Wilmer is the second studio album by Nigerian singer Patoranking. A follow-up to his debut God Over Everything (2016), it was released on 24 May 2019 by Amari Musiq. Named after and dedicated to his daughter, the album features guest appearances from mostly international and pan-African acts, with the only Nigerian act being Davido. Other artists featured on the album include Bera, Dadju, Donae'o, Busiswa, and Nyashinski.[1] Patoranking enlisted production from Sarz, Mr. Kamera, Ctea, DJ Coublon, Botcash, and Mix Master Garzy on the album.[2]
Work on Wilmer began before the birth of Patoranking's daughter, after whom the album is named. He described becoming a father in August 2018 as a turning point that reshaped his outlook and influenced the creative process of the record. According to him, fatherhood provided new inspiration for themes of love and dance that shaped much of the music. The cover and opening track are dedicated to his daughter, with the title track presenting affectionate lyrics directed toward her. The album incorporates elements of Afrobeat, dancehall, and Afropop. Its songs address a range of subjects, including love, self-actualization, and African unity. "Black" was written as both a critique and a motivational call for solidarity, while "Nakupenda" features Kenyan singer Nyashinski and blends romance with Swahili influences. "Lenge Lenge", inspired by Fela Kuti, was conceived as an Afrobeat tribute to African women. The Davido-assisted "Confirm" reflects on success and ambition. Patoranking also collaborated closely with Georgian singer Bera during the album's creation, after the two met in early 2018. Recording sessions took place across different locations, including his Lagos studio, and featured contributions from his band members, engineers, and management team.[3]
Singles
The album's Mr. Kamera-produced lead single "Confirm" featuring Davido was released on 28 February 2019. The music video for "Confirm" was directed by Luke Biggins. At the end of the video, Patoranking, accompanied by several women, presents a ₦50 million cheque to an undisclosed children's charity.[4] "Lenge Lenge" was released on 2 May 2019 as the album's second single. It was produced by DJ Coublon. The accompanying music video, directed by Luke Biggins, is a inspired by the 1970s, and features women in 1970s-inspired costumes, including natural afros, traditional hairstyles, face paintings, and beads.[5]Wilmer's title track features French-born Georgian singer Bera and was released as the third single. The music video presents Patoranking spending time with his daughter during her birthday party, alongside other home videos of them spending time together.[6]
Critical reception
Taiwo Oluwafemi of tooXclusive praised Wilmer as a showcase of Patoranking's versatility, blending love songs, social commentary, dancehall, and party tracks into a well-rounded and enjoyable project. He concluded, "In summary, this album is another way Patoranking has proven his versatility and effortlessness at making really good music", and rating it an 8.5/10.[7]
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