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Banky releases Mr Capable
R&B artiste Banky W, famously known for Ebute Metta, the Nigerian cover of Rihanna's Umbrella, has released his Nigerian debut album. The fourteen-tracker, titled Mr. Capable, released by the artiste's label Empire Mates Entertainment and marketed/distributed by T-Joe Distribution Ltd., dropped on the 3rd of July 2008. Featuring such diverse artistes as the Fuji
icon Adewale Ayuba and Sauce Kid amongst others, with production by Muzik Men and ID Cabasa, the album comes at a time when music fans are looking for new faces and ideas in an industry that is replete with similar-sounding and not-so-creative music.
Banky W first hit the limelight in Nigeria in 2007 when his version of RiRi's monster hit of the same year began to circulate first amongst radio deejays and eventually made its way to cell phones. By late '07, the award-winning singer and critically acclaimed songwriter of international repute had to come back to Nigeria to ensure that the buzz that had been created by the song would be adequately utilized. This led to him quitting a good job in the States to move back to the land of his parents. On getting back to Nigeria, he immediately picked up several nominations which placed him side-by-side with such big names as Wande Coal, 9ice and M.I. amongst others who had been making the rounds for years in Nigeria.
Banky W was born Olubankole Wellington in the United States to Nigerian parents, but moved to Nigeria at the tender age of 5. He was back in the States by age seventeen earning a degree in Engineering from one of the top schools in America. But he had cut the music bug back in Naija. So once back in the US, he started a record label Empire Mate $ Entertainment releasing an EP titled Undeniable which he sold out of the trunk of his car. This fetched him airplay locally and a distribution deal. After a trying period during which he had to overcome a life-threatening ailment, he recorded his debut album, Back in the Buildin' which features the award-winning My Regret, as well as hot singles like Aiyyo, Ay Mami, and Don't Wanna.
Mr. Capable, his first Nigeria album, is an international album where he fuses his blend of R&B/ Soul with reggae, Afrobeat, traditional music and singing in his native tongue (Yoruba), pidgin and English. And despite being relatively new on the scene around here, he brings his production skills to bear on the Fuji-tinged A Ti De, on which he features Adewale Ayuba.
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