Lasso of Truth is the second studio album by the Nigerian singer Omawumi. It was released on 23 March 2013 through Oma Records and features guest appearances from Timaya,Wizkid,Flavour,2Face Idibia,and Afay. Production was handled by Cobhams Asuquo,Don Jazzy,Sizzle Pro,Oscar Heman-Ackah,Young D,Sarz,and Soso Soberekon on the standard edition,with additional production from E Kelly and Philkeyz on the deluxe edition. Lasso of Truth serves as a follow-up to Omawumi's debut,Wonder Woman (2009). The deluxe edition of the album was released on 12 September 2013.
The launch party for Lasso of Truth took place on 7 April 2013,at the Lagos Oriental Hotel. The event featured a lineup of Nigerian artists,including 2Face Idibia,Tiwa Savage,Seyi Shay,Waje,Timaya,and Wizkid,who performed throughout the evening. A tribute to Omawumi's mother was followed by a performance from Omawumi,Tiwa Savage,Seyi Shay,and Waje,who performed "No Woman No Cry" and "Thank You Lord,Hallelujah." Omawumi also brought Onyeka Onwenu on stage to perform "Ekwe." The event featured various performances and transitions throughout the evening.
Singles
Standard edition singles
The album's lead single "If You Ask Me" was released on 10 January 2011. The song,produced by Cobhams Asuquo,is an introspective narrative about child sexual abuse. It aligns with Omawumi's advocacy work as an Ambassador for Project Alert,an organization focused on issues of sexual abuse and reproductive health.[3] The second single,"I Go Go",was released on 18 May 2011 alongside a music video directed by Clarence Peters. Also produced by Cobhams Asuquo,it is a reggae-infused track in which Omawumi sings in pidgin English about unrequited love over a subtle reggae beat,showcasing her vocal range.[4] The third single,"Bottom Belle," often shortened to "Belle," and released on 6 February 2012,features Flavour. The song was produced by Soso Soberekon. Omawumi described the song as her "witty way of telling the story of an opinionated young Nigerian woman who wants and fully intends to enjoy her life."[5] In an interview with Encomium Magazine,Omawumi stated that the song is about "a young woman who told a guy that loves her to be free handed a bit".[6] The fourth single off Lasso of Truth,entitled "Stay Alive (Jeje Laye)",was released on 23 November 2012. It was produced by Sizzle Pro and is a mid-tempo blues track that encourages listeners to approach life with caution and perseverance.[7] On 12 September 2013,Omawumi released the Mega-directed music video for "Warn Yourself". Shot in Brooklyn and Lagos,the video omits Wizkid's verse.[8] The fifth and final single off the album was "You Must Love Me",which was released on 11 January 2014. It was also produced by Sizzle Pro.[9]
Deluxe edition singles
"Somori" was released on 9 August 2013 as the lead single off the deluxe edition and the sixth single overall. It features vocals from Remy Kayz and production from Philkeyz.[10] It is a mix of Yoruba and pidgin English and a blend of afro-pop and dancehall.[11] The second single off the deluxe edition and the seventh single overall is "Finally",which was released on 11 February 2014 alongside the fifth single overall "You Must Love Me" and "Serious Love Nwantinti (Remix)". It was produced by E Kelly.[9]
Critical reception
The album received generally positive reception from critics. Harry Itie of OkayAfrica praised Omawumi's Lasso of Truth for showcasing her vocal strength and storytelling ability and its versatile and relatable subjects,highlighting her exploration of genres such as jazz,reggae,and afro-pop. Itie concluded "[Omawumi] has created a work that is not only relatable but also entertaining to anyone who is a lover of good music".[2] Ayomide Tayo of The NET described Lasso of Truth as a well-crafted album that combines humor,relatable themes,and her command of Pidgin English to create a standout album. He praised her ability to blend diverse genres like Afrobeat,reggae,and EDM while delivering messages about resilience,love,and social issues. With a 4/5 rating,he concluded that the album "is a well-thought-out album... making Omawumi a hero in my book,a wonder woman,and that is the truth".[1] Wilfred Okiche of YNaija described the album as a solid album that maintains the afro-pop stylings of her debut but lacks a sense of exploration,feeling like "more rehash than a sequel." While he praised tracks like "What a Bang Bang" featuring 2Baba and her seamless collaboration with Flavour on "Bottom Belle",he found the Wizkid duet "Warn Yourself" unimpressive. He concluded that the album was better than the rest of the albums released in 2013.[12]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
