rolling afropop / afrobeats 2018

So let's start this year off with two of the Wizkid bangers that I believe we forgot to post in the old thread:

Manya:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBHH0_JtaCQ

And Tiwa Savage's Ma Lo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4fqMMKo9ns

Also, the latest Davidos:

FIA:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ORvJcpe2Oc

Like Dat:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJPt8ruo2BQ

Hell yeah, let’s make this year’s thread a fat and juicy one!
Last year’s thread became so desolate at times I gave up on posting new stuff, but the recent upswing in activity gives me fresh hope for 2018.

Some fresh goodies (picking them basically at random, so much good stuff coming out continuously):

NAIJA:

Teni, “Pareke”:

https://soundcloud.com/teniofficial/pareke

You might know her from last year’s “Amen” (posted here) and “Fargin”. She also wrote the Davido track “Like Dis” longneck posted above.

Tinny Mafia ft. Ycee, Bella, Dapo Tuburna & Damilare, “Kokoka”:

https://soundcloud.com/musicplugafrica/tinny-mafia-ft-ycee-bella-dapo-tuburna-damilare-kokoka

Ycee plus labelmates. Their “Komije” was good too.

TeeQ Bello, “Shaku Shaku”:

https://soundcloud.com/freemedigital/tee-q-bello-shaku-shaku

Killer track. Loved his recent “Naturally (Freestyle)” too.

DJ Consequence ft. Lil Kesh, “Water Bottle”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMi2he8PemQ

Produced by Young John, obviously. Fun track. What’s that though, “hey lads (?), shove it up your ass”? That water bottle?

But by far the funnest track to come out of Nigeria in the past two months or so is this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea4bHtJrbUI

Mayorkun, “Che Che”

GHANA:

Vision DJ ft. Miyaki & VVIP, “Chuku”:

https://soundcloud.com/purple_tunes1/vision-dj-chuku

Produced by the wonderful GuiltyBeatz.

Joey B ft. King Promise, “Sweetie Pie”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY-NLE0SwLI

King Promise is one of the new wave of Ghanaian pop kids that came up last year, along with Kidi and Kuame Eugene.

Speaking of Kidi, this is his follow-up to “Odo”, which features Kuame as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSlvXjMVFh0

Kidi ft. TNeeya & Kuame Eugene

SOUTH AFRICA:

DJ Sumbody ft. Tira, Thebe & Enza, “Ayepyep”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1qDvmteVlw

Prime Gqom.

Heavy-K ft. Mondii Ngcobo, “Siphum’ eLokshin”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cib5TQJIAa8

Follow-up to his South African smash “Inde”, that was mentioned (but not posted?) on the 2017 thread.

Sun-El Musician feat. Samthing Soweto, “Akanamali”, for those who haven’t heard it yet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4ApmPc4g48

NB: forks/ulysses wants everyone to vote for this in the EOY. He’s not wrong.

ZIMBABWE BONUS BEATS:

ExQ feat. Killer T, “Nhema”:

https://soundcloud.com/exqofficial/nhema

Very much 2017, but such a banger.

And hey, there’s a new Tekno!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tznar4pVS1U

Tekno, “Only One”. Produced by Legendury Beatz.

…which came hot on the heels of this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Cs-OOxzLwI

Tekno feat. Wizkid, “Mama”.

Aknamali has been my jam for a while. I'm pretty sure I have a spare vote for it someplace.

I also love Che Che, btw!

To me one of the most interesting things from Nigeria right now is the 'Shaku Shaku' dance and the music associated with it.

http://www.pulse.ng/gist/pop-culture/shaku-shaku-the-new-street-dance-style-we-should-all-learn-in-2018-id7799976.html

This seems to be one of the dance anthems in the street. Interestingly, sounds a lot like South African house. Who knows, maybe they stole the beat from some South African tune :)

Mr Real - Legbegbe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XKu2O4HnQM

Finally something new. Thanks.

those kids are dope

whoops, missed the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JHHYt_Ctvo

hello music friends -- if you have a little extra time/goodwill, please bookmark my thread:

help me with my class?

you wouldn't have to do anything more than contribute your existing knowledge :)

I need to slowly get back into the afrobeats of this year, so it'd be great to have some help from ILM if you guys care to post even things that are not totally groundbreaking :) (or do you all experience fatigue)

Sauti Sol have a nice follow-up with Tiwa Savage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1zvVUqWccE

Niniola's Saro is alright, and so is Burna Boy's Deja Vu.

Since it's a new thread, might be ok if I post my favorite Sauti Sol from a few years back:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYFQRuqQ7EM

https://youtu.be/Tf_0Cc2PiTg

Prince Kaybee & LaSoulMates ft. TNS & Zanda Zakuza “Club Controller”

This track goes hard!

indeed!

I'm gonna need ilx to weigh in on burna boy feat. lily allen. I feel like I'm probably not being fair to it because of the featuring lily allen, lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKa6jTfZB5w

Reekado Banks, Tiwa Savage & Fiokee - Like
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaKfUTWU0dw

light and breezy

sub in, idk, an Asha Bhosle sample or something for Lily Allen and that Burna Boy song would be unstoppable (not that she's objectively ruinous or anything, tbh I don't remember much about her beyond reports of her being 'problematic' a while back)

I feel like all I’ve got left in this world is loving problematic artists but idk, i just never cared for lily allen...

putting lily aside, Burna's new mixtape Outside is superb. It might appeal more to UK afro(tbd) and dancehall partisans but I think it's the most satisfying afrobeats full-length I've heard so far

Enjoying this:

Flavour - Baby Na Yoka

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsR0yCvG3Oc

If I heard that Burna Boy song with no context, I wouldn't know it was Lily Allen. Good song.

Was listening to Tzy Panchak (Cameroon afropop) who's gonna be doing a late night gig in a Washington DC suburb tonight. Eh, he's ok. Kinda formulaic though

Also still catching up on 2017 releases. Interesting that on Congolese singer Fally Ipupa's Tokoos album, that one of his tracks that utilized more traditional Congolese influences "Eloko Oyo" got the most Youtube attention. Ipupa used to be in Congolese rumba/soukus bands but tried to crossover with this album with more autotuned vocals, afrop beats and guests like Wizkid.

http://afropop.org/articles/tokooos

The flip side of international success? Fally has taken a direct hit from the Congolese community for his new album. Many are saying he is selling out, that he has compromised his originality in order to follow everyone else. However Fally is fully convinced that he always has a unique touch. And given the success of his single “Eloko Oyo,” with its 21 million views on YouTube in five months, he is right. This is a record for an artist coming from a Congolese rumba background. But this is nothing compared to the goals he has in mind.

that song is really nice:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4KNVT2w0mU

Someone listed Ipupa's Eloko Oyo on their end of year faves on the 2017 Rolling Afropop thread. Sorry I forgot who.

I'm not sure whether this ought to go on Outernational, Global dance or this thread, but the Nyege Nyege Tapes label has music on it that sounds unlike anything I've ever heard:

https://nyegenyegetapes.bandcamp.com/

Fantastic cover design too. Nihiloxica appears to be a group of drummers and a synth player making this dark Ugandan techno racket which in my own limited knowledge could only be compared to things like the GQom Oh! stuff from SA, but not really like that. The Sounds of Sisso comp is crazy, and again provides a nice Ugandan analogue to the frenetic, helium-paced Shangaan electro style.

Don’t think anyone has mentioned Nyege Nyege on the global dance thread, although that seems the best place for it

I'm really interested by these Ugandan artists on Nyege Nyege, sounds like a cool mix of trad drums and electronic sounds. I guess the Otim Alpha thing would be Shangaan.

And let's post a single from Makaveli, that is like sped-up shangaan with spoken-word rap and other cool sounds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tonm1HYRxHk
Great no?

https://i.imgur.com/bsFp78u.jpg

that is going in my EOY I can already tell

Funny you should say EOY:

https://m.soundcloud.com/dj_michy/craze-sololo-ft-orezi-x-mystro

CaZe ft. Orezi & Mystro “Sololo”.

Total knock-out.

Mystro also produced Orezi’s own new single “Whine For Daddy”, which features Tekno. Should do well in the Caribbean too.

https://youtu.be/XT2oBKtABms

woah at whatever the hell happens 90 seconds into "Nammiliki"!

Sololo is also very nice

This one is classic Davido sweet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-ngDUlekTE

Another sweet one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIYipEOsGTM

And here's Wizkid, I love this song but I don't understand from when it was (late 2017 I guess, they just made a remix).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx9k2k6Ag5c

And since ILM likes him
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcUdwBK5Ma0

Go Down (Alade) is good. Your Body (Wizkid) is good.

Nabozo, “Without You” is a 2015 song by LK Kuddy ft. Yung6ix. The remix with Wizkid dropped early 2016. Is “Your Body” the one with Akon? ‘Cause that would be “For You” from Wizzy’s 2014 Ayo album. Lots of mislabelling going on out there!

This one is very recent though, the latest installment in Wizzy’s Killertunes trilogy, after “Opoju” with DJ Spinall and “Manya” with Mut4y:

https://youtu.be/VYawNmc3m0s

DJ Jimmy Jatt ft. Wizkid, “Oshe” (produced by Killertunes)

Another thing: that Sounds of Sisso compilation is all Tanzanian stuff, not Ugandan (that includes the Makaveli track posted above).
https://nyegenyegetapes.bandcamp.com/album/sounds-of-sisso
Nyege Nyege Tapes, the label, is based in Kampala, but they aim to release “outsider music from around the region and beyond”.

Anyway, a lot of good stuff on there. In their relentlessness and piling on of chipmunk and other sound effects some tracks remind me of those crazy Ball J productions from the azonto era at times.

Very sad news from Ghana: rising star Ebony (or Ebony Reigns as she was also known) died in a road accident last Thursday. She had just released her debut album a month ago.

Her big hit last year, “Sponsor”:
https://youtu.be/4DBPLxbjads

And her current one, “Maame Hw3”:
https://youtu.be/d8cJoGtU660

thanks for clearing that up breastcrawl didn't realise it was Tanzanian

Shaku Shaku time!

Twin record with “Legbegbe” >>>
Idowest ft. Dammy Krane & Slimcase, “Omo Shepeteri”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrdlrp4yKAw

Slightly older, but essential >>>
Zlatan ft. Olamide, “My Body”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4mSuYyCDy0

Even older, was this the first one? >>>
Kyla Cole, “Shaku Shaku”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1JwIm79BXo

Brand new, super lit >>>
Super Wavey Records, “Kpano”:
https://soundcloud.com/freemedigital/super-wavey-records-kpano-prod-jaga-bantu-moor

Jumping the bandwagon >>>
D’Banj ft. Slimcase & Mr Real, “Issa Banger”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M_nGSyg1pM

Biggest record in Nigeria right now >>>
Olamide, “Science Student”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WimJP1SDa4I

This is from last year but I did not see any mention of HE3B on the 2017 thread. I think these two tracks are pretty good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alPUrD2w-jw&list=PL6zyXmG5g9xEeh0mQJVlo1Iovr0ITin6S

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O31DaWeRyyY

First embed doesn't seem to be working. Let's try again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alPUrD2w-jw&list=PL6zyXmG5g9xEeh0mQJVlo1Iovr0ITin6S

Anyway, it's called "Be Mine"

this is probably the best song I listened this year

https://youtu.be/m99Wmv7gU2A

Wow, that is fantastic! I want to sample that breakdown and make a house banger out of it!

(This is about “Mariana” by Nelson Freitas, by the way. Including track info when posting is much appreciated. Makes it easier to search, and YouTube links often disappear over time as well. )

YT is terribly impractical for exploring new stuff, especially since they personalized suggestions by filling them with your latest listens. There's a few mass playlists that are regularly updated, but not enough great songs to sit through them.

I apologize for the lack of information. i thought that the caption would appear, but it didn't, i don't know why.
i'm kinda addicted to "Mariana". Nelson Freitas is really big in Portugal, although I never payed much attention to his music until this one came up.

"OOO" - Zingah, Maphorisa, Wizkid, Burna Boy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nH9LYhfpxo

Davido's first single of 2018 "Flora My Flawa":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpAopipfdAs

My favorite Shaku Shaku tune right now:

Danny S - Ege (Dribble)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqVslNB4psk

By the way how you guys noticed how they are sometimes recycling South African beats in these Shaku Shaku tracks.

"Omo Shepeteri" uses the beat from this one from 2012 (?):

Letta Mbulu - Not Yet Uhuru (Maphorisa n Clap Remix)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR9J4J3gDg0

Even the 2017 hit "Penalty" by Small Doctor uses the beat from DJ Malvado's "Zenze" (also 2012?)

Naija mainstream pop needed those harder beats after the Reign of Pon Pon, but when it comes to South(ern) African influence, I would have expected gqom to have caught on much more in Naija by now than it has so far. I guess it’s because shaku shaku has its origin in what’s often called “street music” in Nigeria, where they have been using these older, Uhuru-type beats of the previous SA wave for some time now to freestyle on. Cool to have some of those beats identified - are there any more you know about?

As for a straight-up Naija pop/gqom fusion, there’s the current Patoranking, “Available”, with SA producers DJ Catzico and Vista. It has been around since early November, but it seems to be picking up steam only now that the shaku-shaku-friendly video is out. (Remember, Pato was an early alkayida adaptor too, with “My Woman, My Everything”).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PCqv_BmF6s

Speaking of the South African influences, this makes me so happy: A bona fide, honest-to-God extended version of a Nigerian hit. It could only be Niniola’s “Maradona”, of course - that song has become an even bigger hit in South Africa than in Nigeria for a reason. I wish this was done more often, but I’m not holding my breath.

https://open.spotify.com/album/40PbljSs8Av2gCbSzi9rND

And I mean, I really wish this was done more often, because why only 2’48 of this goodness?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cnXu16J_wM

VJ Adams feat. Niniola (it’s her again!), “Leg Work”

This guy Tiwezi is quickly turning into one of my favourite producers. He also did this:

https://soundcloud.com/musicplugafrica/mz-kiss-ijo

Mz Kiss, “Ijo”

and, on a completely different tip:

https://soundcloud.com/humblesmith/sugar

Humblesmith, “Sugar”

Mmmmmmmmmmmmaradona!

If anyone knows more about what people are listening to in SA atm I’d be thrilled to know. I kinda lost track of it all.

Finally stumbled on an article that comments on the South African influence on Naija songs:

"“Legbegbe” featuring Idowest and Obadice is inspired by South African house music group, Uhuru. Ever since Mafikizolo’s crossover hit, “Khona”, the influence of South African House music in Nigerian street music has been reflected In Nigerian street-hop; from Junior Boy’s “Irapada”, Small Doctor’s “Penalty”, to Olamide’s “Wo”. Mr Real’s “Legbegbe” is only one of the latest adaptation of this culture. “Legbegbe” is premium street-hop held together with fog-like synth percussion and drums looped off an Uhuru sample, streamlined by his street-smart impulses."

http://thenativemag.com/communities/uhuru-inspired-new-sound-streets-lagos-native-interview-mr-real/

This seems to be one of the South African hits of the moment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bvyC9gJq6I

Thanks!

Thanks for the link, AG! Some interesting bits in there (the fact that Mr Real considers his shaku shaku stuff “pop”, confirmation of my impression that “Khona” was a kind of milestone), and some missed follow-up questions (what IS it about then?)

I posted “Club Controller” a month ago! It’s been the nr. 1 on SA iTunes for a few weeks now. I haven’t done more than skim the SA iTunes chart recently, and that seems to be the freshest one on there. Have you heard the West Ink Banger comp that came out in November? Good stuff on that. I particularly like the Madanon-led tracks. 

I came across some great stuff from Angola though, thanks to some site (https://pudding.cool/2018/01/music-map/) that someone started a thread about that I can’t find right now (was it rob who actually mentioned Angola?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeaQtiogx18

(Scro Que Cuia, “Vou Partir Cama”)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cimZVzgOKOw

(Os Moikanos, “Ninguém Foge”)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sglob6dnKo4

(Puto Prata, “Gruwa”)

Oh well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVp4G26fJgs

(Os Moikanos, “Gago (Oh Pai)”

Yeah I’ve had Club Controller in rotation for a while now. Great song! Curious about how the non-gqom leaning pop, rap and house is faring. The West Ink Bangers/ Maphorisa / Distruction Boyz axis seemed to be ruling everything right before christmas.

I have been playing this rap track a lot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh-toV5X3HA

Shot Gun Flava ft. Pyrobeats, “Dikgomu”. He’s got a (mini) album out as well.

Naija Big Shots Corner:

I’m really trying with the new Davido, but… isn’t this a bit of a dud?

New Wizkid, posing as Starboy, posse cut with Ceeza Milli, Terri & Spotless, “Soco”:

https://soundcloud.com/dj_michy/soco

New Tekno, posse cut with OG, Flimzy & Selebobo, “Anyhow”:

https://soundcloud.com/teknomusic/anyhow

Oh, Davido has a posse cut too, for his DMW label, with Mayorkun, Dremo & Peruzzi, “Mind”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me4evySCbqQ

And the newest Olamide is with Skepta, “Sheevita Juice” - he’s going the UK route, just like Burna, both taking Mr Eazi’s cue, not Wizzy’s, which makes sense:

https://soundcloud.com/user-477702801/olamide-x-skepta-sheevita-juice

As to why Wizzy’s currently not releasing any tracks under his own name:

http://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/wizkid-why-singer-cannot-release-music-officially-in-nigeria-as-an-independent-artist-id7608146.html

Have not been able to get with Flora my Flawa either. It sounds off to me.

ayo breastcrawl: #1 Song in Your City - Interactive, updated map for discovery

(I am like 15 posts behind on this thread)

Nothing groundbreaking but the new Rudeboy is sweet to me, first new song in a while that sounds good to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94RbK0WHccs

I haven't cared one bit for the last range of Tekno songs, even when he has Selebobo on board so I don't know what's wrong.
Heart Robber has a video out btw.
No offense to her, but Tiwa Savage is going for horny in 2018, following on ridiculously suggestive Sugarcane with ridiculously suggestive Get it Now.

That sounds like a miscalculation/overcompensation to me. Tiwa is many things and I’m sure she has her horny moments irl, but she’s a very controlled performer. Lust is not really her thing afaict.

The songs themselves are good, especially Sugarcane and the clip is very well produced. The Get it Now video is straight-up irresponsible though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akOR-_yE94o

I had forgotten all those songs with Ma Lo and All Over were part of this EP from last September, really strong EP.
Btw, talking still of 2017 (december), I'm not sure we had posted Sarz - Get Up. That's a really good one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqdA-imL3ZM

Tiwa is always good and tes, that ep is pretty great. I think the strength of her persona is connection to a certain... restraint though. «If I start to talk» is such a Tiwa Savage title. She could talk, but if she did it would run over. And Tiwa Savage somehow never runs over. These are mostly my personal musings, as seen from a certain geographical and cultural perspective though. I’m sure she means something different seen from an African perspective, for instance.

And the best South African song from last year has a video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFi-BqmTRrw
And part of me wants to post Bazoyenza

Let me help that part of you out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbLbRuGZW2s

Busiswa ft. DJ Maphorisa, "Bazoyenza"

I had never checked for the video, it's awesome!

Kosewe, kosegbo, kosewe, kosegbo...
They finally released the music video for Science Student

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nVkhp2xtHg

Trippy and weird yes

Tiwa is always good and tes, that ep is pretty great. I think the strength of her persona is connection to a certain... restraint though. «If I start to talk» is such a Tiwa Savage title. She could talk, but if she did it would run over. And Tiwa Savage somehow never runs over. These are mostly my personal musings, as seen from a certain geographical and cultural perspective though. I’m sure she means something different seen from an African perspective, for instance.

― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Sunday, February 25, 2018 1:36 PM (two days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

You'd be surprised.

"If I start to talk" is a very Yoruba phrase. She would have heard it used in varying ways growing up.

Likewise, Tiwa Savage in her demeanour and lyricism is very Yoruba.

The phrase as used in that song besides the clear religious overtones, represents the other side of the brash, absurd, "local", Yorubaisms of Olamide, Kesh and the like

I.e. the more conservative, show-don't-tell pridefulness of Yoruba Women sauntering around in trad dress and heavy tinted, gold-accented shades at parties.

Yeah, that’s the main tenet I’m getting from her overall. She’s very proper. So aggressively sexual tiwa sounds like a false note to me.

I feel that's a little unfair to her.
Can't deny that in these videos she's stiff and doesn't look entirely comfortable but, she's been able to sell that kinda vibe in the past (Love me 3x).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oSY4CYfXV4
This turn feels to me more like an exploration of an often unseen side than a drastic departure from the norm.

Well, it probably is a little unfair, lol. What they’re trying to do is probably to loosen up a bit of that stiffness of hers. I do think she can do seductive, but the way to go about it, I think, would be to have her do a wide range of different and fun music - on some of my favorite ts songs, like the girlie o remix, she doesn’t seem stiff at all.

I'm guessing there is a more... direct side to her that seldom shines through in her music. She grew up in London, after all.I'm not saying she should go grime but maybe she should do some collabos with J Hus and Jae5 or something.

Another gqom banger - and this time the rave flutes are out.
Dladla Mshunqisi -Pakisha (feat. Distruction Boyz & DJ Tira):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ybmoFAQpvc

lol, you beat me to it by exactly 0.32 seconds, longneck!

ha ha!

Let me just add that Club Controller is such a jam. It gets better every time i hear it.

“Club Controller” is massive. This one is great too, from late last year. Is it because of Distruction Boyz or could it be… the Madanon touch?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oACKPv8jEOM

DJ Boonu feat. Madanon, Igcokama Elisha & Mashayabhuqe KaMamba, “uSwidi Wodwa”

(the version on Spotify adds an extra 2 minutes, btw)

that's VERY nice.

I know, right?

Recent SA rap I like, pt. 2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAYOIFCytxk

Anatii, "Thixo Onofefe"

Pakisha sounds like a version of Omunye though.
Still working on my pronunciation of gqom lol.
Another sort of recent one I like is iScathulo.

Hey, it’s Wizkid x Killertunes, installment #4, with DJ Spinall facilitating yet again:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES8XuZBafz0

Track is called “Nowo”.

I'm loving this loose vibe Wizzy is on currently immensely, by the way. Such a contrast with that slight stiltedness - if that's the right word - of those Sounds From The Other Side tracks - even though some of them (but not all!) were very good.

(lol Nabozo, I'm not quite sure how to pronounce gqom either...)

Apparently it’s...

https://youtu.be/IG-wovGmRqM

Sounds so much better than I ever imagined!

So Mashayabhuqe KaMamba, who is on that DJ Boonu track, also did this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tei1LbSbpLk

“KwaDukuza”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgvPWiAupQc

love this latest sun-el collab

That whole Busiswa album is pretty special, btw. Someone should alert lex.

Heading back to Nigeria,I really like Don Toffy's olamide-ish Anything For The Mulla:

https://soundcloud.com/pluggrecords/don-toffy-anything-for-the-mulla-afrourbanplugg

A couple of tracks from Ghana that haven't been posted yet I think:

DJ Vyrusky feat. Kuami Eugene & Shatta Wale
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ltJrEMc1Ko

Kuami Eugene is a young afropop singer who got famous on Ghanaian TV show MTN Hitmaker and had a massive hit "Angela" last year. His latest song apparently borrows from Sidiki Diabate's "Fais moi confiance" and some from Daddy Lumba & Kojo Antwi as well

Kuami Eugene - Confusion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2R0V-TgBY4

King Promise - Selfish
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z2XfY9btCw

Love King Promise and “Selfish”. His previous one, last year’s “Oh Yeah”, is even better:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPxOLjJH0Pc

More gorgeous holdovers from last year, both Nigerian:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejkNXMiVfPU

(Runtown, “Energy”)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmMJLnYp2_o

(Bracket ft. Flavour, “Chop Kiss”)

And a Ghanaian one. Love how propulsive this is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsFEuro2Eqc

Yaa Pono feat. MzVee, “Wu (Die)”

Music videos for two Shaku Shaku songs that have been around for some time:

Mr Real - Legbegbe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5aGdpqNO8w

Oladips feat. Reminisce - Lalakukulala
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GprISw5sBNs

As gqom-y as shaku shaku has gotten so far:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqozEQzaWDA

Skuki, “Owello”

Haha, that's totally a south african beat.
I didn't know this duo, they're cool. I like Forkanizer from last year and they have a lot more with collabs with Lil Kesh, Olamide etc.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwc4fkT74qk)

Skuki have been around for a long time, but for some reason their older stuff has been wiped off the face of Spotify.

Search:

“Over The Mountain” feat. Olamide (2015):
https://youtu.be/ZUO2fQFU6DY
(either the very first Young John copycat production, or this mysterious ‘BimOnTheBeat’ was actually a YJ alias)

“Voom Va” feat. Phyno (2013):
https://youtu.be/5Pe7whelUMc
(stone-cold classic; an absolutely thrilling record)

Check these great dance videos on the hard-hitting iWalk yephara song (the dance is something viral from last year's hit "Shut up and groove" by Distruction boyz, and Macassette / DJ Raybel "remade" the song...if I got it right)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IErsqu64T7c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og_kaTxfE3U

and for the reference and because the dancing is so amazing, here's this unofficial video from shut up and groove
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr1whZOcLRc

Nabozo, forgive me if I misunderstood your post, but I don’t really hear the connection between “iWalk ye Phara” and “Shut Up And Groove”? However, I came across another track with TDK MaCassette involvement that IS extremely similar to SUAG, “Yeba” by Rude Boyz:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_WnzfnPSzk

But yeah, “iWalk ye Phara” is very good and I enjoyed the dancing!

(Sorry, that should be "Yebo")

It ain’t no “Hola Hola” (although the bassline tries very, very hard, and admirably so), but Sugarboy just dropped his first good song since… well, “Hola Hola”:

https://soundcloud.com/gworldwideent/sugarboy-chop-feat-ycee

Sugarboy ft. Ycee, “Chop”

I think the connection was in the dancing, not the song, but i might be mistaken?

The new Lil Kesh, “Apa Mi”, sounds great. Produced by Princeton, who did the Sugarboy as well. One to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4LILt3Dp5E

Minz - Odoyewu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAaSsLNUFRg

And more dancing because it's cool and belongs to the genre (on Gwara Gwara)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7AgxSPhx54

No respect...For the second year in a row, the Nabisco (N.A.) edited NY Times Magazine special issue 25 Songs that Tell Us Where Music is Going has no artists based in Africa (mostly all US & UK this year except for 1 K-Pop, a hiphop remix with Puerto Rican rappers, and a Scottish pop group with 2 members of Liberian heritage )

You were expecting something from the culture department of Times Magazine ? :) I always found them to be doing blandness-incarnate filler, or maybe their readers are that shallow. But yeah, culture is not global at all, just imperialistic.

The issue does have nicely penned pieces on Chicago footwork DJ Taye and one on a remix with Farruko, Nicki Minaj, and Bad Bunny; SZA ,and Bruno Mars's Finesse remix. But I was expecting more from a former ilxor who writes well and is very smart and who got a bunch of talented writers from elsewhere to contribute. An editor doesn't have to like Scandinavian whatever(pop or metal) or Nigerian Afropop to recognize that it should be included in something with the heading "25 Songs that Tell Us Where Music is Going," but he didn't do that this year or last year (the first time he edited this). Instead, as when he was the music critic at New York Magazine he generally followed his interests-US and UK pop, rap, and r'n'b.

very sad to see that DJ Spoko has died: http://www.factmag.com/2018/03/14/influential-south-african-artist-dj-spoko-has-died-aged-35/

Could I have your attention please? It’s (not just) another Guilty Banger:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRPCBg1N4Yo

GuiltyBeatz feat. Mr Eazi, PappyKoo & Patapaa, “Akwaaba”

That's "Pappy Kojo", of course.

(that "audio" video is perfect in all its simplicity too)

Tekno seemed to be slowly losing his mojo in the past few months (Nabozo referred to it upthread), but I gotta say, the brand new “Yur Luv” is love at first sight:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNTXmiajBn0

Makossa, baby!

(He shouldn’t be so shy about producing his own tracks, this is only the second. The previous one, “Go”, was the best thing he released last year, along with “Yawa”.)

This one’s from Angola: Preto Show ft. Biura, “Sacanagem Clepatia”. It’s huge:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhxBHicfYhY

He’s got one out with Davido as well, produced by KS Drums. Nice to hear Davido on something different:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eATONOOqC1U

Preto Show ft. Davido, “Banger (Mamawe)”

Reporting from the Angolan rabbit hole.

Preto Show has been involved involved in all kinds of great stuff. Check out his (mini-)album Panamera, released last year.
This one is fire too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xINs0T7B3ME

(The Crew ft. Preto Show & Zoca Zoca, “Esse Moço”)

And how about this guy? He just dropped an album too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MtzV1_HaBo

(Nerú Americano, “Zaranza”)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPcKNXZaXGU

(Nerú Americano ft. DJ Vado Poster, “Adoço”)

Going back in time a bit further, to 2015:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIjADsddG8o

(Os’Banah, “Banzelo”)

A bonus interlude, just for fun, and because it’s all new to me, this kuduro classic from 2009 or 2010:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEU2934eJuE

(Agre G, “Piké Piké”)

But this is the big one…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z64YURwg50w

(Os Santiegos ft. Nerú Americano, “Sem Maldades”)

The music, the dancing. Holy fuck.

I think DJ Vado Poster is my favourite person in music right now. Of the ones I posted he produced “Adoço”, “Banzelo” and “Sem Maldades”.

(Also, I can’t help thinking Shaku shaku is just kid’s play compared to all of this Angolan mayhem.)

that's awesome

Proper video for “Akwaaba” is out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHjV0kzFKG8

(GuiltyBeatz feat. Mr Eazi, Pappy Kojo & Patapaa, “Akwaaba”)

(There's dancing)

2018's first official Summer Jam, btw

steady

???

I produce a bunch of data-generated playlists on Spotify, including a set based on the distinctive listening of countries. There hasn't been much African representation in this list, because Spotify hasn't been directly available in any African countries, but we just launched in South Africa, finally, and with a little tweaking of thresholds this week I was able to get lists for Ghana and Tanzania, as well. So, if you're interested:

Ghana: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/6zvs325lRproQd0Sd83oQg?si=k0tX616kT9mgp9Z0za4ehQ
South Africa: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/6KeYZIeYiElx86iOhDigH3?si=PMOriAFJTEWQ5kv7hsmHPw
Tanzania: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/56S93wwXTegxAuz9Np96zY?si=q4s8d5E9SgWqoD5v2BBK6g

I think this new Mayorkun (ft. Davido) track is pretty nice!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EitxN6DDN4

Slimcase seems to be the man of the moment in Naija music. Here's an interview where he talks about Shaku Shaku (3:00), the meaning of "SaintSamiGanga" (4:23) and says he is the most featured Naija artist since December until today and he might be right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5d2JDKgDoo

There's this new Ghanaian artist with a song sounding like UK afroswing. The beat might be taken from "Barking" by Ramz, quite similar beat at least. Interesting to see how big impact this UK sound (Not3s, J Hus etc.) will have there.

Kwesi Arthur - The Anthem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW-i367I1Ro

I think soundwise afrobeats is a bit locked-in. You can look towards America, Jamaica, UK, South Africa, retro African (trad, 90s or Antenna-levels party synths), but then you sound derivative and "interesting", and the next song you can come back to the central sound, even if every new idea there is quickly exhausted.
I think my favorite song of the year is still Soco (which has a video).
I'll be staying in South Africa for a while, so I soon get the opportunity to complain about them and third-rate distruction boyz songs too :)

Ha ha! Where in SA are you going to be staying? The whole Afro Bashment/Swing scene is still cool but it seems like all the best songs came at the beginning of it. It has settled in now but it doesn’t seem too exciting anymore.

The trajectory reminds me of Mr Eazi’s. He’s still good, but there’s no magic in what he does anymore.

Another excellent Sauti Sol track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3oOJcyf7iA

I find this a baffling statement:

I think soundwise afrobeats is a bit locked-in. You can look towards America, Jamaica, UK, South Africa, retro African (trad, 90s or Antenna-levels party synths), but then you sound derivative and "interesting", and the next song you can come back to the central sound, even if every new idea there is quickly exhausted.
― Nabozo, donderdag 29 maart 2018 9:36

Mutatis mutandis and all that, but can’t this basically be said about all music ever?

Also, how are you defining “afrobeats” here? As Nigerian and/or Ghanaian contemporary pop music? African pop music in general? Just looking at Naija pop: At any given moment, there are several different strands of music that are popular simultaneously. Right now there’s pon pon, there’s shaku shaku, you have Simi, Olamide, “Soco”-phase Wizkid, Rudeboy, Niniola… - what’s the “central sound” here? (And that’s not accounting for the styles and genres that aren’t (currently) mainstream/on the charts.) All of this is evolving and shapeshifting continuously - influenced by factors both internal and external, indeed. What’s not to love?

I agree with you on “Soco” though. Here’s that video you mentioned:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VrWaED18_g

Oh right.. afroBEATS, I read that as afro swing. Sorry. Anyway, I agree w breastcrawl on this particular point. Last year was a bit samey w all the 98 bpm stuff but atm it feels less predictable.

"Akwaaba", the Italian edition:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzadvC4D8Z0

Akiti Wrowro ft. GuiltyBeatz & DJ Kess, “Kokoti”

It's true, it's constantly "evolving and shapeshifting", I just feel with a rather narrow margin for creativity, like any dance-pop music (what it is). Anyway my idea was only that looking towards established styles from other countries is not really a door leading to creativity for afrobeats, so I feel there's not much to hope from Nigeria receiving UK influences back or from copying South Africa for example. As for the "central" sound, I guess it's one of those "know it when you hear it" based on rhythms, vibe, melodies, vocal style etc.
And to answer longneck: Johannesburg :)

And a brand new song from Ghana (KiDi - Adiepena)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH8DAiSjmfA
And this one with old boy Sarkodie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag_ffZ-OV38

And WSTRN followed up on Ben Ova and it has Tiwa and Eazi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07rVIVkKA58
What do you think ? It's alright but lacks punch / intensity imo.

https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2018/04/04/599485289/my-friendship-with-janka-nabay-genius-of-bubu

Janka’s music doesn’t exactly fit this thread, but his use of programmed Sierra Leone born beats makes him kinda related. This NPR piece is by a guy who directed a video for Janka sometime after first hearing his music on a cassette brought back from S L.

I guess it's a bit late in the year for dec 2017 songs, but has anyone noticed that song by Burna Boy (koni baje) ? Actually the album came out this year (Outside)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9iW99DAs70

No Skin Tight, but Mr Eazi / Efya with a decent song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y7phGL6Sl4

I guess it's a bit late in the year for dec 2017 songs, but has anyone noticed that song by Burna Boy (koni baje) ? Actually the album came out this year (Outside)

I think I mentioned way upthread that imo Outside is fantastic. The first 5 tracks, including Koni Baje, are especially strong, with Ph City Vibration probably my favorite

The new Wizkid & Mut4y is awesome:
https://youtu.be/nUNe2svMR2A

Wizzy really is on another level right now. He also dropped three “freestyles” yesterday on Starboy’s Soundcloud, including a track with Ty Dollar $ign that - thankfully - is way better than their two collabs on Sounds From The Other Side.

The link: https://soundcloud.com/starboymusic

(“Highgrade”, the Ty track, is on Spotify as well.)

Loving this Cassper Nyovest x Davido jam:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb49bOipNuY

“Check On You”

Two cool tracks from Ghana that just sound great:

Papa Chie, “Palm Wine”:

https://soundcloud.com/papachiemusic/papa-chie-palm-wine

DJ Lord ft. Magnom, “Kuntu”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WU8IHo27lo

Two from Angola, despite the relative lack of enthusiasm for the Angolan bangers I posted earlier. Kizomba instead of kuduro this time, but equally good:

Tchobolito ft. Ary & Dicklas One, “Papel”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3JFecyQed0

DJ Elly Chuva ft. Tchobolito, “Lixo No Luxo”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdHlS2Z_dhc

“Lixo No Luxo” especially reminds me a bit of Olu Maintain’s sumptuous 2011-2012 (Nigerian) hit “Nawti”. I’m glad that sound still resides somewhere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oa5KVZtAnU

btw, this is the live stream from Coachella, where Wizkid is about to perform in 15 minutes' time, if I've got the schedule right.

ah yeah, that live stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyh9blvR54Q

Wizkid MIA unfortunately...

Let's continue with the good stuff, this time from Kenya:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JhtLNQBIA0

Sasabasi, “Bila Hook”

Last year’s “Lakini Bado” is good too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73gFxBY56os

Oh, Diamond Platnumz has an album out, A Boy From Tandale. It has lots of good tracks and ambitious collabs, but also the cheapest artwork ever. Current hit is the lovely “African Beauty”, which was produced by Krizbeatz and features Omarion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH2QsiBixe4

More USA with Africa: The new Ne-Yo single was co-produced by none other than Don Jazzy. He can be heard in the backing vocals too! (btw, Ne-Yo has a feature on the Platnumz album as well, 2016’s “Marry You”).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5WC-9TbjjQ

Ne-Yo ft. Bebe Rexha & Stefflon Don, “Push Back”

A quick stopover in Ghana…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZKjAKlcv9I

Gasmilla, “Ak3somorshi”

…and then it’s back to Naija.
This might be my favourite shaku shaku track so far: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8So5MpSNI94

Jaywon ft. Mr Real, Ido West, Ichaba, Gabzy Gambo & Toyin of Life, “Ma Sun (Stay Woke)” (It also has the biggest line-up.)

Hope I get to hear this on a massive soundsystem sometime, because whatever is happening 45-55 seconds in, I want to feel it in my body.

On second thought, let’s finish in Cameroon.
Jovi, “Pimentcam”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZKjAKlcv9I

Amazing track. We need more music from l’Afrique francophone in this thread. In fact, we need more of everything. We’re covering a whole continent’s pop music here!

Gaah, I fucked that up. Final destination is Ghana after all. This is that Gasmilla track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ieGtNtM1AM

Pimentcam reminds me of "Coller la Petite" or "La sauce" (also Cameroonian and about chili...).
I don't have anything to contribute right now, except that I realized I really like "FIA" by Davido. I was still stuck on If.
Ok, I'll post Sisi Maria
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6P258KGqjM

Jovi (a/k/a Le Monstre) is also the producer of « La sauce » (and all of Reniss’s stuff), so that makes sense. My favourite recent track of hers is « Eya Eya », such a sweet song: https://youtu.be/AQ77YDwxjxc

As for Franko, his latest « On s’assoit pas » is same-old same-old, but I like it: https://youtu.be/sO5i-rvyyDY

Would love to hear of others’ Cameroonian, Ivorian, Senegalese, Congolese etc. favourites!

Gqom time: The new Mampintsha with Babes Wodumo, “Amaketanga”. Those final 30 seconds though - wish there was more of that! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VOxf6Fu0To

Sho Madjozi, “Huku”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBnKYuv8O3A
(A dance routine to the track on SA daytime TV, because why not?)

Coupla months old: DJ Sandiso ft. Okmalumkoolkat & Amadando - Isam-Qeh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwZmoz8ptm8

Also, DJ Sumbody’s “Ayepyep”, posted back in January, does not get old!

Bisa Kdei’s new album Highlife Konnect is out. It features two Guilty Beatz, including current hit “Hammer”, which is gorgeous, and two Juls-produced tracks, “Domi Bi” and “Door Mat”. But the highlight for me is the beautifully understated (even by Bisa’s standards) “Bie Wueni”, which I’m guessing is an update of some specific old-school highlife style. Anybody who can enlighten me on this?

https://youtu.be/lEn3LHgrCtY
(Bisa Kdei, “Hammer”)

I'm really loving the new wizkids. Lagos Vibes is exquisite.

Fingers crossed for his rescheduled Coachella show on Saturday. Hopefully the visa issues will be resolved.

There’s more:
https://youtu.be/QfB0UI28pfo

Kiddominant ft. Wizkid, “Alright”

(and several “official” singles to be released soon)

That Bisa Kdei album really is wonderful.

The fantastic new Sun-El Musician album Africa to the World has its own thread.

Just started listening to Bisa Kdei's new album, sounds awesome so far!

Loving this new DJ Coublon produced track:

Seyi Shay ft. Flavour & Dj Consequence - Alele
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBGZWI6cnHM

And my current favorite in Ghanaian pop music:

Kidi - Adiepena
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH8DAiSjmfA

Davido, Olamide, and Burna Boy all coming to 3 different clubs in DC for shows in May. These will be late-night gigs that likely won't get any crossover attention, but Washington's dedicated afropop/afrobeats community (largely immigrants) will turn out.

It's been 10 days so it's appropriate to update the thread
Patoranking has one that sounds quite positive to me, if not quite "suh different". Eugy has one too with that signature prod (Tick Tock). Iyanya has a light retro one called Biko. And finally a Marley-Olamide-Kesh collab called Issa Goal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WOHZ9QhI9M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTGgkWRynOA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMsmUESwpHs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-zdHo4LJJI
I don't know if it's because I haven't listened to afrobeats in a short while, but that is a good string of songs.

In other news, Davido has money (and a song of his own). Tiwa Savage had the good taste to make a remix and a new video for Get it now. Has anyone posted Legbegbe ? There's something about songs about phones. Those two songs have 2M plays each.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUBVYkCz8Lw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyoGXhIj1UA

Peace out

Was Was really enjoying Ebony's 'Sponsor' so I searched the thread and Oh no, RIP :-( :-(

Yes, it’s really sad, so much promise. She was extensively mourned on a Ghanaian award show I caught on livestream recently. I play her album quite a lot. She has a beautiful voice. “Date Ur Fada” is quite the anthem too, thanks in no small part to its wtf chorus.
https://youtu.be/qG8LGFSypeM

About that new Davido, “Assurance” - a change of producer, but he just won’t let go of that formula... Sounds a bit uninspired to my ears. This is the video: https://youtu.be/ucVJrja8r6Q

This is the shit though: DJ Spinall ft. Kiss Daniel, “Baba”. Killertunes knows no bounds!
https://youtu.be/_kHtgJGV_PA
Good to see Kiss starting to do some mingling now that he’s ran out of his contract with the G-Worldwide label, that had a no-outside-collabs/features rule. The legal battle is still ongoing though, afaik.

Another artist with label “issues” is
Runtown. This article is probably the most detailed report I’ve seen of some of the incredible shadiness that goes on in the Naija music scene:
https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/full-story-of-runtown-drama-with-record-label-id8176024.html

Agree that Assurance sounds slightly uninspired.

Looking for delicious chilled out afro-inflected house music for sunny days. Essentially, what else sounds like Akanamali? I know a bit of Auntie Flo and Sdunkero etc but what else can I check out?

Professor, Kaybee, Lady Zamar, Heavy K, Maphorisa, Black Motion, Ganyani... to be honest, a lot of South African house has this sound, so you can dig.

Sort of expanding on my last two posts here: Try to imagine what a Killertunes-produced Runtown record would sound like. Now imagine Wizkid and Duncan Mighty singing it…

Starboy feat. Duncan Mighty & Wizkid, “Fake Love” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSSgzdIiItM

Nothing better than this.

So good.

Oh, and Wizkid dropped a track with Olamide today as well, also very good (duh), but I can have only one song on endless repeat:
https://youtu.be/nxyay4m584Y
Olamide x Wizkid, “Kana” (produced by Legendury Beatz)

(Actually it’s interesting how O and W both sing in a different voice/key here than they’re used to)

xps to dog latin:
Of the ones Nabozo mentioned Prince Kaybee seems like a particularly good reference/starting point. His older stuff, things like “Don’t Give Up”, might be in the vein you’re looking for. https://youtu.be/sz8Q8rFSejg
(the vocal version, with Lady Zamar)
https://youtu.be/sz8Q8rFSejg
(instrumental version as featured on the Better Days album).
You can contrast it with his current smash “Club Controller”, which is in the much harder, stuttering (can’t come up with a better descriptor rn, sorry) gqom style that’s current now. Gqom (search: Distruction Boyz, Babes Wodumo) is all kinds of wonderful, but “delicious chilled out afro-inflected house music” it most definitely ain’t. The same contrast exists between older and current Maphorisa (/Uhuru). Ganyani and Black Motion (and Black Coffee too) are reliably afro-house though. Professor and Heavy K are both fantastic, but maybe not quite chilled out enough? If you’re not that familiar with SA house in its many incarnations, I’d say try all of these and see where it leads you.

meant to post this link for the instrumental “Don’t Give Up”: https://open.spotify.com/track/0VKWlsoZr8waMPthuwHk90?si=vlxDLyWKQTWIV-psk9zPfA

If the category was “mind-blowingly gorgeous music from South Africa”, this might possibly fit: 

Zinaro ft. JB (of Thee Legacy) & Dust, “Dali Wami (Reloaded)” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1ednPRrNH0

fake love is unseemly

There you go again, ||||||||, confusing me, as a non-native English speaker, with your one-word reviews. I’m assuming “unseemly” is high praise, just like I’d hazard “steady” was for “Akwaaba”, but please correct me if I’ve misunderstood.

yeah sorry, it's really good

Haha, it’s all good. I’m glad we agree. (Actually, I now retroactively feel “unseemly” does it much more justice than just “very good”)

or “really good” even

New Wande Coal, “So Mi So”, produced by Juls: https://youtu.be/A6mRKZsAxMs

Tiwa Savage with a Wizzy vibe on the Spellz-produced “Tiwa’s Vibe”: https://youtu.be/JVr4C8MRti4

Video for “Fake Love” is out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCnvggIdBMU

Good profile on Davido:
http://thenativemag.com/featured/davido-vs-world/

The girl from Dumi hi phone has a new song, quite a lot better, sounds a lot like Busiswa but I like those gqom songs more on the fun side, it's something to explore. Sho Madjozi - Huku.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_EeqZcZ6dI

Yeah, that’s a good track. I posted it a month ago!

I’ve been maintaining a Spotify playlist for this thread. Here it is, for fun and reference: ILM rolling Afropop / Afrobeats 2018. (I included some of the older tracks mentioned by people as well.)

Most everything is in fact on Spotify. Of the current stuff, most notably absent are the Nyege Nyege Tapes releases, the Os Santiego track, Efya & Mr Eazi’s “Mame (Give Me)”, and Maphorisa x Raybel’s “iWalk ye Phara” - and then there’s the non-authorized Wizkid stuff, which (I suspect) is subject to an ongoing tug-of-war with RCA. “Lagos Vibes” is there now, posing as a Starboy track, but no such luck for the Ty Dollar $ign collab.

Nice! Thanks!

I'm not super-familiar with Afrobeat, but I found this by accident on Spotify and can't seem to stop playing it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey4UGQOSfjs

afropop, i mean

What do you all think of this? Some hard n heavy beats from West Country boys Boa Kusasa with Nigerian artist Magugu. I got to catch them the other day and they ripped it up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dmFQCpW1TM

for fun and beause it's trending
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW_xEqCWrm0

Saw Burna Boy at the Howard Theatre in DC. He had a band with a good backing woman singer plus a dj adding programmed and backing tracks as well. He was energetic but soundperson didn't have his voice high enough in the mix. The show lost some of the occasional subtlety and tunefulness his studio versions offer.

so what if it's penalty ISSA GOAL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-zdHo4LJJI

Keep it going!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OYdOjLIhvM

Two from South Africa:

This is great: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mwVXfkW0Qs

Mobi Dixon ft. Nichume, DJ Tira & Kwesta, “Visa”

Every good party has an afterparty: “Club Controller”, the remix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlr5CMazWJE

(It adds Mpumi, Nokwazi, Bucie and Busiswa to the mix, for starters. The version on Spotify is almost 9 minutes!)

so what if it's penalty ISSA GOAL
📹

I had heard - and loved - the Club Controller Remix, but not Visa, which is equally awesome if not better. Thanks, acrobat!

More acrobatics!

Two from East Africa:

This is gorgeous: https://youtu.be/ALv32GDxKT0
Eddy Kenzo • Your Value

So is this: https://youtu.be/yDcmBzMh-R4
Ben Pol ft. Kizz Daniel • Zai

Kana (Olamide / Wizkid / Legendury Beatz) is classic new Starboy style
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIJ4vkDa5rI

I am bang on board with this surprisingly pretty, accessible bit of Gqom soul

Master KG - Skeleton Move

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRukwQzGMs8

Profesor Jay ft. Sholo Mwamba - Kazi Kazi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=77&v=cPJ_pqmddWk

Singeli music from Tanzania

I guess for many of us Singeli is a discovery so I allow myself to post something that isn't new
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chzkPioEx9s
It's interesting to compare to the "traditional" speed that is less hectic (than Makaveli) but sweeter.
There's a 500+ playlist on YT, don't really know where else to find this stuff (except in Tanzania of course)

there's no trace of it on Spotify. Always disappointing when that happens cos I find YouTube hard to just relax and listen to

I like it! This guy does have a couple of tracks on Spotify, both from last year as well (“Kazi Kazi” is actually from 2016):

Dulla Makabila • Ujaulamba:
https://youtu.be/NjbTlikJe_8

Mkubwa na Wanawe ft. Dulla Makabila • Ruba:
https://youtu.be/YUrr5wtXSHs

In Nigeria, Shaku Shaku is converging more and more with Gqomwave. I love what producer Benie Macaulay is doing with this. Three from him:

Benie Macaulay ft. DJ Yin • Shashe:
https://youtu.be/oT9nevChYT4

Crowd Kontroller ft. Niniola • Bam Bam: https://youtu.be/MplmhD5c8DI

DJ Nana ft. Zoro & Mr. Real • Normal Level: https://youtu.be/t0LkVXBOwSE

Two other good tracks in this vein:

DJ Mewsic ft. Reminisce & Ola Dips • Taka Sufe: https://youtu.be/RgDJeTGO85w

Chief Obi • Kweku: https://youtu.be/QzZZ31ugUbI

Note: this is just music evolving, good old cross-pollination. No one’s feeling locked in, it’s not a case of diminishing returns, as was suggested upthread. It’s the Big Bad Naija Music Machine fueling itself with whatever it sets its sights on, it’s people getting inspired and being creative - same as it ever was. And the beat goes on...

Interesting article about Shaku Shaku and drug culture: https://filterfree.ng/features/the-complicated-relationship-between-shaku-shaku-and-drug-abuse/

I wasn’t aware of the (codeine/protein) “Diet” controversy. That song is also notable for being a post-“Maradona” Sarz production:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0J_ea7EiPk

DJ Enimoney ft. Slimcase, Reminisce & Tiwa Savage •  Diet

So this is how these things work, huh?

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/dj-snake-borrows-nigerian-artists-afro-house-hit-for-new-single-698765/

In better news, this dropped today as well:

https://youtu.be/L3_LEt5Kr0c

DJ Fortee ft. Niniola • Monini

(and there’s also the Crowd Kontroller track I posted last week)

Ladies with an attitude:

Shan'L La Kinda • Tchizambengué: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfFvIIOPpxg

Aya Nakamura • Djadja: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPGgnzc34tY

(Shan'L is from Gabon, Aya is French, but also emphatically Malian - one of her recent singles was a tribute to Oumou Sangaré. “Djadja” is a pop smash in France and beyond.)

Fellows that are in the mood:

Creme De La Creme ft. Tribeless & The Kansoul • Kufa Juu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYvGMeAdcTc

Timmy Tdat ft. The Kansoul • Tunakubali: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C32689-HLC8

(from Kenya - the second one is actually from 2015, but it does fit the… mood)

I’ve fallen in love hard with this South African rap jam. Love how dense and ragged it sounds:

N’veigh ft. Kid X & Caask Asid • Stofong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_xmTHLnmcA

I love this:

https://youtu.be/It8jsunGFB8

Quincy • Slay Mama

Is there a Spotify playlist for this thread? If not, has anyone got a good playlist I can listen to?

Sure there is, I’ll link it again:

Spotify playlist: ILM rolling Afropop / Afrobeats 2018

(at 200 tracks right now)

(On my account I have several other public playlists with tracks per year on a country / region basis that I constantly update. Feel free to follow!)

came across this on the World Cup thread:

😂😂🔥👑 pic.twitter.com/ASgnaewGMA

— Aya Nakamura (@AyaNakamuraa) July 18, 2018

🐦[😂😂🔥👑 pic.twitter.com/ASgnaewGMA🕸
— Aya Nakamura (@AyaNakamuraa) July 18, 2018🕸]🐦

Some of which I dig the prod / style.

Teni - Askamaya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx_SO7aWfYk
Korede Bello - 2geda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILIVzmWF_ZM
Skales - Fire Waist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJEdzi2Kx48

There's a mediocre french rap song with Wizkid trending with 4M views in a week (two parts of the song absolutely unrelated).

Oh, and Teniola Apata is the sister of Niniola Apata.

Yeah, that blew my mind. The penny was slow to drop though. I read or watched several interviews with Teni referencing her “sister” Niniola before I realized what was up.

guess kiss daniel is now kizz daniel? anyway for you w wizkid is real nice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_JsNa2oRnI

4dayz is sweet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3PAjE9T1pY

This is an afro-pop / afro-house mix I did for fun last night. I'm still getting used to USB decks so please forgive any schonky transitions:

https://www.mixcloud.com/doglatin/club-controller-afro-pop-and-house-from-across-africa/

TRACKLIST (pasted from Mixcloud, sorry)

1 Sitya Loss by Eddy Kenzo
2 Master KG - Skeleton Move by Master KG ft. Zanda Zakuza
3 Lazaro (Ft. Busiswa & Niniola) by Muungu Africa
4 Ntaba Ezikude (feat. Simmy) by Sun-El Musician
5 Better Days (Muungu Africa's Afro Alternative Vocal Remix) by Marissa Guzman and EnaWadan
6 Ileko by Tiwa Savage
7 Sololo (ft. Dirty) by Caze
8 Goodbye (ft. DJ What What) by DJ Cleo
9 Single & Searching (feat Falz) by Yemi Alade
10 Legbegbe by Mr. Real
11 Ayepyep (feat Tira/Thebe/Emza) by Dj Sumbody
12 Lahla by Busiswa, Dj Buckz
13 Club Controller by Prince Kaybee, Tns, Zanda Zakuza
14 Oreske (Major Notes remix) by Kayefi
15 Digital Response (feat Blaqchild) by Emo Kid
16 Kissange by Djeff
17 Crazy - Remix (ft. Wizkid) by Seyi Shay
18 Shake Ur Bum Bum - Remix (ft. Sean Paul) by Timaya
19 Bazoyenza (ft. DJ Maphorisa) by Busiswa
20 Your Body Hot - Remix (ft. Attitude) by Skales
21 Rotate by Wande Coal
22 Tlekeke ft. Sho Madjozi, DJ Buckz & Shareen by Khuli Chana
23 Arm Up (feat Tkay Maidza) by Swick
24 Hebe by Ckrono
25 Nufeko Disole ft. Bras Firmino by Batida
26 Monkey by Dj Katapila
27 Akrakabo by Serge Beynaud

Thanks for that, listened to 2/3rds of it this morning. In the stuff I didn't know, I really like this recent song off your mix. Deserves to be posted.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXxbbFuz6V0

that's a new discovery for me too. It's really good - lots of crossover appeal. Cheers Nabozo

Yes.

So the NPR radio list of 200 greatest songs by 21st century women (meaning had their main impact this century) does not appear to have any afropop. I don't see Yemi Alade or others. They did include North African vocalist Noura Mint Seymali, and a couple of reggaeton acts from this side of the world.

Rayvanny • Chombo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY6En4785PE

(absolutely delightful)

Jah Prayzah • Ronika:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc58UMOhiZw

(his Zimbabwean fans don’t seem to like it much, but I do)

Also, Timaya’s latest, “To U”, is great:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZOY0wxKNH8

DJ Katapila's Aroo EP is fun. This track 'Monkey', especially

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-RVIqwxFck

Nobody posted this new 2Baba song yet? Seems to be making waves in Naija.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGkDAAxrjv0

2Baba feat. Peruzzi - Amaka

Feeling this new Tiwa feat. Duncan Mighty as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-Wepo2mVA8

Tiwa Savage feat. Duncan Mighty - Lova Lova

I had sort of filed away “Amaka” as 2Baba jumping the Davido bandwagon just when it’s offering increasingly diminishing returns (it’s produced by SperoachBeatz, just like “Assurance”), but I got it stuck in my head now thanks to your post - catchy tune. The lyrics might have something to do with its success as well, as touched upon here: http://thenativemag.com/music/see-2baba-peruzzi-video-amaka/

Not really feeling the Tiwa yet, but it’s wonderful to see Duncan Mighty’s resurgence post-“Fake Love”. The man is classic for “Obianuju” alone, one of the first Naija songs I fell in love with back in 2012.
https://youtu.be/5Nho-FCsZXE

...jumping ON the Davido bandwagon...

Oh yeah, “Fake Love” - this is how I described it when it dropped:

Try to imagine what a Killertunes-produced Runtown record would sound like. Now imagine Wizkid and Duncan Mighty singing it…

So now imagine Runtown hearing “Fake Love”, deciding to riff on it, and... leaving at that. After three classic singles in a row I think we can cut him some slack though:

https://youtu.be/srpwOpPOfKk

Runtown ft. Fekky • Unleash

btw, Runtown has now severed ties with his label (see upthread), just like Kiss Daniel did before him - the name change to “Kizz” Daniel mentioned by Spottie is an attempt to appease his former label.

gah... “leaving IT at that” - someone get me a proofreader

More Nigerian heavy hitters:

Tekno’s current smash ”Jogodo”...

https://youtu.be/97abEozJjCg

...which leans very heavily on an old hit by Danfo Drivers, “Kpolongo”, from 2004 or thereabouts.

More Nigerian heavies:

One of the biggest tracks of the year, Burna Boy’s “Ye”, finally has a video: https://youtu.be/lPe09eE6Xio

It’s been called Nigeria’s “new national anthem”.

And... Yemi Alade just dropped her best single** in quite a while, “Oh My Gosh”. Great new sound by DJ Coublon! https://youtu.be/GdIe0cX8etk

** Amazingly, Black Magic standout track and ILM EOY favourite “Mon Lo” still hasn’t received the video treatment.

This just in as well, and it’s huge:

Idowest ft. Davido • Ji Masun:

https://youtu.be/omUJoVKPWEw

This is Idowest’s first single for Davido’s DMW label. The mainstreaming of shaku shaku and the ongoing incorporation of gqom leads to spectacular results. In-house producer Fresh VDM raises to the challenge and comes up with his best production yet. Listen to that percussion!

(Also further proof that in 2018 Davido is so much more enjoyable as a featured artist)

Speaking of the devil...

https://youtu.be/WEA9EB7Q5RY

Davido • Nwa Baby

...and there’s a surprise on the Ciara thread...

(warning: spoilers ahead)

https://youtu.be/NSIDTlG6bbs

https://youtu.be/2gIHj8stIGo

(Ciara ft. Tekno • Freak Me)

(...or as it was known in a previous incarnation, “Before Nko” by Tiwa Savage ft. D’Prince:
https://youtu.be/IeasOeUgkA8 )

Also, the new DJ Maphorisa bangs hard: https://youtu.be/_XVOf9Md7aM

(DJ Maphorisa ft. Bontle Smith, Lady Du & Zingah • More Than That)

Following up on “Ji Masun”, a couple more good shagqom shagqom jams:

Zoro ft. Slowdog • Away Match:
https://youtu.be/j-MtZuTR_b4

Oshak ft. MzKiss • Sho Mo Age Mi Ni?: https://youtu.be/SjrcXuIskNM

Omawumi ft. DJ Spinall & Slimcase • Malowa (produced by Killertunes!):
https://youtu.be/WX8KTueg_As

Mofe Boyo ft. DJ Fem & Snagxy • Ololo: https://open.spotify.com/track/6cUbkeItkqcf92xmJkYjG9?si=XTtQl8ahQOyahF-MCwGmPg

Afro B’s “Drogba (Joanna)” has been massive all year, but didn’t have a video until now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YqecbxSr4A

The track has several official remixes, including one with Wizkid, but I’m posting the “New Africa” one, since it came up on the Popcaan thread. It features Kidi, Mayorkun, Kuami Eugene and Dutch rapper/singer Frenna, who’s of Ghanaian descent:

https://open.spotify.com/track/2Quilvy2PSXswv8SnTFnjl?si=ASFKa8bEQL-UbzhJt24xLg

(I couldn’t find a YouTube - it is on SoundCloud, but “not available in [my] country”)

Mayorkun’s followup to “Bobo” is
producer Northboi’s followup to “Soco”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co56ohAKMfA

Mayorkun • Posh

He dropped this simultaneously:

https://youtu.be/WEhfwP_OdWU

Mayorkun • Fantasy (produced by Kiddominant)

Double dose of SA house:

DJ Mshega ft. Lady Zamar • The End:
https://youtu.be/VLmnkqR2P0E

Bucie ft. Mpumi • Soz’ Uphinde:
https://youtu.be/2H-KZLXnkCY

(Fans of Sun-El Musician might possibly like these)

i...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOwqwaNbois

has Google totalled fucked this? this music is afroBEAT from the 70s, rather than afroBEATS (unless i'm totally out of it)..

The End is terribly classy, lush, and epic without being overboard epic.
I'm glad to like SA house for the prod alone, case of the other one.

New Prince Kaybee feat. Busiswa. Does not disappoint.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M9lmguqnQc

A SA one with Niniola, to discover:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFd2CHNOD-c

And for a follow-up on that MIDH label (madoras in da house) and although it totally belongs to a deep house thread:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3Fe4wzWGEY
and a dub version of another one of his/theirs (original is from 2014)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKU1ZTpVeTw
sounds like some of the best house to my ears

Damn, “Banomoya” is sensational!

“Monini” has been posted already. Niniola is obviously very much in demand in SA, post-“Maradona”. She’s also featured, along with Ntombi, on the new Heavy K, “Let Them Talk”:

https://youtu.be/6ICWCqVuuxw

(Heavy’s album has been announced for September)

xps

Yep - unless the Google Ass is so smart that it new he MEANT to say “Play me some Afrobeat[-track]s”.

That playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/1pkTiB2M94dKQLcG3K5z4t?si=ZAnHDIw_SPi7WV0KA6R4fw

it *knew*

lol wtf are they doing

Boyega even apparently pulled strings to get a WizKid song into Pacific Rim II

"Banoyama" and "Monini" are outstanding, thanks!

I know some people have professed their love for the portuguese side of Africa (Angola mainly) or were hoping to hear more from the french-speaking side. But it's crazy how Nigeria and South Africa are the two dominant poles. I'm wondering if it'd make sense to have a 2019 thread for each (pole), collabs allowed on both. I guess it's just that afropop/beats does not mean so much in SA, and that term sort of orients the content we post in this thread (obviously), to the detriment of other African musical veins.
Thoughts ?

I have thought about suggesting that exact kind of thread split as my lack of participation itt is usually due to recs I don't recognize piling up unlistened + a general sense of not following the SA stuff as much as the Nigerian/Ghanaian stuff (let alone the rest of the continent). I never did though because the user base is so small I worried balkanizing the thread would just reduce participation further. Also not sure what to do with the non-polar stuff--a third thread?

Also it's amazing the number of iconic songs Busiswa has lent her voice to. There should be a wiki article about her particular style of... toasting. I think that style contributes a lot to those hits that are neither entirely house (where you have a diva singing) or pop (again, sung).

And to answer you rob, maybe keep a general afropop thread (afrobeats + others), and then have a specialized offshoot for SA afro-house / gqom, and all things African that aren't pop hits (by which I mean the pop hits that go from r&b to pop to dancehall), including things that are too "complex" or mellow to be called pop. Not implying a de facto dismissive judgment of afrobeats.
Hopefully, most people would be happy to contribute to both and it would rather encourage participation.

I definitely think it's worth trying!

This advice gets tossed out a lot as a panacea to any ILM ill, but it would also make sense to have a few more focused threads. I think a lot of the flack the rolling threads used to get was off-base, but I wonder if they exert a kind of gravity on emerging artists that prevents them from getting their own threads even after they've become really established--like it's weird there's no Wizkid or Yemi Alade or Busiswa threads, but it's also hard to feel any urgency right this minute to start them

this. also keep to get the house music covered more

Hmmm. I guess it's worth a try but I'm not exactly certain that we need two threads. I like being able to open one and feel like I'm not missing out on something elsewhere, lol. I already feel like there would be more soca action on this board if we posted soca in the dancehall thread instead of splitting it off. But this is mostly a question of convenience, since I've been so busy lately that I haven't had the time to contribute much myself in any of these threads. Would it be an idea to try to find a new, more precise and inclusive title for next year's rolling afro thread?

I do think Wizkid in 2018 would deserve his own thread though. He has been on fire throughout the year.

(fwiw longneck I was thinking of combining the soca and dancehall threads next year)

taking my own advice: Wizkid (aka Starboy)

Obviously, trying to cover a whole continent’s (well, the sub-Saharan part of it anyway) pop music (in the broadest sense) with all its different genres has always been a pretty ridiculous endeavour to begin with, but such is the state of ILM. An I Love African Music board would have dozens of threads by genre, country, artist, song, album etc, but with the user base here being so small I’m not sure what would be the best way to go about it.

On Spotify I maintain separate playlists for Nigerian, Ghanaian, South African, East African, Francophone, Lusophone, and “other” West African tracks. Even though this is still very generalised and reductive, it would probably be much too “balkanised” for ILM.

If a separation needs to be made, I guess of the suggestions so far nabozo’s second one, of an offshoot for SA afrohouse and gqom and other less poppy stuff, makes the most sense to me. (That would imply that a SA rap joint would “belong” on the general afropop thread, no?)

[Counterpoint: even if the house and gqom might feel different, they actually overlap quite organically with Angolan kuduro, Nigerian shagqom shagqom (yes, I’m trying to make this a thing!) etc.]

So yeah, I have no idea whether this would work better in terms of participation, but maybe it’s worth a try? It’s not like there’s a lot of traction now, unfortunately.

The soca scene is becoming huge in Bristol and various other cities in the UK, which is unusual because it's not known for its Trini population.

FWIW I'm absolutely loving Eddy Kenzo's 'Gear Lever', an EOY track for me

If any of you fancy sharing your Spotty playlists, I'd love to hear them

Spotify playlist: ILM rolling Afropop / Afrobeats 2018🕸

On my account [which you can access through the above playlist] I have several other public playlists with tracks per year on a country / region basis that I constantly update. Feel free to follow!

ah cool i didn't realise we were continuing with those. fantastic!

What do you mean? The ILM Rolling playlist is an ongoing thing obviously, the other playlists are my own.

Just noticed that a) by copying the post, I killed the link to the Rolling playlist
b) Spotify doesn’t show your public playlists in a useful way through this kind of link anyway

So: once again, here is our ILM rolling Afropop / Afrobeats 2018 playlist

(now also including Angolan megabanger “Sem Maldades” by Os Santiagos!)

...and here is a direct link to my Spotify profile page, from where it should be easy to link through to my various (mainly) Afropop-themed public playlists: You can click that link here.

Not got time to look through thread but I hope people npticed that Youssou N'Dour got a gig in the Proms this year. It's on BBC4 now so will be on iplayer I assume. Started at 11 and goes on to I think 12.30am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPIOEheFoHs

Lol I came here to ask if it'd been posted already. Successful collab.

And of course there is now also this thread:

Wizkid aka Starry

Wizkid aka Starboy

Good things come in pairs:

Two by/with DJ Sumbody:

“Monate Mpolaye” feat. Cassper Nyovest, Thebe & Vettis, his follow-up to “Ayepyep”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_wGUegiCGc

...and “Hoana Ho” by Calvin Fallo x DJ Sumbody ft. Carlo & Liquid Metsi:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyrvsS9xRiY

And two by Olamide with his new best producer friend Killertunes:

the mighty “Motigbana”, one of the biggest songs in Nigeria right now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR5dPcoIjOQ

...and the brand new “Logba Logba”, a song that feels magical to me, sure to be in my EOY top 10:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZV4O1Yjik8

(in the past 12 months Killertunes has given us Yeba + Manya + Oshe + Nowo + Bobo + Baba + Fake Love + Motigbana + Logba Logba = truly Shabalistica!)

https://2minuteshowersongs.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yvv7bzTe1Y

Niniola • Bana

And oh, hello NJxSA shagqom shagqom interzone!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mcpeSB80aM

Mr. Real ft. DJ Maphorisa x Niniola x Vista x DJ Catzico • Legbegbe (Remix)

finally listening to the Busiswa album and it's soooo good wow. one of the best things i've heard all year

Like Bana

There's a Major Lazer / Burna Boy that I feel felt just short of doing something truly great, misses a chorus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW4KbVdISps&index=9

This being end of September, I wonder if it'd be time to look back and have a fun top 12 tracks of the year so far.
So that we all catch up to the things we've missed before the end of the year :)

Get your fresh Wizkid here!

since beastcrawl is being sectarian with his wizkid thread (teasing), let's have the leftovers here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7WfPHHXCAY
First single since Outside. Really digging new Burna Boy's style, he owns this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHGcGMLMrQA
whenever however... could stay together... forever. Rudeboy and Patoranking must have had a latina chick on their minds.

Let's make it clearer that I find Gbona completely awesome and the rightful heir to Soco.

Believe it or not, the Wizkid thread was started by rob! (although I would have done it if he hadn’t)

I love “Gbona” too.

Also, this song makes me extremely happy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZJcRkfeL0g

MzVee feat. Kuami Eugene • Bend Down

(Not nearly enough Ghana jams in this thread, btw)

On a completely different tip, the new Kwesta is fire as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x7NASKk3P0

“Vur Vai”

yah "Gbona" is seriously good. I've thought about starting a Burna Boy/Outside thread but my thread maintenance ability is obvs not so strong ;)

Vur Vai is a jam!

Have we discussed the Onipa EP yet? It's a lot of fun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rErWuLmXv_Y

My day is a little boring so I'll do my personal top

1. Wizkid - Soco
2. Teni - Askamaya
3. Niniola - Bana
4. Burna Boy - Ph City Vibration
5. Skepta / Wizkid - Energy (Stay far away)
6. Burna Boy - Ye
7. Mr Real - Legbegbe
8. Burna Boy - Gbona
9. KiDi - Adiepena
10. Not3s / Maleek Berry - Sit back down
11. Mr Eazi / Efya - Mame (Give me)
12. Wizkid - Fever

1. Prince Kaybee / LA Soulmates - Club Controller
2. Prince Kaybee / Busiswa / TNS - Banomoya
3. Sun-EL Musician feat Simmy - Ntaba Ezikude
4. Sun-EL Musician - Sonini
5. Dj Fortree / Niniola - Monini
6. TDK MaCassette ft Dj Raybel x Dj Maphorisa x Dash - iWalk ye Phara
7. Muungu Africa / Niniola - Lazaro
8. Dj Mshega Ft. Lady Zamar - The End
9. Kwesta - Vur Vai
10-rest: Other Sun-El Musician songs from the album

Solid lists, Nabozo. I’m too lazy to make my own, but my big three are “Soco”, “Fake Love” and “Akwaaba”. The two Prince Kaybees are probably my favorite South African tracks as well.

People, once again I ask of you: Has any of Davido post-“Fia” singles sounded as good as this collabo?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0XMnzsl7P4

DMW feat. Davido, Duncan Mighty, Peruzzi & Fresh VDM • Aza


Related: 2Baba & Peruzzi’s “Amaka”, posted a while back, has proven to be very enduring. Such a funky little jam.

You've still got chances to be in the first 100'000 to see Banomoya's video
Busiswa brings (gay) colorful flashiness again, and this close from popping her tits out, I like it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWSBhp4FQH0

It’s at 128K now - that video is insanely good, just like everything else about “Banomoya”.

More hard-hitting gqom:
Mzokoloko feat. Madanon, Emza & Prince Bula • Injabulo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PZcENZJ_C0

Pre-gqom: Heavy-K’s imaginatively titled new album Respect The Drumboss 2018 is out (it’s on Spotify). Plenty of good stuff (unfortunately “Let Them Talk” with Ntombi & Niniola is not on it), but very disappointing that none of the singers are credited. Those two tracks towards the end though,
”Hamba Nam”and ”Amasela”!

Banomoya and Injabulo are so good. will have to check out the Heavy-K album soon

Loved that Onipa track!

whole EP slaps hard

This thread is huge but have you guys heard the Bryte album? Wall-to-wall bangers like this

Bryte - Hustler [prod. The Busy Twist]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXvYJEMbyxE

Harder Faster Stronger, Better?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LspPtRAS18

Mampintsha feat. Campmasters • Phakamisa

Let’s talk some L.A.X here. After an early start at Wizkid’s Starboy label (remember “Caro”?), he’s carved his own path, never chasing the hits, but releasing an impressive string of singles over the past few years, including this 2016 gem with extremely low-profile producer Dwill:

L.A.X • Awon Da (Rasaki): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU0PvS9fpaY

…and now he’s about to drop his debut album.

Two Spotless-produced tracks in anticipation:

L.A.X • Panana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K6CY397HXE

L.A.X feat. Yemi Alade • Bad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52g9WDvDOho

If “Bad” is anything to go by, we’re in for a treat!

I haven’t listened to the Dladla Mshunqisi album in full yet, but the track with Prince Kaybee and Nokwazi is wild:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOXpyGKbLS0

“Wangibamba”

“Jibebe”, the new Diamond Platnumz, was reviewed by The Singles Jukebox, still a rare occurence for an Afropop track. Our Alfred didn’t like the “I-like-it”s, but what struck me most was that none of the writers seemed to be aware of the obvious Wizkid influence, even though it’s pretty much spelled out in the lyrics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW2PI6jqn1U

Diamond Platnumz x Lava Lava x Mbosso • Jibebe

Forgot a word there: “...still a *ridiculously* rare occurence for an Afropop track.”

I agree with Alfred!
But yeah funny to review this and not "Soco". TSJ's selection process is kinda baffling to me in general

As far as I can tell, TSJ seems pretty much on top of Kpop and Latin pop (which a lot of their writers are very knowledgeable about) but African pop is a massive blind spot for them, still. You’d think after having “Akanamali” as their runner-up last year, they’d shape up, but no. The few tracks they do pick seem very random. They did “Ma Lo” and “Science Student” iirc, but to overlook huge songs like “Manya”, “Soco”, “Akwaaba”, “Fake Love”, “Club Controller” and “Banomoyo” is pretty baffling, yeah.

(“Huge” as in both artistically and commercially extremely successful in their countries and beyond.)

I do like that track but the i like its obviously do bring it down a bit, yes. It might have worked with some other voices though.

just putting this out here…

Reminisce • Burushaga: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymO5rxCMzOI

a little dance to go along with it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S59jtutkBU

breastcrawl, TSJ is looking for new writers/song selectors; you should drop a line to the info@ email and ask about joining. You'd be a great addition!

Thank you for the encouragement, forks, very much appreciated! But I’m not a writer, so it’s not really an option. I sent them some suggestions though, so we’ll see...

Back to the matter: That L.A.X album I mentioned last week is out. It’s called Rasaking and yes, it is very good indeed.

Also out this week: the new DJ Spinall album, Iyanu, with heavy Killertunes involvement. “Nowo” and “Baba” are on it as well.

I'm reposting Mamee because it had literally zero play at the beginning of the year and now it finally has a video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pazclIY9PE

And to add to the Ks in Ghana:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZkZN4Nfqn0

I also find this one interesting in its retro aspect
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5mPSh4JRIs

In doubt, I also post Fine Girl by Zie Zie because unsure we've had it. That's a good hit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As1pRzoKmJ8

Also this one, very Burna Boy-like (he has a new one called Again).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zGWIiLTA6I

I've realized that a lot of Burna Boy's today's style can be traced back to Soke from three years ago. I don't know if people noticed the track at the time (well, it was a single) but it's brilliant.
here it is, ready at hand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-h7ltwACLsd

I think it's bugging so another try
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-h7ltwACLs

Fine girl and Issa Vibe are actually from last year, my bad.

(And I was playing Burna Boy songs to find the one that is close to Issa Vibe, but it's worse, actually the beat was-reused without change on B Young's 079ME, which is one of the most played Nigerian songs of this year. Rolling my eyes)

Lol, people definitely noticed “Soke”, including on ILM. It’s not exactly obscure!

The remix of “Issa Vibe” actually has Burna on it (plus Geko, who’s on “Again” as well).

(Oh yeah, there’s a Burna track on the DJ Spinall album as well btw)

I like the Ghanaian input, very necessary! And there is so much more cool stuff:

Joey B has always been on point, ever since the azonto days:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70xn4IFU5v8

(Joey B ft. Wanlov & Ponobiom • Beautiful Boy)

Stylin ft. Kobla Jnr & Darkovibes • Akweley II:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfv1cPz3-dI

(Stylin’s Spintex Boy EP is a lot of fun)

Stylin has worked with producer Kuvie, who also did “Beautiful Boy”, and who’s very good. His sound is kind of... - hey, his debut album is called Gruvie for a reason. My favorite track is “Pressure”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifur8hPmf7M

(Kuvie ft. Tsoobi, BuMan & KwakuBS • Pressure)

I'm doing an afrobeats/bass/house/pop set alongside a bunch of dancehall and soca DJs in a fairly underground club soon. I need bangers really as opposed to smooth tunes. Got lots planned, but is there anything I absolutely must play?

Just play “Banomoya” non-stop, maybe throw in “Club Controller” every now and then: that’ll do the trick!

Among others musts, I'd say lots lots of Davido, Wizkid, P-Square, some Fuse ODG, and Legbegbe, Akwaaba, Leg Over, Particula, Johnny, Nwa Baby, Kukere, Gwara Gwara, Adonai, Shoki, Sitya Loss, Coller la petite, Unforgettable. As ever, stuff people know, and when in doubt, go for old. A little variety but not a who's who of 54 countries.
But are the afrobeats and south african dancing crowds really getting together ? I have doubts, different references imo.

At the places that I’ve been to (catering to a mostly Nigerian/Ghanaian crowd) SA house music was definitely on the menu.

We’ve been over this, but SA house music has been shaping (especially) Nigerian pop for years. From post-“Khona” Uhuru-wave to “Maradona” to the current shaku shagqom craze (examples all over this thread). Meetings in the middle happen all the time, that shouldn’t be news.

Fusion, baby!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiHh2-6jmnU

Davido x Mafikizolo • Tchelete (Good Life)

“Khona”, “Maradona”: that's a couple of bangers right there.

breastcrawl: sure, I was wondering specifically about club dancing, I was just thinking that South Africans will always prefer to dance on their jams, and Nigerian on theirs, and may only have polite appreciation for the others' styles even if it's a big one like, say, "Midnight starring" or "Wololo" (which you couldn't not play in a SA party). But I guess if it's a mixed crowd, everything is fine and people will find their way.

fwiw this will be a bunch of West Country UK ravers and other than a few heads I doubt anyone's going to really notice where certain tracks are playing. they're playing house and disco in the main room while we're playing dancehall, soca and UK funky in the other. I'm doing 'afro-bass' (annoying catch-all term) so as not to step on any toes and bring something different to the night, so really it's about getting everyone jumping to a sound they might not get to hear too often

Then I guess you can scratch Davido (bar Skelewu) and replace him with Burna Boy, Sarkodie, and add plenty of gqom, and play Spirit, Shumaya, Just like that (Orezi), Get Up (Sarz), Iskaba, Juice (Ycee), Akrakabo, Wo, Sekem... and choose the latest drunkenest possible time to play Sister Bettina.

got around to the Mlindo the Vocalist album and it's super lovely. really smooth & blissed out summery pop

any thoughts about how this wizkid romance might end up influencing tiwa's career?

lol, I watched Fever and thought (in order): "stylish pants", "The kid really has grown to look like a man", "probably 60 million Nigerian women would like to be in this clip right now", "horses ?". And didn't recognize Tiwa Savage.

lol

Then I guess you can scratch Davido (bar Skelewu) and replace him with Burna Boy, Sarkodie, and add plenty of gqom, and play Spirit, Shumaya, Just like that (Orezi), Get Up (Sarz), Iskaba, Juice (Ycee), Akrakabo, Wo, Sekem... and choose the latest drunkenest possible time to play Sister Bettina.

― Nabozo, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 5:09 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

+1. Sister Bettina is a perfect height of the party song. Some classic SA shit that's always good...Amantombazane, Vhavenda (Revolution Remix), Stay Real, Accuse (well, not sure how Accuse would do, but I love it and everyone should listen to it)

I've been way out of the loop on new music this year but I just listened to the new Distruction Boyz record and its solid. Still feel like they have a perfect GQOM record in them but they haven't hit it yet.

Damn Banomoya is fantastic. I have a lot of catching up to do.

Try the Dladla Mshunqisi album, I actually prefer it to the Distruction Boyz one. It’s non-stop gqom banging. “Wangibamba” with Kaybee and Nokwazi is the only other track out there that comes close to “Banomoya”.

Has Sister Bettina been popular for a long time or is it mostly a more recent social media kind of thing?

It was decently big at the time IIRC, but its definitely a social media "Challenge" thing that is why its so huge now.

like i definitely remember 50/50 feeling like a bigger deal a couple years prior, at least in terms of SA songs with US connections. But that could just be my memory.

Accuse is perfection. Thank you. Do we have a thread for old Kwaito House jams ? No ? Why ?
Amantombzane huge too.

From what I understood, Sister Bettina is considered to have been permanently ingrained in every South African brain as their definitive dancing jam, their one-hit wonder, the one to expect at the end of every party ever and you're either on the dance-floor, either running to it, or you must have a valid excuse like paralysis, coma or death, and that's still barely acceptable. And the challenge is merely making fun of the phenomenon but really just another love declaration.

xp

For everyone who doesn’t have a clue what this “Sister Bettina” thing is about (me, for instance):

https://m.channel24.co.za/Music/News/heres-the-story-behind-sister-bettina-the-countrys-favourite-song-20180913

Thanks, guys.

thanks! I don't get to hear much afrobeats outside of this thread / the internet music bubble so I've never any idea of what's going on. Gotta say, I'm not sure I've quite got on board with the whole Wizkid/Davido/Kizz Daniel school of smooth Nigerian r'n'b-inflected pop, but Ma Lo is absolutely brilliant (although mostly because of Tiwa Savage who deserves to be an internationally recognised superstar by now)

dog latin, have you heard Eddy Kenzo’s new Roots album? It’s very good (and relatively light on “smooth [Ugandan, in this case] r'n'b-inflected pop”, although for me “Supa Dupa” - the song formally known and posted as “Your Value” - is a highlight).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdGT2XhzduM

Eddy Kenzo • Ogwo

(not the official video, but a Kenzo-approved entry in a dance challenge for the opening track of the album)

Niniola’s “Bana” has a wonderful video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snQc57ySkN0

...and her sister Teni has a new song + video as well, “Case”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYx5ukr_YWw

(“Shakeam”, her other new song, is good also)

breastcrawl yeah I've heard Your Value. but my favourite by him thud year is Gear Lever

“Gear Level” is not on the album unfortunately, but I think there’s a lot there you might like. Did you check the vid I posted?

not had a chance yet cos I'm at work but I will. Thank u!

Did some research into the kwaito classics mentioned yesterday, primarily for my own education. I think I identified them all. Below are the video links. (I will try to add them to the playlist.)

T'zozo & Professor • Amantombazane (2007)

Revolution • Vhavenda (Revolution Remix) (2002)

DJ Fresh & Kyllex feat. Thabiso • Stay Real (2004)

Alaska • Accuse (2000 or earlier?)

M'du feat. Mandoza • 50/50 (2000/2001)

Mgarimbe • Sister Bethina (2006/2007?)

(“Stay Real” is the only one I can’t find on
Spotify)

I thought amantombazane was this hip hop banger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r3-uTy4zBE (I'd dance to it for sure)
Accuse was listed on Itunes as being from the Alaska 2000 album (from... 2002).

Yeah, there’s actually a lot of songs with that title (Google Translate tells me it’s Zulu for “girls” - so that makes sense). I considered that one too, but it’s from 2014, seems too recent compared with the other tracks that were mentioned, and I found the T’zozo & Professor in this list: https://www.prospect.zone/en/flashback-friday-we-share-our-favourite-kwaito-songs-from-past-to-present/

The Riky Rick is good too, but of course only kruezer can tell us which one they were talking about.

As for “Accuse”, I’m seeing it mentioned as a 1990s kwaito classic, so I don’t know, perhaps the album came later.

I just realized that wikipedia doesn't have an "afrobeats" entry, which is actually sublisted under "afrobeat", and only talks about cross-over potential on the US charts. That's a shame on all levels.

I find it funny to compare Bana's clip (which has a dancehall feel) to the über-sexualized ones in Jamaica, it looks sweet and innocent and soft and girly. I prefer they keep it that way, but they must be conscious of this difference. I fear a little bit the day some artists might decide to totally break the mold. The only factor my simple brain can think of is religion and social censure, but well, Jamaica can be very religious too (but more individual / disenchanted ?).
And that also ties in with the softness hurdle alluded to by dog latin.
Now I'm really digressing, but I wonder if afrobeats is considered a feminine / girls genre in Nigeria, like r&b certainly is (worldwide).

I’ve been thinking that the lack of a diasporic self-consciousness accounts for the relative smoothness of (west-) african pop/rap/dancehall but I might be way off base here. So yeah, religion and social censure would obviously be a part of that.

thanks for the suggestions upthread all. I had a practice run today and while I'm still getting used to transitions on vocal tracks, I'm quite pleased with how this went.

Here's a preview. Now I've gotta get used to playing in a noisy roo. at 2am. How many tracks do you know?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kwcUUMB4QivR3T5H33ch80pZJeT_c9qo/view?usp=drivesdk

Great choice to start this off with Suh Different, I had underestimated it. You also attracted my attention on Mon Lo. Haven't listened to the whole set but enjoy the night.

I'll still post something, Juls - Oshey. It's from December 2017 and on the soft, relaxed and subtle side of afrobeats, though the beat does come, very well produced as ever with Juls. Just raise the volume a bit. Always loved this guy ever since Early.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GrngaKe0g0

cheers Nabozo. yeah makes sense to start with Suh Different because people know the night as mostly dancehall and soca, so wherever I am on the lineup it should be a smooth transition. I even threw a couple of curveballs in there: there's an Errorsmith track in the last quarter which has nothing and everything to do with afrobeats

Shakeam by Teni is my jam today. 'The things you do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do'

Yeah, I undersold that one for sure. It’s better than “Case” - but that’s the big hit.

I like this one a lot:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I9Smp_ezGk
Airboy ft. Zoro • Eze Ego

But back to pop: The new DMW with Davido & Peruzzi (almost inseparable at this point), “Twisted”, is another FreshVDM showcase:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0aDBRn2E0o

...and “One Ticket”, the new Kizz Daniel (with Davido, without Peruzzi) is growing on me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm4x-gspW2k

This is lovely:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PGqS-3FW0Y

DJ Qness feat. NaakMusiQ & Ami Faku • Babuyile

Someone brought my attention to this: Skiibii feat Reekado Banks - Sensima. Very light and bubbly, with a touch of wizkid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2Zw7N_p-SQ

Nice one!

Everybody, Busiswa just dropped her new album!

https://i2.wp.com/fakazahiphop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/busiswa-summer-life.jpg?resize=372%2C377

The ILM rolling Afropop / Afrobeats 2018 playlist on Spotify is now at 300+ tracks, including some from related threads. Check out those brand new Simmy tracks from the Sun-EL Musician thread!)

Is anybody listening to the Busiswa album?

Or the new Mr Eazi for that matter?

i'm enjoying the busiswa album but it's not quite as strong as highly flavored i think

Heard good things about the Eazi but haven’t had the time yet

Busiswa: I went in half-expecting /Highly Flavoured/ to the power of “Banomoya”, so I was bound to be disappointed.

It’s like she only took “Bayozenza” from that album and forgot about all the colour and light that was there (“Jam” being the exception).

It’s still good for what it is though and I’m coming around to it.

Mr Eazi: Still feeling my way around there, but it sounds good (GuiltyBeatz is involved, and even Juls has a track, so yeah). I’m happy he didn’t take the title concept too literally. The “London Town” single with Giggs that was supposed to be his UK breakthrough, but actually killed his momentum is still there, but it’s tucked away at the end.

I could have sworn “Keys To The City (Ogede)” had been posted already, but apparently not:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcRBQCBfq-0

I like a lot of recent Eazi but I can’t fathom why he doesn’t work with Juls a lot more often.

I don’t get that either. Maybe they (or one of them) didn’t want to become (or be seen as) too symbiotic?

Anyways....

Wizzy alert!

xp to self

Trying again:

I don’t get that either. Maybe they (or one of them) didn’t want their working relationship to become (or be seen as) too symbiotic?

Tiwa Savage has a new song out, “One”, produced by - there he is again - Killertunes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL71si0mL1Y

Nabozo, what do you make of the Busiswa album?

(sorry, I’m assuming you’ve listened to it, apols if you haven’t. I’m curious though!)

That new Tiwa is gorgeous. I have no idea what she's saying but I love it.

Just came across this video. Such fun!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhnKziI51d8

New Burna:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ecl8Aod0Tl0

“On The Low”

Another "Melanin". Also featuring a high-saturated colors video (perhaps inspired by Amy Sherald?). I don't know if the song's that good, TBH, but I'm a sucker for Team Salut-produced slow jams. I especially love those synth pads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZse14-CTkE

Yeah, there’s actually a lot of songs with that title (Google Translate tells me it’s Zulu for “girls” - so that makes sense). I considered that one too, but it’s from 2014, seems too recent compared with the other tracks that were mentioned, and I found the T’zozo & Professor in this list: https://www.prospect.zone/en/flashback-friday-we-share-our-favourite-kwaito-songs-from-past-to-present/

The Riky Rick is good too, but of course only kruezer can tell us which one they were talking about.

As for “Accuse”, I’m seeing it mentioned as a 1990s kwaito classic, so I don’t know, perhaps the album came later.

― breastcrawl, Friday, November 2, 2018 3:04 PM (two weeks ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I was talking about the Tzozo & Prof song for sure, though that Riky Rick song is a banger for sure, I'd not heard that one before, great find!

Accuse definitely came out in the 90s, not too long after apartheid ended, I want to say maybe 96? I can't recall and I can't seem to find a firm date online, I'll ask some folks back in SA if they recall. It definitely came out after Mafokate's 'Don't call me K*****" which as 95, but how long after, I am not sure!

What have objectively been the biggest SA domestic hits this year? Banomaya and...?

Off the top of my head: “Club Controller”, obviously, “Pakisha”, “Sonini” and “Bamthathile”, and Mlindo’s “AmaBlesser” was huge as well.

Kaybee has had quite a year.

Album coming soon too.

What about Sun-El’s year though? Several hits off his album, kickstarting Mlindo’s career in the process, and Simmy’s as well, with an album he produced to boot.

DJ Zinhle bringing the drama, including strings, highly dramatic strings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPVMipTuvAk

DJ Zinhle feat. Miss Melody & Presh Beat Master • Uzobuya

Another Ghana x Naija one.
This is a fantastic song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyxcCEPIOJY

Becca feat. Kizz Daniel • Gina

(The new Kizz album is out later this week. This won’t be on it, but it’s called No Bad Songz so I guess we’ll be okay)

that's great!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnoQ_w8tmgc

Mlindo's Macala got a video, one of the highlights from his excellent album

reading random folks on twitter proclaiming fave Afrobeats songs of 2018:

New Wande Coal, “So Mi So”, produced by Juls: https://youtu.be/A6mRKZsAxMs

― breastcrawl, Tuesday, May 8, 2018

This got some support as did Burna Boy- Ye; Starboy-Soco

When Kwesta comes in... whew.

xp Good timing, curmudgeon!

Juls and Wande Coal just released their new collabo, “Sister Girl”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGN70AYZmdo

woah that Macala track is amazing

Sister Girl *sounds* great, but I wish he'd grabbed Maleek Berry or someone else a little smoother for that one

Nice promotional documentary for Eazi’s Lagos to London project, also focusing on the Lagos music scene.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urGj3A9ndiI

It also features Eazi protégé Joeboy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2lzgHh8p-k
Joeboy feat. Mr Eazi • Faaji

The new Kizz Daniel album is strong. Star of the show, perhaps surprisingly, is DJ Coublon, who’s killing it on his four tracks, especially on “Maye”, a last-minute addition to the album. It’s where No Bad Songz starts being great instead of just good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxWBEU65Abo

(listen to those backing vocals!)

Good to see Coublon back at the forefront. He’s low-key done some very good tracks this year (including Yemi Alade’s “Oh My Gosh”). I’m fond of Dabenja’s “Take Away”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5xSof_vDhY

Really? No one has an opinion on the Kizz Daniel album?

Anyway, the beat goes on - from Tanzania:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZVhxedrmvc

Navy Kenzo feat. Diamond Platnumz • Katika

I started listening to it earlier today and it sounded solid. Will keep listening for sure.

I want to hear that Kizz Daniel, but end of year means the "I should check this album out" pile is getting quite tall.

Speaking of, Okay Africa put out a list of best Nigerian songs:
https://www.okayafrica.com/nigerian-songs-best-2018-year-listen-stream

Burna Boy "Ye"
Wizkid x Terri x Spotless x Ceeza Milli "Soco"
Olamide "Science Student"
Niniola "Bana"
Odunsi, Zamir & Santi "Alté Cruise"
Naira Marley x Olamide x Lil Kesh "Issa Goal"
Teni "Case"
Tekno "Jogodo"
Tiwa Savage x Duncan Mighty "Lova Lova"
Mr Real x Idowest x Kelvin Chuks x Obadice "Legbegbe"
Falz "This Is Nigeria"
Davido x Duncan Mighty x Peruzzi "Aza"
Odunsi (The Engine) "Falling"
Patoranking "Suh Different"
D'banj x Slimcase x Mr Real "Issa Banger"
DJ Spinall x Wizkid "Nowo"
Tay Iwar x Odunsi (The Engine) "Sugardaddy"
Mr Eazi x Giggs "London Town"
Wande Coal x Juls "So Mi So"
Olamide x Wizkid "Kana"
2baba x Peruzzi "Amaka"
Sarz x WurlD "Trobul"
ClassiQ "Gargajiya"
M.I "Last Night I Had a Dream About A Hummingbird"
Adekunle Gold "Ire"

(ty NickB for the C&P)

They really like Odunsi, huh? Some questionable choices on that list, but def some undeniables as well.
I'm kinda shocked that Tekno and Davido (and even Yemi Alade) had so much relatively weak output in an otherwise really strong year for African music.

yeah there were a couple tunes there I didn't recognize and was pretty perplexed by after clicking

I don't think I'd even heard of Odunsi before reading the list. Does anyone here rate it? seems like fairly standard, maybe even mediocre, rnb on first blush

Yeah, the Odunsi love really sticks out. He seems to be the figurehead of the alté scene, the “alternative” (and I guess quite bourgie) scene that broke through commercially this year and that’s associated with Lagos Island (he and the Island scene are both featured in the Mr Eazi documentary I posted a few days ago).

I don’t find his music particularly interesting either, for the reasons rob states, but I get that it might be exciting/cool to have someone doing credible homegrown contemporary r&b when you’re a Nigerian listener.

I like that wavy/vibey/groovy thing so much more when it’s mixed with a healthy dose of Afro elements: that’s why I like the Show Dem Camp album better than the Odunsi, for instance (they came out a week apart iirc). My impression is that in Ghana they’re better at this, Kuvie is a good example.

Somewhat related: I also quite like where Kenya’s Blinky Bill (!) is going with his more old skool neo soul influences on his album Everybody’s Just Winging It And Other Fly Tales (!) - lots of low-end and not too shy of homegrown beats (the recent Wizkid-coined buzzword ‘stew’ feels somehow appropriate).

http://www.youtube.com/mIVAPwcG0xc

Blinky Bill feat. MVROE & Kivango • Showdown

I get that it might be exciting/cool to have someone doing credible homegrown contemporary r&b when you’re a Nigerian listener.

That makes a lot of sense. I think I was just misled by the "alternative" tag and expected something more out there

longneck, the weird thing about Davido this year to me was that he was pretty much consistently good in collaborative tracks (the DMW crew stuff - “Aza” is on the list for a reason) and in features, but that his own singles were relatively weak (even if “Assurance” was legit one of the biggest hits of the year).

As for the list, I guess “Gargajiya” is relatively obscure - ClassiQ is a representative of the Northern Hausa scene, and this track has the musical feel of that region (the title actually translates as ‘culture’ or ‘traditional’):

https://youtu.be/MuSgk5wHNfk
(^this is the audio - there’s no official video...
(...there is this though:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAjwjrQSyiQ

(Confusingly, there’s also a South African house artist with that exact same name - I’m waiting breathlessly for their classicq Hausa house collaboration)

Aaaanyway, what were the (other?) entries on the list you guys found questionable/perplexing?

oh it wasn't too many, the three Odunsi tunes; the Teni I didn't hate, it just didn't seem very special; the ClassiQ, not because of the Hausa folk angle but more the claim that it married that sound with pop to impressive effect; and the Adekunle Gold, who I've enjoyed in the past but I wasn't feeling that track

tbc: these aren't exactly well considered opinions, so it's quite possible I'm giving good stuff short shrift

I didn’t realize there were blurbs to go with the listings, making my observations on ClassiQ kind of redundant.

“Case” is a bit of a bizarre pick when “Askamaya” is also available.

Rob otm, and also, yes, Askamaya >>>> Case.

Idk, I understand that they've tried to keep it at one song per artist (excepting Odunsi, of course) but a list that does not have songs like Fake Love or Kana (or Commando) just feels... off, imo.
The Davido I enjoyed the most in 2018 was the FIA remix with Stefflon Don, but if we're talking appearances, I'd pick Bobo, Mind and maybe even Aja over Aza (which is also fine). The D'Banj entry feels minor,surely there were better shaku shakus this year? And is London Town really the best Eazi this year? Is AKWAABA too ghana for them? Would also have liked to see Terri, Ycee's Say Bye Bye and maybe Kidi's Adiepena on this list, I guess.

Burna Boy "Ye"
Wizkid x Terri x Spotless x Ceeza Milli "Soco"
Olamide "Science Student"
Niniola "Bana"
Odunsi, Zamir & Santi "Alté Cruise"
Naira Marley x Olamide x Lil Kesh "Issa Goal"
Teni "Case"
Tekno "Jogodo"
Tiwa Savage x Duncan Mighty "Lova Lova"
Mr Real x Idowest x Kelvin Chuks x Obadice "Legbegbe"
Falz "This Is Nigeria"
Davido x Duncan Mighty x Peruzzi "Aza"
Odunsi (The Engine) "Falling"
Patoranking "Suh Different"
D'banj x Slimcase x Mr Real "Issa Banger"
DJ Spinall x Wizkid "Nowo"
Tay Iwar x Odunsi (The Engine) "Sugardaddy"
Mr Eazi x Giggs "London Town"
Wande Coal x Juls "So Mi So"
Olamide x Wizkid "Kana"
2baba x Peruzzi "Amaka"
Sarz x WurlD "Trobul"
ClassiQ "Gargajiya"
M.I "Last Night I Had a Dream About A Hummingbird"
Adekunle Gold "Ire"

Forgot to edit out the list that I kept in the post as reference while writing it, sorry.

“Fake Love” is a glaring omission, yes - but “Kana” is actually on the list! (“Nowo” is there as well, so that makes three fir Wizzy as well). “Akwaaba” and “Adiepena” are Ghanaian tracks, so their absence is not strange. I do agree with you about “London Town”, it’s my least favorite thing Eazi has done this year.

Oh right, totally missed Kana on the list, lol.