Minz came to prominence at a time when the fear of Afrobeats extinction heightened and has shown us to be a beacon of hope. He is an undeniably versatile artist and, without an ounce of doubt, one of the most promising artists of this dispensation. A review of his craft reveals that he has carefully studied his predecessors diligently and knows how to skillfully replicate their techniques to suit his own style. He’s equally great at choosing the best artists to feature on each track, as he has almost never missed a feature.

The release of “Wo Wo” launched his career to a new plateau and positioned him as one of the most promising artists for the year. The success of this song and its remix speaks volumes of the quality and lyrics.

“By Any Minz” contains fifteen songs, six of which are singles off the album: “Wo Wo,” “Wap,” “Diallo,” “Shadow,” “Mo De Ma,” and “Sokoto.” The project starts off with the compelling sound of “Revelations,” which is probably the most lyrical song on the project. The song, though cliché, will resonate with a vast majority of his audience.

‘Wap’, featuring Davido, probably the fans’ favorite, is an attempt at a sensual performance. The beats and production style reveal that it was inspired by Rema’s “Soundgasm.” While melodious and quite catchy, Davido’s lyrical shallowness betrayed the theme of the song and reduced it to a mere love song.

Minz largely displayed his ability to impersonate any other Afrobeats artist on this album, as most of the tracks sounded like other musicians. We can’t possibly tell if ‘Diallo’ was crafted with Tekno in mind or if the idea of putting him on the very track was an afterthought. The very core of the song, including Minz’s voice and lyrics, mirrored the king of lamba; Tekno’s personal style, which is why he delivered an impeccable performance on the song.

Minz often prides himself on bridging the gap between Alté music and mainstream Afrobeats. A solid reflection of that statement is the second track, ‘Shadow’. One could have sworn that the high-pitched masculine voice on the intro was Burna Boy’s, but it wasn’t. Further into the song, he was able to slither through the rhythm and create different tunes and tempos ranging from Alté to mainstream Afrobeats.

What’s a 2020s Afrobeats album without an Amapiano track? Of course, who’s a better feature than Zinoleesky? The song ‘Sokoto’ is very much a fulfilling track, as Zinoleesky executed his verse beautifully. However, Minz himself struggled to catch up with the tempo, but the song is still great regardless.

‘Disembark’ feels like an unnecessary filler track that the album could have easily done without. Its bouncy rhythm and delivery lack the dynamism present in other standout songs.

‘Lon3ly’ is a pivotal track on the album, where Minz dives deeply into the realms of R&B, aligning beautifully with the album’s theme. His smooth flow and the high-quality production together elevate his delivery.

‘Do’ is a definitive track that speaks well of the artist’s versatility and, most importantly, his ability to choose the right artist to feature. Blaqbonez was nothing short of excellent on the track, both lyrically and rhythmically. The entire song elevated the trajectory of the album.

‘F.U.’ succeeded as a sensual where “Wap” fell short. The featured artists injected a much-needed energy into the mix. Projexx seamlessly integrates with the dancehall beat, delivering a standout performance that may very well be the highlight of the album.

‘Mo De Ma’ emerges as one of the album’s most vibrant highlights. Here, Minz truly showcases his creativity, cleverly weaving in cheeky references to fellow artists. His energetic flow captivates listeners and guarantees that the album concludes on a high note, mirroring the invigorating energy of its opening tracks. This dynamic shift underscores Minz’s artistic versatility and reinforces the overall strength of the album.

A debut album is a powerful opportunity for an artist like Minz to showcase his unique identity, style, and sound, creating a lasting impression on a wider audience. While Minz’s ambition is evident, and he shows moments of real potential, the album feels like a journey through multiple styles and sounds in search of a hit. This exploratory approach, while bold, may have diluted the cohesiveness that could have truly defined him. That said, Minz’s willingness to experiment hints at his versatility and promise as an artist, which could lead to something exceptional as he refines his sound.

‘By Any Minz’ is a powerful showcase of Minz’s incredible talent and zeal to succeed as a musician. He took the album title literally and explored every means within the genre to showcase his musical wits and was able to prove his versatility as he slithered through various versions of Afrobeats all through the album.

Rating: 7.5/10

_{Article Written by: Kehinde Adesokan}