Despite not being mainstream, Magixx has mastered the art of creating moments. Either through the ingenuity of his talent, a guest appearance that steals the spotlight or his astute social media presenceβhe’s an artist on top of the pulse.
Most artists owe their breakout moments to their most accessible, mainstream adjacent song but not him. It came in form of one of the most emotive and soulful R&B cuts of 2021. Love Don’t Cost A Dime coasted on the sheer merit of its sonic pathos and whilst it never hit inevitable, chart-topping statusβit established Magixx as a voice to be reckoned with. A year later, he’ll crack another viral moment with All Over off his sophomore EP, which was another R&B bop.
He wasn’t operating in the realms of Pop and R&B fusion stars like Fireboy DML, Ayra Starr and BNXNβas his delivery style featured less lamba and the BPM of his beats weren’t as up-tempo. But in multiple songs, he had showcased his songwriting prowess and vocal dexterityβgarnering a reputation amongst casuals, who didn’t exactly ride for him unconditionally, but had his attention still. His debut album has been overdue and it’s finally here now.
Right from the jump, you can glean from the topical direction of the album’s opener, Consistency that this project is a personal one. In an X/Twitter space chat, Magixx told this writer that he makes music true to his identity and artistry. If it didn’t feel authentic or honest, there was a tendency of him feeling like a sell out. “And all those tears I cried, didn’t know I’ll be so blessed” he confesses, alluding to his tribulations and the gnawing truth that he never believed he could triumph over them. It’s the right sentimental, introspective cut to set the mood for the LP.
Magixx understands his strengths as an R&B artist and so orbits affiliated soundscapes. Ori Mi has a swing bounce and whilst the writing is good and his flows impressive, the chorus is quite dense. This isn’t a slight to the song, but with a seditious groove like it doesβit would have been elevated to elite potential single status with a catchy hook. With You remains in the same soundscape and does have the catchy chorus, its predecessor yearned for. With the right push, it could definitely have a moment.
On Alchl, we leave the loverboy musings on the preceding tracks and head to jaded territory. His demons are getting the better of him and he simply wants to drown in the comforting intoxication of alchohol. It’s a good song, but Magixx doesn’t sound as convincing as he did on the love songsβas the song doesn’t delve deep into the dark corridors of his sanity and instead, keeps his wailing at surface level. Winter & Summer remains one of the best written tracks on the album, and taking into context that Magixx used to be a rapperβit makes so much sense. The beat is minimalistic and almost bare, save rhythmic shakers and lively guitar strings.
On Okay, Magixx sings about internal pressure and bearing the weight of being a pillar for his family and loved ones. He’s putting on a show for them to convince them he’s good, but deep down, his resolve is crumbling and his knots are coming undone. “Money on my mind 24/7, me na steady grinder” he sings on Eleven, reminding listeners he’s all about the paper and capitalizing on opportunities because there’s no way he’s going to settle. Magixx revealed in an interview, he aspires to be the biggest artist in the world someday and so this sentiment holds extra weight in that context.
Sexy Lady leaves the midtempo fusion territory of the prior songs and heads to a treacherously groovy one, with visceral percussion and snappy drum rolls. This is the sort of beat that requires catchy one-liners and a delivery that gives the beat ample space to breathe and strike all the right chords and Magixx understands the assignment. At some point, the instrumentation makes way for a talking drum segment that elevates the entire sonic sequence even further.
Jeriq is the only featured artist on the LP and he justifies his presence on Vibration with a delivery that absolutely steals the show and takes the song to another level. It’s a braggadocious record and who better to dial it up a notch, than a rapper whose genre’s prerequisite is elite skill in bragging and being self-assertive. Bad Decisions & Foreplay heads back into familiar swing and R&B fusion territory and despite being a pre-released single, remains one of the overall best songs on the album. Magixx strives for raunchiness on the song, but can’t help but devolve into love confessions and intimate yearnings. A lover-boy through and through.
Sempe is yet another song, Magixx is reflecting on his past, extolling God for gratitude and highlighting the significance of his triumph. It’s pretty much a filler track, as the production or his delivery doesn’t go anywhereβthat’s not been executed in more dynamic ways on prior tracks on the LP. On Konibaje, it’s more of the same emphasis that he’s blessed, despite his harrowing demons but the song isn’t bland, because the beat is very much alive and pulsating. Magixx also drops one-liners like, “light up the place like ishana” that would help the song stick.
Voices ends the LP on the same introspective note it started on, except whilst the opener was a more mellow trackβVoices is upbeat and uptempo. Magixx’s flows on the second verse has some of the most impressive cadences overall on the project. Topically, he’s choosing to be optimistic and hopeful to rise above his demons and maintain a positive psyche. He knows it won’t be a walk in the park, but it’s definitely not insurmountable with the right spirits.
Magixx does enough to impress on his debut album, as there are more than enough flashes of brilliance across the project to justify a listen. The album is cohesive and also succinct. If it had gone on any longer, it would have ventured into monotonous territory and become a drag. However, anyone hoping for the sort of variance artistry that would dimensionalize on his talent might be in for a disappointment, since he mostly plays it safe.
Final Verdict:
Sonic Cohesion & Transitions: 1.4/2
Expansive Production: 1.3/2
Songwriting: 1.4/2
Delivery: 1.4/2
Optimal Track Sequencing: 1.3/2
Total: 6.8/10
