God Over Everything

God Over Everything (abbreviated as G.O.E) is the debut studio album by Nigerian singer Patoranking. It was released on 1 August 2016. The album features guest appearances from Wizkid, Olamide, Phyno, Elephant Man, Kwam 1 and Konshens. Production was handled by E Kelly, Sarz, GospelOnDeBeatz, Major Bangz, Dr. Amir, Ball Jay, WizzyPro, Jazzwad, Slick Mo, UC Prof, and Dapiano.

Patoranking released G.O.E three years after the release of his breakthrough single "Alubarika". He revealed that the album's release was delayed due to his uncertainty about his reach across Nigeria. While an album was ready after the success of "Girlie O" in 2015, Patoranking chose to build a stronger connection with audiences across different regions by releasing singles first. He stated, "I felt that I wasn't felt all over the country. Down South, down North, they didn't know me. I needed to get closer to the people, and that was why I had to delay the album for a while." The recording process for G.O.E spanned over three years, with the "Stammerer" being recorded four years prior to the album's release. Patoranking worked with various producers and collaborators to ensure the album reflected diverse musical styles and appealed to a wide demographic.^[1][2]

G.O.E's only single "No Kissing Baby" featuring Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie was released on 26 June 2016.^[3] It was produced by GospelOnDeBeatz, and its music video directed by Daps, premiered shortly after the single's announcement and features a 90s-inspired aesthetic, including graffiti-covered walls, dancehall choreography, and retro fashion elements. The video was set in a playground and includes scenes of Patoranking and Sarkodie performing with backup dancers.^[4]

Joey Akan of Pulse Nigeria reviewed G.O.E as a solid debut album that reflects his gratitude, ghetto influences, and romantic themes while modernizing Ajegunle, Konto, and dancehall sounds. Although some tracks felt monotonous or rushed, the album showcased Patoranking's niche brilliance, with Akan concluding, "The intrigue and love that surrounds him remains, the songs he’s releasing are desirably niche, and he’ll probably celebrate this as his first time out for many years to come". G.O.E was rated 3.5 out of 5.^[5] Chuks Kings of tooXclusive described G.O.E as a well-rounded album showcasing Patoranking's versatility, blending reggae, afropop, and soul while addressing themes of gratitude, love, and his rise to fame. He praised its diverse sound and storytelling, concluding, "[G.O.E] has to be one of my favourite albums to come out of Nigeria". The album received a rating of 3.5/5.^[6] Toni Kan of Nigerian Entertainment Today reviewed the album as a strong debut that showcased Patoranking's versatility and experimental approach, blending dancehall, reggae, highlife, and Afrobeat influences. Praising tracks like "Cheating Zone", "No Kissing Baby", and "Ayinde", Kan concluded, "What is abundantly clear from his debut album is that dude is not just a fine face, he is serious about this business and will be here for a while longer".^[7] Music in Africa's Oris Aigbokhaevbolo's review of G.O.E praised the artist's blend of reggae, patois, and pidgin, as well as his ability to craft family-friendly yet enjoyable music. While the album showcased Patoranking's lyrical quirks and collaborations, Aigbokhaevbolo noted that it stood out for its shift from the typical Nigerian club-focused sound to a "parlour-ready and family-friendly package". Concluding, he wrote, "It is no classic but in shifting the focus of the Nigerian album away from the club, it is at least subversive".^[8] Chiagoziem Onyekwena of FilterFree Nigeria in his review for G.O.E described it as a solid but unfulfilling debut album that struggled with mixed messaging and lackluster lyrics despite some standout moments. Concluding the review, he noted, "On his oft-delayed debut album G.O.E, Patoranking seems to have ran out of steam and, perhaps more disappointingly, ran out of ideas".^[9]

Credits adapted from back cover.

• Ball Jay - production (track 1)
• WizzyPro - production (tracks 2, 4, 8, 11)
• Jazzwad - production (track 3)
• E Kelly - production (tracks 5, 13)
• Sarz - production (track 6)
• GospelOnDeBeatz - production (tracks 7, 9)
• Major Bangz - production (tracks 10, 16)
• Dr. Amir - production (track 12)
• Slick Mo & UC Prof - production (track 14)
• Dapiano - production (track 15)
• Jazzworx - mixing, mastering (all tracks)