A change for the better? Hip-Hop is global and more diverse from when it first started. Nigerian born Wale Oyejide, a.k.a. Science Fiction (responsible for last year’s stunning “Walls Don’t Exist”), is the depiction of Hip-Hop on the cutting edge. His sophomore CD, “One Day, Everything Changed” was arranged with elements of Afro-beats, Hip-Hop, and Jazz with motivating messages to alter the mindset. Unlike his debut, which was purely instrumental (save one track), Mr. Oyejide shows off the pipes this time around in what he dubs broken jazz.
The CD starts out with a track called “Theme Music”, an introduction to Wale world. Wale is blunt in calling for a united front on the politically charged “There’s A War Going On” featuring Jay Dee of Slum Village. “They say because of the color of my skin I should be careful how I speak/they tell me not to rock the boat, I say I’d rather swim.” It’s not surprising that people of the world are uprising. On “Riot and Revolt”, Wale protests and suggests the nation take a stand; “Make our children take a test and train them how to fail/do not take it anymore it’s time to have our say.” Wale whisks the listener away on a brief trip to his corner of the richest continent on “Third World Anthem.” His wishful thinking on “One Day, Everyday Changed” featuring Lacks makes one wonder if this way of life can be achieved if everyone believed. He offers similar words of encouragement on “Upwards.” “Damn James” depicts deferred dreams of a dude and his downward spiral on the path to destruction; “Best believe I’ve tried it all I’m getting desperate and if you’ve seen the things I’ve seen, you’d be the same.”
Wale won’t allow his woman to wander off and wails “I told my baby not to come on home with another man and if I can’t have you then no one else can” on the blues infused “Ever After”. Wale sheds light on the city where he was born on “Ibadan Sunrise” which sounds like he’s advertising a vacation get-away. “In The City” echoes the previous tune and both songs have that vibe reminiscent of The Roots. “Keep Pushing” pumps a positive mantra; continue to strive “Open your heart and then your eyes/look into mine and love you will find”. Wale pays homage to Hip-Hop giving honorable mention to the heroes who held it down on “This Is Dedicated To” featuring MF Doom. This track will surely take you back to Hip-Hop’s humble beginnings. The appropriately titled “Wasting Time” is Wale’s worst song on this CD. I wish Wale would have spent his time more wisely on a song worth listening to instead of almost 6 minutes of mush. Wale needs to work on his singing. I almost gagged listening to “Give It Up.” The song has that Seal feel and on the real, he should take his own advice and give it up, singing those sappy songs.
Bonus cuts include “There’s A War Going On” remix featuring Lacks which is not really too much different from the original. “Track 18” takes Drum and Bass to a different place. I wonder what was on Wale’s mind, because this song is weird. There’s a lot of repetitive lines in Wale’s material similar to African chants and no dance tunes w/the exception of “Track 18” if you’re into the Techno scene. While Wale’s music may not go mainstream, “One Day, Everything Changed” is a definite diversion.
