Epistles of Love: A Review of Body and Soul by Joeboy.

Since his breakthrough in 2019 with his song ‘Baby,’ Joeboy has had one of the best runs as an artist on the continent. He has been on a streak of back-to-back hit records, which resulted in him being named one of Billboard’s top 15 most streamed artists in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2020. Having enjoyed enormous success, Joeboy barely talks about his commercial achievements over the course of his career. Neither has he been involved in any form of controversy. As such, it is not surprising that he is tagged as an “underrated artist,” when, in fact, he is having a career many before and after him may never have. Regardless of your perception of him, you cannot deny his talent and grace.

Despite being a musical genius, his “lowkey’ profile may have had an influence on his debut album, ‘Somewhere Between Beauty and Magic,’ which has been overlooked as one of the best debut projects by an African artist in recent years. The album featured hits like ‘Focus,’ ‘Runaway,’ ‘Door,’ ‘Call’ and ‘Lonely.’ It is not surprising he got the name “Young Legend.” From his early years until date, the level of delivery in terms of hits, records, and shows played is befitting of someone known as “Young Legend.” For context, there has never been a year since his debut that Joeboy has failed to produce less than two hit records.

After ‘SBBM,’ Joeboy went on a very experimental musical run as far as his sound is concerned. However, in that same period, he dropped a continental viral hit with ‘Alcohol (Sip)’ and arguably one of the best Afropop songs in 2022 with ‘Contour.’ During this time, Joeboy laid the foundation of his recent sophomore album, ‘Body & Soul.’ Following Joe’s career, one identifiable trait is that he has never shied away from singing out his emotions and feelings. If it was not already obvious, then his social media activities and songs he has dropped this year confirm one thing: Joeboy is a certified Loverboy. Through his music, he explores various themes of love and romance.

From where he left off on ‘SBBM,’ Joeboy fully embodies the Loverboy brand on his sophomore album. With a lot of ‘Afro-Depression’ and ‘Afro-Ashewo’ music going around, it has become a pretty unbearable couple of months for the hopeless romantics that want to enjoy some music made filled with love and all the mushiness and cheesiness it comes with. When the world needed some ‘Afro-love’ music, Joeboy showed up once again.

Body & Soul, a 15-track album, is an upgrade of his previous album. With features from Bnxn, Ckay, Oxlade, Odumodu Blvck, Ludacris, Tempoe, and Kemena. The album floats between Pop and R&B, with traces of highlife. With the pre-released songs ‘Body & Soul,’ ‘Contour,’ ‘Alcohol,’ and ‘Duffel Bag,’ the album arrives with 11 new songs. Sonically and thematically, this is one of the best albums out so far this year. The album explores the various aspects of love and romance, which encompass joy, happiness, pain, lust, trust, honesty, and money.

His Loverboy persona shines through this entire album. He moves from offering his undying love on ‘Body & Soul,’ to putting his money on the table in ‘Wetin Be Love’ and ‘Duffle Bag,’ and demonstrating trust in ‘Check My Phone’ and outdooring his “Yoruba Demon” character in ‘Slowly.’ This writer believes there is no truer expression of love than what Joeboy depicts on this album. Love comes at a cost, and Joeboy is willing to bear it all, starting with his soul. While some people may describe him as being “mumued” (love-whipped and fooled), this writer believes that if you meet the one you want to spend your life with, your soul will be the least of your offerings to them. On ‘Loose Yah,’ he explains further why he is willing to offer his soul. However, there is a catch that makes me believe the man has not been “mumued.” While he admits that he does not want to be without her, she also has her part to play, especially if she wants to enjoy all the benefits that come with being his woman. “I wanna be with you and you only. You can have my body, time, and my money. As long as you dey loyal to me,” he opines.

To prove that he is loyal and trustworthy, he gives her the opportunity to go through his phone. In today’s world where a man’s phone is as important as the air he breathes, Joeboy is truly ready to offer his. “Check my phone. Check my Snapchat o. Nothing I dey hide o. You no go see wetin you dey find,” those are words of a man who has nothing to hide.

Remember when Joeboy said his love interest could have my time and money on ‘Loose Yah?’ Well, he was not just saying it for the fun of it. This is a man who is offering money in duffel bags to his woman. When they said “love is expensive,” they did not lie. I kept asking myself why he was offering her that much money, and the answer is simple: “Wetin be love if the money no Dey. Wetin be love if the raba no Dey.” As stated by the infamous Nigerian philosopher David Adeleke “Love is sweet o, but when money enters, love is sweeter.” As part of the things Joe is offering, he’s also offering his body. As a Yoruba demon, he likes to take things slowly. If anyone ever asks if you can be intimate with Afrobeats, ‘Slowly’ should be your answer. He was not explicit, but his description of how he likes to be touched and handled in bed is very clear from his choice of words.

In all the bliss and fun that comes with love and relationships, Joeboy takes time to talk about the darker side of love that brings pain and sorrow. On ‘Contour’ he talks about how relationships are never rosy. After all, even roses have thorns. Hence the line, “Your way e no too straight, contour.” He battles heartbreak and betrayal caused by the one you had shown nothing but the deepest of love and emotions to. He goes even darker as he talks about how people slip into addiction and abuse of substances as a result on ‘Alcohol.’ People deal with pain differently. In their attempt to bury the pain, they get hooked on other things that may not be healthy, such as alcohol. It’s no wonder he sings, “That’s why I sip my alcohol (E we). I don’t wanna reason bad things no more (Oh no). I don’t wanna go back to where I dey before.”

Talking about abuse, manipulation, and the need for safe spaces, he addresses that on the song ‘Better.’ The song is Joeboy’s way of addressing issues of abuse in relationships while encouraging women that, they do not have to go through that. Inserting himself as a symbol of hope, he offers her a better life as opposed to the present, which only brings her pain and scars. A darker part of relationships that need to be highlighted and discouraged is abuse and manipulation. People find themselves in situations where they are treated less favorably than others. Regardless of the situation, everyone deserves to be treated better. If you cannot offer someone the life they deserve, it is only right that you let them go.

Two elements that make this album enjoyable are the writing and production. The theme was vastly discussed across the album, and the arrangement of some of the songs would have given the project an extra edge. A song like ‘Normally,’ in this writer’s opinion, should have come as a single or perhaps the outro of the song. The inclusion of songs like ‘Contour’ and ‘Alcohol’ indicates the artist’s intention of increasing his first week streaming and sales numbers, which is a very solid approach. Additionally, the inclusion of ‘Contour’ to the album will finally give the song the much-needed attention and push it truly deserves. Joe’s writing has never lacked, and the lyricism on the album is a testament to that.

Overall, where ‘Somewhere Between Beauty and Magic’ fell short, ‘Body and Soul’ has improved and elevated Joeboy’s image as one of the best singers around while solidifying his image as a true Loverboy. He has finally found a balance between the music, the person, and the image we see out there.

‘Body & Soul’ is streaming on all platforms now.