Tabula Rasa (Brymo album)
| Tabula Rasa | ||||||||||
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| Studio album by Brymo | ||||||||||
| Released | October 30, 2014 | |||||||||
| Recorded | 2014 | |||||||||
| Genre | ||||||||||
| Length | 38:00 | |||||||||
| Producer | Mikky Me | |||||||||
| Brymo chronology | ||||||||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| NotJustOk | 10/10 |
| Jaguda | 9/10 |
| Pulse |   |
| Should You Bump This | |
| TooXclusive | |
Tabula Rasa (Latin: Blank Slate) is the fourth studio album by Nigerian singer Brymo, released independently on October 30, 2014. It is a follow-up to his third studio album, Merchants, Dealers & Slaves (2013). Moreover, it is the second album released by the singer since the Federal High Court of Lagos lifted Chocolate City's injunction against him. The album was preceded by the single "Fe Mi", which was released in the month leading to the album's release. The LP's material includes the recurring theme of freedom. Critical reception to Tabula Rasa was overwhelmingly positive, with many critics deeming it a "classic".
Brymo started recording Tabula Rasa following the release of his third studio album, Merchants, Dealers & Slaves (2013). Sammy Sage Hasson was originally announced as the only artist that would be feature on the album. Brymo's manager, Lanre Lawal, told The Punch that Brymo was working on an album for 2014. Brymo decided to name the album Tabula Rasa after hearing the judge used it in a speech.
On "Back to Love", the singer freely expressed himself spiritually, emotionally and creatively. On "Fe Mi", a song with a laser sharp guitar and rhythmic claps, Brymo pleads for physical love. "Prick No Get Shoulder", which is a metaphor for enjoying life's pleasures with caution, depicts a condition of being. On "Dear Child", Brymo narrates the fickleness of life as well as the unconditional love between a grandmother and her grandchild. "Ję Lé O Sinmi" (Yoruba: Kindergarten) is a memoir of Brymo's past as an innocent child in the daycare, to that of a mature man. "Alone" is a spoken word poetry about discovering one's self. "Never Look Back" is a compelling charge to owning up and taking responsibility. On "Jungle Fever", a song with an electro/techno riff, Brymo sings about the unrest of the populace; the latter part of the song is a metaphor for being angry at the status quo. "1 Pound" is an Afrobeat song with trademark horns and meandering guitar licks. "Again" is a song about starting love all over again; the song is composed of grand drums and a choir like hum.
"Fe Mi" was released as the album's lead single on September 18, 2014. Ayo Onikoyi of Vanguard describes the song as "a soft traditional ballad". On March 6, 2015, Brymo released a documentary for the song "1 Pound", which was directed by St. Immaculate. A teaser of the documentary was released on March 2, 2015. Brymo premiered the documentary on Pulse TV Live, and said that the song is about informing people about local and international currencies. On March 30, 2015, he released the music video for the song "Ję Lé O Sinmi". The video, directed by Godson KC Uma of MaadKreativity Inc, runs for 3 minutes and 59 seconds.
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