“Ouleu’s” powerful opening lines will always make it a memorable song…Tous mes diplômes sont dans le placard avec tous les cafards. Dans les bars après une bouteille on devient bavard. C’est pas l’école mais le chômage qui m’apprend à reflechir…“Ouleu” is a fast tempo, fun song with a Kanye West like piano beat that references football; Zidane, Zlatan and Dugarry. It doesn’t hit the pedigree of the first two songs though. “Devil nodi sleep” is an old EP release which is just average. It features a drum beat and simple rhymes.
In a masterful return to the Le Monstre signature Bikutsi style beat with a gong accompaniment that twinkles brisk notes all over the place, “Sok Sok” is very reminiscent of “Cash”. And Jovi never walks that Bikutsi path without Tatapong Beyala on his right hand, vocalising in her very unique manner in the background. It is also unforgettable for its funny line, …for seka telenovas your damay di burn for fire. The brilliant rhyming of non English words towards the end which corresponds with the last word, nyang nyang strikes poetic cords.
“Jengu” is so beautiful and unique. A slow song with a spiritual element. It seems to play straight from the heavens, with its weepy background vocals. Jovi raps about his musical success, jealousy on his career and narrates street and lustful tales. Most importantly, he samples his mother’s voice in the song – her monologue in Limbum at the end – just like Jay-Z did with his mum on the track “December 4” and Nas with his dad, Olu Dara in the song, “Bridging the gap”.
“Feel Me Feel Free” starts with a heavy metal rock sound and a sharp, annoying note. Like an unusually loud bird doing its noisy morning breeding call. The artist raps about people who are empty vessels and sell outs.It is not as cool as the former. The beat of the next song, “God Don Kam” almost sounds dysfunctional; an NBA buzzer sounding instrument, a short, squeaky note and somersaulting xylophones. Jovi starts off singing the hook in Limbum himself and rapping in English, then French. The choir chanting in the back ground makes the togetherness of the whole composition functional.
After the very culturally inspired song that named the album, an exquisite song with an American feel, “Versus Versus” follows suit. It is a Motown eighties RnB/Jazz like sounding slow tune with really beautiful background vocals and horns that are almost scared of playing. It is probably the best sampled song on the album. It is also logical that the whole track is performed in English. “Versus Versus” is full of reflections about life; his hardships, his emergence to the music scene and being the light, who shows others how to work the ropes in the industry. Plus, it features that gripping opening line…The only Ls I ever got is the one that I smoke.
