rolling afropop / afrobeats 2018

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