The release of Away & Beyond was marked by a launch event at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, during the 2012 Buckwyld 'n' Breathless concert. Held on 30 April 2012, it featured performances from Vector, M.I, Kas, D'banj, Sound Sultan, W4, Sir Shina Peters, and more. Additionally, 2Face Idibia's old group Plantashun Boiz reunited for the ceremony. During a performance of "African Queen", 2Face publicly pledged his love to then-fiancée Annie Macaulay, earning a standing ovation from the audience, which included his mother, Annie’s mother, and Senator Florence Ita Giwa.[2]
Singles
The lead single "Chemical Reaction" featuring Naeto C was released on 18 September 2011. Produced by DJ Willie O, it was included on the NOW Muzik compilation album Love Drunk: Elite Vocalist Lounge Vol. 1.[3] "Bad Man, Bad Girl", the album's second single, is a collaboration with Ghanaian singer Becca and was co-produced by Kiki Banson and Kaywa.[4] Released on 28 February 2012, the song was also included on Becca's second studio album Time 4 Me (2013).
The third single "Rainbow" was released on 4 April 2012. The song was produced by Femdouble and G.$ol the Producer.[5] Its music video features footage of Idibia's traditional white wedding with Annie Macaulay.[6] Hypertek Entertainment released the Clarence Peters-directed video for "Ihe Neme" was released on 25 September 2012 and features a cameo from Nigerian singer W4.[7] At the 2012 Nigerian Music Video Awards, it won Best Visual Effects and was nominated for Best Contemporary Afro.[8] At The Headies 2013, the song won Best Pop Single.[9] "Ihe Neme" was nominated for Best Popular Song of the Year at the 2013 City People Entertainment Awards[10] and Most Gifted Afro Pop Video at the 2013 Channel O Music Video Awards.[11]
The Godfather Productions-directed music video for "Dance Floor" was released on 17 February 2013.[12] The song spawned a remix with Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie and Angolan musician Cabo Snoop, released in April 2013 and included on Away & Beyond Plus (2014), the deluxe edition of Away & Beyond.[13] On 16 May 2013, 2Face Idibia released the music video for "Omo No Dulling", featuring then-labelmates Rocksteady and Dammy Krane. The music video was directed by Sesan.[14]
The official remix to "Rainbow" featuring American singer T-Pain dropped on 28 May 2013 and was included on Away & Beyond Plus.[15] "Rainbow (Remix)" won Most Gifted R&B Music Video of the Year at the 2014 Channel O Music Video Awards[16] and Best International Collaboration at the Ben TV Awards 2014.[17] Furthermore, it received a nomination for Best Collabo at the 2014 African Muzik Magazine Awards.[18] 2Face released the video for "Dance in the Rain" on 27 March 2014. It was directed by Luke Biggins.[19] The animated music video for "Higher (Spiritual Healing)" was released on 4 April 2014. It was directed by Clarence Peters and contains a "weird intergalactic storyline".[20] Ifunanya Mokwuah, writing for 360nobs, framed the "Spiritual Healing" video as a deliberate break from clichés, arguing that 2Face used animation to “change the standard of how a music video should and ought to be produced” through originality and storytelling rather than familiar visuals.[21]
The album received generally positive reviews from critics. Ayomide Tayo of Nigerian Entertainment Today rated the album a 4/5, saying that the album was "matured, calm and layered with emotion" and had "well-thought concepts".[24] Wilfred Okiche liked the album, saying that the album gives "a more mature 2Face Idibia, in content, sound, lyrics and vocals".[25]Away and Beyond was granted a 9/10 by TayoTV's Amb Noni, who praised it for its powerful messages and meaningful lyrics, describing the album as "one of the best albums out of Nigeria in at least 2 years" and recognizing that "he isn’t bragging about the money he has or how many girls he screwed but spoke on life & reality."[23] A writer for Jaguda who goes by the moniker Aribaba praised Away & Beyond by 2Face Idibia for its maturity, originality, and cohesive production, noting that it was a rare album where he "didn’t feel the need to skip any songs." He gave the album a rating of 8.5/10.[22] An unknown writer for We Plug Good Music stated, "2Face Idibia outdoes himself on Away & Beyond and surpasses 2010's The Unstoppable to deliver this amazing new album", and said that the album has "stellar production and a huge versatility of sounds" and that the album would be hard to top in the year of 2012.[1]
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