D'banj A Pacesetter
Editorial:- Revisiting D’Banj’s “No Long
Thing” Album 10 Years Later,And Its
Impact On Nigerian Pop Music
Posted by RUN RUN SURE
Album:- No Long Thing ( 2005 )
Album Artiste:- D’Banj
Producer(s):- Don Jazzy
Label:- Mo’Hits Records ( Now Defunct )
Track List
1. “Intro”
2. “Tongolo”
3. “Socor”
4. “Pastor (Skit)”
5. “All Da Way”
6. “Iya Mi”
7. “Mr. Olopa”
8. “Witches (Skit)”
9. “Mobolowowon”
10. “Ika O Da”
11. “Ask Me” ft. Kween
12. “Na Lie” ft. Nova & Raga Remi

Me, I Be D’Banj, My Jamo Friends, Dem Dey Call
Me Ski Banj” – D’Banj (Tongolo)
D’Banj is arguably the most talked about African
Artiste at the moment,not just because of the
quality of his Music (which some feel is
dwindling, while some feel He’s just fine), but
also because of his unceremonious split with his
long term business partner and producer Don
Jazzy which some suggest is the reason why he
has been unable to recapture the Magic of his
early years.Despite his many naysayers, and fans
as well, everyone agrees collectively on his
capacity as an Artiste to Entertain.

Lets rewind a bit, Its 2005 , The era of the
demise of groups, and emerging solo Superstars
was reaching its peak Remedies Has Broken up
a few years earlier, Tony Tetuila was the biggest
Pop Star in the land,Plantashun boys had broken
up as well, and One year earlier 2 Face Idibia
had dropped his Classic debut Album Face 2
Face, which was entirely produced by OJB
Jezreel , who was the hottest Producer in the
Country , The Urban airwaves were ruled by
Kennis Music, And it was hard for any other
Artiste to break the Musical monopoly at the
time, If you weren’t with Kennis, you were with
Point beats ( OJB Jezreel, Ruggedman, Abounce,
And co ), and the two sometimes worked hand in
hand, the only other mainstream act was
Maintain ( Olu and Tolu ), managed by Big Bamo,
who was somewhat affiliated to Kennis Music,
so it was safe to say everyone knew everyone.

D’Banj – Tongolo
The Artistes that dominated the Urban Pop
Scene were Paul Play Dairo, Sound Sultan ,
Maintain, 2 Face Idibia, Blackface ( Dancehall ) ,
X-Appeal ( Jazzman Olofin and Lexxy Doo ) , as
well as 2 Shotz and Big Lo,The former who just
broke out of Trybesmen, and dropped his
critically acclaimed Pirated Copy Album, with the
breakout hit Delicious which was the biggest
Rap single and owed its popularity to its blend of
Pidgin English Chorus, with Pidgin Rap, and a
Bouncy production from Big Lo, which served as
a Crossover Pop Hit as well,and redefined the
sound of commercial Rap Music.

Enter Dapo Oyebanjo and Michael Collins , after
playing Joker to 419 Squad ( JJC , Masta Plan,
Kween etc ) , and Keyboardist to Solek Crew
( Mr Solek ) respectively in the United Kingdom,
the two Artistes decided to return to Nigeria,
with nothing but a Dream, Raw Talent, and a
whole lot of energy, which proved Pivotal in
capturing the essence of the Artiste whom the
world was going to come to love as D’Banj.
Originally appearing on Kiss Me Again By
Emerging Superstar Rapper Ruggedman (at the
time , and singing R&B, D’Banj immediately
realized that doing what everyone was doing
wasn’t going to pay off, and decided to entrust
his sound entirely to his Friend Don Jazzy (I
Guess that was already the plan), with whom he
was jumping Night buses with two years earlier
in London , who thought D’Banj was a Bonafide
star, and had the expertise required to
showcase his friends talent, hence the
successful partnership was formed, and one of
the most defining Pop Albums in the last decade,

No Long Thing , was born , and we revisit what
made the Album, A Classic which birthed and
solidified his status, not just as an Artiste but a
Trendsetter , and the Impact of that Album on
the Musical Terrain, and the Sound of African
Music as a whole.

D’Banj – Socor
Not aiming to review the Album, we intend to
look at the Album Ten years later, and pick out
things which made the Album special and
pointed the Urban Pop Sound a whole new
direction Special.
The 12 Track Album which had
3 skits and 9 tracks was unlike anything that
was out at the time and was so sonically
advanced that it caught the ears of listeners
with its first single Tongolo which became an
instant smash, and introduced the world to
Slangs which he would use throughout his
career; Catchphrases,words and phrases like
“Koko” , Kokolets and “No long tin” became
everyday slang among the urban youth and every
one wanted a Piece of the Kokomaster. You hear
songs with titles like “Sekem” , “Kukere” , “Shoki” ,
And “Skelewu” , it was “Tongolo” that started it
all , giving your song some obnoxious dance/
slang title started here, and has continued till this
very day.The next Track Socor, is also another
dance instructional song in the same vein, before
D’Banj, no other Artiste wanted to teach you how
to Dance , with lyrics like “And I no want make
you dance with Co-Ordination / I Just want make
you watch my Demonstration” ,you could see
where the instructional dance lyrics trend started
from.Delving into your personal life on a record
was nothing new at the time, but D’banj dropped
arguably his most personal track with All Da
Way, the next track, which came right after a
Brilliant skit Pastor (The Pastor in question is
Rumoured to be Pastor David Oyedepo whom he
also sang about on the next song), on which he
sings “My Mama say Music E No Good / My papa
say, Music E No Be Food / But me I Say, na him I
wan do / But dem say, I Must go to School / I Try,
Try, Try , I do wetin Mama Say / I Try, Try, Try, I do
wetin Papa Say / I Try, Try, Try, Book no enter my
Head” ,I Cannot help but think Lines like this not
only inspired a lot of Youths at the time to
believe they could follow their Musical Ambitions,
but were the inspirations behind Lyrics from
Artistes like Timaya who came after and sang “I
Discover My Talent Eh / When I Was very Very
Young Eh / My Mama say na school make I go,
Make I become a Banker Eh / They want me to
take over my Papa wetin E Be / When I Try to dey
go to School , My brother I No fit Eh / Book no
enter my Brain, My Brother make e no be by force”
on his track God You Are Too Much, Off his
second Album. “Iya Mi” the next song is for
Parents, specifically his Mother and on the Next
song “Mr Olopa” , He tackles something that a
great Majority of Nigerians have encountered at
least once in their lives, Police Brutality,little
wonder the Album resonated well with fans,
across the Nation.Another creative skit “Witches”
precedes the Biggest Track on the Album,
second only to Tongolo, “Mobolowon” rendered in
fluent Yoruba was a Fan Favourite on the Album,
which gave a little insight into some of the
mischievous activities he used to indulge in while
he was living in London.
D’Banj – Mobolowon
Ika O Da a well produced Groovy song, where he
spoke about people who just do everything to
bring you down also added to the flavour of the
Album.The last two songs were the only songs
on the Album which had guest Appearances , by
Kween on Ask Me , An Nova Appearing on Na Lie
along with Ragga Remi,the collaborations
Sounded more like D’Banj Tracks, as his
performances on both Tracks Vocally and with
his Harmonica were top notch, and
overshadowed all featured Artistes.
Great Artistes have their moments , Michael
Jackson never released an Album greater than
Thriller ,and certain parallels could be drawn
between these Albums, as Magnum Opus’s in
Both Artistes careers, As No Long Ting changed
the sound, style , and rhythm of Urban Nigerian
Pop Music.Not only was he consistent with his
Harmonica throughout,D’Banj touched on Topics
the masses could relate to, and his appearance
was that of a real superstar .His DJ Tee directed
Videos were crisp and inspired and spawned the
likes of Durella, Wande Coal, Orezi, Wizkid,
Davido, and a host of pop Artistes who came
after to shape the direction which their Music
would go, so even if we never get an Album from
D’Banj and Don Jazzy, we could pop No Long
Thing in the deck, and relive the Magical
moment when Nigerian Pop Music was Changed
forever. He's indeed the Igwe of our pop music.
This album worth to be kept in the museum.
Oshee!

It's an emergency you never expected this.
Written by:
Obinna Fred is a London-based Journalist who
has contributed to a few Blogs on the net, and
writes on NS Now as the Senior Editor and
features Writer.He loves Hip-Hop and Music in
General. Follow @Fazillion
Edited by: Da-silva