Rolling Afropop / Afrobeats 2021

Seeing how established and vital African pop is on ILM (and not only), let's be among the first to start off the new year !
I assume we will have a separate thread for the South African scene(s) and that breastcrawl will curate a Spotify playlist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcbGePUukKA
L.A.X. - Go Low (from his Nov. album)

And because it seems that music does not like frontiers, here's a Nigerian song incorporating amapiano

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FtuXxKikNk
Zinoleesky - Kilofeshe

He's a new guy chaperoned by Naira Marley.

This is a year old but I kinda love it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN8OwvaHLU4
Ethic Entertainment feat. Konshens - Figa

that’s Kenyan gengetone, right? another blind spot there

but yes, one of the big musical stories of last year was amapiano taking root outside of South Africa. watch this blow up further in 2021. in Nigeria homegrown piano is all over the charts right now. lots of producers (including some of the biggest names) are taking a stab at it.

case in point: the biggest song in Nigeria right now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFX9cruEfoo
Rexxie ft. Mohbad • KPK (Ko Por Ke)

another big one besides the Zinoleesky, that’s providing Phyno with his biggest hit in ages:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YrjQz_zncY
DJ Kaywise ft. Phyno • High Way

this is not exactly a smash, but it should be - I love it to pieces, such a sticky hook!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnN1JeKowTU
Eltee Skhillz ft. Niniola • Lucy (Remix)

(this one is actually produced by a SA producer, Eternal Africa, who works with Naija artists as well)

Did we do Tanzapiano yet?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hIka4cx_-U
Rayvanny ft. Diamond Platnumz • Woza

can’t wait for the “Jerusalema”-biting video!

(actually we did: I posted Marioo’s “Mama Amina” with Sho Madjozi & Bontle Smith on the Amapiano thread last month, but “Woza” is more interesting to me because the amapiano is incorporated in the bongo flava here)

...for contrast, some of that nu classic (convential?) Naija “afrobeats” sound:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dE1mygXWOE
Runtown • If E Happen For Lagos

...and this, from Ghana:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zOz0R4z_9A
Darkovibes • Crazy People

(from his latest EP The Cornerstone. I nominated his Kpanlogo album from last spring for the EOY, it’s very groovyvibeywavey)

...and oh yeah, in 2021 afropop will go even more global:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gijs__G364g
Mr Eazi ft. J Balvin • Lento (prod. Killertunes)

so excuse me for being on a roll, *BUT*:

that L.A.X track Nabozo posted is a great example of how thoroughly amapiano has permeated Naijapop in just one year. it’s not overt amapiano, like the Zinoleesky, Rexxie and Kaywise tracks, but it’s unthinkable without it.
(the same can probably be said about that Darkovibes track, although it’s possible I’m hearing things)

I’m constantly updating my (quite possibly unique) Spotify playlist for tracking and tracing amapiano’s influence on (with a few exceptions, so far) West African pop. I’m now at 99 tracks, but I’m sure I will come across many more, it’s become hard to keep up:

🇳🇬🇬🇭🇿🇦NAIghaPIANO🎹🎹

(my criterium is: if I feel the track wouldn’t have sounded like it does without amapiano I’m including it. it’s likely not everyone will agree with all of my choices. I welcome comments and suggestions!)

Nabozodamus:

I assume we will have a separate thread for the South African scene(s)

and that breastcrawl will curate a Spotify playlist.

Very curious in the new year abt the scene from Angola

have you heard any good stuff from there recently? I’d be very curious to hear them

them, it...

I did a dive midway last year and found some stuff I dug, need to do a follow up, there was def a distinct sound

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVkpPRu77Js

Ah cool, that’s the track that came up last year in our convo about Angolan kuduro and “Afro House” in the Dance Music Nobody Talks About thread.

For the record, we’re talking about:
DJ Malvado & Nelo Paim ft. DJ Habias & Nad Beatz • Amingas

🔻🔻Could everyone please label the tracks they are posting?
It makes it so much easier to search for something, and as with all internet links, there is every chance these YouTubes (or Soundclouds or whatever the case may be) will become broken at some point (in a couple of years perhaps, or you know, next week, it happens all the time), and then we won’t have anything left to go on.🔺🔺

...and oh yeah, in 2021 afropop will go even more global

about that:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-GX9bpT3MI
Nao ft. Adekunle Gold • Antidote (produced by Sarz)

(thanking ufo for the alert)

(hope to be able to put up the Rolling SA thread tomorrow btw)

the sister thread is up!

MZANSI MUZIQ 2021 🇿🇦 Rolling South Africa thread

No hits, but a few things that caught my attention lately from some "minor" artists:
- IcePrince feat Tekno - Make Up Your Mind. It's no "One Leg Up" but decent single from last year, I like the saxophone.
- Mmzy - Wildin. New guy, not fully convinced by Animal despite the interesting somber tone / sax, but I like Wildin.
- Barry Jhay - O Ga Ra. This is from 2018, I had never heard of the guy. Warm stuff, I like that flute.
- Ecool - Sobente. Nothing particular, a little slow, but competent.

The DJ Spinall album (Grace) is noteworthy if you're looking for a consistent set of songs (and you don't think albums are overrated)

Ok I'll post something officially
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngZIp43W3ws
Runtown - If E Happen for Lagos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtqzVHK-MfM
DJ Tunez & Olamide - Require (more Amanaija)

Oops, I checked the whole 2020 thread and forgot to check here: Runtown already posted :/ O Ga Ra actually late 2019, not 2018.

(redacted)]

okay so i've been to busy to nom this year but will try to put in a ballot on the train home tomorrow afternoon. what have you guys been voting for so far?

*too

Too busy to spell, it seems

(i feel like this is the tread where all the people i have similar tastes with tend to come together, so feel free to mention all genres)

honestly I'm trying to take the poll less seriously this year -- ilm massive isn't what it once was and that's fine, I don't need to get upset about it. But vote for Koffee's "Lockdown" and you'll make me happy longneck :)

I will!
Wait... so no one nom'd any of the Scorpion Kings albums? Just the Kabza solo? No vote splitting then, I guess. Lol.

Trying to free up some time to post more music this year. ilm massive may not be what it used to be (mea culpa), but you guys are still trustworthy when it comes to new music.

ha to be clear, that def wasn't aimed at anyone round here! I still get a ton of enjoyment and value out of the board, just less so the eoy poll than times past

Tru dat

A lot of really great stuff this year - even quite a few albums(!) - but i don’t expect much of it to enter the list. I’m listening to breastcrawl’s nom’d SA tracks right now and am amazed at how many great tracks I’ve missed even though I’ve been listening to SA stuff all year.

so otm -- it was an overwhelmingly abundant year and I can't pretend I heard much more than a fraction. weirdly I feel like albums is where there might be some afropop consensus? iirc I voted for Wizkid, Tiwa, Amaarae, and Azana...might be forgetting something else too. I nommed the uneven Burna but can't remember if I had room for it

I prefer the Davido to the Burna tbh but not sure if it was nom’d? Didn’t see Niniola either? Oh well. Will vote for Wiz and Tiwa, the best of the bunch.

hm might be worth double checking the Davido, there was def some enthusiasm for that. also I didn't care for it, but I would assume the Fireboy DML was nominated

guys, you’re catching me at a bad time...

ILM 2020 EOY🔷AFROPOP NOMS

ILM 2020 EOY🇿🇦SOUTH AFRICAN NOMS

🎼is my posting in vain?🎼

sorry breastcrawl, it's cuz I don't have spotify

i voted for the wizkid, azana, fireboy and tiwa albums, and simmy ("ngihamba nawe") and busiswa in tracks

Haven’t listened to the Azana album until now but it deserves my vote. Gorgeous stuff.

ok if the poll motivated you to listen to that for the first time, then I love poll

If memory serves correctly I voted for 4 afropop albums and 4 tracks, but guess I should avoid naming which ones for spoiler purposes.

a+ bop:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xopfgeXDlKA
Bankulli x Not3s • Foreign

(killer production by DJ Coublon)

shocker! TSJ not in agreement with my tracks ballot!

breastcrawl* > tsj

*I voted for the album, but not the song

Omah Lay is a good example of the plateau problem I had with 2020 in general: so much sustained quality that I struggled to pick highlights from genres or even artists

"godly" >

really hope it places, it was my favourite Omah song so far, but I fear he is another one who might (have) be(en) vote-splitted away

*is* my favourite...

"godly" >

― J0rdan S., Sunday, January 24, 2021 12:03 PM (one hour ago)

lol I guess that might be true, but I basically liked everything I heard him on last year...and thus didn't vote for any of them sorry!

Really digging KPK

mutual satisfaction guaranteed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAkcBuc-52o
DJ Spinall ft. WurlD & Niniola • Pure Water

(from Spinall's Grace album mentioned upthread)

that's really good! some naijapiano has sounded weirdly truncated to me (I know, I'm the goldilocks of 'piano) but that's perfect

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92St1TBJL2E
Peruzzi - Southy Love feat. Fireboy DML

We're easily at more than 50% Naijapiano by now.

Even Davido joins the bandwagon (The Best feat. Mayorkun), but he still sounds like himself

so still unlistenable dross? :)

Lol

Ha, I may have exaggerated on the 77 tracks thread cause it's hard to make afro pop unpleasant, but after he peaked in 2017, his rehashed singing has become really tired by now, grating even, it's physical. A bit like I can't stand Drake repeating his same modulations over and over. And the fact that he comes from money and gets the sunshine other artists deserve does not help. The exceptions for Davido might be his dancehall collabs (Dun Rich, Risky). "The Best" is no exception.

he's hit or miss for me too, though I loved "FEM" last year and "Aye" is in the running for favorite afrobeats of all time

i've liked both of the lsat two albums a lot -- there's a lushness and a romanticism in his music that i really respond to. he's kinda working the same sound on both albums but it's pretty sui generis to me so i don't mind it.

I could not decide on any sort of Omah Lay song so I just saved my vote for him for my albums bracket. I think I would have voted for "Bad Influence" if I had to pick 1.

Even Davido joins the bandwagon (The Best feat. Mayorkun🕸), but he still sounds like himself

*he’s* got...

Bad Influence is the omah lay choice for me as well

like I said earlier I couldn't narrow down my Omah picks but was I the only one who really flipped for "Ye Ye Ye"?

I put all my Lay’s chips on “Godly”

(I mean, if he can get away with Get Layed...)

snort

his next should be Omah Gerd

Omah Layrd?

OmahLaya Rodrigues

i’ll stop

Omah x Lay

O, MahndaLay!

Nomah Playse

exclusive preview of the artwork for the new album:

https://i.imgur.com/nNlOZK1.png

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW6aSuuJBUg
NSG - Kate Winslet feat. Unknown T

I can't say I really get the challenge but the song is making waves. It's chill.
I could post it under the Afro UK but I find it closer to the Nigerian sound than usual.

ha to be clear, that def wasn't aimed at anyone round here! I still get a ton of enjoyment and value out of the board, just less so the eoy poll than times past
― rob, Thursday, January 21, 2021

Lol are you fact-checking my enjoyment of the poll?

Okay: I'd say yes and no. The poll rollout/experience is definitely enjoyable (I do apologize that that post implied otherwise), and I genuinely appreciate your, Moka, and seandalai's work. But it's less valuable to me these days, because it's now very rare that I hear new tracks that I love via the results. I'm honestly not sure why. I'm open to the possibility that it's my fault! Maybe my tastes have calcified and I'm less open-minded than I think I am; writing this post I remembered I like the Selena Gomez song and should revisit it. But while I'm glad there was no repeat of the purple mountains fiasco, I can't say it's objectively better to have three Jessie Ware songs either just because I like her and not PM.

Anyway, the point of my posts upthread was that I am bored and a more than a little embarrassed by my tendency to (pre-)hand-wring over the results every year, and I wanted to not do that this year. On further reflection, I should absolutely add "ILM was better back then" to the boring + embarrassing post topics list--that's both simplistic and a pointless thing to whine about.

lol i was just being bitchy!
in any case, the poll encompassed a significant amount of handpicked afropop/beats this year; figured you might be more into it. i'm aware it provides different people with different things; all good regardless!

lol sorry, woke up feeling crabby today

I suppose I was also trying to be high-minded and not say the poll is good now because more stuff I like placed :)

But, yes, to be earnest -- and to echo you and breastcrawl -- the growting interest in African music is a very cool turn of events for ILM!

you say crabby, I say bitchy
let’s call the whole thing off

some people on this board professed some interest in Angolan afrohouse of the kuduro kind – it’s a known fact you can’t go wrong with producer DJ Vado Poster:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ORsmIGBT48
Cleyton M ft. DJ Vado Poster • Já Está

but that one is too new to have a video yet, and of course half the fun are the crazy-ass videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AHNHF__VMY
King Defofera ft. Marcos Robem • Segura a Mandioca

(this one is actually one year old, but the video only six months, and the track only got uploaded to Spotify this year)

your valentines for the day:

Niniola • Promise:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TowFIy1k8c
(from her upcoming r&b project)

CKay ft. Bianca Costa • Skoin Skoin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFgHl0waqG0
(from his Boyfriend EP, which also features Amaarae)

Joeboy • Door:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5thBLIAnw8
(produced by Tempoe, of “Godly” fame, from his Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic album)

the Joeboy album is very good btw, ”Oh”, the *other* Tempoe track, is the bigger banger, but it’s not as valentine-y.

yeah it's a great album

the whole ckay ep is great

still don’t understand that the only place this jam is a hit seems to be my home.
luckily I have the excuse that there’s a video out now so I can repost it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqT0q8iPQAA
Eltee Skhillz ft. Niniola • Lucy (Remix)

(if you don’t like Eltee and Niniola’s vocals (as if), you could just put that isolated beat in the final 35 seconds (from 3:24 in the video) on endless repeat)

from the same early January batch: that video link broke, but the official video just dropped today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVq3ijdk0E8
DJ Kaywise ft. Phyno • High Way

nominating Pronto’s “Baga” for best Schweizerdeutsche afropop track ever:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS9ilxcyBFo

wow. nomination seconded.

whooooah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMp_-r4zLks

Rema, "Bounce" (prod. by Don Jazzy, who is the star here)

wow, another banger, no lie

love that this is not in any way shape or form an amapiano track but that that **POPPing** bass is totally unthinkable without it

also, Rema is horny af again, more news at ten

Lol at the Swiss-german afrobeats, you can barely make out what he's saying, which is probably for the better. There's potential though, elements are right.
Not sure I'm feeling the new Rema. The beat is a bit dark, I like the part when there's a second layer of sound but then it becomes too experimental.

'Foreign' upthread is such a jam

still don’t understand that the only place this jam is a hit seems to be my home.
luckily I have the excuse that there’s a video out now so I can repost it:

Eltee Skhillz ft. Niniola • Lucy (Remix)

(if you don’t like Eltee and Niniola’s vocals (as if), you could just put that isolated beat in the final 35 seconds (from 3:24 in the video) on endless repeat)

― Long Tall Arsetee & the Shaker Intros (breastcrawl), Saturday, February 20, 2021 7:06 PM (six days ago) bookmarkflaglink

It's definitely a hit in my home too!

happy to hear it!

I love how sparingly they added that bass. It just pops up in unexpected places.

it’s that man Worlasi again!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NmQU6sLtzo
Worlasi • Fkn Guy

I do love that Bounce!

the new Kizz Daniel (with DJ Coublon producing) is fun (and, dare I say it, quite light):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7akR7AEAxg
Kizz Daniel • Flex

also really like his Masterkraft-produced naijapiano effort with unexpected doses of vocal harmony:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8CTebOm7QE
Kizz Daniel • Currently

hoping for a more... ambitious? album from him this time around

I know nothing about this but I like it a lot.

Blinky Bill & Ossie - Simmer Down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWbZuT8JUt8

Blinky Bill is from Kenya, I posted about him two years ago when he had his last album out.
oh, and I posted his first new single back (“Bado Mapema (Simmer)”) in November as well. he’s good!

lol we’re both messing up the titles here:

the current one is “Jam Now, Simmer Down”

the previous one was “Bado Mapema (Simama)”

hell, I'll repost it:

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

https://www.npr.org/2021/02/24/970579500/davido-tiny-desk-home-concert

Davido mini-concert from home

Blinky Bill + Blick Bassy are one for the "always mixed up" thread for me

did I mention that I prefer my naijapiano to be as non-SAmapiano as possible?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDVO-DBSfck
Bils • E Choke

(apols for adding to your Blicky Bilsy confusion, rob)

lol!

and that song is cool. I like how naijapiano mostly sticks to naija norms for length -- 2:36 is just the shakers on an SAmapiano song ;)

tru dat - should I adapt my display name, I wonder?

oya back to the matter:

three current catchy upbeat Ghanaian hits with sparkling production:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSbi2Jvls7A
Okyeame Kwame ft. Kuami Eugene • Yeeko

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22rCt078QDw
KiDi ft. Kuami Eugene & Patoranking • Spiritual

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMOZaEP4Fl4
Kwesi Arthur ft. Joeboy • Baajo

(some overlap, some Nigerian input, it's all good)

Also, this is turning into a pan-African hit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6unnNvyupos
Gyakie • Forever

(she’s from Ghana, but I think this hit big in Nigeria first, which is quite unusual)
(but not unusually for a Ghanaian artist, a lot of her stuff is dancehall-adjacent)

(also, yet again, TikTok is involved in "Forever" blowing up, and her fans are called Gyakie Chans)

With the recent Spotify launches in several more African countries, I've been generating playlists to show what the new listeners in each country were disproportionately playing in their first few days. If you're interested:

Nigeria: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4RVekSXvQYyHrF6XyxEdwH?si=bPCTg3hlR5iERR1Z-j5z3g
Ghana: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0i3gO0KVgrTahrMziABjzi?si=qo64HhfaRgCDQqQO7k2J-g
Kenya: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4qTwmED83dqkVGNY9W76Jx?si=wePsV8afS0-Mw_0rL_B7pw
Tanzania: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5Z0dnLnskhYb1aCHmreyP7?si=azB7nRvISeKQ0NY6ElLgzw
Uganda: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1JY0Esk4iU4vvCvxM6WOH9?si=H7hM1lCUR1O-awDgdO-_IA
Botswana: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1vAV9s9KXwLCD7knb4TrDX?si=SJKH7Xb6TqeUJBBumbTrCA
Senegal: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1uV3spPPFM8rbTjQm5R0U8?si=ijx0CwytSEaKU51c8M3x3Q
Zimbabwe: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6jz4ew4EjyoQEc93QXItMa?si=_nbg2izzScGPqgF8pdpWgQ
Rwanda: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6vqW1BNtJLAtrDNv5l0abc?si=oY1K1PFnRh2tTsziEpa2WQ
Burundi: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1mRpE6qCP9aKMqrkzoUTto?si=YnoYpakIRVy6OJKNXYBj0w
Malawi: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/44WtZOWm90wMMiaeFQauGw?si=VK8hLFhvQiKSXBAX12iyJA

(cross-posted from Rolling Global Outernational Non-West Non-English (Some Exceptions) 2021 Thread (Often African bands))

much appreciated, glenn!

Wow cool, thanks so much Glenn. Will be so interesting to compare.

Out of those recent hits, I quite like Rush
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pyGsLat0jI
Bella Shmurda & Dangbana Republik - Rush

let's repost/repurpose some of the follow-up posts here as well:

can also report a sham upload in the Nigeria list: “High Way” is a big hit by DJ Kaywise featuring (famous rapper) Phyno, but some sneaky person re-uploaded it with the non-existing ‘Phynoo’ as the artist name.

― Blick, Bils & Blinky • Let's Skip The Shaker Intros (breastcrawl), woensdag 3 maart 2021 20:03

I was happily skimming through those but got stuck on Eli Njuchi (Malawi) for a while!

https://open.spotify.com/album/0KCzZIFaZ7BHdTHcLSM14x?si=TuFxj7SmQES1J_5Or6vXpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qJOFWXKo74

― glenn mcdonald, woensdag 3 maart 2021 18:32

More about Eli Njuchi: https://massplugmag.com/article/eli-has-taken-us-on-a-journey-people-from-all-walks-of-life-are-able-to-resonate-with-his-lyrics

have to say, that song "Phone" of his shares *a lot* of dna with a five-year-old Nigerian hit, Nonso Amadi's "Tonight" - up and including the actual "phone me, I am here for you" message:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcfOIfa5kvE

― Blick, Bils & Blinky • Let's Skip The Shaker Intros (breastcrawl), woensdag 3 maart 2021 20:35

another fresh Blinky - that new album promises to be very good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYrsEeU_8-Y
Blinky Bill ft. Kommanda Obbs • Terene

Yesterday I tried learning to move my waist Congolese-style and discovered that Innoss'B had additional awesome singles in the last 2-3 years: Lelo Lelo, Achour, Ozo Beta Mabe
His latest song is very fresh (it came out today)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFpD3EeiqM0
Innoss'B - Meme

If you go even further back to stuff like Cha Cha you reach levels of charm and innocence unheard from early Wizkid.

Okyeame Kwame ft. Kuami Eugene • Yeeko

^loved this one, blissfully jubilant trap floating up to the heavens

yes, that was my morning song today!
a perfect brew with those early-Young John bird plings and a healthy dose of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” added in as a secret ingredient

The Coming 2 America soundtrack has Tiwa’s “Koroba”, Davido’s “Assurance” (he performs it live in the movie), a very good old Mi Casa track and a new (or previously unreleased at least, it doesn’t sound very current, but it’s raw and fun!) track by Tekno on it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liQsQ9TR13A
Tekno • Waka Waka

oh, and Burna joins John Legend and Nile Rodgers on a new version of The System’s title track from the original 1988 soundtrack - that one’s not so good. file under Tiwa dueting with Bob Marley on the Tropkillaz remix of “Jamming”.

King Promise is the last artist I saw live, a year ago today :-(
his new single isn't his best, but I owe him one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgA3PEO9V9U
King Promise ft. Shatta Wale • Alright

Have some UK/Afro link ups

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r6MdGrLn48

NSG Ft. Potter Payper - DRUNK GUITAR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpYeFb6h8dw

Loski - Naija Man (Official Video) ft. Davido

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_WlT8WA1No

Yaw Tog, Stormzy & Kwesi Arthur - Sore (Remix) - Who knew Ghanaian drill was a thing?

The Teni album (her debut!) is making me very happy. have to admit I haven’t been on top her matter for a while, even when I know she can absolutely kill it at any given moment in the most unexpected places, but Wondaland is a multifaceted delight, both lyrically and musically (it’s a naijapiano-free zone tho, in case you were wondering).

don’t be fooled by ”For You”, her current big hit with Davido - it’s Teni-by-numbers and doesn’t do much for me. the highest light on the first pass is “Moslado”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWbxQCz9zPA
(if it reminds you of Fireboy’s “Gbas Gbos” there is a reason and the reason is producer Ozedikus).

there is one song that makes me even happier tho, and that’s “Injure Me” (an Olamide co-write!), which for all intents and purposes is Teni’s coming-out song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7bOeffd48E

big sis Niniola’s 5-track 6th Heaven EP is good stuff too btw. no afrohouse or naijapiano here either, it’s afropop-inflected old-schoolish r&b, and she does it very well. these two are Sisters With Voices for real!

“Baby” is so lovely:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUcJ3OmWp0E

I my just heard Rema - Bounce and it's the best song ever made

well, yes

all i need is a constantly rising bass-synth and i'm sold.

also enjoying Rema's move into slightly darker-sounding territory.

Just digging into this new thread, so much great music here.

This guy reached out to me on Reddit - I don't know much about him:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=553aPDtMNxA

Thoughts? Don't hold back!

nice track, I like it.

btw, it's Akoben x Specikinging • Body Bad

🔻🔻Could everyone please label the tracks they are posting?
It makes it so much easier to search for something, and as with all internet links, there is every chance these YouTubes (or Soundclouds or whatever the case may be) will become broken at some point (in a couple of years perhaps, or you know, next week, it happens all the time), and then we won’t have anything left to go on.🔺🔺

― partyin' maskless with Rudy G. and Vanilla Ice, it's a gas gas gas (breastcrawl), woensdag 6 januari 2021 8:32

Sorry! I saw that earlier but was a bit faded when I posted that tbh. I had just been digging into this thread all day, went out, came back and saw the message from him on Reddit. I think the guy who got in touch with me is the head of the label, I don't think he produced the track to be clear. I will try to dig deeper and resolve this mystery.

Anyway thanks a lot for your thoughts and uh basically being the main content provider here as far as I can tell -- not to minimize others' contributions to this thread and the S. Africa one, they are also greatly appreciated!

Would this be an appropriate place to ask if you're on Twitter?

this is the only place you’ll find me, for better or for worse. (well, you could find my Spotify profile through the playlists I shared upthread if you’re interested in more playlists)

anyway, thanx for the kind words, feedback is always appreciated! (as are more people posting, we could do with more than just a handful of posters)

this is the best song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCdgboWtvf4
Crayon ft. Rema • Too Correct
(produced by Andre Vibez, who I’ve never heard of - whole Crayon EP is nice)

It's no "Bounce" (which is remarkable and exquisitely fun to my ears) but it's catchy and fun! Rema's really firing on all cylinders isn't he? Consistent for a long time now

Also really like the Crayon and his fast and fresh delivery.

We haven't posted Hallelu. I don't know about you but I'm not even remotely tired of Amapiano in Nigeria.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPZsU17Z5T8
Masterkraft x Zlatan x Bella Shmurda - Hallelu

Reposting Forever because everything is better with Omah Lay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5URc13jOv0
Gyakie feat. Omah Lay - Forever (remix)

Yes I'm loving the unique flows on both Hallelu (is that like Hallelujah?) and Too Correct. Forever Remix also solid of course.

anyway, thanx for the kind words, feedback is always appreciated! (as are more people posting, we could do with more than just a handful of posters) (You also mentioned Spotify but I don't really fuck with that sorry.)

You're very welcome, and I'd love to post more but I'm not so knowledgable about afrobeats, I'm mostly into bass music/club music these days. My listening habits also tend to lag new releases by a month or more, gotta give it time to percolate.

Someone recommended to me Tender Love by Sha Sha feat. DJ Maphorisa & Kabza de Small. It strikes me as evocative of a powerfully refined mood, especially through the vocals.

I'd guess it's already been posted but if not I'll throw up the link. I tried searching for the afrobeats (or afropop) thread from last year -- I didn't find anything, but surprised to see there are threads for every previous year all the way back to 2013. That's a lot to dig thru!

Not sure if that in particular was posted, but I'm guessing most prev Sha Sha talk was on this goldmine thread: THE HOUSE OF SUN-EL: Sun-El Musician, Simmy, Mlindo The Vocalist, and other related artists

And this year there's a dedicated rolling South African thread: MZANSI MUZIQ 2021 🇿🇦 Rolling South Africa thread

Brilliant!

but surprised to see there are threads for every previous year all the way back to 2013. That's a lot to dig thru!

consider this the Rolling Afropop 2012 thread: "See I like Beyoncé, but she dey with Jigga / I like Nicki, her yansh is bigger..." // D'BANJ - OLIVER TWIST // afrobeats in the charts, unfortunate title notwithstanding.

(2012 is also my personal ground zero year for afropop)

Bounce is SOTY so far.

Yes. It just goes. And by the time it peaks, Rema's in an absolute frenzy going "bootybootybootybootybootybooty" and I know the narrative arc is simple and the subject matter played out, but it just works

bouncing booty will never be played out, lol

i can see this one crossing over into the soca fanship realm (not that this should be discouraged ofc)

xpost

Thanks for the link, beast.

2012 is also my personal ground zero year for afropop

Alright one more archival request then I'm done: is there a thread where the semantics of "afropop" vs "afrobeats" vs etc etc was hashed out?

it's a good question and it has been hashed out a fair bit. as with all genre distinctions, it's grey areas and blurred lines all the way. whether "afrobeats" refers specifically to contemporary West African pop music or not is a question in itself.
whether it's even a useful definition at all is a question. is all music from Nigeria and Ghana "afrobeats"? What about East, South and North? It can becoem quite a messy business. Where possible, I try to use Naija-pop, Ghana-pop etc but it's not always so useful tosilo everything into dozens of subgenres if you want to talk about music that shares a lot in common

bouncing booty will never be played out, lol

I still don't like Bounce, but hard to say what my SotY is. Southy Love has proved its immense replayability but I guess it's from December.

This is no "One Leg Up" but I actually like the flat beat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-rbG6h_1kU
Blaq Jerzee, Mr Eazi, Harmonize - Falling For U

And since we're in confessional mode, my zero year is 2014 with SOS from Yung L. I discovered a few things (Burna Boy) on my own, and then a little while later friends of my roommate introduced me to the South African scene on the dancefloor of our living room with Kohna, Xigubu or Shumaya and suddenly what looked at first like a curiosity was the beginning of (probably) a life passion. I also married one of said friends. She says I dance better now.

2012 for me. The Oliver Twist thread on this board pushed me in a certain direction and I've been adrift ever since.

that’s lovely, Nabozo. can’t claim for African pop to have impacted my love life like that, but hearing Sarkodie’s “U Go Kill Me” changed my musical life for good - and for the better!

anyways, sorta forgot about “Hallelu”, but it’s good. hadn’t played “Southy Love” much either, because of my (non-musical) aversion against Peruzzi, but have to admit it’s a great track - P.Priime proving he’s also great at naijapiano.

always happy when other posters give me a reason to go back to a particular track that I didn’t rate enough initially or that just fell thru the cracks. another case in point: dog latin having Worlasi’s “Fkn Guy” in his Q1 highlights list. I posted it here myself and then basically forgot about it, but it’s great!

let’s see what you all think of the new Eltee Skhillz. it’s produced by Krizbeatz, who in 2016 had the hottest sound in Africa with Tekno’s “Pana” but has been nothing more than solid since. this track however... it’s not naijapiano, like Eltee’s “Lucy (Remix)” with Niniola, but it’s going all kinds of places. EDM and dancehall came to mind, and that is also how it is described in the YouTube blurb, but I never heard anything like it before tbh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2hlM7BIXZs
Eltee Skhillz • Galala

Speaking of the past, it's 10 years since Oleku but Ice Prince is still here. Oxlade is especially great here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts19iSWEvds
Ice Prince - Kolo feat. Oxlade

The song is not really excellent, but the video and dancing is (I'm in love with Nife, the girl with blue hair).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejNMVMVFWqQ
Eugy & Chop Daily - My Touch

Too much autotune but still got something
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc5J9oB3tdo
Ruger - Ruger

I like the adventurous production on Galala, there are good ideas there, but the chorus does not work for me the way it's placed

Happy Easter!

In case you’re ready for the second coming:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAhmUNl62mc
Naira Marley ft. Busiswa • Coming

(produced by Rexxie)

(biggest song in Naija right now)

Bounce - the video:

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

Oh my.

Coming is massive, btw. Vroom vroom!

I've kinda been on the fence about Naira Marley until now, but this one is undeniable. And yes, Rexxie is a major problem.

it’s the long overdue answer to the question “Baby Are You Coming?”

Naira leaving behind a thread of amapiano awesomeness

(I deeply regret where this is taking me)

lol I like the production on that, but I'm going to be sad if I eventually have to put naija alongside dancehall in the "can't play this out loud in company" category

seems like a good moment to deflect and finally post Naira’s previous moment of glory, “Soapy”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q6Rixmvujc

(seriously, this track, one of the defining African hits of 2019, was never posted on ILM. my lame excuse is that I never got around to finishing the accompanying thesis I was working on in my head. did manage to squeeze it into my EOY track noms tho)

seems like a good moment to deflect and finally post Naira’s previous moment of glory, “Soapy”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q6Rixmvujc

(seriously, this track, one of the defining African hits of 2019, was never posted on ILM. my lame excuse is that I never got around to finishing the accompanying thesis I was working on in my head. did manage to squeeze it into my EOY track noms tho)

sorry, that was bound to happen. Zing has been playing me all day today

took two doses of soap to clean the thread ;)

the things you can do with soap!

Soapy is his other great track, yes. And I do think the raunchiness of Coming... uhhh... hits the right spot. It’s almost sweet - the song sums up what most people have been longing for these past thirteen (?) months perfectly. Who doesn’t like coming?

on a bit of a Naira kick atm. his only long(ish) form so far, the LOL (Lord of Lamba) EP from Dec 2019, is good stuff, as I remember it. best track is “Oja” imo.

but discovery of the day is this track from last July from Marlian labelmate C Blvck:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8OMxVrDduU
C Blvck • All The Best

(again produced by Rexxie, all of this and the above before the naijapiano conversion obv)

all of this and the above

get vour bling on:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haLN5b85PGc
Blaqbonez ft. Amaarae & Buju • Bling

Digging this (Akay ft BM - Flexing):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIgnbmz92_Q

nice one - it’s that UK afro thing

here’s a hot one from Tanzania:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkroWpr7Bfg
Navy Kenzo • Nisogelee

nice one - it’s that UK afro thing

Oops, wrong thread, I guess. I couldn't find where the artists are based.

I'm curious, other than origin is there something distinctive about UK afro?

didn't mean anything thread-policey by that! I just like to specify tracks a bit, because Afropop/Afrobeats is not a country, so to speak. we've had several UK tracks in this thread already.

there is a UK-specific thread as well tho: UK afro - thread for discussing MoStack, J-Hus, Kojo Funds, Abra Cadabra, Belly Squad, Yxng Bane etc
some of it ends up in the rolling UK grime & rap threads, this is the current edition: Grime and UK rap 2021
...and let me plug J Hus and Pa Salieu while I'm at it:
j hus - dem boy paigon
Pa Salieu: Send Them to Coventry

Thanks for the links!

So I guess specifically for Afropop/Afrobeats there is this thread, the South Africa one, the Amapiano, and the UK afro? Anything I'm missing?

everything South African goes here this year:
MZANSI MUZIQ 2021 🇿🇦 Rolling South Africa thread

...unless it's artist-specific:
TRESOR, the Congolese-South African singer with the heavenly voiceAzana - Ingoma
THE HOUSE OF SUN-EL: Sun-El Musician, Simmy, Mlindo The Vocalist, and other related artists
🎹🎹PİANO! PİANO!🎹🎹 - a song appreciation thread for “eMcimbini” by Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa ft. Aymos, Samthing Soweto, Mas Musiq & Myztro

the Amapiano thread has technically been superseded by the Rolling Mzansi thread.

the second time around is better than the first time:

TRESOR, the Congolese-South African singer with the heavenly voice

Azana - Ingoma

replacing a broken YouTube link:Ethic Entertainment ft. Konshens • Figa (Remix)
(there seems to be a real effort going on to erase this track from all platforms)

Lots to explore! (I usually only check this thread)

Thanks again, breastcrawl

I finally made that Spotify playlist with (almost) everything posted in this thread, as well as afro(-adjacent) tracks posted in other threads this year. we’re at 74 tracks and counting (including a Canadian cuckoo’s egg):

ILM rolling AFRO🔹pop🔸beats🔻2021

South(ern) African sister playlist:

ILM rolling 🇿🇦 Mzansi MusiQ 2021 🇸🇿 🇳🇦

added two more:

1) an Angolan banger:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IogfQFSymvo
Nerú Americano ft. Os Tik Tok & DJ Vado Poster • Salta na Areia

2) and this Nigerian master jam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhPOeKgO6LI
prettyboydo (or Prettyboy D-O) • Police N’ Teef

watch the video till the *very* end for a surprise appearance (first afropop claimed Justin B., and now...)

added two more:

1) an Angolan banger:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IogfQFSymvo
Nerú Americano ft. Os Tik Tok & DJ Vado Poster • Salta na Areia

2) and this Nigerian master jam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhPOeKgO6LI
prettyboydo (or Prettyboy D-O) • Police N’ Teef

watch the video till the *very* end for a surprise appearance (first afropop claimed Justin B., and now...)

(and you're welcome, daavid. looking forward to checking out your Middle Eastern x Balkan x cetera beats thread!)

(sorry for adding ^one^ more too many)

one for rob's can't-play-this-out-loud-in-company playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhIqfu8l05o
Blaqbonez ft. Tiwa Savage • BBC (Remix)

Police N' Teef is excellent, and I like the nasal high-pitched voice. At first Amapiano was just copy-pasted into the beats, but now there are a lot of songs that have integrated it much more tightly and subtly.

Man, Martinique just quietly churns out dark, minimalist hip hop banger sand I'm here for it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Eehtz8NPQQ

Meryl x Akiyo - BB Compte

if I may redirect you to this, which is just the thread for it:
🀄️🀄️ Martinique to the world: 70 SHiiNE x Nacho • DOMINO 🀄️🀄️

Martinique c'est pas l'Afrique !

Good point, apologies. Completely forgot we had the Martinique thread

Sorry if this has been mentioned already but THERE IS A NEW TENI ALBUM OUT AND IT'S CALLED WONDALAND!!!!

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

Listening now. If there's anything half as catchy and lasting as "Shakeam" on this, it will be worthwhile

I give up

I haven't totally fucked it again have i breastcrawl? tell me i haven't

ah i can see it was mentioned upthread. late to the party as usual! I was trying to F5 "Teni" but it highlighted every instance of "lisTENIng" and I gave up

lol

please don't give up, breastcrawl - we need you

yes, breastcrawl is doing god's work across the various threads i'm steamrolling all over

new sound alert:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20JVqt9Uqog
Zlatan ft. Davido & Mayorkun • Cho Cho

(not to mention the dance)

(P.Priime producing)

I posted "Door" from the (outstanding!) Joeboy album back in February, but it's now the new single, in a version with Ghana's Kwesi Arthur:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjzzE1v1RDk
Joeboy ft. Kwesi Arthur • Door (Remix)

video for "Too Correct", a song that is otfm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRQsG8WKETg

My taste axis seems to be tilting more to South Africa this year, but I really liked Blaqbonez ft. Amaarae & Buju • Bling (still listening to the Amaarae album regularly). BBC remix was good too--maybe it's the obvs dancehall referencing? but the filthiness was less remarkable to me compared to the Naira

I'll need to check out the Joeboy album as I *really* like that "Door" (and "Lonely")

Rema is a total star, as soon as his bit starts I forget what Crayon even sounds like. Don't get me wrong though, that's a great track: it's still surprising me how good naijapiano can be

Burna is back from the G-hole

it's still surprising me how good naijapiano can be

never underestimate the power of the alchemists of the Naijapop machine!

Speaking of Rema, I think Dimension belongs in here even though it's not strictly Afro. One of the best songs out, imo.

JAE5, Rema & Skepta - Dimension
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QWCjiZSdGQ

“Dimension” is very good.
Rema is also on the new Justine Skye single, “Twisted Fantasy” (once again mirroring a Wizkid career move in the process)

(and one for the reggaeton fans: he’s also on Bad Gyal’s “44”, in Spanish!)

Yeah, he's quite obviously positioning himself to be *the next wizkid*. Which means he'll probably enjoy even more success than wiz internationally in the long run. It's all very exciting.

Rema is a total star, as soon as his bit starts I forget what Crayon even sounds like they should cut Skepta from that song...sorry, I realized recently he just doesn't work for me on afropop, always sounds stiff and awkward to my ears. Jae5 kills it though!

Angola:

sensational: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wp7NH0iBPw
Elenco Do Rangel • Rangel Já Não é o Mesmo

ever-delightful, ever-entertaining: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u7zcMg9sPA
Scró Q Cuia & Nerú Americano • 5 Milhões (produced by Crazy Baby & *Vado Poster*)

Mozambique:

mozampiano: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTkmSCEG4ZQ
KK Angel ft. Macache DJz & Ana Flores • Sk'Ngidinga

two tracks from Malinese rapper Ami Yèrèwolo’s new album AY, which goes *hard*:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaweQdfiTMk
Ami Yèrèwolo • Je gère

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFj30weUzYk
Ami Yèrèwolo • I bamba

(Yerewolo was one of Lafawndah’s collaborators on the Ancestor Boy remix album and also part of the second edition of the Amazones d’Afrique project)

New guy out with a short album starring Mayorkun, Terri, Joeboy and Teni
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2P_vjYXisI
Laycon - Fall for me (feat. YKB)

Ami Yèrèwolo has great energy - wish the production was more my bag.

love the panning on the Laycon track!

oh hello!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSXIW_RuZ7U
Blaq Jerzee ft. Marioo & Eddy Kenzo • Sokoma

(another collaboration with East African artists, album in this vein on the way apparently)

speaking of (as for now imaginary) collaborations, how about Dawn Richard on that alté tip?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1xF3iLeCeg
Le Mav ft. Tay Iwar • Supersonic

(you all know Tay Iwar, right? my days, when I'm not with you baby...)

some absolutely blinding posts over the last few days.

tell us more, dl!

(how did you like the Teni album btw?)

wow that Le Mav song is giving me LIFE

Gotta say I haven't properly let the Teni sink in, but it didn't sound like there was anythign immediately enjoyable as Shakeam or Case

Sk'Ngidinga has some awesome donking bass on it

Other highlights include the Ami Yerewolo and Scro Q Cuia tracks.

apols for posting before catching up (though I did listen to "Supersonic" and liked it), just wanted to post this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1Rs5Ew71FY

Ajebo Hustlers x Omah Lay - "Pronto"

ok just put "Supersonic" on again and it's wow good. I must have had the volume on too low the first time: there's a ton of wild stuff going on in the mix

for further listening: Le Mav and Tay Iwar made an 8-track mini album called Gold together in 2019 and it’s super smooth and wavy.

or should that be Mav-y?

revisiting Teni’s Wondaland and once again enjoying her particular blend of earnestness and fun

(it’s a naijapiano-free zone tho, in case you were wondering)

here's some Kenyapiano:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LrBiIPshog
Movaz Dance Kenya (Movaz Warombosaji Nation) • Nditni

their first track from late last year, "Danger Dinji", was straight amapiano, this follow-up has more of a gengetone inflection

(their name is kinda confusing: Spotify has both the artist and label as "Movaz Dance Kenya". the artwork and YouTube have the artist name as Movaz (Warombosaji Nation). think they originated as a dance crew called, yes... Movaz)

Just checking out Laycon's second album '...Shall We Begin...'

Very entertaining and diverse Naija-pop with a clear US hip-hop influence (or is that just the Kanye-esque 'God Body'?). Loads of guests on here too: Teni, Joeboy, Terri and others.

'Wagwan' is my favourite so far:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li0iFFnb53I

Laycon - Wagwan

ALBUM: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/41isX0xSQygFx5clIpr3dT?si=b576dd5b8b454694

Actually the Teni track is really sweet and sad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJBi93xqs6c

What do you all think of this Juls x Projexx x Tay Iwer tune "Chance"?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea7WUPHorp4

(video is the censored version, fyi)

I can't decide if this is lovely and lush or over-refrigerated, and there's a part where Iwer sounds like he's interpolating "Strawberry Letter 23" that I find distracting. Given the lineup it's kind of begging for a remix with Wizkid!

"Wagwan" is cool, sound a lot like the Ghanaian stuff I first heard on the board in 2011 or so (not a diss)

laycon album is good, thanks for sharing. the teni-featuring "want you back" has sweeping davido vibes

“Chance” is an obvious attempt to catch lightning in a bottle twice, but it totally lacks “True Love”s melodic glory - the “Strawberry Letter 23” interpolation only serves to highlight that.

yeah I think you're right, ultimately disappointing

FLASHBACK >>> Davido doing naija(SA)house in 2014:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFYIsryxaSM
Davido • Owo Ni Koko

...and Runtown doing same with Uhuru - with DJ Maphorisa as the rapper!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V7fkC3_ivg
Runtown ft. Uhuru • The Banger

Ghana Sunday:

in the mood:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xbEGphFqAE
Mr Drew • Mood

still in the mood:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da09o3T83bA
King Promise • Slow Down

fuck it - who’s in the mood for another “Yeeko”?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFoo_PBc6MY
Kwame Yogot ft. Kuami Eugene • Biibi Besi

always in a mood for Yeeko. It's totally dug its claws into my brain

so how do you like “Biibi Besi”?

handy compendium:

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

Nigerian-in-Canadamapiano:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAiP18n1u9c
Falana ft. Oxlade • Joy (Spax Remix)

shame on me for missing that R2Bees released an absolute banger late last year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AQkMED9HFE
R2Bees ft. Sarkodie • Yawa

(the poor-quality-VHS retro vibe for the video is certainly an "interesting" aesthetic choice)

French afrobeats, presenting the return of MHD (prod S2keyz)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOg7mD7SETc

MHD - "AFRO TRAP Part.11 (King Kong)"

Nigerian singer Lojay just dropped a fantastic EP with brilliant production by Sarz.

"Tonongo" is the first single/video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PohRx1zSIm4

...but the other four tracks might be even better: "Park O X3"! naijapiano jam "Monalisa"! "Panty!"!!! (especially "Panty!"!!!)

...and I posted the Wizkid-featuring title track "LV N ATTN" on the Made In Lagos thread.

...OK, I'm posting it here too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4IEaUhIuCs

"Tonongo" is the first single/video:

This is so great! That bassline!

Rema keeps it coming:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrTkERuwdCc
Rema • Soundgasm

(seems like a shoe-in for the imminent album's title as well)

re the video: another way he's modelling himself after Wizkid is his dress sense, man's got serious drip

omgasms

Two new additions to my playlist from 2020. Couldn't find them on the previous thread.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov6mUj8HjkI
Dunnie - Overdose Remix feat. Oxlade

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWrbnvXgzSQ
Oluwa Kuwait - Loke Loke feat. Teni (shame to shoot a low quality video in front of the twelve Apostles, Teni is on fire though)

KiDi has an album out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22rCt078QDw
KiDi feat. Kuami Eugene & Patoranking - Spiritual

Still feeling Bella Shmurda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0G03824rMc
Terri feat. Bella Shmurda & MohBad - Money

Minor but sweet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y44KfNt4Y0g
Savage & Buju ‐ Confident

A few more vibes from Omah Lay. Falls a bit in the category of Nigerian songs that lack conviction but are otherwise pleasant. Kinda floating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7N7ZJf1res
Omah Lay - Understand

Anyone know anything about Mudra D Viral? Can't find much except that he's Ugandan and has written hits for other people. I like this track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUjPv94LOWo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP_LpUoNx-I
Fireboy DML - Peru

This video just in for the season, a breezy Nigerian-South African duo dating back to Olakira's EP in May and that was maybe a little overlooked.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjZ-SjMnx1g
Olakira feat. Moonchild Sanelly - Summer Time

People here are bound to like this lovely romantic joint. And what's not to love, it's been growing on me too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIcsU494u8M
Adekunle Gold & Lucky Daye - Sinner

I like the almost Joe Hisaishi style instrumentation on 'Sinner' - the intro bars reel me in, but sadly the song itself doesn't grab me.

^ha Hisaishi is really otm (as is the rest of your assessment)

Lady Donli's previous project didn't quite grab me, but I'm liking her new EP WILD

lead single "Searching":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU22CmI_LYc

The Tems EP is amazing. I'm so in love with Vibe Out atm.

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

Cheers for this. I feel a bit out the loop when it comes to afrobeats/african music in general (actually ne wmusic in general) at the moment.

The Lojay & Sarz ep is giving me 2019 Rema feels. Panty in particular stays on repeat.

CKay's "love nwantiti" charted this week at #23 in Australia, I presume for TikTok-related reasons

Celebrating achievements, light strings and trap music for Burna Boy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0FE2Hjn30E
Burna Boy - Want it all feat. Polo G

Chuq - knack am ft kelvyn boy & Teflon Flexx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3a1Srhj26Y

Heard on Instagram, heh. TMI?

the new juls album is pretty incredible front to back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-Flxj-hVmc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y62zJCwFfqY

Any idea of the ID for this song plz?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-o2Y1lpsJ4

I was going to say some gqom song but all the songs are listed viborg :)
Omunye is sort of the peak hit for these guys (Distruction Boyz). Dlala Thukzin is the slim Dlala. This year he did Phuze.
Since we haven't posted the full version of the remix:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpqgLgZvCmA
Dlala Thukzin - Phuze Remix Featuring Zaba , Sir Trill , Mpura Mpura & Rascoe Kaos

A friend named her child Naledi. I love that name (means star in Pedi).

That is a beautiful name.

But thank you, that was stupid of me. I listened to it live and failed to check the description afterwards. It wouldn’t be a normal week for me on ILM unless I posted something really dumb. (Also realized after posting it might be more suited to the S.A. thread sorry.)

That remix is strong stuff for sure!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIqbvsSXyWU
Timaya - Cold Outside feat. Buju

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7pqX9MDgPQ
Wande Coal - Come my way

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcR0PWGfUhs
Ayra Starr - Bloody Samaritan

thank you nabozo!

Bloody Samaritan is one of the songs of the year

otm

Sweet naijapiano, another twist on the sound, wonder if it leads anywhere
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bovm6-15Ooo
Reekado Banks - Ozumba Mbadiwe

Not that it has to

Wow, check out this cover of Bloody Samaritan. Shame it's not longer:

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

that's great. "bloody samaritan" is def a soty candidate

yah

Not seeing anything discussed here in any critics ballots/ lists that have started coming out

It's been a pretty weak year for afrobeats to be honest, petering out from the fireworks from the two last years with Wizkid and Burna Boy as giants, the South African connection, first-class newcomers (Fireboy, Rema, Omah Lay). It just seemed there were more releases. Also breastcrawl has gone missing. The fact that Love Nwantiti is the biggest hit this year and spawned 8 remixes is a little worrying for the competition.

I'd agree, with a bunch of caveats about my subjectivity: I'm def paying less attention than in past years and haven't warmed to many of those newcomers the way I did the previous cohort. Plus I more or less burned out on amapiano by the middle of the year, so naija turning to that sound doesn't exactly thrill me. But I do think there's been something a bit bland & empty about most of the afrobeats I heard this year; not necessarily bad, just forgettable & a little too vibey for its own good.

Sort of the exception that proves the rule(?): Tems' EP is one of the highlights of the year imo...all 18 minutes of it.

This mixtape from DJ ICHE of Kenyan club/drill/kuduro styles is pretty sick.
https://hakunakulala.bandcamp.com/album/nai-yetu-mixtape

Tema EP is my AOTY.
I also love the Lojay EP and have played the new Wizkid tunes a lot. Rema’s output has been scarce but strong. And amapiano has had a GREAT year.
.

Rema lol

Sorry, meant TEMS lol

i liked the joeboy and laycon albums a lot

some great songs too, like bankulli’s “foreign,” “bloody samaritan,” that amaarae collab from the tiwa ep, and yeah, “replay” and “found” from the tems ep

That Lojay EP is good yeah. voodoo, I'm not sure I've ever heard Laycon, any track recs?

a lowkey fave: Okyeame Kwame & Kuami Eugene's "Yeeko" posted somewhere waaay upthread

I heard Amaarae blasting out of someone's car in Montreal the other day, which made me very happy

“wagwan” is the laycon track I usually turn to

Digging Niniola's new EP, "Lagos to Jozi", particularly the first track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4JJCbNl5js

“wagwan” is the laycon track I usually turn to

― grove street (party) direction (voodoo chili), Friday, December 3, 2021 9:11 PM (three days ago)

uh this is dope, thanking you

i think i got that rec from dog latin, so thanks go to him!

alright that almost makes up for him trying to kill my alabaster deplume thread ;)

Naira Marley has had a great year - while Coming is still my favorite, First Time In America is pretty undeniable too. It now has a video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fX2Tw7sPC8

"wagwan" rules, thanks

I love that whole Laycon mini album from earlier in the year. Some real gems on it

All Over Me and Don't Want You Back are my faves off the Laycon album and I'll be nominating at least one of them for EOY.

Others:

Yeeko is fantastic.
Bounce by Rema is exceptional.
Overdose by Dunnie
Navy Kenzo - Nisogelee
Prettyboydo - Police n Teef
Kwesi Arthur - Baajo

I've enjoyed a fair bit of Afrobeats this year, but it was frontloaded

Checking out the Laycon album now

It's worth mentioning that Burna's "Kilometre" and "Question" are fantastic too

oh shit "All Over Me" is a jam, how did I miss this guy?

This mixtape from DJ ICHE of Kenyan club/drill/kuduro styles is pretty sick.
https://hakunakulala.bandcamp.com/album/nai-yetu-mixtape

― we need outrage! we need dicks!! (the table is the table), Friday, December 3, 2021 4:04 PM (five days ago)

sampled a bit of this too and it's pretty awesome

"kilometre" snuck up on me and it's now one of my fav burna songs. the hook pops into my head every few days

ha yeah based on mental play count it could be my SOTY

yup his best in a while

Glad you enjoyed that Rob, it's a great mixtape.

has anyone written anything about the globalization of drill? seems like a massive phenomenon that I see rarely mentioned anywhere (in english at any rate)

Simon Reynolds did a big similar thing about trap a couple of years back

there were a good amount of pieces that came out about ghanaian drill last year, which touched on the topic. like this one: https://www.complex.com/music/2020/10/inside-ghana-asakaa-drill-scene/

yaw tog's "sore" is a banger among bangers.

Missing breastcrawl, his eoy poll was a treasure trove. What are the songs I’ve been missing out this year to consider on my ballot?

All Over Me and Don't Want You Back are my faves off the Laycon album and I'll be nominating at least one of them for EOY.

Others:

Yeeko is fantastic.
Bounce by Rema is exceptional.
Overdose by Dunnie
Navy Kenzo - Nisogelee
Prettyboydo - Police n Teef
Kwesi Arthur - Baajo

I've enjoyed a fair bit of Afrobeats this year, but it was frontloaded

― Urbandn hope all ye who enter here (dog latin)

From these I really liked:

Laycon - all over me
Dunnie - Overdose

Don’t care much about the rest but Navy Kenzo beat could be something I’d absolutely love in the right context.

Crayon - Too Correct (feat. Rema)
Masterkraft, Bella Shmurda & Zlatan - Hallelu
Omah Lay - Understand
Wizkid - Mood (feat. Buju)
Ice Prince - Kolo (feat. Oxlade)
Teni - Moslado
Burna Boy - Kilometre + Want it all
Davido & Focalistic - Champion Sound (rather South African tbh)
Stonebwoy & Focalistic - Ariba
Reekado Banks - Ozumba Mbadiwe
Olakira - Summer Time (feat. Moonchild Sanelly)
Ayra Starr - Bloody Samaritan

In the worst case scenario, none of them will make my ballot, but they're still on the playlist

I've been asked to play "Afrobeat and Highlife" on NYE. I'm only adjacently familiar with that kind of stuff, so I'll probably stray into more modern territory; so these personalised lists are great.

I always think it would be great to have a mini Afrobeats poll (or maybe including soca/dancehall too since there seems to be a lot of crossover between posters more than anything else.

Moka, the Lojay 7 Sarz EP a few have mentioned might appeal to you?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4IEaUhIuCs

thanks for that complex link, vc

So are we going for Bounce or Soundgasm for EOY?
Both are wonderful, imo. Peace of Mind is a favorite too, but the two I mentioned are more likely to succeed.

Also... looking past Essence, will you be going for Mood (mentioned above) or Anoti. Again, I love them both.

Moka, the Lojay 7 Sarz EP a few have mentioned might appeal to you?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4IEaUhIuCs

― rob

Ok yeah! This is sounding delightful.

Some other songs which I really like:

Kwiish Sa - LiYoshona
Scorpion Kings x Tresor - Folasade
Omah Lay - Understand
Busta 929 - Mmapula

have you tried Tresor's new album Motion? I think Thrill and Dancing with the Moon were the early singles

I totally lost track of amapiano this year, but De Mthuda's "John Wick" came on my playlist last night and it's good

I might definitely vote for Dunnie - Overdose. I’ve played it 5 times in the last 12 hours.

Bounce is my track of the year in any genre so I'm noming it whatever

Yeah I love that Dunnie song. Really sweet

Loke Loke by Oluwa Kuwait and Teni is also a sleeper hit in my listening. Every time it comes on I'm impressed by it.

Burna Boy and Wizkid have a song out called B. d'Or. I am sure Messi appreciates. It's totally perfunctory though.

spotify fed me this new amapiano remix of Angeliqe Kidjo's "Agolo" - by Da Capo's Touch? or something? It's lovely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-wy0wyuoYQ

Nice.

i have regretfully late passed this whole thread but I just ran into Yeeko on the best-of-the-year nominations and I need ya'll to know this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSbi2Jvls7A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdJcmvQ0DFc

idgi, what's the connection?

Wasn’t delirious released like a decade ago? I think it even made it to the ILM poll

https://travelnoire.com/missed-afrochella-2021-heres-what-went-down-in-ghana?item=3

Brief look at afrochella 2021 with Wizkid and more

I suppose Yeeko does sound a bit like Delirious

rolling afropop 2022

xps, yes i definitely hear Delirious in Yeeko