'Aware' is a vulnerable Autobiography that details Oba Reengy Before and After transformation.
Jesusomidotun Peters 'Oba Reengy' main goal is to create music that reflects Christ to this generation and beyond.
Speaking further on his process "I write most of my songs from life events and my journey, that helps me create what's true to me and give me a strong connection with the music and everyone out there like me"
Oba Reengy is consciously creating music that gives Jesus permission.
'Aware' is his first solo album, this precedes his 2018 'Lead' Ep, 'Sound of Life' and a 'Sound of Life' Volume 2 with Rehmaz released in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
THE STARTER
In a letter addressed to God, Oba Reengy is aware of 'where you (God) brought me from'
On very emphatic percussive instrumentals and later violin riffs.
Oba Reengy bares it all in a lot of Yoruba, speaking about his struggles before new birth in Christ.
And how he experiences joy and so much more, no more addictions and struggles.
He references a previous life of fraud and utter reliance on self that has now witnessed transformation.
Thematically, 'You called me out' sounds like a refix of everything 'where you brought me from' stands for.
His trademark laid back drawl switches from English to Pidgin as he sings about what the efforts God has put in marking him out for a greater purpose. It could have been titled 'property' though.
"make una leave me alone, I'm his own." Is his stance because according to him, he is 'His own'
A stand out single that is layered on having eyes on Christ as the prize, having been bought with a price.
The first collaboration of the album is with Angeloh
Oba Reengy and Angeloh who delivers a healthy verse with a melodic call and response sums all that love means to them in one word 'Phenomenal'.
On 'Relief' with Oyije, Oba Reengy is aware that the only way for fear to become weaker is by making faith grow bigger.
He is doubly aware that intimacy with God births strict convictions and offers stability and like Peter, it's possible to become solid like a rock.
'Options' takes a different direction, with the melodies.
'Left to me, there are plenty options - but there is only one road that brings redemption. Learn from me avoid deception'
There is something about the brevity that seems ill. But it's fine, because the track is an interlude.
Paul, Timothy and Apollo would be proud of this next song aptly titled 'Increase comes from you'.
As self explanatory as it is, it alludes to the fact that only God nods for/against something that matters the most.
And when he raps 'frustration go start if you think say you get sense' it helps even provide further context.
The intro of 'Jesus' is very clear and could have been one of the first three songs.
With a sense of empathic intensity, Oba Reengy sings of the efficacy of the greatest name to have existed.
'Eru(End of fear)' is a younger generation recounting Psalms 23, with guitar melodies.
Oba Reengy's awareness this time stems from no longer being a slave to fear.
The song would have sparkled with a verse form a dancehall artist, someone who could fluently rap in patios.
'Save Me from Myself' might be his most vulnerable side on the album.
Oba Reengy is aware once again, that he could self-destruct. It is a cry of help to be saved from his prideful state especially with the eventuality of success.
The last thing Oba Reengy is aware of is contentment with the gift of his salvation.
And so the album ends with 'I'm Okay With You' is total surrender to and satisfaction with the lover of his soul.
FINAL LAP
Obareengy has a distinctive artistry. It's hard to not be able to single out owing to his sing-rap approach to delivery.
Oba Reengy is a 'jiggy boy'. He has the type of aesthetic that would appeal to young people with lived experiences riddled with extremities of vices.
'Aware' is a function of his lived experiences and to the dimension of God at his privy.
Awareness from the power in Jesus name, to him being symbols of boldnessto the all increasing power of God, to his self-destruction tendencies to the phenomenal nature of God's love and various facets of awareness to the different workings of God.
In an eleven track album, there are likely to be filler tracks. And Aware isn't left out.
Oba Reengy awareness is valid and rightfully so, his weaving of stories into shared realities has been one of his fort, but at certain points in the listening experience of the album, you could almost feel like you were hearing the same thing.
So it's not about the quality here, but how concise it could have been as a complete body of work. The right word here is 'collapsible'
Also two noteworthy additions (which stand to be corrected) about this album is that either the bulk of the beats used weren't exactly 'new' or some of these tracks here have been recorded for a while, and then it just became a case of selecting songs from the drive as opposed to opening from a fresh account.
But the most important take-home from this album is the demography that Oba Reengy would largely appeal to - 'The Streets' Only few people have been able to hack into that space. And that's is a huge sigh of relief.
You can listen to Oba Reengy Aware album here
https://open.spotify.com/album/4MjTsoGxntA9k8SleIDRo9?si=dl3SQGEWR_Kry9hz-hNywA&utm_source=copy-link
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