Banky W,Wizkid and Skales started recording songs for the album in 2011. Most of the songs on the project were recorded at E.M.E headquarters. Banky W told Beverly Bryan of MTV Iggy that living with Skales and Wizkid made the album easier to record.[5]Empire Mates State of Mind was initially scheduled for release on 12 June 2012,but ended up being postponed.[6] E.M.E released the album's final track listing instead.[2] On 15 and 16 June,E.M.E organized a listening party and launch event to celebrate and promote the album.[7][8] The listening party was held at the Deuces Bar &Lounge in Victoria Island,Lagos.[9][10]
Empire Mates State of Mind was released exclusively on Spinlet,a digital media company.[11][12] As a means of promoting the album and its brand,Spinlet gave away 100,000 copies of the album to its subscribers.[11][12] The album was made available for free digital download to the first 75,000 people who downloaded Spinlet's official mobile application.[13][14]Nigerian Entertainment Today posted a step-by-step tutorial on how Spinlet subscribers can download the album.[15]
Singles
The album's lead single,"Baddest Boy",was released on 2 April 2012. The song was produced by Legendury Beatz and features contributing vocals by Wizkid,Skales and Banky W. The accompanying music video for "Baddest Boy" was directed by Clarence Peters and uploaded to YouTube on 18 July 2012. The Sarz-produced track "Dance for Me" was released on 25 July 2012,as the album's second single. The visuals for the song were directed by Sesan. "Get Down Tonight",which Sarz also produced,was released as the album's third single.[16][17] The song's music video was directed by Moe Musa,with its release marking the end of E.M.E Wednesdays.[18][19]
"Ko Mo Le" was released as the album's fourth single.[20] Released on 11 October 2012,its music video was shot by 1st Impression in Washington DC.[21] "Sun Mo Mi",co-produced by Masterkraft and Banky W,was released as the album's fifth single. The Peters-directed music video for the song features cameo appearances from Wizkid,Niyola,DJ Xclusive,Iyanya,Flowssick,Iceberg Slim and Slim T.[22] The Spellz-produced track "Don't Delay Me (Don't Go There)" was released as the album's sixth single. The visuals for the song feature cameo appearances from Lynxxx,Gbenro,Dammy Krane,Skales,Shaydee and DJ Xclusive.[23] "Change" was released as the album's seventh single. The song addresses some of Nigeria's current plights.[5] The music video for "Change" was filmed by Peters.
Empire Mates State of Mind received generally positive reviews from music critics. A writer for TayoTV,who goes by the moniker Teaponpi,rated the album 8.5 out of 10 and commended the work of each artist.[24] Wilfred Okiche of 360nobs granted the album a rating of 7 out of 10,acknowledging it for being "unabashed in owning up to its motives" and saying its production "may become repetitive at some point despite the variety of producers involved".[25]
Reviewing for Nigerian Entertainment Today,Ayomide Tayo granted the album 3.5 stars out of 5,characterizing it as "one directional at times,with its emphasis on party music" and commending the artists for bringing "their own style to each song,saving the project from not being too repetitive."[27]TooXclusive's Ogaga Sakapide gave the album 3 stars out of 5,describing it as "monotonous,tired club-beats and too lengthy". Sakapide acknowledged Wizkid,Niyola and Wellington and said the record is "pretty solid".[26]
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