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Gold is the debut studio album of Nigerian recording artist Adekunle Gold, released on 28 July 2016, by YBNL Nation. It features one guest appearance from Simi and production from B Banks, Masterkraft, Oscar Heman-Ackah, Pheelz, SeyiKeyz, and Sleekamo. Prior to its release, six singles were released off the album to positive reviews, with "Sade" and "Orente" being his breakthrough singles.
Singles
The album's lead single "Sade" was released on 19 December 2014. It was produced by Olaitan Dada. Its re-release was released on 5 March 2015 and produced by Pheelz alongside its music video directed by Adasa Cookey. The second single, "Orente", was released on 1 July 2015. It was produced by Oscar Heman-Ackah and features strings by Fiokee. The third single off the album was released on 1 December 2015, entitled "Pick Up". It was produced by Pheelz. Gold’s fourth single "Ready" was released on 4 April 2016. It was produced by Pheelz, mastered by Simi, and features guitars from Fiokee. The fifth single, "My Life", was released on 14 November 2016. The sixth and final single off the album, "Work" was officially released on 1 May 2017. The song was produced by B.Banks and its release coincided with the single's accompanying music video directed by Mr. Moe Musa.
The album received positive reviews from music critics. Joey Akan of Pulse Nigeria praised the album as "a fantastic album" that showcased his ability to craft a unique path in mainstream Nigerian music, blending local highlife with relatable stories and purist melodies. The album was commended for its conceptual strength, standout tracks like “No Forget” with Simi, and its consistent delivery, despite slight monotony. He rated it 4/5, calling it "Smoking Hot." Temitope Delano of tooXclusive found Gold to be a mixed effort, describing it as "a tad bit claustrophobic" with some shallow moments but also recognizing its "few brilliant tracks" and "amazing production." Despite falling short of expectations in depth and delivery, the album showcased Gold's ability to connect emotionally through relatable themes and innovative sounds, earning a rating of 3/5.
Tola Sarumi of NotJustOk described Gold as "mature pop" that combines storytelling, vulnerability, and nuanced production, showcasing his artistry and everyman charm. Despite some melody recycling and a few underwhelming tracks, the album delivered standout songs like "Work," "No Forget," and "Ariwo Ko" and proved that "Adekunle Gold, on this evidence, should be around for a while." It was rated 7.5/10. Online magazine Filter Free scored Gold 94%, explaining that "this album comes from a deep place of artistic excellence... it deserves applause." Wilfred Okiche of 360nobs described the album as a "safe pop album" that showcases his influences, including jùjú, highlife, and Afro jùjú, but lacks a clear artistic identity. The album balances themes of faith and love with tracks like "Pick Up" aggressively pushing a divine intervention narrative, while songs like "Work" and "Paradise" stand out for their adventurous sound and fine songwriting. Okiche concluded that while Gold is "sugary sweet" and appealing, Adekunle Gold has yet to prove himself as "the real deal."
