Rolling Afrobeats / Afropop 2015 thread

Wizkid just dropped the video for Ojuelegba. Plus, Phyno's Ayo video is out, and we slept on DJ Xclusive's latest single. Putting the new Davido video in here too since it's pretty huge right now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7QiLceJSLQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk4-TqJ3iK4

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

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

Thanks for getting this started. The Phyno is interesting. Liking the relaxed feel of the music on Davido's "Owo Ni Koko" more than his vocals

i love 'owo ni koko', v beautiful song, prob my favorite davido to drop last year

Thanks, longneck! I like the slight adaptation of the thread name to "Afropop".

The old thread is here: Rolling afrobeats thread 2014

I'd like to start off 2015 with where I left off in 2014: Busiswa's amazing "Lahla". It's impact is so much bigger than just the last 10 days of 2014. This is a live performance on South African TV:

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

You can click here for the video and here for the full 6-minute version.

Another SA banger, "Desha" by Sir Bubzin feat. Big Nutz & DJ Tira:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKjeB90DgyM

Meanwhile in Naija, CDQ hits a groove with Skales on the hook in "Gbemisaya":

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

A very unusual sound, and it's her debut single apparently: Ijekimora (feat. Kelly Hansome), "Osho Free".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEg7ujDVQ44

Wrapping things up with Wizkid - who else? Besides releasing that video for album highlight "Ojuelegba", he dropped two completely new songs in the past weeks, the Sarz-produced "Sound It"…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLZm0DP7VoU

…and "Wonder", produced by Del-B, which even comes with an official video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUsjTB5-CcA

Burna Boy absolutely kills the hook on this pan-African mustardy banger:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc3b-G4NPx8

(sorry if it was already posted in the old thread but it's popping up all over Africa on my Shazam these days)

I just discovered that Tekno has a new single out. Not as good as Dance of course, but pretty nice nonetheless.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXVps748zHg

A bit disappointed in Guru's follow up to Pooley, Pooley Swag:
http://www.ghanamusic.com/music/singles/audio-pooley-swag-by-guru/index.html

that aka single is a banger, loving the busiswa as well

Loving this new Spinall & Olamide:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5bHhz9CCpk&spfreload=10

Also... does a full version of the Busiswa track exist? I can only find the 3:20 version but it's obviously meant to go on. The album version of Wena was far superior to the single version, so I'm hoping this too will eventually turn up.

Oh right, it's there at the top. Sorry. I need to be able to dl/buy it though. Anyone?

Haven't been able to find an official source myself.
Loving the new Tekno btw.

…and very happy "Lahla" is getting some love!

Big song: Presh feat. Davido "Say Dem Say".

https://soundcloud.com/snatchradio/presh-say-dem-say-ft-davido

Didn't know that Uhuru had branched out to Ghana as well. This is "Move", a track they did last year with Becca.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQRtmhuydz0

Skales just dropped two great new tracks.

https://soundcloud.com/youngskales/skales-je-kan-mo
https://soundcloud.com/youngskales/skales-i-am-for-real

http://open.spotify.com/user/forksclovetofu/playlist/5zMYEZ127NDuUsi7BAHzcT

"Your favorite boy... TEKNO on the beat"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTgOCss3LYA

So what's the deal with the election, music and politics? I understand that Nigerians are fed up with Goodluck Jonathan and his failure to do something about Boko Haram, but the idea of voting for the guy who put Fela Kuti in jail should be kinda offputting, no?

Mavins for Buhari today.

The Naija / SA fusion continues:

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

Davido ft. Uhuru & DJ Buckz "The Sound"

Yeah I love that.
The one song that is eluding me these days is Kiss Dàniel - Woju. It's cool but I don't quite get its (obviously massive) appeal (several response versions, lots of radio play, etc). Could anyone try to explain what I'm missing in terms of context, please?

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

So what's the deal with the election, music and politics? I understand that Nigerians are fed up with Goodluck Jonathan and his failure to do something about Boko Haram, but the idea of voting for the guy who put Fela Kuti in jail should be kinda offputting, no?

― longneck, Thursday, January 29, 2015 10:32 AM (5 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

A significant proportion of Nigerians aren't as fed up with Goodluck as you might think. As horrific as the attacks have been, there is a general feeling that Nigeria can't afford for the election to be about Boko Haram and the logic behind that is largely plausible if desperately sad.

I may have touched on this in last years thread but its very easy to overstate the cultural impact of Fela within Nigeria which I guess is inevitable given the myriad cultural identities to be found in the country. Fela’s Pan-African outlook was often at odds with the ethnic chauvinism that has characterised Nigeria at times.
In the main he is undoubtedly a legend but his legacy is not pervasive. He’s not necessarily conceived of as a genial folk hero in the imaginations of the generation that followed his. After Fela blew up in the 70’s the charismatic church exploded in the 80’s. His message was at odds with a breed of metropolitan Nigerians that increasingly formulated their world views around piety and religious fervour and as a result he is not enshrined in the urban oral tradition to the degree that you would expect given his exploits and the extent to which he’s revered outside the country.

In the 70's while my dad was in America idolising Fela from afar my mum was 10 miles from his compound turning her nose up at his reckless polygamy, transgressive lifestyle and anti-nationalist irreverence. Ultimately Buhari put a lot people in jail but whatever misgivings people may have about his short lived military dictatorship they don’t doubt his honesty. Amongst a younger generation seeking change and accountability his appeal isn’t hard to understand and to some degree the Mavins cosign reflects that. There’s a tendency especially amongst Yoruba people to idealise the democratic process even in spite of all that history has shown.

There’s a lot to be said on this and much of I’d want to say can be found in this blog post based around this song. http://afrobeat-music.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/lagbajas-suuru-lere-double-take.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01zvnAivCbU

what about Woju's appeal do you not get? The beat? It works off a pretty universal West African sound, in the same vein as this which was pretty universally popular a few years back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojjI_OBATKw

Thanks for the long answer! As fort Woju, I get its basic appeal. The beat is nice and the singing is fine. I just don't get what the wow factor might be. It seems a bit unspectacular compared to other recent hits.

Oh, and if there are any recent articles or even books on the political situation in Nigeria you could recommend it would be very much appreciated. So many contexts go undetected when outsiders try to write about it. Your answers to my ignorant questions in this thread are very helpful. (I'm also wondering what your personal impression of Buhari is like, if you don't mind writing a few words about it.)

thanks for that super-interesting post tsrobodo

longneck right about the longer version of "lahla"...feels like the edit doesn't do it justice, though it could probably go on 5 times as long and i wouldn't mind

superb use of the word "hungover" in the middle of the hook there

Oh yes, it's all about the long version - that's why I kept posting the link to it, beside the video: it's twice as long, so double the goodness, the trancey bits sit much better, and the beat is mixed more upfront, and much fiercer as a result.

One thing that is interesting to me about the current South African influence on Naija pop is if it will affect the structure & length of the tracks. South African kwaito/house tracks are typically around 6 minutes long, and are edited down the for the radio/video version. In current Naija afropop tracks tend to be 3, 4 minutes long (significantly shorter than in the highlife tradition), possibly because of the strong hiphop/dancehall influence. So far the SA-influenced tracks (whether they are by actual SA producers or by Nigerian producers taking their cue from them) stick to this "pop" format/length, even though some of these scream for an extended version (I mean, Legendury Beatz "Oje" is just not over when it's over, it needs at least one more drop). On the other hand: as long as producers can wrap up a dance groove as elegantly within the 3'30 mark as J Fem does in Davido's "Owo Ni Koko", who's complaining?

Since we have expertise in this thread... I'm very intrigued by the Godwin phenomenon, since it seems like it's Don Jazzy's major move in regards to the election - but I don't really understand the lyrics and their contexts. If anyone could help me out here it would be greatly appreciated.

This new Heavy-K is incredible:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0dGXsUDOBw&spfreload=10

I havent paid nearly as much attention to S.A. music but I basically check for everything he does

http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/magazine/afrobeats-guide-feature

Oh, and if there are any recent articles or even books on the political situation in Nigeria you could recommend it would be very much appreciated. So many contexts go undetected when outsiders try to write about it. Your answers to my ignorant questions in this thread are very helpful. (I'm also wondering what your personal impression of Buhari is like, if you don't mind writing a few words about it.)

― longneck, Wednesday, February 4, 2015 8:05 AM (1 week ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Sorry didn't mean to disappear on you like that but life etc.

I can't think of anything I've read recently that provides a broad appraisal what is a pretty sprawling narrative. Nothing comes to mind that neatly strings together the central themes in a manner that doesn't require a lot of background knowledge. Of the books I own this probably contains the closest thing to what you're looking for.
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/commentaries-on-contemporary-nigerian-politics/9781491877302-item.html
It's sprawling, decidedly unfocused (author gives chapters to a boatload of issues that aren't related) stylistically wearying at times and the historiography could be deeper but there isn't much it doesn't touch on and it's easy to jump around depending on what you're looking for.
Articles are a lot easier to come by but it is very difficult to work out what will be worth your time. I tend to favour Sahara Reporters because a) domestic publications have been highly susceptible to governmental influence and b) highest quality writing on Nigerian issues. Of course the expat perspective has its inevitable drawbacks so mainstays such as Punch and Vanguard are essential for human interest stories and the like. These are a few that I've appreciated more recently
http://www.punchng.com/opinion/i-know-who-will-win-this-2015-election/
http://www.punchng.com/opinion/what-really-distinguishes-nigerian-heroes-from-villains/ (First piece reads differently in light of the postponement - Onwuka is almost always good to read on political issues)
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/buharis-self-demystification/
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/nation-denial/
http://saharareporters.com/2014/12/15/why-we-could-not-defeat-boko-haram-army-commander-writes-powerful-letter-president
http://saharareporters.com/2015/01/20/how-they-plan-%E2%80%98islamize%E2%80%99-us-all-chukwudi-adepoju
http://saharareporters.com/2015/02/12/president-and-parable-goat-and-yam-abimbola-ojenike
http://saharareporters.com/2015/02/10/inec-and-pdp-playing-fire-michael-egbejumi-david

As for Buhari? I'm conflicted. A recent piece by Wole Soyinka illustrates core elements my stance but not necessarily in its intent. It's supposed to be a tacit endorsement.
http://saharareporters.com/2015/02/06/challenge-change-%E2%80%93-burden-choice-prof-wole-soyinka

​What makes our situation especially galling is the fervid intrusion of some opportunistic sanitizers who bear direct, sometimes even originating responsibility for the plight in which a people have been placed. These are individuals who should be doing penance, walking from one corner of the nation to the other covered in the equivalent of ‘sackcloth and ashes’ for their role in bringing the nation to its lamentable condition. Yet they insist on remaining obsessively in the public face, preening themselves up for recognition as the primary forces behind a nation’s renewed efforts to redeem and re-determine itself. They are the promoters – actively or by default – of the current national trauma of a Boko Haram malignancy, the anti-corruption rhetoricians who however believe that they have literally got away with murder. Rather than make reparations in any number of unobtrusive ways, they impudently exploit a permissive, and despairing atmosphere for regaining relevance.

​Through participation, direct or vicarious, we find ourselves landed within a system that has thrown up two choices – realistically speaking, that is. Formally, we dare not ignore the claims of other contestants. Of the two however, one is representative of the immediate past, still present with us, and with an accumulation of negative baggage. The other is a remote past, justly resented, centrally implicated in grievous assaults against Nigerian humanity, with a landscape of broken lives that continues to lacerate collective memory. However – and this is the preponderant ‘however’ – is there such a phenomenon as a genuine “born-again”?

​It is largely around this question that a choice will probably be made. It is pointlessly, and dangerously provocative to present General Buhari as something that he provably was not. It is however just as purblind to insist that he has not demonstrably striven to become what he most glaringly was not, to insist that he has not been chastened by intervening experience and – most critically - by a vastly transformed environment – both the localized and the global.

The victory of the APC over the PDP would be a landmark affirmation of Nigeria's democratic process and in that sense a good thing but the idea that it would ascertain "born-again" governance isn't borne by history.
http://saharareporters.com/2014/11/02/buharists-and-their-stockholm-syndrome

Thank you. This is exactly what I needed. Your thoughts on Buhari are very welcome too - I must admit that I had started to buy into the Buhari as a man apart rhetoric. Now I'm more weary. I still get the impression that another Jonathan period would be kinda catastrophic though. The man seems to have no integrity.

No problem.

The logic is supposed to be that the APC brought in Fashola who as Governor was able to turn Lagos around far beyond what anybody could have hoped for. He's stepping down this year and would possibly take up a senior role in a Buhari government where he would ensure that everything is awesome.

The notion that competent state governance (even in a place as sprawling and diverse as Lagos) can translate to genuine national reform as long as the same federal structures and power players remain so deeply entrenched doesn't really wash with me. One of Goodluck's few redeeming qualities is that unlike Buhari he isn't inextricably tied up in sordid history, grudges and intrigue. He just happens to be so utterly devoid of vision and initiative, he can't translate that manoeuvrability into anything substantial.

What it boils down to is whether or not handing Buhari the presidency as a platform to fight old enemies and settle old grudges would be better for Nigeria as a whole going forward and it's only thanks to the ineptitude of Jonathan and the profligacy of the PDP that such a seemingly ridiculous argument can appear persuasive. There's a reason why nobody gave much of a damn the last three times Buhari ran for office and it isn't Buhari that's changed in the meantime.

Genuine integrity is a pretty elusive thing to discern in any political arena. I think what Jonathan lacks is an appreciation for the strategic value of merely appearing to have it or at least an understanding of how to posture in such terms without courting hypocrisy. At this point his lack of savviness is a thing of legend but of course the great irony is he wouldn't have got to where he is without it. Is his government unsalvageable? Can't be sure. Boko Haram can only ever be effective to a point, oil prices will eventually go back up but the anxiety and uncertainty that heightens every 4 years is a recognition that each election cycle represents a blind run at a precipice. Nobody will know whether or not Nigeria has gone beyond the point of no return until it's already too late. We can't be sure that 4 more years of rudderless leadership won't destroy the country but we can't be sure that the given alternative won't be even worse.

My main impression is that Jonathan's government is thoroghly corrupt though and his lack of savviness somehow plays into that. He's just not in change. There must be a reason why a bandit like Government Tompolo Ekpemupolo is threatening to go to war if Jonathan loses the election. Surely Buhari will at least ruff it up a bit?

Hmmm. I just read Adichie's piece on the election from a few days ago in the Atlantic and she seems to be on your wavelength, tsrobodo. Poor Nigeria.

I wouldn't say it's that his government is thoroughly corrupt or at least any more so than previous governments have been but you're right to point to his lack of control as a major factor.

From what I've heard his grasp of policy is shockingly poor and ministers either talk circles around him or flatter him when called to account. He doesn't cut a strong centralised figure that bends disparate interests to his will like Obasanjo did and isn't broadly intelligent and congenial like Yar'Adua was. As such the efficacy and integrity of his governance is completely at the mercy of his appointees who operate with virtual autonomy. He got it right with Adesina (Agriculture) and Okonjo-Iweala (Finance) and we've seen the results but elsewhere? Not so much.

Tompolo is posturing in the exact manner you'd expect. He's trying to encourage those that believe a vote for Buhari might stem violence in Nigeria to think otherwise.

Adichie has it right (thanks for pointing me to that btw) in that the coalition that forms the APC is riddled with shady characters and while Buhari would certainly be different he can't promise the stability of even the most inept incumbent. It's quite conceivable that in the struggle between old interests and new that would ensue should Buhari win, the ball gets dropped and things become worse.

I mean if you put a gun to my head, I'd roll the dice on Buhari but decisions made at gunpoint etc.

Seems like a good moment to post Korede Bello's "GodWin" that longneck mentioned upthread. A one-man "Dorobucci" (#dorogodwin?) cleverly tied in with the elections, non-partisan because, well, "God win". (Although, with Don Jazzy being responsible for a large portion of the top-selling Nigerian hits it might as well secretly be an ode to Godwin Emefiele, the head of Nigeria's Central Bank.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZDS72ov1rU

By the way: For more interesting discussions about Nigeria and its politics, see this thread: A Nigeria Thread (Non-Music Division).

Loving the Ezi Emela track that was featured in the piece forks posted above, "Confam It"...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zPKalpjBBk

…as well as the Kwamz & Flava one, "Wo Onane No".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7xHjLaYipU

Meanwhile, Wizkid dropped another one: "Amin". According to producer Maleek Berry it was recorded in 2013. (I guess there must be dozens of tracks like that that didn't make it onto the Ayo album)
https://soundcloud.com/snatchradio/wizkid-amin

He's also featured on "Sisi", one of the singles from the new album by Praiz.
https://soundcloud.com/prechi/sets/praiz-ft-wizkid-sisi

"Sisi" was produced by GospelOnDeBeatz (who produced my favourite Tiwa Savage track, "Ileke"). He recently released his own album, "GospelOnDeStreetz", a "1 hour nonstop gospel party mix". It's good! (and on Spotify).

From Ghana, a new joint by hot producer DJ Breezy (the man behind Joey B's "Tonga" and Castro's "Seihor"):
Ohene feat. Ponobiom - "Dedeede".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4yG8kOozow

This is big: "Baafira (Remix)" by Stonebwoy (Burniton) feat. Sarkodie & Stylo G
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqmhImd3gvU

Love this: Trojan ft. Lucci Laj - "Chinkafa"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNXRncziW5o

A smash from 2014 that was never posted before:
"Amen" by Yaa Pono (who is the Ponobiom on the Ohene track):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cfEgnrP2VY

Only recently found out about this massive hit from Tanzania, released in 2013: Shaa - "Sugua Gaga". Very lovely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xf0e_kwRx4

Interestingly, a couple of months ago a new version was released for the Nigerian market, featuring the vocals of Tspize, who, as a producer, might have actually taken a few cues from this song while he was working on Runtown's "Gallardo".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8nbfbQF7cw

One of my favorite songs from last year finally got a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUvF7yj531A

P-Square & Don Jazzy - Collabo

Listening to the Gospel album now and while the beats are strong and the guests are passable, this "continuous mix" is really discontinuous, lol. Why did he want to release it like that? He must be able to make better transitions than this. He's such a great producer.

really like collabo, generally I don't find myself into most p-square songs, but that one is stellar

as promised in the other thread, here are a couple older tracks I like...

Douk Saga - Saga en Fete (not sure when this came out, mid-2000s sometime maybe?, RIP, one of the greats of Coupé-Décalé)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozxOTqBNG7g

and this genge track from 2004...

Nonini - Keroro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leDcul5lCAo

Loving this new hip hop joint:

https://soundcloud.com/je_records/jahbless-69-missed-calls
Jahbless, CDQ, Olamide, Lil Kesh, Reminice & Chinco Ekun - 69 Missed Calls

Listening to DJ Xclusive in teh mix on Cool Fm Lagos right now and it's amazing... even with the 64kbps internet radio stream, lol

Welcome, Kruezer! I like that Nonini track (as well as the remix of it I found on Spotify).
Don't know much about the Kenya scene, but this one (from 2011) is good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWyRZttUNrM
Madtraxx, "Ita Waiter".

I was curious about producer JFem (the man behind Davido's "Owo Ni Koko"). Turns out he did this amazing jam a couple of years back with W4, "Kontrol". I can't stop playing it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI_1SgBahp8

W4's most recent hit, last year's delightful "Foreign Dance", was produced by Philkeyz. Some other stuff he (Philkeyz) did recently:
May D - "Ale Yi A Bad (Tonight) https://soundcloud.com/afrobeat360/may-d-ale-yi-a-bad-prod-by-philkeyz
Sledje - "This Geh" http://www.hulkshare.com/djrans4d/sledje-this-geh

(It looks like singer Sledje has cast his vote in the elections already:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N9ATny6X_I)

Came across this on the Rolling Outernational thread: "Okeninkpin" by Serge Beynaud (from Ivory Coast).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEr8M4XvQWE

Ha ha, we're in sync - Kontrol has been my jam lately. I also played Okeninkpin a bit a while back but I could only really get into parts of it for some reason.

That is, I really love the groove that comes in at 1:21 but the opening minute leaves me cold.

been liking this 2012 becca song I came across on youtube, really beautiful track. love the part at 1:53, gives me a real Teedra Moses breakdown vibe for some reason, maybe I have listened to backstroke too much lately.

http://youtu.be/o3mbOdaRzjQ?list=RDlQRtmhuydz0
Becca f/ MI - No Away

Kontrol seems excellent, will have to give it a few more listens for sure

Chinko Ekun was nice on Olamide's album and on 69 Missed Calls. Here's a dope solo joint. Looks like he's next to blow on the hip hop side of things:

https://soundcloud.com/snatchradio/chinko-ekun-emi-na-re

xxxp & xp

We should start an official Kontrol listening club then!

The Chinko Ekun sounds good, but I'm sorry, steamroller alert, it's all about this one now. All resistance is futile!

https://soundcloud.com/snatchradio/kiss-daniel-woju-remix-ft-davido-tiwa-savage

Kiss Daniel ft. Davido & Tiwa Savage - Woju (Remix)

Ha ha, I actually like the Woju remix a lot. It's growing on me!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klrGscTSgkM
Kwabena Kwabena - Adult Music ft. Samini

love the skittering on this song, 2013 from Ghana

oh yeah, that's a nice one.

Still loving the Victoria Kimani / Tekno one-two punch ("Show"/"Anything") posted in January. Can't play one without the other.

As a rule... whenever I post something about not getting an artist or a song, I'll usually end up loving him/her/it within a month. It's a way of setting some sort of internal processes in motion I guess.

It took quite some time for me to get into Woju as well. Your probing actually accelerated the process for me (it was already fully in motion though). Now I absolutely love it. It's totally joyous, right up until the chanting in the coda. And the remix is just triumphant.

Lol... I know.

…and as an addendum to the Kiss Daniel love fest: He actually released this as his first (?) single last year, "Shoye". How did I miss this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TUZ4SdFPVg#t=23

This one is nice:

https://soundcloud.com/adekunlegold/adekunlegold-sade

Ha yes, nice take on "Story Of My Life".

Man, I've fallen far behind in this thread. Except it's only a weeks videos or so. But Confam It is really awesome, wanted to say. Year of Impact 2015.

Two high-profile releases, both produced by new kid on the block Young John:

Olamide feat. Wizkid - "Confam It" :

https://soundcloud.com/snatchradio/olamide-confam-ni-ft-wizkid

Lil Kesh - "Gbese" :

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

Hmmm:
Olamide feat. Wizkid - "Confam It Ni"

…and let me tell you: "Gbese" is l u s h !!!

Ivory Coast's Serge Beynaud's "Okeninkpin" tour is taking him to Los Angeles/Van Nuys on Friday March the 13th, San Francisco on Saturday the 14th, Silver Spring MD outside of DC on Saturday March the 21st. Probably more dates too.

Like Friday the 20th at S x SW

Davido is touring the US now too, In DC at Bliss tonight

enjoying everything in the thread so far but especially GODWIN

Loving this new MC Galaxy produced by Shizzi & Uhuru:
https://soundcloud.com/urbansturvs/mc-galaxy-komolop-cholop-produced-by-shizzi-uhuru-urbansturvscom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHtEI6WkoLc

Pilipili & Jimwat - mpaka che

this old genge track has been stuck in my head a lot lately

http://youtu.be/FaD5Vv6Ar_M

Missy BK Feat ISH - Ndolo

I like this recent one from Cameroon, I could do without ISH on this track, Missy is awesome though.

Indomie has a video now. Love this beat and Olamide.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnIHRALC2xg&spfreload=10

Looks like Meek Mill is onboard now too.
https://twitter.com/MeekMill/status/578639907159207938
https://twitter.com/MeekMill/status/578640815171506176

Saw Serge Beynaud last night near DC with Cameroon's P Brodaz doing a quick ten minute opening set. Well actually this morning,as he came on at 2:15 am with a dancer and DJ and performed till the cops shut the gig down at 3 am. He had some charisma and material that worked, although the show lost some energy mid-set when the folks who came onstage to dance were not as good as Beynaud's dancer, and the music during that section did not impress. The DJ beforehand was spinning a mixture of old and new Afrobeats, reggae dancehall and soca. P-Square's 2011 cut "Forever" got a good reaction as did Timaya (featuring Machel Montano) "Shake Yah Bum Bum." Some good afropop/afrobeats I did not recognize (and didn't show up in Shazam)

obv not afrobeats but Jidenna's 'classic man' is the product of a nigerian-american whose father is also considered the father of the african computer industry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsiN0W15w0U

this song seems to be getting a lot of play...

Tchess Preza - Alafia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TDAVvN2u_o

this one too, I think I like it more

Bowyrude - Too Bad For The Haters (Tant Pis Pour Les Jaloux)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfQIM0KhNME

Wale, Olamide, Don Jazzy & Reekado Banks - Allelu (prod. Maleek Berry)
https://soundcloud.com/maleekberry/wale-allelu-ft-reekado-danks-olamide-don-jazzy-prod-maleek-berry

Loving this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoOopAPYui0

This one has been a serious earworm for the last 24 hours.

Kereko is very nice, will definitely be listening to that one again

just came across this Ghanian rap tune from late December of last year.

E.L. - Agbadza

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjFjLnn8RBI

Just wow…

https://soundcloud.com/paadebs/ay3-late-pappykojo-ft-sarkodie

Pappy Kojo ft. Sarkodie - Ay3 Late

Appropriate:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE43qKVZ1fs

2Face Idibia, "Vote Not Fight"

This is a quick, quarterly reminder that all available tracks mentioned on this thread (and a few album selections) are being posted as updated to a thread-specific Spotify playlist that I'm maintaining. I just did a quick sweep prior to posting this message and updated as of today with everything that's been added on Spotify since it was first mentioned. Spotify is good for contemporary afrobeat; about 85% of what's discussed here made the list.

That playlist is currently a bit more than two hours of music and is clickable below.
Give it a spin and subscribe if you want to listen along through the year.

Rolling Afrobeat / Afropop 2015 Thread Spotify Playlist

Thanks for creating and updating all those Rolling playlists.
Busiswa's "Lahla" (just the radio edit unfortunately) and Kiss Daniel's Remix version of "Woju" are up on Spotify as well (at least where I am).

Thanks for the heads' up on the Woju remix; I added that.
Busiswa doesn't have anything in the US unfortunately.

because spotify is trash

i noticed about 25% of the youtubes you posted in the hip hop thread no longer exist.

the internet is trash

Hey Forks if you're prepared to make these collaborative we can add the ones that are available outside the US. UK Spotify coverage of this stuff is usually surprisingly comprehensive.

Expired Youtube links really make me long for the days when people would bother to actually describe a track properly if they were going to rep for it. When all you have to go on is a broken link, sometimes without even a track title, it gives the thread a very short shelf life. Not that I ever want to vibe while clicking a long list of links anyway.

I just came in here to say that I've only just heard that Heavy K & Tresor track and it's incredible, like they pinpointed the exact midpoint between kwaito and Balearic yacht vibes and just left it there to work its magic.

Can't remember if any of the followups to "Dorobucci" were ever posted (and last year's thread is a bugger to scroll through), but both "Adaobi" and "Looku Looku" are a lot of fun. Don Jazzy gives the rookies on his team (Reekado Banks, Di'Ja and Korede Bello) a lot of playing time on these, and it's paying off: They're all having solo hits now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6-gjQQNIlA

Mavins "Adaobi"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwOMqp9je9M

Mavins "Looku Looku"

And Matt DC's suggestion seconded. Would gladly add tracks to the playlist.

when spotify goes out of business it'll be the same issue. u work with what you have

idk why there aren't spotify embeds that could be posted in a thread like this

we agree on all those points deej.

Point taken about the UK choice selection; I think this is one that makes sense to make collaborative. Feel free to add cuts that are available abroad that I don't have access to.

Iyanya did a 2 am gig in DC this weekend. I didn't make it though. I wonder what other than "Kukere" I should hear from him.

I like Iyanya quite a bit. You should try Away, Finito and Gift for starters. Those are his most recent ones I believe.

Not sure if the dance is a keeper, but I love this beat:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFF8OrhWCJg

Waconzy "Ekpoh"

New Burna Boy, "Soke", with a nod to Fela.

https://soundcloud.com/burna-boy-1/soke-burna-boy-prodby-orbeat

Burna just got signed to Island/Universal.

And oh - oh - yeah, this new Heavy-K is absolutely gorgeous:
https://soundcloud.com/heavyk-pointfive-siqula/heavy-k-let-me-know

This is all sorts of confusing: Samklef, better known as a producer himself, hires JayPizzle (of "Shake Body" fame) to produce his new joint, "Gbese", while Lil Kesh, whose current hit is also called "Gbese", does the rap.
https://soundcloud.com/samklef/gbese-samklef-ft-lilkesh

This one sounds beautiful: Tjan - "Hey Mama!", produced by JFem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sifsDRPe9kY

Sweet: Tidinz ft. Charass, "Go Slow"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUDFJvmfxqs

Another slinky Young John production: "Sisi" by Sexy Steel.
https://soundcloud.com/9jacomedy/sexy-steel-sisi

And how about this one: DNA Baba ft. DizZY VC, "La Liga Me"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F0NNFmgt9M

He also produced tracks for the Olamide x Phyno album 2 Kings, including this one: "Ladi" (feat. Lil Kesh).
https://soundcloud.com/afrobeat360/olamide-phyno-ladi-feat-lil-kesh

Working with Davido now… can't wait.

The brand new Seyi Shay is lovely too: "Jangilova":

https://soundcloud.com/seyi-shay/jangilova-prod-by-delb

on a more SA house tip, dotorado's "african scream" is so incredible i'm going to start a thread for it

In other breaking news…

https://soundcloud.com/maphorisa-kalawa/uhuru-ft-wizkid-duze

Uhuru ft. Wizkid, "Duze"

This is gonna be big:

https://soundcloud.com/snatchradio/pucado-kabelai-ft-wizkid-ko

Pucado ft. Wizkid & K.O. "Ka Be Lai"

you guys heard any good mixes? I keep up with the Neptizzle ones but I was wondering if there were guys in Nigeria who have some reliably good shit online

Met this guy in Lagos a few summers ago, very good DJ
https://soundcloud.com/djsose/party-sessions-vol-1

https://soundcloud.com/djnonny-daflame/party-jamz-9ija-mix-2014-vol-a-pn
https://soundcloud.com/djnonny-daflame/party-jamz-9ija-mix-2014_vol-b

This mix is decent but dude doesn't list tracks which is annoying
https://soundcloud.com/ajeigbe-abiodun-tajudeen/dj-t-jazzt-tpld-gang-present-press-play-naija-mixtape-2015

Thanks for the updates. I've been playing the Olamide & Phyno album, 2 Kingz, a lot today. It's definitely a bit underwhelming, but mostly because it's not all on the level of Confam Ni or, really, of the album these two might have made together if they had bothered to put in some work. It's just a collection of random songs but as such it's pretty good nonetheless.

Another new Heavy K track, "Sweetie", feat. Nokwazi.

https://soundcloud.com/thanos-pap-1/heavy-k-feat-nokwazi-sweetiemain-mix

And this one is up on Spotify!

not in america! wanna add it to the playlist?

Sure. There's some others that have been added to Spotify since they were posted here. I'll add those to the playlist too.

Just added 12 tracks to the playlist. Can you see any of those in the US, forks? I'm in Holland myself - no idea how much overlap there is with other countries.

By the way, the Sugua Gaga version on the playlist is not called a "refix" for nothing. It's VERY different from the Shaa original, do check that one out.

About ten new ones; much obliged!

…and here's a bonus track:

Brand new Olamide (not on the 2 Kings album): "Bobo", yet another beautiful Young John production.

https://soundcloud.com/freemedigital/olamide-bobo-prod-by-young-john

Olamide's "Bobo" already has a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFmZKO35SfQ

Kiss Daniel has released his follow-up to Naija's-hit-of-the-year-so-far "Woju". Called "Laye", it's again produced by DJ Coublon, and very much cut from the same cloth.

https://soundcloud.com/gworldwideent/kiss-daniel-laye-prod-by-dj-coublon

Meanwhile, Iyanya wants some of that "Woju" money as well, hiring DJ Coublon for his latest, "Applaudise".

https://soundcloud.com/freemedigital/iyanya-applaudise-prod-by-dj-coublon

Compare & contrast: I think Kiss wins this easily. Even though "Kukere" is all-time, Iyanya is often the weak link on his own records. His voice seems to be getting flatter with every release.

New Skales ft. Davido, "Always". Album Man Of The Year about to drop:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM0oWvsfUPM

New Wizkid, the followup to 2013's "Jaiye Jaiye" - again produced by Sarz, again Fela and afrobeat-referencing: "Expensive Shit":

https://soundcloud.com/afrobeat360/wizkid-expensive-shit

From Gambia: Gee ft. Wally Seck, "Yallah Bahna":

https://soundcloud.com/gibou-bala-gaye/yallah-bahna-feat-wally-seck-prod-by-sunland-music

The remix features Wizkid:

https://soundcloud.com/gibou-bala-gaye/yallah-bahna-feat-wizkid-wally

really enjoying the skales album. nice nightcrawlers interpolation!

^^^
yup, very good album. Anyone who can make a track called "OMG!" sound this good, has earned the right to call themselves Man Of The Year.

https://open.spotify.com/track/01ecdWL7WMa8mWbRGHN6Op

http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6575642/uganda-jemimah-kansiime-panadol-wa-basajja-video

Did anyone say "summer jam"?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn05l1gukP8

Gazza ft. Uhuru "Shuna"

(There are unofficial videos of the full 6'10 version around as well)

Shuna is great!

Korede Bello's "Godwin" finally has a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w14zUTXOhYE

Ghana - let's do some catching up:

This was released last year, a hit in Ghana now: Nero X with the wonderful "Osey".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO5FIEMEKDQ

Also from last year: it's Mr. Lapaz Toyata, Dr. Pooley himself - and still I managed to miss it: Guru ft. Asa Kalifa, "Pastor". Killer Alkayida track.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CV4ytMQc8g

One of 2014's sleeper hits *finally* gets a video: Keche ft. Bisa Kdei, "Diabetes".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ane5Ni2oGIY

Fun fact: "[The song] became very popular when sexy Eudoxie, girlfriend of popular American rapper Ludacris, shared a video of herself singing to ‘Diabetes’ by the Ghanaian duo. Eudoxie Fabiola Agnan, originally from Gabon, took a selfie of herself in her car while singing to the song and shared it via Instagram."

Back to 2015: "Dumsor", a powerful (no pun intended) track by Sarkodie about the power cuts that are crippling Ghana. There are several tracks about this phenomenon around at this moment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE959ogj2dI

New Davido, ft. not-a-whole-lot-of-Meek Mill: "Fans Mi" (a/k/a "I'm In Love With The Gari")

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E6pwUO1b7s

I stand corrected lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZARkFKSAxjk

Love the Davido and Meek.

Guru has a bunch of albums up on Spotify! Not everything is gold, but this feels to me like the true followup to Pooley:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa8u7ZpxNh0

The same rising synths, the same beats made out of a thousand tiny pieces. Much mure laid back, and six minutes long, but could go on forever imo.

Triple sweetness from Tanzania:

1) Diamond [Platnumz] "Ukimuona":

https://soundcloud.com/bongoflava/diamond-ukimuona

2) Alikiba, "Mwana":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT8lfg-3l5U

3) Ney Wa Mitego, "Akadumba":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjMJTD80eE4&index=88&list=PL95DEBF3C4356717A

South Africa:

Khuli Chana, "Mahamba Yedwa":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bzjGr5TCio

Uhuru ft. DJ Tira & Trademark & Mashabela, "Saka Nana (Ashule)":

https://soundcloud.com/maphorisa-kalawa/uhuru-saka-nana-ashule-ft-dj-tira-x-trademark-x-mashabela

Loving the new Tekno, "Duro", produced by DJ Coublon:

https://soundcloud.com/ceotriplemg/duro-tekno

Well, this is timely: Guru and Ball J just released the actual follow-up to "Pooley": "Nyame B3 Tua Wu Ka".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmo1c5kUbho

This is a quick, mid-year reminder that all available tracks mentioned on this thread (and a handful of album selections from each listed) are being posted as updated to the thread-specific Spotify playlist. I just did a top-to-bottom sweep prior to posting this message and have updated as of today with everything that's been added on Spotify since it was first mentioned.

Added a whole bunch of tracks that weren't initially available, so worth a relisten if you've been away awhile.
81 tracks, over five hours.

ILX's Rolling Afrobeats / Afropop 2015 Thread Spotify Playlist

love Saka Nana (and Shuna for that matter), Uhuru are really a juggernaut

really like the new Big Nuz tune too...

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

Big Nuz ft DJ Tira - Ama Lights

Why oh why is the dj xclusive album only available as a 96 kbps free download :c

http://pigeonsandplanes.com/2015/07/drake-skepta-remix-wizkid-ojuelegba/

enjoying this uptempo south african pop track

Fantasma - Sefty Belt
https://open.spotify.com/track/2yxWjHiejA8si2yL9onCJz

http://pulse.ng/events/mama-2105-photos-of-psquare-dbanj-davido-yemi-alade-others-bringing-home-the-awards-id3989055.html

MTV Africa Music Awards

2015 winners in full:

Best Female: Yemi Alade (Nigeria)

Best Male: Davido (Nigeria)

Best Group: P-Square (Nigeria)

Best New Act Transformed by Absolut: Patoranking (Nigeria)

Best Hip Hop: Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)

Best Collaboration: AKA, Burna Boy, Da LES & JR: “All Eyes On Me” (SA/Nigeria)

Song of the Year: Mavins: “Dorobucci” (Nigeria)

Best Live: Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

Video of the Year: “Nafukwa” – Riky Rick; Director: Adriaan Louw

Best Pop & Alternative: Jeremy Loops (South Africa)

Best Francophone: DJ Arafat (Ivory Coast)

Best Lusophone: Ary (Angola)

Personality of the Year: Trevor Noah (South Africa)

MAMA Evolution: D’Banj (Nigeria)

Best International: Nicki Minaj

Artist of the Decade: P-Square

MTV Base Leadership Award: Saran Kaba Jones & S’Bu Mavundla

Since the massive airplay charts blog went down I've lost my safety net and no longer feel up to date on the new stuff. What's popping right now, people? Help me out!

Well, I have some things lined up. Let's do this!
(Apologies in advance for making the thread even more heavy than it already is)

Some (more or less) francophone stuff to get started:

--> Reniss ft. Jovi "Michael Jackson" (Cameroon)
https://soundcloud.com/new-bell-music/reniss-michael-jackson-ft-jovi-produced-by-le-monstre

--> Vicky ft. Magasco "It's Over" (Gabon ft. Cameroon)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5rBg5Bm8BM

GHANA, part 1:

Some recent productions by Nshona Muzick, former azonto master still going strong:

Bra Qwequ "Dada Noaa" (frankly amazing)
https://soundcloud.com/user862599174/dada-noaa-master-bra-qwequ-1

Nelisa ft. Gasmilla "Turn Up"
http://www.hulkshare.com/djrans4d/nelisa-ft-gasmilla-turn-up

Lil Shaker "Me P3 Kwan"
https://soundcloud.com/antwi-odrey/me-p3-kwan-prod-by-nshorna-mu

GHANA, part 2:

Some recent productions by Ball J, former azonto master still going strong:

Kwaw Kese ft. Ike Wonder "Masa I Beg"
https://open.spotify.com/track/3wAmGRCE3kpemuCqIZvsn9

Nhyiraba Kojo ft. Mr Eazi, "Ebola" (Lil Win is the actor in the video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OstpSsWA_QE

Bra Qwequ ft. Ball J & Gigg "Fraud Money" (more than amazing, frankly. That drop into the chorus! "Where's my Grammy?" indeed)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy76DygGT_s
(btw, I have no idea how well this is doing in Ghana. The video has only 115 views!)

GHANA, part 3

This one's been doing the business in Ghana all year, about time it was posted: Sarkodie ft. Shatta Wale "M3gye Wo Girl":
https://soundcloud.com/africagroove/sarkodie-ft-shatta-wale-m3gye-wo-girl-prod-killbeatz

Another fine example of that Ghanaian alkayida/dancehall hybrid: K'Daanso "P3p3d3":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isSlHnemNAc

NAIJA, part 1:

Moving over to Naija, but Ghana is still with us: For his second single for VP Records, dancehall artist Patoranking, perhaps surprisingly, teams up with Ghanaian producer DJ Breezy to go alkayida on the beat. Wande Coal sings the hook: "My Woman, My Everything". Megajam! Current no 1 in Nigeria.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxllb09N6TQ

Meanwhile, Olamide's "Bobo" (Young John production! more on him later) is still massive, as are all things Olamide:
Olamide "Melo Melo":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiQpc5dWsjg
Olamide "Lagos Boys"
https://soundcloud.com/freemedigital/olamide-lagos-boys

NAIJA, part 2:

A couple of SA-influenced bangers:

--> DJ Xclusive ft. Davido "Wole":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6qIdbV2tUg

--> Timaya "Some More":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDsGAgnTTpA

--> Wande Coal "Ashimapeyin"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG_oQU2uZpY

NAIJA, part 3:

Some of that sweeter stuff:

--> Maleek Berry ft. Wizkid "One Life":
https://soundcloud.com/maleekberry/maleek-berry-x-wiz-one-life

--> Yemi Alade ft. Selebobo "Na Gode":
https://soundcloud.com/africagroove/yemi-alade-na-gode-x-selebobo

--> Reekado Banks "Corner":
https://soundcloud.com/reekado-banks/reekado-banks-corner

NAIJA, part 4a:

"Eez Young John the wicked producer!" Can't get enough of that Young John sound.
Three examples:

a) Lil Kesh ft. Viktoh "Efejoku":
https://soundcloud.com/hillcitymedia/lil-kesh-ft-viktoh-efejoku

b) Viktoh ft. Small Doctor & Olamide, "Instagram Police":
http://www.hulkshare.com/gwagsbase/viktoh-instagram-police-ft-olamide-small-doctor

c) Sunkanmi "Singale":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBGi0gDPl30

NAIJA, part 4b:

…and four more. Just hear those butterflies flying around in his tracks!

d) Jumbo "Good Life"
https://soundcloud.com/snatchradio/jumbo-good-life

e) Sunkanmi ft. Olamide "For Body":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naXJvz1CBto

f) JiggaMan ft. Buckwylla "Mary":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43HyV9ENtiE

g) Sexy Steel "Sisi" - I posted this gorgeous song before, but it now has a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5yc-_-uhu0

NAIJA, part 5:

People already starting to copy Young John's sound. For instance, buddy Pheelz does it in Olamide's "Lagos Boys" that I posted above.
And then there's this one: Skuki ft. Olamide "Over The Mountain". In the process, copycat producer Bim On The Beat happens to have made my other top summer jam that's not "Duro" by Tekno.
https://soundcloud.com/fola-flo-1/over-the-mountain-ft-olamide

PS & btw, that "Go Slow" track by Tidinz ft. Charass I posted back in April is so good!

Yes! Keep it coming!

That's it for now, but I'm sure there will be more good stuff before soon. It's more fun to post when there's some feedback.

Note: I added all the tracks I could find to fork's Spotify playlist. It's just 16 out 27 though. I urge everyone not to miss out on "Fraud Money"!

Wow, Melo Melo, that one is incredible! Thanks for all these tracks, will take some time to get through them all.

It's so incredible that tracks like this come out of Westafrica on such a regular basis. I imagine this is sorta what it felt like to look at London in 92-93, and marvel at how quickly new sounds developed. Incredible.

Those too posts new a few more 'incredibles' I think. Incroyable!

Don't know if this is afrobeats or bobbins or what it is, but
Mbongwana Star - Malukayi (feat. Konono No.1)
sounds great to me and not really like anything I've heard

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

Well, that's an age-old question. I'd say that belongs in the 'outernational' thread, but mainly because it's already been posted there. And, well, also because it's on boutique London-label World Circuit, most of what we discuss in this thread is pop music made for pop music markets. This is more like the equivalent of 'Intelligent Afrobeats Music' to me. It's good, though.

Its Congolese music that is not in the same pop framework

But both styles are "intelligent". I hate that "intelligent" was (still?) used for certain electronic programmed efforts. I know what they were getting at, but the poptimist in me recoils at that

Yeah, I dislike it as well. It was meant ironic, but not too much, because I do like the track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0Y5v4i-5bo

Dbn Nyts ft. Zinhle Ngidi & Trademark "Shumaya"

This song is huge in SA right now (rightly so, its pretty fantastic). KJ records can do no wrong these days.

Kreuzer, could we have a full update on 2015 SA pop, please? Shumaya is indeed great.

sure, here are a few of my favourites, apologies if any are duplicates of earlier posts...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G38yAN8vGWI

Heavy-K - Sweetie (feat. Nokwazi)

This track has been big on the dance charts, really can't wait for Respect the Drumboss to come out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbmd64-gToo

DJ Merlon ft Mondli Ngcobo - Koze Kuse

This came out at the tail end of 2014, but really got big in January anyway, so I will call it 2015, the drop is GREAT.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EMC3lFFH78&index=5&list=RDzXy4kp003-c

DJ Siso ft Lady Du & Trademark - Chase

Dunno if this one will get big, just stumbled across it while listening to other Trademark tunes, Lady Du has a great voice, soft yet powerful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH1ejbMQMkY

Vetkuk vs Mahoota ft. Cassper, Abcrazy & Flabba "Jova"

this is less dance and more pop-rap, just came out so not too big yet, but a total summer jam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM2MdN2gQ5Y

K.O (Feat. Nandi Mngoma) - Skhanda Love

cashtime life has been prolific this year, since the HIV rumours KO has been back with a vengeance

Thanks!

Shumaya is such a jam!

It also mixes perfectly w Yemi Alade's Johnny.

So the Dbn Nyts album has an Uhuru-produced track featuring Davido, "Karateka"
https://open.spotify.com/track/4bVhjcZ7K2odf8PQZblGFR

Anybody feeling that Young John sound?
And how about "Fraud Money"? Am I alone in thinking it's pure genius?

It don't entirely get the Young John sound yet, but Jigga Man - Mary is pure beauty. It's not as immediately striking as Ball J's Guru productions was for instance, I don't think. But will listen more. Also to Fraud Money, which I do like.

That Vetkuk track is a jam. K.O. made the ratchet-like Caracara last year, which I really liked. I like pop-rap in general.

So the Dbn Nyts album has an Uhuru-produced track featuring Davido, "Karateka"

― breastcrawl, Tuesday, July 28, 2015 3:20 PM (50 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

This is maybe the greatest sentence I have ever read, I need to get their album ASAP.

Haven't tried Fraud Money yet, will have to.

Really like Caracara too, more than Skhanda Love for sure.

Fraud Money is nice! I kinda fell out of love w ball j there for a while - it all started to sound a bit samey to me- but I'm open for a new round.

https://www.apollotheater.org/all/details/465:sarkodie-8-8-15

Sarkodie, together with 10 other Ghanaian 2 Nigerian hit makers will storm New York City’s biggest music hall in Harlem.

Sark who is considered as the artist who has built the most successful internationally appealing brand, will lead the team made up of Ghanaian diva, Efya, celebrated dancehall act Samini, Bisa Kdei, Banky W, Kwaw Kese, Joey B, Obrafour, El, Ice Prince, Lighter and Pappy Kojo, to treat patrons of the 1500 capacity hall to the best of Afrobeats.

Damn, that is some lineup! Are you going? Or are you not in NYC?

i have another show that I have to be at that night unfortunately. That's gonna be a badass show though and the apollo is a good place to see anybody.

Loving this one:

DJ Kent ft. Mo-T "Don't Let Go":

https://soundcloud.com/kevin-northon-pro/dj-kent-feat-mo-t-mi-casa-dont-let-go-original-2o15

Me too!

Posted this song already, but the video looks great: Lil Kesh ft. Viktoh "Efejoku"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRRQF3Wdv5E

Also on Olamide's YBNL Nation label, but that's about all they have in common: AdekunleGold "Orente"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynCkE3kYI10

And a good one from Ghana: Afezi Perry "Ahaban"

https://soundcloud.com/antwi-odrey/ahaban-prod-by-willis-beatz

Kenyan track reviewed at The Singles Jukesbox:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BabufZj8wrM

Yvonne Darcq ft. Victoria Kimani "Ooh Lala Oui Oui"

Holy heavens!

https://soundcloud.com/naija-youths-blog/major-bangz-x-phyno-major-gba-nkiti-naijayouthsblog

Major Bangz ft. Phyno "GbaNkiti"

New Davido: "Izzue". Features Dammy Krane, who never really caught my attention before, but his percussive singing here is really good.
How soon is Davido going to drop that second album?

https://soundcloud.com/africagroove/davido-izzue-prod-shizzi-x-dammy-krane

New DizZY VC: "Scammer", produced by UK producer Omeiza (remember Ezi Emela's "Confam It"?)

https://soundcloud.com/dizzy-vc/dizzy-2-mstr

Yes! New Professor, produced by Heavy K. "Nguye Lona", feat. Sdudla.

https://soundcloud.com/iphi-jnr/professor-ft-sdudla-no-mathousand-nguye-lona

ultimate afrobeats 2015 https://soundcloud.com/dj-neptizzle/ultimate-afrobeats-2015-uab15

Been back and forth from Lagos these past few months and was lucky a few weeks ago to spend some time at Coded Tunes studio near Unilag where Olamide used to record and some of the guys I spoke to there had some interesting things to say about where the 'movement' is headed.

There seems to be a general feeling that the momentum of a few years back was squandered and that there's little potential for serious growth within the current framework. Aside from some outsourcing to more established Studios and management groups in South Africa and elsewhere, there hasn't been any significant change in the landscape to reflect the increased monetization of the scene from where it was 6 or 7 years ago beyond deeper and more intricate webs of intrigue.

That being said the music, to me, is better than it has ever been. It's still fresh, it's still evolving and particularly in terms of lyricism we've only really skimmed the surface of where the artists could take it.

That is something I do wonder about though, like; to non speakers how much of Olamide's brash Daddy Showkeyisms and playful lyricism comes across when he raps in Yoruba and does this disjunction cause listeners to undervalue the interaction between the artist and the beat while unduly favouring the latter?

Aside: Always impresses me how Phyno (and a fair amount of other artists) can flit between Igbo, Yoruba and English in the same song whilst sounding convincing in all 3.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reuETbRRseo
Ladi btw is awesome because it's essentially a cypher in which the rappers literally shout "nonsense" and "rubbish" (iranu and abasha are two words that all Lagosians love to spit with derision and bombast whenever possible) at the idea of Do you eat the booty? whilst going into somewhat graphic detail about how they might do it, in the verses.

To what extent do you feel compelled to engage with the Blurred Lines-like controversy that erupted over Story for The Gods and the headache that entails?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPS3DDOWcgg

Not trying to call anybody out here, just I've struggled to get into J/K-pop and I'm kinda curious as to how you guys reconcile it(or if you even feel the need to).

In other news, the Lagos party scene remains endlessly fun, if a money eating black hole. Sean Tizzle's "Perfect Gentleman" ruled the wedding scene and deservedly so (Bobo ruled everything else)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN-IxTpibfI
Definitely the most creative use of talking drum and Fuji style guitar I've heard in a while.

And yeah, this song will not leave me alone so I'm now inflicting it on all of you because I care.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pja_MNStZtw

Not trying to call anybody out here, just I've struggled to get into J/K-pop and I'm kinda curious as to how you guys reconcile it(or if you even feel the need to).

fair q but i have had the same prob w/ j/k pop in that it feels like either a fetishization of pop's tools and textures (being generous that it's not a fetishization of anything else) or simple exoticism. but with this stuff, the music is so unique—the way it subverts tools & textures of other genres & reinvents them w/in a cohesive sound....it's simply undeniable in a way that makes k/j pop feel redundant. i'm definitely missing out on a lyrical aspect of it & i find that frustrating, id like to wrap my head around it better...otoh it seems there's more pidgin english in this stuff that lets you in, plus a lot of the biggest american artists (cf young thug) are nigh indecipherable to 90% of the pop audience; it's just a more extreme version of the varying degrees of insider/outsider dynamic the u.s. is already used to with hip-hop

I would love to understand more of the lyrics, but really - as long as the musicality and passion shines through that's enough for me. I've never been too worried about liking Story For The Gods since its tonalities strike me as being far from date-rapey. To me, at least, that's not the sound of someone who feels entitled to sex no matter what she says, but rather someone who is amused at their partner's coquettishness, with a hint of resignation rather than aggression, and also, I think, a bit of pathos that's a bit hard to pin down but somehow catches the feeling of thinking back on a sexual encounter, however random, and realizing that it was special, but probably just a one time thing that will never happen again. But what do I know?

Anyway, I enjoyed this: http://afrovii.com/2014/10/26/story-for-the-gods-a-deconstruction/ even though I would hardly call it at decontruction.

Fond detachment vs. Cold, self-obsessed detachment.That's not a Weeknd song.

NOT a Weeknd song, lol.

I mostly listen to American rap for the beats anyway. I'm Danish, I struggle with lyricism anyway. I kinda need explainers, but when I get them it's awesome. I love Brazilian music, and it's the same problem. Realizing the context of 'Asa Branca' and why it's on the album Caetano Veloso made when he was in exile def made me appreciate it more, but I loved it before as well. I just love what I love, Danish music is boring, so no matter what I listen to, it'll be 'exotic'.

Danish music is pretty good, imo. Sivas is great, as is a good deal of danish rap/r&b, plus the whole danskhall wave from a few years back was good too. Topgunn's first album is classic. But I digress.

The fetishization aspect of it maybe works reflexively as well, i.e it's fun specifically because Japanese/Korean people are doing it and yeah I guess maybe if the music had more to say it'd be worth putting yourself in the middle of that.

Young Thug becomes entirely intelligible once you've been listening for long enough but tribal hip-hop dynamics are a very apt comparison that had never occurred to me, plus I hadn't considered my own tendency to conflate pidgin and yoruba because they do tend to flow into one another.

Yeah I mean, the Sahara reporters piece I linked to was written by a moralist windbag who took the most uncharitable interpretation possible but I was at an expat bar and when the song came on a group of ladies at the table behind us complained to the staff who could not relate to their pov at all. But they were right, why would they want to listen to a guy brag about breaking a girls arm during sex?

Tonality is more instructive than we ever really appreciate but it can only reveal so much when sexual violence is so readily normalised within the language. At the same time, that stands alongside other normative factors that would go towards vindicating the song of having such intent.

afrovii is largely otm but his translation didn't really elucidate the nuances at play here e.g. "morogo" doesn't have conceptual equivalence with "I'm in trouble" in that the former can also used to express delight in anticipation of an exciting situation. "fo" literally means to break but in reference to the body usually mean hurt in any way and etc. That being said, the sexual aggression is undeniable and ymmv accordingly.

Broken Twin, Robin Hannibal + Coco, Owusu etc., Juice (only found out they were Danish last year or so) and Linkoban comprise the Danish acts I'm familiar with and they're all pretty great imo.

Any of ya'll feeling Reminisce's "Local Rappers"?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y64Ezeruyk0

i like local rappers a lot, i always subconsciously avoid Reminisce songs for some reason, will stop that now

been listening to this Kenyan one a lot lately

Amani - Heartbreaker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xqmKGGm6uo

also digging this Tanzanian one

Nakaaya - Nimechoka {ft. Kala Jeremiah}

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

i went on holiday, and came back and it had got cold up in northern ontario while i was gone, this song is helping me hold onto whats left of summer.

also, maybe this isn't the right place for this, but i gotta post it somewhere and this is afrobeats in the generic sense of the word i guess, from last year, black motion's "it's you"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu9QUF93bdE

x-post

i.e it's fun specifically because Japanese/Korean people are doing it and yeah I guess maybe if the music had more to say it'd be worth putting yourself in the middle of that.

Not that I am listening to J Pop or K pop much either, but am trying to understand why you dislike it and what you mean here by "more to say"?

I'd be happy to take some more sa house suggestions right now if anyone has any btw.

Sorry to get off track. one last thing--

Or maybe you agree with Deej's answer (which I am getting!)

fair q but i have had the same prob w/ j/k pop in that it feels like either a fetishization of pop's tools and textures (being generous that it's not a fetishization of anything else) or simple exoticism. but with this stuff, the music is so unique—the way it subverts tools & textures of other genres & reinvents them w/in a cohesive sound....it's simply undeniable in a way that makes k/j pop feel redundant. i'm definitely missing out on a lyrical aspect of it & i find that frustrating, id like to wrap my head around it better...otoh it seems there's more pidgin english in this stuff that lets you in, plus a lot of the biggest american artists (cf young thug) are nigh indecipherable to 90% of the pop audience; it's just a more extreme version of the varying degrees of insider/outsider dynamic the u.s. is already used to with hip-hop

Afropop seems to draw more from American & UK r'n'b and rap, then J-pop and K-pop does (I think)...

anybody been listening to the whole 'coast music' thing from Mombasa? I like the laid back vibe, less gritty than most Nairobi shit.

I like this one from Susumila ft Sarkozy - Ihale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hklIuoQ-pM

He had this big hit last year too, 'Hidaya' which featured Chikuzee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixZ2eJWuKBI

kruezer2 my new favorite poster. Nice to hear some good stuff from East Africa.

x-post

i.e it's fun specifically because Japanese/Korean people are doing it and yeah I guess maybe if the music had more to say it'd be worth putting yourself in the middle of that.

Not that I am listening to J Pop or K pop much either, but am trying to understand why you dislike it and what you mean here by "more to say"?

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, September 1, 2015 7:09 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Didn't mean to come off as dismissive, and yeah Deej's response rang pretty true for me. That being said I don't actually dislike K\J pop and I've appreciated the little that I've heard but it has never compelled me to 'jump in', really immerse myself in them and get a general sense of what's going on.

Afropop seems to draw more from American & UK r'n'b and rap, then J-pop and K-pop does (I think)...

r&r is probably needed cause *r&b

kruezer2 my new favorite poster. Nice to hear some good stuff from East Africa.

― Frederik B, Wednesday, September 2, 2015 1:25 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

happy to share, it is nice to see them catching up to the west/south scenes. eastern africa is a great place, great people, glad to see the artists there starting to thrive.

that said I've been liking this Cote d'Ivoire + Nigeria track lately too. from 2014, so apologies if posted before. it was described to me as Hold Yuh + Incwadi Yothando to me so I think since those are two of my favourite songs from the past few years I was too hard on it at first, it has grown on me though, Teeyah is really great and the careening vocals at the end are pretty glorious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hak4E5ywnpA

Heavy-K - Sweetie (feat. Nokwazi)

Holy shit, this song is blissfully hypnotic.

The Heavy-K album, Respect The Drumboss is out today and it's positively sick. He's got Burna Boy on there. Pure aural bliss.

This is a quick, third-quarter reminder that all available tracks mentioned on this thread (and/or an album selection from each listed) are being updated to the thread-specific Spotify playlist as posted. I just did another top-to-bottom sweep prior to posting this message and have revised as of today with everything that's been added since first mentioned. Subscribe if you're into it!

It's 128 tracks and over eight hours long.

Rolling Afrobeats /Afropop 2015 Thread Spotify Playlist

Loving this thread's Spotify playlist this year; here's my Coupé-Décalé picks of 2015 thus far.

Debordo Leekunfa - Apéritif Yamoukidi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9S0pVpGzyg

Dj Arafat - Gbobolor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI5PKsPESV4

Vitale - Respect
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71ToxzKnJQ4

Dj Leo- Profitons de la Vie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQaJJFgXZFo

Bebi Philip Move - Dadass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZSlpPK5LdM

Bebi Philip - Mamalôkô
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i1wWlW71ZI

Force One - Sholey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFhbt3L-MEI

lol that NONE of those are on US spotify. we ain't at celestial jukebox just yet...

Obscurity in 2015 = 2 extra hand movements to listen.

I'll take it... my tastes need whatever cultural capital they can get atm. Hipsters stole my vibe.

Toofan - "Yoyoyo" from Togo (doing some US dates now)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I01bKWJUlKU

The Afrobeats/afropop DC scene seems excited about Toofan

PatoRanking from Nigeria

He's touring the USA too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM3OL_c7x5g

DJ Ganyani - Lengoma (feat. G-Kah)

This song is currently filling my Heavy-K void (hard to call it a void when Respect the Drumboss is brilliant, but this song is great)

That Debordo Leekunfa coupe track is crazy, i love it.

We need more posts!
Right now I'm in love with this SA house tracks, which is quite big down there right now, apparently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnz8Ni2ec08

Black Coffee - We Dance Again

Repost for mobiles:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnz8Ni2ec08

okay, so https addresses show up as actual videos and not just links now? Interesting.

Loving the DJ Ganyani record too.

My favorite recent SA track (along with Black Coffee's "We Dance Again"): Prince Kaybee ft. Shaun Dihoro "Wajellwa"
https://open.spotify.com/track/4iP36tsNaxZh9RzhV6pBmX
(I prefer this version, or its instrumental, to the (also) instrumental "Guitar Mix" he's put on his just released album)

This is the bigger hit though, and also good: Prince Kaybee ft. Audrey "Better Days"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7VtFz2Fj38
https://open.spotify.com/track/7oVrfrgXP88xbOzQKvRYBW

One of the best tracks off Respect The Drumboss 2015: Heavy K ft. Speedy & Riky Rick "Kanjalo"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta374JyFLuU
https://open.spotify.com/track/0K7lN9DMHAf9hFQXzRBLyI

Sign of life:
Busiswa & Paige Mac "Wherever You Are"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-AgjDmu_QA

Naija Superstar Update pt 1: Davido

So I guess "Izzue" was just a buzztrack for the new album (that's seems to have been postponed again). I prefer it to the actual singles that have been released since, though.

1) "Dodo", somewhat "Aye"-like. Zero points for the fat-shaming video, as much as it's trying to eat its cake too. Bad form.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyg6W-xrCTI

2) "The Money", ft. Olamide : More subdued perhaps than would have been expected from this this team-up, but this brand new one is growing on me as we speak.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF1k7CAzNtQ

Naija Superstar Update pt 2: Wizkid

No new singles since "Expensive Shit", some very good features though:

In chronological order:

Terry G ft. Wizkid, Runtown & Phyno "Knack Am"
https://soundcloud.com/freemedigital/terry-g-knack-am-ft-wizkid-phyno-and-runtown

DJ Jimmy Jatt ft. Wizkid "Feeling The Beat": Ojuelegba 2: Party Time! (and why the hell not?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6J4t0nMts0

Wande Coal ft. Wizkid "Kpono". Maleek Berry-produced blockbuster off Wande's Wanted album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxKtSHDgnb0

(will post some more soon)

Thanks! The Wande Coal album was a tad disappointing imo. I like this one though:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb0izXb71jU

Wande Coal is coming to DC. DJ Arafat too

I just wish there were more Amorawa type tracks on it I guess.

Joey B ft. E.L "Wow": Prime alkayida, produced by B2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Rp05FiKIMw
https://soundcloud.com/joey-b-pharaoh-darryl

Mr Eazi ft. Efya & DJ Juls "Skintight"
https://soundcloud.com/mreazi/skintight-mr-eazi-ft-efya-prod-by-juls

Bisa Kdei "Brother Brother"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3BO-2b8IdQ

Keche "Chase". Always good to hear from them, this one's with DJ Breezy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mnTFNA2WEI

Anyone else pick up some good Ghanian stuff?

Two from Tanzania:

Alikiba "Chekecha Cheketua"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbCmbWktYh4

Linah "No Stress"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drU-xfrEcAg

Sultry Angolan kizomba:

Yudi Fox "Moça Louca" (this one's at least 18 months old!)

Adi Cudz ft. Nelson Freitas "Essa Mboa"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vl5dpEI7Ho

Featured singer Nelson Freitas is Dutch Cabo Verdean. The same goes for most members of Rotterdam rap crew Broederliefde, who do some Cabo Verdean stuff as well, including their current single: Broederliefde ft. William Araujo "Moral"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdvtSUy_gFY

Forgot to link Yudi Fox "Moça Louca". Despite the song's popularity, apparently a video was never made.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiF9MMXkpUA

Wish I had that Broederliefde track in rotation over the summer.

Been digging this from Sean Tizzle lately
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMlLp9-7otg
Also this from Timaya and Don Jazzy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbwBUHgHVa0

http://notjustok.com/category/music/
This site has been my go to for stumbling across great tracks from across the continent. They also host a lot of gospel music and its interesting to see the differences in how they approach similar sounds and styles as compared to secular artists even if I don't have much time for it otherwise.

breastcrawl you've really been holding this thread down, really enjoyed going through the tracks you've posted these past few months.

really happy this has been a fertile thread this year; i am mostly holding off until we got into '16 to listen to these genre playlists all jammed together but i feel sure this one is gonna comfortably leaven the experience.

Do notjustok.com still tag their mp3s? I've been going elsewhere because of that. Mp3naija.com has it all. No tags and they even tell you how big the file is before you dl. I'm mostly checking for artists I've already heard of though.

Nah seems they got tired of people complaining about it, mp3naija is also decent

Good. I've bought songs in iTunes that are still tagged with notjustok.com and that stuff bugs me to no end.

Thanks, tsrobodo! I keep wishing more people would post though.

Yeah, loving the new Sean Tizzle. Producer Blaq Jerzee has a beautiful sound. I like "Body Calling" too, a track he made under his own name with a host of friends. Can't find a YouTube or Soundcloud link, so straight from the source: http://www.360nobs.com/2014/12/music-blaq-jerzee-body-calling/

(I'd never heard of mp3naija. Guess I should take a look.)

Also enjoy the track DJ Spinall (or whoever actually produced it, Pheelz?) did with Sean Tizzle "Feel It":
https://open.spotify.com/track/4CFWJum4yAMoRGIXxB9jjp

That whole Spinall album is good btw, man has good connections.

Big love for the new Patoranking, the JayPizzle-produced "Make Am". Stepping out of the confines of dancehall seems to be working wonders for him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfBS4A2pX8U

(Somebody help me out please, what is this style? Is it makossa or soukous? )

Next category: It's your favourite boy Tekno on the beat! (and/or on vocals):

After a slow start, "Duro" (#MySongOf2015) has become Tekno's biggest hit so far and now looks set to take over the continent. My excuse to post it again: It has a video now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlJ33-6tPTE

His own releases are few and far between, but he's everywhere, producing and singing away. A few examples:

Rima ft. Tekno "Feeling You"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HDHiScZRc0

PrinceBoom ft. Reekado Banks & Tekno "Give Them"
https://soundcloud.com/princeboom-1/princeboom-give-them-ft-reekado-banks-tekno

Ice Prince "Boss"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJOa3SLTx60

Bracket ft. Tekno "Panya". (This one keeps popping up in the Dutch Shazam Top 100 fwiw)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX5KJEMfze4

Oh, and tsrobodo, as for Broederliefde: I posted a couple of their hip hop tracks on longneck's Rolling non-US Rap thread, but their first hit, 2014's "Labanta", was also a Cabo Verdean track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3QlksKe4Dw

Tekno <3

And of course Young John remains d…wicked...producer:

My three faves of his recent output:

Rush "Attention". Hmmm, only obscure links, here you can play it at least:
http://www.hiphopbaze.com/music-rush-attention-prod-by-young-john.html

Jah Baby "L.O.V.E"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62aB8kRmRWc
https://open.spotify.com/track/1pgckdfHCC5IrAHlw3yVGD

Sunkanmi ft. CDQ "Marry Joanna": so deliciously playful!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XQWTA3y_RA

And I'll throw in these two as well, cause they're the actual hits:

Lil Kesh ft. Patoranking "Is It Because I Love You?"
https://soundcloud.com/freemedigital/lil-kesh-is-it-because-i-love-you

Pepenazi ft. Olamide "Illegal"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6J_rnIO5Pg

gonna have to take a couple days and work thru all these new ones, the three young john ones are great.

been listing to a lot of this new bongo flava track

Mr Blue- Baki na Mimi

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

and this old Naija tune from 08 i think

Faze - Originality

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDC8YTKVDQk

wizkid is on the new r. kelly album

On a brighter note, there is a new single now, produced by Legendury Beatz:

https://soundcloud.com/starboymusic/wizkid-final-baba-nla

Wizkid "Final (Baba Nla)"

(I mean, good for Wizkid for finding a way in to the US market, but why did it have to be R Kelly?)
(and, not relevant to this thread, but: why did Tinashe choose to be on this album?)

R Kelly actually has form in that regard, from back in 08 with 2face
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbf7NyOEbvE
Don't know how it came about with Wizkid but whatever else he is Kells is still a legend, plus we're only 5(?) years out from his last great album

Yeah of all producers on top right now Young John's sound is easily the most exciting to me.

He meshes early 90's fuji muisc sensibilities with more prevalent modern sounds in a way that's very clever and subtle. His beats have cross generational appeal but never feel like they're pandering, plus it works so well with the local-boy brash exuberance of the YBNL artists

re R Kelly : I know he's a musical legend, but at this point (i.e. since the Jessica Hopper piece two years ago) it's become much too hard to ignore "whatever else he is", for me anyway. Ty Dolla Sign, Jhene Aiko, Juicy J, Lil Wayne, Jeremih and, as mentioned, Tinashe, all featured on his new album, don't seem to think so, so it's hardly surprising that Wizkid would jump at this big opportunity (and, as I learned from you, follow in 2Face's footsteps in the process - instead of, say, Davido).

What do you think about Patoranking's "Make Am" that I posted above? So apparently he cut it with the Ebonyi State Band, a (highlife?) band from his home state (in the South East). Is it my ignorance showing when I say it doesn't sound very Nigerian to me? Or is there other Naija stuff like this? I love it!

Ah right, I'd never seen the Hopper piece, thanks for that. (I mean that both sincerely and sarcastically). Yeah that is a lot rougher than the impression I had of things but I'm glad I read it.

Make Am is amazing. It is very much a highlife track but there are strong shades of Soukous in the melody. The distinction mostly lies in the conservative use of snare in the beat. Soukous tracks are generally a lot busier in that regard.

Unsung hero on Make Am and a bunch of tracks including Tekno's Duro Davido's Gobe, Kiss Daniel's Woju + Laye, Adekunlegod's Orente + many others is guitarist Fiokee. Very much a highlife rhythm guitarist in the vein of Akin Ajayi (King Sunny Ade, Lagbaja) but so much more versatile and fluent in other styles. (I'm pretty sure Ebonyi State Band refers to the duds in the video).

I try to be careful about outright calling things Nigerian or otherwise. The more time I've been lucky enough to spend exploring the more hopelessly myopic my perception of the place feels. So many cultures, movements and peoples that were at odd with my preconceptions of what constitutes Nigeria. Having a vague idea is one thing but the experience is humbling.

That being said, the track to me does sound quintessentIally Nigerian! I mean it's something of a throwback stylistically and isn't necessarily in line with current trends so it does feel a bit alien but there is plenty of precedent for it.

The obvious parallel is Sweet Mother, beyond that, a bunch of fusion tracks from the 70's like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbvBo5hwEpQ and pre afro-juju Shina Peters but tone wise it has more in common with the more downtempo Yoruba praise tracks you'll find all over youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9rIiZFbJng

Can't really think of anything contemporary that works in the same vein but I know there are a few. I'll dig into itunes and see what comes up.

Thank you very much for your extensive answer, and all the schooling, also about the laziness of labeling things "Nigerian" or "non-Nigerian". So many of my blind spots right there: old-school highlife, gospel/praise music, soukous. I mean, I had to look up "Sweet Mother". I only started listening to (contemporary) Nigerian and Ghanaian music in 2012, so "having a vague idea" would be something to strive for in my case. Glad I at least sensed the soukous influence! If you could find some contemporary stuff similar to "Make Am" (or soukous that's in a similar vibe, for that matter) that would be fantastic.

By the way, I had seen Fiokee mentioned, but that is some résumé, for this year alone!

Come to think of it, this one goes some way, and as it happens it's also produced by JayPizzle. The groove is not as smooth though.

https://soundcloud.com/mufasamedia/bolanle-evamic-produce-by-jaypizzle

Evamic ft. Skales "Bolanle".

Wow!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guGR6r8wBAY

Masterkraft ft. Flavour & Sarkodie "Finally"

He (Masterkraft) also thought it worthwhile to remake "Jeje" for 2015. He was right:

https://open.spotify.com/track/2SkNj4aPKeZ8FQepGsyQI8

Choppa ft. Kelly Khumalo & Masterkraft "Sesi"

Choppa is from Mozambique btw. The Dance Machine EP "Sesi" is from is quite nice.

http://www.thefader.com/2015/11/18/wizkid-gen-f-interview?utm_source=Fader+%28Daily+%26+Events%29&utm_campaign=ad29d87a5b-The_FADER_Daily_Newsletter_11_18_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_58ecd52b41-ad29d87a5b-180816641&mc_cid=ad29d87a5b&mc_eid=935fd5a37c

awesome

weird that they describe ojuelgba as "poppier" than "show you the money"—IMO the latter is way more up front pop music (and isn't it bigger than ojuelgba, at least pre-Drake? nb I'm going by YouTube views)

xp
Runtown's Gallardo also works in the same vein but also not as smooth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7N9wjgGpfg

Show you the money probably had more bite and crossover appeal but in the end it will have had a much shorter shelf life. Ojuelegba's a classic.

Feature kinda ends before it gets going but the exposure's good. Funny you say that, re 'Poppiness' cause I saw things the other way. Another one of those weird dynamics you get with African music that doesn't read as self-evident. I'm thinking it's a matter of perspective.

Show you the money is more upbeat but also a lot more 'other' if Lagos is central to your experience of music. The writer alludes to this in referring to the SA/afro house influences in the track. Ojuelegba is more crowd-pleasing and representative of Nigerian sounds and therefore 'poppier'(?) There's probably more to it than that but that's all I got.

ahhh i see

'show you the money' feels closer not just to house but imo to hip hop in terms of its swag & attitude ... feels much closer to what a us crossover might sound like, imo, than ojuelgba. but prob better that drake cosign ojuelgba for that reason

i'm a shameful dilettante itt but i really appreciate the rolling updates and posts. when i catch up i am never disappointed. that princeboom single is immense

Skales adds another one to his string of happy bangers: "Mu Jo"

https://soundcloud.com/bmusictv/skales-mu-jo-prod-killertunes

Note: The version on Spotify is just an extended teaser (half the track). Hope this doesn't set a new trend.

we are all dilettantes here to some degree or another! But agreed, & same xp

xp yeah that's true, you could say that 'show you the money' is to Hip-hop what 'Ojuelegba' is to R&B which is partly why the Drake thing made sense.

half tracks on spotify sounds to me like the old fake leaks that used to be put out by record companies that had weird loops of twenty second song snippets mixed to full length

It's the same in iTunes actually. However, the full track is available on some comp. Search for the title and it should come up.

DJ Coublon heaven:

Follow-up to "Duro": Tekno "Wash"
https://soundcloud.com/bmusictv/tekno-wash

Follow-up to "Woju" and "Laye": Kiss Daniel "Good Time"
https://soundcloud.com/gworldwideent/kiss-daniel-good-time-prod-dj-coublon

Yes!

Burnaboy, Runtown, Seyi Shay and Sarkodie all have new albums out but I haven't had the time to listened to them yet. Would appreciate a word if any of you have given them some time.

young john's beat on rush's "attention" is so sick, especially when those fluttering birds kind of spiral in on themselves halfway through

also very into the latest busiswa, rima, wande coal and ice prince tracks mentioned recently, plus the reniss and dbn nyts ones from earlier are still in heavy rotation. heavy-k album is pretty much banging start to finish

the uhuru album was apparently coming in aug but never appeared?

way more hip-hop than most of this thread but this davido-featuring track by SA rapper nasty c is pretty great

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq8JyIXOkgk

enjoyed the a'won boyz remixing future too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqQ7ZGA426Q

and have been enjoying afrobeats making its way into the grime scene - cf j hus - dem boy paigon

would be interested in people's top 10-20s of the year!

oh and this for another big london-does-afrobeats tune

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LD2tZV8wMM

I'm sure i am omitting something awesome, my favourites in no order (though I think Shumaya is no.1 to me), including a couple late 2014 songs (Lahla & Koze Kuse).

Feza ft Chege - Sanuka
Rush - Attention
Dbn Nyts ft. Zinhle Ngidi & Trademark - Shumaya
Sosuun - Sura ya kazi
Amani - Heartbreaker
Uhuru - Saka Nana
Heavy-K ft. Nokwazi - Sweetie
Vetkuk vs Mahoota ft. Cassper, Abcrazy & Flabba - Jova
Bra Qwequ ft. Ball J & Gigg - Fraud Money
Debordo Leekunfa - Apéritif Yamoukidi
Mr Blue - Baki na Mimi
Swahili Nation - Loco
DJ Merlon ft Mondli Ngcobo - Koze Kuse
CHIKWAZA ft. Elani - Nimwabudu
Busiswa ft. DJ Buckz, Uhuru - Lahla
Victoria Kimani - Show

I am undecided if I am down with We Dance Again, but its pretty ubiquitous

also been listening to these old Zola & Brenda Fassie tunes a lot lately

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV3nFwUlkYM

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

also, remember Sister Bettina? this shit just came up on youtube randomly, takes me back

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlEkRSq0-Qg

Am I dreaming, or is this thread really getting busy?!

xposts

Whoah, a new Burna Boy album, didn't know about that! The new Olamide is out as well, haven't heard it yet. Mainly produced by Pheelz, sadly no Young John tracks apart from "Bobo".

Sarkodie's Mary album is all about traditional highlife, very different from his usual style. Didn't work for me the first time around, but I need to give it a second chance soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCeZcfyNTZA
Sarkodie ft. Akwaboah "Mewu"

Seyi Shay: the first half of her debut album focuses on glossy, but too generic, reggae/dancehallpop, including three tracks produced by Harmony Samuels, one of which is current hit "Right Now".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG-UEOGUXx0

Second half is heavier on afrobeats and more fun. I like "Tina", the collab with D'banj.
https://open.spotify.com/track/6LnyVSCIROhzWAH3Il3XgH

Listened to the Runtown album, Ghetto University, today. Not crazy about the tracks with hip-hop beats the album is built around. Was struck by the North African influence on a couple of tracks, apparently inspired by this very popular (almost 10 million YT plays) Moroccan cover of "Gallardo" by Barbapappa called " ويلي ويلي ويلي (Wili Wili Wili)". He actually enlisted the guy for the album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tBizYP3zB4

Current single "Walahi" is nice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sc1Zd65_fw

kruezer, that Feza song you listed is lovely!
https://open.spotify.com/track/4XOyUjM400fUa97lmzXShR
Feza ft. Chege "Sanuka"

Also, the Brenda Fassie!

How about this? Sphectacula & DJ Naves ft. Professor "KOTW Anthem":
https://open.spotify.com/track/6tYBJtCHBJhHtFtw07NoFo

<3 all the Young John & Tekno productions ... being in mainland China for the year w/no YouTube/Soundcloud access, being able to find a lot of tracks by browsing Notjustok/Ghanamusic/etc etc (sometimes mobile-friendly videos to d/l as well!) has been a lifeline.

Since I can't see what any of the unlabelled YT links are, apologies if this has already been posted:

AKA ft Fifi Cooper, Moozlie, Gigi Lamayne & Rouge - "Baddest (Remix)"
http://www.360nobs.com/2015/11/music-aka-baddest-remix-ft-fifi-cooper-moozlie-gigi-lamayne-rouge/

(oh, & The Singles Jukebox is having their annual amnesty slash reader's week, hope they cover some more afrobeats/afropop etc cough cough)

Ha, so apparently (comedy) covers of Naija hits are a thing in Morocco. This is Barbapappa remaking P-Square's "Shekini" as "Hek Lifi Nifi" (30 million YT plays!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n5uhr85Zmo#t=18

Big in Francophone Africa, from Cameroon: Franko "Coller la petite"

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

(and destined for even bigger things: a remix with Davido is in the works)

Afropop à la Hollandaise: I Am Aisha ft. Dio & Spanker "Zulke Dingen Doe Je"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foW7SekjcVM

"Ojuelegba" vs "Show You The Money" (many xposts):

I would say Ojuelegba has been a real blessing for Wizkid's career. It's not "just" another banger, but feels like an evergreen (if that term's still in use), and I think he needed that at this point. As for the stats, apart from doing better than SYTM on Spotify, it's also the (far) bigger hit on the continent as a whole, and is making inroads into the Caribbean as well. And ironically, while tracks like SYTM and "In My Bed" may have the SA influence, Ojuelegba is Wizkid's first song to chart on the South African iTunes chart, which says something, because the iTunes version of SA is a country that looks very similar to Australia or New Zealand.

Speaking of charts, since September (as far as I can see), website AfricaCharts.com has been providing a weekly Nigerian Top 50 (+ a Top 25 of "Emerging Songs"), and claims to be working on charts for other African countries as well. What they have so far looks pretty solid. Check out http://africacharts.com/official-top-50-songs-nigeria/
Here's hoping it will fare better than the short-lived and flawed AfribizCharts initiative. However, this was a "pan-African" chart (in name anyway), so the ambitions are different.

Some more recent(ish) hot tracks from Naija (charting or otherwise):

Ycee "Jagaban":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGZG1yi0EJE

(there's a remix with Olamide too)

Black Magic ft. Kid Konnect "Aunty Sola":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKscz1cCTqs

Chillz "Smooth Sailing (Freevybe)":

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

Viktoh ft. Lil Kesh "Skibi Dat":
https://soundcloud.com/freemedigital/viktoh-ft-lil-kesh-skibi-dat-prod-by-banks

Teddy-A ft. Timaya "Feeling The Boy":
https://soundcloud.com/icone_us/feeling-the-boy

Geniuzz ft. Yemi Alade "Underate":
https://soundcloud.com/effyzziemusicgroup/geniuzz-ft-yemi-alade-underate

Que Peller "Eleniyan"
https://open.spotify.com/track/7eEJAsVPSTAS2fOtWIGnjQ

Vino Bellz "Nyem Ife" (this one's produced by Masterkraft):
https://soundcloud.com/snatchradio/vino-belz-nyem-ife

These are definitely big hits, not my favourites, but ymmv obviously.

Mavins (ft. Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Dr. Sid, D'Prince, Di'Ja, Reekado Banks and Korede Bello) "Jantamanta":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP_vGRh_sq0

Same line-up as "Dorobucci", but seriously disappointing. You can sing about hooks, but where are they?

Phyno "Connect" (produced by T-Spize):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS5zBrEZg-A

HarrySong ft. Olamide, Kcee, Iyanya & Orezi "Reggae Blues":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4nT3Od5cxI

Kcee trying out stuff:

Jumping that alkayida bandwagon:

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

Kcee ft. Timaya "Alkayida"

Doing that SA House thing:

Timaya ft. Uhuru & DJ Buckz "Talk And Do"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4FqBu39IhM

Biting "Jantamanta" (see above), and somehow making it more fun:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPXEF06kHs4

Kcee ft. HarrySong & Skiibii "Ebaeno"

Two smoothies to round things off for now:

Humblesmith ft. Phyno "Osinachi":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7rosJFJsEU

DJ Shabsy ft. Kiss Daniel & Sugarboy "Raba":

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

This is Kiss' third hit, and obviously an excellent opportunity to remind everyone not to sleep on his brand new one with DJ Coublon, posted three days ago, the fantastic "Good Time".

Wizkid is on the extended version of the Major Lazer album, writing and singing the hook on "Boom" (which also features MOTi, Ty Dolla Sign and Kranium). Why is he mixed so far back though?
https://open.spotify.com/track/6dLLEE96JRnX1ngkL77yiA

I hate it when Diplo gets too chummy with my fav artists. Ty and Wizkid on the same track is just a little too much.

As we move to the end of the year, I'd like to drop a quick note to encourage any readers / lurkers / ilxors to post their favorite afropop tracks from this year to the thread so that I can hoover them into the ongoing spotify playlist. Last chance for any accessible stragglers that may not already be in the lexicon.

really like that Franko song I think French sounds great over afrobeats in general.

Good Time is fucking amazing to be honest I wasn't really down with Kiss' other big hits but my god.

re: breastcrawl, agreed on Feza (obviously) she has a great voice, sounds like everything she sings is meaningful but she never gets cloying.

been listening to this old mo hits song a bunch lately too, way better than Pere even though pere always gets all of the props

Mo Hits All Stars - Close To You

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N70tdfvuaOs

i was wondering what d'banj had been up to, apparently this duet with IDRIS ELBA was a summer release?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaHaK9BR5Jg

Been getting into the Burna Boy album and it's pretty much fantastic. Definitely a top 10 aoty contender for me. A lot of gems, but apparently Single with Wizkid is the one that's getting the most spins right now:

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

Loving this Ketchup:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3sWVJIc7nU

Good Time is my favorite Kiss Daniel tune too I think. Or at least it is right now.
And thanks for the Africacharts.com link - it will make staying up on this stuff so much easier.

In case any ilxors use google play (but not spotify), I have a huge (well, 300+ songs) playlist for this year's afro stuff on google play. I prefer it because you can upload the stuff they don't have for personal use. Feel free to use it or just copy stuff over into your own lists.

https://play.google.com/music/playlist/AMaBXylLLIRP8lpFfDgVEUhp3Aj3EJ0S5YbCUjrXss-M38AqTEryCh-p1Cw6-0J8MqjbOIHsTpxTUlmjdvRUJ2C3j3J_Qismhg==

Aaaaaand I just discovered this song, DJ Merlon & Heavy K - Bouncing Sax:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNVw0atu7tE

Heavy K has no spotify presence, sad but true.

what a brilliant track, take a listen

Jude Woodhead – ‘Beautiful Rain’
https://soundcloud.com/judewoodhead/beautiful-rain

blogger, Nialler 9 sums it up
http://nialler9.com/jude-woodhead-beautiful-rain/

‘Beautiful Rain’ is a great song from an 18 year-old from South London called Jude Woodhead and that is a mighty impressive feat you’ll admit, once you press play. Woodhead is a classically-trained trumpet player and an autodidactic pianist and drummer. He’s put that experience to good use on this song, along with his dad’s records and a few years of musicianship.

The song has African vocal samples (his dad’s Congolese and South African records?) and a soft glowing electronic shimmer (inspired by Four Tet) that combines to gorgeous and hypnotic effect

--- Also posted on: time travel 2015 -> 2012 <-> 2102 <-5102 levart emit

xposts

Yes, Burna Boy's On A Spaceship is pretty great. It is also pretty uneven: the spaceship doesn't *really* take off until that Wizkid track (#6), but after that it's more or less straight fire (the run is quite rudely interrupted midway by a dancehall and a highlife track though). But: four great J Fem productions, "Rizzla", "Jealousy", "On A Very Good Day" (with Wande Coal) and "Mi O Ni Gba", the Sarz-produced "Trance" is very good too, the Phyno and AKA x Kid X x Da L.E.S collabs are great, the live interlude is fire, plus there is Culture Club sample, and it's "Time (Clock Of The Heart)"! Best Naija album I've heard this year, along with Man Of The Year.

Interview in The Fader: http://www.thefader.com/2015/11/25/burna-boy-interview

Also: it's impossible not to hear Burna in J Hus, especially "No Lie".

Uneven, perhaps. Those lows are pretty high though, lol.
Speaking of Burna, did I ever post the All Eyes On Me remix that came out in august? It kept the track warm for me all year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAl72T_xYLs

This album is the opposite of front-loaded though. If a casual listener would decide a few tracks in: Well, it's alright, but I'm not gonna listen to 20 tracks of this, I would totally understand. But they would miss out on lots of really good stuff.

Like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbLh0k-FTjU

Burna Boy ft. Wande Coal "On A Very Good Day"

http://static.notjustok.site.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/MzVee.jpg

Ghana's MzVee has been having a p.good 2015 - some p.blissed out / frothy summer jams w/ Okyeame Kwame's "Small Small" & her own "Abofra" w/ Efya; "Real Woman (Bad Like We)" w/ Wiyaala is a Richie Mensah-produced bubbler.

Thanks for the reminder! Been meaning to check out her album. Have you heard any other good Ghanaian stuff lately? Naija music is taking up so much of my time...

Like this great one: Dotman "Yes Melo" (love the vid too)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1eKpOMh_dM

The remix with Olamide is great in its own right as well.

Reminds me of this track I loved from a couple of years back, "Ame Nwod" by Indigenous Maliq (as he called himself then) or Ikpa Udo (his current moniker, as I just found out).

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

It's on Spotify as well.

Sun X ft. Timaya "Fakosi", my favourite Selebobo production in a while:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETGVlHPFua4

Another good one by Ycee: "Omo Alhaji":

https://soundcloud.com/yceemusic/omo-alhaji-prod-by-e-kelly

Wizzy on fire! Love that organ groove: CDQ ft. Wizkid "Nowo E Soke" (produced by Masterkraft):

https://soundcloud.com/dc-leakers/nowo-e-sokeprodby-masterkraf

DJ Arafat spicing up the Nigerians:

Iyanya ft. DJ Arafat & Xcellente "Fever"

https://soundcloud.com/dj_kbs/iyanya-ft-dj-arafat-excellente-fever

(Foolish decisions: apparently this track was cut from Iyanya's recent album, and sure, the man plays just a bit part on it himself (what else is new), but it's amazing.)

Hunk Brownie ft. DJ Arafat "Party Manu". Don't stop 'til you get enough!
https://soundcloud.com/its9janimi/partymanu

Remix with Oritse Femi, who adds some contrast to the vocals (this version's not on Spotify):
https://soundcloud.com/das_entertainment/hunk-brownie-ft-oritse-femi-dj-arafat-party-manu

Heavy K has no spotify presence, sad but true.

― Eugene Goostman (forksclovetofu), vrijdag 4 december 2015 3:27 (4 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Heavy K still happily streaming over here, forks!

We lost Slime Season 2 though, it was there… and now it's gone.

As I believe I've said before... google play is the only option for me, as you can upload whatever they're missing.

One huge difference between the first and the new Burna Boy albums is that he spent so much of the first one complaining about people not believing in him and how he's going to make it anyway, but from Don Gorgon on most of that is gone, or else it is in some language I don't understand and so it doesn't bother me anymore, lol.

did anyone check out the dbn nyts album? "shumaya" is def one of my singles of the year

I checked it and it's nice but I'm mostly just playing Shumaya.

xp to breastcrawl, yeah the lack of heavy k is a us thing i guess.

I have "Karateka" (with Davido and Uhuru) on my playlist as well, besides "Shumaya". Don't know the rest of the album well enough.

…oh, and "Drama Queen". Should give it a full listen, I guess.

Oh man, this song (+ its video) is just too good.
Big Nuz - Tsege Tsege
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krHSkr9Owmk

Also loving this NaakMusiq video that started playing after it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvjBABjVyTA
NaakMusiq - AmaBenjamin ft Mampintsha

...aaaaaand this one too hits the right spot for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhwqQD21zAc
DJ Mshega - Get Down (The Whistle Song)

The Fader picked "Ojuelegba" as its #12 song of the year. Extra kudos for sticking with the original version.

http://www.thefader.com/2015/12/08/best-songs-of-2015-list

Tekno is just good on everything: SperoachBeatz ft. Tekno "Freaky":
https://soundcloud.com/afrobeatzzuk/speroachbeatz-freaky-ft-tekno

Some Young Johnizms on the Pheelz-produced new AdekunleGold "Pick Up":
https://soundcloud.com/africanscangossip/adekunle-gold-pick-up-prod-pheelz

Actual Young John: He did this remix of Damz "Carry Am Go", ft. Olamide & Niniola:
https://soundcloud.com/drealdamz/carry-am-go-remix-feat-olamide-niniola

hey i'm only just now opening this thread and let me tell you guys heavy-k is the best thing that's ever happened to me

Respect the drumboss!

<2013> and <2015>

That R. Kelly track with Wizkid: "I Just Want To Thank You" (with "Wiz Kid" cast as a Caribbean island guy):

https://open.spotify.com/track/3yp0oQxnV0akBvpqUFodDa

Don't underestimate the power of this Sunday jam: Waconzy "Powerful".

https://soundcloud.com/waconzy/waconzy-powerful

Oooh, that Kells joint is kinda terrible. Ouch.

DJ Maphorisa, DJ Buckz & Wizkid - Soweto Baby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaYJbNkIrNk&feature=youtu.be

flames

just discovered kiss daniel's "good time" off your EOY nominations, so amazing

Cosign on "Good Time"; can't believe it's only 3:11 long / would happily listen to it unspool for hours. Looking forward to getting back to a southern hemisphere summer in a fortnight and playing a bunch of this stuff out.

Yeah of all producers on top right now Young John's sound is easily the most exciting to me.

He meshes early 90's fuji muisc sensibilities with more prevalent modern sounds in a way that's very clever and subtle. His beats have cross generational appeal but never feel like they're pandering, plus it works so well with the local-boy brash exuberance of the YBNL artists

― tsrobodo, Tuesday, 17 November 2015 08:47 (3 weeks ago)

Any recs for relevant fuji stuff to track down? I only really know Adewale Ayuba's Fuji Time which might be a bit later than what yr referencing.

good time is one of my favorite records this year, that & "soke' .... 'duro' p good too

heavy k is kinda the afro house dj premier huh, one really good trick that i dont mind hearing over & over

ha yeah respect the drumboss 2015 does it over and over for a long time and at no point do i get bored

i guess my personal favs from this year would be

busiswa - lahla
dj kent ft. mo t - don't let go
sunkanmi - singale
dbn nyts ft. zinhle ngidi & trademark - shumaya
rush - attention
presh ft. davido - say dem say
rima ft. tekno - feeling you
gee ft. wally seck - yallah bahna
reniss ft. jovi - michael jackson
patoranking ft. wande coal - my woman my everything
princeboom ft. reekado bankz & tekno - give them
uhuru ft. dj tira, trademark & mashabela - saka nana
kiss daniel - good time
yvonne darcq ft. victoria kimani - ooh lala oui oui

and heavy-k "givemeluv" of course!!

enjoying everyone's lists, want to come up w/ my own

'give me luv' will prob be on mine, i heard it like january 3 or something and it stuck with me the whole year. i know there's a bigger record rn and its really good but not as good imo

also yes its impossible to find 'respect the drumboss' over here, idgi

not on your itunes?

ha this poss feeds into the EOY list discussion, as a dilettante who's never even been to the places these songs are popular i'm being fed a mix of popular hits and personal favs but not hearing them in contexts to judge anything except my personal favs

Love "Soweto Baby", so smooth.

(And exactly one year after the "Ungowami" remix too. Is this going to be a yearly Wizkid-in-SA Xmas gift kinda thing?)

ha this poss feeds into the EOY list discussion, as a dilettante who's never even been to the places these songs are popular i'm being fed a mix of popular hits and personal favs but not hearing them in contexts to judge anything except my personal favs

― cher guevara (lex pretend), Monday, December 14, 2015 1:44 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

sure but arent you intellectually curious about what songs are "actually big" vs what songs you just like instinctively, like there's no one or the other, we are all a mix of instinct & knowledge etc

I check the shazam top 100 charts a lot of the time. And the africacharts.com site. There's also this: http://www.digitalsalesdata.com/diydsd.php?Region=143472 which is mostly kinda depressing (because of low sales) but still gives you an idea about what people actually bother to pay for.

i don't think there's any substitute for actually being on the scene to know what's popular and i don't really have full trust in charts anywhere

so because unless you're there in person you won't have a perfect grasp of it, you think its ok to ignore the idea of research or information others provide altogether? ok

darcq has a new track out....

Yvonne Darcq - Fire

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2_c809qXSM

also been loving this dancehall crossover tune from Leila Kayondo of Dreams Girls fame, with Nyanda of Brick & Lace

Leila Kayondo & Nyanda - Kikute

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhqARYVq8Zw

been listening to this classic Durban tune (from '05) a lot too, its a bit of a mess but reminds me of driving from Port E to Cape Town to hike up Table Mountain, probably makes me love it more than it really deserves.

T'zozo & Professor - Woza Durban

....and here is the link...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fv_iJq7FcM

Video for "Good Time". It's not as good as the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoS9XKTqA40

Plus some refreshments from Ghana:

VVIP ft. Sena Dagadu "Skolom":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKR2N_KiqX0

Bisa Kdei "Mansa". The man is huge in Ghana right now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI_uIRU5EOc

Criss Waddle ft. Medikal "P3 Kakra":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ej_tPkb2A4

R2Bees "Connect Party":
https://soundcloud.com/r2beesmusic/r2bees-concert-party-prod-by-killbeatz-22

Ko-Jo Cue "Me Gyina Mu" (produced by E.L):
https://soundcloud.com/ko-jo/ko-jo-cue-me-gyina-mu

so because unless you're there in person you won't have a perfect grasp of it, you think its ok to ignore the idea of research or information others provide altogether? ok

no, i'll gladly read someone's analysis of it, i just don't trust charts as a straight popularity indicator, and my relationship to the songs has none of that social component

right me either but the songs are still shaped by a social component so ignoring that altogether seems as harmful as pretending a read of a chart gives you an accurate perception

i'm not ignoring it, i'll read whatever afrobeats analyses exist to get a vague handle on it, but there are so few - all i'm saying is that it's impossible to have more than a vague handle on things (though there's an afrobeats, dancehall etc night in london i might start going to next year)

anyway busiswa's "lahla" seems to be pretty definitely 2014 not 2015, hmm

"Lahla" is definitely a 2014 release (video not until November though), but I discovered and posted it late December, and nominated and voted (conservatively) for it in the 2014 EOY. But year of impact rule applies (right?), so I guess others are free to nominate it again?

(scrap the first "but" though)

More from Ghana:

This feels huge: Wisa ft. Luther "Ekiiki Mi"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc7nAimIQus

There's a remix out with Sarkodie as well:
https://soundcloud.com/user-412426446/wisa-ekiki-miremix-ft-sarkodie

Very strong new Stonebwoy, "Mightylele":
https://soundcloud.com/user-199499536/stonebwoy-mightylele-prod-by-beatzdakay-promogurugh

So it's one every month now, Mr Tekno? You're spoiling us! This is "Maria" (who I'm sure is his woman, his everything). Featuring Selebobo, who also produced it:
https://soundcloud.com/gidifeed/maria-tekno-ft-selebobo

Never posted the remix for "Duro", ft. Flavour & Phyno:
https://soundcloud.com/vanmusicpromo/tekno-duroremix-ft-flavour-x-phyno

Selebobo also did the new Yemi Alade ft. DJ Arafat "Do As I Do":
https://soundcloud.com/afrobeat360/yemi-alade-do-as-i-do-ft-dj-arafat-prod-by-selebobo

Olamide dropped a video for the obvious hit off the Eyan Mayweather album, "Don't Stop":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pkm3UUFz_I4

Rocking Character's 2013 album Self-Control on Kalawa Jazmee Records today. I'm all about "Murder Paka" ft. Professor & Maftown Boyz, but can't seem to find a link to it for the life of me. It might be up on some Spotifys (not the Dutch one though).

Here's a TV performance for "Nangu" ft. Busiswa, another highlight:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IHtaLV0Nw0

Some good Angolan (and Mozambiquan in one case) stuff from the "Afro-Luso reports" on Jonathan Bogart's tumblr (that I just found out about). Here's the link.

Titica "Você Manda Foge" (Angola)

Lizha James ft. Afro Madjaha & W Tofo "Xingomana (Remix)" (Mozambique)

Maya Zuda ft. Bebucho Q Kuia "Dois a Dois" (Angola)

Landrick "Fila Da Goda" (Angola)

Vlado Coast "Tambula" (Angola)

Also, Davido just today dropped the video for "Izzue", his hot collab with Dammy Krane:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNsIG_J6q0Q

(or has it become a Dammy Krane track with Davido feature now?)

Well, this is very interesting. It's The Triumphant Return of Tiwa, and then Don Jazzy sort of takes over? "Ambitious" is an understatement. A lot of its parts are fantastic, some are… perhaps less so?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLT2JIPBuRI

Tiwa Savage ft. Don Jazzy "African Waist"

It's part of the R.E.D album ("Romance Expression Dance") that's been released simultaneously, equally more or less out of the blue.

It's like Don Jazzy has set out to conquer the world, but is not quite sure about the strategy. Will he use his production prowess on his biggest asset Tiwa Savage, or do it Gangnam Style and become a kind of African Psy? Why not try both at the same time?!

The jazzy coda >>>>>

(By the way, the album is streaming on the MavinRecords account on YouTube. The official link for free download has been (temporarily?) disabled.)

Why isn't this Tiwa album up anywhere else yet though? Weird that they would med up such an important release unless it's more of a mixtape?

R.E.D is definitely not a mixtape. I will hazard a guess and say that Don Jazzy (as head of Mavin Records) has given up on trying to make any money on record/download sales, since everything is freely downloadable within hours anyway, and is going for maximum exposure and hype. He's been pioneering new marketing methods in Nigeria for the longest time, most recently by roping in endorsement deals for the much anticipated Godwin video.

So how do you like "African Waist"? Or the album, if you've heard it? (I haven't yet)

Really loving this pretty Nigerian song, Estar "Selense":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9xgdTqf0FE

Tiwa Savage is downloadable/streamable/etc from http://comeseesumting.com/redalbum/ , but every option is using domains blocked in China, boo.

Bloody hell, they've linked it to a dropbox account that has been shut down because it generated too much traffic. These guys are amateurs, right?

This site has a link that works. The .zip looks kinda small though. sigh.

http://www.currentnaija.com/2015/12/album-download-tiwa-savage-r-e-d-red-romance-expression-dance-zip/#sthash.rqasugoH.dpbs

cheers, longneck - just grabbed it from there. but yeah, everything's sub-160kbps ...

"Kolobi" & "Birthday"" are awes, and great to be reminded of "My Darlin" which has been floating around since ... Feb?

Nice on, longneck. A few tracks in, and this sounds great.

*one

Love the Tiwa Savage album, it's more focused than her debut. The search is still on for that bonus track with Wizkid though, can't find it anywhere.

I've fallen for this one too, Korede Bello ft. Tiwa Savage "Romantic":

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

This is a good list of Naija tracks that were big this year:
http://jaguda.com/2015/12/16/the-50-best-nigerian-songs-of-2015/

It includes this one from Phyno ft. Stormrex "Nnunu":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYzmdJ58uQM

And because it's still Xmas, this SA beauty from 2014: Afrikan Roots ft. Xoli M "Angel":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51Z3EBmJLDo

I'm wrapping this playlist for the year. It has been updated with quite a few new adds (Bebi Phillip, Burna Boy, Nasty C, R2Bees, Tiwa Savage) and includes every track mentioned on thread that is available via Spotify's US catalogue as of EOY 2015. If I missed something or if a track comes available sometime in the future, bump here to let me know and I'll add.

Rolling Afrobeat and Afropop 2015 Thread Spotify Playlist

This was a good thread to follow and paging through it just now I unearthed two killer non-spotify tracks in Bra Qwequ's "Fraud Money" and A'won Boyz's "Commas" remix. I regret I can't add in DBN NYTS or Heavy K or Busiswa, all not US available.

Does anyone have an update on that obscenity case against Jemimah Kansiime? A quick look around suggests lots of talk at the time of charges around May but no conversation since then.

…oh, and of course there's a new thread…

Rolling Afrobeats / Afropop 2016 thread

I made a list of all the African stuff that people voted for in the 2015 EOY Tracks poll.

ALL AFRO EVERYTHING 2015:

(ranking : artist : title : country : points : voters)

69 Heavy-K ft. Nokwazi - Sweetie RSA 194 (5)
83 Heavy-K - #GiveMeLuv RSA 179 (7)
113 Mbongwana Star ft. Konono N°1 - Malukayi DRC 155 (5)
134 Kiss Daniel - Good Time NIG 140 (4)
176 Dbn Nyts ft. Zinhle Ngidi & Trademark - Shumaya RSA 112 (4)
191 Burna Boy - Soke NIG 106 (3)
194 DJ Kent - Don't Let Go RSA 104 (4)
216 Tekno - Duro NIG 97 (3)
220 Ycee ft. Olamide - Jagaban Remix NIG 96 (3)
235 AKA ft. Burna Boy, Da Les & Jr. - All Eyes On Me RSA/NIG 92 (3)
262 Korede Bello - Godwin NIG 84 (3)
280 Saad Lamjarred - LM3ALLEM *MAR 80 (3)
330 Olamide - Bobo NIG 70 (3)
340 Bra Qwequ - Fraud Money GHA 69 (2)
345 Kiss Daniel - Woju NIG 68 (2)
362 Rush - Attention NIG 65 (3)
365 Nozinja - Baby can you feel me? RSA 65 (2)
432 Dotorado Pro - African Scream **POR 52 (3)
445 Patoranking ft. W. Coal - My Woman, My Everything NIG/GHA 50 (2)
476 Nozinja - Wa Chacha RSA 49 (2)
483 Tekno - Anything NIG 48 (2)
492 Olamide - Melo Melo NIG 48 (1)
507 AKA ft. F.Cooper, Rouge, Moozlie… - Baddest (Remix) RSA 47 (2)
519 Lil Kesh - Gbese NIG 46 (1)
625 Busiswa ft. DJ Buckz & Uhuru - Lahla RSA 38 (1)***
625 Skuki ft. Olamide - Over The Mountain NIG 38 (1)
661 Sunkanmi - Singale NIG 34 (2)
690 Amani - Heartbreaker KEN 32 (1)
762 DJ Nigga Fox - Apocalipsiii **POR/ANG 26 (1)
876 Heavy-K ft. Professor & Mpumi - Umoya RSA 25 (1)
882 Patoranking - Make Am NIG 24 (1)
904 Nidia Minaj - Puto Luri **POR 22 (1)
939 Timaya ft. Destra - Sanko (Remix) NIG/T&T 20 (1)
939 Victoria Kimani - Show KEN/NIG 20 (1)
939 Yemi Alade ft. Mugeez - Pose NIG/GHA 20 (1)
962 Masterkraft ft. CDQ & Olamide - Indomie NIG 18 (1)
962 Olamide ft. Wizkid - Confam Ni NIG 18 (1)
962 Presh ft. Davido - Say Dem Say NIG 18 (1)
989 Seyi Shay - Right Now NIG 16 (1)
989 Sir Bubzin - Desha RSA 16 (1)
1022 Sexy Steel - Sisi NIG 12 (1)
1046 Skales - Je Kan Mo NIG 10 (1)
1086 Burna Boy & Wizkid - Single NIG 4 (1)
1086 Davido ft. Uhuru & DJ Buckz - The Sound NIG/RSA 4 (1)

Everything can be found on Spotify and/or YouTube, except for "Attention" by Rush, that's why I linked it. Linked to the full-length version of Busiswa's "Lahla" as well, because it's essential. And linked to Bra Qwequ's "Fraud Money" too, just because I wanted to.

*The only North African/Maghrebi track (unless I've overlooked something).
**I included the Portuguese batida stuff, cause it's so strongly connected to (especially) Angola.
***I feel "Lahla" should have/could have/would have placed big if the timing had been right, but it fell between the cracks. Picked up too late for 2014 (#937), too 2014 to get the full 2015 vote (#625). No biggie, people are having fun to it just the same:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP-afV73uI8

I like your style

thanks, forks. is it the list thing?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO1oUY6HS90

Quite the cliffhanger, but it was worth the wait. Total clarification!

that swimming pool video is so joyous