More Love, Less Ego
{{Infobox album
| name = More Love, Less Ego
| type = studio
| artist = Wizkid
| cover = Wizkid - More Love, Less Ego.png
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2022|11|11|df=y}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 53:15
| language = {{hlist|English|Yoruba|Nigerian Pidgin}}
| label =
- RCA
- Starboy
| producer =
| prev_title = Made in Lagos
| prev_year = 2020
| next_title = S2
| next_year = 2023
| misc = {{Singles
| name = More Love, Less Ego
| type = studio
| single1 = Bad to Me
| single1date = 14 September 2022
}}
}}
More Love, Less Ego is the fifth studio album by Nigerian singer Wizkid. It was released on 11 November 2022 through RCA Records and Starboy Entertainment. The album features guest appearances from Ayra Starr, Skillibeng, Shenseea, Skepta, Naira Marley, and Don Toliver. Production was handled by P2J, Kel-P, KDaGreat, Sammy Soso, P Priime, Juls, Kofo, and Euro. It serves as the follow-up to Wizkid's previous album, Made in Lagos (2020). The album was supported by two singles, "Bad to Me", and "Money & Love". More Love, Less Ego is a pop, R&B, and Afrobeats album that includes lyrics about falling in love with women and engaging in sexual activity.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/nov/04/afropop-star-wizkid-on-ego-alter-egos-and-elections-i-make-a-lot-of-club-records-but-i-feel-like-a-pastor|title=Afropop star Wizkid on ego, alter egos and elections: 'I make a lot of club records but I feel like a pastor'|work=The Guardian|last=Adegoke|first=Yomi|date=11 November 2022|access-date=11 November 2022}} According to Wizkid, he named the album the way it is because "everyone fights with their ego and that's where I'm at", explaining that "I'm still trying to shed my ego, like everyone else".
Release and promotion
On 30 October 2021, the one-year-anniversary of Wizkid's previous album, Made in Lagos (2020), he announced the title of his next album and stated that it would be released on the last day of his tour for it, which would be 22 January 2022.{{cite web|url=https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/wizkid-announces-more-love-less-ego-album-sets-release-date-for-jan-2022/|title=Wizkid announces 'More Love, Less Ego' album, sets release date for Jan 2022|work=The Cable Lifestyle|last=Kenechi|first=Stephen|date=30 October 2021|access-date=28 October 2022}} However, this did not happen. The lead single of More Love, Less Ego, "Bad to Me", was released on 14 September 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2022/09/14/wizkid-new-single-bad-to-me|title=Wizkid returns with new single "Bad To Me"|work=The Fader|last=Darville|first=Jordan|date=14 September 2022|access-date=28 October 2022}} The sole promotional single, "Money & Love", was released on 28 October 2022, the same day Wizkid announced the release date of the album for the week after that.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/wizkid-announces-new-album-shares-video-for-new-song-money-and-love-watch/|title=Wizkid Announces New Album, Shares Video for New Song "Money & Love": Watch|work=Pitchfork|last=Arcand|first=Rob|date=27 October 2022|access-date=28 October 2022}} However, three days later, fellow Nigerian singer Davido's son died at age three from drowning in a swimming pool, in which Wizkid deleted a promotion tweet for it and pushed its release back by exactly one week to show his support.{{cite web|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/11/wizkid-deletes-album-promotion-tweet-after-death-of-davidos-son/|title=Wizkid deletes album promotion tweet after death of Davido's son|work=Vanguard|date=1 November 2022|access-date=1 November 2022}}
Critical reception
{{Album reviews
| MC = 87/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/more-love-less-ego/wizkid|title=Metacritic Review|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=24 March 2023}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/more-love-less-ego-mw0003858887|title=AllMusic Review|publisher=AllMusic|last=Monger|first=Timothy|access-date=24 March 2023}}
| rev2 = The Daily Telegraph
| rev2score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/best-albums-week-christine-queens-wizkid-mgmt-nas/|title=Christine and the Queens turns electro gothic, Wizkid is a wonder – the week's best albums|work=The Daily Telegraph|last=McCormick|first=Neil|date=11 November 2022|access-date=24 March 2023}}
| rev3 = The Native
| rev3score = 8.4/10{{cite web|url=https://thenativemag.com/first-impressions-wizkid-mlle/|title=Our First Impressions Of Wizkid's 'More Love, Less Ego'|website=The Native|date=11 November 2022 |access-date=11 November 2022}}
| rev4 = NME
| rev4score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/wizkid-more-love-less-ego-review-afrobeats-afropop-3344034|title= Wizkid – 'More Love, Less Ego' review: Afrobeats' biggest star perfects his universal sound|website=NME|last=Williams|first=Kyann-Sian|date=11 November 2022|access-date=11 November 2022}}
| rev5 = Pulse Nigeria
}}
More Love, Less Ego was met with "universal acclaim" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 87, based on 4 reviews.
Nigerian-based music magazine The Native did a review on More Love, Less Ego, in which it stated that the album "still sounds pristine and does not suffer from any deals", also noting that he brings new collaborators "into his colourful world where ego takes a back seat to the pursuit of love and genuine human connections". Writing for NME, Kyann-Sian Williams gave the "appropriately-titled" album a perfect five-star review and felt that it "is a masterful connection that sees Wizkid beginning to truly perfect his universal pop sound". they also praised the title of the album, opining that it "wishes to replicate the musicality of" Wizkid's previous album, Made in Lagos (2020), "using similar sonic templates - steady flowing melody, top production, and rich features while discussing the stress-free, wealthy, and hedonistic lifestyle of a megastar", while also positively writing that it "offers sonic coherence achieved through incredible sound engineering that delivers the luxurious sound needed to elevate the content and offer gratification".
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = More Love, Less Ego track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 40:55
| title1 = Money & Love
| writer1 = {{hlist|Ayodeji Balogun|Richard Isong|Marco Bernardis|Ifeoluwa Ogunjobi}}
| extra1 = P2J
| length1 = 3:11
| title2 = Balance
| writer2 = {{hlist|Balogun|Peter Amba}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Kel-P|KDaGreat}}
| length2 = 3:01
| title3 = Bad to Me
| writer3 = {{hlist|Balogun|Isong|Samuel Awuku}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|P2J|Sammy Soso{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length3 = 2:58
| title4 = 2 Sugar
| note4 = featuring Ayra Starr
| writer4 = {{hlist|Balogun|Oyinkansola Aderibigbe|Isong}}
| extra4 = P2J
| length4 = 3:07
| title5 = Everyday
| writer5 = {{hlist|Balogun|Isong|Awuku}}
| extra5 = {{hlist|P2J|Sammy Soso}}
| length5 = 3:20
| title6 = Slip n Slide
| note6 = featuring Skillibeng and Shenseea
| writer6 = {{hlist|Balogun|Emwah Warmington|Chinsea Lee|Isong|Bernardis}}
| extra6 = P2J
| length6 = 3:29
| title7 = Deep
| writer7 = {{hlist|Balogun|Isong|Austin Iwar|Malik Venner|Bernardis}}
| extra7 = P2J
| length7 = 2:34
| title8 = Flower Pads
| writer8 = {{hlist|Balogun|Isong|Awuku|Kevin Ekofo}}
| extra8 = {{hlist|P2J|Sammy Soso{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length8 = 3:27
| title9 = Wow
| note9 = featuring Skepta and Naira Marley
| writer9 = {{hlist|Balogun|Joseph Adenuga|Naira Marley|Isong}}
| extra9 = P2J
| length9 = 2:59
| title10 = Pressure
| writer10 = {{hlist|Balogun|Peace Oredope}}
| extra10 = P Priime
| length10 = 3:02
| title11 = Plenty Loving
| writer11 = {{hlist|Balogun|Isong|Bernardis|Gaetan Judd}}
| extra11 = P2J
| length11 = 2:51
| title12 = Special
| note12 = featuring Don Toliver
| writer12 = {{hlist|Balogun|Caleb Toliver|Julian Nicco-Annan|Godwin Sonzi}}
| extra12 = Juls
| length12 = 3:23
| title13 = Frames (Who's Gonna Know)
| writer13 = {{hlist|Balogun|Iwar|Isong|Ekofo|Jamal Europe}}
| extra13 = {{hlist|P2J|Kofo{{ref|b|[b]}}|Euro{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length13 = 3:25
}}
Notes
- {{small|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies an additional producer
- {{small|{{note|b|[b]}}}} signifies a co-producer
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Chart performance for More Love, Less Ego ! scope="col"| Chart (2022-2024) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Australian Hitseekers Albums (ARIA){{cite magazine|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 21 November 2022|magazine=The ARIA Report|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|issue=1707|page=24|date=21 November 2022}}
| 10 |
|---|
| {{album chart|Flanders|91|artist=Wizkid|album=More Love, Less Ego|rowheader=true|access-date=20 November 2022}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|157|artist=Wizkid|album=More Love, Less Ego|rowheader=true|access-date=20 November 2022}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardCanada|45|artist=Wizkid|rowheader=true|access-date=22 November 2022}} |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|30|artist=Wizkid|album=More Love, Less Ego|rowheader=true|access-date=19 November 2022}} |
| {{album chart|France|135|M|url=https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-la-semaine/top-albums/?semaine=46|title=Top Albums (Week 46, 2022)|publisher=SNEP|artist=Wizkid|album=More Love, Less Ego|rowheader=true|access-date=21 November 2022}} |
| {{album chart|Ireland|100|M|url=http://www.irma.ie/index.cfm?page=irish-charts&chart=Albums|title=Irish Albums Chart: 18 November 2022|publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association|rowheader=true|access-date=19 November 2022}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|54|artist=Wizkid|album=More Love, Less Ego|rowheader=true|access-date=20 November 2022}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|16|date=20221118|rowheader=true|access-date=18 November 2022}} |
| {{album chart|UKR&B|15|date=20221118|rowheader=true|access-date=19 November 2022}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|59|artist=Wizkid|rowheader=true|access-date=26 November 2022}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardWorld|2|artist=Wizkid|rowheader=true|access-date=26 November 2022}} |