{{Infobox album | name = Young Preacher | type = studio | artist = Blaqbonez | cover = Young_Preacher_album_cover.jpg | alt = | released = {{Start date|2022|10|28}} | recorded = 2022 | studio = | genre = {{hlist|Afrobeats|Hip-hop|R&B|Rap|Afro-fusion}} | length = 36:01 | label = Chocolate City | producer = {{hlist|Jae5|Blaisebeatz|Tay Iwar|Masterkraft|Telz|Ramoni|Ozedikus|Chopstix}} | prev_title = Sex Over Love | prev_year = 2021 | next_title = | next_year = | misc = {{Singles | name = Young Preacher | type = studio | single1 = Back In Uni | single1date = October 7, 2022 | single2 = Fashionnova | single2date = October 28, 2022 | single3 = Hot Boy | single3date = October 28, 2022 }} }} '''Young Preacher''' is the second studio album by Nigerian rapper Blaqbonez. The album was awarded Best Rap Album at the 2023 edition of the Headies.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/articles/crg45g48wjko/|title=Rema, Asake, Arya Starr, odas win big for 2023 Headies Award - See full list of winners|work=BBC|date=4 September 2023|accessdate=8 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/headies-awards-2023-full-winners-list-rema-burna-boy-1235405814/|title=Rema, Burna Boy Top 2023 Headies Awards: Full Winners List|work=Billboard|last=Grein|first=Paul|date=4 September 2023|accessdate=8 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2023-headies-awards-nominations-full-list-burna-boy-1235396273/|title=Burna Boy Leads in 2023 Headies Awards Nominations: Full List (Exclusive)|work=Billboard|last=Grein|first=Paul|date=28 August 2023|accessdate=8 December 2023}}</ref>
==Background== On October 28, 2022, Blaqbonez released his 14-track sophomore studio album, ''Young Preacher'' through Chocolate City music.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://guardian.ng/life/whatsnew-entertainment-celebrity-gist-and-so-on/blaqbonez-and-the-beautiful-candour-of-being-a-young-preacher/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=BLAQBONEZ AND THE BEAUTIFUL CANDOUR OF BEING A YOUNG PREACHER|last=Ihekire|first=Chinonso|date=31 October 2022|accessdate=8 December 2023|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> ''Young Preacher'' is the follow up album of Sex Over Love extended play.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://culturecustodian.com/blaqbonez-unveils-anticipated-new-album-young-preacher/|title=BLAQBONEZ UNVEILS ANTICIPATED NEW ALBUM, "YOUNG PREACHER"|work=The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.)|last=Naomi|first=Overo|date=29 October 2022|accessdate=8 December 2023}}</ref> The album included guest appearances from Nigerian indigenous artists such as Amaarae, Lojay, Blxckie, Cheque, Tekno, Bien and Takura.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/download-blaqbonez-album-young-preacher/|title=DOWNLOAD: Blaqbonez drops 14-track album 'Young Preacher'|last=Muhibat|first=Sulaimon|date=28 October 2022|accessdate=8 December 2023|newspaper=TheCable}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://grmdaily.com/blaqbonez-young-preacher-album/|title=BLAQBONEZ SHOWCASES FLAWLESS AFRO-FUSION & STAR-STUDDED FEATURES ON NEW ALBUM 'YOUNG PREACHER'|work=GRM Daily|last=Nylander|first=Davina|date=1 November 2023|accessdate=8 December 2023}}</ref> It also features producers such as Tay Iwar, Jae5, Blaisebeatz, Masterkraft, Telz, Ramoni and Ozedikus.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/music/562193-wizkid-hints-at-new-album-as-blaqbonez-johnny-drille-others-drop-new-singles.html|title=Wizkid hints at new album as Blaqbonez, Johnny Drille, others drop new singles|last=Emmanuel|first=Solution|date=28 October 2022|accessdate=8 December 2023|newspaper=Premium Times}}</ref> The album is a mixture of hip-hop, Afrobeats and R&B. ''Young Preacher'' was among the list of the most streamed albums in Nigeria which climbed to the number 1 spot on Apple Music charts<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.notjustok.com/news/blaqbonez-young-preacher-album-charts/|title=Blaqbonez's 'Young Preacher' Album Peaks On The Charts At Number...|work=NotJustOk|last=Kanmodi|first=Funmilayo|date=29 October 2023|accessdate=8 December 2023}}</ref> and won the Best Rap album in The Headies awards 2023.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/articles/c06e8prrgm2o|title=Burna Boy, Asake, Tiwa Savage plus oda artistes wey make di 2023 Headies nomination list|work=BBC|date=12 July 2023|accessdate=8 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.okayafrica.com/heres-what-went-down-at-the-headies-2023/114448|title=Here's What Went Down at the Headies 2023|work=OkayAfrica|last=Laketu|first=Adedayo|date=5 September 2023|accessdate=8 December 2023}}</ref> In 2022, Barcelona star, Jules Kounde hailed Blaqbonez stating that his ''Young Preacher'' album is on repeat.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sportsbrief.com/football/27062-barcelona-star-jules-kounde-hails-nigerian-rapper-blaqbonez-reveals-young-preacher-album-repeat/|title=Barcelona Star Jules Kounde Hails Nigerian Rapper Blaqbonez, Reveals His Young Preacher Album Is on Repeat|work=Sports Brief|last=Shittu|first=Ibitoye|date=3 November 2022|accessdate=8 December 2023|archive-date=8 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208132651/https://sportsbrief.com/football/27062-barcelona-star-jules-kounde-hails-nigerian-rapper-blaqbonez-reveals-young-preacher-album-repeat/|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Young Preacher'' album appeared on Rolling Stone's top 40 Afro-pop songs of 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-afropop-songs-of-2022-1234650065/wakadinali-mc-mca-1234650084/|title=BLAQBONEZ UNVEILS ANTICIPATED NEW ALBUM, "YOUNG PREACHER"|work=Rolling Stone|last=Conteh|first=Mankaprr|date=28 December 2022|accessdate=8 December 2023}}</ref>
==Promotion== Blaqbonez hosted an anti-love crusade titled ''Breaking The Yoke of Love'' to support ''Young Preacher'' on 14 February 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-14 |title=Highlights From Blaqbonez 'Breaking The Yoke Of Love' Crusade {{!}} WATCH |url=https://notjustok.com/events/blaqbonez-crusade-highlight/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=NotJustOk |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2022/01/25/blaqbonez-to-headline-anti-love-crusade-concert/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Blaqbonez to headline anti-love crusade concert|date=25 January 2022|accessdate=8 December 2023|newspaper=P.M. News}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = ''Young Preacher'' track listing<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.morebranches.com/review-blaqbonez-young-preacher-is-a-robust-proclamation-of-his-star-status/|title=Review: Blaqbonez' "Young Preacher" is a robust proclamation of his star status|work=MoreBranches|date=10 November 2022|accessdate=8 December 2023}}</ref> | extra_column = Producer(s) | total_length = 36:19
| title1 = Young Preacher | writer1 = {{flatlist| * Emeka Akumefule * Shifi Emoefe * Tunde Akinsanmi * Zeal Onyecheme }} | extra1 = Ramoni | length1 = 2:22
| title2 = Hot Boy | writer2 = {{flatlist| * Akumefule * Osagie Onobun }} | extra2 = {{flatlist| * Telz * Ramoni }} | length2 = 3:03
| title3 = Fashionnova | writer3 = {{flatlist| * Akumefule * Abraham Obot }} | extra3 = {{flatlist| * Jae5 * Ramoni }} | length3 = 2:00
| title4 = Back in Uni<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/10/blaqbonez-teams-up-with-jae5-for-new-single-back-in-uni/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Blaqbonez teams up with JAE5 for new single 'Back In Uni'|date=8 October 2022|accessdate=8 December 2023|newspaper=Vanguard}}</ref> | note4 = featuring Jae5 | writer4 = {{flatlist| * Akumefule * Obot * Onobun }} | extra4 = Jae5 | length4 = 2:30
| title5 = Whistle | note5 = featuring Lojay and Amaarae | writer5 = {{flatlist| * Akumefule * Emoefe * Akinsanmi * Onyecheme }} | extra5 = {{flatlist| *Ramoni *Chopstix *Masterkraft}} | length5 = 3:06
| title6 = Loyalty | writer6 = {{flatlist| * Akumefule * Obot * Onobun }} | extra6 = Ramoni | length6 = 2:28
| title7 = She Like Igbo | note7 = interlude | writer7 = Akumefule | extra7 = Ozedikus | length7 = 1:18
| title8 = Fake Nikes | note8 = featuring Blxckie and Cheque | writer8 = {{flatlist| * Akumefule * Sihle Sithole * Akanbi Brett }} | extra8 = Ramoni | length8 = 3:04
| title9 = Ring Ring | note9 = featuring Tay Iwar | writer9 = {{flatlist| * Akumefule * Austin Iwar }} | extra9 = {{flatlist| * Joffstar * Ramoni }} | length9 = 3:10
| title10 = Ess Mama | note10 = featuring Tekno | writer10 = {{flatlist| * Akumefule * Augustine Kelechi }} | extra10 = Blaisebeatz | length10 = 2:48
| title11 = Mazoe | note11 = featuring Takura and Bien | writer11 = {{flatlist| * Akumefule * Takura Tendayi * Bien-Aimé Baraza }} | extra11 = Gangstamadeit | length11 = 3:44
| title12 = Star Life | writer12 = {{flatlist| * Akumefule * Brett * Emana Saintly }} | extra12 = BMH | length12 = 3:00
| title13 = Back on BS | writer13 = Akumefule | extra13 = {{flatlist| * Ramoni * 10Ten }} | length13 = 2:51
| title14 = I'll Be Waiting | writer14 = {{flatlist| * Akumefule * Bukola Elemide }} | extra14 = {{flatlist| * Joffstar * Ramoni * 10Ten }} | length14 = 4:00
}}
==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 = ''Pulse Nigeria'' | rev1score = 8.9/10<ref name="Pulse Nigeria">{{Cite news |last1=Adebiyi |first1=Adeayo |title=Having found fame, Blaqbonez aspires for stardom in 'Young Preacher' [Pulse Album Reviews]|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/pulse-review-of-blaqbonezs-young-preacher/je23stv|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|date=5 November 2022|accessdate=7 December 2023}}</ref> | rev2 = ''The Native'' | rev2score = 7.3/10<ref name="The Native">{{cite news|url=https://thenativemag.com/featured/review-blaqbonez-young-preacher/|title=REVIEW: BLAQBONEZ' 'YOUNG PREACHER'|work=The Native|last=Esomnofu|first=Emmanuel|date=17 November 2022|accessdate=8 December 2023}}</ref> }} Adeayo Adebiyi, a music reporter for ''Pulse Nigeria'' stated that “''Young Preacher'' is an A&R masterclass as every featured artist is not only a musical fit, but they are also strategic. Tekno has a sizeable followership across the continent and beyond that includes Drake and Billie Elish. Lojay and Amarae appeal to the Gen Z listeners that roam Pop and Alte soundscapes. JAE5 touch on 'Back In Uni' and 'Fashionova' taps into the UK scene, Blxckie is one of the fast-rising rappers in South Africa, and Bien of Sauti Sol is one of the most recognizable voices in Eastern Africa”.<ref name="Pulse Nigeria" />
The Native Magazine noted that “''Young Preacher'' is unarguably the most cohesive of his projects yet, embodying a pristine musicianship which doesn’t underplay his skills as a rapper as much as it highlights them. Just as JAY-Z reckons he could sell water to a whale, on this album Blaqbonez could sell his preachings of no love to an unbeliever. He’s very convincing, and it does help that the music is great as well. It’s remarkable how far he’s come—here are thirteen songs which fittingly captures where Blaqbonez is right now, in 2022. It’s an enticing prospect to ponder on what subsequent years would sound like”.<ref name="The Native" />
==Release history== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Region !Date !Format !Version !Label !Ref |- |Various |October 28, 2022 |{{hlist|CD|digital download|}} |Standard |{{hlist|Chocolate City}} |<ref>{{cite news|url=https://music.apple.com/ng/album/young-preacher/1652489552|title=Blaqbonez - Young Preacher|work=Apple Music|date=28 October 2023|accessdate=8 December 2023}}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> |}
== References ==
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Category:2022 albums Category:Blaqbonez albums Category:Chocolate City (music label) albums Category:Albums produced by Blaisebeatz Category:Albums produced by Masterkraft (producer) Category:Albums produced by Jae5