Songs of the Day: New Music from Master KG x Burna Boy, Nissi, Teyana Taylor x Davido & more
All the best music from around the continent
All the best music from around the continent
With most of the world self-isolating to flatten the COVID-19 curve, music is one of the things that has kept our spirits up and sustained our sense of community. Artists from all around the world have continued to put out new music, and their relatable subject matters help us process past hurts, dream of a better future, whilst also just enjoying the present moment. It’s completely understandable if this week, you haven’t really been keeping up with new music releases, given the current state of affairs around the whole world.
So to help out a bit, we’ve compiled a list of the new songs you should listen to today. Our Wednesday selections included new singles from Yemi Alade, David Meli, Oscarr, SirBastien and much more. Today’s curation includes a Burna Boy-assisted remix of a South African house smash single, Davido’s collaboration with Teyana Taylor, a politically charged song from Sarkodie and M.amifest, a new single from Nissi, and more Enjoy.
As far as this music thing is concerned, there’s nothing Burna Boy cannot do. His afro-fusion sound has seen him successfully take to multiple genres at once, and he continues that streak with his appearance on the remix of “Jerusalema”, the smash banger by South African electronic producer Master KG. Taking melodic cues from the original, which featured sole vocals from S.A singer Nomcebo Zikode, Burna holds sway over the remix with his sublime singing and honest writing, as he acknowledges his imperfections without sounding like he’s patronising. It’s a showcase that he’s very comfortable, both in his own skin and atop any beat.
Clear evidence of Davido’s status as afropop royalty, is his overflowing list of cross-Atlantic collaborations—Russ, Angel, Popcaan, Khalid, Skip Marley and much more. For his latest feature appearance, Davido joins Teyana Taylor on “Killa”, a sultry bop off the R&B singer’s new LP, ‘The Album’. Over airy keys and gentle percussion, Davido complements Teyana’s sensual energy with his trademark, self-assured charm, as the pair combine for a slow-burning jam.
Upon release, Bad Boy Timz’s “MJ” was met with widespread acceptance, effectively culminating in his biggest single yet. Extending the song’s relevance—perhaps in the hopes that the ‘rona will still allow us to groove to it in the club—he’s just dropped a remix that featuring, Mayorkun. With an insanely catchy beat and Timz’s original vocals intact, Mayorkun’s addition is the only new change, and he definitely delivers some of that pop star sauce. “If you’re not careful, I’mma take your girl and leave”, he boasts on his standout verse.
Larry Gaaga’s role as a curator has become more pronounced with each release, from the modern classic banger, “Baba Nla”, to his primary role in putting together the ‘Living in Bondage’ soundtrack. For his latest, “Hold On”, he pairs Nigerian rap veteran M.I Abaga and Ghanaian singer Efya, for an inspirational track about scaling through obstacles. Backed by a soulful beat, M.I recounts the challenges he’s faced and offers nudging words, while Efya holds out a gently affecting optimism with her beautifully sung chorus.
After starting the year with the video for “Trouble” back in April, Nissi has now shared her first solo single of the year, “Judi”, a bubbly cut about reclaiming positivity amidst the trials and challenges of life. Cutting through Kwame Yeboah’s hypnotic dance groove, Nissi authoritatively dispels bad energy, singing, “I no like problem, carry throway, stay in your lane”.
It is quite refreshing when top tier rappers collaborate for timely, topic-driven music. On their new collaborative single, “Brown Paper Bag”, Ghanaian rappers Sarkodie and M.anifest come together for a thought-provoking song, which is dense with observations about racism, neo-colonialism and its effects on African people, specifically Ghanaians. In four minutes of straight raps, split evenly between them, the pair invoke the spirit of JAY-Z’s phenomenal verse on Meek Mill’s “What’s Free”, referencing Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, urging listeners to open their third eye and slamming the practice of African governments looking for foreign handouts while misusing local resources. “Brown Paper Bag” is one of those rap songs that unspools over a few listens, however, the ominously humming beat and the energetic deliveries from Sarkodie and M.anifest is a big part of what makes it worth multiple spins.
Last month, Nigerian rapper/producer dropped his debut solo project, ‘Boundless’, and he’s been supporting the release with accompanying videos. His latest drop is the video for the William-assisted title track, a colourful and captivating representation of the zen-inducing cut about the simultaneous importance and futility of finding self. In his verses, Tey juggles the tension between strength, vices and resilience, with his honest and poetic raps coming off as ciphers that deserved to be decoded and experience.
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Dennis is not an interesting person. Tweet Your Favourite Playboi Carti Songs at him @dennisadepeter