The Vintage Fusions of Dr. Finesse

Vanessa Obioha

It’s almost tradition, if not a duty, for Hip-Hop aficionados to seek out the most vibrant RnB chords to craft a timeless jam. Nigerian music producer Dr. Finesse understands this well, as evidenced by his standout Hip Hop production, Modenine’s 2016 track “Take My Hand.” The grinding sonata loops, slow-burning chords, and Modenine’s gritty delivery give the record a lasting appeal and undeniable replay value.

Across many of his compositions, Dr Finesse, whose original name is Ifunanya Finesse Anaemena, possesses an intuitiveness that glares like a glass reflection. The multi-instrumentalist knows the precise genre to put under his production knife. A good example is his catalogue with Charles Onyeabor, a fusionist and son of the late Funk Legend Williams Onyeabor, which brims with a mix of elements like 3-beat Afro Pop, Amapiano, House, and RnB. On Charles Onyeabor’s “Low,” Dr Finesse creates a climaxing and multi-layered soundtrack, with his signature choral chorus mix, EDM ambient-style transitions, House chords and Amapiano-type percussion.

Another cursory song is Modenine’s “Take My Hand”, which Dr Finesse packs lightly with a violin monotone and cinematic chorus. It’s similar to when he felt Cnik Ree and Skales needed a gong-ridden pop tune on the lustful “Turnaround.” It’s mostly the type of allure that would trail a musician, especially one with a strong religious musical background; like his recent collaborative project, Invasion, with the Creative Dynasty Academy, a 13-member Christian gospel group which helped him bring his restlessness to efficiency in the buffet of Jazz, Funk, Highlife, RnB, and other key genres that shape the album.

Dr Finesse started his music journey in 2007 as an artist, he transitioned to music production in 2009. Known for his unique, genre-blending style, the sound engineer and video director merges elements of Afrobeats, Ogene, R&B, Hip-Hop and Pop to create a distinct sound. Nostalgia, intuition and tempo seem to be his trifecta across his discography. His impressive catalogue includes collaborations with entertainment icons like Mr. Raw, Skales, Faze Alone, Mode Nine, Mr. M & Revelation, Testimony Jaga, Nolly CIA, and a host of others.