Artist – Dammy Krane
Album – The Enterkraner
Features – John Black, Pucado, Olamide, 2face Idibia, Rocksteady, Davido, Pasuma Wonder, DJ Consequence, Ice Prince
Producers – Leriq, Spellz, TeeBeeO, Fliptyce, Dayme, Foster Zeeno
Label – Hypertek Digital/960 Music Group
Running time – 58 minutes

Who would have thought Dammy Krane would be the young lad to decipher the need for a new school fuji act in the industry? That was actually very smart. Most players majorly fall under the rap, afro pop or high life categories with a very few exception for those in alternate genres including R&B and soul. There, he continued to feature oblivious of what the future may hold till he got signed to 2face Idibia’s Hypertek Records, which began the journey to his debut album, The Enterkraner.

Dammy Krane’s voiced over intro on Industreet leaves much wonder on what to be expected from his 16-track effort. The contemporary pop sounds are a clear contrast from his h-factored vocals with tints of cultural background. But just hold on, the album doesn’t end up a total joke. He continues with Asiwaju – a persuasive track with Leriq’s signature instrumentals on it. Clinching is an aimless rant pulled off comfortably with Pucado… and who the hell let Dammy speak Igbo? Oluwakemi‘s lyrical styling is too typical. Repetitions on the hook make for more of the record time. His vocal transpositions also relays his appreciation of theoretical music.

On Love Na Die, Dammy pulls a nice afro R&B cut here. Olamide’s rap was brief and quite straight to the point. This one is actual good stuff! Faleela features true elements of fuji in a 21st century offering. Whoever Faleela is, she must be one darn lucky chic for Krane to wear his best musical persona and profess his emotions for her unashamedly. Jolly Good Fellow is easily the most likeable song. The songwriting here is unarguably the best and most applaudable too. Do you notice how 2face never pushes his weight around or steals the shine? That’s legend stuff. There’s a metaphorical meaning left to be understood on Tommorow No Dey. I’m sure even Dammy wouldn’t get it. But those sambas and sounds of a xylophone? Sweetness!

Incase of Incasity is literally a cry for you to press skip. Dammy’s lyrics are so shallow, it becomes hard to actually believe that Davido can whip up better lyrical sense than Dammy would on his own track. Sabi Dance reeked an awful lot of the 2face scent. Sounds like something the afro R&B legend would slay effortlessly and boy wonder managed to live up to mentee expectation. His tribute to Africa started out with serious prospect like something hopefully inspiring and worthy enough to bear the Africa title… and then it ended up a mess… too bad! If you never liked Dammy Krane or you perhaps had a few doubts here and there about his star prowess, Amin does enviable justice to such thoughts. It’s not just a typical song, it’s a beautiful prayer. This one will be here a while.

Ligali levitates you to that low altitude where you conclude that Dammy’s enterkranement has become plenty shades exhausting. But Pasuma knows his stuff and finds a way to dissociate himself from Krane’s kerb crawler status when he vocals out. My Dear joins his fast growing track record of really lame lyrics fueled with repetitions that could make you pull someone’s hair out. Still, this one has beats that will get you to move and at whatever cost. DJ Consequence’s Our Turn Up Is Different is pretty much a decent groove that you can bump and ride to… and then it features Ice Prince! He goes back to showing some wits on Gratitude which I think is an exceptional way to round off his debut piece. You end up thinking about how much you wanna hit that dance floor when Dammy does his fuji thing on the Spellz-produced number. Agreed, Dammy and this fuji thing are like 5 and 6, 2 peas in a pod.

Let’s get something clear, Dammy Krane actually is a talented underling, a major exponent of 21st Century Fuji as he’s often been credited. The exciting thing about this album would be how he merges sounds culled from music’s many genres to creating one distinct to his art. Only that the avenues through which he’s chosen to channel his genius have failed in appearing bright at best. Thankfully, at a debut status, his fate is not one sealed nor a cause lost.