |
| Tay Iwar | 2:37 |
| 10. | "High" (featuring Davido) |
| Pheelz | 3:13 |
| 11. | "Dior, Dior, Dior" (featuring Fousheé) | Kosoko | Spax | 3:16 |
| 12. | "It Is What It Is" |
|
| 2:54 |
| 13. | "Selah" |
| Synematik | 3:13 |
| 14. | "Catch Me If You Can" |
| Bigfish | 3:19 |
| Total length: | 41:00 | |||
Personnel
edit- Adekunle "Gold" Kosoko – vocals, writer
- Stephanie "Stefflon Don" Allen – vocals, writer
- David "Davido" Adeleke - vocals, writer
- Brittany Fousheé - vocals, writer
- David "Lucky Daye" Brown - vocals, writer
- Tyrone "Ty Dolla Sign" Griffin Jr. - vocals, writer
- Fatoumata Diawara - vocals, writer
- Abayomi "Bigfish" Ilerioluwa - producer, writer
- Adeniyi "Synematik" Adelekan - producer, writer
- Austin "Tay" Iwar - producer, writer
- Oluwatimilehin "TMXO" Aladeloba - producer, writer
- Michael "Seyifunmi" Bakare - producer, writer
- David "Davayo" Ayodele - producer, writer
- Rodney "Rymez" Hwingwiri - producer
- Oladipupo "Quebeat" Olugbemi – producer
- Phillip "Pheelz" Moses - producer
- Akano "Spax" Samuel - producer
- Nsikak David - writer
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 4 February 2022 | Afro Urban |
References
edit- ^ Aderoju, Darlene (11 February 2022). "Adekunle Gold Reveals 'Best' Career Move & Talks Being 'In My Bag' With Indie 'Catch Me If You Can' Album Release". Billboard. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ Daramola, Kunle (30 April 2021). "DOWNLOAD: Adekunle Gold talks interpersonal relationship in 'It Is What It Is'". TheCable Lifestyle. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ "Adekunle Gold features Lucky Daye on new single, 'Sinner'". The Lagos Review. 10 July 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ Alake, Motolani (3 September 2021). "Davido features on Adekunle Gold's new single, 'High'". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ Ngema, Zee (21 January 2022). "Listen to Adekunle Gold's New Single 'Mercy'". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ Nwangwu, Adaora (11 May 2022). "Adekunle Gold Taps Ty Dolla $ign For Colourful 'One Woman' Video". Culture Custodian. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ a b Ihekire, Chinonso. On Adekunle Gold’s ‘Catch Me If You Can’ Album, The Artiste Races Deeper For Evolution. Afrocritik. 12 February 2022.
- ^ a b Ade Peter, Dennis. REVIEW: ADEKUNLE GOLD’S ‘CATCH ME IF YOU CAN’. The Native. 2 March 2022.
- ^ a b Alake, Motolani. ‘Catch Me If You Can’ is the intersection between ‘Adekunle Gold’ and ‘Bad Boy Deks’ Pulse Album Review. Pulse Nigeria. 7 February 2022.
- ^ a b The Lagos Review. Music Review: Adekunle Gold’s Catch Me If You Can is a kinetic testimony. The Lagos Review. 20 February 2022.
- ^ Kariisa, Jessica. Adekunle Gold: Catch Me If You Can Album Review. Pitchfork. 9 February 2022.