Album Review: On God’s Timing’s the Best, Naira Marley Sticks to His Trusted Script
The Marlian president’s much-anticipated debut album is full of sex-charged party jams as usual.
Gone are the days when Naira Marley was Nigeria’s Public Enemy No. 1. Vilified for indoctrinating youths into his Marlian movement of “zero belts with thousand trousers,” his run-ins with the law enforcement agency EFCC and his verbal spats with fellow artistes, Marley flipped an invisible middle finger to everyone while delivering raunchy bangers after raunchy bangers. These days, the father of four focuses on releasing still-raunchy bangers, tending to his family and overseeing the affairs of the artistes in his record label Marlian Music.
“People expect me to still be rugged and be the same me doing [Instagram] Live…but I have a lot of people looking up to me now,” Naira Marley told Cool FM in an interview. “I have my own artistes…I can’t embarrass them. I have my kids. And apart from that, I’m so blessed…I have done so many things for myself.” The title of Naira Marley’s long-awaited debut album God’s Timing’s the Best—a follow-up to his 2019 EP Lol (Lord of Lamba)—raises interest as to the direction the artiste would take on the project. All projections are flung out the window on the album’s opener “Jo Dada” when a voice yells, “Booty quaking!”
Nigerian music producer Rexxie, Naira Marley’s longtime partner-in-hits, notches up nine tracks on the 14-track project. The remaining five tracks are shared between rising hitmaker Niphkeys, Tripsss, Diquenza, AYK and LeoBeatz. But it is Niphkeys who sets the ball rolling magnificently on “Jo Dada” with a banging beat laced with addictive traditional drums. On the song, Naira Marley advises a woman to dance well if she wants a slice of his money.
There are some previously released tracks on God’s Timing’s the Best, the oldest being the Busiswa-assisted “Coming,” where Naira Marley, employing graphic sex details, makes it his mission to announce his imminent orgasm. On “First Time in America,” Naira Marley recounts his experiences in different countries—America, the UK, Jamaica, Cameroon, South Africa and Colombia—shutting down shows, getting high and engaging in orgies. He takes a swipe at South Africa and China for xenophobia and coronavirus respectively.
Marlian Music’s crown prince Zinoleesky fuses seamlessly with Naira Markey on the party record “o’dun” as both artistes sing about the perks of being rich. Rexxie sprinkles the up-tempo track with groovy guitar strings. Zinoleesky’s label mate Mohbad expresses his love for money on the mid-tempo “Owo.” Self-proclaimed Mayor of Lagos Mayorkun joins Naira Marley to radiate jovial vibes on “Happy.”
Naira Marley has no patience for bullshit on “Ayewada” as he calls haters’ bluff. “You know me from back in the days/Where was you back in the days?/When I was running the race,” he raps. There is a ray of introspection on the summer-vibes pop tune “Montego Bay” when Naira Marely raps, “Me, I have God, I never panic/Dem devilish, dem satanic/Rise the AK, watch dem run like Sonic/Always by myself, they don’t understand me.” He enlists the assistance of Lil Kesh as they show their mushy side on the love number “Melanin.”
Before his return to Nigeria, Naira Marley lived most of his days in Peckham, southeast London, where he was a pioneer in the region’s striving grime scene. He was a resident in Peckham when he released his Max Twigz-assisted debut single “Marry Juana.” He resurrects his London drawl on “Drink Alcohol Like It’s Water,” which features Dutch rapper Chivv and Dutch Antillean music producer and DJ Diquenza. Jamaican singer Jada Kingdom provides more heat on the sex-steamed tune “No Panties.” The cross-country movement continues on “Excuse Moi,” which features French rapper MHD.
On “Modinat Kai,” the party is kept alive as Naira Marley expertly handles Rexxie’s rapid percussion and up-tempo beat. The album closer “Kojosese,” produced by LeoBeatz, carries a carnival-like feel with its boisterous drums and whistles. For the most part, there are no deep messages on God’s Timing’s the Best; what is on offer are party anthems and club bangers. For fans of Naira Marley, this album arrives on God’s timing.
Go HERE to stream God’s Timing’s the Best.
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