Oluwatosin Ajibade’s exploits in music and business are well documented. He is the disruptor whose distinctive fusion of Ghanaian bounce, highlife rhythms, and Nigerian chord progressions, defined by a mid-tempo sound that contrasted the high-energy party anthems dominating Nigeria’s pop scene at the time, propelled him to mainstream prominence and defined the soundscape of Nigerian pop for at least half a decade. He is also a powerhouse in Africa’s business landscape by way of successful ventures such as emPawa Africa, PawaPay, BetPawa, and Zagadat Capital, among others.
The last time Mr Eazi dominated headlines was in the aftermath of his highly publicised three-event wedding, which took place in Monaco, Dubai, and Iceland, respectively, in May, July, and August 2025. The wedding has since been described as Nigeria’s “wedding of the year” and the world’s second-best wedding after the wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez.
Gifted with a strategic mind, business acumen, a clean image and terrific branding, as well as a powerful partner, Mr Eazi, like Africa’s richest man, hinted, is well on his way to becoming one of Africa’s richest men.
With all the attention around his entrepreneurial success and public life, it is quite easy to forget that Mr Eazi’s most profound gift is music, and his latest offering, Maison Rouge, is a stark reminder of that. Across seven tracks and 18 minutes, Mr Eazi offers the unique, laid-back singing style and simplistic songwriting that define his most beloved offerings as he delves into love and its complexities in a personal and diaristic manner.
“Omo na who send me love don turn to violence,” he sings on the hook of the P.Priime and E. Kelly-produced opener Violence, a smooth Afropop tune built on soft kicks and haunting chords. “I did my best; was it not enough?” he passionately sings in an attempt to convey the depths of his pain in the aftermath of a relationship gone wrong. The record sets the tone for the rest of the project, flowing seamlessly into the groovy Wait For Your Love, where he recounts an encounter with a woman in Cotonou, Benin Republic, the very place where this project was recorded. His message is simple: he has run out of patience, and waiting on her is no longer on the table.
He repeats similar sentiments on Make E No Tey, this time out of excitement and anticipation of new affection rather than the frustration of unreciprocated affection. “I don’t want to wait. / You and I have to be together. / Baby, make it so,” he sings passionately on the hook.
The Neo-Highlife vibes of Casanova make for an exciting listen as he sings about his love for women, even as he tries to remain faithful to one. Over a breezy mid-tempo groove defined by intoxicating guitar strings, Mr Eazi delivers a confession that captures the eternal struggle between desire and devotion. Regardless, he still promises not to treat his love interest unfairly, channelling his smooth-talking skills over the mellow Afropop melodies that define “Corny”.
The Selebobo-produced Bus Stop offers some variety, diverting from the minimalist production approach the EP has employed so far, adopting percussion and an uptempo groove. The record sticks out like a sore thumb, with Mr Eazi’s songwriting falling flat. Love Me Now closes the project, urging his love interest to love him now or risk losing him permanently. “Omo na when you don lose person, then you go know say you love person,” he sings, highlighting the clarity that comes from loss. His message to his listeners is simple: cherish love before it’s too late.
All through the album, Mr Eazi maintains a similar conversational approach, employing the simple and relatable lyricism that characterises his music as well as melodies and flows that some listeners might find familiar. He doesn’t do anything out of the ordinary on this project; it’s a typical Mr Eazi project that features all the elements of the banku music era, from infectious guitar riffs to smooth percussive elements, and Mr Eazi singing about love and its complexities.
Listeners expecting an evolution of the sound may be disappointed; Maison Rouge is not and doesn’t pitch itself as such. What this EP offers are warm, catchy grooves and memorable records that make for an enjoyable listen. And sometimes, that’s enough.
