Burna Boy is a man of all seasons. After the buzz of late 2018’s “Killin Dem” and “On The Low” spilt-over into the early weeks of 2019, a short film for “Thuggin/Darko”, his collaboration with American production duo, DJDS followed. Since then Burna has rolled out his ‘African Gaint’ album, with videos and hype built around this eponymous era for his artistry. His latest video offering from the album is for “Pull Up”, one of the more mellow cuts from his latest project, and the new video depicts Burna Boy, in a colourful car-cruise as he rides around town with friends. Director, Meji Alabi offers a winking tribute to Yellow Lagos buses as well as 90’s rap music videos with a laid-back summer-ry glimpse at the man of the moment, Burna Boy, in nostalgic feels.
Watch the music video for Burna Boy’s “Pull Up” below.
Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Burna Boy
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An integral part of the ongoing verve in the Ghanaian rap scene is an apparent willingness to collaborate. Joey B, Kwesi Arthur and Sarkodie may have broken out in different eras, but on their new collaboration, “La Familia”, they stand shoulder-to-shoulder in confidently declaring their acclaim. Over a frenzied oriental guitar riff and thumping bass, each rapper unleashes an imposing slew of bruising raps, revelling in their come-up and shadowboxing naysayers.
The music video Joey B co-directs with Babs, under the pseudonym Darryl, acts a compelling visual companion piece, emphasizing the bravado at the core of the song. While the video is predominantly in black-and-white, the filter is tweaked for an alluring, nightmarish effect. Amidst the bizarre settings, Joey, Kwesi and Sarkodie sternly perform their verses, in the company of intimidating, macho men.
Watch the video for Joey B’s “La Familia” below.
Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Joey B
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Dennis is not an interesting person. Tweet Your Favourite Playboi Carti Songs at him @dennisadepeter
The last twelve months have been the busiest of Preyé Itams’ career so far. Prior to closing last year with her airy “Cookie” single, the singer made striking appearances on Tay Iwar’s “SPACE”, and on “Taking Over”, a collaboration with Show Dem Camp’s Ghost on Collectiv3’s ‘Live. Create. Repeat’ album. While she reunited with close collaborator Davina Oriakhi in April, for another joint, consciously-charged single, “Bang The Drum”, the singer is opening her solo account for 2019, with the recent release of her new “Love Fumes” single.
Evoking the warmth of a tropical island, the mildly bouncy production from DOZ underscores Preyé’s effusive performance, as she confidently struts away from being romantically entangled with a Casanova. “I will never take you back, you ain’t JAY-Z”, she raps on the first verse, after vividly detailing the events leading up to her suspicions and final decisions. Although the rap section of “Love Fumes” is delightfully impressive, Preyé switches to a more familiar singing delivery, with the fluttery feel of her voice bringing extra doses of charm.
Stream “Love Fumes” via Apple Music here.
Featured Image Credits: Instagram/preye_itams
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Dennis is not an interesting person. Tweet Your Favourite Playboi Carti Songs at him @dennisadepeter
Since making his NATIVE debut with “Milli”, Lörd Isaac has shown himself to be an excellent craftsman, telling his distinctly Nigerian stories and experiences through the globally acclaimed trap sound of hip-hop. His latest release, “Main Guy” featuring Awful Daniel plunges his Nigerian roots into a cinematic narrative with relish, finding freedom in the ability to be violent out in the open as he embellishes his character with the graphic detailing hip-hop and Hollywood are known for.
Though the catchy and ominous beat Awful Daniel produces for “Main Guy”, punctuated with hi-hat flutter riffs layered over synth lines, is informed by his American influences, Lörd Isaac makes sure to shout-out Lagos while claiming his territory as real one; “I do this for my city aye/ She ask what I rep, I said it’s Las Gidi baby”. His relaxed delivery, relishing each line as he raps “Chopper go 180, make you spill like gravy /Pop used to be in the Navy so I got mob ties who happen to pop guys” with a languid swagger, highlights his confidence in his pen game and in the legitimacy of the bars that are convincing but also almost too outlandish to be true.
Listen to Lörd Isaac and Awful Daniel’s “Main Guy” below.
Featured Image Credits: Instagram/isaac_lelord
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Having maximized the bravado of being in a group, members of the Traplanta crew are starting to push their personal agendas with the increasing number of solo releases from the group. Though dndSection just released his debut EP, ‘Love Lies Bleeding’, and KA$H put out a two-track tape, ‘Dontlookbak’, back in May, the group isn’t disbanding anytime soon after sharing two new singles, “Hollywood” and “London Town” featuring $odaman, while also hinting at a coming ‘Passport Stamps’ project.
“Hollywood” and “London Town” explore the showy nuances of hip-hop, speaking to the overarching theme of being the coolest people in the world over two contrasting but equally intriguing beats +gray+ produces. While “Hollywood” is sunny and joyful with synths and soulful bass rhythms skipping along to OBA and KA$H’s boastful lyrics about their youthful lifestyle, “London Town” is more sinister as Folabi Xan and KA$H feature $odaman, delivering an almost breathless hook and verse over the droning synth-led trap beat, bragging about their gangster antics and the girls they can pull because of it. Both songs show off the quick wit, dexterity and the clarity of thought from the member of Traplanat leading to interest lyrics that paint a glowing image of their gangster lifestyle.
Stream Traplanta’s “Hollywood” and “London Town” featuring $odaman below.
Featured Image Credits: Instagram/Traplantaworld
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Nigeria’s team, D’Tigress, emerged victorious in the 2019 FIBA Afrobasket Championship, beating the host country Senegal 60-55 in the final. The team retained the title for the second year running, having also won the 2017 edition of the games. D’Tigress amassed a five-game unbeaten run, with Ezinne Kalu being named the most valuable player of the AfroBasket Games after leading Nigeria to its back-to-back title. Kalu’s star appearance was reiterated in the semi finals against Mali where the athlete hit five of ten three-point attempts.
The AfroBasket Games also serve as a first test qualifier for the 2020 Summer Olympics to be held in Tokyo, Japan. Having secured this win, Nigeria is eligible for the next stage. The country has also qualified for the 2022 Women’s Basketball Club.
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Tami is a lover of astrology, good music and women. Tweet your fave female artists at her @tamimak_
Since opening this year with “All Die Be Die”, Ghanaian rap superstar Sarkodie has released a steady trickle of music. With no plans to stop rolling out new material anytime soon, the rapper recently announced the upcoming release of a new studio album, titled ‘Black Love’, less than three months after his ‘Alpha’ EP. Late last month, a trailer featuring cameos from Wande Coal, Idris Elba and more, was released, as well as a single with Rudeboy (one half of the defunct P-Square group), “Lucky”, along with an accompanying video.
Pressing on with the rollout, the rapper has shared a new single, “Do You”, with Afropop superstar Mr Eazi, as well as its music video. Seemingly keeping up with the album’s plaintive title, the song is a romantic confessional that finds both artists reminiscing and missing an old flame, propelled by the chunky mid-tempo beat Guiltybeatz puts together. Directed by Capone and Guise, the video builds a cinematic set of visuals around the song’s narrative, as it is focused on the video’s central muse going through the motions of ditching her current lover for a previous lover, played by Sarkodie.
You can watch the video for Sarkodie’s “Do You” below.
Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Sarkodie
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Having featured Falz on her “Eko Remix”, Soti continues to build on her reputation for collaborating with rappers with accomplished pop sensibilities as features YCee for “INK (I No Know)”. The sultry Afropop song provides YCee with another chance to show off his melodic chops, joining Soti to perform a blend of rap and singing to describe his intimate feelings for a love interest.
Placed side by side, Soti and YCee’s similarly heartfelt verses listens like a duet between lovers. The music video Paul Gambit directs heightens the romantic tension, playing the two artists as lovers who share intimate moments on camera after having a couple’s quarrel.
You can watch the music video for YCee and Soti’s “INK(I No Know)” below.
Featured Image Credits: YouTube/SotiVEVO
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Although Trap music’s ongoing dominance has made it a global phenomenon, it is yet to become a solitary force in the Nigerian music mainstream. This automatically suggests that emerging purveyors of the hip-hop subgenre in Nigeria have to be pliable, finding the appropriate blend between popular sounds dominating the local airwaves and their western influences, so as to improve on their crossover potentials.
On his debut EP, ‘Eternal Flex’, Port Harcourt based artist/producer Veen effectively bounces between Afropop’s colourful warmth and Trap’s kinetic minimalism. It is a combination that has been coming into focus in the past year, in the mould of artists like Psycho YP and Rema. Joining that exciting list, Veen leans into the unique tropes of both genres on a song-by-song basis, with the short project ultimately listening as an impressive display of Veen’s continued growth into a diverse and well-rounded artist.
Veering between lanes, Veen keeps the project consistent by being at its centre. In addition to his primary vocal role, Veen handles production duties in its entirety, exhibiting heterogeneity while keeping a steady pulse. On opener “Lai Lai Lai”, Veen aptly matches his romantic sentiments with a knotty ‘2000s R&B guitar riff and an easy rocking 808 drum pattern, while on the self-assured title track, ominous electric guitar riff samples, greasy hi-hats and swinging bass enhances the urgency of his raps.
While he brandishes his ability to move across an engaging range of subject matter, it is underlined by his pliable delivery—between sincere singing and hard-nosed rapping—and penchant for succinct writing. Assisted by Psycho YP, who sings the catchy hook, Veen raps two quick, poignant 8-bar verses on “Race”, wasting no lines while reiterating his unrelenting ambition. “Got a lot of dreams, I could never fall back”, he fierily spits over the groovy trap beat. Elsewhere, on “Wayo”, he demands to know the definite status of a relationship from a flailing love interest, singing his vulnerable yet vindictive lyrics in repetitive mode to express resolve.
Following track, “IDK” returns to stern posturing, with conceited guest verses from Txby and Blaqbonez. However, the EP closes on reflective terms with the Kiienka-assisted “Demons”, with Veen droning his self-effacing lyrics over a rock-inflected trap beat, featuring sputtering guitars that add a Travis Scott-esque psychedelic filter. While a noticeable level of vulnerability and self-awareness is present throughout ‘Eternal Flex’, it peaks on “Demons”, making it the EP’s emotional centrepiece.
Stream ‘Eternal Flex’ via Apple Music here.
Featured Images Credit: Instagram/abstractveen
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Dennis is not an interesting person. Tweet Your Favourite Playboi Carti Songs at him @dennisadepeter
Even after breaking out with “Tonight”, Nonso Amadi remained somehow apart from the Nigerian mainstream. His newly released EP, ‘Free’, however, seems to focus on capturing a more Nigerian fanbase, featuring artists like Mr Eazi and Simi over the 6-track duration. Mr Eazi assisted “Go Outside” is getting an accompanying music video to push his crossover agenda through the charming video for the lightweight and groovy single.
Though the lyrics Mr Eazi and Nonso Amadi perform for “Go Outside” are too showy to be described as romantic, the music video Mollana Burke directs is centred around the relationship between lovers. Set in a summer-y outdoor glow, Nonso is seen chatting up a woman at the store while the dancers are also paired together like a couple as they dance along to the catchy guitar baseline of the song.
You can watch the music video for “Go Outside” below.
Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Nonso Amadi
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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
Less than two months after the music video release of his spiritual “Bless Me” single with Kidi, prolific Ghanaian artist Darkovibes has just followed up by sharing a new solo single, “Different”, along with an accompanying music video. Gliding over the lively mid-tempo beat Uche B produces, mixing electric highlife guitars and bouncy Afropop drum synths, Darko delivers a romantic set that dually listens like a devotional to a singular love interest, and homage to the beauty of Ghanaian women. Visualizing his intentions, the video Sampah Francis directs, features shots of the singer performing his lyrics in front of a white background and in the company of an attractive muse. There are also quick, sultry shots of various dark-skinned models, increasing the video’s woman-centric allure.
You can watch the video for Darkovibes’ “Different” below.
Featured Image Credits: Instagram/Darkovibes
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Nigerian pop songs are not known for their educational impact, but Mr Real has continued to push his agenda for giving street lessons on his new single, “Oloun”. His breakout single, “Legbegbe”, had brought the ‘shaku-shaku’ dance on the street to the mainstream along with some hints on the bargaining tactics for buying second-hand iPhones. His new single, however, sees him go for more existential lessons, waxing philosophical while speaking to his creator over the Afro-house beat Cracker produces.
The mind-numbing synths of house music have become the go-to sound for street-inclined pop songs and Mr Real owes his success to his command of the Afro-house genre. With contributions from Reminisce and Phyno, adding their indigenous vocals, “Oloun” speaks to a diverse audience. And DJ Kaywise’s feature is a sort of guarantee for the song’s accomplish on dancefloors.
Listen to Mr Real, Reminisce, Phyno and DJ Kaywise on “Oloun” below.
Featured Image Credits: Instagram/mr_realgram
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In June, Port Harcourt-based hip-hop artists Timi Kei and Illgod released their collaborative album, ‘Soulsoup’, with the former handling vocal duties and the latter working behind the boards. Featuring Timi’s supremely sculpted, lived-in raps, and Illgod’s immaculate, sample-based production, the pair turned out an album that has won unanimous praise from afficionados of Nigerian rap music.
Capitalizing on the ongoing goodwill, and attempting to improve on their listening audience, the pair recently released the music video for “Respiration”, a standout selection that flexes Timi’s pyrotechnical mix of spiritual and personal lyrics, over the pristine guitar sample loop and crisp boom bap drums Illgod produces. Directed by nBeni Johnson, the video carries a DIY feel, with shots of Timi animatedly performing his raps in somewhat deserted locations, jovially embellishing the sincerity of his lyrics.
Watch the video for Illgod & Timi Kei’s “Respiration” here.
Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Timi Kei
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Santi is expanding the universe around Mandy and the Jungle. With the promise of an accompanying comic book, fans can expect more context from the landmark debut, but video releases are already painting a clear picture of what is to come. Last year, “Freaky”, kickstarted Santi’s Nollywood-grunge aesthetic, a theme that surfaced in follow up videos “Rapid Fire” and “Sparky”. “Raw Dinner”, his first post-album video release tows a similar line to his earlier work using goth elements to present a refreshing take on nostalgic Nollywood nuances.
Starring Nigerian model Daberechi in the lead role, “Raw Dinner” dabbles with surrealism and fantasy. Producer, Ebuka Nwobu gives a character breakdown that lists Santi as Quila and newcomer actress Mimi as the clairvoyant, Luna. Both form a crime-fighting duo that befriends Erin (Daberechi) another super-powered human. “Raw Dinner” nods Tarantino, one of Santi’s main visual influences with a chapter-by-chapter split that spreads the plot across 6 interspersed parts and here is how they play out:
Chapter One: Luna’s Vision
The opening chapter introduces two supernatural characters, Erin and Luna. Erin appears to use her telepathic abilities on a shopkeeper who is stunned by the encounter and offers them goods without accepting any payment. Luna’s powers are also revealed in a quick scene that pays homage to children cinematic classic, Matilda. In this sequence, we catch a brief glimpse at an evidence board with flyers about a missing boy, amongst other details of a case in progress.
Chapter Two: The Burning Sisters
The ominous scene opens into a red room. Kida and Santi, unassumingly, come across a gruesome dinner table seemingly set by four entranced women in dressed in all black. Luna arrives at the crime scene with a spellbook, that wards off the villainous-looking women at the gathering. However, the evil is not defeated, elsewhere a mad doctor restrains patients for experiments and tests. Kida is one of such experiments and he delivers his verse while restrained.
Chapter Three: The New Friend
This scene shows off the growing friendship between the trio. The voiceover narration (performed by Moyosore Briggs), keys us into the bond that has grown between Quila, Luna and Erin: “It feels great when you know you’re not alone when you find someone just like you everything starts making sense”, Briggs narrates. Erin also shows off her abilities to her friends by effortlessly defeating a horde of zombies; Quila and Luna are visibly impressed in Erin’s mastery of her power.
Chapter Four: Hungry Little Kids
Santi’s Nollywood inspirations manifest fully in this chapter. Quila, Luna and Erin are working on a case of the missing boy from the evidence board. This scene segues into the lair of an unidentified supernatural creature, who appears to have held the missing boys captive. Edna Ogholi’s classic track, “Happy Birthday” interludes “Raw Dinner”, while Luna telepathically transports herself to rescue the boys, against the better knowledge of the creature who kidnapped them.
Chapter Five: The Foundations of Evil
This scene opens with the narration echoing the propensity for evil that lies in all of us. The running theme here is the inevitability of destiny. Erin squares off with the child-napping creature who insists her path is destined for evil. The confrontation is intense, and Erin is seen struggling to accept her fate as she tries to grasp on to the friendship she has found in Quila and Luna. However, we see Erin accepting her fate as the confrontation ends with the creature laying on the floor leading up to the last chapter where her full form emerges.
Chapter Six: Don’t Pray For Nice Things
The final act of “Raw Dinner” is perhaps the most picturesque, it is a blend of contrasting colours; black and blood red. Erin is shadowed by an effeminate dark angel who appears to be helping her direct her energy in a room filled with onlooking followers in black robes. Quila is seen trying to make his way to her but it is clear that her path has changed as she basks in the adoration of the coven around her. He is restrained from reaching her and brought to his knees. There is the look of betrayal on Quila’s face when he comes face to face with his former friend, who has now transformed into the Demon Queen. Devoid of emotion, she sends him to what we presume to be his perdition.
Check out Santi’s announcement of “Raw Dinner” for more details on everyone who worked on the project here.
Watch the music video for Santi’s"Raw Dinner (The Movie)” below
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Tami is a lover of astrology, good music and women. Tweet your fave female artists at her @tamimak_
It has been over a year since the spotlight shun brightly on Toronto-based Nigerian singer, ODIE, after he shared his ‘Analogue’ album debut. The singer is, however, reviving the reflective mood of the tape with the newly released music video for “North Face”, one the more somber tracks. Yumna Al-Arashi directs a wanderlust themed music video, mirroring the laid-back and dreamy direction of the song as ODIE seems to dream about being on a date with his love interest while on public transit.
Normani – “Motivation”
R&B doesn’t command the same mainstream appeal it once did, but Normani put the sultry genre back at the top of popular conversation with her latest release, the music video for “Motivation”. The retro direction of the Dave Meyers and Daniel Russell directed video captured the zeitgeist for its nostalgic bent, paying homage to Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love” and Jennifer Lopez’s “I’m Real” and also for the mind-blowing coordination of her choreographed dance sequence with a basketball.
Dremo – “Ringer” Feat. Reekado Banks
Dremo and Reekado Banks follow up their “Ringer” collaboration with a music video that celebrates their pop sensibilities. Twitch directs the music video through a night-party narrative informed by the romantic lyrics from Dremo and Reekado Banks, as well as the bouncy Afropop beat. With cameos from comedians, models, and celebrities like Mayrokun, the music video seems to capture the superstar lifestyle of the two artists.
Wale – “On Chill” Feat. Jeremih
“On Chill” is being packaged as the lead single for Wale’s upcoming sixth studio album, due on Warner Records later this year. The music video Daniel CZ directs stays true to the romantic direction of the song, capturing the tense and intimate moods that exist between couples. Set in the Hollywood Hills, the video shows the D.C rapper’s more flashy side with the pool party set and beautiful muses in the video.
Sho Madjozi – “John Cena” on A COLORS SHOW
Tsonga rapper, Sho Madjozi is certainly playing her role in pushing our indigenous sounds around the globe since she won the BET Award for Best International Act. She just recently featured on “Colors” and debuted her “John Cena” single on the international music platform with a studio-recorded performance. Her energetic performance, dancing as she spits the hard-hitting rap bars in her charming mix of English and her native language has gotten the attention of new listeners, including the John Cena, who clearly inspired the song. John Cena shared the video on his Instagram and even got WWE to post a tweet about the song.
Naira Marley – “Soapy”
Artists who channel their personal experiences into their art are usually more convincing than those who don’t. You can say what you want about Naira Marley’s political views and opinions on cybercrime, but the fact remains that he has served his time in prison and the songs inspired by the experience connected with fans. Naira Marley released “Soapy” as a testament of his commanding street appeal, singing about his return to acclaim after being thrown in jail and getting written off by critics. The music video TG Omori directs captures the conversations that surrounded Naira Marley’s arrest through the cast of friends who were also arrested along with the singer, featuring the quirky jerking off ‘Soapy’ dance move, and setting the video in a makeshift prison set with orange uniforms as the costume.
Featured Image Credits: YouTube/COLORS
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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
About two months after reiterating his money-driven mindset on “Dream$$”, Port Harcourt-based rapper Veen released his debut EP, ‘Eternal Flex’, last Friday. Comprising six new tracks, the short tape displays Veen’s qualities as a music polymath, from the ear catching mix of personable raps and appealing melodies, to his knack for vibrant production choices. Flexing the weight of his phonebook, the rapper also calls in vocal assists from Blaqbonez, Psycho YP, Txby and frequent collaborator Kiienka.
In support of ‘Eternal Flex’, Veen has also dropped the video for “Lai Lai Lai”, the opening song on the EP. Adapting the romantic set Veen performs over a bouncy mid-tempo beat, the video Viktor Awuse directs, crisply captures the song’s summery, intimate mood. Surrounding solitary shots of Veen performing his pining lyrics, the main frames showcase the rapper and his muse being charmingly cozy, in a swanky apartment and at a chill outing.
Watch the video for Veen’s “Lai Lai Lai” here.
Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Veen
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Dennis is not an interesting person. Tweet Your Favourite Playboi Carti Songs at him @dennisadepeter
Rappers tend to amass the least attention from the Nigerian audience. Amidst recent conversations concerning Nigerian hip-hop, rappers are still plugging away at making their voices heard and widening the current audience base of the genre. On their novel collaboration, “Sacrifices”, the second track off the former’s recently released ‘Fly Gangsta From The ’90s’ album, Payper Corleone and Alpha Ojini address the series of thorny obstacles on their path to widespread acclaim and prominence, while also reiterating their unrelenting ambition.
Over a gently entrancing mix of sombre keys, jazzy horn scats and boom bap drums, both rappers deliver first person perspective observations about the music industry, flipping their impressionable bars about unfavourable circumstances into an introspective song about resilience. In the XYZ-directed music video for “Sacrifices”, both artists perform their raps in a dimly lit recording studio, in the company of friends and colleagues like Paybac, creating the ambience of an honest beer parlour conversation with friends. In addition to the presence of framed images of icons like Fela, an omnipresent mural combining the faces of rap legends 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G is present, highlighting the era of rap music Payper highly reveres.
You can watch the video for “Sacrifices” below.
Featured Image Credits: Youtube/Payper Corleone
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Despite the initial backlash that followed Cuppy’s Afropop curating career, she has shown resilience, keeping a steady stream of new music released for her fans or perhaps more likely, because she enjoys it. Her latest single, “Gelato” is the follow up to Ceeza Milli, Kwesi Arthur and Shaydee featuring “Abena”, released earlier this year. And it’s evidence of Cuppy’s ability to spot trends as she features one of the most demanded artists of 2019, Zlatan and titles the song after the viral video she shared of her cross-continental Ice-cream adventures with her dad.
In typical version, Cuppy contributes vocals for “Gelato”, opening the song in her tiny school-girl voice and responding to the call and response hook Zlatan performs with his signature street-inclined vocals. With the influence both artists command on social media and in the Nigerian music scene, you’d expect to have the song feature on DJ sets and radio rotation over the next few weeks.
You can stream Cuppy and Zlatan’s “Glatao” below.
Featured Image Credits: Instagram/cuppymusic
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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
Picazo’s shows off the range of his pen game on new single, “Pray For Me”. After getting discovered last year from sharing freestyle videos on social media till he got called up by Olamide to contribute for the ‘YBNL Mafia Family’ album, Picazo became a name to remember for his confident street-inclined raps. His flamboyant music video debut for “Macaroni” leaned heavily into this new-found celebrity status, portraying him as comfortably established act. His latest release, “Pray For Me” however offers more personality, providing fans and listeners with a chance to look beyond the glamour as he adds more character to his growing catalogue.
“Pray For Me” finds Picazo at the most reflective we’ve seen him yet, speaking on the harshness of life. Though it’s a narrative that has been well documented by other street-hop artists, his first-person account adds a unique perspective from his experience while also allowing him to explore his more musical side, singing the catchy hook. Just like the title suggests, “Pray For Me” is fueled by Picazo’s spirituality which also informs the airy instrumentals Stubborn produces for the introspective single. TG Omori directs the accompanying music video, capturing the thought-provoking direction of the song through the beach scenes and the sombre expressions on the faces of those in the video.
Watch the music video below.
Featured Image Credits: YouTube/PicazoVEVO
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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
Odunsi The Engine put his ability to mine old sounds for inspiration on full display for his stellar ‘rare.’ debut album. Last week, the singer returned into his nostalgia-fueled bag of tricks for two new singles, “Better Days” with WANI and “Wetin Dey”. On the former, P2J sampled popular ’00s Nigerian hip-hop supergroup Ruff, Rugged & Raw, while GA sampled Paul Play Dairo on the latter record.
Odunsi has just shared a music video for both songs, collapsing differing treatments for each song into a single, dual-sided video. Opening the video, the “Wetin Dey” section features summery, daytime settings and tropes from Nigerian music videos of the early ’00s, with Odunsi performing his set in the company of bubbly friends, all distinctly styled to evoke that specific era. By contrast, “Better Days” is set at night, with sinister, horrorcore scenes bathed in red lights, while there are also shots of Odunsi and Wani singing their lyrics under streetlights.
The video for “Wetin Dey/Better Days” is co-directed by Ademola Falomo and Odunsi, you can watch it here.
Featured Image Credits: Youtube/Odunsi The Engine
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Dennis is not an interesting person. Tweet Your Favourite Playboi Carti Songs at him @dennisadepeter
Burna Boy backed his claim as the ‘African Gaint’ with the positive reviews that followed his newly released album last month. He has since climbed to the top of everyone’s wishlist, securing features with big corporations like Spotify and media organizations like “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah”. His accomplished Afrofusion sound has also proven accomplished on features, collaborating with Fall Out Boys on “Sunshine Riptide” and Dave’s chart-topping “Location”.
“Gum Body” off Burna’s ‘African Gaint’ already highlighted the compelling synergy between Jorja Smith and Burna Boy, but her newly released collaboration with him, “Be Honest”, finds them exploring a different sound, channelling their Caribbean influences for the sultry bop. While the rocksteady pace of the acoustic guitar riff captures the confessional mood of their heartfelt lyrics, the bouncy dancehall fueled drums conjures the groovy ambience of dancefloors. The music video Amber Grace Johnson directs, however, focuses on the song’s streamy direction, set on a sunny summer day where Jorja Smith teases in her swimsuits and Burna Boy performs lying down on a bed such that his dreads hang off the edge.
“Be Honest” is Jorja Smith’s first release since she debuted with her ‘Lost and Found’ album last year.
Watch the music video for “Be Honest” below.
Featured Image Credits: Instagram/jorjasmith_
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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
