Mr. Incredible is back, and this time, he is a shape-shifting master of the art of rap.
Omo, it was a Friday, and let’s me not lie, I was already winding down for the weekend. But like every avid creative, the thought of going for the album listening party of none other than M.I got me feeling hippy and good (so good that I got to the venue before my colleagues did).
Anyways, let’s rewind a bit.
This day, like a typical day in June, started chill, with a cool breeze, and lazy vibes, until the rain decided to humble everyone, especially those of us who dared to step out just after a short drizzle.
Omo, I thought I was safe, but spoiler alert: I wasn’t oh. The sun was just Lagos playing pranks on me because the rain came back with a vengeance… Ahhh, it was so so heavy, angry, and very surprising. In fact, I had to skip my bus stop and take a longer route back home because the road was flooded, and I just couldn’t risk my legs entering a gutter in Lagos under very heavy rain (my steeze will be reduced from 100 to 0).
But not even the rain could dampen the excitement brewing in me as I researched M.I. Abaga’s next big drop – his new album, The Wolf and that the team and I were invited to the exclusive album listening. I sha took my time to get prepped for the partey.
I am just a girl, and finding an outfit took me on a wardrobe-ransacking spree. I finally settled for a cute orange dress and got myself out of the house around past 6pm.
A listening party with a bad-guy attitude
If you didn’t know, I will tell you sha – this wasn’t your average listening party oh. It was private. Intimate. Zero media coverage. No cameras, no voice recordings. Just vibes, storytelling, and a tribe of loyal fans known as The Tribe of Judah – an agba fans group that has stuck with MI since the lockdown days.
I can tell you for free that this album will be coming to quench the thirst of rap lovers across Nigeria & abroad, after a few years of radio silence, marital bliss, and a few hit drops here and there from the rap lord.
Location. Location. Location. Alliance Française de Lagos / Mike Adenuga Centre
Naturally, Nigerian time showed its face. The invite said 7:00 p.m., but by 7:51 p.m., we were still outside (by we, I mean myself and other attendees).
MI was already in the building, though. The organizers were putting final touches on the setup, adjusting the sound. And there I was, not even a lover of rap , standing like a sour thumb amongst superfans, who were waiting eagerly to see their G.O.A.T. But I came with an open heart (who knows, maybe by the end of the night, I could become a rap head – scroll down to find out if I did *wink wink*).
Eventually, I got tired of waiting and made my way in. Here I was handed a sleek invite card with a QR code that led to a spicy Spotify playlist featuring the best of M.I’s discography. I smiled at the ingenuity and just couldn’t contain my excitement for the main event.
As we waited for kickoff, “Them No Dey Love for Lagos” played, and I chuckled to myself. Because facts! “Can you truly find love in Lagos?”
I sat in the front row – yes oh, like a VIP *wink wink*. But hold your hype sha; it was the seat reserved for media guys (but you can still pretend with me that it’s a big deal – delulu solulu)
Finally, at 8:30PM, MI stepped on stage. And that was when things got real.
But first we prayed…(Don’t act surprised please!) And then we vibed hard… As no audio or video recording was allowed. We were all called to live and experience the new album with our eyes, ears, and good vibes. (As a writer sha, I took to documenting the event like it was thesis… I just couldn’t resist the urge to gist you guys afterwards).
Chapter one: how it all began… the story behind the album
“This album is made for people to listen… it’s a story,” he said. “It’s a genre. It’s African Superhero Theme Music.”
We weren’t just hearing rap at this point; we were being pulled into an African folklore.
He explained how he had been in his village two months prior when the story came to him. Inspired by African folklore and legends, he crafted this tale of The Wolf – the unsung hero who wrestled the Angel of Death to protect Adam and Eve after the forbidden fruit situation. In exchange for their lives, he swore to keep the secret for all time.
Omo, who would have thought that our badass rapper was also a fluent storyteller!? I am not a lover of rap as you already know, but I loved the story – it had depth. It is ingeniously different.
As M.I went deeper, he shared with us the meaning of the acronym THE WOLF: which is, To Humans Everywhere, Whatever Occurs, Look Forward
The Sound
Mr. Fantastic, spitting bars that got us chokehold. If you love rap, sit back because MI is serving it hotter than melted diamonds. You will eat and still hunger for more.
The album is part myth, part message, all rap magic. It’s cinematic. It’s spiritual. It’s a journey. A genre of its own – MI calls it “African Superhero Theme Music.”
Oya o, here is my take and a list of a few songs that he played for our listening pleasure
Terrible Two ft. Jesse Jagz – A love letter to his wife and Jagz came through. In summary, it’s a collaboration we didn’t know we needed until it blessed our ears. Jagz on this is an absolute banger (don’t take my word for it, listen to it when the album drobs and decide for yourself)
The story continued with an election in the animal kingdom. The candidates were the wolf (leader of the pack, caring and strong) and the Lion (majestic and proud)
Good – You can call this a song for the men dem. MI tells the ladies, “It’s tough to be a man.” ‘I love my bro’ You and I, to the good times.’
One thing you need to keep in mind is that the album is literally an audio story, with bits and pieces of MI’s original story.
Bad – A heartbreak anthem for the bros. Hard. Emotional. Speaks to the depth of the broken heart.
The Wolf – my people, this song marks the rebirth moment of the wolf, through a symbolic howl that echoes through the night as the wolf finally rises from the fire/grave. For the first time, the howl was heard at night, telling you loud and clear, ‘Whatever Occurs Look Forward’
Protect Yourself – if you get coconut head, you may need to have this song on repeat because, las las, you need to protect your heart, yourself, your body, your head, and every every. This is def ‘words on marble’. This was the point where Cain killed Abel, and the wolf knew that omo, he had to protect himself.
Then came the three pigs, the boy who cried wolf, and Little Red Riding Hood—all reimagined through the African lens. Every metaphor, every bar, tied back to the wolf.
The story morphed into survival, migration, and redemption.
Because I am not a snitch, just know that the album will contain a variety of songs that will get you vibing, singing out loud, thinking deep, or simply rapping your lungs out. Some like the hustler anthem – “Man gats to advance.” This song goes on to share the evolution of the wolf, from meek to a fierce lone ranger, a bad boy that even Cain had to attest to.
Never Let Them Know – This is my personal fave sha and the last one on my list. It is a love song and the ultimate jam, mixed all together. This one had me dancing like Kilode! And as you have been anticipating, this is where I got sucked into the wonder of rap. I will, for sure, be playing this on repeat when it is finally released, no cap.
The storytelling was elite… M.I. took stories like The Three Little Pigs, Cain & Abel, Little Red Riding Hood, The Creation Story, Adam & Eve and flipped them with African sauce. He made them his own.
The Crowd & The Vibes
Odumodublvck. Ladipoe. IllBliss. Ycee. Everyone came out to celebrate the rap king, and truth be told, it is well-deserved. As throughout his career, he has been one artist that supports others with no bad blood or beef.
The fans didn’t hold back sha, when the questions and answer segment rolled in. They poured out their hearts, sharing with no filters what they got from the story of the wolf. And truly it got me wondering how music can shape people and transform lives.
From MI giving the Big Kala his flowers – “A very supportive hip-hop king,” MI tells Odumodu, “May your reign be long.”
To an attendee shouting, “Your comeback is The Wolf!” and the room echoed with cheers.
Another attendee shares how it encapsulates trials & triumphs… To them, it’s a story that resonates.
“It’s more of introspection. Bad things can happen even with good intentions.” – Manny, a rapper
“The wolf is my story. Long live the king, MI Abaga. Personal stories from his work experience with MI” – A true fan & maybe his biggest fan shares
“Passing the Walkman during SS3 extension, MI’s song kept us hooked” MI 2 album…You have taught us well…From my bunk, to the big stage’ – Big Kala (Odumodublvck)
“It’s like a meal,” MI said. “Meant to be shared. Meant to fill.”
This isn’t just another album. It’s MI’s 14th project. A return. A legacy moment. A reminder that storytelling still matters in Nigerian music.
In case you are waiting with bated breath, keep in mind that there is no official release date yet, but when asked, he smiled and said, “When the next full moon comes.”
Until then, all I can say is, Mr. Incredible – the unbending story weaver, the master shape-shifter and unrivalled rap legend is back, and this time, he’s howling louder than ever!
Drops Mic!
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