8 moments from Nativeland 18′ worth a lifetime

Posted on by The Native

Since debuting in 2016, NATIVELAND has always brought the cultural melting pot slogan of Lagos to life with a diverse range of performing acts at the music festival. 2018 was no exception. Asides creating one-of-a-kind musical moments, NATIVELAND also takes on bigger significance for all parties involved. For NATIVE, it’s a celebration of the brand’s growth from a small indie magazine to an influential multimedia brand while the featured artists rip the reward for building their enthusiastic fan-base through tours and hit-records. With all the brands working hard to look good in the festive spotlight, fans were guaranteed a good night. Here are some of our favourite moments from NATIVELAND’18.

Two Stages, One Epic Music Festival:

Two stages were set up for NATIVELAND’ 18 to ensure fans got the full music festival experience. Before the Muri Okunola venue got packed with nearly 5,000 fans, the Pepsi-sponsored stage featured artists like SV and Mars and Barzini who performed on the new stage with a more intimate crowd and live band on stage. But as the night went on, the crowd soon grew too big for the small stage and artists who have grown in popularity were able to put their vocal training and energy to good use on the main stage.

Able God Drop:

NATIVELAND DJs provided the backing tracks for performing acts and rode the groove, making sure there was no dull moment between each set. But asides keeping up the party ambiance through the night, his unlikely mixing of jams from around the world helped showcase the diversity of the NATIVELAND crowd when he cued Chinko Ekun’s “Able God” and the crowd went ecstatic. It was a rare opportunity to see the many variations of Zanku legwork  done simultaneously by the largest music festival crowd of 2018

Mo Bamba Rage:

While the DJ’s music selection deserves the credit for the hyped crowd at NATIVELAND’18, the ragers in the crowd were the unsung heroes. Their enthusiastic performance rivalled anyone on the stage that night and they made sure they had their moment in the spotlight when the crucial rite of passage rage anthem, Shek Wes’ “Mo Bamba” played. See the video of an energetic crowd raging to the 2018 smash hit here:

The Return of Skepta:

It’s another NATIVELAND and another ravishing Skepta performance. Part of the highlight of 2018 is Skepta’s growth, releasing hit songs and features that cemented his rightful place in the hearts of music lovers in Nigeria. He made sure the NATIVELAND crowd who first brought him back home in 2016 were on his 2018 wishlist yet again as he thrilled fans to “Pure Water” and Wizkid assisted “Bad Energy”. Though he got the love and cheers expected of an international act of his calibre the crowd seemed ready to be raptured when he brought Wizkid on the NATIVELAND stage for a surprise performance of their joint hit.

Wizkid Anointing Fans:

You’d excuse Wizkid for thinking fans were thirsty and anointing them with water if you heard how loudly they screamed when he took the stage. It’s still unclear where the water sprinkling stunt originated from but it sure as hell gets the crowd excited and looks epic on camera. His energetic performance of “Bad Energy” elevated the night and gave new life to his “Bad Energy Stay Far Away” lyrics in light of the spiritual shows.

Santi’s “Rapid Fire” Rage:

The music video for Santi’s “Rapid Fire” featured a moment of rage with his friends in all white tank tops. Since it’s release, fans have had their private rage moments in the comfort of their rooms and occasionally behind the steering wheel in Lagos traffic. NATIVELAND provided a safe space for all friends and fans of the artists to communally rage to one of the best songs to come out of Nigeria last year. The performance and riveting crowd reaction establish Santi’s growth as an indie artist to more mainstream acclaim as everyone from the backstage, front-stage and even the VIP section got on their feet to chant along to the barely intelligible lyric.

D’Banj’s Surprise Appearance:

NATIVELAND’s tradition of unveiling a secret guest act took a surprising turn when former G.O.O.D music artist, importer/exporter, Koko Master and award winning artist, D’Banj climbed on the stage. Fans had expected the more predictable Burna Boy appearance but Burna Boy had taken ill after his own concert held some days before. Though Burna’s presence was missed, D’Banj’s elite level stagecraft quickly captivated the crowd as they sang along to gems from his stacked discography.

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ICYMI: Watch the video for DJ Neptune and Maleek Berry’s “My World” here

Tochi features Zamir for new single, “South”

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Tochi’s new single, “South”, with its piano-driven production, creates a sombre ambience for his laid back personality. “Grab a Semi/ Shoot him at his Tummy/ South-South Nigga/ I’m a Winner” Tochi raps, giving the impression of a violent lifestyle that validates the trap beat he produces, the beat zig-zags nervously across shifts in mood and texture as if to depict the restlessness that comes with the diabolic lifestyle “South” celebrates, alternating glistening piano harmonies with 808 drums and droning synths.

Though Zamir’s verse doesn’t stick to Tochi’s graphical direction, he complements Tochi’s villainous intentions as he breaks down his plan to steal a love interest from her man. They share the belief that they are ‘the man’ and should be respected as such. But delivered in their laid back vocals, “South” is a charming and self-aware slice of trap music.

You can strean Tochi and Zamir’s “South” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/tochibedford
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ICYMI: Listen to Tochi’s “News”, a guide on how to handle heartbreak

Lil Kesh features former label boss, Olamide, for new single, “Logo Benz”

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The fraud lifestyle has shaped the life of those on the street, giving music no choice but to engage in the ongoing conversation. Tracks like “Legbegbe” and “Able God” quickly became hits, riding on the crime wave to set the tense tone in the clubs. Lil Kesh’s new single, “Logo Benz”, tributes to the darker intentions of the hustler and he features Olamide who after playing a role, supporting the creative Nigerian dream for Yomi Blaze and Picazzo, shows his interest is also aligned with the criminal lifestyle on the street.

Over a mid-tempo piano led beat Rexxie produces with head bopping bass drums and some synth samples, Lil Kesh and Olamide reveal the extent they’d go to reach their dreams of living the flashy life of the wealthy. Singing “I Dey Pray to Jesu/ Ki Owo Wole Oh/ I Go Do Blood Money Oh”, their lyrics are a lot more ballsy than OluMaintain’s similarly geared “Yahooze”. It’s a bit reductive, but perhaps the message here is to celebrate the hustler who’s ready to do whatever it takes to get the mula.

You can stream Lil Kesh and Olamide’s “Logo Benz” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/lilkeshofficial
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ICYMI: Watch Lil Kesh’s music video for “Baby Favour”

Listen to Bankyondbeatz’s “Sailing Away” featuring UK singer, Jacob Browne

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Working with different acts have helped Bankyondbeatz test quite a few variations of the same musical formula. His EDM pop sound laced with venom has worked as a break-up song on Tomi Thomas assisted “Rosey”, but the result is more pleasant on “Sailing Away”, featuring Jacob Browne, an indie act from the UK. At a glance, the title reads like a no-fucks-given celebration of being alone, but the song finds Jacob Browne complementing his love interest’s ability to make things feel better.

Singing “Can You Drive Me Away from the Storm”, “Sailing Away” carries a hint of melancholy hidden behind the preppy beat Bankyondbeatz produces with a guitar baseline, sweeping synth harmonies and pace drum riffs. But where Jacob Browne could have languished in his sadness, he prefers to bask in his lover’s warmth.

You can stream Bankyondbeatz and Jacob Browne’s “Sailing Away” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/bankyondbeatz
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ICYMI: Listen to DJ Yin, Bankyondbeatz and SDC team up for “Rewind”

Oxlade’s new single, “Shugar”, is a party starter

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Afropop songs ebb and flow in a manner that often makes it difficult to distinguish tracks, driven largely by rhythm, and an extensive knowledge of club conventions. Lyrically, they aren’t trying to offer much in the way of storytelling; instead, providing a groove to dance to while contemplating if it’s still cool to make love in a club. On Oxlade’s new single, “Shugar”, the singer makes a strong case for love at first sight, leaning on Spax’s production to set the lightweight ambience of being buzzed at a party.

The beat emphasizes Oxlade’s carefree and elated attitude through scintillating synths, guitar harmonies, bass set at a languid groove, and every now and then, a saxophone swing into the frame to perform a glowing solo. It’s the theme song for raunchy club fantasies and something to set the mood, all wrapped up in one.

You can stream Oxlade’s “Shugar” here.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/oxladeofficial
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ICYMI: Listen to Oxlade get reflective on his prayerful single, “Win It”

DRB channel Mafioso rap for new single, “Necessary”, featuring Odunsi

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Everyone dreams of the days they no longer have to work so hard for money. Yet, songs celebrating the flashy lifestyle are often treated with contempt and damned to exist in the limbo where shallow songs go to die. DRB is making sure this isn’t the case with their new song, “Necessary”, released with a music video where they flash their team colours and feature Odunsi in the cut.

Though street-hop hits like “Legbegbe” and “Able God” have celebrated the criminal extent true hustlers are willing to go to get their hands on money, DRB is introducing hip-hop’s cinematic equivalent of that vibrant narratives. GMK’s bouncy trap beat sets the elated atmosphere for the hustler anthem, celebrating the many rewards of the fast life. Odunsi’s hook, “Owo Wa Necessary” is true enough but the rappers go the extra distance, emulating the scope of the fictionalized, dramatized versions seen in film and on television as they intertwine hip-hop’s obsessions of realism with the street’s embrace of the crime life. The music video DK directs highlights their kingpin fancy, using their Mafioso tics and tropes as an energizing force to make the video endearing.

You can watch the music video for DRB and Odunsi’s “Necessary” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/BOJVEVO

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ICYMI: Check out NATIVE’s essentials on DRB’s ‘DRB 10’ album re-issue

NATIVELAND III: Here are the best pictures from the most iconic music festival of 2018

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By the end of NATIVELAND ’18, a few things had become obvious: D’banj has still got it, the old saying that Nigerian music fans don’t know how to have fun is a gross misconception and NATIVELAND is still the biggest concert of the holidays. Of course other markers like Wizkid’s appearance, Skepta’s return and EO’s brief spot to perform UK smash-hit, “German” made the night, but nothing will match up to the strength and energy of fans and artists alike enjoying a great night. From Nigeria’s biggest music festival of 2018, here some of the pictures that captured the making of history.

See below:

See you at NATIVELAND 2019

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8 moments from Nativeland 18′ worth a lifetime

Runtown is the tortured romantic once again on “Oh Oh Oh (Lucie)”

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Only a few artists exist with the same flair and non-effusive dynamism as RunTown. Coming off the release of “No Permission”, his foray into hip-hop featuring Nasty C, the singer (and rapper these days) is back to his more familiar Afropop territory with “Oh Oh Oh (Lucie)”. “Oh Oh Oh (Lucie)” is dancefloor number with a tinge of the candid romantic nuances that has always defined RunTown’s best releases.

Released under his newly launched ‘Sound God’ imprint, the Del B produced-instrumentals thrums along with nothing more than synths and African wooden drums indented with a guitar and a touch of acoustics. Runtown is as confident as ever, even as he longingly sings about knocking on Lucie’s door and hoping she answers her phone. Once again, Runtown plays the part of the seemingly tortured romantic who can and will make a good song about his feelings.

The video directed by Isaac Yowman is a colourful mix of traditionally dressed, energetic dancers and Runtown serenading viewers. When Runtown isn’t sitting pretty at the center of the flair around him, he’s bonding with Lucie, who’s a picturesque vision by the beach.

Watch the video here:

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ICYMI: Here’s everything you missed from last year’s ‘Art X exhibition’

Go spiritual with Teni’s motivational new single, “Uyo Meyo”

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Fans first got a taste of Teni’s “Uyo Meyo” when she freestyled the track’s chorus in a viral video she posted on her Twitter account back in July. Like much of the contextual spontaneity that often inspires Teni’s viral videos, the recent completion of her University education put her in the celebratory spirits. But while it took Teni nearly four months to release a full track to commemorate that Twitter video, the result of that serendipitous moment is just as moving.

“Uyo Meyo” is a prayerful number sung in Teni’s local Ondo dialect. According to Teni, she released the track to celebrate her birthday. Though Teni recounts some of her struggles and pain through the single, the positivity is unmistakable, especially as Teni implores listeners to work hard to reach their goals. The track’s core message is set on the belief that celebration with people who have joy will lead to a celebration of your own.

Stream “Uyo Meyo” below

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Teni shares new single, “Christmas is Here”, a tribute to the festive season

Hear WavyTheCreator’s dreamy “Interlude 3” featuring King Zamir

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WavyTheCreator has been getting better with twisting and morphing her voice into something quite unlike anything, but perhaps, nobody understands this process better than Wavy anyway. The description for new track reads: “sultry sounds from the nigerian alien”, a testament to how much her music has changed in real-time since the release of “H.I.G.H”, the soulful EDM single that brought WavyTheCreator into our consciousness.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrnUX-ugv8Z/

Her latest single is a follow-up to “Grand Theft Auto”, another ambient-made single featuring Akuchi. “Interlude 3” the new release, thrives on ambient synths and features a verse from King Zamir, whose smooth delivery adds a necessary gruff edge to Wavy’s sensual lyrics.

You can stream “Interlude 3” via SoundCloud below:

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ICYMI: Watch the video for WavyTheCreator’s “stay”

Essentials: ‘Re-Bella’ by Bella Alubo

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The bad-bitch persona Bella Alubo oozes on “Alhaji Money” her 2016 single felt like a mission statement. It was her love for Hip-hop that set her on the music career path so it’s not surprising that she still retains some of its brash swagger on her pop songs. Though Afropop songs have a leaning towards dance music, it’s not every day we come across female artists who can pull off cocksure brags as Bella does.

Following up last year’s singles, she released ‘Late Night Vibration’ a joint project with YCee at the start of 2018. ‘Re-Bella’ is Bella’s debut project and the cover art shows a merge between Bella and her younger self; depicting what seems to be the story of her dreams and the process of its actualization.

For certain dreams, self-awareness to recognize friends from foe is essential and Bella quickly draws the battle lines and calls out her haters on the first two tracks, “Ask Bolaji” and “Aiya”. She lays a self-assured claim to fame on “Ask Bolaji” featuring BOJ who’s just as self-adulating. But on “Aiya”, she’s more specific, offering more detailed reasons for her disregard for false niceties from lovers. “Aiya” is a tale as old as time, a lesson in knowing and demanding your worth. The gag is, the track is produced with preppy instrumentation that tones down the bleeding intensity of her message.

She explores the Southern African house genres collaborating with Sho Madjozi for a Gqom inspired single, “Honey“. Some of Bella Alubo’s innate mystique is incorporated on Remy Baggins produced “Animals“, where Bella sings “Try’na be Your Vice, Your Poison/Make you Drink the Sweetest Portion” to a lover. In the 24 minute span of the EP, Bella takes a litmus to different sounds. With her internal conflicts worn on her sleeves, there’s an obvious song for everyone on ‘Re Bella’, inspite of the short run-time.

The last two songs on the ‘Re Bella‘ are a tribute to beauty with Efya assisted “Chale Wote” celebrating the charm of the popular Ghanaian street art festival. On “Tropical Paradise“, she lets her hair down and basks in the lightweight ambience of the beach song. Most of the tracks on ‘Re Bella’ peak at the laid-back buzz of a late-night drive with friends, allowing Bella direct the groove cruise into a good night.

You can stream ‘Re Bella’ below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/BellaAlubo
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ICYMI: Watch the video for PatricKxxLee’s “Dante’s Awakening” here

Essentials: ‘DRB 10’ Re-Issue by DRB

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No matter how hard we try to stay in tune with the culture, there’s bound to be gems that remain obscure, especially from the days before technology improved and gifted us the all-seeing eyes of the internet. Fortunately, it’s never too late to start cataloguing memorable records and the DRB trio of Teezee, BOJ and Fresh L have taken the initiative, releasing their ‘DRB 10’ album with all your favourite hits from the group and some never before heard songs. The newly released compilation project asides offering a great nostalgia trip, proves the group to be the forward-thinking acts they presented themselves as when they were formed a decade ago.

The DRB has been credited as one of the core pioneers of the DIY music scene in Nigeria that has gradually slipped into mainstream consciousness over the last few months. The 10-track album serves as the defining document of the group’s sonic experiment from the late 2000s and a palette to measure what sounds that have remains relevant, unflappably cool or outdated.

Opening with “Amebo”, ‘DRB 10’ isn’t an attempt to rewrite the history of the group with the song’s noisy and pacy rhythm being instantly recognizable for the Afropop sound of the 2000s and the ‘Amebo’ buzzword from that era in Nigerian pop culture. The next track, “Bring Out The Rose” highlights DRB’s penchant for fusing EDM harmonies with their hip-hop influences for club driven songs. It’s a sound heard on other tracks like Shank assisted “Selecta” and has remained popular through the years with Wizkid’s “Daddy Yo” having similar sonic direction.

On the group’s “3Kingz”, 808 drum machines and synth lines established their weird take on pop music, while their brags about fusing rap and melody, indicate that they did it before it was cool. Though it’s not quite the mumble rap or even trap beat that we hear today, their triumphant performance is just as infectious. Bez assisted “Cut Corners” continues the group’s seamless merger of sonic influences and the result is a breezy and refined jam that evokes memories of awkward romantic encounters that now serve as the bases for some of our social anxiety.

“Mrs Officer” is one of the standout tracks from ‘DRB 10’, a sort of diamond-in-the-rough discovery. Over the menacing beat, built on an unabating bassline and ear-popping synths, the trio hint at their BDSM kink while trying to win the affection of an officer of the law with their brags. They save their endearing hit song, “Toyin” for last though, highlighting the captivating power of the group’s bromance as they sing of their romantic escaped while emphasizing the warm rasp at the back of their throats. The album is a true collector’s item, blurring the lines between nostalgic escapism and dance floor appeal. With their ‘DRB 10’ reissue, soon enough, we could be talking about how DRB made classic project reissues a staple for the holiday season.

You can stream ‘DRB 10’ here.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/teezee_drb
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ICYMI: The ‘DRB 10’ anniversary concert is good to go

Lady Donli features Kida Kudz for new single, “Classic”

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Lady Donli channels her neo-soul sound for heartfelt confessionals, stuffing his verses with sticky romantic tales while checking lovers. Her latest single, “Classic”, is a reminder of how quick emotions can change when lovers fight. And with Kida Kudz contributing a verse swearing his undying lover, he adds some edge to her cutting words to past lovers; “I Think I’m Better Off Alone”.

In spite of all the bad blood, “Classic” is a swooning ballad, with a decidedly acoustic ambiance thanks to Toye Aru’s production and the bass and electric guitar harmonies contributed by Kingsley Okorie and Segun Adegbamigbe respectively. Perhaps influenced by Lady Donli’s recent focus on tours and concerts, “Classic” has a live music swing about it as her vocals rise to a tender falsetto and incorporates some Hausa words.

You can stream Lady Donli’s “Classic” featuring Kida Kudz below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/ladydonli
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ICYMI: Watch Lady Donli’s colorful music video for “Game”

Listen to “Hello Africa Riddim”, Sarz’s EDM remix to Dr Alban’s “Hello Africa”

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Afropop and EDM are complicated cousins. Both genres are dedicated to their dance club audiences, but lines are drawn over technicalities like how much vocals influence the melody and the impact of the base-drop. Sarz’s latest release, an EDM remix to Dr Alban’s “Hello Africa”, exists in the swirling intersection. “Hello Africa” was the title track from the Swedish Nigerian’s ‘Hello Afrika’ album debut released back in 1990. But Sarz has revived the track with oriental inspired vocal harmonies washed in the gloss of auto-tune to serve as part of the EDM beat he produced along with TMXO. “Hello Africa Riddim” also has vocal contributions from Flash who adds a romantic and youthful spin to the nostalgia inducing song that tributes Africa and the dance clubs.

You can stream Sarz’s “Hello Africa Riddim” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/only1sarz
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ICYMI: Watch the video for Wurld and Sarz’s “Trobul” here

Pop culture is a gift that keeps giving at the coming Polartics art exhibition

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Despite the agitation the world looks to be cursed with, culture remains the one constant. Documenting human culture through any lens or angle is important for the preservation of the history, but art is easily the most boujee way to go about it. Polartics are offering a chance to be part of the documenting of our culture with their exhibition lined up for the 21st of December at the 12 Glover road location in Ikoyi.

Polartic is an online art gallery that’s patently curating and exhibiting contemporary African art. Their launch event this Friday is an exhibition of the evolution of distinctly Nigerian icons and influences that shaped popular culture. Emerging artists like Joseph Obanubi, Wami Aluko, and Andikan will curate pop culture’s progression from their youthful POV and they’d like you to come be a part of that.

You can see the flier for the exhibition below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/
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ICYMI: Here’s everything you missed from last year’s ‘Art X exhibition’

Dénola Grey and Falana are hosting the Christmas edition of the Nok TNIF

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This Christmas season, Nok by Alara is offering a limited edition cocktail, curated by the stylish and fabulous duo of Dénola Grey and Falana. The Christmas themed cocktail is called “12 Cocktails of Christmas” but for more context, they shared a press release, where Dénola Grey and Falana offer some backstory to their taste selection and how Christmas influenced them.

Dénola Grey explained how his “intensely magical time” in Lagos in December inspired his “Hot December Romance” cocktail. And also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to curate contribute to merriness of Lagos’ nightlife saying, “Creating this menu with Nok was something I didn’t know my I needed until I started working on it. I’ve spent numerous good nights at Nok celebrating the music, style and flavours. Putting a bit of myself into that vibe has been pretty epic.” His cocktails were inspired by “Visualizing, in anticipation, the different tastes that each up-coming, event, gathering, date, meaningful connection and vibe would taste like this Christmas.” He is also responsible for the Steamy December Romance: (Mexican Hot Chocolate): Hot chocolate, cayenne pepper, coffee patron whipped cream and chocolate syrup garnish.

Falana also intimated us with her “Fa la la la la” cocktail, explaining that it is a combination of “Just some of (Her) favorite things for Christmas: White chocolate and Champagne”. She admits that it was created as a result of her love for chocolate and preference to go light with the booze at Christmas Parties. “You definitely cannot go wrong with a chilled glass of champagne with a sweet chocolaty twist.” After promising that the “12 Days of Christmas” limited edition cocktail has something for everyone, she wish everyone a merry Christmas.

After trying, testing and tweaking all 12 cocktails to their unique tastes, Falana and Dénola Grey also shared a 60-second video featuring a bartender called Awesome, as they thrill viewers to the wonders that Nok by Alara offers this festive season. The pair are also inviting everyone to the Christmas edition of the Nok TNIF at the Nok Garden the 21st of December.

Check out some of the images Bia took for Nok by Alara’s “12 Cocktails of Christmas”

 

 

You can see the flier for the event below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/bailikedubai
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ICYMI: Watch the video for “Ride or Die”, Falana’s first release in 4 years

Best New Music: Olamide’s “Poverty Die” confirms Baddo’s visual renaissance is afoot

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Olamide often gets a lot of flack for not being as insightful, deep or focused as he should be, and he should. An annual concert, several hits and yearly album drops, under a decade, since his career started, feels like a normal progression but Olamide’s god-status is also a product of a series of events beyond him. First came Da Grin’s untimely death leaving a vaccum at the top of Yoruba hip-hop. Then, the spread of open file transfer technology like Bluetooth and micro SD cards.

Olamide was one of the first few digital artists in the ears of the everyday Nigerian, and this feeds his eagle eye for what the public wants and vice versa. And naturally, in a country where the majority live in squalor amidst evident affluence, his catalog for the most part is filled with the exact kind of lightweight commentary people going through hardship can enjoy without thinking too much.

But man shall not live by club hits alone.

Thankfully, this year, the YBNL boss appears to finally be stepping onto that documentarian mantle, many older fans have long-dreamt he would claim. Starting with this year’s “Science Student” video making social commentary on drug abuse and his era-defining “Logba Logba” stamping his footprint his history.

“Poverty Die” continues his music video renaissance as his pseudo-spiritual lyrics are depicted in a captivating performance showing Olamide wearing a white garment with others in prayer before he is later shown in black with men in black clothes, using their laptops. Though some of the scenes Unlimited LA directs are inspired by videos like Kanye’s “Mercy” and Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble”, the message at the core of the video’s imagery shows the legitimate and illegitimate lengths Nigerian will go to avoid poverty. The video for “Poverty Die” may not have the same all-out dance performance that made “Wo” and the Shaku-Shaku dance it incited so riveting, but it captures a Nigerian sentiment that perhaps only the YBNL label head can express adequately.

You can watch the music video for Olamide’s “Poverty Die” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/OlamideVEVO
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ICYMI: Watch the video that started the Shaku-Shaku trend, “Wo”

Yomi Blaze and Picazzo are living the Nigerian dream in their new music videos, “Ika” and “Macaroni”

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The latest additions to Olamide’s YBNL label, Picazzo and Yomi Blaze, are the 21st-century Nigerian dream. Their rags-to-riches story is a product of living the creative life on social media, the answer to the question of how to be famous in the modern age. In less than 3 months, they have gone from unlikely internet sensations to superstars after sharing their “Able God” freestyle on Instagram and Twitter back. Twitter as they say ‘Did it’s a thing’ and connected them with their audience, which as it turns out is almost everyone in the western part of Nigeria.

A few days after going viral with their video clip, both artists were were signed to Olamide’s YBNL label. And just a couple weeks after that, featured on YBNL Mafia’s debut single, “Juju Guns and Rose” before going on to have their singles feature on the YBNL MaFia’s ‘YBNL MaFia Family’ album, released shortly after. But the dream doesn’t end there. Yomi Blaze and Picazzo have released his debut music videos, “Ika” and “Macaroni” respectively, giving a more graphic depiction of what the Nigerian dream is for young Nigerians.

Though both rappers were barely famous a few months ago, they’ve wasted no time being tame as their videos explore the limits of their outlandish imaginations. While Yomi Blaze takes the rough and edgy car drifting course with his “Ika” music video, Picazzo takes the bad boy rapper route, filling his video for “Macaroni” with sexy models, shaking everything.

Unlike Big Shaq and the recent “Different Ye” singer, Osh, Yomi Blaze and Picazzo aren’t taking the satirical direction that most internet sensations turn musicians go. Instead, they upped the ante with their edgy imagery matching the intensity they brought on their freestyles and subsequent songs released since. Yomi Blaze’s camouflage jacket help cast a menacing look on his rap competition while Picazzo Rhaps is seen in a fur coat that validates the pimp persona he portrays in his raps. Both artists have kicked off their rapper careers and now have music videos featuring Olamide to authenticates the persona they depict in their songs.

Watch the music video for Yomi Blaze’s “Ika” and Picazzo’s “Macaroni”.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Picazo Rhap
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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 the YBNL MaFia album, ‘YBNL MaFia Family’

Teni shares new single, “Christmas is Here”, a tribute to the festive season

Posted on by The Native

To celebrate the holidays, Teni is offering her fans a gift in the form of a new single titled “Christmas is Here”. Tis’ the season for giving after all and the song tributes to the merry sentiments that come along with the international holiday. Over a piano-led beat Jaysynths Beatz produces to mid-tempo guitar and drum riffs, Teni’s performance highlights all of the optimistic characteristic of Christmas; Happiness, family and Christianity.

Although the nearly 2-minute long song is brief and rendered in much warmer vocals than anything we’ve gotten from the singer till date, Teni didn’t metamorphize from being an Afropop party starter on “Askamaya” to become a sentimental ballad singer overnight. It’s no great detective work to hear the cheeky and romantic intentions expressed on her popular records where she also blends her Yoruba and English influences. Her unabashedly reveling in the glory of Christmas means the song will only be seasonal, but it’s sure to boast her visibility this festive season.

You can stream “Christmas is Here” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/tenientertainer
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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 music video for Teni’s “Askamaya” here

Listen to “Skin”, Minz debut single for 2018

Posted on by The Native

Since releasing his colourful music video for “Odoyewu” in February, Minz has taken a break from putting out music. But just before we draw the curtains on 2018, the singer just released “Skin”, his first single in 2018. And though the song’s romantic lyrics and dance-club intentions aren’t anything we haven’t heard from him before, he seems to have grown a calmer attitude since we last heard him.

The mid-tempo bounce of the atmospheric synth base beat he produces for “Skin” soaks up his sultry vocals as he performs his laid-back set. Singing a love interest’s praise while reprimanding her for “Let(ting) A man Do (Her) Phoney”, “Skin” finds Minz both charming and cutting.

You can stream Minz’s “Skin” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/minznse
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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: Minz’s “story” is everything you’ve heard lately but nothing you’ve ever known

On Sexual Assault and Rape, watch Udoka Oyeka’s “Las Gidi Vice”

Posted on by The Native

While we would all rather live in a world where rapists did not exist and violence was a myth, we aren’t exactly sympathetic to rapists getting what they deserve (which is the knife by the way). Udoka Oyeka comes through with this fantasy in his short film “Las Gidi Vice”. Centered around a rape survivor seeking revenge against her rapist, the eighteen-minute film takes a lens to millennial party culture and illicit drug use.

The short film is a welcome input into the ongoing conversation around sexual assault globally. While we continue to push for legislation that effectively punishes perpetrators and room for survivors to share their experiences without fear of being shamed and silenced, we can’t fault media sensitization like this one (we would however rather see more rapists incarcerated in these films than play to the fantasia of penile dismemberment)

Watch the Short film here

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

Celebrating the market march as a small win toward ending harrassment