Lungu Boy
{{Short description|2024 Album by Asake}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Lungu Boy
| type = studio
| artist = Asake
| cover = Asake - Lungu Boy.png
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2024|08|09|df=y}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Fuji-techno, neo fuji, fuji, afrofusion, afropiano
| length = 48:07
| language = {{hlist|Yoruba|English}}
| label = * YBNL
| producer = * Magicsticks
| prev_title = Work of Art
| prev_year = 2023
| year = 2024
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Lungu Boy
| type = studio
| single1 = Wave
| single1date = 21 June 2024
| single2 = Active
| single2date = 7 August 2024
}}
}}
Lungu Boy is the third studio album by Nigerian singer Asake. A follow-up to his previous album, Work of Art (2023), the album was released on 9 August 2024 through YBNL Nation and Empire Distribution. The album also contains guest appearances from Wizkid, Travis Scott, Stormzy, Central Cee and Ludmilla, alongside production from P.Priime, Magicsticks, Mike Dean, Sarz, Sak Pase and promoted by Olaitan Salaudeen.{{Cite web |last=FM |first=MAX |date=2024-10-01 |title=Asake: Redefining Nigerian Music for a Global Audience |url=https://www.max1023.fm/2024/10/01/asake-redefining-nigerian-music-for-a-global-audience/ |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=102.3 Max FM |language=en-US}}
Release and promotion
On 10 June 2024 Asake announced his Lungu Boy World Tour alongside the album.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/asake-2024-world-tour-dates-1235706066/|title=Asake Announces Lungu Boy World Tour: Here Are the Dates|magazine=Billboard|last=Mamo|first=Heran|date=10 June 2024|access-date=5 August 2024|language=en-GB|archive-date=17 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617202937/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/asake-2024-world-tour-dates-1235706066/|url-status=live}} On 21 June 2024, Asake released the album's lead single, "Wave" with Central Cee, followed by its official music video on the same day{{cite magazine|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/central-cee-and-asake-unveil-new-collaboration-wave|title=Central Cee and Asake unveil new collaboration, "Wave"|magazine=The Line of Best Fit|last=Damara Kelly|first=Tyler|date=24 June 2024|access-date=5 August 2024|language=en-GB|archive-date=24 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624115225/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/central-cee-and-asake-unveil-new-collaboration-wave|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/asake-central-cee-combine-on-wave-its-a-flex/|title=Asake, Central Cee Combine On 'Wave' – It's A Flex|magazine=Clash|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=21 June 2024|access-date=5 August 2024|language=en-GB|archive-date=22 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622131736/https://www.clashmusic.com/news/asake-central-cee-combine-on-wave-its-a-flex/|url-status=live}} and was plugged by Olaitan.{{Cite web |last=FM |first=MAX |date=2024-10-01 |title=Asake: Redefining Nigerian Music for a Global Audience |url=https://www.max1023.fm/2024/10/01/asake-redefining-nigerian-music-for-a-global-audience/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=102.3 Max FM |language=en-US}} On 5 August, Asake shared the album's official tracklist, previewing guest appearances from Central Cee, Ludmilla, Stormzy, Travis Scott and Wizkid.{{cite web|url=https://notjustok.com/news/asake-reveals-release-date-and-tracklist-for-lungu-boy-album/|title=Asake reveals release date and tracklist for 'Lungu Boy' album|website=NotJustOk|last=Naomi|first=Utere|date=5 August 2024|access-date=5 August 2024|language=en-GB|archive-date=5 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805222336/https://notjustok.com/news/asake-reveals-release-date-and-tracklist-for-lungu-boy-album/|url-status=live}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = African Folder
| rev2 = The Daily Telegraph
| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/best-albums-asake-lungu-boy-review/|title= Asake delivers another triumph for West Africa – plus the week's best albums|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|last1=Seaman|first1=Luke|last2=Platt|first2=Poppie|date= 9 August 2024|access-date=11 August 2024}}
| rev3 = The Guardian
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/aug/09/asake-lungu-boy-review-nigerian-superstar-trips-across-the-black-diaspora-with-help-from-stormzy|title= Asake: Lungu Boy review – Nigerian superstar trips across the Black diaspora, with help from Stormzy|newspaper=The Guardian|last=Beaumont-Thomas|first=Ben|date=9 August 2024|access-date=11 August 2024}}
| rev4 = NME
| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/asake-lungu-boy-album-review-3782513/|title=Asake – Lungu Boy review: an experiment with mega highs, but lots of filler too|magazine=NME|last=Williams|first=Kyann-Sian|date=12 August 2024|access-date=14 August 2024}}
| rev5 = Rolling Stone
| rev5score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/asake-lungu-boy-review-1235078308/|title=On 'Lungu Boy' Asake Goes Worldwide Without Forgetting Home|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Conteh|first=Mankaprr|date=12 August 2024|access-date=14 August 2024}}
| rev6 = Afrocritik
}}
Lungu Boy received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Luke Seaman and Poppie Platt of The Daily Telegraph{{'}}s review awarded the album four out of five stars, characterising it as a "musical experiment" and commending Asake for his innovative approach. Writing for The Guardian, Ben Beaumont-Thomas gave the album the same score, praising the album as an impressive wave of West African pop. However, he also noted that it was not as strong as Asake's second studio album, Work of Art.
Rolling Stone{{'}}s Mankaprr Conteh rated the record three and a half stars, writing: "Lungu Boy keeps the faith but explores new sounds, becoming Asake's most rhythmically and emotionally diverse album yet, with some experiments more successful than others."
However, NME{{'}}s Kyann-Sian Williams only awarded Lungu Boy three stars in a more mixed review. They praised Asake for "still rewriting the rulebook on Afro-pop", but questioned why it took some time to "get to the good stuff". In a 6.4/10 review, Abioye Damilare Samson of Afrocritik reviewed that, "Lungu Boy struggles to present a cohesive portrayal of Asake's journey; while it seeks to chronicle his identity, it thematically omits the key aspects of his narrative."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Lungu Boy track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title_width = 25%
| writing_width = 50%
| extra_width = 25%
| title1 = Start
| writer1 = Ahmed Ololade
| extra1 = P.Priime
| length1 = 1:21
| title2 = MMS
| note2 = with Wizkid
| writer2 = {{hlist|Ololade|Ayodeji Balogun}}
| extra2 = P.Priime
| length2 = 3:39
| title3 = Mood
| writer3 = Ololade
| extra3 = P.Priime
| length3 = 2:51
| title4 = My Heart
| writer4 = Ololade
| extra4 = P.Priime
| length4 = 3:17
| title5 = Worldwide
| writer5 = Ololade
| extra5 = Sarz
| length5 = 3:02
| title6 = Active
| note6 = with Travis Scott
| writer6 = {{hlist|Ololade|Jacques Webster II|Douglas Ford|Olumuyiwa Olofinkuade Olajide}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Mike Dean|Sarz}}
| length6 = 2:53
| title7 = Suru
| note7 = with Stormzy
| writer7 = {{hlist|Ololade|Michael Owuo Jr.}}
| extra7 = P.Priime
| length7 = 3:40
| title8 = Skating
| writer8 = Ololade
| extra8 = P.Priime
| length8 = 2:56
| title9 = Wave
| note9 = with Central Cee
| writer9 = {{hlist|Ololade|Oakley Caesar-Su}}
| extra9 = Magicsticks
| length9 = 3:25
| title10 = Mentally
| writer10 = Ololade
| extra10 = Sarz
| length10 = 3:17
| title11 = Uhh Yeahh
| writer11 = Ololade
| extra11 = Sarz
| length11 = 3:24
| title12 = I Swear
| writer12 = Ololade
| extra12 = P.Priime
| length12 = 3:04
| title13 = Ligali
| writer13 = Ololade
| extra13 = Sarz
| length13 = 2:53
| title14 = Whine
| note14 = with Ludmilla
| writer14 = {{hlist|Ololade|Ludmila Oliveira da Silva}}
| extra14 = Sak Pase
| length14 = 2:58
| title15 = Fuji Vibe
| writer15 = Ololade
| extra15 = Magicsticks
| length15 = 5:22
| total_length = 48:07
}}
Charts
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Release history and formats for Lungu Boy !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format !scope="col"|Label |
| scope="row"|Various
|9 August 2024 |{{hlist|CD|digital download|streaming}} |{{hlist|YBNL Nation|Empire Distribution}} |
|---|