Watch Hamzaa In The Video For Her New Single, “London”

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

Hamzaa’s enchanting performance on Odunsi’s “Mine”, as well as “Take Me There” off ‘rare’ helped capture the fancy of Nigerian music enthusiasts. Her 2018 project debut, ‘First Signs Of Me‘ also established her endearing brand of emotive soulful pop music, and she builds on that reputation with her new single, “London”, her major label debut.

Dedicated to the city she calls home, the newly-minted Parlophone records signee reminisces on her more peaceful memories of London. “Stay out late at night without a worry, those were the days I felt safe, young and free”, Hamzaa sings over production comprising radiant piano keys, thumping bass and tribal drums. While she expresses worries about the current state of the city, her powerful vocals beam with optimism throughout the song, singing “I will always find love in my heart for London” on the pre-chorus.

For the song’s accompanying video, frames of Hamzaa performing the song alone in a cozy bedroom, then alongside her friends. Quick shots of people moving around the city are also interspersed, representing the song’s celebration of joy and togetherness.

Watch the video for Hamzaa’s “London” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Hamzaa
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ICYMI: Check out the essentials for Hamzaa’s ‘First signs of Me’ debut EP

Tiwadara releases prayerful and festive new single, “Faaji”

Posted on by The Native

Tiwadara is typically known for his production credit scattered around the experimental catalogue of artists from the indie music scene in Nigeria. However, fans and followers of his Instagram account know that the producer has a decent set of pipes that challenge his reputation as an accomplished producer. For his new single, “Faaji”, he blends both musical talents for a groovy club.

Singing “Gbe mi soke/ Funmi ni money, Aye nbe loke/ I want to turn up”, “Faaji” listens like a pleasant cross between a prayer and a club banger. It’s the perfect sentiment for a song he released to celebrate his birthday tomorrow, the 25th of May, as he fuses Afropop drum riffs with EDM percussion samples and catchy horn samples.

Stream Tiwadara’s “Faaji” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/tiwadara
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ICYMI: Stream the Tiwadara produced tracks from Deena Ade’s ‘Cries of my Subconscious’ EP

Fela Anikulapo Kuti To Be Honored At Felabration UK 2019

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

Not a lot of artists have a legacy as towering and enduring as Fela Anikulapo Kuti does. The annual Felabration Music Festival held in his honour every year since his passing 22years ago is just one of the many proofs of his legendary status. As part of this year’s festivities, the Afrobeat progenitor and African music icon will be honoured at Felabration UK, set to take place at Indigo at the O2 on Friday, August 30th.

Before patenting Afrobeat, Fela spent an important part of his formative years in the UK, schooling at the Trinity School of Music in London, as well forming and playing with his very first band, Koola Lobitos. Felabration UK is apt, not just for being integral to Fela’s musical beginnings, but also for helping to lay the groundwork for Afropop’s global rise in recent years—his Glastonbury headlining set from 1984 remains a highlight for African music.

Felabration UK will feature some of the biggest African music stars on its stage and is set to offer a show-stopping experience, including décor recreating the ambience of the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos, as well as on-screen visuals and cultural dances. Advanced tickets are available via SHOOBS and AXS.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/felakutiofficial
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ICYMI: See the rare clip of Fela’s performance on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury in 1984

Runtown shares long-awaited ‘Tradition’ EP

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

Runtown just put out his long-awaited Tradition EP a week before its scheduled release date. The 6-song project is coming three years after his late 2015 debut album, ‘Ghetto University’. Although the singer had been teasing a new project since February last year, he was limited to releasing only a handful of stellar singles by a public legal tussle with the boss of his former label, Eric Manny.

Now fully independent, and putting out music under his Soundgod imprint, Runtown intends on using his autonomy as a springboard into the next level of his career, hoping to partake in the global attention Afropop has enjoyed lately. Last year, Runtown’s “No Permission” collaboration with Nasty C provided proof of Afropop’s evolution, as well as his ability to blend Nigerian music sensibilities with western soundscapes. ‘Tradition’ follows the same winning confluence formula, featuring a sole guest verse from South-east London rapper, Fekky on the pre-release single, “Unleash”, with production from premier Afropop producers, Del B and Spellz.

You can listen to Tradition here.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/runtown
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ICYMI: Listen to Runtown’s pre-released single from ‘Tradition’, “Unleash” featuring Fekky

KA$H shares two-track tape, ‘Dontlookbak’

Posted on by The Native

KA$H usually shares the mic with dndSection, Folabi Xan and OBA as a member of the Traplanta collective, but the rapper just released ‘Dontlookbak’, his first solo tape. The project contains two new tracks, “Benedikt” and “Red + Blue (New Bag)”, as he digs deeper into the emotional extremes that make his rap bars so captivating.

The first track, “Benedikt” coasts on a sweeping synth-led trap beat Elijah Bane produces with bouncy 808 drum machine riffs. KA$H rides the momentum of the beat to perform his cocky set, swearing his loyalty to his brothers; “I’m cupping Gs just for my gees/ It’s not for me”. The second track, “Red + Blue (New Bag)” has a similar flex, written to advertise his penchant for gifting his love interest anything she wants. Though the brags, catchy flow and the psychedelic trap beat Elijah Bane produces have enduring themes typical of the rapper’s growing catalogue, it offers some hint at what drives and motivates him to chase the cash.

Listen to KA$H’s ‘Dontlookbak’ below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/kashreborn
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ICYMI: Check out all the essentials from Traplanta’s ‘La Vie’

Listen to “Might As Well” by Dimss

Posted on by The Native

While both dancing and the music that fuels it can be inherently sexual, some artists choose to cut out the middleman and go straight to the source. Dimss’ first single for the year, “Might As Well” highlights the London-based singer’s sensual pen game and his keen ear for melody. The single was released on his birthday, 8th of May, under the imprint of his Family and Friends collective.

Laid back instrumentals set a relaxing ambience with airy synth and percussion harmonies that match Dimss’ effortless flow, riding the beat to perform a masterclass on how to talk your lover into a threesome; “Bad bitch want to come through so you might as well too”. Though it’s not exactly the most practical excuse (unless it is), his playful suggestion is silly enough to work with his charming vocals serving to woo his lover and listeners. If you’re too cheap to spend money on lace, candles, and sex toys, adding Dimss’ “Might As Well” to soundtrack coitus could still ignite passionate lovemaking.

Stream Dimss’ “Might As Well” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/Dimssthebaba
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ICYMI: See the colorful music video for Korede Bello’s “Mr Vendor”

Legendury Beatz and Mr Eazi team up for 3-track project, ‘Zanku Leg Riddim’

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

Last year’s mainstream emergence and eventual ubiquity of the Zanku dance, was mostly proof of the streets’ indelible influence on Afropop. When prominent production duo, Legendury Beatz released their 2017 debut album, ‘Afropop 101′ as a crash course on the genre, the Zanku had yet to surface. The duo’s latest release, a three-track project with Mr Eazi, ‘Zanku Leg Riddim’, takes cognizance of the popular dance craze dominating pop music zeitgeist in the streets and high-end clubs of Lagos.

Sharing the same title, but differentiated by the guest appearances or lack thereof, all three songs share the same South African House-inspired beat by Legendury Beatz, comprising hard swinging bass drums and humming synths. Mr Eazi delivers the main vocals on each version, setting the mood by detailing specious specifics about club attendants, before going on to delivering the dance instructional repetitive hook; “zanku, leg work/shaku, gaga”.

Mr Real and Zlatan, two of the most popular faces from the recent wave of street music, deliver irreverent, catchy rap verses on their respective versions. The final version features just the instrumental and Mr Eazi’s hook, most likely a call to other artists who wish to create their own version of “Zanku Leg”.

You can listen to ‘Zanku Leg Riddim’ below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/legendurybeatz
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ICYMI: Listen to Legendury Beatz and Maleek Berry’s “Love Can Do”

The Shuffle: D’Banj’s “Mr Endowed” as the benchmark for Afropop’s global appeal

Posted on by The Native

With the increased relevance of social media, music streaming platforms among other things, it would be criminal to credit any one thing for Afropop’s recent acknowledgment in mainstream music publications around the world. Yet, if D’banj decided to take the credit for turning the genre into the huge and bankable entity it is today, he’d have good reason. Today marks the 9th anniversary of his 2010 classic record, “Mr Endowed”, which is set to go down in history as the most iconic international collaboration in Nigerian music history with Snoop Dogg’s feature on the song’s remix.

In Afropop’s ongoing metamorphosis into potentially a full-fledged transatlantic pop genre, international collaborations have gotten commonplace enough to be unremarkable and often inconsequential. But when Snoop Dogg joined D’Banj on the showy Don Jazzy produced Afropop hit record, “Mr Endowed”, it was a crucial moment that rippled across the whole country and made every Nigerian feel proud to be recognized by international pop culture tastemakers.

Though the reverie of Snoop Dogg’s rap verse lasted less than a minute, it was pivotal in expanding D’Banj’s audience range, securing his voice on the radio in regional and global pop markets and going on to work with Kanye West’s GOOD Music label a few months after. The unlikely collab between Nigeria’s biggest artist and one of Hip-hop’s most famous and vital figures showcased Nigerian pop music as viable and hastened a massive historical turn where international record labels like SONY, RCA, Universal Music and Warners now have invested interest in the sound.

D’Banj’s impressive career has set the standard for what it means to be a superstar in Nigeria. From his Mo’ Hits days to his solo career, the Koko Master’s catalog is a cornerstone for documenting Afropop’s glamorous history. It’s hard to imagine the present international exposure Nigerian music is enjoying without “Mr Endowed” bridging the gap between LA and Lagos.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/MohitsRecordsTV

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ICYMI: The shuffle revisits that time Michelle Williams ripped off Nigerian gospel singer, Agatha Moses for “Say Yes”

Naira Marley is facing trial but it’s not because of his lyrics

Posted on by The Native

Music is often an art that imitates life, and Naira Marley’s arrest after releasing his cyber-crime promoting single, “Am I A Yahoo Boy” seems like the perfect end to an unfortunately misguided protest song. The singer was arrested by the EFCC along with the featured artist on the song, Zlatan Ibile, and three other affiliated men who got their 7 minutes of fame when their pictures at the police station trended on social media.

Under less problematic circumstances, “Am I A Yahoo Boy” could have worked as the anthem for youths fighting police brutality and oppression from SARS officials who threaten the lives of innocent Nigerian, wrongly accused of crimes for their expressive or luxurious dressing. Featuring Zlatan, an acclaimed artist loved by the streets and the mainstream, Naira Marley had a platform to inspire protestors to take to the streets and challenge the unjust arrests of young people on the streets. But with Naira Marley’s open approval of crimes and fraud, he just wasn’t the right person to preach the message.

After the arrests, a video of Naira Marley fans protesting their arrest surfaced on the internet and it quickly became apparent how much influence street-inclined celebrities have on the average Nigerian youth. Other influencers with perhaps more noble causes have tried and failed to mobilize youths to take to the streets but without so much as a statement or a trendy hashtag, there were people at the EFCC office in Lagos, demanding for the artists’ release.

While Zlatan and the others were granted bail last week, Naira Marley remained in EFCC’s custody and has reportedly been accused of 11-count charges with a lawsuit filed before a Lagos State High Court. Though it would make for a more entertaining story to conclude that his lyrics from the song or his crime-advocating social media rants were responsible for implicating him, the EFCC released a statement explaining that he was arrested during a raid where they found incriminating items with him and his friends.

Naira Marley is now facing a possible sentence of seven years in jail if found guilty of the alleged crimes of credit card fraud. His modern-day Robin Hood rationalizing of cyber fraud has put his promising career on hold and even tainted the reputable art of protest music with his situation suggesting that there are new legal lines surrounding that freedom of expression. Hopefully, his arrest hasn’t discouraged other popular artists from making progressive rallying songs to imbue a generation with a fresh sense of purpose.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Naira Marley

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ICYMI: See Naira Marley and Zlatan’s music video for “Am I A Yahoo Boy”

Listen To Psycho YP’s Groovy New Single, “Be Like You”

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

Since emerging as a fresh-faced teenager, Pyscho YP has adopted a prolific music releasing strategy that is apt for the streaming era. As much as releasing a steady stream of new music keeps him in music conversations, the Abuja rapper has also used the opportunity to experiment with his sound. “Be Like You”, YP’s fourth single of the year, is the most unabashed pop-leaning effort of his career so far.

While his ability to create sticky hooks has remained definitive to his craft, it is intensified by the groovy Afropop beat Jaylon and Dera co-produce, fusing groovy percussions and synth riffs for a Zanku-adherent bop. YP acknowledges his growing celebrity on the song, albeit with some level of awareness when he raps: “Leave you on read if a nigga overhype me/bitch I want bread, ain’t no need to fucking hype me”. The delightful melody of the hook and the strutting cadence of his raps, however, keeps things focused on the dancefloor.

You can listen to “Be Like You” below.

Feature Image Credits: Instagram/psychoyp
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ICYMI: Listen to PsychoYP and Odunsi’s “To the Max”

Kenyan Author And LGBT+ Activist, Binyavanga Wainaina Dies At 48

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

Highly revered Kenyan author, journalist and Gay rights activist, Binyavanga Wainaina has died in Nairobi, after a stroke in the late hours of Tuesday, May 21st. Since the news of the 48-year old’s death broke, there has been an outpour of tribute across social media.

Binyavanga broke into global spotlight after winning the 2002 Caine Prize for African Writing, for his 2001 short story, ‘Discovering Home’. In 2003, Binyavanga found “Kwani?”, a literary magazine that has published stories from emerging writers, some of whom have gone on to become Caine Prize nominees and winners. He was also the director of Bard College’s Chinua Achebe Centre for African Writers and Artists.

Over the years, the writer published several short stories, and an autobiographical memoir, ‘One Day I Will Write About This Place’. The writer was also well-known for his socio-political essays, most popular is his 2006 satirical piece for Granta, ‘How To Write About Africa’, and its 2010 sequel for Arts and Cultural publication, Bidoun.

In January 2014, Binyavanga revealed that he was gay in an impactful essay, titled ‘I Am A Homosexual, Mum‘. In the expository essay subtitled as a lost chapter from his memoir, Binyavanga imagined coming out to his mum before her death in 2000, explaining how’d he known he since he was five years, as well as narrating the experiences that made his sexual orientation irrefutable, and the unhealthy habits he’d cultivated in the process of keeping it a secret. Apart from being an emotionally resounding story, his revelation was even more bracing, since his home country, Kenya, like most ultra-conservative African countries, has strict, retrograde gay laws.

Due to his announcement and his work as an LGBT+ activist, TIME named Wainaina as one of 100 most influential people in 2014. For TIME’s brief explainer, Chimamanda Adichie wrote: “By publicly and courageously declaring that he is a gay African, Binyavanga has demystified and humanized homosexuality and begun a necessary conversation that can no longer be about the “faceless other”.

Known to always live his truth, Binyavanga revealed he was HIV-positive on December 1st, 2016, Worlds AIDS day. In 2018, he announced plans to marry his boyfriend in South Africa, refusing to let his HIV status deter him. He died before getting married.

In a statement to BBC acknowledging the outpour of condolences, Binyavanga’s brother, James Wainaina said: “We are in a life celebration mood, we’re looking at this from a human level. It’s a human story. Allow the humaneness to shine, people are hurting”.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/afrophilic
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ICYMI: Check out Chike Frankie Edozien’s book, “Lives Of Great Men: Living and loving as a gay African man”

See the music video for GoldLink, Maleek Berry and Bibi Bourelly’s “Zulu Screams”

Posted on by The Native

With summer so close on the horizon, everyone is getting their summer fits ready for partying in the sun while DJs are on the hunt for the next summer anthem. GoldLink got his first taste of the spotlight with his Grammy-nominated “Crew” hit single and seems set for an encore with his summer-ready new single featuring Maleek Berry and Bibi Bourelly, “Zulu Screams”.

Produced by P2J, the beat has the trendy Afropop vibe created through traditional drum riffs and chant vocal samples that dictate the pace of the EDM fueled synth harmonies of the party song. Maleek Berry lays down a catchy hook for “Zulu Screams” while GoldLink’s rap flow keeps things groovy as he performs his showy set, flexing on his haters; “Your neck on green, my neck on froze”. The song also features some vocals from Bibi Bourelly, who is perhaps best known for his writing credits on Rihanna’s “Bitch Better Have My Money”.

The American rapper just shared the music video for “Zulu Screams” and it features a lot of dancing, set at a basement party with Maleek Berry making an appearance to perform the hook.

You can watch the music video below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Goldlink

*the post has been updated with the song’s music video.
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ICYMI: GoldLink, DRAM others to feature on Santi’s coming project, ‘Mandy and The Jungle’

Amaarae features Wande Coal for new single, “Spend Some Time”

Posted on by The Native

With just one EP, ‘Passionfruit Summer’, and a handful of singles, Ghanaian singer-songwriter, Amaarae has already crafted a transfixing style. Her reputation for hushed and silky R&B bops reached Nigerian audiences through collaborations with artists like AYLØ and her contribution to the Art X Live ‘Sonic Archives’ showcase that took place in Lagos last year. She continues to expand her reach to more mainstream audiences as she features Afropop veteran, Wande Coal for her romantic new single, “Spend Some Time”.

Obedworld and Rvdicalthekid are credited for the laid back production on “Spend Some Time”, melding Afropop drum riffs and percussion with ambient dream-pop synths to hypnotic effects. Amaarae’s vulnerable romantic sentiment, “I need your time/ I need your rhythm/ Need you to be mine” is echoed in her subdued tone, Wande Coal’s glassy falsetto, the sparse production and the retro-disco dancehall themed music video David Nicolsey directs. Though Wande Coal doesn’t make an appearance in the video, his absence is fitting for a song about the longing feeling for an unavailable lover.

Listen to “Spend Some Time” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/amaarae
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ICYMI: See the music video for Amaarae’s “Fluid”

DJ Tunez Shares New Single, “Gbese”, Featuring Vocals From Wizkid

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

In recent years, DJ Tunez has repeatedly shown his nous for releasing delightful Afropop numbers alongside some of the continent’s best artists. Following his Oxlade-assisted single, “Causing Trouble” from earlier this month, DJ Tunez has just put out “Gbese”, featuring vocals from label boss, Wizkid. While Wizkid hasn’t released any new music lately, it makes familial sense that the singer’s second appearance of the year, after guesting on Larry Gaaga’s “Low”, is engineered by his tour DJ.

Over a mid-tempo, Afrobeat-inspired production from Blaqjerzee, featuring saccharine piano keys, intermittent horn blasts and boisterous Afropop drums, Wizkid woos an unnamed love interest with material items. Singing “Ki Lo Fe?/Dollar Or Medusa Head”, with the infectious melodies delivered in his characteristically sauntering tone, his lyrics are playful and charming. The hook also features an interpolation of “Fefe Ne Fe”, an early ‘00s Hiplife hit by Tic Tac and Tony Tetuila.

You can listen to “Gbese” below.

Feature Image Credits: Instagram/DJ Tunez
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ICYMI: See the music video for Larry Gaaga and Wizkid’s “Low”

A$AP Wavy Is Joined By J.E.D On New Single, “Veteran Status”

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

A$AP Wavy’s SoundCloud page establishes him as a budding rap talent with only a handful of released singles. However, his latest single takes an ambitious tone titled, “Veteran Status”, as Wavy teams up with J.E.D to rap over a trap beat comprising eerie piano keys and 808 bass drum riffs. Both rappers ride the laid back groove of the beat to take turns demanding reverence befitting of their rap abilities and affluence.

With his husky voice adding natural gravitas, J.E.D delivers an assertive first verse filled with brash lyrics, and even though he sneaks in the self-effacing lyric, “I’m A Sucker, I Love The Pain”, he remains ever commanding. Wavy closes the song out with a lyrically virtuosic verse, featuring dexterous bars like the attention-grabbing opening couplet: “‘Cos I’m A Vet, and Cos of that I Think I Made Them Nervous/Connected Just Like Cursive On All Of The Beats I Murdered”.

You can listen to A$AP Wavy and J.E.D’s  “Veteran Status” below.


Feature Image Credits: Instagram/asapvwavy
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ICYMI: See AYLØ and Santi’s music vidoe for “wys?”

Victor Ehikhamenor Launches His First Lagos Solo Exhibition In 8 Years, “Daydream Esoterica”

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

Victor Ehikhamenor’s full rap sheet of achievements is as sprawling as it is towering. The multi-talented creative who counts being a visual artist, writer and photographer, as elements of his artistic arsenal has achieved notable feats such as: delivering cover art for multiple award-winning novels by Chimamanda Adichie and Helon Habila; published a poetry collection, ‘Sordid Tales’; represented Nigeria alongside talented artists, Peju Alatise and Qudus Onikeku, in the country’s debut showing at the 57th Venice Bienniale in 2017; and only last year, launched the multi-modal co-working space, ‘Angels and Muses’.

In collaboration with Rele Gallery, Victor Ehikhamenor has just launched a public solo exhibition, titled “Daydream Esoterica”. Per the Rele Gallery website, “The body of work in the series takes an introspective look at the artist as a conscious contemporary nomad living, leaving and thriving in a city that feeds its inhabitants’ dreams and frustration and by its sheer nature demands that in order to survive – one must daydream”.

The artist, who draws influences from traditional motifs and religious cosmology, will showcase a culmination of years of his worldly artistic experiences and adventures, with Lagos at its core, on “Daydream Esoterica”, his first solo exhibition in the city in eight years. Announcing the exhibition’s launch with a picture at the installation—made from thousands of plastic sunglasses—“Daydreamer’s Paradise (Dream for Free)”, Victor wrote on his Instagram page: “As kids when we wore our plastic colourful sunglasses, our honest dreams began…we walked on air because the glasses changed the village topography to a dreamland. I welcome you to my dreamer’s paradise where Uwessan village meets Lagos Balogun and Sura markets. May your dreams come true!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxo0acNHm_2/?igshid=f3xhsm9jt1w9

“Daydream Esoterica” will be at Rele Gallery from 19th of May till the 30th of June.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/victorsozaboy
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ICYMI: Emediong Uduak Uko’s “Lagbaja: The Masked One” painting makes history at the Cyprus Museum

See the music video for Rema’s “Dumebi”

Posted on by The Native

After emerging the surprise breakout act of the year with his self-titled 4-track ‘Rema’ debut project that saw him rise to the top of iTunes charts in Nigeria, Rema has seemed the artist to bridge the artsy alternative music scene with the more mainstream Afropop audiences. His latest offering is a video for “Dumebi”, a catchy Afropop cut from the EP that has been shared on Afropop stars like Davido and Wizkid’s social media pages.

But rather than following the party-themed tropes of club-driven songs such as “Dumebi”, the Ademola Falomo (director for Santi’s “Gangsta Fear”) directed video pays more attention to story building, working with the unrequited love narrative from the song’s lyrics; “Why you won go give me konji oh”. The video is set on a camping trip where Rema has to watch (and even record on camera) his love interest and her lover having fun. Though fans have commented on YouTube that the Psychadelic edits are better utilized on his more trap songs like “Why”, it provides a view into the romantic feelings he’s unable to express to his love interest.

Watch the music video for “Dumebi” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/heisrema
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ICYMI: Meet Rema, the kid from Benin with the world at his feet

Essentials: Deena Ade’s ‘May Love Find You’

Posted on by The Native

Deena Ade follows up her ‘Cries of My Subconsciousness’ project with a brand new EP, ‘May Love Find You’. The Lagos based soul singer continues her sonic exploration, blending nostalgic soul with contemporary pop for the 5-track EP where she channels her desire for stability into songs directed at a romantically inaccessible partner.

Last month, she shared the pre-released single for the tape, “Ma Ti Lo”, featuring Dami Oniru. Though their enchanting vocal performance on the song that promises their lovers’ eternal affection is convincing, the entire project echos the same sentiment to varying extremes.

On the opening track, “I Want You to Change Your Mind”, she sings “So I thought about blocking you/ I thought about stalking you/ I thought about calling you but will that ever give me peace or give me a feeling incomplete”, admitting her struggle to get over her ex-lover over the 90’s R&B inspired beat produced by Anu.Wav. TheBeatSmith produces a soothing piano-led beat for the 3rd track, “Midnight Drive”, layering synth harmonies over orchestral keys, and drum riffs that allow Deena Ade’s gorgeous voice to shine, expertly shifting between different vocal ranges to capture the all-consuming melancholy of romantic longing. The song feels cinematic, not just because the lyrics tell a straightforward narrative of love but also because her voice projects her strained emotions.

For “Shako” however, the cinematic feel is accomplished through an opening skit that listens like it was lifted from the dialogue of a romantic film. Here, her Yoruba vocals heighten the charm of her enchanting voice as she pleads with her lover; “It’s only you that I want/ Ma Fi Mi Shako(Don’t play with my feelings). ‘May Love Find You’ closes with “Gbadun”, a slow-burning neo-soul bop with a sultry guitar-led beat produced by Anu.Wav. Though the last track doesn’t exactly provide a resolution to her romantic woes, the sadness and yearning she expresses is so intense that it seems infinite.

Stream Deena Ade’s ‘May Love Find You’ below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/deenaade
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ICYMI: Check out the essentials from Deena Ade’s “The Cries of my Subconscious”

See FOKN Bois’ music video for “Account Balance”

Posted on by The Native

Ghanaian music duo, FOKN Bois released their ‘Afrobeats LOL’ project earlier this year with 7-tracks and features from Mr Eazi, Sister Deborah, Dex Kwasi, and Gyedu Blay Ambolley. They just shared the music video for “Account Balance”, the 5th track on the project which saw them discuss the transactional nature of romance in our present times; “I say I love you, my baby/ She say that no dey work no more/ So I for show am my account balance/ Before she go fall”.

M3NSA produces the mid-tempo beat for “Account Balance”, and he also performs his rap verse along with his FOKN Bois partner, Wanlov the Kubolor who takes the first verse. The video is directed by Kubolor Cini who tributes oriental culture and traditions with the temple setting, costumes, fan props, and Asian actors and dancers.

Watch the music video for FOKN Bois’ “Account Balance” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Fokn Bois
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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: :Listen to “True Friends” by FOKN Bois and Mr Eazi

Listen to Zlatan Ibile’s new song, “4 Nights In Ekohtiebo”

Posted on by The Native

The sober reflections when the times get tough often helps us get a clearer view of the loyalty of the friends we keep around us. Zlatan Ibile has had a rough last couple days after he got arrested along with Naira Marley and three others by the EFCC who suspected them of crimes. Though he has now been granted bail and seems on the path to being acquited of all charges, he isn’t as amused by the whole situation as the social media timeline was when the picture from the arrest was trending. And he has now released a new single, “4 Nights in Ekohtiebo”, raining metaphorical fire and brimstone on those who counted him out as a goner.

Zlatan’s usually festive mood is replaced by sterner lyrics on “4 Nights in Ekohtiebo”, explaining his triumph over his enemies over a piano-led mid-tempo beat produced by Rexxie. His Yoruba bars leave no space for any hook as he waxes poetic about the lessons he’s learnt from being in the slammer for four days. Though some of his lyrics try to make a martyr out of Naira Marley’s situation, facing charges for alleged crimes of credit card fraud, you’d be wrong to assume he’s another loud-mouthed street-rapper as he closes the song reassuring fans he’s fine; “Naira oh ti blow/ My guy is fine/ Me, I’m also fine/ No go dey reason too much oh/ God bless Naija/ God bless anybody wey want make him second man make am”.

Listen to “4 Nights in Ekohtiebo” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/zlatan_ibile
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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: Listen to “Illuminat” by Zlatan and Naira Marley

Burna Boy, Mr Eazi & Teni The Entertainer Pick Up 2019 BET Award Nominations

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

Last Friday, the nominations for this year’s BET awards were announced, and the Best International Act category features nominations for two of Afropop’s finest, Burna Boy and Mr Eazi, hoping to pick up the same award Davido won last year. Coming in just over a month after the pair took the Coachella main stage, the nominations solidify both Nigerian artists’ claims as the biggest African music exports. Burna and Eazi are up against South African rapper, Aka, French singer and rapper respectively, Aya Nakamura and Dosseh, as well as UK rappers, Dave and Giggs.

Joining the list of Nigerian nominees, Teni the Entertainer also picked up a nomination for Best New International Act. The singer’s BET nod is a new height for the NATIVE cover star, following her run of successful smash hit singles. Teni is up against South Africa’s Sho Madjozi, French singer and rapper respectively, Nesly and Jok’Air, as well as UK rappers Headie One and Octavian.

The 2019 edition of the BET awards is set to hold on the 23rd of June, at the Microsoft Theatre, Los Angeles, California. See the full list of nominations below.

Best International Act
Aka (South Africa)
Aya Nakamura (France)
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Dave (Uk)
Dosseh (France)
Giggs (Uk)
Mr. Eazi (Nigeria)

Best New International Act
Headie One (Uk)
Jokair (France)
Nesly (France)
Octavian (Uk)
Sho Madjozi (South Africa)
Teni (Nigeria)

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Beyoncé
Ella Mai
H.E.R.
Solange
Sza
Teyana Taylor

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Anderson .Paak
Bruno Mars
Childish Gambino
Chris Brown
John Legend
Khalid

Best Group
Chloe X Halle
City Girls
Lil Baby & Gunna
Migos
The Carters

Best Collaboration
21 Savage Ft. J. Cole – “A Lot”
Cardi B & Bruno Mars – “Please Me”
Cardi B Ft. Bad Bunny & J Balvin – “I Like It”
H.E.R. Ft. Bryson Tiller – “Could’ve Been”
Travis Scott Ft. Drake – “Sicko Mode”
Tyga Ft. Offset – “Taste”

Best Male Hip Hop Artist
21 Savage
Drake
J. Cole
Meek Mill
Nipsey Hussle
Travis Scott

Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B
Kash Doll
Lizzo
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Remy Ma

Video Of The Year
21 Savage – “A Lot Ft. J. Cole”
Cardi B – “Money”
Cardi B & Bruno Mars – “Please Me”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Drake – “Nice For What”
The Carters – “Apes**T”

Video Director Of The Year
Benny Boom
Colin Tilley
Dave Meyers
Hype Williams
Karena Evans

Best New Artist
Blueface
City Girls
Juice Wrld
Lil Baby
Queen Naija

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
Erica Campbell Ft. Warryn Campbell – “All Of My Life”
Fred Hammond – “Tell Me Where It Hurts”
Kirk Franklin – “Love Theory”
Snoop Dogg Ft. Rance Allen – “Blessing Me Again”
Tori Kelly Ft. Kirk Franklin – “Never Alone”

Best Actress
Issa Rae
Regina Hall
Regina King
Taraji P. Henson
Tiffany Haddish
Viola Davis

Best Actor
Anthony Anderson
Chadwick Boseman
Denzel Washington
Mahershala Ali
Michael B. Jordan
Omari Hardwick

Youngstars Award
Caleb Mclaughlin
Lyric Ross
Marsai Martin
Michael Rainey Jr.
Miles Brown

Best Movie
Blackkklansman
Creed 2
If Beale Street Could Talk
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse
The Hate U Give

Sportswoman Of The Year
Allyson Felix
Candace Parker
Naomi Osaka
Serena Williams
Simone Biles

Sportsman Of The Year
Kevin Durant
Lebron James
Odell Beckham Jr.
Stephen Curry
Tiger Woods

Album Of The Year
Travis Scott – “Astroworld”
Meek Mill – “Championships”
Ella Mai – “Ella Mai”
The Carters – “Everything Is Love”
Cardi B – “Invasion Of Privacy”

2019 Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award
Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin – “I Like It”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Drake – “In My Feelings”
Ella Mai – “Trip”
J. Cole – “Middle Child”
Travis Scott Ft. Drake – “Sicko Mode”

Bet Her Award
Alicia Keys – “Raise A Man”
Ciara – “Level Up”
H.E.R. – “Hard Place”
Janelle Monáe – “Pynk”
Queen Naija – “Mama’s Hand”
Teyana Taylor – “Rose In Harlem”

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/bet
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ICYMI: Teni is the girl next door on our print magazine cover