R&BW is the fourth studio album by Nigerian singer Banky W. It was released by Empire Mates Entertainment on 14 February 2013, coinciding with Valentine's Day.[1] The album was supported by the singles "Yes/No", which peaked at number 1 on the BBC Radio 1Xtra Afrobeat chart, and "Good Good Loving".[2] R&BW features guest appearances from Camp Mulla, eLDee, Sarkodie, Sammy, Shaydee, Skales, Lynxxx, Niyola, M.I, 2Face Idibia, Rotimi and Vector.[3] Its production was handled by Banky W, Cobhams Asuquo, Masterkraft, M.I, Spellz, Sarz and Samklef.[3]

R&BW
Studio album by
Released14 February 2013
Recorded2012–2013
GenreR&B
Length67:00
LabelEmpire Mates Entertainment
Producer
Banky W chronology
Empire Mates State of Mind
(2012)
R&BW
(2013)
Singles from R&BW
  1. "Yes/No"
    Released: 19 November 2012
  2. "Good Good Loving"
    Released: 19 November 2012

Background and promotion

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Banky W revealed the album's cover art to the public several days after signing a 100 million naira contract with Samsung West Africa.[4] The cover art was designed by The Eclectic Source, a design company.[5] Banky W promoted the album by holding the "Grand Love Concert" at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island.[4]

Singles

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The album's lead single, "Yes/No", was released on 19 November 2012.[6] Its music video was co-directed by Banky W and Clarence Peters. British-Nigerian model Angela Tokunbo Daniel made a cameo appearance in the video.[7]

The Spellz-produced track "Good Good Loving" was also released on 19 November 2012, as the album's second single.[1] The song's visuals feature cameo appearances from Damilola Adegbite, Wizkid, BOJ, Lynxxx, Efya, ELDee, Skales, Niyola, P.R.E, Shaydee and Masterkraft.[8] "Good Good Loving" won Best R&B Single at The Headies 2013.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Jaguda9/10[9]
TayoTV8.75/10[10]
TooXclusive     [3]
Lumeviews     [11]
Nigerian Entertainment Today     [12]

R&BW received generally positive reviews from music critics. TayoTV gave the album an 8.75 rating out of 10, concluding: "Banky made it known that he still has it and The W Experience wasn’t a fluke. This is what we want out of Nigeria not the glorified noise most of these artistes call songs or albums."[10] Music blog Jaguda awarded the album a rating of 9 out of 10, saying it doesn't "lack in originality and freshness".[9] Chiagoziem Onyekwena of Nigerian Entertainment Today gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5, highlighting Wizkid's absence on the record.[12]

Accolades

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R&BW was nominated for Best R&B/Pop Album and Album of the Year at the 2013 edition of The Headies.

Track listing

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No.TitleProducer(s)[13]Length
1."The Way"Spellz3:55
2."Good Good Loving"Spellz3:31
3."Magic" (featuring Skales)Cobhams Asuquo4:12
4."Find You"Spellz4:13
5."Yes/No"Cobhams Asuquo4:07
6."Low Key"Spellz4:17
7."Do It to Me"Samklef3:32
8."Be My Lover (Yes/No, Pt. 2)" (featuring Niyola)Masterkraft3:58
9."Say" (featuring Sammy, Shaydee and Rotimi)Masterkraft6:30
10."Past My Past" (featuring Shaydee)Masterkraft4:50
11."To My Unborn Child" (featuring Lynxxx)Masterkraft4:34
12."African & Proud" (featuring Sarkodie, Camp Mulla, L Tido, and Vector)Masterkraft5:04
13."Never Let You Go"Banky W3:36
14."Good Good Loving (Remix)" (featuring 2Face Idibia)Spellz4:10
15."More" (featuring M.I and ELDee)M.I4:06
16."Mercy"Maskerkraft5:07
Total length:67:00

Personnel

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  • Olubankole Wellington – primary artist, producer, executive producer
  • Cobhams Asuquo – producer
  • Masterkraft – producer
  • Jude Abaga – producer, featured artist
  • Spellz – producer
  • Sarz – producer
  • Samklef – producer
  • Taio Tripper – featured artist
  • Shappa Man – featured artist
  • Miss Karun – featured artist
  • Lanre Dabiri – featured artist
  • Michael Owusu Addo – featured artist
  • Sammy – featured artist
  • Shadrach Adeboye – featured artist
  • Eniola Akinbo – featured artist
  • Raoul John Njeng-Njeng – featured artist
  • Chukie Edozien – featured artist
  • Innocent Ujah Idibia – featured artist
  • Olanrewaju Ogunmefun – featured artist

References

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  1. ^ a b "iTunes - Music - R & Bw by Banky W." Itunes. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  2. ^ "Banky W-The True King Of African R&B Shows Us Why He's No.1 With His New Album." sashajustice. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "ALBUM REVIEW: BANKY W – R&BW". tooxclusive. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Banky W signs N100m deal with Samsung + Official TrackList Of R&BW Album". NaijaPrince. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  5. ^ "The Eclectic Source - Portfolio". R&BW Album cover art. The Eclectic Source. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  6. ^ "Banky W – Yes/No + Good Good Loving". NotjustOk. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  7. ^ "New Video: Banky W – "Yes/No"". BellNaija. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  8. ^ "New Video|Good Good Loving - Banky W". that1960chick. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Album Review : Banky W – R&BW". Jaguda. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  10. ^ a b "[Review] Banky W - R&BW". Tayotv. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  11. ^ "BANKY W – R&BW". LumeViews. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  12. ^ a b "R&BW: Banky W will be just fine [Album Review]". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  13. ^ "ALBUM REVIEW: Wale Applause Reviews Banky W RnBW Album". starsofnaija. Retrieved 21 July 2013.