Ahead of the release of his new single, African music superstar Oluwatosin Ajibade, also known as Mr Eazi, is inviting viewers into his creative process with ‘The Legalize Art Experience,’ a new short film documenting his collaboration with Benin Republic-based painter Patricorel.
The mini-documentary, directed by Demola Falomo, captures Eazi’s first performance of ‘Legalize,’ the first single from his upcoming debut album, as Patricorel creates the single’s artwork onsite for an intimate audience. The footage was shot at an invite-only event in May at a decommissioned hotel in Lagos, Nigeria’s Lekki district.
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Mr Eazi sees his yet-untitled debut album as a collection of art pieces, inspired by his growing interest in acquiring and showcasing African art. (Eazi considers his previous full-length projects, Life is Eazi, Vol. 1: From Accra to Lagos and Life is Eazi, Vol. 2: From Lagos to London, to be mixtapes.) Each album single will be represented by a series of specially commissioned pieces by various African visual artists. These works will be tokenized and made available to the public through specially curated metaverse and physical events.
Mr Eazi first met Patricorel while recording for the album in Cotonou, Benin, and hired him for ‘Legalize.’
While the song finds Eazi exposing his emotions as he celebrates his love for fiancee Temi Otedola, Patricorel’s painting of the same name captures the intimacy of love, submission, vulnerability, and death’s finality.
“I see the instrumental as a canvas, just like Patricorel…
“It’s a blank canvas, and you have no idea what you’re going to create,” Eazi explains. “What struck me was the fact that he represents love with his pieces, but he draws with skeletons.” “I believe skeletons are our most human, naked form.”
The song ‘Legalize,’ as well as its official music video, will be released on Friday, June 10.
