Watch Mowalola’s eerily experimental new film, “Silent Madness”

Posted on by The Native

Mowalola has made her mark on Nigerian menswear, being one of the only few brands who is pushing the envelope and producing androgynous styles you wouldn’t expect. This has gained her a lot of international acclaim, and she caught the attention of global superstars such as Drake and Solange, she was commissioned to create a custom outfit for the iconic Barbie’s 60th anniversary last year, and kicked off her 2020 with a feature in i-D’s “Rihannazine Special Edition” where she was quizzed by Rihanna and described her biggest success in life as “In my small life of 25 years, has been doing everything I wanted to do, following my gut, and being happy with the way things turned out”.

For her latest effort, she collaborated with Jordan Hemingway for her latest release, “Silent Madness”, an eerily experimental fashion film that plays out like a documentary on a bad drug trip. The 6-minute long video opens in a club where experimental artist, Yves Tumor does a good job of dramatizing the sensory overload from doing drugs. The goth fetish costumes and the rewarding soundtrack create a tense atmosphere while we watch Yves Tumor struggle to leave the club. If you have the stomach to get through his twisted performance and the photosensitive triggering effects used to depict the bad trip, you’d be rewarded with a bloody death in the end.

Watch “Silent Madness” video below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Mowalola
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ICYMI: Mowalola and Odunsi collaborate for “Skin I’m In”

Everything you need to know about the new Sex for Marks Bill

Posted on by Tami Makinde

It’s been months since the BBC Africa Eye documentary put a spotlight on the perverse history of sexual harassment taking place in tertiary institutions in both Ghana and Lagos. We saw disturbing cases of young girls being coerced into exchanging sexual favours for good grades by their lecturers.

Following the release of the documentary, reports came of lecturers being laid off by these universities, owing to pending investigations being taken against them and their inappropriate actions. While not all the outcomes of these investigations were made public knowledge, the power of speaking up was brought to everyone’s attention, and the power in numbers through social media allowed the government to take notice of the elephant in the room–the abuse of women in tertiary institutions.

This led to the re-introduction of the Sex for Marks Bill; a legislation that carries with it a 14-year imprisonment term for any perpetrators found to be guilty of sexual misconduct in our tertiary institutions. Misconduct includes hugging, touching, stroking, kissing, or rubbing any part of the student’s body. There is also an additional clause for vice-chancellors and counsellors who fail to report or alleviate sexual assault complaints within a week of reporting by students, as a two year jail sentence is now attached to this negligent act.

This is not the first time that such a bill will be proposed, back in 2016 a similar legislation called the Sexual Harassment Bill proposed a five-year jail term for defaulters. This bill was quickly shot down by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) who claimed that it was discriminatory, and that it will be encroaching to the autonomy of tertiary institutions which were set up by law and were equipped with their own governing regulations.

Three years later, and we’re still fighting the same outdated thinking from the ASUU who are currently contesting the proposed Sex for Marks Bill. The ASUU believes that the protection of the university and its teachers is far more important than the need to protect the women who are being abused, they believe that the matter should be dealt with using the various universities existing code of conduct. If the BBC Africa Eye documentary has shown us anything, it’s that these codes are unable to protect women, as we are still being cajoled and coerced into sex and relationships to maintain good grades.

So we’re here for a penalty for these things. Globally, notorious perpetuators such as R Kelly, Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby are finally facing consequences for their actions, thanks to people constantly speaking up against them, and it’s about time for the culture to shift around here too.

Featured image credits/GatefieldTV

Tami is a lover of astrology, music and women. Tweet your fave female artistes at her @tamimak_

ICYMI: Here’s the cultural significance of the new documentary, Sex for Grades

Burna Boy says comparing him to Fela Kuti is reductive

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

Burna Boy’s keen fascination with Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has been well-documented since the beginning of his career. Over the course of his meteoric rise, the afro-fusion singer has sampled the afrobeat pioneer’s music, and interpolated his lyrics on a couple of songs, including his magnum opus, “YE”, “Dangote” and “My Money, My Baby“ and many more songs. He’s also expressed his admiration in other ways, from his custom-made Fela chain, to his performance at Felabration 2013, where he took the stage wearing only underpants.

All of this worship has prompted many to describe Burna Boy as ‘the new Fela’, leading to a comparison between both artists. In a new GQ Style story, Burna addressed the comparison, deeming it as unnecessary and silly. “I don’t think anyone in their right mind would compare me to Fela”, he said. “Fela is my inspiration and my childhood hero, so if you think comparing me to Fela is honourable, it’s actually not. It actually makes me feel weird. Fela was Fela, and if it wasn’t for Fela, there probably wouldn’t be any me, so I don’t understand the comparison”.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9Wk5JtlVGc/

During his U.S press run, following the release of ‘African Giant’, Burna referred to Fela as his personal superhero. In the GQ Style cover story, he not only reiterates this stance, he goes the extra mile to stake out his individuality, and in the process, he points out how simplistic, insulting (to Fela) and reductive (to him) the comparison is. In doing this, Burna affirms that artists can be explicit with their inspiration and also carve out their own personal identity, like he’s done. Is Fela’s influence an integral part of Burna’s artistry? Yes. Does that make him a Fela clone? Definitely not.

Featured Image Credits: GQ Style

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ICYMI: WATCH BURNA BOY’S REFLECTIVE TINY DESK PERFORMANCE

Songs of the day: Discover new music from TMXO, Herman $uede, Ayo Folarin & more

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

We’ve watched the African music scene grow more expansive and accommodating of different new sounds with the introduction of artists like Tems, Naira Marley, Rema, Ama Rae and others. As a result, it’s hard to predict what the next biggest song out of the continent would sound like. The fast and furious pace of new music releases also makes it hard to keep track of it all so we’ve decided to sort through all the new songs from across all the platforms and subgenres around the continent and curate a “Songs of the Day” column to highlight the songs you NEED to hear. You’re welcome.

TMXO – “Winner”

TMXO is gearing up to release his debut EP. The producer has been teasing the project for a few weeks now, and he’s now shared title, tracklist and release date for the EP: ‘TMX001: Alàdélọbà’ will contain six tracks, and it is scheduled to drop on March 19. Giving us a peek at what to expect, he’s also shared the second track, “Winner“, as the lead single. Spotting lively guitar riffs and booming percussion, “Winner” coins in on TMXO’s knack for fusing folk-inspired elements with house music quirks. He splices his baritone vocals on top of this club-ready production, adding a psychedelic edge to the song with his repetitive, chanted lyrics.

Ayo Folarin – “Weak”

Ayo Folarin’s “Weak” is a romantic bop for people who are madly in love—or at the very least wish to be. In two-and-half minute, the singer delivers an ear-catching set that personifies quickened heartbeats, wide smiles, wobbly knees and all the other tropes involved at remembering or sighting a romantic partner or a huge crush. “Na this kind love dey weak-y my body, you’ve got me thinking about you”, he sings on the hook, his fuji-influenced vocals and warm melodies gliding over Daviestherocket’s gentle guitar plucks and softly jabbing afropop drums.

Drayko – “Zoom” feat. Eeskay & Zilla Oaks

Drayko, Eeskay and Zilla Oaks are enamoured by living the fast life but they aren’t looking to die anytime soon. “Zoom”, the new collaborative single from the three Abuja-based rappers, carries an air of invincibility with it, as they rap about partying all night long, swigging drinks and lighting hydroponic buds. With their swaggering raps which is made more infectious by their trance-like melodies, the trio emphasise the allure of their lifestyle over its consequences.

Herman $uede – “Free”

Herman $uede is a precociously talented Ghanaian artist you should be paying attention to. Last July, the teenage singer released his impressive debut EP, ‘Hi I’m Herman’, and he recently featured on Sarkodie’s last studio album, ‘Black Love’. With the liveliness Herman exudes, there’s an innate freedom attached to his music, but his new single, “Free”, pushes that tenet to the forefront for a personal statement track. “Honestly, I just want to be free, to walk around and make beats with my lips, not caring what anyone thinks”, he belts over swinging EDM-infused Afropop production, emphatically owning his narrative as young artist with dreams and relishing the prospects for bigger successes in the future.

Kwarteng – “Sankofa” feat. Wande Coal

One minute, it seems like Wande Coal has been away forever, the next he’s all over our radar. In addition to prepping his coming EP, REALMS, with the release of the video for “Ode Lo Like”, the afropop veteran recently featured on “Sankofa”, the new single from Ghanaian singer Kwarteng. While the song leans into romantic direction, with both singers looking to impress their love interests with their affectionate promises and affluence, “Sankofa” also pays homage to the beauty of African ladies.

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ICYMI: NEW MUSIC FROM SAUTI SOL, SHO MADJOZI, NXWRTH & MORE

Best New Music: GMK reunites Prettyboy D-O and Sugabana for new hit “Strong and Solid”

Posted on by Tami Makinde

GMK has marked himself out as one of the most talented and focused young producers in these parts for some time now. The music speaks for itself, and from working closely with NATIVE 003 cover stars, Santi and Odunsi (the Engine) for some of his best hits, to working on a Grammy nominated song off ‘African Giant‘, he’s definitely made his mark on the scene.

To start off the year, he’s just released his first single “Strong and Solid” which sees PrettyBoy D-O and Sugabana reuniting for another confirmed hit. The pair first teamed up back in 2018 for “Terminate”, one of the standout tracks from PrettyBoy D-O’s debut tape ‘Everything Pretty’.

The best music is the kind you can feel, and this is what “Strong & Solid” benefits greatly from. GMK’s infectious & catchy beat does what it needs to get the party started, while the song’s lyrics hone in on the message which anyone from any walk of life can relate to. Sugabana’s chant-worthy bridge saying: Wetin una want from me? Everyday me give you the best of me, shey na until you kill me ni? drive’s the song’s overall message home, while the beat drop will definitely get listeners moving.

D-O and Sugabana through this song continue to show us that they are a formidable pairing, truly representing a melding of two different facets of the culture. We’re expecting Strong & Solid to get plenty airplay over the next few months, serving the streets another anthem.

Listen to “Strong and Solid” below.

Featured image credits/instagram

Tami is a lover of astrology, music and women. Tweet your fave female artistes at her @tamimak_

Best New Music: Yinka Bernie and Joyce Olong’s reassuring “It’s Okay to Cry” is a song we can all relate to

Where were you: “Party in Art” showed the depth of the art scene in Lagos

Posted on by The Native

Banky W already set the gold standard for Lagos parties when he made the tagline “Ain’t no party like a Lagos party” popular. Over a decade later, the city still embraces the challenge to out-party every party in history. The “Party in Art” showcase curated by Ayo Lawson in collaboration with A White Space Agency was scheduled for the last weekend of the month, 29th of February. It hoped to contribute to Nigeria’s contemporary cultural history by combining Lagos’ reputation for partying with the city’s appreciation of art.

There is no queue in front of the ticketing spot set up in front of A White Space Agency’s gates at Raymind Njoku. In typical Nigerian fashion, people are standing outside in groups of threes or fours, carrying drinks that suggest they’ve already been inside and seen the works displayed. However, they don’t seem in a hurry to leave as they talk, laugh and welcome 0thers who pass them on their way in.

Meanwhile, loud music blasts through the speakers inside while neon lights and glow-ink scribbles on the wall immerse guests in the theme of the exhibition. A graffiti installation made by Benin-born artist, Vofo takes up the wall space you see when you walk through the door. It’s immediately apparent that the gallery space is also a dancefloor as couples locked in embrace sway to the music curated by DJ Camron.

Another wall displays works from the featured photographers, Tochihannah, Kemaka Ajoku, Demola Mako, Femi Johnson and Daniel Obasi. Some of the models projected on the photography wall are also in attendance, dancing to the music till Deena Ade’s “Special Performance” set is announced. People gather around for her captivating performance of “Melo” and her latest release, “Bitter”. Her sultry lyrics resonate with the crowd and people pull out their phones to record her and cheer after each song. Though her wistful cooing about physical intimacy draws everyone’s attention, it’s hard to miss the visual direction of her performance as a smoke machine fills the room with mist that give guests extra incentive to capture the moment on camera.

For activity, people break the fourth wall of the art by interacting with the artists, photographers and models. There is also a different wall dedicated to guests and some take the initiative to scribble their names and brands with glow-ink markers provided for that purpose. With names like Steven Tayo, Solis, Ashley Okoli and Chuzuz featuring on the wall of guests, one might assume the guests were also specially curated to highlight the thought leaders of different spheres of the contemporary youth culture in Lagos. However, the larger majority of guests are of a younger age as the party direction seemed to increase the interest of students in art and inspire the next generation of collectors.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/ayo_l
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You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Kida Kudz’s jiggy listening party for ‘Nasty’

Mayorkun drops the befitting, colourful video for hit single, “Geng”

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

You could describe Mayorkun’s “Geng” as the first smash single of 2020, and you would be totally right. The DMW singer opened the year with one of the best songs of the year so far, an instant scorcher that has been in constant radio rotation, and has been streamed over 1.6million times on Audiomack alone. As a reflection of the song’s popularity, the beat has hosted a flurry freestyle verses from artists like Vector, Ycee, Bella Alubo and much more.

“Geng” now has a music video, and it’s quite befitting, as it visualises the infectious cockiness and playfulness that characterises Mayorkun’s boisterous delivery. The Dammy Twitch-directed video is marked by bright set designs, where we see Mayorkun and his geng singing the song’s lyrics and dancing to the irresistible groove with a bubbly energy.

Watch “Geng” here.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Davido

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ICYMI: WATCH THE ROMANTIC VIDEO FOR DAVIDO’S “1 MILL”

For the Girls: Ghanaian rapper Ms Fu is serving us with infectious rhymes

Posted on by Tami Makinde

To commemorate Women’s History Month this year, we will be discovering a new female artist every day of this month. Some of these women you may know, others you may have heard of and some will be entirely new discoveries. The aim is to spotlight the remarkable young women from around Africa, who are finding their feet through music and giving women a voice of their own. 

Ghanaian rapper/songwriter Ms Fu first caught our attention when she featured on the feminist anthem “From My Sisters” off Ko-jo Cue’s 2019 album, that saw many talents from around Ghana hone in their different strengths to produce collectively a really solid project.

Ms Fu has actually been actively releasing music for over the past 5 years via her Soundcloud, and her first few releases include a number of freestyles and covers, possibly crafted when the young rapper was finding her sound and perfecting her flow. Her earliest release “The Morning (Cover)” sounds almost like it could be lifted from an 00’s Missy Elliot record, save for the few pidgin inflections she sprinkles in her verses.

Born Afua, the young rapper adopted her current moniker Ms Fu by shortening her birth name, coupled with the fact that the contraction literally read as F U. She began taking her music more seriously after meeting Ko-jo Cue and signing then to his eponymous label.

Ms Fu is a rapper, but she’s not afraid to dabble in more softer, pop melodies as seen from singles like “Love” where we find her at the rapper at her most vulnerable, laying her heart bare over smooth percussion strings. Last year, she tasked herself to weekly Thursday drops starting off with bass-drop anthem “Energy” where she seamlessly intermingled English and patois, to a more mellow drop on “Dear Human” which sees her reassuring her fans about rough times in life.

Ms Fu lets her stellar penmanship speak for her over infectious beats and leaves you with little to wonder about her prowess. On “Cloak and Dagger” she is at her most reflective, where she instructs other rappers to ‘bring all the smoke’. We suggest “Cloak and Dagger” as a good starting point into her rapid fire verses.

Tami is a lover of astrology, music and women. Tweet your fave female artistes at her @tamimak_

ICYMI: Lose yourself in Olayinka Ehi’s hypntoic sounds

The Shuffle: Asa’s “Fire On The Mountain” reflects the world we’re living in today

Posted on by Damilola Animashaun

We’re only in the third month of 2020, and we’ve heard more disturbing news about R Kelly and his ring of pedophiles, our lives have been threatened by a budding pandemic, the climate is threatened and we’re experiencing a heatwave in Lagos and it’s possible that an asteroid might be coming next month to bring the whole world to an end.

Asa had her finger on the pulse all the way back in 2007, with one of the standouts from her titular debut album, “Fire On The Mountain”, and 13 years later, everything she said still reigns true.

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Against an upbeat and catchy guitar-led beat, she sings she touches on the usual societal ills, all in one fell swoop. She discusses problems which exist in different communities all over the world from deceitful lovers (Hey Mr loverman, can I get a chance to talk to you, cause you are fooling with a dead man’s corpse); blood diamonds (so you buy her a diamond that someone has died in, don’t you think there’s something wrong with that?); pedophelia & rape culture (So little Lucy turns 16, and like a movie she’s been seen. She has a lover in her daddy, she can’t tell nobody); and climate change (some day the river will overflow, and there’ll be nowhere for us to go and we will run, wishing we had put out the fire).

All those years ago, Asa pointed out that we live in a society which in a long run will destroy itself and everyone in it, but no one seems to care about what’s going on. It’s difficult to keep up with caring about these societal ills, because they seem to never end and always come at full throttle. But now more than ever, we should all wake up and realise that our world will implode and we’ll all be fucked – whether you care or not.

If you need a reminder about contributing to a society which works and benefits everyone, listen to “Fire On The Mountain” again here:

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Davido

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ICYMI: Listen to Oby Onyioha’s festive “Enjoy Your Life” 

Santi reveals plans to create a show for and about Nigerian youth culture

Posted on by Tami Makinde

We’ve known that Santi is a multi-faceted talent for some time now, as his work seamlessly cuts across music, fashion and videography. His sometimes-occult Nollywood-inspired videos from “Sparky” to “Raw Dinner” have been said to test the limits of our conservative culture, and many have labelled it too hellish for consumption.

This does not bother Santi, however, and he’s leaned further into these gothic aesthetics in his most recent work for Goldlink’s video “U Say” featuring Tyler the Creator and Jay Prince. Since his debut show in both London and Lagos last year, the fast rising creative has mostly been quiet, but not anymore as he has revealed that he’s working on a TV show.

Although we don’t know much about the upcoming production, Santi told Crack Magazine: “That’s where my heart is right now. In Nigeria, we have never had a show about high school, sexuality and drugs. I feel like the kids need a safe space, something to explore and escape to.”

He’s not wrong, there has hardly been any shows from Nigeria that have touched on themes of sexuality and drugs without vilifying them. Not to discredit any of these films, however, there’s a whole lifestyle in youth culture that is being ignored and any steps taken to close this gap are a nod in the right direction.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmJTVhiB17n/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

HBO’s ‘Euphoria’ was released last summer, and instantly became main conversation starter anywhere you went; owing to its uncensored dive into the world of adolescence drugs, sex and self-discovery. The show’s impact is palpable through different facets of culture from self-awareness to even fashion and beauty.

Although, it was heavily criticised for its over the top exaggeration of youth culture in America, it didn’t shy away from tackling issues of teenage addiction and sexuality. A similar production, embedded in Nigerian youth culture Nigeria would be pretty cool and Santi is the perfect candidate to bring this to life.

Not only is he one of the style frontrunners for the burgeoning alte scene, he’s also had a hand at writing and directing a similar film with a group of his creative peers titled ‘Havana96’ and even the multidimensional blockbuster world of his album ‘Mandy and the Jungle’ shows us we’re in good hands.

With all eyes on Africa and Netflix planning to expand into the country with its first original series, we can’t wait to see where Santi takes this.

Featured image credits/crackmagazine

Tami is a lover of astrology, music and women. Tweet your fave female artistes at her @tamimak_

ICYMI: On Santi’s decade-long build up to ‘Mandy and the Jungle’

Davido shares colourful video for latest single, “1 Milli”

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

Davido packed his superb sophomore album, ‘A Good Time’, with romantic bops – a true reflection of his current relationship status. His latest release, the video for the album’s second track “1 Milli”, continues to reinforce the superstar’s image as a man totally in love. In the song co-written by Adekunle Gold, Davido sings about his willingness to pay his lover’s exorbitant bride-price because he’s not ready to lose her to anyone.

In the DK-directed video for “1 Milli”, Davido performs his set in a lavish, colourful traditional engagement setting, featuring dancers and well-wishers clad in Yourba outfit. Chioma, the singer’s heartthrob, makes an extensive cameo performance, reminding us of the couple’s coming, much talked about wedding activities, ‘Assurance2020’.

Watch “1 Milli” here.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Davido

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Dennis is not an interesting person. Tweet Your Favourite Playboi Carti Songs at him @dennisadepeter

ICYMI: WATCH DAVIDO PERFORM “INTRO” & “GREEN LIGHT RIDDIM” FOR VEVO CTRL LIVE SESSIONS

Watch Minz chase the woman he loves in the video for “Gyal”

Posted on by The Native

Minz’s lover boy aesthetic means he never fails to pay homage to women in his music. He just released the video for “Gyal”, one of the tracks from his 2019 EP, ‘Nasty/Gyal’, and it shows him running after the woman he loves. The video was filmed by Mahine Sef, who translates Minz’ sultry confessional into a dramatic dance routine, showing Minz trying to convince his love interest with charming lyrics.

The timely release of the music video for “Gyal” makes it the perfect soundtrack for the first weeks of March, a month dedicated to celebrating women around the world.

Watch the video for “Gyal” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Minz
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You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Watch the music video for Minz’s “Beautiful”

Watch a charismatic Wande Coal in the video “Ode Lo Like”

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

Wande Coal remained quiet for the most of 2019, until he released his first solo single of the year, “Vex”, in November. He quickly followed up with “Ode Lo Like”, a track where he gets serious with his lyrics, refusing to bend to the will of backstabbing associates. On the first verse, he urges listeners to stay woke in order to spot who’s just taking advantage, while he gets cocky on the second verse, warding off anyone who wants to try him in the future.

“Vigilante, mi o se omo’de, ma lo pe mi ni omo ode (I’m not a vigilante, but don’t call me fool)”, he forcefully sings over Dapiano’s piano synths, horn blasts and pounding drums. With his blunt writing, “Ode Lo Like” mainly relies on Wande Coal’s charisma, which he continues to flaunt in the song’s glossy new video. Directed by Adasa Cookey, we see Wande distract an audience with live performance, while a few lady associates rip unsuspecting men of valuable items. The video for “Ode Lo Like” is Wande Coal’s latest promotional move, in anticipation of ‘REALMS’, his 6-track EP scheduled to drop on March 20.

Watch “Ode Lo Like” here.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/WandeCoal

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Dennis is not an interesting person. Tweet Your Favourite Playboi Carti Songs at him @dennisadepeter

ICYMI: JAYBREEZE FEATURES TIWA SAVAGE, WANDE COAL AND MYSTRO ON NEW SONG, “EH OH AH”

For The Girls: Lose yourself in Olayinka Ehi’s hypnotic sounds

Posted on by Adewojumi Aderemi

To commemorate Women’s History Month this year, we will be discovering a new female artist every day of this month. Some of these women you may know, others you may have heard of and some will be entirely new discoveries. The aim is to spotlight the remarkable young women from around Africa, who are finding their feet through music and giving women a voice of their own. 

Olayinka Ehi is a New York based, Nigerian R&B singer, whose forceful voice floats scenically over slow-paced instrumentals, offering up smooth, laid back vibes to her growing population of listeners.

Actively releasing music since 2016, Olayinka Ehi compiled her first body of work, Story in 2018, a formidable collection that encompasses all her various tastes, from the melancholic opener, “Story About You”, to the up-tempo electronic number, “B.G.S.N” (Baba God Said Nah), which closes out the 4-track EP.

Born in Nigeria, Olayinka’s Yoruba and Idoma roots are not only visible in her name, but also audible through her music. From the drum patterns on mid-tempo records such as “Do You Think” and “Jeje” (Story‘s second and third tracks), to her intonations as she sings and of course her Naija-influenced titles, Ehi seamlessly integrates her Nigerian heritage into her r&b style.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7R1we7nTfs/

As well as being a meritable singer, Olayinka Ehi is also a keen songwriter. The storytelling on her lyrics is occasionally augmented by short spoken word segments that come at either the start or the end of whichever contemplative number she wishes to bolster. Besides self-reflection, Olayinka is also prone to unyielding confidence on her lyrics. On songs such as “No Love This Summer!” and “Good Girl Bad Girl”, she sings of her unequivocal sex appeal, her nonchalance towards men pining after her and her status as a perpetual Winner – “don’t get in my way” she warns on “Good Girl Bad Girl”.

Ehi’s latest offering came earlier this year, and we estimate is her most impressive track to date, “Terms and Conditions”. Atop a layer of enchanting strings, Olayinka Ehi sings that she is fed up and being taken for granted, so lays out her T&Cs. There’s no better song to introduce you to this rising talent, listen to “Terms and Conditions” right here:

Featured Image Credits: Olayinka Ehi/Instagram

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Wojumi is a bad bitch and she’s going to bra-g about it. Tweet her your favourite female artists @dewoju

ICYMI: Let’s talk about the big bad F & why we should all be feminists 

Songs of the day: New Music from Sauti Sol, Sho Madjozi, Nxwrth & more

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

We’ve watched the African music scene grow more expansive and accommodating of different new sounds with the introduction of artists like Tems, Naira Marley, Rema, Ama Rae and others. As a result, it’s hard to predict what the next biggest song out of the continent would sound like. The fast and furious pace of new music releases also makes it hard to keep track of it all so we’ve decided to sort through all the new songs from across all the platforms and subgenres around the continent and curate a “Songs of the Day” column to highlight the songs you NEED to hear. You’re welcome.

Sauti Sol – “Disco Matanga” [Yambakhana] feat. Sho Madjozi and Black Motion

Last Friday, Netflix dropped its first original African series, “Queen Sono”. To strengthen its identity, we got musically diverse, pan-African soundtrack to accompany the 6-episode. The project mainly comprising previously released cuts like Simi’s “Joromi”, DJ Maphorisa’s “Midnight Starring”, and oldies like “Orere-Elejigbo” by the Lijadu Sisters.

Sauti Sol’s “Disco Matanga” is the lead single and only newly released song on the playlist, featuring South African artists Sho Madjozi and Black Motion. Featuring swinging bass and whirring synths, “Disco Matanga” is cut from the bombastic cloth of South African House, and it captures the forward-moving and sometimes chaotic energy of “Queen Sono” through the boisterous vocal performances from the artists involved.

E Kelly & Boybreed – “No Secrets”

Boybreed closed out last year with, ‘Made In Tropics’, their 7-track debut EP chockfull of feel-good, afropop-dancehall hybrid tunes. Opening their account for the year, the sibling duo has linked up with veteran producer, E Kelly, for a joint single, “No Secrets”. Over the years, E Kelly has shown his compatibility and range with his extensive list of production credits from Mr Eazi to Yung L, and he continues his streak on “No Secrets”, playing to the strengths of his collaborators. Over light piano keys, xylophone riffs and mellow afropop drums, Boybreed demand straightforward dealings from their love interests, channelling their lack of trust through melancholic lyrics delivered with earworm melodies.

Big Dragon (Efya) – “Spinning” feat. Kiddblack

A few weeks ago, Efya introduced her alter ego, Big Dragon, and she’s been sharing new music ever since. “Spinning”, her latest single, mines her soulful sensibilities for a nostalgia-induced song. “I just wanna go away to the times when we were young”, she sings on the first verse, rueing the complications that come with growing up but ultimately accepting that it is what it is. Big Dragon is joined by Kiddblack on “Spinning”, and the Ghanaian rapper drops a stunning verse reminiscing on the frivolities of the past and highlighting the difficulties of the present. Their musings are anchored by earthy neo-soul production, comprising soft piano twinkles, bass guitar flourishes and jazzy drums.

ICTOOICY – “Lights” feat. Kiyo

Being a DIY artist suits ICTOOICY’s prolific recording and release cycle. Over the weekend, the self-proclaimed ‘poet with a flow’ dropped her latest project, ‘Sorry I Don’t Like Phone Calls’, a 7-track EP that continues her process of self-examination. Of the impressive set of songs, the Kiyo-assisted “Lights” is an instant standout, as it balances IC’s expressiveness with a perception of herself as a flawed, growing individual. “Fighting with what’s inside of me, fighting with the people that once loved me, but now they only lost at sea”, she dryly recites in the beginning, closing out with the declaration that she’s doing the best she can. Kiyo also matches IC’s self-lacerating direction over the murky, lo-fi trap beat, spitting a striking verse where he refers to himself as a lazy youth mainly because he’s “been feeling hella lost”.

Nxwrth – “Sundress” feat. $pacely, Darkovibes & Kiddblack

Following the release of $pacely’s debut project from last October, ‘Fine$$e or be Fine$$ed’, Nxwrth is the next La Meme Gang member to release his first solo project. ‘NASA: Thanks for Flying’ is the title of Nxwrth’s debut, and the 12-track project will be released on April 3rd. “Sundress”, the latest single off ‘Nasa’, is the latest indicator of the delightful genre-bending style that will be guiding Nxwrth’s coming project. Over a dancehall-meets-EDM beat, Nxwrth and his La Meme Gang colleagues, $pacely, Kiddblack and Darkovibes, admire the features of their love interests and express their undying affections, accenting their romantic lyrics with syrupy melodies.

Toye – “Ansa Me”

Over the course of growing catalogue, Atlanta-based, Nigerian singer-songwriter Toye has shown a knack for making bubbly, romance-themed songs. Toye’s latest single, “Ansa Me”, is probably his best effort yet, as he explores the breathy side of his voice for a song that is both sensual and club-ready. “Iwo ni mo ni (you are the one for me), if no be you tell me who e go be”, he sings, artfully embellishing his fuji-inspired melodies over a catchy mid-tempo beat.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Expresso Show

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ICYMI: CHECK OUT NEW MUSIC FROM BURNA BOY, NINIOLA, NADAI NAKAI & MORE

Becca & Busiswa team up for “No One” & 6 other videos to watch this week

Posted on by The Native

This week’s curation of the best videos across popular culture is testament to African culture’s relevance around the globe. We kick off with the music video for Fatoumata Diawara’s feature on ‘Song Machine’, the new project from Gorillaz before moving to the video for Ms Banks’ and Naira Marley’s collaboration, “Anyway”. New videos from Peruzzi, Doja Cat, Phyno and Runtown also feature before we wrap things up with Science Insider’s video debunking some of the myths about the Coronavirus sweeping through the world.

Gorillaz – “Désolé” Feat. Fatoumata Diawara

Gorillaz have built cult-like following for pushing the envelope of conventional music, with their sonic and animated visual aesthetic striking a chord in the hearts of young people for most of our lives. Their new project, ‘Song machine’ is projected to feature an ever-evolving roster of collaborators as they continue their hybrid of hip-hop, electronica, and indie-rock with their new single, “Désolé”, featuring the Malian folk sound of Fatoumata Diawara.

Her powerful and emotive vocals blend seamlessly with Albarn’s typically laid back vocal stylings. The music video directed by Jamie Hewlett, Tim McCourt and Max Taylor features Fatoumata Diawara on a boat cruise with the Gorillaz band members animated by Venla Linna, Simone Crillo, Setareh Seto, Diego Porral.

Peruzzi – “Only One”

Peruzzi loves love, and you can tell because his discography is filled with songs inspired by romantic experiences. He just released the music video for “Only You”, where he serenades a love interest. Directed by Dammy Twitch, the video captures the song’s emotional narrative through scenes where Peruzzi video calls a love interest to perform his romantic lyrics for her.

Drake – “When To Stay When” & “Chicago Freestyle”

Drake’s latest surprise release, “When To Stay When & Chicago Freestyle”, came with a Theo Skudra-directed video. He raps over a sample Bobby Glenn’s “Sounds Like a Love Song”, which JAY-Z also sampled on “Song Cry”, bragging about his accomplishments while shouting out his mother, Sandy Graham and Philadelphia 76ers co-owner, Michael Rubin to make for a whole story. The highlight of the video was seeing Drake walk out to the balcony of his new house.

Phyno – “Gods Willing” Feat. Runtown

TG Omori strikes again with the engaging video for “Gods Willing”, the new collaboration from Phyno and Runtown. The song is one of the lightweight cuts from Phyno’s latest album, ‘Deal With It’ and it finds both singers crediting their success to God. TG Omori expands on the spiritual theme from the song through the church set he introduced in the video.

Doja Cat – “Say So”

Doja Cat has always had the attention of her fans since her hit single, “Mooo!”, and she seems to still have the attention of the entire world when she released her new video for “Say So”. Hannah Lux Davis (who also directed videos for Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj) directed the 80s themed video where a blond Doja dazzles in a shimmery dress while flirting with her male co-star. We see her walk into a disco ball with a tiger on a leash at one point, but it’s not even the most daring thing she did in the nearly 4-minute long video.

Naira Marley “Anywhere” Feat. Ms Banks

Naira Marley already started growing a fan base in the UK before he decided to build his rabid Marlian fandom here in Nigeria. He reconnected with his UK audience on “Anywhere”, a standout track from his 2019 EP, ‘Lord of Lamba (LOL)’. The song features a rap verse from Ms Banks who also makes an appearance in the video Visioniare Pictures directed in different neon light textures.

Becca – “No One” Feat. Busiswa and DWP Academy

Ghanaian singer, Becca just released a new single, “No One”, an empowering anthem for women. The song was released just in time for the women appreciating month of March and features a verse from South African singer, Busiswa. Dunnie produced the uptempo beat which guides the choreography seen in the video Director Abass and Becca directed.

Science Insider – “Pathologists Debunks 13 Coronavirus Myths”

We are living in an era where information is exchange quickly and made readily available thanks to the internet. Sadly, the fake news phenomena means the information isn’t always reliable as we’ve seen people create panic with misinformation they’ve shared on the Coronavirus epidemic. Science Insider released a short clip to debunk the sensationalised myths people have about the virus now known as COVID-19. The virus reportedly originated in Wuhan, China, and has spread to at least 26 other countries. The senior director of the NYC Health + Hospitals System-wide Special Pathogens Program, Syra Madad, and a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University, Stephen Morse, debunked 13 of the most common myths about the coronavirus by explaining how packages from China won’t make you sick and that getting COVID-19 is not a death sentence. They also debunked the idea that it affects only older people — anyone can get the coronavirus.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Gorillaz
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ICYMI: Revisit the time Fatoumata’s “Mama” made NATIVE’s best new music

Femme Africa will be returning with a fourth showcase this weekend

Posted on by Tami Makinde

Yesterday marked the first day of Women’s History Month, and it’s already off to a great start from Netflix’s release of its first African original with a female lead to this year’s theme, #EachforEqual taking up space on every social media platform.

On home turf, women making moves is no exception, and our faves over at Femme Africa are hosting their fourth showcase this weekend on International Women’s Day. Their last showcase drew, music lovers from all over the city, with all-you-can-eat pink candyfloss and entertaining performances from Lady Donli and Ezi Emela.

This year, Femme Africa is putting more women on the map with a fresh crop of artists including Efe Oraka, Deena Ade, Jazz Atta and Clay Rocks, set to take the stage this weekend. This year as well, continuing the tradition from their last showcase, they will be hosting another social media competition, to give one lucky female artist the chance to perform at their upcoming showcase.

In addition, Femme Africa will also also hosting a panel discussion ‘Spilling the Tea’ which will focus on the business of creativity as well as revenue generation and building a solid team.

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For International women’s day, we’ve repurposed CWAC to bring you Spilling the Tea! 🐸🍵We’re all often swayed by the jovial and fun side of creativity, while the real business of it isn’t often given much thought.On the 7th of March, we will be hosting a panel session, discussing the business of creativity, where we will explore the structure, revenue generation, building a team and other more important facets to running a creative business. @siainstyle @bellaadeleke @jolaayeye ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Click the link in our bio to register. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #Femmeafricaa #coffewithacreative #spillingthetea #Internationalwomensday

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Featured image credits: instagram/femmeafrica

Tami is a lover of astrology, music and women. Tweet your fave female artistes at her @tamimak_

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Could The West African ‘Eco’ Provide a Lifeline for Nigeria’s Economy?

Posted on by The Native

Francophone countries in the West African region are set to adopt the new ‘Eco’ currency from the 1st of July this year. It’s a move many hope will mark a fresh start for the economic integration of West African states. However, Nigeria, the largest economy in the region does not seem to be in the same haste as her francophone counterparts. What would a unified west African currency mean for the African giant?

The ‘Eco’ is the proposed name for a unified currency in the 15 member countries of the economic community of West African States (ECOWAS), pegging its value with the Euro, similar to the CFA Franc currently used in 8 ECOWAS countries. The concept was first introduced in 2000, at the launch of the West African monetary zone, and was initially scheduled to roll out in 2003, but has been delayed due partly to the global economic recession, and the inability of the ECOWAS member states to meet originally agreed upon economic standards. 

With a GDP representing roughly ⅔ of the total GDP of the region, Nigeria’s support of the ‘Eco’ is vital for the new currency’s feasibility, however, the Nigerian government seems to be in favour of delaying the new currency migration, highlighting the fact that till now, no country besides Togo (confirm) has been able to meet the predetermined criteria set by the West African Monetary Institute.

The institute set out 4 primary criteria (all of which must be met), and 6 secondary conditions (2 of which must be met), before the unified currency may be set in the sub-region. The primary conditions include:

  • A single-digit inflation rate at the end of each year
  • The value of the ‘ECO’ is expected to be pegged to the Euro, with A fiscal deficit of no more than 4% of the GDP
  • A central bank deficit-financing of no more than 10% of the previous year’s tax revenues
  • Gross external reserves that can give import cover for a minimum of three months.

The inability of countries to consistently meet these criteria has resulted in the stalled implementation of the currency for the past 2 decades.  The new currency’s value tie to the Euro also raises questions about the true independence of the currency, as this pegging leads the West African market to be vulnerable to economic changes in Europe, and also limits the ability of the West African monetary institute to regulate interest rates and other macroeconomic policy.

In light of this, France has pledged to support the currency, by providing reserves to sure up it’s value in the case of a speculative attack. This would be similar in principle to the former colonial superpower’s backing of the CFA Franc, the price of which being the remittance of 50% of a country’s reserve, a price francophone are all too happy to no longer be paying.

The introduction of the ‘Eco’ would limit an individual country’s ability to unilaterally alter policy as it suits its economy. Central banks would serve as regional headquarters and all decisions and alterations must be agreed upon by member states and must take into account the varying factors that affect economies across west Africa. This may be one reason behind Nigeria’s reluctance to embrace the currency, as the government presently regulates the value of the Naira.

 

At the same time, Eco could spell relief for Nigeria’s economy as the stability and ubiquity of the single denomination would spur economic trade and could facilitate growth. Experts predict that due to Nigeria’s size, it would stand to benefit the most from the currency move.

An IMF working paper, released in 2010 argues that whatever positive gain is projected by unifying the monetary system in West Africa, could also be achieved by instilling better economic principles by countries in the region, and strengthening existing economic institutions, explaining that despite sound economic infrastructure, the Euro for example, is not without it’s problems.

Observing the Eurozone is instructive, and public scrutiny in this issue is needed. Even in the Eurozone, where institutions and infrastructure is well developed, economic unions have exposed underlying social stigma in the wake of Brexit, raised questions around free immigration and caused economic shocks to economies.

While it would appear that the move might be easier for francophone countries which have enjoyed relative monetary hegemony for decades, a protectionist and paranoid economy like Nigeria might stand to benefit from prolonged examination and analysis of the prospect of a single currency.

Featured Image Credits: Web/ Getty Images
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Djaji is a creative Vagabond, send me your takes on music and African culture @djajiprime

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30 new artists join Mr Eazi’s emPawa Africa Program

Posted on by The Native

Mr Eazi has grown into a megastar since he quit Phone Trader, a tech start-up in Computer Village in Lagos to pursue a career as an artist. While much of the “Skintight” singer’s success has been credited to his strategic business moves, there’s no denying that he’s a force to reckon with in the music industry as he has enjoyed global success without being backed by any major label.

In 2018, he launched the emPawa Africa program, a charity and investment program to equip Africa’s most promising music talents with tools, network and money so they can become independent music entrepreneurs. YouTube Music also partnered with emPawa Africa to provide support for the artists as they provided funds to the selected #emPawa100 artists and helped push them to fame.

Joeboy is the current poster face of emPawa following his successful run after enjoying the initiative. His debut single, “Baby”, got over 18 million streams in the first 9 months while the other artists like Lady Donli, Ghanaian singer, J.Derobiefrom from the inaugural #emPawa100 campaign have also grown more renown since.

Mr Eazi has announced the selected artists for the second phase of the emPawa Africa program and talent Incubator. Last year, interested artists were instructed to submit entry videos for consideration and the selected 30 (#emPawa30) will receive a $10,000 non-repayable grant for filming their first official music video and pay for marketing services and other services to launch their music recording career. Mentors include Major Lazers’ Diplo, Dj Maphorisa, Jae5, Fred Gibson, Shekhinah, Harmonize, E Kelly, Guiltybeatz, Killertunes, DJ Neptune and Mr Eazi will be assigned to each artist for the 7-month duration of the incubator program.

The support system and emPawa Africa’s distribution platform will give more Africa artists a chance to reach a global audience and compete in global territories where the streaming landscape is more favourable. emPawa only charges a 1% distribution cost rather than the $6 flat rate. But beyond low-cost international distribution, emPawa is also invested in finding ways to reduce the bandwidth costs that impede legal streaming. Streaming numbers in America has already shown that people prefer to consume music legally if it’s readily available. If the same is true for Africa, with over a billion people living here, we might see a rapid shift in the global music landscape similar to that of Latin music.

The collaboration between emPawa and Vydia, a company which handles “digital infrastructure for audio and video distribution, content protection, rights management, advanced payments, and data tracking” also means artists will be provided back-end data about listener habits to help with single promotions and curating performance sets and deciding the best places to tour.

See all the artists on the emPawa30 campaign below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/empawaafrica
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ICYMI: See the music video for Mr Eazi’s emotive single, “Kpalanga”

Netflix’s first African original series, “Queen Sono”, is now streaming

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

Netflix’s keen interest in the African market has seen the video streaming giant acquire a slew of previously released African films and TV shows over the last year. Netflix has also released original acquisitions, including Genevieve Nnaji’s directorial debut, “Lionheart”, and Mati Diop’s award-winning film, “Atlantics”. Its latest African release is Kagiso Lediga’s “Queen Sono”, the first original African series commissioned and exclusively released by Netflix.

The trailer for “Queen Sono” was released last month, and it hinted at an action-packed show. The first season of the series, which stars South African actress Pearl Thusi as its lead, is now available for streaming, only on Netflix. The season comprises six episodes, ranging between 31minutes and 47minutes per episode. Although “Queen Sono” is a South African endeavour, it boast a pan-African tilt with scenes shot in several countries including Kenya, Nigeria and Zanzibar.

You can stream “Queen Sono” with this link. Also, watch the trailer below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Netflix

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Songs of the day: New music from Burna Boy, Niniola, Nadai Nakai & more

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

We’ve watched the African music scene grow more expansive and accommodating of different new sounds with the introduction of artists like Tems, Naira Marley, Rema, Ama Rae and others. As a result, it’s hard to predict what the next biggest song out of the continent would sound like. The fast and furious pace of new music releases also makes it hard to keep track of it all so we’ve decided to sort through all the new songs from across all the platforms and subgenres around the continent and curate a “Songs of the Day” column to highlight the song you need to hear. You’re welcome.

Burna Boy – “Odogwu”

Like we predicted at the beginning of last year, Burna Boy went on a second successive MVP run, one that was even more dominant than his stunning 2018 campaign. Not looking to relinquish the crown anytime soon, the afro-fusionist is back with new music, and as is customary, it slaps. “Odogwu”, the follow-up to the glossy “Money Play”, finds Burna at his assertive best. Running his smooth baritone across Kel P’s laidback and colourful Igbo Folk groove, Burna emphasizes his status as a pioneer and one of Africa’s biggest musical exports, with pointed, sweetly sung lines like “say na who dey draw the map o?/you are looking at the champion”. With “Odogwu”, Burna lays down the gauntlet for another potentially stellar year.

Becca – “No One” feat. Busiswa

“No One”, the new single from Ghanaian singer Becca, is a pan-African dream. She features South African House diva Busiswa, and the bombastic beat is produced by Nigerian producer/singer Dunnie. The three women collaborate for an intoxicating, club-ready banger that pays homage to the beauty of African women. While she does a lot of her best work in mid-tempo settings, Becca rises to the occasion with her booming vocals, giving an imposing personality to her sassy lyrics. Busiswa also puts her best foot forward, adding a playful energy with her short but effective cameo.

Joojo Addison – “Ba Jo” feat. Amaarae

Since getting selected as one of the hundred artists in the first round of emPawa music video funding, Joojo Addison has been proving himself as one of the future stars of afropop. “Ba Jo”, the Ghanaian artist’s latest single, is another slice of Joojo’s colourful, highlife indebted style of music. Taking a break from the personal tilt of his previous releases, “Ba Jo” is an infectious call to party, buoyed vintage piano keys, horn blasts, knotty guitar riffs and bouncy percussion. Contrasting Joojo’s raspy vocals, Ghanaian singer Amaarae adds her goddess-level magic to “Ba Jo”, contributing a stunning, sexually charged verse that interpolates “Barbie Girl”, the classic Eurodance banger by the Danish-Norwegian band Aqua.

Niniola – “Fantasy” feat. Femi Kuti

On paper, a Niniola and Femi Kuti collaboration, produced by Kel P, is a mouth-watering prospect. Thankfully, the resulting song, “Fantasy”, lives up to its billing. Weaving a tale about a long distance lover who’s coming into town for a short while, “Fantasy” continues Niniola’s knack for sensual narratives. While it’s not as steamy as some of her best work, her lyrics depict a desperate anticipation for a sorely wanted person, which is in itself sex-positive and relatable. Femi Kuti brightens “Fanatasy” with his horn scats, piercing through Kel P’s soft piano chords, winking guitar riffs and bombastic drums.

Tonero – “Hennessy” feat. Tomi

Since releasing his impressive debut project, 2016’s ‘Ajna’, Tonero has been growing a niche but dedicated fanbase with occasional singles and features. Continuing his slow and steady build, the singer has opened his account for the year with “Hennessy”, a romance-themed cut set to a slinky dembow groove. “Hey hey hey, for me, nobody fit come close”, Tonero sings on the hook, letting his affection flow through his impassioned delivery. Abuja-based rapper Tomi features on “Hennessy”, and he drops a striking verse packed with mushy imagery.

Nadia Nakai – “40 Bars” feat. Emtee & DJ Capital

With her well-received 2019 debut LP, ‘Nadia Naked’, Nadia Nakai cemented herself as one of the foremost female rappers on the continent. On her stomping new single, “40 Bars”, the South African rapper sneers at the competition and reiterates her focus on cashing out and living her best life. “Look at the records we broke, all the shows and the tours, we gotta be up”, she assertively quips over whirring piano synths and reverbed 808 bass. Nadia is joined by the self-proclaimed African trapper, Emtee, and he follows her lead with his own unapologetic, confident verse.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/n=burnaboygram, officialniniola

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Dennis is not an interesting person. Tweet Your Favourite Playboi Carti Songs at him @dennisadepeter

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