Stories That Touch is the second album by Nigerian rapper and actor Falz. It was released on 16 November 2015 through Bahd Guys Entertainment. The album features guest appearances from Show Dem Camp, Yemi Alade, Phyno, Reminisce, Simi, Sess, Poe, Shaydee, Chigul, M.I., Bez, Oyinkansola, Chyn and Reekado Banks. Production was primarily handled by Sess, with additional production from Tin Tin, Oscar Heman-Ackah and Spax.[1]
Background and listening party
During a conversation with Showtime, Falz offered some insight into the project. "This is my second official album, and it will be released on November 16, 2015. With this album, I'm trying to do something different; I'm trying to showcase my artistic side and the musicality in me. Generally speaking, there is an impression that I'm a crazy, hilarious and an unserious person. The brand definitely reflects that, but I'm trying to get people to focus on my music and see the content in it. That's why I don't really have skits on the album because I want people to pay attention to the serious messages in it. Falz the Bahd Guy is an all-encompassing brand, and the funny part is still in there. As much as I'm trying to show my artistic side, I can't neglect the funny guy and the element of 'razzness' that's always in my music. As much as you listen to the songs with very serious themes, my alter ego is still going to pop up," Falz said. On the reason for the name of the album, he said this: "My inspiration for the title of the album stems from the fact that I'm trying to showcase my artistic side, so every song is a story. They're stories that people will either be able to relate to, or be touched by. I want people to listen to the music, and connect to me."[2]
The album listening party for Stories That Touch was held at Spice Route, Victoria Island, Lagos on 18 November 2015. Poe, Reminisce, Simi, Reekado Banks, and others performed at the event. Others who attended the event include Ice Prince, Jesse Jagz, Baba Dee, and more. Spanky was the host and Dj Consequence was the disc jockey for the event.[3]
Singles
The album's lead single and only bonus track "Ello Bae" was released on 31 January 2015. The song was produced by Sess while the music video was directed by Mex and released on 4 May 2015.[4][5] The second single "Karishika" features Nigerian rapper Phyno and comedian Chigul. This track was also produced by Sess and was premiered at the 14 May 2015 Industry Nite, and was officially released on 16 May 2015.[6] The music video was directed by Aje Filmworks and released on 20 July 2015.[7] The third single is a sequel to the previous track, "Karishika". The sequel features Show Dem Camp and M.I. and was produced by Sess and engineered by Marqai.[8] The fourth single, "Clap" features Reminisce and was released on 11 December 2015. The song was produced by Sess and the music video was shot and directed in Lagos, Nigeria by Mex.[9] The fifth single, "Soldier" features Simi and was released on 14 March 2016, produced by Oscar Heman-Ackah. The music video was shot and directed by Clarence Peters and features actor Deyemi Okanlawon.[10] The song won Best Collabo at The Headies 2016.[11] The sixth single, "Soft Work" was released on 6 July 2016. The song was produced by Sess and the video was directed by Mex.[12] The seventh single "Chardonnay Music" features Chyn and Poe and was produced by Spax. The music video was released on 30 August 2016 and was directed by Sesan and features cameos from Simi, Ms DSF, DJ Sose, Vector, K10, Ycee, Boj, among others.[13]
Joey Akan's review of Pulse Nigeria praised Stories That Touch for its ability to blend relatable stories with music, noting that it "democratises music" by making Hip-hop accessible to the common man. Akan highlighted tracks like "Soldier" and "Celebrity Girlfriend", showcasing Falz's growth as an artist and his versatility. He concluded, "Falz is onto a good thing," giving the album a rating of 4/5.[14]
Oris Aigbokhaevbolo of Music in Africa praised Stories That Touch for showcasing Falz's unique ability to merge different cultural and social influences. Aigbokhaevbolo highlighted the tracks "Karishika" and "Time Difference" as key examples of Falz's class shape-shifting, which allows him to appeal to both "local" and "abroad" audiences. However, the reviewer noted that Falz's versatility, while impressive, prevents him from being fully embraced as a dominant figure in any single class, unlike his contemporaries Olamide and M.I.[17]
Tola Sarumi of NotJustOk rated Stories That Touch an 8/10, praising Falz for blending humor with serious storytelling and highlighting his versatility as a rapper. Sarumi commended the album's standout tracks, including "Karishika" and "Soldier," and noted the strong production from Sess, Spax, and others. Despite some minor critiques, she declared the album a contender for Hip-Hop Album of the Year, emphasizing Falz's ability to deliver a well-rounded and cohesive project.[15]
Should You Bump This (Sho, Tunde, and guest Kel) gave Stories That Touch a strong 4/5, praising Falz's growth in the Nigerian rap scene. They highlight tracks like "Kabiyesi", "Soft Work", "Karishika", and "Soldier" for their sharp lyrics, strong production, and clever humor. Kel calls it a "pretty good" sophomore album, while Tunde notes that it showcases Falz's evolution beyond his comedic persona, solidifying his place as a well-rounded artist.[16]
