rolling afro 2020

Happy new year, y'all! I simplified the thread title a bit this year - hope that's okay with you guys. If not, call the mods!

Let's start 2020 off right with this banger from late November:

Sarkodie - Oofeetsɔ ft. Prince Bright [Buk Bak]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbC-gCHMIdY

rolling Afropop / Afrobeats / Afrodance 2019

2019 thread for reference

bookmarking

That’s what you get for dragging your feet! Glad there’s a new thread tho.

If I can make one general request to everyone posting here: please add song info when you’re posting a YouTube or any other link. This not only makes it easier to search the thread, but also so many of these links go dead, often sooner than later, especially when they’re not the “official” ones (I mean, just have a look at last year’s thread).

Hope to be posting some stuff soon (there’s plenty!), if I can get myself in the right mindset.

Okay, here goes:

longneck, that Sarkodie x Prince Bright track is a banger indeed. Talk about a pair of old hands... Buk Bak, the group Prince Bright started out in, made an azonto classic in 2012 with “Kolom”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPyqZ5Dub-Q
(and I only just now found out
that they were veterans even then.

But back to the here and now: Give me a single reason why there wouldn’t be a new Nini album in 2020:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl36uos9Wrc
Niniola • Omo Rapala

Reminder: This song wasn’t nominated for the EOY, but “Boda Sodiq” was, so you can vote🔶 for that one!

Califor...naija Love:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVte8a_2q80
Davido ft. WurlD, Naira Marley & Zlatan • Sweet in the Middle

Reminder: You can vote🔶 for the album it’s from in the EOY (as well as for the track “Disturbance” - too bad “Risky” wasn’t nominated).
Love how big African artists can now make albums that appeal both to their home market and the world at large, mainly because, unlike before, r&b/rap/urban(o) is more than ready to meet Afropop halfway.
I’m linking the Pitchfork review ufo mentioned in the 2019 thread because it’s a very good piece. Wish there was more writing on Afropop like this.

More Naija: Fireboy DML is making good on the promise of “Jealous” (a song you should definitely vote🔶 for in the EOY). Kinda crazy, but his album Laughter, Tears & Goosebumps is handsomely outstreaming both the Davido and the Starboy EP. And it’s only right, this is perfect Naija pop. The new video is for “Scatter”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtbwTgY3AIk

“Vibration” is the other big track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEV1awtNdOs

...but you should also definitely listen to “Gbas Gbos” (and by then you might want to vote🔶 for the album in the EOY - it’s been nominated, so go right ahead!)

Will vote

👍 winning over the ILM electorate one voter at a time

"Jealous" is a strong contender for my #1 slot and I've never heard the album! Will have to rectify asap

It’s only been out for six weeks or so. I wasn’t too crazy about the follow-up singles to “Jealous”, so my expectations weren’t particularly high, but the album blew me away - and like I said, it’s not just me: besides being the #1 album in Nigeria, it’s also #1 in Ghana and Uganda, which is quite extraordinary for a rookie like him.

Breastcrawl,do you (or someone else) think you could make a playlist of all the nom'd thread related tracks? As I think I mentioned I didn't have the time to nom anything this year and need to catch up on all of your faves.

I have an overall South African playlist in the works, and I can make a rest-of-Africa tracks one too. Watch this space. Later today okay?

yay! (okay!)

So, I made a playlist with all the nominated SOUTH AFRICAN tracks and albums (including two tracks by non-SA artists with significant input by SA artists/producers: “That’s For Me” and “My Power”).

First the 36** nominated tracks, from “Sondela” to “John Cena”, and after that the 9 nominated albums, from Sho Madjozi down to Tresor, where we come full circle. I arranged both tracks and albums in an approximation of stylistic order.

Here’s the playlist:
ILM 2019 EOY🇿🇦SOUTH AFRICA

**Missing is Heavy K ft. Moonchild Sanelly’s “Yebo Mama”, which is not on Spotify. This is the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lmdn52afm2U

(...and a note regarding Kwiish SA’s “Iskhathi”: The original vocal version that I love so much seems to have disappeared completely (I think there was a rights issue). The “Vocal Version” that is on Spotify (and this playlist) is no longer the original vocal version with, you know, actual vocals. There is a video version with re-recorded vocals by Vukani, but it’s not nearly as good.)

And as promised, I also made a playlist with the nominated [non-South African] AFROPOP tracks, and I threw in the albums as well. Again, it’s tracks first, albums second, 51 tracks and 19 albums to be precise.

It’s “pop” in the broadest sense: My focus was on the stuff that’s featured on this thread but I also included more leftfield stuff: DJ Nigga Fix, Hama and the four (!) Nyege Nyege Tapes albums that were nominated, and music that’s more within the remit of the Global Outernational thread, by KOKOKO!, Blick Bassy, Salif Keita, and Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba. Plus I included an exclusive Afropop cut of The Lion King: The Gift. And yeah, I basically excluded Afrodiasporic stuff.

Ultimately, it’s all a bit arbitrary obviously, and I might have missed some things, but whatever. So skip away and enjoy!

That playlist in full:
ILM 2019 EOY🔶AFROPOP NOMS

Apologies to DJ Nigga Fox for the typo. Here’s his nominated track “Vício” to make up for it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dM3tfr4aMY

Breastcrawl is the main reason I'd like a 'like post' feature :) Thanks! For these playlists, and for posting so much good music throughout the year.

brilliant. thanks!

You’re welcome, guys. Glad you appreciate it!

listening to the Fireboy album now and would recommend anyone doing likewise to skip the opening track which is, IMO, just on the wrong side of corny. Also this way you start with Vibration

Good tip, but... (how) did you like the album?

I didn't get all the way to the end but I liked what I heard. It's very mellow; no surprise there, but it kind of washed over me. I will probably give it another chance soon I think

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebZ7Ng1okCg

Yo Pe (Remix), the hit from Innoss'B and Diamond Platnumz wasn't posted in the 2019 thread, so I'm throwing some East-Eastern vibes to start off the thread.

I've been sleeping on Skales for a while but these two Oliver Twists are pretty good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc1Qy85kRc4

Remix:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcLKy9sBXgM

Official video for the remix will be out in a couple of hours:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uszx3CwUASQ

This is exactly what I want to hear right now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asuw9E1CY3U

Diamond Platnumz ft. Teni • Sound

longneck, are you familiar with this track (and the EP its from)?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5ShVeGKOLY
Alpha P • Paloma

He’s not just any old Rema copycat, these two go way back (and he was the singer, Rema the rapper!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KewSzDxZzdo

So... this is certainly interesting. Never heard of him before but the similarities are striking, yes,

So basically Rema jacked his partner's style, huh? lol. I really like Paloma though. Thanks, breastcrawl!

maybe he’s jacking Rema back for jacking him first? I’m not sure, in that 2015 clip Alpha sounds more like early Wizkid.

But anyway, there it is: the first attempt known to man at NaijaPiano:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT9GvDEnprI
Adekunle Gold x DJ Tunez • Kelegbe Megbe (Remix)

(you may know the original from last year’s thread - or from the EOY noms playlist)

We’re not exactly at Kabza level here yet, the vocal is buried too much in the mix for starters, but I’ve been waiting for this to happen and God knows how Naija pop might be sounding in a year’s time. Remember what Uhuru-wave and gqom>shagqom shaku did for Naija pop?

Yeah I heard and dismissed it, lol. The original version is awesome though.

I appreciate the effort much more than the outcome. Blissed out is not an easy sound to achieve.

can't listen to that right now but gonna take it as retroactive vindication of my saying "Kelegbe Megbe" sounded like the Nigerian wing of the House of Sun El

dubious self-otms aside: yesss, I am ready for blissed out naija!

It’s not that it’s bad - I just prefer remixes that improve on the original tune. And this particular one was already perfect.

xp

fucking hell, you’re right, I remember! I guess it was destined to have this role in NaijaPiano history. Check out this (condensed) sequence from last year’s thread:

Can’t wait to hear what NaijaPiano is going to sound like.
― breastcrawl, zondag 30 juni 2019 1:27

Digging the new Adekunle Gold, “Kelegbe Megbe (Know Your Level)”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MucSft25l6I
― breastcrawl, maandag 1 juli 2019 23:32

Playing catch-up this morning. That Adekunle Gold track "Know Your Level" is really good--great to see it as I haven't enjoyed much he's done in a long time. It would fit nicely in the Nigerian wing of the House of Sun-El
― rob, donderdag 11 juli 2019 15:39

That’s a connection I would never have made! Not sure I can hear it like that though, it feels more of a piece with the Burna stuff to me.
― breastcrawl, donderdag 11 juli 2019 18:20

Yeah it's not like a huge break from other naija stuff or anything, but Gold is such a gentle presence (compared to someone like Burna) and, especially, the little break at 2:00 gives me some of the same feeling as...whatever we'd call that Sun-El microgenre. If that moment was stretched out I think it would connect even more strongly.
― rob, donderdag 11 juli 2019 18:30

good call, rob!

Is it just me or could this Mr Eazi "Kpalanga" go on for another few minutes?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHHCX_Y1blM

Oh wow, damn that’s good! Killertunes continuing down the “Doyin” trail (another song that was way too short btw). Probably my favourite Naija single of the year so far.
Tekno must be jealous - and I’m not just saying that because of the “kpalanga” connection.

"Kpalanga" was the first song on the apple music Africa Now playlist I listened to today, and it is great!

The new Runtown is viiiibes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvGoaq3t_xs

Runtown ft. Darkovibes & Bella Shmurda • Body Riddim (produced by Del B)

This guy is due for a real comeback - I was lukewarm on last year's EP.

Both of those are very nice. I posted this Burna banga over in the other thread but it deserves its place in here as well.

Nappy & Burna Boy - Aye
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCXjRUasA48

Speaking of gorgeous Killertunes productions, I never posted “My Lady” by Ghanaian singer King Promise last year, but I did nominate it and me and two others voted for it. Beautiful song, he’s such a strong melocidist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ76p4_RrOw

I definitely voted for it. One of my favourite tunes from last year. It’s the 2019 Mad Over You in my book.

I definitely voted for it. One of my favourite tunes from last year. It’s the 2019 Mad Over You in my book.

(Sorry for the dp - network issues)

Rundown track is excellent, love the glistening slide guitar plus those wah-wah squelches

Anyone else catch the soukous beat during Super Bowl halftime? That has to be a first (@ 0:34)

That was incredible, @jlo + @shakira! 👏 #PepsiHalftime #SBLIV

SOON: Fans can relive their favorite moments from the #PepsiHalftime show HERE https://t.co/TegS1TZFKy pic.twitter.com/1HkRu99cRR

— NFL (@NFL) February 3, 2020

Wrote on the Rolling Global thread:

Shakira At Super Bowl halftime used the Congo instrumental song Icha by Syran Mbenza. The guitar solo is by Lokassa Ya Mbongo I am reading on twitter. Colombian champeta is drawn from Congolese rumba in part.

those king promise & nappy tracks.... 👌🏼

curmudgeon -- thanks! Is that song sampled somewhere in a Shakira song or was it just a one-off? Great track!

Not sure

Yes, it’s wonderful and I’m happy Shakira pointed me and (I’m sure) countless others toward it.

"Put In Pressure" is another good one from Reekado Banks, it's produced by Kel-P:

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

Burna Boy made ILM top 77 albums list. Not too much else. I wonder how many votes Lady Donli got?

She came in at #276, with just two people voting for her. Were you the other one beside me? (She was my #10)

(You do know you can all the stats and ballots here, right?: ILM Albums Poll 2019: Thread of Stats and Ballots.

Yes I voted for her album. Will look at stats later thanks.

loving the new obongjayar ep--not sure if he totally fits in this thread so i created one for him

up like sun, down like sun - a thread for obongjayar

we lost in the senate

Yes!

a sad day for afrocracy

Rooting for this guy to blow up this year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YklxpCux98
Efoya ft. Buju • Mind Games

Ejoya is apparently a (Nigerian) label? talent platform? - the song and the voice are all Buju’s.

(his “Spiritual” was ILM’s #593 -too low!- track of 2019)

And for contrast, this sort of post-gqom’my hyperbanger:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh0orm91hNM
KamaCzza ft. Professor, Character & DJ Oros • Bayekeni

(yeah, 15 views, whatever - it’s the shit)

(South African obviously)

Bonus SA stuff, from Matorokisi, one of my favourite albums of last year - the best sound you’ll ever hear:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMCG0CrTxzg
Makhadzi ft. DJ Tira • Riya Venda

Never write off Kwamz & Flava - Ghana, London... and now New York? Whenever, wherever, it’s “Gafro”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-VeO64U8xI

So the Amapiano Grooves playlist on Spotify is very good, and I just discovered that it is even better if you let it play in automix mode (crossfader set to 0s). I've never noticed any similar effect in other playlists but this one actually mixes the tracks in a satisfying way, cutting away all the three minute long shaker intros and two minute outros, heading straight for the meat of the song. Try it out!

b-b-but the three minute long shaker intros and two minute outros are essential! Meat is overrated anyway.

lol, i do see your point. However... the mixed versions bring out the pop potential in these tunes.

Here's something a bit different. Not sure if it quite belongs ITT but I'm really feeling Quem Manda No Mic by Angolan-Portuguese artist Pongo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aTpjiBT3p8

xps I can't see a crossfader with the automix feature?

It’s right above the gapless playback toggle on my iPhone?

no worries, i found it on settings on my computer. anyway, off to sell my CDJs....

shame (not a shame) it only works on some playlists

There's a newish Tekno tune that I really like....

Tekno - Suru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znrrQjb6WUY

Also nice, on the uk tip:

Kida Kudz feat. Jaykae - 1AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tydTT9dWDM

I like that Pongo track dog latin posted. Here’s some more Angolan stuff:

Finally a video for Nerú & Scro’s “Tic Táa”. DJ Vado Poster in the house - no doubt he does it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYcj0gACjnM
Nerú Americano & Scró Q Cuia • Tic Táa

(too bad these two buddies don’t get as intimate here as in their live performancesof this banger)

Slightly less frantic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNScT5s9xkc
Gilson Gera ft. Cleusio Gil & Emma Strawb3 • Mormão Mormão Mormão

Change le beat: This one’s firmly from last year, but I wasn’t paying attention:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l_gGj_qpL8
Preto Show ft. Filho de Zua, Teo no Beat & Uami Ndongadas • Pedra

late 2019 but anyone been listening to the joeboy EP? it's very boyish and sweet and on the R&B side of things, almost reminds me of like early chris brown but afropop

"all for you" is great

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW6aSd0WPzk

as is "beginning"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUnx13A4XDs

Joeboy is great - I particularly like Beginning. I also somehow got the impression that Mr Eazi was moving in a joeboy-ey direction with the sweet and romantic kpalanga (posted above).

Joeboy started out as a Mr Eazi protégé. Some of that backstory here: https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8541512/joeboy-mr-eazi-nigeria-new-ep-interview

As for their sound, both “Beginning” and “Kpalanga”, as well as Eazi’s earlier “Doyin”, were produced by Killertunes.

Joeboy is sort of a non-identical musical twin of Fireboy DML, similar timeline, similar style, similar appeal.

Speaking of which, there’s finally a video for “Vibration”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRhBfL3GEjQ

(Fireboy had been indulging his sappy side a bit too much for my liking with his previous video for the rob-vetoed “Need You”)

Big song in Nigeria right now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGpwNm0A6gI
Sarz x WurlD • Mad

(Sarz and WurlD did a whole EP together, I Love Girls With Trobul.

I know this song is from last year (Brad championed it during the EOY) but it was never posted here, plus I had somehow never seen the video. Ooh child... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVEp-P2-rqY
Tems • Try Me

Both “Mad” and “Try Me” seem to me examples of Nigerian pop aligning (itself) more with the international global mainstream, if that makes sense.

They do it both in different ways, “Try Me” through r&b, and “Mad”, I don’t know, something about the melody - or is it just that WurlD’s voice seems tailor-made to be featured on a generic Armin van Buuren EDM-pop confection?

Super thread. I don't really follow this scene but some of my favourite tracks from last year's top 77 were from here so I should probably pay more attention.

Can I post UK afro tracks in here?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8fuOmRHnv8

NSG - Ourself

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDd6ja7vLrc

Mostack - Staqdo

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

Snap Capone x Stardom x OMO Frenchie - Style & Pattern

hi paolo! welcome to the thread

Welcome, paolo! I’ve always found it somewhat surprising you never seemed to venture into Afropop territory (going by your EOY lists and such) when there is so much overlap with the UK scene.

I'm thinking of starting a night that covers this kind of thing locally but a lot of venues I'm approaching insist I bring in some sort of live or guest dj act. I'm trying to get more familiar with the UK and Europe scenes therefore

Hi folks! I just never got round to it I guess

hello, paolo -- glad to have you among us. Yes, we've been needing someone to post these and this is as good a place as any, I guess.

also... nice breakdown of the joeboy musical family tree, breastcrawl. Thanks!

This is from last year but it was only mentioned on the EOY Tracks thread. It's gobsmackingly good and I think with a bit more exposure it could have broken the 77

Skiibii, Falz, Teni, DJ Neptune - Daz How Star Do

https://youtu.be/ASM6AfzXMvc

I can confirm that the whole Pongo 'UWA' EP is bloody excellent

I love the new Kizz Daniel, back with DJ Coublon:

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

Kizz Daniel • Jaho

He's also good on Adekunle Gold's lovely "Jore":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU3d-LjKAE4

(produced by Major Bangz & Pheelz)

Here's something a bit different. Not sure if it quite belongs ITT but I'm really feeling Quem Manda No Mic by Angolan-Portuguese artist Pongo

― doorstep jetski (dog latin), maandag 10 februari 2020 12:57 bookmarkflaglink

dog latin is feeling Pongo so much that he started a thread about her, linking it here:

Who rules the mic? È A PONGO!

Posting this dancehall/alkaida/highlife hybrid from (where else?) Ghana especially for rob:

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

Kelvyn Boy ft. M.anifest • Yawa No Dey

It's floaty

Sarkodie's "Oofeetsɔ", posted on top of this thread, is such a banger.

Yes it is. I usually play it with Saara, which isn't quite as banging but still pretty good:

Sarkodie& Efya - Saara
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCw5Tbdrahs

My favourite track on his Black Love album!

The guitar on that is so great. And so is Efya.

that Kelvyn Boy track is nice, thanks breastcrawl!
catching up on the past week or so and also really like the Buju, Adekunle Gold & Kizz, and uuuh a bunch of others I haven't sorted out the names of yet

Feeling this one as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIZ36dnW5xw

Ko-Jo Cue ft. Worlasi • Dzo

#theyearofghana #letsmakeithappen

my pleasure, rob!

been catching up with all the tunes in this thread. so much great stuff

Worlasi, who's all over "Dzo", is great by the way. His "Pawa" was one of my EOY tracks and he also dropped a very good album last year, Worla (The Man and the God), that maybe I should have nominated also.

too, also

Another one with a fantastic(ally) Ghanaian twist on dancehall for rob, and everyone else: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtHjltPs0fU
Larruso ft. Stonebwoy & Kwesi Arthur • Killy Killy (Remix)

And this one - I can’t even tell anymore if there’s any Caribbean in this. What a joyful sound. It’s brilliant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXjitxBJ_KE
Tulenkey ft. Taitan • Your Girlfriend

#ghanasghotitghoinghon

tons of great stuff here, thanks

tulenkey's "proud fuck boys" is crackin' me up, it's a good time! if a questionable reclaiming of the term!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haxVglf7yRs

unless it's a dis track to fuck boys and i'm not following the patois?

Yeah, “Proud Fvck Boys” is fun.

okay, 🇬🇭GHANA SPECIAL🇬🇭 it is:

Let’s start with a fun bit of attitude:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3GJxkj9z3s
MzVee • Who Are You

And some old school freshened up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8pJ9CLWl80
Mr. Drew x Krymi ft. Sarkodie • Dw3

Spoiler: More throwbacks coming up in a bit!

(Side note: does MOG (Beatz) produce like half of all Ghanaian hit tracks right now or what? The two Sarkodies upthread are his, and so are “Who Are You” and the one coming up next)

So Naija had three kiddos (Fboy, Jboy, and yes, Rema) blowing up last year, but remember the 3 Ghanaian Ks that came up in 2017?

Kidi’s after-the-fact debut album last year was a big disappointment, a literal overdose of Sugar, but this might be the first one of his I’ve liked since “Adiepena”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK7k8vKLGi4
Kidi • Enjoyment

Kuami Eugene keeps low-key coming up with nice stuff, like this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK_Pa1ekb6Y
Kuami Eugene • Turn Up

Out of the three, only King Promise has firmly established himself as a major star. Here he employs Dutch rapper Chivv on the remix for last year’s “Commando”:

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

(too bad Chivv doesn’t rap in Dutch here like he normally does)

[insert glitter ball emojis] big wow at this hommage to 80s (Afro) cowbell disco (and Daddy Lumba) featuring man of the moment Bosom P-Yung:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMwWNHu86mY
Lord Paper ft. Bosom P-Yung • Asabone

(and party people, this video features actual 🎈🎈🎈!!!)

As posted on the Rolling non-US rap thread earlier - this /gh/emo/gh/rap track is what made BPY Ghana’s breakout star of the year so far:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DB3oND8hVA
Bosom P-Yung • Attaa Adwoa

South African epilogue:

Desire Marea (half of queer duo FAKA) dropped an album last month with experimental art pop. There’s a video for “You Think I’m Horny”, but check out highlights like “Zibuyile Izimakade” and “Tavern Kween” as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZUefUADOXM
Desire Marea • You Think I’m Horny

Pitchfork reviewed it, favourably. There must be other suitable threads for this - not sure which ones though. It’s probably not clubby enough for Jordan’s (post-)Reconstructed Club Music thread. Anyone have any ideas?

Ending on a light note, Moonlight Sanelly also has an EP out, but I’m digging this recent stand-alone track - penis, penis, penis!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKRHW7xSN4A
Moonchild Sanelly • Where De Dee Kat?

asabone is great; you think i'm horny is nuts!

breastcrawl i dunno if you already answered this but where do you live and what do you do that you're so plugged into this scene?

^ I'm getting 95% of my afrobeats knowledge from this thread

Pi-ano! It’s a celebration:

🎹🎹PİANO! PİANO!🎹🎹 - a song appreciation thread for “eMcimbini” by Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa ft. Aymos, Samthing Soweto, Mas Musiq & Myztro

New album on Nyege Nyege Tapes: DJ Diaki - Balani Fou

Ah cool – will listen to it when its on Spotify.

So he’s from Mali, lots of footage from his sets on his YouTube account. He was in Europe very recently (Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, Katowice…), but this was filmed in Mali itself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8bQu0drI-8

Great that this is happening, and I like Becky G a lot, but how do you improve on close-to-perfection?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYKWJ8gzZRU
Rema ft. Becky G • Dumebi (Remix)

Compare and contrast: this lovely Spanish cover version I posted six months ago is now on Spotify too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuQiQFHgzDM
Jthyago x Oscar el Ruso x Samueliyo Baby x Irrita el Indio • Dumebi (Spanish Version)

And this, just out, is another one for the non-existing Rolling EUfrican jams thread: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsrW9pUa9FI
Jthyago x Oscar el Ruso x Irrita el Indio x Samueliyo Baby • Vete De Mi Vera

becky G remix is a total BOP

The real new Rema is here too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLha1-NuPzA
Rema ft. Rvssian • Beamer (Bad Boys)

Reminds me of Wizzy's first crossover attempt "Daddy Yo", also made with a dancehall producer, with that female chorus.

Pitchfork wrote about it - includes a link to an interview Zane Lowe did with him.

Oh, so he dropped TWO new tracks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k18yHoEdY7E
Rema • Rainbow

So... latin Rema and rap Rema, huh? Beamer makes the most sense after the Becky G remix, but it’s a bit... busy. Rainbow sound like the one they had to let him do to get him to sign off on the full latino onslaught. I suspect he still sees himself as a rapper first.

like beamer but not clicking with rainbow

as behind as usual, but wanted to note that Tulenkey ft. Taitan • Your Girlfriend is GREBT

speaking of remixes, here's a nice afro-soca crossover with Machel Montano doing his thing over a hit from last year

https://youtu.be/8XR-N4dccbU

From Angola, a spanking banger that slaps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE45E4wRp8Q
Zoca Zoca ft. Uami Ndongadas, Johnny Bravo & DJ Pzee Boy • O Pam

From South Africa, two companion pieces to some stuff I wrote on the “Emcimbini” thread:

Love how TNS keeps honing his sound, so many lovely touches in this production:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKvHPX4AQow
Dr Thulz ft. TNS • Believe In Love

mesmerising Limpopo Wave (think Master KG, Makhadzi, King Monada) from producer Airic, best known for his work with Manqonqo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYTOAINoOhQ
Airic ft. N.K.A • Ama 2000

Gorgeous new single by Dice Ailes. The trippy production is courtesy of Cracker Mallo, who did Fireboy DML's "Jealous":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiOnMB0JR44
Dice Ailes ft. Olamide • Pim Pim

Ma Chérie, Je m'appelle Beynaud, Je viens de la Côte d'Ivoire, Ce soir je m'installe au Congo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpXsd01idUs

Serge Beynaud - Lifuende

Soyez le bienvenu à notre thread, monsieur Beynaud !

Yeah, that's the stuff! Beynaud could deliver a killer album someday, I think. His style is intense, but he could make it work.

Accelerate, his most recent album, was all killer, no filler!

It was on my ballot for that year, and it is very good! But he has an even better one in him, I think.

I wanted to start a Facebook group to discuss afro-pop, amapiano etc, but also the dancehall, soca and other stuff I'm into, among other things.
I've created this, which has the rather catch-all strapline 'New Sounds From the International Underground'. Feel free to join and follow if interested https://www.facebook.com/groups/terrainsound/

We got another live one, folx, and this time it's Ghanapiano - it's Juls with the subtly titled "Mandela Riddim":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M62aTi25c8c

high time for a new playlist I think:

ILM rolling ✳️all-inclusive✳️ afro 2020

I’m including all the tracks posted on this thread as well as adjacent threads (generously defined), and even relevant stuff posted on other threads (non-US rap, for instance). Thought of separating the SA stuff, like I did for the EOY noms, but I like the idea of people getting into contact with other genres/flavours than their original entry point through a pseudo-pan-African-pop/not-pop playlist.

Thanks to this open-door policy, we’re already 105 tracks in, so enjoy!

Relevant thread links:

THE HOUSE OF SUN-EL: Sun-El Musician, Simmy, Mlindo The Vocalist, and other related artists

Thread for the AmaPiano awesomeness that is “Baby Are You Coming?” by Zero12finest feat. ThaMagnificent2

🎹🎹PİANO! PİANO!🎹🎹 - a song appreciation thread for
“eMcimbini” by Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa ft. Aymos, Samthing Soweto, Mas Musiq & Myztro

Gqompetition time: two songs, two videos - QDOT vs SHADO M

Wizkid (Starboy)

here comes the AFRICAN GIANT / Burna Boy (2019)

Rolling non-US rap thread 2020

up like sun, down like sun - a thread for obongjayar

Who rules the mic? È A PONGO!

[rl=the LiON KiNG: the GiFT <<>> where Beyoncé meets with Afropop]the LiON KiNG: the GiFT <<>> where Beyoncé meets with Afropop[/url]

UK afro - thread for discussing MoStack, J-Hus, Kojo Funds, Abra Cadabra, Belly Squad, Yxng Bane etc

j hus - dem boy paigon

Aya Nakamura, Naza and the new french urban scene

icymi: ILM rolling ✳️all-inclusive✳️ afro 2020

Nice work! Thanks breastcrawl

Both were produced by Kel-P, but in marked contrast to the new Burna track, the new Niniola is horn-y as hell:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW3hLhyWDLg
Niniola ft. Femi Kuti • Fantasy

And guess what, Mr Early Adopter of Naija Trends for the East African Market is back with... a Kel-P joint:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5rFro4XdZ0
Diamond Platnumz • Jeje

another late vote for Beynaud; his stuff is consistently great.

anyone else on sauti sol "suzanna"? it edges right up to corny in like a cee-lo "fuck you" kinda way but imo they really pull it off

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFBJtuQ1Llc

I love Sauti Sol and they get way too few mentions in this thread imo. The corniness is good not bad :)

not sure if this was already posted as it's from late 2019 but Iyabo by GuiltyBeatz is a certi banger

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

ja that's good. pim pim is my favourite 2020 track so far I think. so louche

pim pim, dumebi (remix) and eMcimbini three-way tie

thanks for iyabo, that's dope

Iyabo: great track, but another one that ends too soon imo

Blame all those afropop party dj’s, always playing 1 minute of every track, max.

lol really? madness

Didn’t hear it at first, but 2Baba and Wizkid’s “Opo” is straight addictive fire:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_PSK0Bop2k

(see the Burna thread for 2Baba’s other big collabo on his latest album)

really, it's taking the whole hyping up the crowd with hit after hit after hit thing a bit too literally for my liking. it does get to have its charms after a while, but that might be stockholm syndrome.

xp

Do hip-hop DJs not do this? I heard DJ Mustard doing his imperial period, he seriously got through his entire catalogue in 50 minutes. Great experience

yeah, it’s probably similar. I prefer to get the full song experience, but I was raised on disco and house.

(when it comes to dancing out, that is)

This is super fun:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5wvrTAbzTU

Sister Deborah ft. Y'akoto • Somebody (produced by Kuvie)

(It's from her (mini)album The African Mermaid. Y'akoto, who's Ghanaian-German, has an album called Mermaid Blues. What's going on here?)

Latest-latest Sauti Sol is from Queen Sono, the first African Netflix series, with strong South African input from Black Motion and Sho Madjozi:

Click here for the studio version, but here is a live performance on SA TV:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rajJo6jKUqY
Sauti Sol ft. Sho Madjozi & Black Motion • Disco Matanga (Yambakhana)

A propos the convo last month: Serge Beynaud has a 5-track EP out, which for some reason is called Trilogie (well, the reason seems to be there are *three* new tracks on it, beside two of his most recent singles). Best track for me is “Bandeco” with its light-for-Serge touch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOlAnN0BgL0
Serge Beynaud ft. Molière • Bandeco

This ama song is pretty dope 2 me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJTeCJTGLr0

Mr JazziQ - Askies

ep launch party looked fun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sexb2jH_I8

Yes, that whole album is very good!

I posted about it (and lots of related goodies) on the AmaPiano awesomeness thread.

ep launch party looked fun

No more parties like that in SA either for the foreseeable future tho, unfortunately (gatherings of more than 100 people are prohibited as of last week).

This is Moonchild Sanelly (who’s on “Askies” and in that party vid) on a non-piano track. It only appeared on Spotify just now, but it’s from last year apparently: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP2EaMk80Qk

(this is her performing it live on TV – studio version here: Moonchild Sanelly ft. Lunatik • Dlala

(the male vocal countermelody that’s mixed in is a great touch)

Another one that’s both 2019 and 2020 - one of the best tracks on last year’s TNS album now has a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzi1F477ArA
TNS ft. Skillz & Le Soul • Ayabonga

Ahh don’t think I realized that had become a generalized ama thread

Family as we are all under #quarantine we have put together a mini Streaming #quarantineonlineparty from the house do make sure that you guys don’t miss it, Its going down at the house@shimza.dj @djmaphorisa @kabelomotha_ @djzinhle @iam_ph @darquecity @realblackmotion let’s go. pic.twitter.com/pV5VGZxvFs

— Black Motion (@black_motion) March 20, 2020

Two good male/female duets from Naija:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kQ44Ra6W14
Blackmagic ft. Tems • Soon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hb_VZvBsOA
Terry Apala ft. Niniola • Lock Up

…and a Dutch/Ghanaian one, yes indeedy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRRl0-2ftW8
I Am Aisha ft. King Promise • Lowkey

Video for Niniola’s “Fantasy”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-02afkIO_I

the word “cheeky” comes to mind

Always time for some sweet African pop:

Nigeria: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbHx9Ps7B4g
DJ Neptune ft. Joeboy & Mr Eazi • Nobody

(the kind of sound that unites West and East Africa)

Uganda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAzRKql3vpY
Eddy Kenzo • Tweyagale

(lovely tune and a big hit; always happy to see him do well)

Ghana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzxSNgs_0SM
Shatta Wale • Melissa

(this one is solidly from last year, but I was reminded of it by the Kenzo track – must be the schmaltzy old school sax; strong uninvited-guest-showing-up-drunk-at-the-wedding-party vibes)

(calmly posting on the Afro thread as I normally do)

...and by “always” I mean “still”, and not all the time but in doses...

Another beautiful male/female duet, in this case Nigerian-Ghanaian:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM71Op-VFlk
Ogranya ft. Efya • Wicked Somebody

Lovely stuff

Who cares about lovely, here's Semi Tee back with another song, Gabadiya :D

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

Oh cool, it has a video now!

The track (plus its virtual flipside “Lemonade”) was posted earlier on the Amapiano Awesomeness thread.

I'm totally lost about where to post South African stuff now I must admit

There’s simply too much great music coming out of SA to be contained in one thread!

fwiw, this is how I break it down myself:

Melodic jams, house or non-house, with a focus on (soulful) vocals, Samthing and Sha Sha-style amapiano very much included: THE HOUSE OF SUN-EL: Sun-El Musician, Simmy, Mlindo The Vocalist, and other related artists

Hardcore amapiano, banging like Semi Tee or deep like Mhaw Keys: Thread for the AmaPiano awesomeness that is “Baby Are You Coming?” by Zero12finest feat. ThaMagnificent2

Dedicated “eMcimbini” thread, explicitly geared towards the glorification of song-of-the-year-so-far “eMcimbini”: 🎹🎹PİANO! PİANO!🎹🎹 - a song appreciation thread for “eMcimbini” by Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa ft. Aymos, Samthing Soweto, Mas Musiq & Myztro

Other SA stuff (gqom, SA rap, Makhadzi!) can still go here. Admittedly, it’s a fine mess – with the emphasis on “fine”.

So, Tanzania, with Rayvanny as my guide for the first stage – perhaps surprisingly the sweetness will be kept at a minimum!

Rayvanny goes singeli with Dulla Makabila:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PWCMHTJRn4
Rayvanny ft. Dulla Makabila • Miss Buza

Another one that’s Big Fun:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoXcZrOOMks
Rayvanny ft. Busiswa & Baba Levo • Zipo

Rayvanny bongo flav’ing as he normally does, here is “Tete…”, sorry “Tekenya”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9DWiUyp5Bo
Lava Lava ft. Rayvanny • Tekenya (Remix)

And if you like your Rayvanny sweet, he also dropped a mini album just ahead of Valentine’s Day, featuring none of these songs.

However… (TO BE CONTINUED)

Aware that I’m probably out of sync with a lot of people here, but here’s Tanzania, 100% sugar-free – THE SEQUEL:

This time I’ll be taking Dulla Makabila’s singeli lead, and post his “Dua”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4yKz3KObZI

Sholo Mwamba is no stranger to these threads; “Ghetto La Bibi” is fire:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4-vDH4nYBo

Love the (what sounds to me like) Arabic inflections in this guy’s singing. It might be my favourite of this bunch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-PWcsBRdag
Meja Kunta • Mamu

Meja Kunta also has a big song out with Lava Lava (see above), “Wanga”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV1ra6fchW0

A few more:

From 2018, “Umepenya” by Pam D ft. Msaga Sumu:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QXccqFPGN0

Mzee wa Bwax (from the Sounds of Sisso album):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL0k-KzpQlE
Mzee wa Bwax ft. Tamimu • Sanamu la Michelini

He’s also got a Corona track out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE2Vo_55TJU

(so do Rayvanny and Lava Lava)

Tulenkey is a keeper:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wyPn5JcS2U
Tulenkey ft. Kelvyn Boy, Medikal & Wes7ar22 • Ghetto Boy

Coronavirus anthem from Kenya ft Nelmo Newsong, Leadha, Eleanor and Love-E Mgenge

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_Wd-F8S3tw

Mukuru All Stars • Stay Fresh (A fight with Corona)

(for future reference)

This is the stuff:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NttxgDUYL3k
C Natty • Ojah

(glorious technicolor production by Killertunes)

I wish that had vocals from someone with more presence (he sounds a bit like a watered-down Wizkid to me), but damn that is a behemoth of a track

more Nigerian pop splendour:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS61vkU6qLk

Joeboy • Call

(also, Joeboy is beautiful)

This is great:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rsf3GSgy6EA

FKI 1$t ft. Victoria Kimani & Ferre Gola • Afreaka

(that's US (?), Kenya + DRC)

Still adding all posted tracks (plus relevant African stuff on other threads) to this Spotify playlist:

ILM rolling✳️all-inclusive✳️afro 2020

Professor Xavier Livermon has a new book out called : Kwaito Bodies: Remastering Space and Subjectivity
in Post-Apartheid South Africa
Duke University Press Durham and London 2020

The Native on the new generation of afropop stars, with the focus heavily on Naija:

https://thenativemag.com/music/afropop-on-the-rise-witnessing-new-line-vanguard

(things I learned: Billie Eilish is a fan of Zlatan, and, on further investigation, an even bigger one of Tekno)

And Rihanna a fan of Rema “Dumebi was new to me also ( but less surprising)

Mentioned in that Native piece: Oxlade, next in line after Rema, Fireboy and Joeboy. I actually posted his “Sugar” early last year in the same batch with “Dumebi” and “Jealous”, but his first EP is out now and doing very well, in both West and East Africa. “Away” is the hit, and boy, is he getting lucky:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9410qCyQuJ4

More Nigerian sweetness, with some Ghanaian input:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-YDEyuDxWU
CKay ft. Joeboy & Kuami Eugene • Love Nwantiti (Remix)

The NAI•GHA•PIANO COMPENDIUM:

Juls expands his Mandela Riddim to a Soweto Blues, but even Busiswa’s presence can’t quite win me over: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXIoBUXvjZs
(Juls ft. Busiswa & Jaz Karis • Soweto Blues)

Colleague GuiltyBeatz does a good job in the first two and a half minutes of “Uthando” (with Nonso Amadi) from his Different EP:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdBl--fg7qA

DJ Tunez remixes another Naija tune into piano, after “Kelegbe Megbe” it’s Omawumi’s “Without You” - it's quite nice:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHRQlO9fd5E

Nigerian producer TMXO gives it a shot as well, the title gives it away: “’Yano Oworo”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJE0I0IvYGg

These are all nice five-finger exercises, but here is where it gets really interesting: the new FreshDMV-produced Mayorkun single. When I listened to it the first few times it didn’t sink in, but correct me if I’m wrong: this is amapiano-informed as fuck without being actual amapiano. I think we have the new hybrid here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13IWRJ86weA
Mayorkun • Of Lagos

(and lol, no clues given in the title here, unlike most of the above!)

the new FreshDMVFreshVDM-produced Mayorkun single

Ghana:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEI0U55rM-I
Worlasi • Skreentime

that is, as the kids say, "a bop"

was gonna say something about Worlasi, but turns around I already said it upthread:

Worlasi, who's all over "Dzo", is great by the way. His "Pawa" was one of my EOY tracks and he also dropped a very good album last year, Worla (The Man and the God), that maybe I should have nominated also.

― breastcrawl, zondag 16 februari 2020 2:42 bookmarkflaglink

turns *out*

good to see Buju finally scoring a bona fide hit with the Burna-featuring remix of his "L'enu":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMpysHVdAe0

(great beat, great sound, good feature, and of course that wonderful velvety voice, but not enough development in the melody imho)

New Simi:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L8hLkg21MQ
Simi • Duduke

Speaking of Simi, here she is being playful with Ladipoe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8oW4R5p5ks
Ladipoe ft. Simi • Know You

I swear, these male/female duets are becoming quite a trend in Naija and Ghana. I think the Burna+1 jams (“Simmer”/“Gum Body”/“Be Honest”) and Eazi+Simi’s “Doyin” may have set the example here.

(NJ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Oq9csrBccE
Odunsi (The Engine) ft. Tems • Decided

(GH) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHrZSusNbqA
Efya ft. Mugeez • Prizeless

Sort of related: the remix of Khalid's "Know Your Worth" that dropped just now features Davido and Tems.

Meanwhile, c’est le White Party chez Serge:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3KyntSrywE
Serge Beynaud • Prends ton temps

...and who's down for some Angolan attitude and queer vibes?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF5dGzxAJ0E
Titica ft. Paulelson, Neide Sofia & Uami Ndongadas • Ta Domina

The extremely welcome return of Reniss:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q14g0hEzL5Q
Reniss • Nyama Nyama

#cameroon

Thanks for keeping the thread alive, breastcrawl. I'll get around to these. And yeah the Mayorkun amapiano connection is really... interesting.

In other news... the Wizkid & Akon song about climbing mountains is not good.

You're welcome, longneck. I'm trying, but wherever people are doing their self-isolating, it's definitely not on any of the Afro threads.

Two from South Africa:

Amapiano, Limpopo Style:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KihoTfZiG1E
Airic ft. Nolly M • Gijima

TNS be TNS’ing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdVTp1LOiUU
TNS ft. Luqua • iBhari

Let's throw in two good corona songs:

Eddy Kenzo • 2020 (Tweni Tweni): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o-uZCq3AdA

Teni • Morning (not very specific, but it's my favourite from her The Quarantine Playlist EP with DJ Neptune): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAJAVoVO0V0

why did I never hear this song before?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lRAgAM6Dak

Cina Soul • Adukwei (produced by NiiQuaye)

#ghana

It’s funny, just as I was wondering what had become of Reniss she came out with that wonderful song I posted the other week, and now she has a whole album out (titled Nzo), and it’s fantastic. What a delight (and proof that not only the Jessie Wares and Roisin Murphys of this world are looking to the 80s for inspiration). The video is for “Commando” instead of “Nyama Nyama”:

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

Interesting YT comment – it obviously refers to the makossa era, but I don’t know enough about Afropop history to really assess it:

Pure Cameroonian. This is how we sounded when dominated the African music industry.

While I'm in a Cameroonian mood:

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

Abz ft. Daphne • Ololiyo

I'm spending some time checking out albums, and I'm curious to have recs.
So far the most consistent I've found were Burna Boy (obv.), Fireboy DML, Adekunle Gold, Wizkid, Patoranking. I guess I can already add Yemi Alade.
Also listened to Vanessa Mdee, Mayorkun, Stonebwoy, Santi, Niniola which had some good and bad.
Lined up are Yung L, I guess Davido, Odunsi, Falz...

sounds like you're on the right track Nabozo. I don't know how far into the past you want to go, but I quite liked Kiss Daniel's album from a few years ago. Tiwa Savage, maybe? I don't think Maleek Berry ever put out a full-length, but all his EPs are good.

I've been checking out Terri this morning. He's a Wizkid signee and you might remember him from "Soco".

His newest single, Ojoro, is sweet Naija-reggae (prod. by Sarz) with a genuinely amusing video:

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

Also really liked last year's "On Me":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_Mt2HizW78

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mlc8i9TKNN0

NSG - Porsche. These chaps love a spinning camera angle, which usually ends up making me feel a bit queasy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFLqy5aqfDA

Octavian - Poison ft. Take A Daytrip, Obongjayar, Santi. I think this is Octavian's first afro type tune

Also an afropop first for Nigerian expat Obongjayar, I think.

“Porsche” is very good, I love those drunk-sounding tracks. Didn’t know two members of NSG were brothers of Jae5: https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/pkyeek/nsg-interview-kruddz-mojo-ogd-dope-abz-mxjib

Terri's “Ojoro” is a bop for sure. His Afro Series EP is good as well. He worked with some cool producers – besides Sarz and Killertunes there’s 3 tracks by IamBeatz (of Yemi’s “Mon Lo” and Burna’s “PH City Vibration” fame) and a track each by the wonderful Tuzi (who did Skiibii’s “Sensima” and Reekado’s “Rora”) and BlaiseBeatz (of Soft’s “Naughty”). He might be Wizkid’s truest disciple, for better or for worse.

Nabozo, you should definitely try Davido’s A Good Time, it’s a very strong album. As for Tiwa, I’d go with R.E.D.

Here are some of my favourite/most played Naija albums by other artists from the past few years:
Olamide: Lagos Nawa (a bit of an outlier in his oeuvre album-wise, it’s Young John jams galore, and I love it for that); Skales: Man Of The Year; Lady Donli: Enjoy Your Life; Mr Eazi: Life Is Eazi, Vol. 1 and Life Is Eazi, Vol. 2; Simi: Simisola; Flavour: Ijele – The Traveler; L.A.X: Rasaking.

As for Ghana:
Singers: Bisa Kdei: Highlife Konnect; King Promise: As Promised; Ebony: Bonyfied.
Producers: Kuvie: Gruvie; Juls: Leap Of Faith; you could try Magnom’s stuff as well.
Rappers: Akan: Onipa Akoma (fantastic album imo), Worlasi has several good albums.

Bonus grooves: Serge Beynaud (Côte d’Ivoire): Accelerate; Reniss (Cameroon): Tendon – and her new one Nzo of course!; Eddy Kenzo (Uganda): Roots.

oh yeah those Mr Eazi albums would be on my list too

IamBeatz (of Yemi’s “Mon Lo” and Burna’s “PH City Vibration” fame)

I feel dumb I never put this together--it makes so much sense! Those are both amazing, have they done anything else you rate?

I'm doing some overdue catch-up, and I have to ask breastcrawl what does "These are all nice five-finger exercises" mean? I agree that most of the naija-piano doesn't *really* bring the feeling (and that that Mayorkun track is an intriguing exception)

Lots of great stuff posted as always, but special thanks for Reniss, "Duduke," and "iBhari" + "Gijima." So happy to be living through this remarkable Golden Age for South African music; the amapiano & sun-el threads are pretty much "actually, I am tired of winning" at this point

Re: Cameroon, I just picked up this comp a few days ago: https://analogafrica.bandcamp.com/album/pop-makossa-the-invasive-dance-beat-of-cameroon-1976-1984
I haven't had time to absorb it yet, but it was lots of fun on first blush

I have to ask breastcrawl what does "These are all nice five-finger exercises" mean? I agree that most of the naija-piano doesn't *really* bring the feeling (and that that Mayorkun track is an intriguing exception)

lol, that's basically what I meant. It was the English translation I found for the common Dutch term “vingeroefening” – (*piano* terminology!) for trying your hand at something, trying to get the hang of it, but yeah, I don’t remember ever encountering it in English – in French it’s “exercice de doigté” apparently.

the amapiano & sun-el threads are pretty much "actually, I am tired of winning" at this point

Hope you’re including the Emcimbini thread in that – lots of great stuff in there as well!

Anyway, I’m happy to proclaim NaijaPiano is officially a thing now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj873iCY4aQ
Shizzi ft. Davido & Wale* • Won Le Ba

(*yeah, that Wale)

Davido rides this groove just as smoothly as he did “The (Uhuru) Sound” back in the day.
And man, those early 90s R&B backing vocals that come out of nothing towards the end of Wale’s rap!

By all means, let’s have more remixes of Afropop tracks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brRlkp9m2PY
Alpha P • Paloma (DJ Tunez & D3AN Remix)

Really feeling this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PunmVUajwkg
Mugeez • Six In Da Morning

(Mugeez is half of R2Bees, for those who don’t know)

And especially this one, from (the reunited) DRB Lasgidi's comeback album Pioneers.
It's all about guest vocalist Tems' great hook and Adey's glorious beat and production:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Kr1kILaWgo

DRB Lasgidi ft. Tems • Trouble

Tems has a new song out herself too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfuupoRHh3E
Tems • These Days

And so does Lady Donli:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0xQmpUAWOo
Lady Donli ft. Darkovibes • Wonda Wonda

Oh, and Reekado keeps bringing it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G12XzzLEF8
Reekado Banks ft. Parker Ighile • Options

Those are both amazing, have they done anything else you rate?

Fireboy DML’s “Vibration” was produced by him! T-Classic’s “Nobody Fine Pass You” is another one.

Billboard profile on Tiwa, Davido and Eazi:

https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/9387009/tiwa-savage-davido-mr-eazi-billboard-cover-story-interview-2020

Tiwa quote:

I think labels still don’t quite understand how to sell Afrobeats. And they haven’t really put their machinery behind the genre yet. A lot of times when we drop a record, it’s put on playlists like [Spotify’s] African Heat. We already come with huge followings. I look forward to when we’ll be on the same playlists as Billie Eilish or Justin Bieber. Give us that kind of global campaign — treat Afrobeats like a pop record and not a tastemaker record or something that cool urban kids in the diaspora listen to. How often do you see an American artist get signed and he or she already has 5 million followers on their own? Even 1 million? And you don’t want to give them the same push as Bieber? If [African artists] even had 25% of that push, Davido and Eazi would be billionaires. That’s the vision I want for Afrobeats. They haven’t even begun to scratch the surface. But when they do, it’s going to explode.

RIP Mory Kanté. If there had been a Rolling Afropop thread in 1988, we would have been all over this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJNiMNUSrw8
Mory Kanté • Yéké yéké

(the first African song ever to top the Dutch charts!)

This looks great: this Monday, the 2020 edition of the Africadelic Festival will be livestreamed through the Instagram page of the Paradiso venue in Amsterdam from 12pm-12am CEST (www.instagram.com/paradisoadam).

Performing artists, among many others: Baloji, Batida, Blick Bassy, Blinky Bill, Femi Kuti, Fokn Bois, Joey le Soldat, Onipa, Sampa the Great, Yuri da Cunha.

There are also talks and interviews, and a film programme (with free viewing on 24, 25 and 26 May).

Check this Facebook link for more details: https://www.facebook.com/events/248730829661281/
Or check the Paradiso website (but not everything here is in English): https://www.paradiso.nl/en/program/africadelic-2020-online-edition/77120/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAVii_7hsbb/?igshid=1w7z3zkyj4hz9

Speaking of festivals, I have a friend who insists on booking tickets for the next Afro Nation in Portugal (2021...). I like the line-up and want to visit the region but no way I'm going there in July, I'll burn to a crisp.
https://media.resources.festicket.com/www/admin/uploads/images/96681857_728710764543827_3197520379262271488_o.jpg

Considering that festival is refusing to reimburse ppl who bought tickets for this year's edition I would strongly dissuade your friend from giving them money.

The Algarve also the least interesting region of Portugal but that's another story :)

that line up is class tho

🔥 indeed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbGplLI5qWE
ToluDaDi ft. Gyakie & Joojo Addison • Faya

(guy is Nigerian, based in Ghana)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn1OV2RStGU
WurlD - National Anthem (Growing Wings)

Follow-up on his EP with Sarz. It's more "Nigerian", has some nice touches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVYp5qky--s

Manny Norté, 6LACK, Rema, Tion Wayne - 4AM (feat. Love Renaissance)
An Atlanta, London, and Lagos collide, shot in Ghana.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QQI50J1Igk
Zlatan, Papisnoop, Jamopyper - Unripe Pawpaw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NnjbS3RLCc
Yung L featuring WizKid - Eve Bounce (Remix)
Weird use of a Let me blow your mind sample buried in the mix but the song is good

Mut4y and new singer Elhi have an EP out. The single is Feeling U but it's a consistent set of songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOwz1J84vdw

obsessed w the new Wande Coal "Again"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67J_MwJIQOs

There's a remix with Wizkid and Ceeza Milli (of Soco): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjlFPt0imUE

Also like this one from last year, don't know if it was posted
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxosuWSUels
TDM / Wande Coal / Sarz - Tofunmi (2019)

“Again” took a while to grow on me, but I’m loving it now.

That is not an official remix btw, it’s Ceeza (just him, not Wizkid) freestyling/vibing on Wande’s track), as posted on his Insta.

Ceeza’s most recent single does feature Wizkid though:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCYp9OIF9FY
Ceeza Milli ft. Wizkid • Shayo

Other songs (besides “Again” that is) from Nigeria’s top 10:

Adekunle Gold • Something Different:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whptJMsHQVI
Congrats to Adekunle and Simi on their first child.

Bad Boy Timz • MJ:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcw4QJWD0MY
SO much MJ in African pop right now (and not just there of course, see “Tootsie Slide”)

Omah Lay • Bad Influence:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CSZKpQ0J5s
In fact, EVERY SINGLE track of his Get Layd* EP is in the top 10 right now. Not quite sure what happened there.

(*don't we have a thread for titles like that?)

Your semi-regular Naija*piano update:

Kiddominant ft. Cassper Nyovest • eWallet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSm0LksthLw

Airboy • Dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozeacunsQTo

add in this one as well:

Philkeyz • Rhythm nd Bass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlEWTTpQy4U

Mr Eazi duets with King Promise on “Baby I’m Jealous” from his new 4-track EP, with Guilty Beatz producing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIHw6xfzZbM

GuiltyBeatz even

excellent

so no one called me out on "Tootsie R... Slide"? disappointed in you folx.

Back to the matter at hand - Juls and Randy Valentine bringing serious vibes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kqLKkC6qZg
“Wata”

btw, good to see Zlatan's "Unripe Pawpaw" here - we've been seriously sleeping on zanku in this and last year's threads (cough Naira Marley cough cough).

currently digging this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkJI43tNxrw
Abramsoul ft. Eleniyan • Colo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMoFDGKDw6c
E Kelly feat Joeboy - Oreke

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp2VhLClSUU
Ladipoe feat Simi - Know You

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJBgtu_zqSc
Viktoh feat Zlatan - Nor Nor

And since it's this period
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnA0Z5WssYg
Shirazee - Tired

I've been listening more to Buju's Spiritual and Ohema than Lenu (remix). I'm also discovering a new "family" of artists I wasn't aware of with King Perryy, Show Dem Camp, Odunsi, Soft, Dremo, Melvitto...

brand new Fireboy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5I55D90RbY
Fireboy DML • New York City Girl

brand new Rema:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRweltAO-zg
Rema • Ginger Me

The return of the artist formerly known as Santi. It’s some good shit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxV3SPQpdcg
Cruel Santino ft. Octavian • End Of The Wicked

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh3QegGVlCY
GreyC - Ibadi (prod. Mystro)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYBWrQumfVg
Burna Boy - Wonderful

hey everyone. I'm in a bad signal area but have we talked about Moonchild Sanelly's new song Bashiri yet?

https://youtu.be/9RBsGd3eXBw

“Bashiri” is great, also liking the Greyc. “Wonderful” is being discussed (but not nearly enough!) on the Burna/African Giant thread.

Telz, the guy who produced the new Burna, also did this track off prettyboydo (or Prettyboy D-O, whatever)’s new EP Wildfire, which is excellent:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fy4sNF0_q4
prettyboydo ft. Olamide • Wetin You Smoke

This beat is, this beat is, this beat is getting busy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh86KtnpndY
Sun Tai La ft. Tulenkey • Aboa Tintin

I'm a few weeks behind, but "Again" is really good, has that same too-short quality that "Kpalanga" has--a good trick to get those repeat plays!

I also really like that Bad Boy Timz "MJ" song, really beautiful bass

"MJ" was another slow burner for me (just like "Again", what a perfect little song) - there's two remixes out now as well, one with Teni and one with Mayorkun, which I like best:

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

^noted those as well. I tried the Teni for one for a few secs but wasn't grabbed, will check out the Mayorkun later

this Juls "Wata" song is super cool, almost verges on Francis Bebey territory

oh dang, a remix yet

From last year, never heard it before, but it sounds like the best thing ever right now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-X6XD3Fuh0
Sound Sultan ft. Olu Maintain, Teni & Mr. Real • Odo

(all well-known artists, two veterans and two relatively new ones - how this video gets only 212 views in 9 months between the four of them is a mystery)

A friend of mine sent me this Ebo Taylor track and asked for similar stuff. This is way outside my wheelhouse, so looking for any guidance from the Afro hive. Is there a good comp or playlist I can point him to (and check out myself)? Any of the more current Afrobeat artists have a similar vibe? I sent him Indestructible Beat of Soweto but think that misses the mark...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvbRC5C8JQg

There's a lot to choose from in terms of vintage 60s/70s West African music. First off, a few Ebo Taylor albums were reissued pretty recently. Some good comps include: Strut's Nigeria 70s series and on Soundway, the Nigeria Special comps plus Ghana Special and the Ghana Soundz comps.

I'd start with the first Nigeria Special comp: https://www.discogs.com/Various-Nigeria-Special-Modern-Highlife-Afro-Sounds-Nigerian-Blues-1970-6/master/53871

There are contemporary artists who draw on vintage stuff to some degree, but I suspect your friend won't want to immediately jump into that.

That particular Ebo Taylor track is reggae, no? Which isn't what he's mostly known for. I have a vague notion lots of Nigerian artists flirted with the genre, tho the only concrete example I can come up with is
"Jahojah Comfort Me" by Pazy & The Black Hippies.

brb copyrighting the term “Remapiano”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt8d-4IMAXs
Rema • Woman

(Forthcoming album alert: Rema is now dropping a new song every week. Last week’s “Alien” is also good)

my Spotify playlist for tracking and tracing amapiano’s influence on West-African pop:

🇳🇬🇬🇭🇿🇦NAIghAPIANO🎹🎹

I saw a lot of people hating on Alien online - they don't want to hear him rapping, lol

Anyways, followed!

in case you want to sing along:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=witjmEEV7Es

More NaijaPiano news: DJ Tunez, a trailblazer on the NaijaPiano front (see upthread for examples), just released his all-piano EP Love Language Vol. 1. It actually features 5, 6, 7+ minutes tracks, which is perfectly normal in South African house of course, but probably a first in contemporary Nigerian pop (well, there was that extended version of "Maradona", clocking in at 5'03, but that was probably aimed at the SA market).

He’s doing this stuff together with D3an, an EDM producer, a rarity in Nigeria - DJ Tunez himself is someone who spins the tunes and fronts the records, he’s never actually produced them to my knowledge - unless he’s recently upped his skills.

Tanzania interim report:

Section I: Bringing the bongo flava:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFGoCIOQKPY
Rayvanny ft. Diamond Platnumz • Amaboko

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qwLTgPmFDA
Eddy Manda ft. Marioo • Mwendo

Section II: Supplying the singeli spice:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJj5_3x0qWM
BillNass ft. Meja Kunta • Huna Baya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWbDAHF-pUc
Sholo Mwamba • Anataka Uma (two years old, but new on Spotify)

(these beats are exhilarating but the musical soundscape can be so pretty too, check those piano sprinklings in “Anataka Uma” and what happens in “Huna Baya” around the 2-minute mark. man, I love “Huna Baya”)

This one is so good too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaJ2a-vSGVg
Rj The Dj ft. Meja Kunta • Acha Nilewe

Did you know it was about drinking, a lot?

Gqom isn’t dead, it might be on the verge of a comeback in fact. This is the big gqom hit this year in SA:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E_tnuq2IZQ
Mshayi ft. Mr. Thela & T-Man • iParty

More like a classic iFootballMatch – a banging first half, and then things *really* take off after that cup of tea at halftime.

Getting down to the best part:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIVGQnD7NEI

This one is blowing up as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4ODy3KLwKc
Master Dee ft. Sdudla Somdantso • Rebellion

That farfisa-like synth sound swirling through and over it all is spectacular.

It’s actually a remix of the original 2019 version with Mr Vee Sholo (who is on the remix as well, I’m guessing, but no longer tagged). I might prefer the original - it’s more focused perhaps?

xxxxxxxxxxp thanks Rob

Friday favourites:

1) finally a new Amaarae - very good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU6TgShlJDw
Amaarae • Leave Me Alone (co-produced by Kuvie)

2) Motown Tiwa - brilliant stuff:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xWEh1nW1gQ
Tiwa Savage • Dangerous Love (produced by Cracker “Jealous” Mallo)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBDupJtO3LA
Dj Boat & Kobi Jonz - Call Melanin
Both based in the US (I think DJ Boat is the one who curates that massive afrobeats playlist on spotify)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwGybat7Ivk
Kobi Jonz - Coca

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx6E9Shpkn0
Buju - Commander (from last year, now a single)

I've returned a lot to Eve Bounce - still so much potential to cross deep dancehall production with afrobeats, I miss that side of the music.

Not sure how well it fits into this thread, but I've recently become obsessed with Ugandan drumming unit Nihiloxica: https://nihiloxica.bandcamp.com/album/kaloli

Would love to know what other artists milk a similar vibe.

I’m not into them enough to know. There’s those percussion-based bands from DRC, KOKOKO! and Konono No. 1 before them, but their vibe is different, I think.
Are you familiar with the Uganda-based Nyege Nyege Tapes label? It’s where Nihiloxica released their previous album and EP. They might have other stuff you like (although for instance Tanzanian singeli is obv a different kettle of fish).

(btw I know dog latin likes Nihiloxica a lot, and two other posters were raving about the current album on the Rolling Global Outernational thread just this week)

I like “Black Kaheera”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=104HtCkswEs

Nabozo, “Red” from Adey’s new Akiba EP is built around two smashes from the early 00s (both Caribbean in this case) just like “Eve Bounce”, but crucially lacks the “deep dancehall production” you mention, so ymmv.

Good EP btw, Adey is a producer by origin, most famous for doing Ycee’s “Juice”. He also produced one my favourite tracks of this year, “Trouble” by DRB Lasgidi and Tems.

“Bomo” and “Fugazi” are the highlights imo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_HCvFYsUSE
Adey ft. WANI • Fugazi

Love the new Wizkid, will listen to the Azana album in the morning, but “Addicted”, the new Niniola x Sarz collabo has got me close to tears right now:

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

(and of fucking course I’m posting the extended version!)

^unavailable and afaict not on YT anymore?

it is over here (and it’s her official YT account)

this is the single edit

ah ok, I guess it's not available in Canada yet for some reason

btw I just heard Rema's "Woman" for the first time and it's amazing

rob, did you personally commission this one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZHLxJeXwpI
Adekunle Gold ft. Nailah Blackman • AG Baby

You’re damn right about “Woman”. So vibrant, joyful and... lecherous. Best slice of NaijaPiano so far.

I also am seriously besotted with Tiwa’s “Dangerous Love”. The way she suddenly pulls that I’m deep, I’m deep, I’m deep in love with you section out of the bag in the middle of the second verse!

The Nigerian big guns are really coming through right now.

haha AG and NB is an totally unexpected & delightful combination, but no I was not consulted :) It's a great song though, no? I was actually a bit disappointed in Nailah as her last single was such an obvious Doja Cat ripoffhomage, but all is redeemed and AG is truly having a great year.

"Addicted" is available for me now, and it's beautifully hypnotic.

The treated background vocals on that Tiwa are wild, I need a few more listens to make sense of it as a whole.

Bringing the beautiful noise:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6PpiX8ptMw
Serge Beynaud • Kointabala

Warning: this is classic Beynaud!

That Addicted tune is wicked

It's a great Amapiano beat, combined with her solemn vocals. Omo Rapala had already grown to be my favorite of hers.

This is the big hit in Nigeria right now. It's slowly starting to grow on me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WqNQ49lYq0
Mayorkun ft. Davido • Betty Butter

and here's Joey Akan profile/interview on/with the Mayor of Lagos: https://joeyakan.substack.com/p/mayorkun-sound-leadership-of-lagos

in-te-res-ting:

Amapiano is Mayorkun’s lockdown love, and he’s recorded enough of them to make albums. It’s experimental stuff, mixed in with highlife, and other genres for individuality. With each new record on the speaker, there’s dancing in the room as all connect with the art. “I’ve not been releasing these ones because of social distancing,” he says, referring to his high-octane creations, designed for dancefloor engagement.

btw, does anyone have a handle on Omah Lay's popularity? Two months on, and he's still got four tracks of his EP among Naija's ten most-streamed songs. I mean, he's good, but so are many others: Why him? Is it that his music somehow fits the pandemic mood (see Mayorkun's quote)?

have a look:

1 = Mayorkun & Davido - Betty Butter
2 = Omah Lay - Bad Influence
3 = Rema - Woman
4 = Adekunle Gold & Nailah Blackman - AG Baby
5 = Omah Lay - Damn
6 +2 Omah Lay - You
7 = Rema - Ginger Me
8 -2 Wizkid - Smile (feat. H.E.R.)
9 = Burna Boy - Wonderful
10 = Omah Lay - Lo Lo

or is this the way to look at it:

How many people saw Omah Lay?

How many could predict that the boy from PH will carry so much of the conversation and plaudits on his shoulders?

That’s why I never get involved with predicting who will blow. Nobody knows. No one has an idea.

Keep working. Keep pushing.

— Joey Akan (@JoeyAkan) June 23, 2020

gotta say tho, "Lo Lo" is very good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYD2SQljwJo

haha i used that exact same tweet to express my confusion in an email to a friend...it feels like maybe one of those people's choice things...makes me wonder if he had some AMAZING song if it wouldn't be 8x as huge as his current stuff, that maybe its a personality/star appeal thing

breastcrawl you seem to be confused about how to make it big in Nigeria, I suggest you grab a notebook and pay good attention:

I’ve hacked the Nigerian music industry 😤😤😤😤😤😤 pic.twitter.com/0AGuLZYkUc

— Ditweni (@Ditweni) July 22, 2020

There's a new Fireboy DML btw (Eli)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UqZINIOB70
Not too many risks but I guess the exotic flute is a try

lol sounds about right, nabozo xp

d-40, my tweet comrade lol, I’m neutral on Omah L’s star appeal, but I’m thinking the persona plays a part, yes – and it must be mostly in the lyrics (I mean, he hasn’t done any shows or PAs due to the pandemic and his biggest song, “Bad Influence”, doesn’t even have a video). his lyrics are singled out in this profile too: https://www.okayafrica.com/omah-lay-nigeria-interview/

The starkness of the world he inhabits is a wonder and his lyrics are too. Phrases like "You dun burst my eyeglass" and "Omo she be SARS and she carry full van" are a cultural stamp, a burst out of the ordinary for listeners, many of whom now declare Omah Lay as "special."

this mostly eludes me as an outsider-listener, but what I can tell is that he also consistently portrays himself as a drinking, smoking bad boy who’s irresistible to girls in his songs (how novel!), being sexually quite explicit for Nigerian standards in the process, as far as I can tell.

Not blown away by either of the post-album Fireboy singles.
xxp

digging the new fireboy. he hasn't even dropped album #2 yet, he reserves the right to continue working the formula for a minute

I think he's actually going for something new on both of these singles - and listening to "Eli" on headphones now I have to say I am quite digging this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E3_RF_NNFM
Masauti "Kenyan Boy" - Inawauma

That’s lovely!
file under “SwaRnB” apparently

brb searching for examples of Swamapiano and SwahEDM

the fireboy single from a little bit ago "new york city girl" is one of my fav songs of the year... he's almost on his own wavelength. both of these new songs are pretty subdued which is interesting when you consider i.e. "jealous"

omah lay is pretty cool to me, it feels pretty contemporary american R&B to me. like he could do a song w/ 6lack pretty easily or something. it doesn't blow me away but he is really popping right now.

"eli" is excellent, can't stop playing it

Pulling all the right strings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilRXM7h_oPg
BwoiiDaas • Radar

it had been quite a while, but here’s Patoranking showing he’s still got it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIKF16oagBY
Patoranking • Abule

(no small thanks to “Wonderful” producer Telz)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT6aBynWDgE
Reminisce feat. Fireboy DML - Ogaranya

Sarz on the beat!

Follow-up to Yo Pe and it comes... close ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLu6yW56ALg
Innoss'B - Olandi

great track! can see this low key crossing over to Nigeria. Has a real Naijapop ca. 2014 vibe - Skales, “Show You The Money”...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WekJRXIKbco
Dj Tunez - Cool me Down (feat. Wizkid)

I love what Wizkid does on these recent tracks. Effortless magic.

that’s more or less how I described it on the Wizkid thread lol

Haha sorry I should have known, even if it makes sense to have them on both threads, sorry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1dNx8Dschw
Juls feat. Miraa May & Donae'o - Blessed. Good vibes, always interesting.

Very good song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDN5FjXqcMQ
Boybreed ft. Minz • Julie

random thoughts on “Eli” - what a song!

I like to think Fireboy wrote it about the girl in Ace of Base’s “All That She Wants”. There’s a synergy between these songs.

The official video is out now. It’s kinda funny how director Clarence Peters* basically remade his video for “Pana” for this one.

*Nigeria’s most famous video director, and, I didn’t know this, son of juju musician Shina Peters.

I feel so microtargeted right now: a Turkish afropop track (from a Dutch-born guy to boot) featuring the actual Oxlade:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LQjWuGpuPQ
Umut Timur ft. Oxlade • Saralım

(from my yet to materialize EUfrican Pop thread)

You’re all invited to participate in this poll:

🇳🇬 NAIJA SPECIAL: which of these *seven* current high-profile Nigerian hit songs is the best one? please help me decide

good and encouraging to see this kind of shit called out in/by the Nigerian music press:

https://thenativemag.com/communities/general-public-might-cynical-simis-apology-lgbtq-community/

This is a jam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgKwYrSzMok
DJ Kaywise ft. Mayorkun, Naira Marley & Zlatan • What Type Of Dance

More good Tiwa:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKSfQqYTFRo
Tiwa Savage • Koroba

More faya from Fireboy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQpD2EmoS_w
Cracker Mallo ft. Fireboy DML • Wickedest Wyne

Even the new Peruzzi is good:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tev_ohOnEg
Peruzzi • Lagbaja

Fireboy goes full afro&b:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rsdopaqg85k
Fireboy DML • Passion

Very excited for his second album Apollo, out next week (!)

EUfrican Pop subthread:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_vK-Z6bHLI
Yung Felix ft. Niniola • Pareke

Yung Felix is a Dutch producer, one of the biggest and the best in the game over here – I posted an NSG track produced by him on the UK Afro thread recently.

(track should have been at least twice as long obviously)

I am finally getting around to checking out the full Reniss album, Nzo, and it's really good. Would especially recommend it to curmudgeon if he's reading this.

well now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYiUHMF7upY
DJ Tunez ft. Wizkid, Adekunle Gold & Omah Lay • Pami

I mean...

lovely guitar, and yes, I’m saying it: not enough Omah Lay

xp

thanks for the Reniss reminder, rob. I should revisit.

happy to see there is now a video for "Nyama Nyama":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC314NX9MvE

Ghanaian alkayida/dancehall banger:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OCwQYYOAQs
Stonebwoy • Putuu Freestyle (Pray)

(they sped it up and danced to it)

Bosom P-Yung, Kweku Smoke - Krakye Geng

A drill-inflected sound right here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oTITj6SBAg

Surprised that people upthread are cool on Omah Lay, I love love love "Bad Influence". It sort of... hovers... mysteriously. Love how he kinda swells up on "'Cos the doctor said I burst my liver".

Yeah, I found his success mystifying for the longest time, but as I hinted at when I posted DJ Tunez’s “Pami” last week, I’ve really started to come around on him. “Bad Influence”, “Damn” and “Lo Lo” are all great.

(the guy makes it very clear he’s a cigar smoker tho, how do I even begin to deal with that?)

new fireboy album, gonna check later today

feels very much like a mainstream play, still some jams, especially in the second half, thinking “afar,” “shadé,” “go away”

So yeah, Apollo… I went from ‘this is a fun, but extremely bumpy ride’ (‘whoa, did he really go there?’ ‘bagpipes?’ ‘are you Naija Derülo?’) the first time around to ‘boy, he’s really really really indulging his corny/sappy side here, huh?’ the second time. Listening again today, no way is it the near-perfect afropop album LT&G was, but I’m really enjoying it for the most part, even if the sequencing is a mess. I also think I can safely say this is not for everyone here tho.

My favourite tracks are the IamBeatz-produced “Lifestyle” and “Spell”, a super fun trio with Wande Coal and the ghost of MJ.
“Champion” is his “Way Too Big”, “Remember Me” is cheesy as fuck but I like it, but “Dreamer” is definitely way too much of a... thing (if he survived the key change, the rock guitar here will be the death of rob, I’m afraid).

I don’t agree with voodoo chili’s “mainstream play” assessment, at least not in the sense that this is a calculated effort to cross over beyond Africa. Fireboy is a total pop kid at heart, I think he’s just being his musical self here, for better or for worse. This is from an interview from the beginning of this year:

What musicians actively influenced your music, growing up and now?
Fireboy DML: Growing up, I listened to a lot of Celine Dion. Elton John helped me discover myself, there’s this song by him “Sacrifice”, that I consider the greatest song ever made. My dad was always playing Celine Dion and my mum always played Yinka Ayefele and Tope Alabi. Those influences made me realise how beautiful music is. But it transcended into people that really started influencing my sound, and they are just three people: Passenger, Wande Coal, and Jon Bellion.

Just listened to Jon Bellion’s biggest hit, “All Time Low”, and it makes total sense in the context of this album.

‘boy, he’s really really really indulging his corny/sappy side here, huh?’

yeah, this was my issue, but i think the real issue is that most of these songs are stacked up in the first half of the project (champion, favorite song, dreamer). the back half is more my speed, tho i do like that wande coal collab and even champion a bit

I don’t agree with voodoo chili’s “mainstream play” assessment, at least not in the sense that this is a calculated effort to cross over beyond Africa. Fireboy is a total pop kid at heart, I think he’s just being his musical self here, for better or for worse

lol this is very possible. i wasn't really thinking that it was a cynical or calculated crossover attempt, more that he was tapping into a more 'global pop' sound than leaning into the naija of it all.

yeah, he definitely doesn’t feel bound by Naijapop genre restrictions any longer. I think his success has freed him in a sense, he’s in uncharted (no pun intended I think?) waters here, as a lot of these major Afropop artists now are. I think it’s partly as a result of this that these big new albums are throwing me for a loop (looking at the Burna in particular), but it’s fascinating to witness.

one thing I really really love in all this tho is how all these artists continue to work with local producers (even when moving away from Afropop in the narrow sense like Fireboy is doing). everyone seems very much aware that together they’re the best ticket in town (this also goes for the Adekunle album and, by the looks of it, the imminent Tiwa).

fun fact: Tiwa has a track with Sam Smith, who also had one with Burna.

*has* one

The new Adekunle Gold album, Afro Pop, Vol. 1, is a much more straightforward and concise affair (just 29 minutes against Fireboy and Burna’s 50). It’s mostly good (altho the lyrics can be a bit clunky at times), but it doesn’t make good on the promise of those great singles he released from “Kelegbe Megbe” onwards. “Okay” is the clear highlight of the new tracks.

I’ve been converted. I’m on team afropop-beats-dance now.

the fireboy album is a really really good pop/r&b album even if its not as distinctively west african as a lot of pop from there is. if his album last year was even better i'll have to check it out

Fireboy DML has cited Jon Bellion, Passenger and Wande Coal as his key contemporary influences.[3]

this is a really ridiculous combination lmao

there's a weird full circle thing where it often resembles some of the 80s pop/rock that had vague african/'world music' influences

if his album last year was even better i'll have to check it out

I’ve been converted. I’m on team afropop-beats-dance now.

Spotify playlist with all the tracks posted on this and other Afro(-adjacent) threads, we’re at 330 tracks now:

ILM rolling ✳️all-inclusive✳️ afro 2020

Thank you for that! Lots of things to catch up with!

tbh, not hating the sam smith collab on the tiwa album lol, tho i haven't been paying much attention to the lyrics.

yes tonight is Celia listening time!

Let me post this amazing performance of "Dangerous Love" for Jimmy Fallon first (posted it on the Naija Special poll thread earlier): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXprX_vwPvc

I don't watch the tonight show but was not expecting Jimmy Fallon to have Tiwa Savage as a music guest. Now I'm looking at her musical guest list of this year and damn, whoever is in charge of booking acts for the show has some pretty good taste: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Tonight_Show_Starring_Jimmy_Fallon_episodes_(2020)

yeah I get alerts sometimes, he’s had several Afropop artists on, and I remember a recentish Bad Bunny performance that was fire.

The first half of Celia is superb, rest is good to very good as well. Best of the current batch of big shot Naija albums so far, by far. Made in Lagos, you’re damn right!

Opening track “Save My Life” (with an uncredited Terri, I think, or is it Reekado?) is total Naijapolitan bliss:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFSzmMz9H8U

“Bombay” with Stefflon Don and Dice Ailes is mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

also “FWMM (F*CK With My Mind)”...!

another Tiwa track with *backing* vocals/voices

the production on “Pakalamisi” with Hamzaa is stunning

where did I even get the idea the second half was somehow not as good

produced by Ozedikus (who did Rema’s “Woman” with Altims)

had smoked a little something last night but now that I’m sober my opinion hasn’t changed one iota:

This album is astonishingly good. I was touting Fireboy’s debut as one of the best Afropop albums ever just the other day, well, we’ve got another one here. This is album of the year material.

I mean, I hadn’t even mentioned “Glory”.

tbh, not hating the sam smith collab on the tiwa album lol, tho i haven't been paying much attention to the lyrics.

I listened to about half of Celia yesterday and really liked it, looking forward to returning!

Superb album! I could do without the interlude and "Celia's Song," but they're not ruinous by any means, and the rest is excellent: deep, slick, sultry.

yes, im a big fan too. don’t mind the interlude or celia’s song, they add a nice personal touch

This Tiwa Savage album is becoming one of my favorite listens of the year. I even like the Sam Smith collab and I usually can't stand him.

Oddly enough I like the second half better.

of course I made a thread:

next level at 40: 🌸TIWA SAVAGE’s CELIA🌸 album

someone should make a thread for fireboy too, i would but i'm not sure i can properly articulate what i love about his album

I don't why it took me months to listen to the Omah Lay ep but it is fantastic, title aside

A lot of afrobeats gets compared to dancehall but on “Ye ye ye” he really sounds like current dancehall in a way that I haven’t quite heard from Nigeria before

What? No link for the Fireboy thread?

Thraed of 🔥 Fireboy DML 🔥 and his new album Apollo

The tracks Nigerians are listening to the most when they’re not listening to Burna:

This one is nice, if a bit generic. I hear talk of TikTok, might explain its popularity:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65O_4LXRyoc
Olakira • In My Maserati

The next song makes liberal use of Brymo’s classic hook for Ice Prince’s “Oleku”, which was huge when I started discovering Afropop. It’s nice to be able to feel your own sense of history with this music. It also continues Mayorkun’s hot streak in 2020:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yH5zhQgXPY
Jamopyper ft. Mayorkun • If No Be You

Also DJ Tunez’s “Pami” with Wizzy, Adekunle & Omah Lay (see upthread), and all things Omah in general, of course.

Not quite as popular, but extremely good, with great ominous-sounding production by Cracker Mallo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIjkFCCLdcA
Jaido P ft. Olamide • Tesina Pot

heat from Tanzania, featuring Rayvanny, as is often the case:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xAaGTFG0cI
Baba Levo ft. Rayvanny • Ngongingo

(also seconding Lucy Anita in the comments:

Lucy Anita 1 day ago
Am really waiting for a day where I will see men dancing infront of ladies almost naked while ladies in the same song are fully covered🤣🤣🤣

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJddptqCSz4
Bella Shmurda • Dangbana Orisa

I’m very much on board with producer Rexxie’s transition from zanku master to semi-spiritual vibes dealer, as witnessed by tracks like this one, Johny Kore’s “Aje”, Korede Bello’s “Morire”, and even Burna’s “Bebo”.

love the new Olamide, produced by P.Priime:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6KWkycPh4g
Olamide • Eru

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ3_nqVUPBM
Vinka - Red Card
Hailing from Uganda, clearly reminds me of A Pass

new Davido sounds good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lta5go9P-go
Davido • FEM

that is great

his album is def in my top 10 most played of 2020

...and he is promising A Better Time with his next album!

new Niniola song with soca producers Stadic and Jonny Blaze:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml2Zrvc63Do
Stadic x Jonny Blaze ft. Niniola • Sibe

(it’s on their respective labels, not on hers, so probably not an official Niniola single)

Stadic does alot of soca production, no?

the answer is right there in my post!

More recent soca/afropop intermingling here and here.

FEM rules

Yes, although I see some Davido haters on twitter knocking the song

Free speech was a mistake

...which is exactly what the song is about.

ta gueule !

it was also a mistake to post that Peruzzi song earlier. I should have known (better). have seen enough instances of that guy being a p.o.s.

A timely shot of Angolan kuduro/house bangers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXpXq5rxKdA
New Kiss ft. Leo Hummer & DJ Vlado Poster • Abre o Pé

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3v2CdH5gzM
Gilson Gera ft. Dzey9 Beat • Não Tamu Aguentar

damn, it’s *Vado* Poster!

Cracker Mallo, Nigerian producer du jour, just dropped his own EP, A Friendly Introduction To Saund, (“saund” yes, his tag will tell you why): two instrumentals, one track with Olamide, that wicked single with Fireboy, and this cracking tune featuring himself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEgAbgCFn1c
Cracker Mallo • Do Better

West African afro&b - let's hear it from the girls:

Simi • No Longer Beneficial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkVOvN5boK8
Tems • Damages: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lU0DnT89_c
Amaarae • Fancy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9nCy25Mwko

Feeling Red Card and the kuduro/house bangers

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

NSG - MCM

that’s a banger as well. as I mentioned on the UK Afro thread, that beat is courtesy of Dutch producer Yung Felix - see also “Pareke” with Niniola a bit upthread.

had completely missed this excellent slice of NaijaPiano. always great to hear Flavour’s voice being put to good use:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7RSzuwWoeU
Masterkraft ft. Flavour • Equipment

Well, this is totally unexpected. Darey, who was big in the 00s (pre-Wizkid and Before My Afropop Time), teams up with Patoranking and just knocks it way out of the park. Produced by Pheelz, not exactly a rookie himself, who’s on fire this year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF5yOs2MEH8
Darey ft. Patoranking • Jojo

Interesting story about the female bikers in the video.

Tems (see four posts up) just dropped her debut EP, For Broken Ears. Final track “The Key” is incredible:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmxjaA8aRxE

It's stretching pop but I am discovering Fongola from last year and there are moments on this record that just floor me. I think I saw it being recommended by mihr, but I don't think it was really discussed here. People are largely failing at attempts to categorize it. I remember hearing of that French producer when Aljawal (by détruit & Alsarah) was released a few years back.
Anyway, are there other recent records in this vein ? Besides maybe Nihixiloca.
Azo Toke and L.O.V.E.

I also get strong Francis Bebey vibes.

Fongola didn’t ring a bell immediately, but okay, so this is about KOKOKO! They have never really grabbed me, but I will give it a listen.

any thoughts on the Tems EP btw?

Liked it, but I find her style limited.
Niniola - Colours and Sounds is out today. We know most of the songs (it goes as far back as Bana), which may be slightly disappointing but it makes for a really tight set of songs.

Agreed on the Niniola. It’s a great introduction for newcomers - like you said the post-first album singles make up half of the album, with only 7 new tracks, including two with SA amapianists Shuffle Muzik (who she’s worked with before) and two Kel-P joints (very welcome given the Burna situation). What this album does have in common with Twice As Tall is a track with Timbaland. It’s a nifty afropop joint, very on point, which raises the question: who ghost-produced this?
On balance, I would have liked the focus to be more on her housey side, but I’ll take it.

oh look, one of the Shuffle Muzik-produced tracks has a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dmlh2x8wTBw
Niniola • Look Like Me

(feel the track with Busiswa might have been a better choice perhaps?)

worth posting here as well - Aya goes for that Naija sound:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAA31YId_sQ
Aya Nakamura • Doudou

(I mean, that beat is Wizkid-worthy)

New TNS:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CtqVSdB7oM
TNS ft. Luqua • Nyathela

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWkzKrzeMdA
Harmonize - Jeshi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xAaGTFG0cI
Baba Levo & Rayvanny - Ngongingo

Apologies if they were previously posted

I posted "Ngongingo" last month. You could do a search before posting - and then even respond to the track if you like it! I prefer a thread with some feedback to one where people just post tracks and run, but perhaps that's just me.

You could also search this Spotify playlist which features more or less all Afro(/adjacent) stuff that's been posted on ILM this year (nearly 400 tracks so far):
rolling✳️all-inclusive✳️afro 2020 playlist

Anyway, "Ngongino" is a banger, and "Jeshi" is very nice as well. The more East African tracks the merrier.

Bella Alubo is mad underrated. She just released a new EP, the ironically titled Popstar. "Gbolahan" is the single, but "La La Land" is where it's at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DPa6WHDN-4

(also, "Gba Gbe (Motive)")

Ghana:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oes1g4J93Ac
Bisa Kdei ft. Medikal • Netwerk

More Ghana - I love this rollicking track from Kuami "Rockstar" Eugene's new Son Of Africa album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA2DNDwDgkM
Kuami Eugene ft. Obaapa Christy • Wa Ye Wie

Remember Obaapa Christy?

from (Ghanaian) gospel to (Naija) slackness:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTur2Ob4QKM
Mohbad ft. Naira Marley & Lil Kesh • Ponmo Sweet

too bad there's no (dance) video for this kuduro house banger:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YvyLcXbk1c
Mestre Dangui • Bengala

For the Omah Lay fans (do they call themselves Lay(wo)men or Laypersons? In-Lays? Or simply Layicists? #onethread): this is the big hit off Olamide’s Carpe Diem album (his first under his international deal with Empire, to which he signed along with protégé Fireboy DML):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCUfGghQfms
Olamide ft. Omah Lay • Infinity

Came across this on YouTube, old skool kwaito from Botswana:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_Egwb2eXDU
Eskimos ft. Names • Kwalata Tsa Katara

This is such a pretty song, it's been with me for months now and keeps creeping up on me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjayNIirdVw
Yusufkanbai • Do And Undo

live version

Small boy you don dey talk too much, FEM!

Davido’s ”Fem” has been adopted by the #EndSARS protesters:
https://thenativemag.com/music/davidos-fem-became-official-endsars-protest-anthem/

As I noted on the Wizkid thread, the Naija music industry has more or less come to a standstill because of the protests, but this track dropped a few weeks back, and it’s damn good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiGHwccZupE
Basketmouth ft. Show Dem Camp & Oxlade • Myself

This one is very good as well, looks I'll have to check out producer Duktor Sett:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nsba-Tt7TYY
Basketmouth ft. Flavour & Phyno • Papa Benji

(btw Basketmouth is a famous comedian, I'm not sure what it is he's actually doing on these tracks, guess we'll have to wait for the videos)

DJs: where do you buy or download your tracks from? I used to find Google Play very reliable for stuff like this but it's been replaced by YouTube Music which is streaming only

someone mentioned 7digital the last time this was discussed

ooh I like "Infinity"...will have to check out the rest of Carpe Diem. And "Myself" is really fantastic, nice find

this, from the UK afro thread, deserves a lot more exposure. As Matt DC said, it’s brilliant:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSFgRsR5e20
Midas The Jagaban • Party With A Jagaban

Nyege Nyege Presents Durban Underground Sho''case
Musicians:
Phelimuncasi
Lafaristo
Bhejane

http://www.youtube.com/ybPumXb1aRM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybPumXb1aRM

(first link didn’t work for me)

party with a jagabang really us a jam. delivers on so many levels

is

joeboy - "lonely"

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

fucking w/ this one heavily

yeah, it's another sly and slinky one by Joeboy. that post-"Waves"/Robin Schulz forlorn guitar motive is being put to good use in afropop.

party with a jagabang really is a jam. delivers on so many levels

great to see these openly queer girls (there's also Darkoo, and there may be more that I'm not aware of) making a big splash in the UK afro scene.

and wow table, that gqom sho(w)case was fantastic, thanx for posting! it made me check out the Phelimuncasi album too, it kicks ass.

five of the album’s tracks are in that mix, but a lot of it is new, or at least un-shazamable.

that first track in the mix (it’s the album’s closer) slaps so hard:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1cL2Jq2pRo
Phelimuncasi • Ungabom Themba Umunutu

also, that Lafaristo track at 35’ !!!!
this is a different track that features them (from 2018):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_XVw0VceAw
DJ Luvas ft. DJ Ndakx & Lafaristo • Kokhala Ugogo

More good gqom, involving the team that brought you the awe-inspiring "Iparty" (see somewhere upthread):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCSryblY97k
Rhass ft. Mshayi & Mr Thela • S'yophanda

Yeah, I thought it was pretty incredible, too! The Philemuncasi record really is sick af.

Loving this from Angola:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESodpYnn1II
2 Swagg ft. Nerú Americano · Faz Buxexa

title refers to boxing, looking forward to the dance/video

did I get the • wrong? oh dear...

omah lay is pretty cool to me, it feels pretty contemporary american R&B to me. like he could do a song w/ 6lack pretty easily or something. it doesn't blow me away but he is really popping right now.

― J0rdan S., vrijdag 24 juli 2020 23:57

Jordan S., tell me your secret!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCnkHJ0HbDQ

the original "Damn" has a proper video now btw:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEw6tQV98XE
Omah Lay • Damn

Checking out the Olamide album. Vocally it's pretty uneven, but producer P-Priime has a bright future. I love "Green Light":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kywkDPXJeC4

lol i don't remember that omah lay post at all but shoutout to me

This year we’ve been through crazy times. And through it all, we’ve all had to look inwards to find hopes of better times ahead. I found a few. In human and creative form. I’m so glad I can finally share them with you. I present ‘A Better Time’ out 13/11/20 00:00 !👶🏽🎤😈🦁💣 pic.twitter.com/GhQgAxgvBQ

— Davido (@davido) November 11, 2020

also, Tekno apparently releasing his debut (!) album in December, after seven years in the game.

here's the Davido track with The Baby-BasedGod:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xjE0cGsFHY
Davido ft. Lil Baby • So Crazy

loving the new Bad Boy Timz:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pouseKLvf5E
Bad Boy Timz • Have Fun

in honour of Juls providing the highlight on Made In Lagos production-wise with “True Love” - this is his latest:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POzxFe4B9E0
Juls ft. Twitch 4EVA & Quamina MP • Mmayewa

"Have Fun" is excellent, pretty excited about Timz!

New Davido sounding good. Just wish it had been 12 tracks and not 17 (bye, Nas).

Yeah, it's another very solid album. It has no less than three naijapiano tracks! "I Got A friend" with Mayorkun and Sho Majozi is one of 'em, but I like this one best:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiwoG1CmJIU
Davido ft. CKay • La La

i like the davido record a lot. i don't think it's quite on the level of 'a good time' -- still one of my fav albums of the last 12 months -- but there's something very specific about his music, the production is so elastic sounding, like every instrument is strung w/ rubber bands, but also soft around the edges and wispy. it pairs well w/ the strong romantic thread that connects his songs, there's something very genuine about his music to me.

"la la" is indeed great. "very special" is just perfect to me... the middle stretch of the record really locks into a groove. the song w/ nas is wonderful imo

I’m really feeling “Mebe”, the track with Mugeez

highlight of Omah Lay’s new What Have We Done EP:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_Y3F2wXOxs
Omah Lay • Godly

...also, “Confession”...

I feel like I'm missing something with the Omah and the Davido. Maybe it's all too *chill* or something, I just find these tracks really boring, even if they're pretty?

I'm not sure how to respond to that table, since didn't you say recently that you don't like contemporary pop music? If you liked, for example, Tiwa Savage and Wizkid but not Omah Lay and Davido that could be interesting to figure out, but if you basically across the board don't like the sound or mood of afropop, then idk.

fwiw I wouldn't really go to the mat for Omah Lay, but this Davido song ("Aye"; 2014) is a beloved friend:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ-_HIoEBE8

Does that do more for you? Btw, I haven't actually gotten to the new Davido album yet so maybe I would agree with you!

The Return of Blinky Bill:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFPu9zNU5yA
Blinky Bill • Bado Mapema (Simama)

I love Omah Lay for his elegant and hypnotic instrumentations, captivating and sensual but also fun, and recognize him as true innovator in r&b - afrobeats crossover. The short song format is very welcome too.

Btw I have found a pre-Omah Lay in 1da Banton. His songs are not new but some have been rereleased as singles this year (African Woman). Had never head him before, he's very good.
African Woman: [url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UxDSEJUB4M]
Jowo: [url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMaBMQq9dhk]

thanx, Nabozo. last.fm tells me I’ve played very little 1da Banton over the years, even though he’s been around for a while, but these are indeed very nice.

this is lovely:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d8dG_6ZA8Y
Immaculate Dache ft. Niniola • Antonio

damn, this is irrestistible - can’t stop playing it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KfJB7ZuzOk
Blaq Jerzee ft. Tekno • One Leg Up

Anything showing up on year end lists?

the time albums list had tiwa savage and their tracks list had prince kaybee et. al's "uwrongo"

Wizkid was on one I looked at, might’ve been the Guardian?

Burna’s Twice As Tall is on the Consequence Of Sound list

no comment

hadn’t seen the Wizkid so far...

sigh

...but you’re right, it’s number...

wait for it

...43 on the Guardian list

since we're doing the Guardian, they ran an interview with Davido yesterday.

Also noticed One Leg Up.
Singles I'm considering to appear on my year-end lists: Cool Me Down (DJ Tunez), Away (Oxlade), Infinity (Olamide), Addicted, Woman, half Wizkid's songs, Ojah (C Natty), Again (Wande Coal), Damn or another (Omah Lay). Follow-ups: Beynaud, Rayvanny, Innoss'B, Zlatan, Terri, GreyC.

Album-wise: Wizkid mainly. The rest was frankly disappointing and I hate Tiwa Savage with a passion.

some good choices there, but “hate Tiwa with a passion”? care to elaborate?

Hmmm, I'd say there's something stiff about her singing that is constantly rubbing me the wrong way, also it would be nice if you could sometimes hear her voice through the autotune.
I can do Simi next.

no please Nabozo don’t hurt Simi!

Bring on the boys:

🔻The new Rema is another naijapiano track, but very different in vibe than “Woman” - wounded and contemplative instead of ludicrously lustful:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNR7F3AuIhY
Rema • Peace Of Mind

(it’s Kel-P’s first foray into the genre, I think)

🔻More naijapiano, this time by trailblazer Mayorkun:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu8txVby2RY
Mayorkun • Your Body

(Busiswa was practically begging him for a collab on Twitter the other day btw. We *would* love to see it)

🔻Buju finally came through with a new single. his previous one was early-pandemic. still hoping big things from him, even if it feels like Omah Lay might have stolen some of his thunder:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-xLGjzDgOk
Buju • So Lovely

So many men, so little time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxclLinAj18
Mr Eazi ft. J Balvin • Lento

produced by Killertunes

posted about it on the Rolling R&B thread, but the Amaarae album that came out last month is very good (and Pitchfork-approved)

Which are the songs that have a shot at the top 77?

Uwrongo? Cool Me Down? Ngihamba Nawe?

Jerusalema? Hehehe

would think/hope Woman, Dangerous Love, No Stress, Emcimbini, Emakhaya, Your Love are contenders, possibly others as well

eMcimbini for sure

My spotify eoy was 99% kabza this time

after a great first few months Ghana seems to have slipped away (from my mind at least), but here's Joey B and friends to save the day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0LR0dDUfQU
Joey B ft. Kofi Mole & Medikal • Akobam

a new Davido signee with a lovely label debut:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_7NMl5W91A
Liya • Melo

man, “Godly” is so good. the organ that comes in in the chorus after he mentions God

nna, nna, nna, nna, na, ah-ahh

love that one!

Am I correct that this was discussed in another thread?

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

Dj Manzo Sa feat. Comado and Mthandazo Gatya - "Senzeni"

yes, here:
THE HOUSE OF SUN-EL: Sun-El Musician, Simmy, Mlindo The Vocalist, and other related artists

it’s a brilliant track!

Oh ok didn't know there was a Sun El connection, thanks
Yeah it's ridiculously beautiful

there isn’t a Sun-El connection as such, but it fits the brief of beautiful South African house(y) music that’s not amapiano, generally speaking. or something.

just want to thank this thread - and especially regular posters like breastcrawl and Nabozo - for being my window into African music over the course of this (and every) year. about 10% of my "favourite songs" list was discovered here. http://www.saidthegramophone.com/

my pleasure, sean. anything to make your wonderful yearly list even better!

Which are the songs that have a shot at the top 77?

Uwrongo? Cool Me Down? Ngihamba Nawe?

Jerusalema? Hehehe

― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Tuesday, December 8, 2020 5:01 PM (six days ago) bookmarkflaglink

Omah Lay deserves a shout either through his first EP, Damn, Godly or Infinity.
Jerusalema definitely. I've seen people try to build hype around Makazi, Yaz Abantu. Tugela Fairy is deserving.
Thanks for following Sean, tbh it's really hard to get in front of breastcrawl's military-grade radar.

lol please keep coming up with potential new display names, Nabozo!

was just listening to Omah’s “Lo Lo” again, thanx to sean’s list. that was his first song I fell for, but man, did I give him a hard time. couldn’t see what made him worthy of his instant stardom at first, but he’s proven this mere mortal being very wrong.

also #teamjerusalema here (for the second year running)

my tracks ballot is going to be a nightmare for sure, and Omah Lay is partic hard to narrow down. I actually most responded to "Ye Ye Ye" but also love "Lo Lo" and "Damn." I liked "Green Light" so much on the Olamide album I may have overlooked "Infinity."

tbh it's really hard to get in front of breastcrawl's military-grade radar

so otm, if I actually find a song that hasn't already been posted here, it's generally safe to assume it actually came out last year

as for the meaning of #86 on sean gramophone's list, from the ever-useful YouTube comments:

El Comentarista:
Please can someone tell me what it means "Ngongingo "?

Salama Salum:
@el comebtarista Ngongingo mean small ass and wowowo mean big ass according to this song!!

an independent earlier source confirms the second part:

Wowowo – Pronounced “whoawhoawhoa”, it’s Kiswahili for “Big butt.”

(I guess there were some clues in both the artwork and video!)

guys, Infinity - banging softness / male duo / Nigerian fashion / put it in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu69SyqwPGg
and the EP on the albums poll

hahaha amazing, thank you bc!!

so otm, if I actually find a song that hasn't already been posted here, it's generally safe to assume it actually came out last year

― loose Orwellian mobs (rob), Monday, December 14, 2020 8:52 PM (twenty-four minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

haha, and then of course it's breastcrawl who comes and points it out to you, and you can feel he's giving you the eye and you should get disciplined asap.

or kindly reminding you that you must have been distracted because the song has already been posted and is right here in the spotify playlist at number 242

breastcrawl: maybe "Gunnery Sergeant Starboy" ?

thanx, but I’ve decided to go with “That’s What Search Functions Are For”

just came across this "Infinity" write-up in Rolling Stone:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/olamide-omah-lay-infinity-video-1085971/

it namecheks producer P.Priime, the third guy in the video. check that brilliant shot at 2'40, coinciding with his tag.

*namechecks

bizarre news from Uganda:

https://thenativemag.com/communities/omah-lay-tems-police-custody-uganda/

After watching the "Infinity" video last night, I woke up with the song in my head, so good call there friends

One small complaint though: it's actually Olamide who's the weak link for me. I love him on other songs (cf. "Green Light"), but all I want to hear is Omah on that one.

uganda seems like a powder keg right now. glad to hear bobi wine is out of prison.

also out of Ugandan prison: Omah Lay and Tems. Both presidential candidate for the opposition Bobi Wine and his rival Bebe Cool, son a former Museveni cabinet minister, are claiming a role in their release - Bebe Cool after allegedly calling the police on them in the first placce.

anyway, there's a video for "Godly" (sugar, no creme lol):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqUd72pK15Y

I think Kabza De Small would have a fair shot at top 77 if there was a single consensus track or album but the problem is he releases too much good music.

here's some consensus for you:

🎹🎹PİANO! PİANO!🎹🎹 - a song appreciation thread for ”eMcimbini” by Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa ft. Aymos, Samthing Soweto, Mas Musiq & Myztro

Hey that's good. I'll be doing my part to get it on the countdown.

brilliant track to (perhaps?) close off this year, which in Nigeria was dominated by the #endSARS protests as much as by the pandemic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3BxmBQDfhQ
Ajebo Hustlers ft. Davido • Barawo (Remix)

(produced by... 1da Banton! - see Nabozo’s post one month upthread)

thanks to this thread for providing much of my fave music of the year btw!

a pleasure, as always

I'm only just getting around to the Amaarae album today, and it's so good! I was worried her voice was too wispy to sustain interest across a whole album, but I was very wrong.

Thanks for making up the playlists for the nominated stuff as always breastcrawl and everyone for all the songs this year, I’ve been too damn busy this past year and need to catch up. Sounds like a tonne of great shit came out.

thanx kruezer! let me put said playlists up here as well. the afropop one includes the amaarae album, which, rob is right, is indeed very good.

(copied from the 2020 EOY Voting & Campaigning thread:)

Just like last year, I made two Spotify playlists for all the (*very* broadly defined) African “pop” that has been nominated:

one for all the South African stuff: first the 47/48 nominated tracks and after that the 16 albums that were nominated (I counted the Keleketla! album Nabozo is championing as South African), 273 tracks in total, a lot more than last year. that’s 25 hours of music to get lost in: lots of amapiano, some Limpopo house, a bit of gqom and of course several representatives of the House of Sun-El.

link: ILM 2020 EOY🇿🇦SOUTH AFRICAN NOMS

...and one for all the non-SA African stuff, 62 tracks and 18 albums, 279 tracks in total, similar to last year.
I stretched “pop” to include Nyege Nyege, Tony Allen & Masekela (counted this one towards the non-SA side) and “African” to include Afro-Portuguese (by way of the UK and France) batida-makers DJ Danifox and Nídia. Oh, and Moroccan-French band Bab L’Bluz is there as well, because I like ‘em.

link: ILM 2020 EOY🔷AFROPOP NOMS

Please let me know if you think I forgot or overlooked something!

I went ahead and created a new thread for afrobeats / afro-pop btw
Rolling Afrobeats 2021

I guess someone can come up with a fancy title for a South African thread (rolling amaKhosi nezIndlovukazi yAmapiano, gqom, house neKwaito 2021)

not sure we need a Rolling South African thread. we have plenty of active and ongoing SA-themed threads as is.
what do others think?

I'd like to be less of a bystander re: afro-pop this year, but that's more likely to happen on a Nigeria/Ghana thread than a SA one so I defer to the experts here. FWIW I like the Sun-Et Al. thread, it feels very classic ilm, so I def wouldn't want to pre-empt that one