DJ Neptune taps Zlatan for new club jam, “English Teacher”

Posted on by The Native

Though it’s a DJ’s job is to recognize what songs are hot, it doesn’t take much to recognize Zlatan is it. He has spent the last couple months doing his rounds, featuring on nearly every Nigerian music tastemaker’s song, and now, he’s made a pit stop at the DJ Neptune shop, contributing for the DJ’s “English Teacher” new single.

“English Teacher” continues Zlatan’s street-smart agenda with bars showing his appreciation for his indigenous Yoruba language while mocking the pretentious English speakers. The song comes with a music video directed by Adasa Cookey who casts comedian, MC Lively as the English teacher, while Zlatan performs his Yoruba fuelled bars and dancers perform to the catchy Zanku beat HEC produces.

Watch the music video for DJ Neptune and Zlatan’s “English Teacher” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/DJ Neptune
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ICYMI: Watch the music video for “Ojoro” by DJ Neptune featuring Flash and D’Banj

Becca and Tiwa Savage are ready to settle down on new single, “Yes I Do”

Posted on by Tami Makinde

Ghananian singer/songwriter Becca has just released a new single with Afropop princess, Tiwa Savage titled “Yes I Do” and while it’s an enjoyable bop, it’s everything we do not need women coming together to do in 2019.

The music video shows the two talented musicians addressing their love interest, Tiwa sings ‘You should know by now when I say no, I really mean yes‘. While there’s little fault to be found in one’s aspiration to marriage, there is absolutely everything wrong with statements such as that.

It sends an entirely wrong message to young women listening to this song, passing off the idea that marriage is some sort of audition held by the ‘dominant’ man who poses the question to the ‘demure’ woman.

The music video, directed by Aje Filmworks, continues with both women endearingly saying Yes I Do to marriage, although the vocals infuse together to create a catchy romantic bop, the overall message is lost in the unnecessary lyrics.

Watch the music video for “Yes I Do” below.

Featured image credits/youtube

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

ICYMI: BOJ and Tiwa Savage invoke classic R&B duet tropes on “Your Love (Mogbe)”

Teni the Entertainer makes her Nollywood debut in “Dear Affy”

Posted on by Tami Makinde

Teni the Entertainer has always shown she is a versatile artist, as the singer/songwriter is known for her widely circulated comedy skits on social media. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the artist is getting her Nollywood debut in the Samuel Olatunji-directed movie, “Dear Affy”.

The film is set for release February 14 2020, also boasts of a star studded cast, including Teni, as it features Nollywood favourites Jide Kosoko, former Big Brother Nigeria star Sir Dee, Odunlade Adekola, among others. The film is set to follow an art enthusiast who is to get married to the man of her dreams but falls pregnant before their expected wedding date, for someone else. “Dear Affy” follows the lead actor’s journey to find out the father of her child. Although it is not known what role Teni will be playing, we can only hope the artist gets a lead role on our screens.

Here are the cast of ‘Dear Affy’.

Featured image credits/The Guardian

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

ICYMI: Teni announces debut EP titled Billionaire

Listen to Oma Mahmud advocate for national pride on “Jalo”, featuring Lady Donli

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

The common quip is that loving Nigeria from afar is the Nigerian dream. While it’s a terribly kept secret that the country doesn’t inspire any patriotism, many citizens still harbour an underlying sense of hope—two of them being Oma Mahmud and Lady Donli. On their new collaboration, “Jalo”, both singers faithfully tap into that optimism, advocating for national pride amidst the grimness.

Although “Jalo” translates to ‘let’s go’ in Yoruba, its central message urges young Nigerians to stay and direct their energy towards rebuilding the country, for one reason: it’s home. Superficially, their sentiment is endearing, and on a deeper level, it takes a rousing tone, due to Oma’s impassioned performance and the positivity Lady Donli exudes with her appearance. If anything, the worst of cynics will be able to appreciate the groove propelling the song, featuring brightly burning guitar riffs, windpipes and local percussions.

“Jalo” is Oma Mahmud’s first release since dropping his rock-inflected, electro-R&B EP, ‘Rockstvr’ back in May.

Stream “Jalo” via Apple Music here.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/omamahmud

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ICYMI: LADY DONLI IS READY TO ENJOY HER LIFE

Kiienka and Veen continue exploring the range of their R&B and rap combo on “Patience”

Posted on by The Native

The music scene in Port Harcourt has seemed particularly exciting these past few months and a lot of that has to do with the work Veen and Kiienka have put in, releasing singles, music videos and projects. Though they aren’t a duo, Kiienka featured on Veen’s ‘Eternal Flex’ EP and Veen returned the favour through his feature on Kiienka’s ‘Spaceman’. They continue to explore the range of their partnership on “Patience”, their fourth collaboration in 2019 alone.

Perhaps it’s their familiarity that allows “Patience” pull off the tricky chemistry of being simultaneously difficult to understand and easy to fall in love with. Performing their melodic sets to the groove of the lightweight beat Veen produced, Kiienka and Veen try to convince their love interest of their commitment to their relationships while still admitting their focus on their careers. While the cheerful beat is comforting, their sincere vocals leave room for some suspense as they build an epic romantic story about the patience required while grinding on the come up.

Stream Kiienka and Veen’s “Patience” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/kiienka
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ICYMI: Check out all the essentials from Kiienka’s 6-track ‘Spaceman’ EP

Adekunle Gold personifies the feeling of being intoxicated by “Young Love”

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

Most of us can agree that the first days of a relationship represent the idyll of being in love—almost as though everything is set in a cliché romantic comedy. More often than not, however, reality hits, and it takes some dedication to keep the initial preciousness going.

On his latest single, “Young Love”, Adekunle Gold captures the feeling of being intoxicated by the honeymoon phase, balancing his sentimentality with the acknowledgement of a potentially topsy-turvy future.

“I know this is young love, feel like a lifetime/although this young love, don’t ever leave my side”, he passionately sings , addressing his heartfelt set to his love interest with controlled optimism. Sunny piano chirps, syncopated horn riff and EDM bass synths form a slick and boisterous bed, further enlivening Adekunle Gold’s pining performance. With lyrics evoking the aura of a two-way commitment, “Young Love” is the type of record you’d expect to hear on wedding playlists in coming months.

Stream “Young Love” via Apple Music here.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/adekunlegold

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ICYMI: ADEKUNLE GOLD SHARES NEW SINGLE, “KELEGBE MEGBE” WITH AN ACCOMPANYING MUSIC VIDEO

BOJ & Tiwa Savage invoke classic R&B duet tropes on “Your Love (Mogbe)”

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

Coming on the heels of his uber-collaborative summer slapper, “Awolowo”, BOJ’s latest single, “Your Love (Mogbe)“ features Afropop superstar Tiwa Savage, and it looks primed to sit on multiple playlists, especially as cuffing season approaches. Between its central, glassy guitar riff, their harmonies and  emotionally vulnerable sentiments evoke emotion with their lyrics, and BOJ and Tiwa Savage pull off a masterpiece in inflecting classic R&B duets tropes.

“If your love ever leave me, mogbe/if your love ever leave me, yawa”, they sing on the hook, with their mushy set gaining even more prominence in the accompanying music video. Directed by DK, BOJ is seen getting cosy with a model who acts as his romantic partner, while Tiwa Savage performs her lyrics on a stairwell, using subtle mannerisms to embellish her act. Colleagues WavyTheCreator and Ajebutter22 also make cameo appearances in the crisp video.

Watch the video for “Your Love (Mogbe)” here.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Afro Nation

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ICYMI: TIWA SAVAGE EMBODIES THE STRENGTH OF WOMEN’S SEXUALITY IN NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR “49-99”

Teni announces debut EP, ‘Billionaire’

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

In an increasingly singles-driven market, artists aren’t really pressed to put out projects speedily. Case in point, Issue 3 cover star Teni, who’s just announced the imminent arrival if her debut EP, titled ‘Billionaire’. This move comes on the back of a hugely successful breakout year in 2018, in which she stacked hits after hits, and a follow-up year that has been a bit less heralded so far, but is still remarkable.

In addition to revealing the EP title and a dapper picture of herself as the cover art, she also provided an October 11th release date for the project, with its title track scheduled for release as its lead single on October 4th. The tracklist for ‘Billionaire’ hasn’t been made public yet, but we’ll be sure to update you immediately we know more.

Check the announcement post below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/tenientertainer

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ICYMI: SKIIBII TEAMS UP WITH TENI AND DJ NEPTUNE AND FALZ FOR NEW SINGLE, “DAZ HOW STAR DO”

Prettyboy D-O calls out Blaqbonez for jacking his flow

Posted on by The Native

Hip-hop has always been one of the more competitive genres with beef being a part of the genre’s culture. Though rap beef in Nigeria rarely ever escalates to violent extremes, the rivalries still exist, heard in subtle jabs, name drops on records and even social media subs. Prettyboy D-O and Blaqbonez seemed geared for battle after D-O called out Blaqbonez on Twitter, accusing him of mimicking his flow on new single, “Shut Up”.

Though the tweet comes across as aggressive, it’s completely in line with the brand Prettyboy D-O has been building as an artist who shoots first and asks questions later. Singing “And if you wanna pull up, better make you shoot us/ and if you’re going to shoot us, better make you kill us” on “Pull Up”, featuring Santi, he’s exactly the type to challenge Blaqbonez so provocatively on the timeline. It’s the same aggression heard in his mix of patois and street-inclined raps that gives his voice such a distinct slur that lets his music stand out and makes “Shut Up” listen like a loosie that didn’t make the cut for D-O’s impressive ‘Everything Pretty’ project debut.

Sounding like D-O with his attempt at creating a Jamaican ruffian persona for his Boombastic alter-ego offered D-O the perfect chance to flex his famous biceps. But it’s hard not to consider the purely promotional implications of such a move. Hip-hop enthusiasts have spent the last couple of weeks debating the necessity of rap beef for sparking the interest of mainstream audiences that are perhaps more entertained by the drama than the actual music. The rap scene has seemed a warzone with diss tracks dropping nearly on a weekly bases following Blaqbonez’s boldfaced claim to being the best rapper in Africa. Naturally, this makes Blaqbonez an easy target for others who consider themselves more deserving of the title he coined as the tentative title of his coming project, ‘BRIA (Best Rapper in Africa)’.

The publicity the tweet has generated will certainly reflect nicely on the engagement for Prettyboy D-O’s anticipated “Dem Go Hear Wehh” music video and even Blaqbonez has only gotten more renowned with every artist that takes him up on his challenge. Not to mention, the phrasing of Prettyboy D-O’s tweet, “If you want to sound like PRETTYBOY, make you feature PRETTYBOY”, reads more like an ad to spotlight the two’s previous “Nike” collaboration, off Blaqbonez’s ‘Bad Boy Blaq Re-up’ project, than a diss meant to cause any major conflict. And there’s also something to be said about Blaqbonez’s vehement role-playing as Mr Boombastic when he was interviewed about the tweet on the “F&S Uncensored” podcast and wouldn’t break out of his alter-ego character, making a joke of the whole uproar.

Regardless, the effect this tweet has on the trajectory of both artists can’t be measured just yet. So until we have more, we’d have to file this under the same ‘developing story’ pile stories like last year’s rumoured romance between Wizkid and Tiwa Savage sit, gathering dust.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/prettyboydo
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ICYMI: YCee is done being quiet about Tinny Entertainment

Premiere: DAP The Contract lets loose “PRISMCOLORS”, the first drop from his CTIII series

“Baby, why’s it been so long? You ain’t hit my phone no more….”

DAP The Contract opens up his first solo release of the year with a question that could be levelled at him by his own fans. Since his pulsating November offering, Everybody Falls In The Summer, he’s touched based at home, performing at our NATIVELAND Festival; gone on a North American tour; and moved from New York to Amsterdam.

As he has successfully balanced back-to-back Ivy League education experiences, DAP has found himself moving around more than ever. While some could use this as an excuse for minimal output, the producer-artist from Lagos has used this as a fuel for experimentation, which birthed the Contract Thursdays series. In between full length projects, DAP has used the series as an outlet for trying to new sounds, telling raw stories, and sharing key moments of his growth as an artist and as a man with his fans.

“PRISMCOLORS”, the first release from Contract Thursdays III (which will be premiered exclusively on The NATIVE) is rooted in DAP’s teenage years as a budding producer in London. Hard hitting drums and soulful breaks provide the bed for the two potent verses directed at an ex-lover who is struggling to come to terms with DAP’s growth.

DAP is currently preparing for the European leg of his Everybody Falls Tour, with the first date in London at Show Dem Camp’s Palmwine Festival.

Featured Image Credits/Akintunde Ahmad

ICYMI: READ OUR PREMIERE STORY OF DAP THE CONTRACT’S VISUAL ALBUM, ‘EVERYBODY FALLS IN THE SUMMER’

Amaarae invites listeners into a sensual world on her new single “LIKE IT”

Posted on by Tami Makinde

Ghanaian neo-soul princess, Amaarae has a handful of singles and her debut EP, ‘Passionfruit Summers’ under her belt. Adding to the mix, she has been teasing a new single, “LIKE IT” for over a week on her social media. The singer/songwriter took to her Instagram to share a series of photos which featured both male and female models, clad in seductive fits. Among the teasers released by the singer are video clips of what appears to be an exclusive brothel where seductive dancers offer lap dances to the men who frequent this house. We can only guess these will be the visuals for her latest sex-positive single.

Rvdicalthekid is credited with producing the hypnotic dream-pop synths infused with drum riffs that supports Amaarae’s silky vocals on “LIKE IT”. Amaraae performs a dreamy, romantic set with underlying sexual tones. ‘Plenty paper, so baby throw it back like its no chaser‘ she sings, alluding to the series of photo clips on her social media of the delectable dancers. Amaarae, known for the fairy dust magic she brings to songs, continues in the same feat as she questions the object of her attraction singing, “Do you like it like I like it”, as her vocals fade out to create a hazy laidback and suggestive tone.

Listen to “LIKE IT” below.

Featured image credits/instagram

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

ICYMI: Nonso Amadi shares scenic music video for “Never” on his social media

Kida Kudz flips D’Banj’s “Gbono Feli Feli” hit for new “Past Tense (Freestyle)”

Posted on by The Native

It’s so hard to pick a favourite D’Banj song because of the sheer number of hit songs the Koko Master has churned out over the course of his successful music career. “Gbono Feli Feli” has however persisted as a fan favourite with several artists channelling the energy the song inspires to score hit songs of their own. M.I’s remix, “I’m Hot (Gbona Feli)”, asides establishing his rap prowess, helped the Jos boy cross over to more mainstream acclaim.

Kida Kudz might no longer need the sentimental aid M.I did back in 2009, but he samples D’Banj’s “Gbono Feli Feli” hit for new “Past Tense (Freestyle)” single as if to show his appreciation of the Afropop classic. Embody the charisma required to carry the bouncy beat Don Jazzy produced, Kida Kudz performs a confident set in his signature ‘Jiggy’ flow, rapping about his climb to acclaim.

Stream Kida Kudz’s “Past Tense (Freestyle)” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/kidakudzgram
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ICYMI: Watch the music video for Kida Kudz’s “Moonwalk”

Meet Laila Cadne, the Nigerian makeup artist behind S’oge

Posted on by Tami Makinde

It was not long ago that Laila Cadne’s atelier social media debacle graced our timelines. Every so often clashes like this happen in the creative industry where credit is not given to those who serve as our inspiration.

Despite this, Laila Cadne continues to amass a great deal of clientele who she adorns in her unique editorial makeup. Speaking to the NATIVE, Laila reveals that her love for makeup began in 2014 following her teams success at Fayrouz L’original Competition. She was originally more interested in visual arts, however, living with a mother who was a distributor of Mary Kay products helped her nurture her talent for editorial makeup.

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Among the faces she has beautifully made up over the years include singer Gigi Atlantis, who she worked with for a promotional shoot, adorning the singer with pink graphic liner, purple highlighter and gems. The collaboration was seamless, as Laila was able to bring Gigi’s mood board to life and it followed the same editorial direction Laila was used to. Her use of gemstones is far from being Euphoria-inspired, she makes known over the phone, she has always played with gemstones in her profession as an editorial makeup artist, way before it hit mainstream media in the hit tv show, Euphoria. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvr3wbcB4p4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

She has also worked with model Aduke Shitta-Bey, the muse behind her internet famous editorial S’Oge, which was inspired by her desire to juxtapose vintage with the modern style. According to Laila, S’Oge is the millennial woman who is decorated with accessories and makeup that are from the 80s; made clear with her micro-thin brows and native attire.

Her fascination with combining vintage and modern styles also translates in her other editorials; her experience with Denola Grey was strikingly similar. She combined the gold flakes editorial look with his native attire for the model’s D.R.O.M.P. visuals. Working with male features did not prove difficult, as she was able to bring his vision to life with the use of a gold mask and flakes that fell away from the face to mimic the wind.

Laila Cadne is a prolific makeup artist, and always looking to expand her clientele and take on new projects. When I ask her about her future plans for her brand, she excitedly announces her plan to keep creating mind blowing editorial look that will help shine spotlight on makeup in Africa. ‘I reach out to people if their essence matches the ideas I’ll love to create’ she reveals, as she would rather curate makeup looks then later source for a muse which can bring her looks to life.

Check out some more of her work here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzyQf2JF_kX/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2JUwXDFzRV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl0y_caDjRo/

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

ICYMI: All roads lead to Lagos Fashion Week

Nonso Amadi shares scenic music video for “Never” on his social media pages

Posted on by The Native

Nonso Amadi continues the rollout for his latest project, ‘Free’, with a new music video for the first track, “Never”. It’s the second video from the EP, following the release of the music video for Mr Eazi assisted “Go Outside” a few weeks ago, but Nonso Amadi seems more leisurely here with the video only being shared on his Twitter and Instagram pages.

The nearly 2-minute long video is directed by AJE Films who captures the mellow mood of the song with a scenic setting that places Nonso Amadi alone by the sea. The waves of the ocean, flying birds and some vegetation are his only audience while he pours out his heart over the melancholy beat Dawa Suya produces for the reflective number.

Watch the music video for “Never” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/nonsoamadi
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ICYMI: Watch the music video for “Go Outside” by Nonso Amadi and Mr Eazi

Watch Olamide glorify erotic dancers in his music video for “Pawon”

Posted on by The Native

Olamide has maintained an enviable command of mainstream music attention both as a rapper and as a pop singer. It’s a feat he has managed thanks to his adapt street sensibilities, making songs the average Lagosian can relate with. His latest single, “Pawon” already had all the marking of another hit from the YBNL artist with its celebration of the festive Yoruba culture, but the music video he just released puts it beyond any reasonable doubt.

TG Omori directs the music video for “Pawon” in a Mad Max-esque setting where women are seen twerking to the catchy beat Cracker Mallo produces. While Olamide performs his encouraging lyrics, “All my sexy ladies, Pawon(Kill Them)”, the dancers entertain the men who are clearly ready to spend all their cash on the show. Conservative society might frown on erotic dancers, but Olamide appreciates the mesmerising power dancers wield, and seems to be inciting them to go forth and conquer the world.

Watch the music video for “Pawon” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/OlamideVEVO

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ICYMI: Watch the music video for Olamide’s “Oil and Gas”

Best New Music: Tau Benah celebrates youth and femininity in “Young Woman”

Posted on by The Native

Tau Benah opens his latest single “Young Woman”, singing “Hey young woman, young woman, you are the man”. The political statement his follow-up line—“I’ve been trying to get you to overstand”— subtly implies, makes his quirky wordplay more striking.

No surprise there though, as this is the same hybrid producer-rapper-singer who gave us last year’s Honey EP, a collection of lithe songs about guilty pleasures, rendered with colourful food-infused sex references.

“Young Woman” is another show of Tau Benah’s ability to entertain, using intimate subject matters reflected in grander narratives about the most important things in life. In the accompanying video, poignant greyscale images take viewers through the growth of a young woman into motherhood. Tau Benah himself said the single was inspired by current events in his life and a new-found awareness of the role women have played in it. “Young Woman” is a song to celebrate these women, and more so to speak of a personal value I cherish – the love for our Mothers”, Tau Benah says.

On the second verse, Tau Benah assures a young woman, the world is hers,  rapping about devotion, promising to “Never disrespect the force, the final miracle, the light”. In these confident lines, Tau Benah’s new single could pass off as a sentimental ode to eternal youth and divine femininity. As a serendipitous commentary of recent events, “Young Woman” is commemorative of 16-year old climate change activist Greta Thunberg, making global headlines for demanding positive action towards earth’s survival. If there are still doubters of the strength and resilience of womanhood, perhaps Tau Benah will make a soulful reference point.

Stream “Young Woman” via Apple Music below

Toye is Editor-at-Large at NATIVE Nigeria. Tweet at him @ToyeSokunbi

Best New Music: Accra City Vice comes to life in Tulenkey’s trap-house anthem “Yard”

Street Billionaires tap local heritage in music video for “Yoruba Ni Mi”

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

It’s always nice to see artists taking pride in their heritage, and going the extra mile to display it in full. On their latest single, “Yoruba Ni Mi”, rap-indented, Afropop collective Street Billionaires gleefully tap into their South-West Nigeria heritage, as though it wasn’t clear enough.

The Chocolate City-backed quartet— Gbafun, Candy Bleakz, Ijay and Lemon Adisa—have always performed their songs in their native Yoruba language, both solo and as a group. On “Yoruba Ni Mi”, they embrace ethnic quirks that they are prideful of, using them as markers for a boastful banger, touting their street credibility and affluence over DONL37’s percussive beat.

Picturing the song’s motives and groovy elements, Ifeoma C.S directs an accompanying video that features each SB member styled in colourful Adire (tie & dye) outfits, simulating the lyrics in the company of similarly-dressed dancers and drummers with talking drums. There are also shots of local food being prepared, local citizens and Danfo buses, displaying the inner city life that clearly inspired the song.

See Street Billionaires in “Yoruba Ni Mi” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Street Billionaires

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ICYMI: ZLATAN IS MR-STEAL-YOUR-GIRL IN MUSIC VIDEO FOR IVD’S “BOLANLE”

Yemi Alade’s video for “Give Dem” colourfully amps up her diva persona

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

With album titles like ‘King Of Queens’ and ‘Mama Africa’, it isn’t difficult to glean that Afropop superstar Yemi Alade moves with conviction. The singer very recently released ‘Wonder Woman’, her fourth studio album in five years, and she’s currently circling attention back to it. A few short weeks after putting out a music video and a short film for “Home”, she’s now shared the video for the album’s second pre-released single, “Give Dem”.

Prancing over the club-ready production by Krizbeatz, Yemi Alade performs a playfully charged set aimed at getting listeners to dance, while also hyping her proven ability as a hit-maker. Clarence Peters directs the music video for “Give Dem”, and while it contains the recognisable traits of a Yemi Alade video—energetic dance moves—the singer’s diva persona is given a twist, via the striking styling and her carefree attitude all throughout

Watch Yemi Alade’s “Give Dem” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Yemi Alade

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

ICYMI: WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR YEMI ALADE’S “OH MY GOSH REMIX” FEATURING RICK ROSS

Tobes44 and Zarion Uti bridge Lagos, London and the ATL on new single, “Double Dutch”

Posted on by The Native

The nationalist campaign for Brexit in the UK doesn’t seem to have affected the cordial relationship with Nigeria. Tobes44 and Atlanta based Nigerian singer, Zarion Uti, keep up the national alliance with their new collaboration, “Double Dutch”, where they show off their confident rap bars and charming command of Nigerian and UK quips.

Telz produces the mid-tempo beat for “Double Dutch”, blending the sinister base drums of grime with the catchy synth harmonies that make Afropop so melodious. While Tobes44 raps his cocky verse using a very distinctly London slur in his vocals, his lyrics reference a Nigerian dish, “fine girl with the yam, just let me pound you”. Zarion Uti’s hook might have the confident swagger of a rap verse, but his melodic performance in Afropop’s groovy flair is proof of the sounds genre-bending can accomplish.

Stream “Double Dutch” by Tobes44 and Zarion Uti below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/tobesff
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ICYMI: Listen to “Silent” by Zarion Uti, Odunsi and Jilex Anderson

Blaqbonez reveals his menacing Mr Boombastic alter-ego in his “Shut Up” music video

Posted on by The Native

Last week when “Shut Up” was released, the antagonistic lyrics painted Blaqbonez’ alter-ego to be quite the ruffian. Fusing his rap with a Jamaican patois slur made him sound especially menacing with his bars, bragging and G checking his competition.

The 100 Crowns rapper has released the accompanying music video for “Shut Up”, imposing Mr Boombastic’s threatening persona with a graphic music video directed by TG Omori to highlight his intimidating presence.

The music video follows Blaqbonez with his goons clad in white dresses and carrying machine guns. Though they cut very terrorising poses as Blaqbonez’s bodyguards, Blaqbonez appears even more intimidating, lip-synching his cocky bars with a scroll on his face while two of his supposed opps dangle from the ceiling.

Watch the music video for “Shut Up” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Blaqbonez
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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: Blaqbonez has everyone trying to find out who the best rapper in Africa is

Missaei and L.A.X’s “Bad Boy” is a soundtrack to club romance

Posted on by The Native

Missaei and L.A.X have teamed up for a catchy new single, “Bad Boy”, a song about the raunchy intentions of lovers on the dance floor. Produced by Clemzy the delightfully lightweight beat is set to a groovy rhythm with familiar drum riffs, synths and piano harmonies that take us back to early 2010’s Afropop.

Despite the “Bad Boy” title, both singers perform different choruses addressed at the opposite sex; “Bad boy (girl) you need the love” they sing. This gives the song a sensual call and listeners who enjoy music with personal significance on dance floors will appreciate.

Stream “Bad Boy” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/Missaei 
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