Stream Money Symphony, a compilation by influential Nigerian label Chocolate City featuring appearances from Wizkid, Naira Marley, Zlatan and more.
Wizikd, Naira Marley and Teni are some of the guests who join artists who are or used to be part of the Chocolate City roster (M.I Abaga, Ice Prince, Dice Ailes and a few others) in the label’s newly released compilation.
Money Symphony, as the title hints, is centered on money. Chocolate City head honcho and Nigerian hip-hop legend M.I Abaga joins forces with Wizkid on “Fast Money, Fast Cars”, a song concerning a woman who only rolls with the moneyed. “She said I want Gucci for coochie/ Cash for the ass, Kudi for the booty/ See, my man, I heavy duty/ I get money like 50,” raps M.I on the first verse while Wizkid sings on the hook: “If you don’t talk money, omo don’t show up/ If you don’t drive cars, omo don’t show up/ Cause she’s all about the money.” Whereas “Fast Money, Fast Cars” appears on M.I Abaga’s 2008 debut album Talk About It, a majority of the songs on the compilation date a few years back.
Take a look at the compiled songs for the month of May and tell us why you won’t be interested in listening to “MONEY SYMPHONY”
It’s all about making more money 📲📲https://t.co/muhAmmbxOj pic.twitter.com/sbzzxK2apO
— CHOCOLATE CITY MUSIC (@choccitymusic) May 6, 2022
Ice Prince’s “Aboki” came out in 2018, while Candy Bleakz and Teni’s “Baba NIa” came out in 2021. The theme of money is what connects the songs on Money Symphony.
“Our May Playlist, Money Symphony,” reads the press release supplied by CC, “is for those who love to work hard and play hard. With this playlist, you’re definitely having fun all the way. In times when your salary comes in and you just want to let your hair down and enjoy life all the way.”
For Chocolate City and Nigerian hip-hop core fans, Money Symphony will be a trip down memory lane, while for new listeners, the compilation is just a collection of slappers that will most likely convert them to fans. For instance, the 2014 posse cut “Bullion Van” by M.I Abaga featuring Runtown, Phyno and StormRex is a showcase of the Naija’s different flavours over a percussive instrumental that is embellished with high-pitch synths.
Afrobeats production dominates the compilation (because money has the ability to bring out dance moves from even the stiffest bodies, right). But a few songs on Money Symphony are uncompromisingly hip-hop. “Owo Mi Da” by Street Billionaires, originally released in 2017, is a mean trap slapper with the kind of bass that rattles speakers.
Stream Money Symphony on Apple Music, Spotify and everywhere else.