It was nearing the middle of April when the nominees’ list for The Headies 2018 was released. There was no place for Ajebutter22 on the list, and the super-confident rapper wasn’t happy that his hit single “Ghana Bounce” wasn’t deemed worthy enough for nomination. So, he logs on to his Twitter and tweets: “…that’s why it’s good to always face your front.”
The tweet is measured but you still feel the weight. Then BOJ shows his face. As if to jolt Butter back to reality, he says to Butter: “Baba, Headies no go put money for pocket. Make e no cause fight.” We didn’t know this at the time, but in a few months time, BOJ and Butter’s back-and-forth would give birth to a joint EP.
Baba headies nomination no go put money for pocket make e no cause fight https://t.co/KL9JFbcsMG
— #MakeEnocausefight (@BojDRB) April 13, 2018
Ajebutter22 and BOJ released the first single off the MENCF project, “Yawa”, in late March. The song was well-received, and energized their fans — within the altè subculture, both artists have become young veterans of sorts . But outside of their core fan base, “Yawa” has been a grower, not a shower, and is yet to fully impact the mainstream. The new record raised questions about whether the “Omo Pastor” duo would be able to recreate the same 2013 magic 4, 5, or however many times needed to make an outstanding body of work.
Make E No Cause Fight is a concise and fine response to this concern. Ajebutter22 and BOJ seem to understand that the EP is not about either one of them, but about a common goal to thrill a set of fans they both share, whose music preferences usually overlap. This allows both artists to complement each other, without one stealing shine from the other. The project does not even offer a space for them to be viewed as individuals, instead as a group especially on “24” which provides a flawless entry into Make E No Cause Fight.
Although, the responsibility of Ajebutter22 and BOJ is clear with the former doing most of the verses and the latter, the hook, there are instances where the duo switch roles. They also share chorus duties on “24”, a move reminiscent of a bar-for-bar session. This, however, does not end on “24” as it reoccurs, albeit not as conspicuous, on “Taxi”, “Yawa” and “Tungba”.
On one of the high points of Make E No Cause Fight, Ajebutter22 and BOJ are both bedeviled by the linearity of their sound. As Ajebutter22 begins his verse, you immediately start to think he is an up-to-date imitation of another popular Nigerian artist. However, the wittiness of Butter, BOJ’s well-placed assistance and Tay Iwar’s refreshing backup combine to break the monotony in the song.
She no like you, no dey waste saliva
You dey form fly, but dead on arrival
— Ajebutter22 “Yawa”
Perhaps the most impressive moment on the project, “Tungba” is a love song that sounds even more convincing after each play. E-Kelly’s minimalist approach of deploying soft kicks and piano riffs, strips distractions off the song, making a fertile ground for which Ajebutter22’s mellow take and BOJ’s strained voice to thrive.
The last song on the EP, “Amala” is contradictory — while it has the potential to sound corny, it is a decent and refreshing song. Allowing BOJ to clear way for a Teezee verse is apparently one of the best decisions they made on the song. While “Amala” is not a musical direction both artists are known for, they manage to pull off a performance that does not smear the important legacy the earlier songs on the EP have set.
Some people think I’m odd, what do they even know? /
Spending all the money I collected from my show /
— BOJ “Amala”
By taking one half of the awesome duo’s advice and focusing on making music — as it is what puts money in their pocket — Butter and BOJ have consolidated their presence with a project that is actually worth talking about. It may not be on the radar of the next Headies but Make E No Cause Fight is the perfect response to the organizers snubbing Ajebutter22 and BOJ.
The EP, coming only a few months after both artists released solo albums, does not only show hard work, but also what the duo are capable of doing when they come together as a force. So on Make E No Cause Fight there are two winners — Ajebutter22 × BOJ and every other individual who contributed to the success of the project.