Essentials: ‘Everything Pretty’ by Prettyboy D-O

Posted on by The Native

On the strength of streaming numbers on Soundcloud, we’ve seen the alternative music scene take more dominance in mainstream conversations this year. Prettyboy D-O is one of the few artists pushing the boundaries to make a complete crossover and his recently released album debut, ‘Everything Pretty’ is a 13-track testament that the metrics have finally caught up to the zeitgeist.

The project is packaged along with pre-released singles, “Itty Bitty”,“Footwork”, an album version of “Chop Elbow” with an additional verse from Falz and 10 newly released tracks. Prettyboy D-O’s penchant for paying extra care to his image translates into cover art that frames his noir edited head-shot in a surreal and spacey frame which aptly reflects his fearlessly explicit dance music, blurring the lines between personally motivated lyrics and radio-friendly pop.

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‘Everything Pretty’ opens with a heartwarming prayer from D-O’s mom on the opening track, “The Motto”. The ambient and atmospheric led beat Timlyre produces for the track sets the surreal mood he stays in through most of the album. Singing “I Say The Money Na The Motto/ Try’na Get My Mama Motor/ You Know The Money Na The Motto”, his motto clearly has no room to accommodate fake friends and haters. The follow-up track, “Shawn Michael” however sees him slink into his more affectionate psyche, performing a Reggae-inspired set with sultry lyrics designed to win the heart of his love interest and pop culture references to capture pop culture lovers.

Though ‘Everything Pretty’ never strays from the sultry charm of Prettyboy D-O’s laid-back guise, the album incorporates featured artists who are plunged into the gooey aura of his sound without losing their individual personality. On “Terminate” for instance, Sugar Bana infuses a necessary energetic performance, singing “Bad Vibes, We’a Terminate/ Say We’a Jubilate” in his upper register, while Esojay Luciano’s rap verse on “Rabba Man” further authenticates the album’s gangster themes.

Standout track, “Pull Up”, features  Santi’s smooth flow. While it’s the bouncy trap beat Hvrry and Higo produce that guarantees the song a place on playlists, it’s Prettyboy D-O’s ability to be philosophical in nature yet craft-like in practice that will resonate with fans.

You stream the album below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/prettyboydo
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ICYMI: Watch the nostalgic music video for Prettyboy D-O’s “Chop Elbow”

Becca and Kizz Daniel’s “Gina” is a romantic Afropop duet

Posted on by The Native

Last year Ghanian pop diva, Becca released Unveiling, her third studio album and since then, the singer has bagged awards, taken on local and international stages and gotten married. Her latest single “Gina”, featuring Kizz Daniel whose sophomore project is expected later this month, is an RNB-inspired number that signals another mark of her elite class artistry in West African music.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqO7T_Pldu8/

Good Afropop duets have always been few and far between, so it’s nothing less than pure bliss to hear two evenly paired power vocalists declare undying affection. “Gina” is built with equal parts empathy and melody, and the result is a deviation from the dance music Tiwa Savage and Wizkid have made a staple. In the age where artists cook all sorts of stews then sell it to the masses, “Gina” wins as a song by two artists who only care about the music.

Stream “Gina” via Apple Music below:

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Accidentally Famous: How social media is changing what makes a celebrity

Hear Minz, L.A.X and Spotless on Bizzouch’s new track, “Japa”

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One of the deft hands behind the production on L.A.X’s Rasaking debut is producer Bizzouch. Bizzouch’s place as an iteration of Nigerian Afropop beatmakers who have mastered how to balance flair with minimalist melody is becoming more evident. His latest release features NATIVE Trybesman MINZ, Starboy’s Spotless and Rasaki Records boss, L.A.X, and all three artists are in grateful spirits.

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Minz opening verse on “Japa” beckons haters to get off his back, while his thanking God for elevation. L.A.X’s reassured feature also makes way for Spotless’ pseudo-philosophical verse about backstabbing friends and how money makes people treat you differently. “Japa”, is another take on breaking out of bad situation, a trope D’banj used for “Mobolowon” off his 2005 debut, No Long Thing . It’s not so much about celebrating victories against odds, as it is about trusting the process. In the words of L.A.X: Japa now, we be popping!

Stream “Japa” via Apple Music below

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Essentials: ‘Rasaking’ by L.A.X

Take a sensual “Supa Sigh” with Bris B and Santi on their new collaboration

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“Supa Sigh”, starts out ominously with the sample of a woman’s voice saying “You only want to give me your D when I’m on camera”. Bris B’s latest single is his first for the year. “Supa Sigh” features Santi, the same artist that brought his fascinations with evil Nollywood to give us “Freaky” this year. With a hook indented with dick jokes and threesome references, the crassness of “Supa Sigh” may stick out above all, but not against the backdrop  Higo Music’s seductive mid-tempo production.

Stream “Supa Sigh” via Apple Music below:

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Listen to Santi’s new single featuring Shane Eagle and Amaa Rae

Watch M.anifest and Kwesi Arthur bask in the sunlight for their “Feels” music video

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When Ghanaian rapper, M.anifest released “Feels”, his new single with Kwesi Arthur, the most potent narrative seemed to be the OG cosign of the new generation of artists. Given that Sarkodie had followed a similar path with the released of two La Meme Gang features just last month, M.anifest’s testimony on his climb to success over the trap infused beat MikeMillzOnEm produces resonates more like a blueprint for younger generations to follow.

But now, with the recently released music video, “Feels” can be heard anew, with its rich complexities basking in the fresh optimism of the vibrant clip. The video is set a skating ring where M.anifest and Kwesi Arthur performs in the midst of skaters having a good time in the sun.

You can watch the music video for “Feels” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/M.anifest
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ICYMI: Listen to M.anifest’s “Fine Fine” featuring Olamide

BUDx is hosting Chi Modu for his first photo exhibition in Lagos

Posted on by The Native

Chi Modu is one of hip-hop’s most famous photographers, taking documentary style photographs of artists like Biggie, 2 Pac and Snoop Dog while working at a magazine during Hip-hop’s formative years. Practically all rappers who made any impact in hip-hop during the early 80s’ and 90s have stood in front of the Nigeria-born, New Jersey-raised photographer’s lens for a shoot. On the 1st and 2nd of December, Chi Modu will be exhibiting some of his works for the first time in Lagos at Budweiser’s music showcase, BUDx.

Essentials: Mayorkun’s ‘The Mayor of Lagos’ album debut

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It didn’t take long for Mayorkun to make his mark in the industry, winning the Headies ‘Rookie of the year’ award off the strength of his first releases, “Eleko” and “Love Your Tire”. He went on to build a reputable discography, punctuated with solo hits and notable guest verses at DMW where he oozes the charm and swagger of a leader for a  stronghold of the group’s following. His prolific run of hits made his ‘The Mayor of Lagos’ album debut one of the most anticipated albums to come out of Nigeria when he shared the project’s tracklist earlier this month with promised guest appearances from D’banj, Sarkodie, Patoranking, his mom and a new collaboration with the DMW squad.

The 14-track album opens with “Intro (Feelings)” where he tells the inspiring tale of his grind to get to the top over a bouncy beat Speroach Beatz produces with percussion harmonies that highlight the severity of his message. The track also features a recording of a phone conversation between Mayorkun and his mom which instinctively ends in a prayer for the pop star. Mayorkun picks up the pace on the next track, “Sope”, jumping right into the partying spirit as he celebrates his life and encourages listeners to join him over the catchy beat Cracker Mallo produces. And with the familiar interpolation of Jason Derulo’s “Swalla” and his own rendition the meal-time nursery rhyme Wande Coal explored on his similar titled “Se Ope”, “Sope” has all the markers of another hit from the DMW singer.

Even when things slow down to a crawl on sultry tracks like “Aya Mi”, the rock-steady groove of the highlife influenced guitar riff and rattling samples of the DJ Coublon produced beat casts a charming spell while Mayorkun attempts to charm a love interest with witty lyrics; “Now I’ve Decided Designer Lo Ma Ma Wo/ I’ve Got A Small Doctor Wey go Treat Their Fuck Up”. He stays in his light-hearted mood through most of the project and on D’banj assisted “Oshepete”, the two singers deliver verses where they seem to be passing court-room judgment but written with the seriousness of bear parlour conversation. A number of other collaborations also standout like the Reggae melodies Patoranking infuses on “Mofo” and the rap verse from Sarkodie on “Jonze Me”.

Including pre-released singles, “Bobo”, “Che Che”, “Mama”, “Posh” and “Fantasy” on the project helps keep the album cohesive and familiar. But it’s the DMW team up of Peruzzi, Dremo and Yonda on “Red Handed” that really stands apart from the rest with the good-natured vibe of the chemistry they always seem to share matching the infectious melody of the Reggae inspired beat Fresh VDM produces. ‘The Mayor of Lagos’ paints Mayorkun’s strife through life as a lovable and attractive young man with a poetic pen and an ear for catchy melody that’s sure to win the hearts of those who may somehow have not heard about him before his album debut.

You can stream ‘The Mayor of Lagos’ by Mayorkun below.

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

ICYMI: Watch Mayorkun and Davido revive R&B singer in the rain themed music video in their video for “Bobo”

6 videos you should see this week

Posted on by The Native

Lady Donli – “Lady Donli in Toronto Documentary”

Live performances and tours play significant roles in Lady Donli’s blooming music career. She expressed how the chance to perform in front of fans around the world has helped her personal growth as an artist in a recent interview with NATIVE where she was quoted saying “These shows have made me break out of my bubble”. And though her performance conveys the emotions from the song, she just released a documentary video for her Toronto tour, providing context that her audience can benefit from. The “Lady Donli in Toronto Documentary” video shows behind the scenes cuts of her performances in the 6, bringing new depth and colour to her well-loved songs. It also features scenes where Lady Donli discusses the intricacies of her music and the emotions and thought the process that goes into creating her songs. But the documentary doesn’t sell itself as an exposé. Rather, its value comes in the form of sentiment—watching her setting up the stage and have nervous conversations before getting on stage.

Nas – “Nasir – The Film” 

Nas just shared a short film titled “Nasir-The Film”, an accompanying video for his similarly titled ‘Nasir’ album. The 16-minute long clip is directed by Rohan Blair-Mangat, mirroring the socio-political sentiments expressed on the album. Set in his Queens neighbourhood in New York, the video speaks to police brutality and racial subjugation of blacks. All 7 tracks from the Kanye West executive produced album serve as the soundtrack, while Slick Rick and Demarius Mack make cameos.

Afro B – “Melanin”

An obvious indicator of Afropop’s success in the UK is the amount of UK based artists that have made the genre their bread and butter. Afro B has grown into a household name in African communities off of the impact of his “Joanna” hit single. The British-Ivorian singer has released a new single, “Melanin” with a thematically apt music video to match. While he performs his laid-back, romance fueled lyrics over the airy beat Team Salute produces, the music video Visionaire Pictures directs, celebrates the melanin beauty the song is dedicated to. The video is set on a sunny field with dark skin women flaunting their glowing skins against the vibrant coloured backdrop of the flowers and the props.

Ariana Grande – “Breathin”

Though Ariana Grande is currently sitting pretty at the top of the Billboards chart, this year has been a rough one for the R&B singer. Fresh off the loss of her ex-boyfriend to drug overdose and breaking off her engagement with Pete Davidson, she released “Thank u, Next”, proving that she’s still the ponytailed patron saint of grace, light, and sass. She follows up the new single with the release of the music video for “Breathin” off her ‘Sweetner’ album, reassuring fans she can take anything the world throws at her. The Hannah Lux Davis-directed clip finds the pop superstar at a train station while the world passes her by at a dizzying pace while she sings, “Just Keep Breathing and Breathing and Breathing and Breathing/I Know I Gotta Keep, Keep on Breathing”. The video for “Breathin” is the fourth visual from her album following the release of “God is a woman”, “The Light is Coming” and “No Tears Left to Cry”. And already, she is gearing to release a new project titled ‘Thank u, Next’ featuring her single of the same name.

JazzZ Owo – “WhoBeJazzZ Unplugged Live Performance”

Among the many privileges of being an indie artist, the chance to perform intimate sets for fans has to be the most fulfilling. And if you were wondering why, JazzZ’s recently released video for her “WhoBeJazzZ Unplugged” show satisfies that curiosity. The event which held in September at the Ayo Van Elmar Fashion Cafe location in VI also featured guest performances from Barelyanyhook, PayBac, UglyTwizzy and others who gave memorable performances to entertain the small audience. But as the official video from the event shows, it was JazzZ who owned the stage, delivering a warm performance that emphasizes the affectionate power of her music. The video shows JazzZ performing “Owo” featuring System, dancing so carefreely, it’s a wonder how her voice never strays offbeat.

The Passport of Mallam Ilia Teaser Trailer

The animated movie scene in Nigeria has gotten a lot more interesting over the years and things are only looking to get better. Magic Carpet Studios have made the announcement that Cyprian Ekwensi’s classic novel, “The Passport of Mallam Ilia” will be adapted into an animated feature film after the animation film studio acquired full rights of the book from the HEBN PLC Publishers. And just like the book, the film is set in 19th century Kano, following a young warrior’s vengeful quest to find and kill his wife’s murderer. The teaser trailer shows the film’s lead, Mallam Ilia, fighting a spirit while a Hausa voice-over plays in the background and gives the film the intimacy of the first person narrative. The trailer hints at a promising and authentic Nigerian animation we’d be looking forward to.

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

ICYMI: Watch the video for PatricKxxLee’s “Dante’s Awakening” here

Listen to Ajebutter22 and Studio Magic’s ego-driven new single, “Standard Guy”

Posted on by The Native

The sparse releases from Ajebutter22 over the years led some to believe he’d return to hiding after his album debut, ‘What Happens in Lagos’ in 2017. However, this year has seen him string together a consistent stream of music releases including the ‘Make E No Cause Fight’ joint project with BOJ and a remix to his commercially successful “Ghana Bounce”.

The rapper is back in more familiar territories with his new collaboration with Studio Magic. Studio Magic is Ajebutter’s long-time collaborator who has already strummed up a string of hit, working behind the scenes with the rapper. “Standard Guy” is Studio Magic’s first official single release as a producer, and Ajebutter basks in the soothing ambience of the laid-back beat and ambient synth harmonies.

“Standard Guy” blows its own trumpet as the ethos of the ‘standard guy’. And though Ajebutter mostly focuses on building a melodious flow with lyrics like “Party Go Ma-a-a-ah/ Because I’m the GOAT like Bah-a-a-ah”, his god-like reference for himself is unmissable.

You can stream Studio Magic and Ajebutte22’s “Standard Guy” below.

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

ICYMI: Watch M.I party with Falz, Odunsi and Ajebutter22 in his music video for “Lekki”

Westsydelifestyle bring Patoranking’s “Everyday” to life in a dance music video

Posted on by The Native

Although Patroranking is one of the artists at the core of Afropop’s global boom, he hasn’t exactly been the face of the narrative. And after releasing the music video for his latest single, “Everyday” without featuring in it, your guess to why is as good as mine. His absence from a music video being promoted as the official music video for “Everyday” is a marker of the era we live in where there are so many angles from which to present an artist’s success (and from which to “engage” with their “content”).

Filming the music video for the EDM influenced song on locations in Lagos, “Everyday” cements the cultural position of the song as the video features the Westsydelifestyle  dancers whose “Shaku Shaku” dance step helped boost Afropop’s viral trends. For the dance music video however, they perform a variety of well choreographed dance moves that seems to translate to having a good time despite the seeming hostility of living in the rural parts of Africa. And just like the smooth rhythm of the Dutch DJ and Alvaro produced single, the dance sequence flow in such fluid synchrony, the video looks like art.

Watch the music video for “Everyday” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Patoranking Fire

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You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Watch the Patoranking urge for world peace in his video for “Heal d World”

Watch the gripping music video for “Ride or Die”, Falana’s first release in 4 years

Posted on by The Native

“Ride or Die” is Falana’s first music release since her impressive 2014 EP, ‘Things Fall Together’. For her new song, she evokes the charm and confidence of a faithful lover for an emotive vocal performance over a groovy beat that rises and drops in line with her vocals in true live music fashion. While the bouncy rhythm of the beat leans to dance-pop territories with some Afrobeat influences, her lyrics, filled with vintage imagery of soldiers and fire places, has all the hallmarks of a sprawling ballad.

The music video for “Ride or Die” is set such that we watch the story unfolding like a gorgeous piece of modern art in motion. Falana is the center of almost every frame in the video as she runs, dances and poses in a series of artistically satisfying designed settings with flowers, red smoke and a car as prop. Slow-motion edits ensure that each screenshot-worthy scene lingers as she celebrates her love and her return to music releasing ways.

You can watch the music video for Falana’s “Ride or Die” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/FALANA
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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: Check out the essentials for ‘Art X Live! 2018’ (as curated) by Odunsi the Engine

J Molley has a message for haters in his “Leader of the Wave” music video

Posted on by The Native

Not a lot of people can pull off a mug so awash in self-satisfied cool that they throw a big fuck you to their competition and get the whole hood to show up in the music video to drive home the message. But that’s exactly what J Molley is doing on his new single, “Leader of the Wave”. Even though his discography is accentuated by heartbreak fueled tracks like his “Dreams Money Can Buy” tape, the South African rapper has never been one to shy away from supplying sassy brags. “Leader of the Wave” however finds him armed with a slew of showy one-liners not only about the cost of his drip but also about how little he rates other rappers.

Rapping, “Levi on My Shoe When I be Stepping on these Many-mes” over the ambient synth base beat Illrose produces, J. Molley comes across as amusingly dismissive and pleasantly curt. But after watching him play himself in an hostile-takeover themed music video where he barges into a conference room meeting and knocks things over, it sinks in that he’s done holding hands.

Watch the music video for “Leaders of the Wave” below.

 

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

ICYMI: Watch the video for PatricKxxLee’s “Dante’s Awakening” here

LEGACY: Watch a pre-Superstar Wizkid throw down a raw freestyle on the streets of Surulere (2011)

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Fame and success are funny things: whilst we all want them for our favourite artists, you lose the access and intimacy you once had with them in the come-up. It’s crazy to think of a time when Wizkid wasn’t one of the biggest artists on the continent. A time when his arrival at an event didn’t lead to a mini-stampede. A time when he could chill on a random road in Surulere freestyling.

But this was once a reality. As Wizkid built towards the release of his critically-acclaimed debut album Superstar, he was fast becoming a local champion. With a string of hits consistently in rotation on the airwaves and on the dancefloors, the boy from Ojuelegba was on the cusp of greatness – and it was palpable. Everyone around him could see it, all his counterparts could see it, and it was only a matter of time. That is why footage like this is such a rare look into the life of a rising star: sitting in the front seat of his friend’s car, StarBoy delivers a raw, emotional freestyle over a beat that would end up being used as the phenomenal outro track on his debut album, “Shoutout”.

Before the Rolexes, before the ice, before the runways: this freestyle is a snapshot of a young Wizkid, somewhere between Ayo Balogun and Starboy Wizzy, ready to take on the world.

LEGACY is a video series by The NATIVE highlighting iconic performances and moments in Nigerian Music. As we celebrate the growth of the community and increasing popularity of the music, we must remember the greats of the past. 

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Fisayo is a journalist in search of words. Tweet at her @fisvyo

LEGACY: A peak Styl-Plus deliver an iconic perfomance of “Olufunmi” at Kennis Music Festival (2004)

Kuami Eugene, Darkovibes and Kwesi Arthur make DJ Breezy’s “Back 2 Sender”

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In DJ Breezy’s latest track “Back 2 Sender”, featured artists, Kuami Eugene, Darkovibes and Kwesi Arthur are cocky about their place in the game. The ethos of three artists is both a pitch for staying in your own lane and living your best life, so it’s no surprise the trio are in a default offence mode. “1, 2, 3, badman don’t cross my lane”, Kuami Eugene sings, on the DJ Breezy synth-produced instrumentals. Kwesi Arthur’s presence is felt by way of a verse that segues into the appearance of La Meme Gang frontline man, Darkovibes.

The accompanying video for “Back 2 Sender” also provides a little more context with an opening sequence featuring all three artists facing a mob of cameras and microphones. Elsewhere, all three artists, including their host DJ Breezy, are in high spirits as a bottle of champagne froths from Darkovibe’s hands as he sings “living life, la vida Loca”

Check out “Back to Sender” below:

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Fisayo is a journalist in search of words. Tweet at her @fisvyo

Listen to La Meme Gang’s, “Stone Island”, featuring Darkovibes,RJZ and KiddBlack

Burna Boy shows a seldom seen romantic side for his new music video, “On The Low”

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Despite striking mainstream gold with the lover-boy narrative for his “Like To Party” hit single, Burna Boy has spent most of his career operating in his more menacing psyche. Asides coming across as confrontational, his honest and often personalized songwriting can cost him some mainstream appeal. And though personalized messages make for more stimulating music, sometimes you just want lightweight music you can sing along to without much thought.

On his new single, “On the Low”, Burna Boy finds the sweet spot between the message and his lightweight sensibilities as he performs a romantic celebration of his love interest. Built around a guitar-led beat that Kel P produces fusing synth lines, percussion, mid-tempo drum riffs and horn samples, “On the Low” speaks on navigating intimate feelings in a relationship. Though he confesses his love through sweetly worded lyrics delivered in his soothing and melodic vocals, the chorus reminds his lover that he still has to be cautious; “On The Low”. And just to be extra convincing, he gives a charming interpolation of Magic System’s “1er Gaou” singing “I no Go Fall Your Hand, Never/ Say Na Me You Go Love Forever/ And my Khaki No Fit be Leather”.

The music video Meji Alabi directs for “On The Low” captures Burna Boy’s romantic sentiments, set around a series of transitioning poses, Burna sways with a muse who also performs some seductive dance moves to the beat.

You can watch the music video for “On the Low” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Burna Boy
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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: Check out Burna Boy’s ‘Outside’ album as a ‘NATIVE Best New Music: Album Special’

Best New Music: BBanks’ “Hustle” is the most soulful go-getter anthem released this year

Posted on by The Native

BBanks’ production credit on the Skepta featured “Sheevita Juice”, alongside Olamide is a great place to start if you don’t know him. He first appeared on Olamide’s 2013 concept album Baddest Guy Ever Liveth with additional vocals on palm-wine drinker’s ode, “Mu Emu”. Over the years, BBanks has racked up more production credits, working as an in-house producer for YBNL, as well as with other artists. With a big co-sign like Skepta, validating a long career behind the scenes, his newest track “Hustle”, waxes philosophical, almost to a point of intentional bleakness.

“No left turn right turn. Start your day right, end with a bad one”, BBanks sings on the guitar-led hook. kicking off “Hustle” on a sombre tone. Warding off tunnel vision is important when you may finally be on the path of a lifetime and you don’t know how much further you have to go or how much longer you have to wait till the hustle pays off. “If you no lose hope, one day you go blow”, BBanks breathes with a silky smoothness. You almost don’t notice the beat switch when the rap sets in at first, but the trumpets are harder to miss as SuperWozzy’s verse progresses. All of a sudden you’re transported from the soulful world of Afropop, to a jazz-inspired urban jungle that evokes JayZ’s American Gangster era.

That allusion is not very far off the mark of the intentions BBanks had for “Hustle” as producer and composer.  SuperWozzy’s first verse is the most reassured you will hear any up-and-coming rapper this year, but his verse is not without insight for his belief that he’s ‘ordained’. ‘Started from the bottom/ but na God’s plan/ Drake am’, he optimistically quips while, giving “vultures” a casual shoutout. In SuperWozzy’s energetic world, a storm of blessings is brewing, all it takes now is that Wizzy (Wizkid) chorus, that Baddoo (Olamide) hook or that Davido co-sign.

As the verse segues into a hook, “Hustle” blooms into verse by DavoLee that stamps the motivational yet deeply contemplative nature of the track. According to DavoLee, the biggest proof of how far he has come is buzzing phone with calls from artists he used to look up to, even though they didn’t care about him. The YBNL signee made his first public appearance with last year’s “Festival Bar”,  so it’s not been long since everything changed. “Omo mo‘seko moso’offa, koda mo tun so’lorin”, he raps, a play on the homonym of the word “suffer”. DavoLee uses this to enunciate the extent of his past suffering in distances; from ‘Eko’ (Lagos) all the way to ‘Offa’ and ‘Ilorin’, two towns in Kwara State. There may be no left or right turn as BBanks sings, but DavoLee knows he’s already done the ‘sacrifice’, all that’s left as he raps, is pulling a reverse gear if he ever makes a bad move.

Zlatan discovery is even more recent and perhaps that’s why his passionate verse hits so close to home for the message at the core of “Hustle”. The rapper has been responsible for the silent buzz around “Zanku”, a song named after a dance of the same name that has been gradually gaining more attention in last few weeks. Earlier this week, Zlatan dropped “Osanle” alongside Davido, an ode to both artists’ past lives as runaways who rebelled against family and left home. On “Hustle”, he recounts his past woes once again; in the candles, he has lit up to write in the dark; the many beats he’s bought, that didn’t become hits; and all the contenders who have fallen at his feet over the years.

The “Hustle” philosophy sounds even bleaker when you hear BBanks singing, “E no mean say baba God no see you” after a line about bad days. But then again, this is a song with three self-aware rappers at different stages in their careers. At the bare minimum, how they have sprung up on the scene today is exemplary of a survivalist mettle and elite mentality. The journey further may still be a mile, but the knowledge that things will only get better if they keep up the grind is all the motivation they need.

Stream “Hustle” here:

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Toye is the Team lead at Native Nigeria. Tweet at him @ToyeSokunbi

Afropop on the rise: Kanye West’s adventures in Uganda and D’banj’s G.O.O.D music years

Essentials: ‘ART X Live! 2018’ (as curated) by Odunsi The Engine

Posted on by The Native

ART X Lagos 2018 is proving to be an event we won’t be forgetting anytime soon. While some questioned Odunsi’s capacity as a curator for the art show, the recently released four-track piece of live recorded music from ART X Live, will serve as a testament to naysayers.

The biggest validation for the “Sonic Archives” is that Odunsi’s ‘rare.’ album is a creative marker for this nostalgia-doused era in Nigerian music. Odunsi’s vision for the “Sonic Archives”, was channelled through Teni the Entertainer, Amaa Rae and BOJ, with live performances of classic records from African pop legends.  Now fans who missed the show can hear the result of the Odunsi-led creative direction on this 4-track compilation tape released on SoundCloud.

Though Odunsi’s presence is only felt in the production credits to his Odunsi the Engine producer tag, his distinct production, interpolating traditional African samples and retro pop influences, creates some context for ART X LIVE! 2018′.  The 4-track piece is a comprehensive catalogue of covers, interpretations, and reinventions of classic African hits, starting with Teni the Entertainer’s cover of Christy Essien Igbokwe’s “Seun Rere”. For her own ART X Live rendition, Teni re-purposed the passion and pain of the melancholic folk ballad into a tribute song for her own mother.

The second track, “Let It Flow” by Amaa Rae is the only original track on the “Sonic Archives”, explaining in a NATIVE interview, Amaa told us: “I took lyrics from one of my pre-existing songs and wrote a whole new hook around it”. But you wouldn’t guess that from the Odunsi-produced retro bounce and percussion harmony.

BOJ also impresses with “Shako Mo”, a cover of the Remedies’ 1998 cult classic. The mere choice to cover a song which many critics reference as the start of contemporary pop music in Nigeria shows class, but its the smooth blend of an era forgone and BOJ’s vocal performance that makes for goosebump-inducing music. 

The final track, “Ahomka Womu” covered by Amaa Rae, honours Ghanaian music’s influence on Nigerian pop culture as she performs the cover for the VIP hit single. Her key changes and the few lyrical adjustments give the song a more shrewd narrative which makes her interspersed mix of Twi and English near-poetic. She relies on the exquisite instrumental arrangement and her falsetto to carry the day, singing barely over a whisper along to the catchy melody of the original track—a reminder of soulful melodies and simpler times.

You can stream ‘Art X Live! 2018’ below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/artxlagos
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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: Here’s everything you missed from the ART X Lagos ‘Sonic Archives’

See the music video for Temmi Ovwasa’s convention challenging single, “Holy Water”

Posted on by The Native

Popularly referred to as YBNL Little Princess, Temmi Ovwasa got signed into Olamide’s music company back in 2016, and has since released a handful of singles, showcasing her immerse gift for songwriting. For her latest single, “Holy Water”, she collaborates with ID Cabasa who produces a soulful beat that heightens her emotive performance to feverish heights.

Though she starts out with ironic prayers, “Turn My Rainbow into Black/ Turn My Precious Heart To Stone”, with her smooth falsetto hitting that sweet spot between innocent and fierce, it’s her switch up to Yoruba vocals that gives “Holy Water” it’s captivating quality. Singing “Orisha Bo Le Gbe Mi/ Se Mi Bo Se Ba Mi (God If You Can’t Stand Me/ Leave Me As You Met Me”, Temmi Ovwasa’s bravely challenges the dominance of deities even though she seems to be doing so tearfully. With her well documented origin story, discovering her talent for singing as a child singer at her local church choir, there’s an added edge to her riveting ballad against religion’s infringement on individuality. She just followed up the release of the single with an accompanying music video where she is goes through an exorcism but comes out of it looking more devilish than before.

You can watch Temmi Ovwasa’s “Holy Water” music video below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/TemmieOvwasaVEVO

This post has been updated with the music video*
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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: See the Essentials for Odunsi’s album debut, ‘rare’

‘The Mayor Lagos’ has arrived and Mayorkun is in the clouds

Posted on by The Native

Towards the last days leading up to the release of Mayorkun’s debut album, The Mayor of Lagos, it became obvious how high the anticipation for the project has been.

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

TMOL is the beginning of a new era for the man who first surfaced on the scene with “Eleko”. The new project dropped earlier today and the singer has been up all morning engaging feedback and shoutouts for the project on Twitter. See some tweets below

You can now stream all 14 new tracks from The Mayor Of Lagos now:

Accidentally Famous: How social media is changing what makes a celebrity

Posted on by The Native

Has anyone else noticed how we have a new celebrity every other week? The concept of a celebrity has undergone such a massive transformation in the last decade. Before the advent of the Kardashians (bless them!), all the paths to fame involved heavy networking, agents and patiently waiting on the “big break”. We don’t play by the old rules anymore though, celebrity meltdowns aren’t as easily tucked away by publicists  but are compulsively documented by spectators and the stars themselves on the internet. At 2005, sexual impropriety amongst university lecturers in Nigeria was almost a legend we only spoke about in hushed, knowing tones. In 2018 though, we’ve had a voice recording of a lecturer soliciting for sex go viral on social media until the case was addressed.

But lives don’t just fall apart on the Internet; the rise and popularity of reality television, the Internet and social networking has resulted in more people becoming famous, for shorter periods of time, for doing less than ever before. These short periods of fame can be successfully finessed into sponsorship deals or even be used to revive a rightfully dead career like Charles Okocha’s, but ultimately, consistency is the big guy that gets even the best of us.

Last month, the internet made a group of four friends famous. Currently known only as the “Kupe Boys”, all it took was one video of the quartet dancing to A-star’s “Kupe dance” posted on social media. Within hours, they were a top trending topic across the continent, women drooled over them, there have been about a thousand and one spin-off videos of other friend groups doing the dance which had now become a viral trend, various news outlets covered them and they amassed a heavy social media following. For the time, the four have a fandom of theirs, spurn out of posting something that spread faster than a grease fire online.

A decade ago, it would have been far-fetched to think that a group of young men of no discernible talent besides leveling up to societal standards of beauty could become a household name as the Kupe Boys did. And yet, here they are, full-blown revues booking special appearances from Europe to Abuja (let’s not get into the obvious gendered difference in the reaction to their choice of creative channel)

This culture shift is however not necessarily a bad thing. The new world order the internet brings is neither a one nor two-way street but a rather chaotic jumble of a vast number of streets that intersect at really weird places. Reinforcing our inherent narcissism aside, our culture of constant connection  has prompted major changes to the celebrity: these self-publishing platforms give the everyday Joes an opportunity to gain fame, and they also allow closely monitored celebrities the opportunity to connect with fans at a human level. The share-everything culture means it’s easier than ever to become famous, even if it’s a hassle to retain your privacy once you become the subject of scrutiny.

Ultimately, don’t we all love our digital navel-gazing?

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Mariam is (insert pretentious stuff about myself here). Share your thoughts with me @MA_Y_M

Here’s why we need to let #TiWiz thrive

LA continues her self-assured rise to Afropop royalty with new track “Fantasy”

Posted on by The Native

If the story of many Nigerian women in music were a movie, it would begin with the same familiar narrative arc:

So be a girl, a smart young girl. Be a prodigy, a music prodigy. Learn how to sing, and do it well. Sing your heart out in church, school and (or) anywhere and everywhere else you can. Continue to sing until you’re in university and you realise you’re actually really good at singing. You may even be the best singer you know. Scratch uni and degrees altogether from the drawing board, you’re going to be famous anyway. Return home, slug it out with your parents, release your first single and you’re on your way!

For LA, no step along the way has been missed in her makings as Nigeria’s next pop queen. The release of “Faraway”, a stunning single released to much acclaim earlier this year has already set a quality bar of LA’s future releases, so it’s a good thing “Fantasy” doesn’t try too hard to be anything she isn’t.

Fantasy, is LA acting out her most honest-to-God depiction of self again: strong, expressive, emotionally tortured, but laid-back. Laid back, as if the same open-heart declarations she makes, could roll back into the mouth they came from.

“So baby, tell me what you do when you’re alone/ do you touch your body and think of me? I go be your fantasy”, she sings on the hook. The cheeky refrain leaves open-ended questions about their relationship when she recounts common relationship argument one-liners, “I drink too much” and “I don’t know love”, each apparent complaint lazily book-ended with “I know”. Whether she’s interested in working through their problems is unclear, LA’s only goal is to be a fantasy, otherwise, “I no get problem wey I dey think”, she gingerly adds.

LA’s self-awareness is why her act feels so complete. Like the single that came before it “Fantasy” also tugs at heartstrings in a uniquely hyperbolic way that reminds you that a love song can be vulnerable, corny and sound good at the same time. It’s the ultimate bittersweet formula that makes a good pop song addictive, if she keeps this up, LA is on her way to the top of everyone’s prime playlist picks.

Stream “Fantasy” here:

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Toye is the Team lead at Native Nigeria. Tweet at him @ToyeSokunbi

NATIVE EXCLUSIVE: “FARAWAY” SENSATION, LA IS READY TO BREAK OUT