How to rendezvous with MI Abaga

The venue was an upscale compound in the Lekki area of Lagos rented just for the night. As with most events in the city, the party started long after the advertised 9pm, and it was until well past midnight that the rapper finally got around to singing tracks from the album.

The night had started with fans and friends of the rapper listening to songs from a DJ. Supported by the brands Lipton and Martel, the Rendezvous party had guests imbibe alcohol as celebrities trooped in, music and talk rending the air.

At some point, MI, who had been taking selfies and photos with the many who asked, took a microphone and began to welcome his musician colleagues. In a sense, he was once again playing curator as he does on the album Rendezvous, which features at least one artist across each of its 15 tracks. He was the night's host and its hype man.

Guests on the album who were guests at the party included Terry Apala, Tomi Thomas, Odunsi, Falz, Yung L and Ghost from rap duo Show Dem Camp. Falz performed his hit 'La Fete', doing a decent stop-and-start version of the shaku shaku dance. Other artists to make an appearance at the event were YCee, Ric Hassani and Ice Prince.

Koker performed 'Kolewerk'. Skales performed 'Booty Language' and 'Temper'. The group Street Money Billionaires performed 'Owo Mi Da'. For these performances, the party moved to the venue's pool, with MI urging his celebrity guests into the water. "Let's party," he said. "Drag somebody into the pool. Nobody is going home well-dressed."

As with his 2017 Love concert, which heralded the still unreleased Love EP, MI was again the recipient of goodwill garnered since the release of his first album a decade ago. 2Baba, one of his frequent collaborators over the years, turned up and disappeared after a few minutes.

By being present from start to finish, and all the while available for chitchat, MI broke free of fame's cage, thereby allowing his famous guests to be just as accessible. And by performing only briefly, he inverted the usual pattern of pop music fame: the rapper was everywhere; his music was scarce.

Still, his words might have left the biggest impression. While asking fans to get the new album, he gave quite the advice. "If you don't have Spotify or iTunes," MI said with a titter, "just download [the album] illegally. Illegal Music 4. We no go vex."

The party had given its attendees food, celebrity sightings and—for anyone needing it—permission to get good MI Abaga music for free. Talk about a generous host.

Get MI Abaga's Rendezvous here