''The Ascension'' is the sixth studio album by Nigerian singer

2face Idibia Innocent Ujah Idibia MON (born 18 September 1975), known by his stage name 2Baba, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Noted for his vocal range, lyrical depth, and longevity, he is widely regard ...

. It was released on July 21, 2014, by

Hypertek Digital Hypertek Digital (formerly known as Hypertek Entertainment; prior to 2006–2013) is a Nigerian based record label founded by recording artist 2Baba. The label currently distributes through Sony Music Publishing, a unit of Sony Music Group. The l ...

and

960 Music Group 960 Music Group (also known as 960 Music), headquartered in Lagos, is a Nigerian record company, content owner, and artist management firm focused on providing diverse audio and visual entertainment across Nigeria. The company is headed by Mark R ...

. The album is the follow-up to his fifth studio album, ''Away and Beyond'' (2012). It features guest appearances from

Machel Montano Machel Jesus Montano (born 24 November 1974)Thompson, Dave (2002), ''Reggae & Soca Music'', Backbeat Books, , pp. 300–301. is a Trinidadian soca singer, actor, record producer and songwriter. Known for his high energy, fast-paced, and often unp ...

Vector Vector most often refers to: *Euclidean vector, a quantity with a magnitude and a direction *Vector (epidemiology), an agent that carries and transmits an infectious pathogen into another living organism Vector may also refer to: Mathematic ...

Bridget Kelly Bridget Kelly (born April 8, 1986) is an American singer and songwriter from New York City. In 2008, Kelly, a pop and R&B recording artist, who has written songs for fellow American singers such as Kelly Clarkson, secured a recording contract ...

, Rocksteady,

Dammy Krane Oyindamola Johnson Emmanuel, popularly known as Dammy Krane, is a Nigerian singer, composer and performer. In January 2012, at age 20, he signed a record deal with Hypertek Digital and 960 Music Group. He is most famous for his single hit "My ...

, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Iceberg Slim, Kim Almarcha,

Shurwayne Winchester Shurwayne Winchester is a Tobagonian soca musician from The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, who has twice won the Road March title.Moe, Cherisse (2009)Shurwayne turns up the heat at Bois Cano, ''Trinidad & Tobago Guardian'', 18 July 2009, retr ...

and

Fally Ipupa Fally Ipupa N'simba (born December 14, 1977), known by his stage name Fally Ipupa, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, philanthropist, guitarist and producer. From 1999 until 2006, he was a member of Quartier Latin International, the music ...

. 2face enlisted Leriq, Alton Berti, Bolji Beats, Dezay, Dnyce, Fabio Litto, Femdouble, GSol the Producer, Jay Sleek, Kodjo, Masterkraft and Rolly to produce the album. ''The Ascension'' debuted at number 12 on the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' World Albums chart and received generally mixed reviews from music critics. By having an album debut on the aforementioned chart, 2face became the first Nigerian artist to achieve this feat. The album produced three singles, two of which were released in the months leading up to the album's release. To promote the album, 960 Music Group placed outdoor

billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

s across 10 densely populated areas of Lagos.

Background and launch

2face began recording the album in 2013. In a press release,

said the album would be released on July 21, 2014. ''The Ascension'' was eventually released in two versions: economy and premium. The premium version includes a 16-page insert and is available exclusively at

Konga.com Konga.com is a Nigerian e-commerce company founded in July 2012 with headquarters in Gbagada, Lagos State. It offers a third-party online marketplace, as well as first-party direct retail spanning various categories including consumer electronics ...

, while the economy (or digital) version is available for digital download on

Spinlet Spinlet is a digital media company, focusing on Afro-Centric content. Spinlet’s primary service is music streaming and downloads available globally via web browsers, and the Spinlet app on iOS and Android. The Spinlet platform provides the larg ...

iTunes iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mul ...

and

Spotify Spotify (; ) is a proprietary Swedish audio streaming and media services provider founded on 23 April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. It is one of the largest music streaming service providers, with over 456 million monthly active us ...

. The album's cover art was conceptualized and designed by Janne Kukka and Mole "Tobbie" Balogun. On July 9, 2014, 2face released a 30-second clip of all the songs on the album. On July 19, he held the album's launch party at Escape in Victoria Island, Lagos. Guests in attendance included

Olamide Olamide Gbenga Adedeji (born 15 March 1989) is a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. Widely regarded as one of the biggest and most influential artists in Africa, he has been instrumental to the launching of the careers ...

Tiwa Savage Tiwa Savage (born 5 February 1980) is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and performing artist. Born in Isale Eko, she relocated to London at the age of 11 for her secondary education. Five years later, she began her music career doing backup voc ...

Niyola Eniola Akinbo (born 9 December 1985), known professionally as Niyola, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Early life Akinbo was born on 9 December 1985, in Lagos, Nigeria. The youngest of ten children, she sang in church with her siblings an ...

, Sasha P, Fade Ogunro, BOJ,

, Tola Odunsi, Ono Bello, Ehiz, Pucado,

Jermaine Jackson Jermaine La Jaune Jackson (born December 11, 1954) is an American singer-songwriter and bassist. He is best known for being a member of the Jackson family. From 1964 to 1975, Jermaine was second vocalist after his brother Michael of The Jackson ...

, Peter Okoye, Onos O and Ruby.

MTV Base MTV Base was a British pay television music channel from Paramount Networks UK & Australia that focused primarily on hip hop, R&B, grime, garage, reggae, funk, soul and dance music. It was launched as part of MTV's digital boutique of music cha ...

, in conjunction with Industry Nite, hosted another launch party on July 23, 2014.

Composition

The album's music is predominantly R&B and

Afropop African popular music (also styled Afropop, Afro-pop or Afro pop), like African traditional music, is vast and varied. Most contemporary genres of African popular music build on cross-pollination with western popular music. Many genres of po ...

, but incorporates elements of

soca Soca or SOCA may refer to: Places * Soča, a river in Slovenia and Italy * Soča, Bovec, Slovenia * Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport, by ICAO code * Soca, a village in Banloc Commune, Timiș County, Romania * SoCa, Southern California Other u ...

zouk Zouk is a musical movement pioneered by the French Antillean band Kassav' in the early 1980s. It was originally characterized by a fast tempo (120–145 bpm), a percussion-driven rhythm and a loud horn section. The fast zouk béton of Martini ...

and

highlife Highlife is a music genre that started in present-day Ghana in the 19th century, during its Gold Coast (British colony), history as a colony of the British Empire and through its trade routes in coastal areas. It describes multiple local fusions ...

. ''The Ascension'' consists of songs whose tempo is naturally fast or slow. 2face dedicated the electro house record "#Aproko" to social media critics. In "Jeje", he samples African China's "Mr. President" and pays homage to

afrobeat Afrobeat is a Nigerian music genre that involves the combination of West African musical styles (such as traditional Yoruba music and highlife) and American funk, jazz, and soul influences, with a focus on chanted vocals, complex intersecting ...

of the 70s. The songs "International Loving" and "Diaspora Woman" have elements of zouk. Soca's rhythms are evident on "Boulay Boulay" and "Go". The slow tempo ballad "Hate What You Do To Me" has a sensitive theme. "Kiss of Life" is also a slow tempo ballad with soft lyrics.

Singles

The Masterkraft-produced track "Ife Dinma" was released on November 6, 2013, as the album's lead single. It was initially released as a Tony Oneweek single, but surprisingly made the album. The accompanying music video for "Ife Dinma" was directed by

Clarence Peters Clarence Abiodun Peters (born 27 July 1978) is a Nigerian music video director, filmmaker and cinematographer. He is the founder and CEO of Capital Dream Pictures, a production company that specialises in the realms of the performing arts, fil ...

. The album's second single "Let Somebody Love You" was released on May 26, 2014. The song was produced by Femi Femdouble and features vocals by

. Its music video was shot and directed in Lagos by Luke Biggins. In April 2014, 2face and Bridget Kelly performed the song during Star Music Trek's visit to Markudi. The album's third single "Go" was released on June 26, 2014. It features guest vocals by Trinidadian

singer

. In June 2014, both artists performed the song at the 18th annual St. Kitts Music Festival. The music video for "Go" was released by 960 Music on December 5, 2014, and features cameo appearances from

Seyi Shay Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua (born Oluwaseyi Joshua; 21 December 1985), professionally known as Seyi Shay (pronounced Shay-yee Shay), is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and actress. She wrote and produced three songs for the soundtrack to Konami's vi ...

and

. The album's fourth single "Diaspora Woman" was released on October 23, 2014. Its music video was filmed in Dallas by Moe Musa. Ghanaian actress

Juliet Ibrahim Juliet Ibrahim is a Ghanaian actress, film producer and singer of Lebanese, Ghanaian and Liberian descent. She won the Best Actress in a Leading Role award at the 2010 Ghana Movie Awards for her role in '' 4 Play''. She has been referred to as ...

played 2face's love interest in the video.

Critical reception

''The Ascension'' received generally mixed reviews from music critics. Chiagoziem Onyekwena of ''

Nigeria Entertainment Today The Netng (Nigerian Entertainment Today) also known as ''NET'' is an online entertainment news organisation based in Lagos, Nigeria. It is a leading source of African entertainment, fashion and lifestyle news. Netng formed part of NET Newspaper ...

'' awarded the album 3 stars out 5, stating, "I know 2face set out to make a forward or upward moving album on ''The Ascension'' but what he really has done is move sideways, at best. That isn't bad in itself, just not the genre-bending, boundary-crossing, revolutionary album it had the potential to be." Brandon Bridges of Lobatan commended the album's songwriting, diverse sounds, instrumentation, and energetic appeal.

Track listing

;Sampling credits *"Jeje" samples African China's "Mr. President"

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes of ''The Ascension''. *Innocent Idibia – primary artist, writer, performer *Efe Omorogbe – A&R, executive producer *Eric Idiahi – executive producer *Mark Redguard – co-executive producer *Machel Montano – featured artist, writer *Olanrewaju Ogunmefun – featured artist, writer *Bridget Kelly – featured artist, writer *Rocksteady – featured artist, writer *Oyindamola Emmanuel – featured artist, writer *Sir Victor Uwaifo – featured artist, writer *Iceberg Slim – featured artist, writer *Kim Almarcha – featured artist, writer *Shurwayne Winchester – featured artist, writer *Fally Ipupa – featured artist, writer *Femi "Femidouble" Ojetunde – producer, engineer *Olubunmi "GSol the Producer" Afolabi – producer, engineer *Precision Productions and Advokit Productions – producer, engineer *Leriq – producer, engineer *Jay Sleek – producer *Masterkraft – producer *Rolly – producer *Bolaji "Bolji Beats" Salabiu – producer, engineer *Dnyce – producer, engineer *Alton Berti – producer, engineer *Fabio Lancel – producer *Franck "Kodjo" Kpanku – producer *Michael "Dezay" Badibanji – producer *Fooster Zeno – engineer *Willie "O" Oputa Chukwuemeka – engineer, production coordination *Jeremie Tuil – engineer *Pieter Wagner – engineer *Janne Kukka – cover art *TCD Photography – photography *Rhiemen Phenom Omorogbe – production coordination *Francis J Ogbole – production coordination *Bayo Omisore – production coordination *960 Music Group – PR Support *Buzz Warehaus – PR Support *Felicia Alston – PR Support *Now Muzik Entertainment – management *Obaino Music – distribution *YSG Hubs – distribution *

– distribution *

– distribution

Charts

Release history

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ascension, The 2014 albums Albums produced by Masterkraft (producer) 2face Idibia albums Albums produced by Leriq Albums produced by Jay Sleek 2014 in Nigerian music