Solar Plexus (Mavin Records album)

Solar Plexus
Compilation album by Mavin Records
Released	May 8, 2012 (2012-05-08)
Recorded	2012
Genre	Afrobeat
Length	41:43
Label	Mavin Records
Producer	Michael Collins "Don Jazzy" Ajereh (exec.)
The Mavins chronology
Solar Plexus (2012) Singles from Solar Plexus "Take Banana" "Oma Ga"

Solar Plexus is a compilation album released by Mavin Records. It was released on May 8, 2012, a day after Don Jazzy announced the launch of the record label. The 13-track album is a mix of bangers and ballads. Released with virtually no previous hype, the album and its various tracks trended on Twitter for days as fans debated their favourite songs and lyrics. In an unprecedented move, the album was made available completely free of charge to the public on the label’s website. The spike in internet traffic caused the website to crash several times before fans were able to obtain their download. Solar Plexus was also distributed on other music websites; it is now available for download on iTunes,^[1] Amazon MP3,^[2] Spotify, Medianet, eMusic, Xbox Live, Nokia Music Store, Simfy, and Google Play.^[3]

Background

Fans hoped for reconciliation between Don Jazzy and D'Banj, and weren't certain on the future of Mo' Hits Records. In the midst of this, Don Jazzy took to Twitter to announce the establishment of Mavin Records, and sought support from his fans. He said: "Please open up your hearts, lend us your ears, give us your love and support as always and let’s continue to entertain you" ^[4]

With the launch of the new label, it was further revealed that a new signee, Tiwa Savage, was on board, and that an album will be made available the very next day. On the early hours of May 8, 2012, the album was available as a free digital download. Fans started exchanging tweets and sharing links on where to download the album; they went about reciting lyrics and creating dance moves.

Recording

The album's recording sessions took place in Lagos at the Mavin Records Studio. The album was mixed and mastered by James "LeRock" Loughrey at Tardis Studios in The United Kingdom.^[5]

Singles

• "Take Banana" is a song by D'Prince, released as the first single from the album. The remix of the song was also released as a single from his debut studio album, Frenzy.^[6]
• "Omo Ga" is a song by Tiwa Savage, released as the second single from the album. The music video for the single is forthcoming.^[7][8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Nigerian Sounds	6.8/10[9]
TAYOTV	6/10[10]
tooXclusive	[11]
The Net Nigeria	[12]
Hip Hop World Magazine	[13]

Upon its release, Solar Plexus received negative reviews from music critics. Hip Hop World Magazine's Ayo Animashaun gave the album 2 out of 5 stars, adding: "In summary, I think the mix and mastering/finishing of this album is quite poor. Don Jazzy is a multi-award winning producer and his ingenuity is still unquestionable but I would want to assume that the haste to put out an album to officially unveil Mavin Records sort of affected the total composition of the project."^[13]

Ogaga Sakapide of Tooxclusive also assigned 2 out of 5 stars, stating: "‘Solar Plexus’ lacks the chemistry found on Mo’ Hits 2007 compilation album ‘Curriculum Vitae’, and is a very weak record as an introductory offering from a new label. The album gives the impression of a hurriedly packaged work with so-so lyrics, ill-matched materials and several hit-miss moments, causing the overall LP to suffer heavily."^[11]

A writer for Nigerian Sounds gave the album a 6.8 out of 10, adding: "The Mavin Crew is an Infant. It is a child of circumstance, and it created its first offering in the midst of a Battle, Media Frenzy, and Great expectations. Don Jazzy on the other hand deserves a lot of credit for putting things behind him, and settling down to work, because music is something that needs a clear mind state to be created, but having come up with this “Solar Plexus” in 3 days, he is still in control, and is definitely a Mavin." ^[9]

Wilfred Okiche of 360nobs said: "‘Solar plexus’ comes across as a vanity project for Don Jazzy to prove he’s still got it after all that happened and unfortunately everyone else is relegated to second place. After 11 tracks of highs and lows, brief crescents and dismal plateaus, only one question comes to mind and it is this, where are the mavins?"^[14]

Chi Ibe of YNaija added: "So let me just come out and say the sad, unpalatable truth: the missing rib is a D’banj. I understand the incredible pressure he is facing at the moment – but it is the way we handle pressure and expectation that defines us. ‘Solar Plexus’ was a mistake. I shall therefore ignore it, and wait for Don Jazzy to take his time and produce a proper album worthy of his talent."^[15]

Tayo Ayomide of Nigerian Entertainment Today assigned a score of 2 out of 5 stars, saying: "Solar Plexus was supposed to be Don Jazzy’s grand statement that he still has the magic dust; unfortunately the plot falls apart before the first act. Solar Plexus is Don Jazzy’s weakest produced album of his sparkling career."^[12]

Amb Noni of TayoTv gave the album a 6 out of 10, adding: "I respect and love Don Jazzy's work, he did not prove he was the Don Jazzy that made D'Banj who he is today..I feel this was done in haste just to make people feel/know that he is still here. Don Jazzy is known for taking his time before releasing a song even D'banj said it, but this Album has “RUSHED” all over it."^[10]

Track listing

Personnel

Release History

References