El-Hadj is the fourth studio album by the Nigerian rapper Reminisce, released on 29 August 2016. The album features guest appearances from 2Baba, Olamide, Seriki, 9ice, Ice Prince, Solidstar, and Mr Eazi, as well as collaborations with his label signees Sojay and Oladips. Its production was handled by Sarz, Sossick, Jomane, Pbankz, TSpize, Tyce, Camo Blaizz, and TMXO. It serves as a follow-up to Baba Hafusa (2015). On 7 September 2016, El-Hadj debuted on the Billboard World Albums chart.[1]
Background
Reminisce revealed the artwork for El-Hadj on 11 July 2016.[2] The album's track listing was revealed on 22 August 2016.[3] On the same day, Reminisce ended his contract with Edge Records for reasons that remain unclear.[4]
Composition
El-Hadj a blend of themes including sex, threats, and autobiographical elements, delivered in a mix of English, slang, and Yoruba. The album opens with "Asalamalekun", a track that combines references to wealth and resilience. Songs like "Konsignment" and "Ibadi" highlight themes of transactional relationships, while "1.4 D.R" featuring Solidstar explores the concept of intimacy within a relationship. The album showcases Reminisce's versatility with tracks such as "Ori", which incorporates traditional Yoruba music, and "Where I Come From", which draws from autobiographical narratives similar to those found in Jay-Z's "Where I'm From". "Telephone" featuring Olamide, along with other tracks, contribute to the album's diverse range of styles.[5]
Joey Akan of Pulse Nigeria described El-Hadj as a deeply personal and grounded album that blends reflection and celebration, showcasing Reminisce’s growth and versatility. Praising its introspective storytelling and vibrant party tracks, he concluded, “It’s a pilgrimage of some sort for the rapper, as he connects to a deeper level of narration and vulnerability to recreate his Mecca." The album was rated 4/5.[8] Tola Sarumi of NotJustOk praised El-Hadj as a reawakening for Reminisce, showcasing his depth, versatility, and commitment to blending hard-hitting rap with introspection. Describing it as "a grown man rap album for the most part," Sarumi concluded, “Reminisce almost delivers the perfect body of work his talent is capable of.” The album was rated 7.5/10.[6] In Wilfred Okiche's review for 360nobs, he highlighted El-Hadj for its blend of menacing beats, street tales, and themes of sex, religion, and hustle. Okiche concluded, "El-Hadj may be Reminisce’s most accessible album yet," rating it 7 out of 10.[7]
Chiagoziem Onyekwena of Filterfree noted that the album showcased the rapper's ability to blend introspection with a variety of sounds and themes, bridging eras and genres effortlessly. While not all the tracks wowed him, he praised moments like "I Remember" for humanizing Reminisce and commending its depth and honesty, and "Ibadi", calling it “the perfect Nigerian strip club anthem”. He rated the album 81%.[10] Temitope Dolano of tooXclusive noted that the album showcased his versatility and artistic prowess, blending various genres while maintaining his signature style. The review highlighted the strong features from other artists and praised Reminisce's ability to consistently deliver hits. Dolano concluded, "he just placed the bar a foot higher and am more than interested to see who tops this genius," rating the album 4.5 out of 5.[9]
