Fashion trends have a tendency to remain in a loop with seemingly forgotten trends ever ready to make a comeback. Which is just as well since we live in a world of recycled knowledge and exploration. Each season, the runway becomes home to a wide range of styles inspired by different eras of popular fashion. However, this poses somewhat of an issue for fashion lovers who would ideally like to incorporate such styles into their everyday looks, but don’t have access to the entire range of the showcased collection.
The few that do make it to mainstream retail, end up in the claws of knockoff manufacturers who quickly turn the style into a popular trend. Here is a list of top trends from this season to add to your shopping list.
Animal Prints:
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The print style has somehow kept finding its way into popular trends just about every fashion season. Animal prints vary from bold leopard prints to wild snake prints, even zebra prints are getting increasingly popular. Celebrities and bloggers have been spotted at various events, styled in these bold prints with striking colors. Take Rihanna, she showed up at her Fenty event in Sydney, Australia, adorned head to toe in a snake skin print outfit topped with matching shoes and a Versace bucket hat!
Print garments come in varieties including coats, pants, dresses and more. You can decide to pair your outfit with a snake print bag or shoes if you’re feeling adventurous. Even Nigerian brands have been able to embody this trend despite the fact the weather is different. We’ve been able to see this in SS19 collection on the Heineken Lagos Fashion Week by Tokyo James.
Dad Sneakers:
Dad sneakers have been on top of the game since 2018. Not only does every major brand have theirs, but they’ve also been able to interpret and produce these shoes in ways that fits their brand aesthetics. The outcome serves up a very nostalgic feel of the late 90s. The shoes have garnered universal acclaim in terms of comfort and gives off a chunky silhouette which can be a little intimidating but effortlessly cool. Even though some of them look hideous, you would be surprised how many outfits from your closet can be paired with it as they break the barrier between ugly and fashionable. The chunky sole also adds an inch or two to your height (and frankly nobody would mind being a little taller). Various brands have been able to find uniqueness in themselves, from high end brands like Balenciaga with its Triple S Trainers to the Fila Disruptor II.
Neon colors:
You have seen them on celebrities like Beyoncé and Blake Lively. Yes we’re talking about the neon trend. A couple decades ago, pairing a neon cycling short with your fit may have you come off as a Richard Simmons-eque fitness class instructor ready to “party off the pounds”. But now it’s completely fashion forward. Neon colors are back! The comeback started in 2018 with blinding colors highlighting the runway all through that season and it has continued to remain.
This trend is not limited to a particular country or group of people. Modus Vivendii has designed hoodies that look chic for the Lagos crowd, with slime green ‘The Game’ lettering, as well as other sweatshirts and crop tops. They make the perfect combination to your casual outfit and would have people around questioning what the game is. The game here is fashion and being able to merge it with lifestyle is the ultimate goal. The fluorescent colors have made its way from the runway to retail really quickly. These blinding colors can be seen from across the room because you just can’t miss it. Who doesn’t love being the spotlight? It’s the perfect and stylish to stand out from a crowd
Vinyl:
Plastic fashion sure isn’t new to the fashion world, it really highlights the fantasy during the Space Age. Designers like Christopher Kane sent models out to the runway in unique plastic pieces with lace prints. It’s definitely a personal spin on the entire trend as opposed to the Matrix aesthetic delivered by Marni and John Galliano in the fall of 2018. Fashion elites have embraced this style while serving high sex appeal and dominatrix vibe. Mowalola Ogunlesi, Nigerian born designer has been able to fuse this trend and fetishism into her AW19 collection. The collection is simply powerful and has taken a path no other designer has followed.
This trend is considered daring and considered unwearable but they are quite the catch. The high-shine fabric is very hipster and you might want to ease yourself into the trend by adding a few accessories, a pair of patent leather boots or bag for a start.
Featured Image Credits: Mowalola AW19
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Dave’s recently released album, ‘Pyschodrama’ examines what it means to be black, presenting a stark view for the racial identity to controversial extremes. Though he spends most of his time on the 11-track project, detailing his struggle with depression and how his skin color has shaped his identity, Burna Boy assisted “Location” finds him seeking escape in the arms of beautiful women, high fashion and the breezy ambience of the Afropop beat JAE5 produces.
A somber piano baseline, horns harmonies and whiny vocal samples set a downcast mood for “Location”, but Burna Boy’s melodic hook infuses some festive groove as Dave delivers boastful lyrics, describing the ostentatious lifestyle of a rapper; “Came a Long Way From a Park in the Bends/To an ’18 Plate, Man’s Parking a Benz/Far From the Rest But I’m Far From my Best”.
You can stream “Location” off Dave’s ‘Pyschodrama’ album below.
Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Santa Dave
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“When I need a shoulder, I get down onto my knees”, Falana sings on “Repeat”. Speaking to Hunger TV on her new single, the singer described “Repeat” as an ode to “resilience and resistance in all forms”. In her new video, cuts of Falana under a spotlight are interspersed with clips of liberty marches and animated subliminals. Thanks to an Afrojuju-inspired baseline supporting “Repeat”, the track itself thrives on a haunting texture, but Falana’s silky-smooth vocals brings the optimism that holds everything up.
Falana’s Chapter 1 EP is expected later this month. See her in “Repeat” below.
Tay Iwar has made a career out of repurposing romantic experiences as fuel to drive his sonic explorations. The result is a discography filled with lush, neo-R&B releases, detailing his vulnerability and tenderness through heartfelt lyrics. Though his latest single takes on a more groovy Afropop rhythm led by a mid-tempo mix of ambient synths, 808s, rattling samples and traditional drum riffs, “How”, finds him pushing his familiar moody sentiments into the red as he takes aim at the credibility of an ex with earnest vigor; “Easy to Lose it, That Cookie She Use it/ Freaky For me Yet I Still Had to Lose it”.
Despite Tay’s hostile intentions, swaddling reverbs lend the song a submerged yet dreamy atmosphere with his voice gliding above, echoing below, tucking ad-libs into the space between sounds. But with the traditional drums, “How” is Afropop at its least buoyant, and most moving.
You can stream Tay Iwar’s “How” below.
Featured Image Credits: Instagram/tayiwar
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Odunsi and RAYE are driven by the sultry buzz from drinking wine for their “Tipsy” collaboration. In the music video Dir. LX directs, both are seen performing their raunchy verses, seemingly intoxicated by their sensual emotions as they give lustful stares for the camera then at each other.
While fluffy throw pillows and pink curtains give the video for “Tipsy” a soft edge, their steamy thoughts are presented through their silhouette frames, seen from behind a fogged glass door as they dance to the misty ambiance of the synth led beat Odunsi produces to the groovy swing of Afropop drums.
You can watch the music video for “Tipsy” below.
Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Odunsitheengine
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WafflesNCream sparked a promising fire under the Lagos skating scene when it launched 7 years ago, but without a single public skate-park in the whole of West Africa, they have been hindered in their quest to spread the sport throughout the country. They got by through innovative use of environment at the few available spots Lagos offered and building half pipes and quarter pipes ramps for one-day events – such as the NATIVE x WAFFLESNCREAM Go Skate Day in 2017. The community is however set to douse the Lagos skating culture in gasoline and see how high the flames go with the announcement of their intent to build a skate park in Lagos this year.
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WafflesNCream’s aim to grow from backyard ramps to become a more rounded local skating scene will empower an entire generation of skaters in West Africa. With exciting, safe and dynamic facilities, Lagos will have a broad appeal to skateboarders, BMX riders and everything in between at the proposed park. As well as attracting young and creative people from across the region, a skate park will also provides a safe place for young people to skateboard without damaging local buildings and infrastructure. WafflesNCream have launched a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe to help raise the estimated £35,000 cost for the park, expected to have lots of positive impact on both the youth culture and the African society at large.
We asked J, the infamously private head honcho at WafflesNCream, what the park would mean to him and skating in Lagos as a whole. In a rare quote, he responded via message: “Personally, It will make the 16-year-old me smile. It will be a lifetime achievement. Like a Grammy or Oscar. For Lagos, it will be a huge deal. We finally can skate in peace”.
Blaqbonez is funny. Not like floor-rolling funny, more like ‘haha get a load of this guy’. The way he tells it, his real life itself is lined with epic Nollywood-like plot twists and divine comedic timing.
“The first time I tried to record” Blaq began, “I broke the mic stand and the mic also, so I had to pay like 50K”, he said with a blank stare, adding “I swore never to hit the studio again”.
Freeze frame.
This was Emeka ‘Blaqbonez’ Akumefule at fifteen, getting dragged home by angry studio owners looking to arm-wrestle his parents for money to replace a damaged microphone. Blaqbonez did indeed stop trying to record music after that. He had been writing rhymes in his books for almost two years before that hilariously unfortunate incident, so he simply went back to doing just that.
He doesn’t narrow why he headed back to the studio in December 2012 to a single event, but he narrates a series of interloped stories. First, he won Terry The Rapman’s Zombie contest in February of 2012. Later that year, he started his foundational pre-degree programme at the Obafemi Awolowo University.
In OAU, another movie-like encounter with Chinko Ekun put him in the crosshairs of the future “Able God” star. “The first time I met Chinko, he rapped about my red tie and rhymed it with ‘Fatai'” Blaqbonez says, half-joking about the hilarity of it. But the real catalyst to becoming Bad Boy Blaq was support from other students in his year who pressured him to record after often finding the rapper relentlessly scribbling in his rhyme book.
Unlike a lot of people, Blaqbonez has seemingly fond memories of a Nigerian university education. I doubt he was insulated from issues resulting from the frustrating state of public education in Nigeria, but in his artist mind, he viewed OAU as a ‘mini-Nigeria. To prove his point, he gave an analogy of how a stage in OAU could feature Davido as a headliner, and a recent graduate of the university with an obscure name like ‘Jaido P’ as the opening act, and both artists would command an evenly-compelling crowd reaction.
It’s often understated in these parts but home-turf support is important for rappers to do well. The true advantage OAU provided Blaqbonez was access to Nigerians from diverse backgrounds and cultures as an immediate audience.
Blaq would later go on to tell an alternate story of his first big performance on campus, and how he froze mid-set in front of 5000 people while performing a song he recorded the night before. He’d been rightfully booed off stage, but that night gave him a taste of pure instant feedback. “I see first hand how these people feel about the music, and those are people that don’t even like you”, he observed. “You see a ready crowd that is accessible and you can just keep testing”.
Eliminating echo chambers is a very important part in the unravelling of BlaqBonez’s purpose. In a 2012 interview, he was quoted to have said his dad, Mr Akumefule could never picture him as a rapper. You would expect a rapper on the come up to brandish a rebellious mask, but Blaqbonez is pretty realistic about his odds “My dad had a plan for me. He has an engineering firm outside the country” the Computer engineering graduate said matter-of-factly, “The plan was to do music for a year then join him after school If I don’t make any headway”.
If you reflect his back-up plan against a mirror of emphasis on ‘testing’, you may be tempted to think Blaqbonez as an artist who will only play it safe. But the way he sees it, having a ground game is always sure to pay off, and this belief becomes more apparent as he began to talk on sterner issues.
In Blaq’s mind, being a “smart artist” in 2019 is having control, a clause his contract with Chocolate City preserves. But also because his confidence may have something to do with a self-proven ability to mark territory
A few days ago, fresh updates on the brewing legal battle between EMI and Kanye West, indicated the publishing giant is not backing down, despite West’s claim of an illegal clause in his contract that bars him from retiring. When I gingerly poked Blaqbonez about why he chose to sign with Chocolate City, considering the appeal of defying pre-existing music business structures, he responds with an inner gaze. “I feel like my movement is a wrecking ball,” he said, saying “Being signed or not signed I am still going to do what I want to do. If I am smart about what I want to do, having people around me, I can make better decisions”.
In Blaq’s mind, being a “smart artist” in 2019 is having control, a clause his contract with Chocolate City’s imprint, 100 Crowns, preserves. But also because his self-assuredness may have something to do with a self-proven ability to mark territory. Blaq has a strong track-record of contesting and winning rap-battle competitions. After winning TerryTheRap man’s zombie’s contest, and way before he met M.I, he crossed paths with Vector who set up his own King Kong rap contest as a recruitment camp of sorts for the Hennesy Artistry cypher 2016. At the cypher, Blaq took the first turn at the mic, wide-eyed and throwing hand signs, and within 8 seconds, already referenced the American Oval office, Marvel’s Mr. Fantastic, and laid well-deserved death to haters. This was 2016 before any of his old or new fans heard his current form.
“I recorded a song mid-July 2016, and after that, I was so convinced that when I put out ‘Bad Boy Blaq’, my life will change”, and like a stand-up comic waiting to drop a punchline, he added “So the project before that, was called ‘Last Time Under'”.
At the start of our interview, his lanky frame flailed down the stairs at Chocolate City’s HQ, in a white puffer jacket, and white sneakers. We’d met once a few months earlier at an industry event, so naturally, the first thing I noticed was his new look. “He didn’t tell me he was cutting his hair” his manager, Aisosa whispered over his shoulders, “I just came to the office and saw him like this” he added, confirming the radical change from dreadlocks to manic-red hair, was fairly recent (probably overnight). Blaqbonez’ hands-on process can be just as sporadic and uniquely forward-thinking.
The release of “Bad Boy”, a trap-fused single precluding his debut album, ‘Bad Boy Blaq, was the first indicator Blaq was finally growing into a market-ready artist. During our interview, he informs me he became aware of his closeness to the game a few months earlier—way before he signed a deal with 100 Crowns in December 2017. “I recorded a song mid-July 2016, and after that, I was so convinced that when I put out ‘Bad Boy Blaq’, my life will change”, and like a stand-up comic waiting to drop a punchline, he added “So the project before that, was called ‘Last Time Under’.”
In spite of the glorious runway that became more apparent after that, when I ask him for the specific song he recorded that cleared his doubts about his potential in a music career, Blaqbonez remained silent. After letting the awkwardness settle into the room, he gave a long sigh before saying “Those songs never came out”. Not only did he hold back from releasing those songs, Blaq also claims he recorded a 17-track concept album that didn’t survive the cutting floor when he got M.I’s call to join Chocolate City’s LAMBAugust campaign May last year.
In this critical quality assurance periodic testing phase, the only memorable track Blaq recalls is a little-known song called “Change Am”. After crowd-testing “Change Am” at OAU and the University of Lagos to positive responses in 2016, Blaq was certain he’d cracked the code. But he still felt the output of his song wasn’t doing the music justice, so he stopped recording altogether once again, until he met producer and rapper, Alpha, just before signing on with Chocolate City.
Meeting Alpha put him in the same room with Oxlade, another next-rated singer who Blaq reckons may be the best Nigerian vocalist since Wande Coal. Together, they created “Mamiwota”, one of the stand-out tracks from ‘Bad Boy Blaq’, and gradually, more themes for the project started to come together. A phone call from M.I, nine recorded tracks later, and the project was ready. But throwing that banger alongside thoughtful songs like “Consent”, and “Woke”, didn’t save Bad Boy Blaq from getting caught up in his parent label’s rowdy 5-album ‘LAMBAugust’ roll-out.
We never get around talking about why he decided to release a re-up version of Bad Boy Blaq, but there’s no question the seven-track serving—including three remixes of songs from the original project, and four brand new tracks—is the superior record.
The life, times and becoming of Blaqbonez mirrors elements of universal struggles rappers all over the world have to contend with: validation, self-discovery and rise to glory. In Nigeria, Blaqbonez is an immediate progression to what we have already heard from accessible rappers like YCEE, Falz and M.I. But you also get the idea, he has an updated touch that may very well place him in higher ranks of homegrown wordsmiths earlier than expected.
On “Nikes”, the crucial collaboration with prettyboydo, off Bad Boy Blaq Re-Up, a brazenly materialistic subject matter is brilliantly subverted into a gritty aspirational youth anthem. In the same vein, innocuous songs like “Good Boy” featuring BOJ and CKay and “Play” featuring YCEE, exist as highlights on the record, not just for being musical, but also entertaining.
Blaqbonez has an organic rounded idea of what it means to be a rapper with Nigeria today, which means we can expect more authenticity from him down the road. As a nod to his ever-ready battle-rap mode, perhaps, all he needs now is some contenders to rise to the occasion, so things can get a little more exciting.
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Zirra plays the Mr-Steal-Your-Girl act for his latest single, “In The Mood”, crafting a romantic pop song with ambient synth harmonies Xoe produces and a guest verse from Santi. The collaboration results in a breezy summer-party number as the Sony Music artist tries to charm a love interest with soft spoken vocals.
Waves of synth lines build in euphoric succession, mirroring Zirra’s feelings of a gently persuasion, singing “Baby I No Wan Stress You/ Just tell Me When You’re in the Mood”. Santi contributes a cocksure verse in his melodiously encrypted vocals, but it’s Zirra’s lyrics, “I know your ex-man messed up/ I just want to be next up”, offering a more pleasant alternative to breakup songs as balm for heartbreak that turns “In The Mood” to the perfect song to help close a date.
You can watch the lyrics video for Zirra and Santi’s “In The Mood” below.
Featured Image Credits: Instagram/zirramusic
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Yemi Aladi just shared her new single, “Yaji”, featuring Slimcase and Brainee, with a music video to match. “Yaji” has a pacy dance-floor ready rhythm thanks to the beat The Yung Wills produces, mixing Afropop drums and synth lines with EDM influenced drops.
Over the groovy beat, Yemi Alade encourages listeners to let loose and dance, tapping into her more flirty lyric book to sing “Aunty Keji Go Down, Tolani Bend Down/ Like Say You Dey Sweep Ground/ Bro Show That …”. Her raunchy intentions are also mirrored in Slimcase and Brainee’s verses as the further cement the exotic dance-club direction of the song even before the video Cardoso Imagery directs uses dancers, fashionable clothes, a burning car and a lot of ass-shaking to embellish the video.
You can watch “Yaji” music video below.
Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Yemi Alade
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DJ Neptune follows up his ‘Greatness Album’ album debut with his first single release for the year, “Demo” featuring Davido. Regular DMW collaborator, Speroach Beatzproduces the airy beat for “Demo”, laying a mix of synth and piano harmonies over the bouncy drum riff of 808 claps and kicks. The catchy beat inspires a romantic set from Davido who wears his heart on his sleeves as he performs an ode to a love interest.
His lyrics, “Bae Bae Bae Baby oh/E Get the Fe Fe Fe Feeling oh Wey I Dey Feel For My Body oh” paint a realistic impression of powering through the jittery nerves to speak to a crush. But asides the heartfelt intentions, the fidgety effect of his voice also makes the song more catchy with the DJ-scratch type melody. “Demo” is expected to feature on DJ Neptune’s ‘Greatness II; The Sounds Of Neptune’ album, scheduled to be released later this year. They just shared the music video Lutch Media directs, setting them at an exotic location with artsy African print wallpapers, models and snakes in the cut.
You can watch the music video “Demo” below.
Featured Image Credits: YouTube/DJ Neptune
*this post has been updated with the music video
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It’s nothing new for music contest show success to be precursor to precisely nothing, but music talent and season 2 winner for The Voice Nigeria, Idyl, is taking giant strides with the release of his new single, “Satisfy Me”. It’s his third single since signing a record deal with Universal Music Group and here he features South African singer, Rowlene who widens the scope of both his sound and audience reach.
Though Idyl made his name as a vocalist, “Satisfy Me” finds him navigating a more pop sound thanks to the catchy beat Sovida produces to the groovy bounce of a guitar-led Afropop beat, punctuated with horn samples. The beat inspires his vocals, taking cues from poppy, romantic reggae as he describes his first encounter with a love interest before he’s joined by Rowlene who performs an equally arresting second verse. Their gut-wrenching performance may be more fitting for a ballady romantic number, but the infusion of their pop influences make “Satisfy Me” a feel-good song to serve dancefloor audiences. While Idyl’s Igbo fueled hook is catchy, it’s his ability to navigate the romantic lanes through a dancehall-centric vision that’s the song’s most charming element.
You can stream “Satisfy Me” by Idyl and Rowlene below.
Featured Image Credits: Instagram/idyl_music
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Tanzanian artist, Harmonize just released his 4-track EP, ‘Afro Bongo EP’, with guest features from across the African continent. Tanzanian superstars, Diamond Platnumz and Sarah are joined by their Nigerian counterparts, Mr Eazi, Yemi Alade and Burna Boy to bring a pan African vibe into the sultry universe Harmonize creates on the project.
For Burna Boy and Diamond Platnumuz assisted “Kainama”, a bouncy Afropop beat produced by Garzy sets the melodious mood for their romantic confessionals as the three artists try to charm their love interests with their soothing vocals. Though most of the song is performed in a native Tanzanian tongue, some English pharses are included to give a sufficiently graphic description of the feelings they have for their lovers. They recently put out the music video for the collaboration and it shows all three artists performing their verses while surrounded by artsy installations, pretty women and red lighting.
You can watch the music video for “Kainama” below.
Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Harmonize
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Since Olu Maintain’s 2008 hit single, “Yahooze”, hustler anthems have seemed to pander towards endorsing criminal activities. The hunger and drive to go to any extreme to get to the money has proven sorely relatable for those on the streets. And when you fuse their ambitions sentiments with hip-hop’s relentless need for gritty reality and flaunting of expensive possessions, you get the street-hop genre primed for police investigation. The result is rewarding, making stars of rappers like Idowest and Zlatan. Danagog’s new single, “Incoming”, taps into the rave sound of the moment as he features Zlatan, Dremo and Idowest for a true hustler’s anthem.
Dynasty produces the mid-tempo beat for “Incoming” while Danagog, Zlatan, Dremo and Idowest perform cocky bars toeing the lines between legal and criminal. The video Twitch directs sets all four artists in a smoke machine fogged night scene with dancers and strobe lights.
You can watch the music video for “Incoming” below.
Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Davido Adeleke
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Though no longer the megastar he once was, Ice Prince has retained the attention and affection of fans through releases such as his latest single, “Feel Good”, where he features Phyno and Falz. The ‘Aboki’ artist recognizes the potency of his celebrity connections after scoring a radio hit, featuring Peruzzi on “Yawa”. But here he seems to be looking to get back the hip-hop clout that has evaded him for some time now, tagging two of the more commercially successful rappers in Nigeria.
“Feel Good” comes with a music video Moe Musa directs, highlighting the chill vibe of the song through a beach party set where all three rappers take turns convincing listeners just how good they feel. The catchy beat Willis Beatz produces fuses ambient synths with percussion, bouncy drum riffs and a cheering vocal sample that inspires impressive verses from all three artists. They all reach deep into their bag of tricks to deliver catchy flow and memorable lyrics.
You can watch the music video for “Feel Good” below.
Featured Image Credits: YouTube/UrFresh Media
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Sex offender registries and notification laws are an example of how a community attempts to provide a sense of security for its most vulnerable citizens who are often the target of horrific crimes.
The system is designed to allow government authorities to keep track of the activities of sex offenders, including those who have completed their criminal sentences. In some countries, sex offender registration is accompanied by residential address notification requirements. So, if a convicted sex offender moves into your neighbourhood, he or she is obligated by law to inform all residents. Most times there are restrictions on being in the presence of underage persons, living in proximity to a school or day care centre and general proximity to all persons who may be vulnerable.
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In Nigeria, a monitoring program like this is sanctioned by law but is yet to be as popular as it ought to be. Currently, only two of the 36 states are implementing it and it’s time we start making the legislation work in combating rape culture. Because sex offences are more often than not repeat crimes, the aim of a comprehensive sex offender register as a monitoring programme coupled with the mandatory reporting policy may be the only immediate solution to a perversive silence culture around sexual offences. More importantly, to reduce repeat cases by providing names and personal details of convicted sex offenders in each State in a central database.
Despite the concept of naming and shaming being a useful adjunct to more formal mechanisms of social control especially as it concerns sex offences, strong public condemnation only works well where it is followed by reintegration rather than degradation. And if done reintegratively, some offender groups are likely to have more respect for the police, for the criminal justice system and for the criminal law.
The proposed petition takes this into consideration by giving room for names to be taken off the register following proof of rehabilitation upon a request for appeal after a set number of years. It’s without question that there are clear differences across and within offender groups, but earlier empirical studies have shown that positive shaming works well for some, especially non-juvenile participants.
To find out more about The Consent Workshop’s petition, click this link
Earl Jon Doe’s latest single, “Wavy Like This”, is a flex song packed with Instagram caption bars. Though the topical aim here is to disrespect his competition, it’s amusing to think of all the purposes rap songs have in our lives with the feel-good vibe the beat inspires. The minimal beat is produced with synth harmonies and is driven almost entirely by a drum machine, leaning Earl Jon Doe closer to his trap influences.
His melodic delivery is perfect for the bounce of the beat, flowing comfortably as he shade his competition while talking up himself. There are a lots of glossy lyrics about international travel and exposure, but rapping “Riding The Same Thing, But You ain’t Whip it Like This”, he never loses touch with the groovy intention of the beat.
You can stream Earl Jon Doe’s “Wavy Like This” below.
Featured Image Credits: Instagram/daniel_lawani
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Guys joining girls to twerk for the cash prize of a dance competition. The hypeman complimenting the ‘loud’ he could perceive from all the way up on the stage. The first ever Afropop inspired mosh-pit, when Chinko Ekun and Zlatan performed “Able God” and over-1500 party guests in attendance tried to show off their Zanku legwork. Bolly Lomo admitting he’d join the dance competition if he wasn’t an official. These were just a few of the signs that this was a special edition of the Mainland Block Party, a monthly event that holds in Lagos to celebrate millennials, Lagos party culture and the great music of our time.
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This wasn’t the usual lightweight vibe Mainland Block Party is reputed for. MTV Base had taken over and upped the ante to celebrate their 14-year anniversary. The music television channel launched on the 22nd of February, 2005, combining Africa and the international music scenes as they promote Hip-hop, R&B, Afropop, dancehall, Afrobeat, kwaito, hiplife, Reggae, zouk, m’balax, Gqom and other genres relevant to the young African audience. And they hosted the Mainland Block party on the 3rd of March to celebrate their anniversary and the cultural vibrancy and creativity of African music, artists and fans. It held at the Secret Garden location in Ikeja, Lagos and was hosted by MTV Base VJ, Nenny B, alongside actor, Bolly Lomo.
Fans that were present were treated to a great time of dancing to party tunes, drinks made available by the event’s sponsors, face painting, a swimming pool and awesome networking opportunities with the array of celebrities and elite guest present. A-list artists like YCee, Zlatan, Chinko Ekun and Skiibii also took the stage to perform for their adoring fans, while new kids on the block, Blaqbonez and Oxlade also got their time on the stage, earning new supporters as the crowed turned up to their “Mamiwota” collaboration. Several celebrities like Tomi Thomas, DJ Neptune, CDQ, Mr Real, Iyanya, L.A.X, Falz and more also made appearances to party with their fans.
Check out the reel from the MTV Base 14-year anniversary Mainland Block Party takeover.
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Featured Image Credits: BHM
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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
The inner workings of Santi’s obscure mind have been both a subject of critique and intrigue when approaching his music. Shot and filmed in Lagos, his latest video for “Sparky”, makes some of that innate artistic edginess apparent in more ways to count.
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Given Santi’s nostalgia for old Nollywood aesthetic, it’s no surprise he also lends some of its plot devices for his new film. If you thought the trailer for “Sparky” was ambiguous, this full-length short-film will leave you with more questions than you bargained for. “Sparky” opens with an ominous opening sequence, to a seemingly grieving family at the funeral of their youngest member. The shock value of the scene that comes next is unexpected: a gang of girls are seen going up against an unrevealed character (until much later in the flick). As the plot unfolds, more context is provided for characters caught in a web of vengeance and tough decisions.
(Spoiler Alert: Santi is the unwilling Dark Knight, who saves the day)
Wurld continues to build anticipation for his ‘Love is Contagious’ EP with the project’s release for pre-order. Though the EP won’t be available till the 22nd of March release date, the Fuji-pop singer has shared the cover art and tracklist for the project, debuting his new single, “Wishes and Butterflies”, in the process.
Though previously released singles, “Show You Off”, “Contagious” and “Paranoid” carried traces of his indigenous African influences, for “Wishes and Butterflies”, WurlD taps into his western influences to perform a bluesy folk love song. Over a mix of bass guitar riffs, sweeping organ harmonies and scatting drum riffs, WurlD flexes his vocal range, transforming his wistful romantic feelings into a captivating pop song that can resonate with anyone who has ever experienced the bitter or sweet side of love.
He was quoted in a press release saying “Love is Contagious is a conversation about love, from the infatuation stage to drowning in the emotion to the commitment stage“. Shared as the 5th track from the yet to be released 9-track EP, “Wishes and Butterflies” fits somewhere between both stages as he sings “I Need Love/ That Bitter Sweet Killer Romantic Though I Hate To Love You But I’d Never Find A Greater Kind of Love Baby”.
You can listen to “Wishes and Butterflies” and pre-order ‘Love is Contagious’ below.
Featured Image Credits: Instagram/thisiswurld
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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
International Women’s Day is a kickass celebration of women breaking glass ceilings all over the world and the untiring pursuit of equal rights for all. The commemoration also serves as a reminder that, while we have made incredible progress, we’ve still got a long way to go on issues like the gender pay gap, access to reproductive healthcare, reproductive justice, gender-specific abuse, harassment and disenfranchisement amongst others.
This year, the official theme of the day is #BalanceforBetter and from empowerment seminars to street strikes, after hour rock to professional master classes women are demanding balance globally. Speaking on this year’s event, the IWD organisation says, “Balance is not a women’s issue, it’s a business issue. The race is on for the gender-balanced boardroom, a gender-balanced government, gender-balanced media coverage, a gender-balance of employees, more gender-balance in wealth, gender-balanced sports coverage”
In honour of the day’s theme, the NATIVE collaborated with HER, a Zikoko-produced original that spotlights stories of women in conventional and unconventional career fields, for a #BalanceForBetter short series. The purpose of this 4-part personality profile is to highlight how these women have addressed specific concerns within sub-ecosystems, in relation to the focus-issues for IWD 2019. Some of the featured personalities include tech girl Deaduramilade Tawak, new-culture broadcaster Kemi Smallz Owatemi, BBC sports journalist Debola Adebanjo, and neo-soul songbird, Lady Donli. All four women talk first moves, career-scaling, and context for authentic solutions to common problems in their fields.
You can see Kemi Smallz in the first video on The NATIVE’s Instagram Stories
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Nonso Amadi debuted in 2019 with the release of “Emergency”, a single which saw him explore the more pacy, dancefloor destined Afropop sound. However, his lyrics remained eternally moody and glassy-eyed with his breakup inspired performance over the EDM fueled bop. The Canada-based singer just released the music video for “Emergency” and it sets Nonso Amadi and a presumed lover on a vacation trip to Africa.
Directed by David Nicol-Sey, the video plays out like a travel documentary, appreciating the beautiful sites and culture of the African community featured in the video. While Nonso and his love interest are seen exploring the streets, a beach-house and a hair styling salon, we also see clips of the everyday lifestyle, showing kids playing a game of basketball in their compound, men stunting on their bikes, playing cards and more. With the video distracting from Nonso’s intimate lyrics, its makes for a compelling visual experience as catchy harmonies play as background music.
You can watch the music video for Nonso Amadi’s “Emergency” 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
