You waited five years for this? That’s the question a lot of people are asking after finally listening to Maleek Berry If Only Love Was Enough. For someone who pivoted from hitmaker producer to full-time artist, this debut album should’ve been more exciting. Instead, it recycles sounds, plays it too safe, and leans heavily on one tired topic — love. And not the interesting, heartbreak-filled, or experimental kind. Just the regular, played-out “I’m crazy about you” angle… again and again.
Sound: Same Old Vibe, Little Growth
If you’ve heard Isolation Room, you already know the template:
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Mid-tempo beats
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R&B-synth blends
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Safe, easy-on-the-ears melodies
The problem is, this album sticks too closely to that formula. It doesn’t try to break new ground or show real progression. You’re not getting anything fresh or experimental here — just more of the same, and not in a good way.
Repetition is the Enemy
Let’s break it down:
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Lyrical content? Repetitive. Almost every song is about being head over heels for someone.
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Vocal delivery? Flat. He barely changes tone or pace across 15 tracks.
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Production? Clean, but lacking surprise. Even the switch to Caribbean and bashment styles doesn’t bring much energy.
It’s not that the songs are bad individually. But when you line them up back-to-back, it starts to feel like a chore.
Some Bright Spots (But Not Enough)
There are a few moments where the album breathes:
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“Lately” stands out thanks to Ruger’s slick energy. He owns that dancehall beat in a way Maleek just can’t match.
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“4 My Body” benefits from Tiwa Savage’s voice and a slight shift in style.
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“Lagos Party” is one of the few times Maleek leaves the love-talk behind and just makes a clean, catchy pop record.
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“The Pain” closes things on a slightly higher note — not amazing, but at least it feels more emotionally honest and less predictable.
But even these tracks don’t fully redeem the album’s lack of variation.
Where It Went Wrong
Here’s what we think Maleek Berry needed and didn’t bring:
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More range. Vocally, he stays in one lane. No high points, no risks.
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Better production variety. Compare this to Nonso Amadi’s When It Blooms, which played with genres and textures throughout. Maleek doesn’t.
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Bolder features. Ruger and Tiwa did their jobs, but the rest including Wizkid felt uninspired.
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Tighter editing. This album could’ve lost 4–5 tracks and been sharper for it.
Final Thoughts: Decent, But Disappointing
Let’s be honest. If Only Love Was Enough isn’t a terrible album. It’s listenable. But it’s also forgettable. For someone with Maleek’s production history and experience, this should’ve been tighter, deeper, and more adventurous. Instead, it plays like a safe playlist of mid-level R&B Afropop that drags on longer than it should.
Take a listen and comment what you think