''Super Sun'' is the debut studio album by Nigerian alternative soul artist Emmanuel Bezhiwa Idakula, also known as Bez. It was released via

Cobhams Asuquo Cobhams Asuquo (Efik pronunciation: ) (born January 6, 1981) is a Nigerian musician, producer, and songwriter. In 2005, Asuquo was signed on with Sony ATV London as a songwriter. After working as Head of Audio Productions at a local label, Ques ...

’s label CAMP in July 2011. Two singles "Stop Pretending" and "Zuciya Daya" ( en: ''Whole Heart'') were released through the Hennessy Artistry series platform in 2009. This helped to promote the album, which was eventually released two years later. The album did well in the market, though it was hard to measure sales due to the uniqueness of the industry in Nigeria. However, Universal Music Publishing South Africa has licensed it territorially. The album's title was chosen as a reflection of Bez's words as he stated "..everybody wants to be a super star, but they've never know what kind they want to be. I want to be The Super Sun, it’s the most unique star that gives warmth, life, energy and light".

Overview

A few years before the album's release, Bez signed a contract with Cobhams Asuquo Music Productions (CAMP) with the help of producer and record label owner

. Afterwards, he was featured as the opening act for international stars such as

Aṣa Bukola Elemide (born 17 September 1982"There's 'Fire O ...

Angie Stone Angela Laverne Brown (born December 18, 1961) known professionally as Angie Stone, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. She rose to fame in the late 1970s as member of the hip hop trio The Sequence. In the early 1990 ...

and

Yolanda Adams Yolanda Yvette Adams (born August 27, 1961) is an American gospel singer, actress, and host of her own nationally syndicated morning gospel show. She is one of the best-selling gospel artists of all time, having sold over 10 million albums ...

. Bez also performed at events such as the Lagos Jazz Series, as well as alongside top music acts like

Nneka Nneka is an Igbo It can also be a shortened version of the Igbo name Nnemkadi. The following people have the name: * Nneka (singer) or Nneka Egbuna, Nigerian-German singer and songwriter * Nneka Egbujiobi, Nigerian-American lawyer * Nneka Abulokw ...

, 2face, Mike Aremu, and South African-based

Judith Sephuma Judith Sephuma (born 29 June 1974) is a South African jazz and Afro-pop singer. Biography Born in Seshego, she was raised in Polokwane, Limpopo, and moved to Cape Town in 1994 to study as a jazz vocalist. In 1997, she graduated from the Univer ...

Recording

Seven songs on the album were mixed by five-time

Grammy The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

nominated

mixing engineer A mixing engineer (or simply mix engineer) is responsible for combining ("mixing") different sonic elements of an auditory piece into a complete rendition (also known as "final mix" or "mixdown"), whether in music, film, or any other content of a ...

, Ryan West. He is best known for doing hip-hop and R&B mixes for

Rihanna Robyn Rihanna Fenty ( ; born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, actress, and businesswoman. Born in Saint Michael and raised in Bridgetown, Barbados, Rihanna auditioned for American record producer Evan Rogers who invited her to t ...

Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...

Jay Z Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one o ...

, T.I., and

Usher Usher may refer to: Several jobs which originally involved directing people and ensuring people are in the correct place: * Usher (occupation) ** Church usher ** Wedding usher, one of the male attendants to the groom in a wedding ceremony ** Fie ...

. Nicolas Mollard, a well known French guitarist and member of

Aṣa Bukola Elemide (born 17 September 1982"There's 'Fire O ...

’s band, played guitar on the song "Technically".

produced most of the song, while Olaitan Dada assisted on a few of them.

Release

''Super Sun'' was released in 2011, and includes the single "Stupid Song". ''

The Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe'' is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes, and has a total circulation of close to 300,000 print and digital subscribers. ''The Boston Glob ...

'' placed it at number 3 on its list of World music’s top albums of 2011, calling Bez a "superb alternative-soul singer". Connect Nigeria called it "unusual and just a perfect blend for a debut album" ''Super Sun'' was released digitally on iTunes on 24 July 2011.

Accolades

''Super Sun'' was nominated for Best R&B/Pop Album at the 2012 edition of

The Headies The Headies (originally called the Hip Hop World Awards) is a music awards show established in 2006 by the '' Hip Hop World Magazine'' of Nigeria to recognize outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry. The annual ceremony features p ...

Track listing

The following is the album's track listing. All songs were produced by Cobhams Asuquo.

Personnel

Complete list of personnel include: * IBK Spaceship boi – Vocals * Omolara Ayodele – Vocals * Samuel Onwudo – Drums * Akinwande Cole – Electric Guitars * Cobhams Asuquo - Guitars and Keyboards, composer, producer, arranger, vocals * Bez Idakula – Guitars and Vocals, composer, arranger * Daniel Oyewole- Bass * Olaitan Dada – Engineer, Mixing * Joan Ekpai- Engineer, Mixing * Enoch – Engineer * Ryan West – Mixing and Mastering Engineer * Enyi Omeruah – A&R * Eva – Vocals * eLDee – Vocals * Ice Prince – Vocals * Nicolas Mollard- Electric Guitars * Praiz – Vocals

References

{{Authority control 2011 albums Bez (musician) albums Albums produced by Cobhams Asuquo