Blog Post: http://sribuomedia.blogspot.com/2010/06/sribuo-online-weekly-album-review.html

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"Scenti nuoooooooooooooooo, scenti nu, akyi beebiaaaaa!" Ladies and gentlemen, this week we have dug through the archives to bring you a blast from the past. We present to you "Scenti No!" one of the many controversial albums from Ghana's one and only "Hiplife Ninja", Sidney. Originally released in 2004, the title track of this album, "Scenti Nu"addresses a serious canker that has been plaguing Ghanaian society for a while : all the numerous unwholesome scents that one encounters in the country. Using a modified instrumental sound track from C+C Music Factory's "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)", the song has a very catchy and easy to remember chorus which made it very popular in Ghana; loosely translated, it means "The smell from the shoes, the smell from the clothes, the smell from the socks, the smell from the armpits ... the smell is everywhere!!". No other song has so lucidly addressed this issue ... here is just a preview list of the scents: - The armpits of some trotro mate collecting fares - The socks and shoes of an honorable MP after a hard days work - The gutter at the fuel station in Achimota - The flatulence of an innocent-until-proven-guilty someone who releases a silent bomber in an air conditioned room ... and the list goes on and on ... Here is the track for those of you who want to preview it before buying :

Another very popular song from the album "Hye Nkom" is one where Sidney prophesies blessings and good things into everyone's life. We hope all his prophecies come true, especially, the one about Ghana's Black Stars winning the World Cup!! Sidney tells us about how he sold his "Colour TV" and used the money to buy a black and white one in the track "Colour TV". The morale of the story it seems, is that you don't and won't know what you have till its gone. After that you will regret letting it go.

Sidney also remixes some older high life tracks and lays his lyrics on them in this album. "Wone Whan" (Who be you?) is the first of such tracks. This song is a deep reflection on the twists and turns of life, admonishing us to help our fellow mankind because you never know when you might need help. "Meko" is another of the high life renditions Sidney remixes. The theme for this song is about betrayal and the fact that those you meet on your way up are the same people you will meet on your way down. He asks us to treat all people fairly, lest you need help from someone you disregarded in the past.

Other tracks on this album include "Edeeshi", "Ibi So" and "Mind Da Gap" (you really want to listen to this one ... the Hiplife Ninja raps partly in English on this track ... a very rare occurrence). Sidney has an electrifying stage presence. Watch this video from one of his performances at the National Theater in Accra you will see what I am saying ...

Overall, this album is one of the "Classics" or "Must Haves" for all Hiplife lovers out there. Your collection will not be complete until you have Sidney's "Scenti Nuooooooo, Scenti Nu!!" album in it. Go grab your copy now!!

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- Credits George Armah