On the morning of December 22, 2023, Wizkid released a short EP titled S2 (Soundman Vol. 2), a follow-up to Soundman Vol. 1. Two days earlier, on Instagram, he posted an album artwork out of the blues, with the caption “See you on Friday”, throwing fans into a frenzy.
S2 is his first release since More Love, Less Ego in 2022. Coming in the Christmas season, just like Soundman Vol. 1 which dropped suddenly on December 6, 2019, Big Wiz has given us four new songs to rinse and repeat as we face a new year head on.
S2 takes on Amapiano while flexing Wizzy’s usual Afrobeats and Dancehall sound, achieving a balance between the low and mid tempo Made In Lagos and the thematic cohesion of More Love, Less Ego.
On the rhythmic rush of slapping log drums and meshed shakers of Ololufe, Wizkid confesses love to his interest. What’s spellbinding is the gentle delivery and verse exchange between Wiz and Wande Coal, which we haven’t got enough of since their collab on For You off Superstar (2010). The P.Priime-produced jam is a modern love story that somehow emphasises on sexual pleasure. It has all the recipes to be great but sounds more in-the-moment than intentional.
Diamond is an assortment of self-reflection, hedonism, smug brags and luxury that rubs in the face. Wizkid likens his tribulations and ensuing superstar lifestyle to his diamond accessories and the pressure they undergo. Life can be fleeting, but Wizkid has seen better days, and he remarks about that with, “Diamond no dey force himself to shine.”
All in all, Diamond takes a familiar Wizzy approach with a relatable story and production handled by P.Priime and Bigfish. It calls for slow dancing and glasses of wine.
Energy plays next. Wizkid, in a superchilled mood, throws woman-worship into his verses, recognising in the hook that he has good and bad days like everyone else. But he keeps himself together with his vices: smoke and sexcapades. He runs through the song smoothly like a butter knife. Wizkid’s romance, soft-life formula and sexy melody never fail — they yield a bop in this song.
S2 closes out with its best track, IDK, featuring Zlatan. TheElements’ production is lush, gets the head nodding and creates an aura of celebration. Big Wiz calls for a good time as a choir subtly backs him up.
Zlatan performs the second verse, the highlight of the EP. Zlatan raps about the luxury lifestyle, fair-weathered women and hustle, with a sprinkle of his animated ad lib and choral backup too. Afrobeats’ poster boy for hustle culture is a worthy guest artist. Wizkid’s writing on the other hand isn’t remarkable, but he continues to prove himself a melody molder.
S2 is experimental and feels like a prelude to what Wizkid has cued up for his next project. He’s featured on Rexxie’s Abracadabra, Metro Boomin’s SPIDERMAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE, Wande Coal’s Ebelebe and Don Toliver’s Slow Motion all year without a solo release.
Wiz has also been on the road for most of the year. He took his music across international stages like Afronation Miami (May), The Other Stage at Glastonbury (June) and Rolling Loud Germany in July — the same month he filled the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in England.
Meanwhile, it’s been a bittersweet year for Wizkid. His mum passed away in August 2023. And his “More Love, Less Ego” Europe tour which was scheduled for October has been postponed till further notice.
Despite that, on December 11, Wizkid posted about a ₦100 million giveaway on his IG story. Later that day, he appeared in Surulere, Lagos, and gave back to children in his community.
The same giving spirit has brought us S2. In 12 minutes, the four songs on the extended play cater to the majority of Wizkid’s fanbase. Diamonds is for dancehall lovers. Energy and IDK are for OG Afrobeats fans, and his Amapiano fans have a winner in Ololufe.
Overall, S2 is a decent project that offers a good time. Wizkid likes music, and he’s having fun with it.
