ILLAH.V is a new versatile album released by PA.II, which has proven to be a victory for this artist. PA.II is a creative soul hailing from Nigeria and came to Canada in 2012. Since then, he has been on his grind and has been releasing projects consistently. “ILLAH.V” released in September 2021 shows true adaptability of the multi-genre artist.
Correspondingly, this album showcases genres from Afrobeat to R&B. PA.II manages to do this seamlessly and effortlessly on “ILLAH.V.” Thus “Paiin”, cleverly spelling his name in the title, takes the topic of hurt and turns it into a feel-good track. PA.II’s vocals on this track shine smoothly yet strongly. “Shine” is more rap influenced. Even paying homage to Nate Dogg and Akon. Not to mention, the hip-hop style lyrics and flow coupled with the R&B beat creates a beautiful duality. Moreover, “Man Must Chop” is similar and is targeted to the everyday hustler. PA.II’s punchy, expressive pronunciation with the darker, grimy instrumental makes this song perfect for motivation. If you need even more inspiration to get up and hustle, “Cheque” is the one for you. Lastly, “Surugede” is one of the standout tunes of “ILLAH.V.” It uplifts African women while being an ideal Afrobeats dance track. You can’t help but get up and move while listening to the catchy “Surugede.”
The cover of this latest album exudes confidence. The only thing that is not black-and-white is PA.II’s blazer. The red blazer is a declaration of confidence and power. Notably, these traits were shown at a recent show of his. In that show, he performed songs from “ILLAH.V” and was able to get the crowd hyped while having a strong stage presence. Even dancing a little to his own songs. After not performing for four years, still having the ability to successfully perform on stage is truly a blessing.
Arts and culture correspondent