eLDee's  Debut Solo Offering 'Long Time Coming' Begins His new era

Uzo Chikere

Bottom of Form

eLDee formed his merry music group Trybesmen in late ‘90’s and has since proceeded to become one of music industry’s prominent figures over time.

The rap trio consisting of eLDee himself, Freestyle and Kaboom created the template for viable rap music in Nigeria. Engineered by eLDee's production skills, and his A&R navigation, Trybesmen have a historic sitting in Nigeria's rap hall of fame.

Unfortunately their duration in the game did not last for long. The crew split shortly after with one body of work under its belt, following friction between eLDee, and the crew's heralded lyricist Freestyle.

In 2004, eLDee released his first solo album Long Time Coming. Obviously he used this debut offering to clear the air on what happened during the last days of Trybesmen, and the end of Da Trybe Empire.

The chronicles of the rise and fall of Trybesmen is adequately focused on in the track 'Speak Out'. Addressing the split eLDee says "even my own brother started picking a fight. I was the centre of attraction, Michael Corleone. Freestyle was Fredo, so I lost one of my best homies...word on the street- Freestyle had gone solo."

He also takes on the haters who are happy to have seen the end of the iconic rap group on 'Run Dem Mouth'.

On 'B4 I Get Mad' featuring Diction, the legendary mastermind pours his venom on a shady chick who did him dirty. Rapping in pioneer mode eLDee boasts "I'm light years ahead of my peers"  on 'Many Emcees', the obligatory braggadocios rap track.

One of eLDee's best solo tracks ever, 'Me I Go Yarn' features on this album. The conscious song is poignant and relevant today. The song has two incarnations on the disc, which generally is a good thing.

The album features the goofy single 'African Chiquito' that plays on the stereotypes of the major tribes in Nigeria. It's hard to see this song being a hit today, but it is still as humorous when it was freshly released. 

The pace of the album hits its peak on the bouncy party track 'Do Ti E'. "The end time signs are here but then I feel no fear" sing raps eLDee on the introspective 'Life Long Show' featuring Heidy.

While eLDee's solo effort is indicative of his potential as a game changing act, the production of the album isn't up to par with his skills as a rap and composer. The production on the album feels outdated, predictable, and sometimes bland.

However with eLDee's song composing techniques the album still pulls through till today. Time has polished the album. It highlights its good, and gives an artistic glint to its blemishes.