On 'Zerubabel' Aigbeh Dgong makes watered down music from deep-rooted convictions capable of producing fruits of the Spirit.
Born Elijah Aigbeh. Aigbeh D'gong creates relatable music that makes listeners enjoy God and know his take on every matter.
'Zerubabel' EP is a follow up to his 2021, ten track debut album 'D'gong is gold'
Zerubabel is a representation of someone who's firmly rooted in Christ.
THE STARTER
Zerubabel opener 'Flex and Dine' few seconds in, gives off hedonistic tendencies, but on a bulky guitar production, Aigbeh D'gong wielding a definitive pen strikes balances with lines like; 'live for Jesus Christ, but pose and to make him known / use my money serve El-Shaddai'
Pleasure, Profitability, Prosperity and Purpose are core values on this track. It is important that our soul prospers without selling it.
On 'Follow', The songwriting is fine, the analogies are pristine. Guest artiste Baron Jay who for relatability purposes identifies as the Prodigal son and in about half a minute raps about salvaging a broken fatherly relationship with a traceable origin to pride and disobedience.
The progression of the EP arrives at 'Oludande' which loosely translates to 'The One who rescues me', it is an intimate, love letter, not unto an earthly counterpart. But to the one above, and it mirrors fellowship and communion from an unconditional love standpoint.
'Soaring' is refreshing for a reason - Although it holds very familiar melodies, you can almost dip your favourite thumb in vinegar, and swear that you have heard this song somewhere else. But it's how Aigbeh D'gong converts that all too familiar flow into a delightful variant.
Imagine Carrie Underwood 2002 'Jesus take the wheel' but with a different BPM, heavily induced bass guitar riffs, patchy sprinkle of Pidgin and Igbo, all coated in playful melodies.
Congratulations! you get the idea of this next song titled 'Wheel'
Thematically, the lead single of the album can be likened to granting permission to an app on a mobile phone.
'Time and Attention' is essentially the greatest story of redemption, ransom and corresponding energy brilliantly narrated by Aigbeh D'gong
Also a decent try at Amapiano with the production.
In a world with increasingly mental torture and breakdown, even amongst believers, Aigbeh D'gong teaming with Greatman Takit and Paul Rarity on 'Joy' to spread the message of reveling in a certain type of Joy that emanates from a place of solidifed relationship with God.
Easily the standout track on the project. It is a track that showcases the prospects of every featured artist.
The drill eponymous track 'Zerubabel' with Paul Rarity and Sesmo which also doubles as the project closer.
The track that has been slowly building momentum especially around members and allies of his local assembly.
Zerubbabel typifies the standpoint of a young believer especially those with Gen-Z and Millennial leanings. With catch words like 'Zerubabel with fiInesse' 'Imago Dei, 'Soft boys', 'Yung, Fresh and fervent' ingrained in humour and very familiar ad-libs delivery.
FINAL LAP
Aigbeh D'gong has hacked two things - enjoyability and replay value. These are upsides to his artistry and a lot of this might be owing to how commercially appealing he is.
The song-writing is equally brilliant, more distinct than repetitive, very graphic imagery, Nothing grand or overtly elite. It is not as high as a palm tree, where only those who can tap into it must be skillful palm wine tappers, but rather it is a low hanging fruit, something very 'down to earth' - accessible for all and sundry.
Sequentially, this project is divided, by whoever handled the arrangement(or the absence of one).
Tracks one to fivealthough theoretically standalone, have very repetitive
production - The recurrent guitar riffs as foundation, wore out the spark with each listen and only the sheer melodies of Aigbeh D'gong made every listen worthy of replay value.
Tracks six to eight came with a spark, both collectively and individually. A spark owing to how very uniquely crafted the songs were.
The track 'Oludande' ticked all the boxes of a filler track. The project would have been fine without it, or better still, could have been better with an intentional collaboration. It needed someone (not a rapper) with a very boisterous command of the Yoruba language to sing in it. And while 'Zerubabel'
Coherence is also rightfully faulted on this project, for someone with a knack for spitting quottables, it sure hurts to occasionally struggle to hear verbatim every word that was either rapped or sung on this project.
Aigbeh D'gong might not make the type of music to unlock a torrent of tears, or make you assume a solemn disposition while listening.
He makes music for girls who are called 'tomboys' or boys who don't like to speak too much english, they sometimes like to even flip their face caps backwards.
But what his music does to them, is that they feel inspired to love and serve God from where they are and slowly move into a place where they can easily 'fan into flames' the gifts God has given them.
Listen to the Album here.
https://open.spotify.com/album/5QoW8gKpNpSfzRn222kbXe?si=euHgNpDaRVuFmZ_M5Cmlng&utm_source=copy-link
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