11th April, 2024
By Michael Adeshina
Charles Onyekachi Onyeabor, with the musical nomenclature, Magnificent is an Italian-Nigerian artiste, and entrepreneur, renowned for his music and business acumen.
Son of the electro Afro-funk trailblazer, William Onyeabor, Charles, debuted in 2020 and released his first studio album, “Like Father, Like Son,” in November 2023.
The twenty-track album, including one refix, can be said to be of the artiste’s roller coaster feelings, and experiences of which shows off themes of love, heartbreak, life’s ephemerality; laced with ancestral heritage, legacy, and cultural fusion.
“Feeling Good” starts off the album with the play of gentle strings, and later accompanied by the keyboard, and drums. This genesis finds the artiste, expressing his ecstatic mood.
“Ije Nwoke” is a follow-up track featuring Ejima; which the duo get laced with the Igbo language, while they both express their love for money, hustles, and the hate for any entitled human who makes them their “homie.” “Like father like son” is the third on the album, which is also an eponymous song.
This track starts off with a soul-rending violin sound, then toppled by the drums, and piano, for a few minutes, which makes the track more thought-provoking, even while danceable. The lyrics are filled with the lyrical discourse of achievement, and hustle, which Magnito’s (the featured artiste’s) pidgin rap, unfurls the more.
“Sawa” showcases the irresistible magical spell of a girl on the artiste, which makes him love her so all right. “Anyi No O Na-Eme” thrives on an Amapiano beat, lyrically adorned with the use of Igbo language, as the beat could make the listeners, it’s accompanied by lyrical prowess, and exceptionality.
“We All Need More Love” exonerates the artiste’s musical artistry with the beat, and deepened lyrics. The featured, Evry, got the track invaluable, with the use of the Italian language. “Grateful” shakes the body with the artiste’s use of choristers as backups, while he tops his appreciation to God, apparently, with a mild fast-tempo beat. “Charlie” is another track with heavy percussion, and the Amapiano sound. The track relaxes the soul with satirized tale of himself, his rise, and the doubt of the people. “Do it your way” is another motivational song on the album with the seemingly enjoyable beat. Evry, again, beautifully thumps the heart of the listeners with his italian lyrical prowess.
“Still your baby” makes a heart finds solace in the guitar, next, drums, and the gentle piano sound. Dedicated to his beloved mother, this dedication continues with Charles’ lyrics, but later transcends into a “breakfast” song, which Creep’s (the featured artiste’s) calm use of an Italian language makes it more emotional.
“Nwa” finds the artiste, adoring a girl’s beauty in his Igbo language, also English, professing his love, while the drums, and the piano tucks his feelings to his lover.
“They Can’t Pull Us Down” rests on mildly deepened drums, and sax, while the artiste, and his sonorous featured Miriam, inspire all humans to live. This three minutes track explores element of funk music, making it a song anyone anywhere in the world can relate to.
“Loving Till The End” envelopes the soul in a solemn piano, and mildly danceable drum sound. The track gets laced with thoughtful lyrics, noting the ephemeral nature of life, and the essence of pure love.
“Come and roll” could pass for a body-shaking song, even while the track gets rested on the Amapiano beat. Another track on the album that adores the body of a woman, and showcases the artiste’s fantasies, which Vic2kul, a featured artiste, buttresses.
“Jolly” is not arguably a dancehall jam, which could get any listener “high” with its accompanied electrified fast-tempo piano, sax, and drums. “Low” is a party-themed track which again dignifies clubbing, and its frivolities. This track seems to thrive with mild percussion, and also laced with Emeka’s voice, and lyrics.
“Bye Bye To My Ex Love” is another heartbreak track on the album, that rests on a bass guitar, keyboard, and drums, mainly. Here, the artiste said an unapologetic farewell to his ex; with little sour spice of regrets.
“We fell in love on Christmas” pops up with a gentle danceable beat filled with a piano, its melodious bass, and drums; mainly. The artiste, here tells a tale, reminiscing on how he found love on Christmas.
“Dance your troubles away” could pass for another sound that differs from the Afro-beats, and the style – this, which influences the artiste’s growing lyrical prowess, on this track. The album ended with a refix of the fourth track, “Sawa”.
This album connotes the musical abilities that run from the artiste’s father.