Show Dem Camp share new project, ‘Palm Wine Music 2’

Posted on by The Native

Like all Show Dem Camp tapes, ‘Palm Wine Music 2’ was released with next-to-no promotion. Less than 24 hours after teasing the cover art and tracklist for the EP, the rap duo dropped the 10-track project as a sequel to their last project, Palm Wine Music Vol.1, released last year. The new joint enlists the usual Show Dem Camp collaborators like BOJ, LadiPoe, Ajebutter and some new features like Nonso Amadi, Burna Boy, Worlasi, Falana, Flash, Moelogo, Lady Donli and Tomi Agape.

Palm Wine Music 2 continues where the first volume left off with the smooth dance-ready beats, produced by Spax.

You can stream ‘Palm Wine Music 2’ below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/showdemcamp
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ICYMI: Check out all the essentials from Show Dem Camp’s ‘Palm Wine Music Vol.1’

If you are 20, Nigeria may still be world’s poverty capital when you are 50

Posted on by The Native

Nigeria is graded the 157th out of 157 countries in a new list of worldwide poverty ranking. This report is the most recent so far, published by Development Finance International (DFI) and Oxford Committee for Famine Relief (OxFam) dated October 2018. They have produced the first index to actually measure the commitment of governments to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor —as each country’s president promised that they will do in 2015.

Three years ago, precisely 25th September, 2015, when 193 countries adopted all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by the United Nations, President Muhammadu Buhari promised commitment to reduce the gap between the poor and rich, especially on the basis of goal 10; “reduced inequalities”.

In spite of that, Nigeria’s poverty crisis is worsening.

The new index developed by DFI and OxFam to measure each country’s commitment to reduce inequality covers 157 countries, which measures government action on social spending, tax and labour rights –three areas found to be very critical to reducing the gap.  The bottom 10 countries, stated in the report —from the 148th to 157th position— include: Bangladesh, Singapore, Lao PDR, Madagascar, Bhutan,  Sierra Leone, Chad, Haiti, Uzbekistan and Nigeria.

Over the past 30 years, many countries across the world, both rich and poor, have experienced rapid growth in the gap between the richest people in society and everyone else. But “Nigeria remains at the bottom of the Commitment to Reducing Inequality (CRI) index, failing the poorest people, despite its president claiming to care about inequality”, the report explicitly states. Since the turn of the century, “the poorest half of the world’s population have received just 1% of the total increase in global wealth, while the top 1% have received 50% of the increase”.

It also predicts that “a child born in Nigeria today will be 34% as productive when she grows up, [only] if she enjoyed complete education and full health” today. This prediction is based on five indicators: the chances that a child will live to age five, a healthy growth, the expected years of schooling, quality of learning that is available and the survival rate of adults in the country. For all of these, Nigeria ranks last. The country’s Human Capital Index (HCI) value of 0.34 (every country is scored from zero to one) is lower than the global average of 0.57.

The report also explains how inequality is bad for everyone, and that the consequences for the world’s poorest people are particularly severe.  It reduces economic growth, and worsens health and other outcomes; it “undermines the fight against gender inequality and threatens women’s rights and it compounds other inequalities such as those based on race, caste or ethnicity”, the report states. However, DFI and OxFam believe that the inequality crisis is avoidable and that governments have the power to act against it; “Inequality is a policy choice,” states the report.

The report’s index which studies 157 countries over the past 30 years demonstrates that reducing poverty is an area where successive governments in Nigeria has been lacking in for three decades, showing the sheer ineptitude of the leaders’ economic plan. This therefore necessitates the arrival of a more capable presidential team upon the 2019 elections.

From just 1990 to 2013 alone, Nigerians living in extreme poverty increased by 35 million. DFI and OxFam’s report manifestly demands that in another 30 years from now —2050— which is the average period, generally considered to measure ‘a generation’ (during which children are born,  grow up, become adults, and begin to have children of their own), Nigeria’s efforts at reducing poverty will have to effect urgent and long-term results, given the continuous increase in the country’s population.

You can take a look at the full report HERE.

Featured Image Credit: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

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Cholera outbreak reveals that over 35% of Nigeria’s population has no access to safe water

Olamide signs promising new rappers, Picazzo Rhap and Yomi Blaze to YBNL

Posted on by The Native

After going viral on social media with their “Able God” freestyles, Picazzo and Yomi Blaze had the collective attention of the whole country. It seemed only a matter of time before twitter, as they say, did its thing and connected them with the audience they needed to get their careers started.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo7jFyTB7QK/?taken-by=picazo_rhap

Over the years, Olamide has shown an exceptional knack for spotting budding talents and assisting to unlock their potential to become successful artists. Adekunle Gold and Lil Kesh are only two of the latest artists to become household names after signing to his YBNL label. And as it turns out, Olamide was impressed by Picazzo and Yomi Blaze’ rap performance, and couldn’t ignore the social media buzz both rappers had immersed.

Picazzo had first announced that Baddosneh followed him last month. And though we are yet to see any official document to confirm that he now has a record deal with YBNL, Picazo has taken to social media to announce that he has been signed. After announcing that “Industry Ti Gbalejo (The industry has a new guest)” on his Instagram, he later went on Twitter to thank Olamide for signing not just him, but his best friend, Yomi Blaze, as well.

https://twitter.com/RhapPicazo/status/1051778106384674817

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/picazo_rhap

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ICYMI: The death of labels and EME becoming a media company

See the full list of nominees for AMAA 2018

Posted on by The Native

On the 20th of October, this year’s AMAA Awards will hold at the Intare Conference Arena in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. African film stars such as Kate Henshaw, RMD and Vuyo Dabula will contest for this year’s Africa Movie Academy Awards. Nse Ikpe Etim and Arthur Nkusi have been announced the award ceremony’s hosts that will hold in Rwanda two Wednesdays from now. Although most international film award shows no longer distinguish Actors from Actresses, 2018’s AMAA still have separate awards for Best Actor and Best Actress.

You can see the full list of actors nominated for all the categories below.

AMAA 2018 Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Seun Ajayi – Ojukokoro

Lionel Newton – Pop Lock ‘N’ Roll

Akah Nani – Banana Island Ghost

Richard Lukunku – Lucky Specials

Gideon Okeke – Cross Roads

AMAA 2018- AYIAM OSIGWE FOUNDATION Award for Best Nigerian Film

Cross Roads

In My Country

Isoken

Hotel Called Memory

Ojukokoro

Lost Café

Icheke Oku

AMAA 2018 Award for Best Young/Promising Actor

Patrick Dibuah – Banana Island Ghost

Austin Enabulele – In My Country

Cindy Sanyu – Bella

Anine Lansari – The Blessed Vost (Les Bienheureux)

Maurice Paige – Pop Lock ‘N’ Roll

Nichole Ozioma Banna – Icheke Oku

Zainab Balogun – Sylva

TONY ELUMELU AMAA 2018 Award for Best Comedy

Sidechic Gang – Ghana

Banana Island Ghost – Nigeria

The Adventures Of Supermama – South Africa

Koko: The Box TV – Nigeria

AMAA 2018 Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role

Kate Henshaw- Roti

Reine Swart – Siembamba

Okawa Shaznay –In My Country

Dakore Egbuson – Isoken

Nana Ama McBrown, Lydia Forson and Sika Osei – Sidechic Gang

Mariam Phiri – The Road To Sunrise

Tunde Aladese – Lost Café

Joselyn Dumas – Potato Potahto

AMAA 2018 Award for the Best First Feature Film by a Director

My Mothers Story –Flora Suya- Malawi

Ogwuetiti Obiuto – Onyeka Nwelue – Nigeria

Five Fingers for Marseilles- Michael Mathews- South Africa

Isoken – Jadesola Osiberu- Nigeria

18 Hours – Njue Kevin – Kenya

Banana Island Ghost – BB Sasore- Nigeria

The Blessed Vost – Sefia Djama – Algeria

AMAA 2018 Award for Best Director

Jade Osiberu – Isoken

Michael Mathews- Five Fingers For Marseilles

Frank Rajah Arase – In My Country

Safia Djama- The Blessed Vost

Oluseyi Siwoku – Cross Roads

Shemu Joyah- Road to Sunshine

Darrell Roodt- Siembamba

Akin Omotosho- Hotel Called Memory

Peter Kofi Sedufia – Sidechic Gang

The Lost Café – Kenneth Gyang

AMAA 2018 Award for Best Film

Isoken – Nigeria

Five Fingers For Marseilles – South Africa

In My Country – Nigeria

The Blessed Vost- Algeria

Cross Roads – Nigeria

Road to Sunshine – Malawi

Siembamba – South Africa

Hotel Called Memory – Nigeria

Sidechic Gang – Ghana

Lost Café – Kenneth Gyang

AMAA 2018 Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Sika Osei – In Line

Sivenathi Mabuya – Lucky Specials

Rahama Sadau – Hakkunde

Toyin Abraham- Esohe

Joke Silva – Potato Potahto

AMAA 2018 Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role

Vuyo Dabula – Five Fingers For Marseille

Richard Mofe Damijo – Cross Roads

Sam Dede – In My Country

Sani Bouajla – The Blessed Vost

OC Ukeje – Potato Potahto

Chris Attoh – Esohe

Oros Mampofu – Lucky Specials

Frank Donga – Hakkunde

MICHAEL ANYIAM OSIGWE AMAA 2018 Award for Best Film by an African living abroad

Minister – Nigeria/Italy

Alexandra – Nigeria/USA

Low Lifes And High Hopes – Nigeria/Austria

AMAA 2018 Award for Best Diaspora Short

Torments of Love (Guadeloupe)

Baby Steps (USA)

Intercept (USA)

AMAA 2018 Award for Best Diaspora Documentary

Evolutionary Blues (USA)

Barrows: Freedom Fighter (Barbados)

Sammy Davis Jr. – I’ve Got To Be Me (USA)

EFERE OZAKO AMAA 2018 award for Best Short Film

Dem Dem – Senegal/Belgium
Zenith – Cameroun/USA
It Rains on Ouga – Burkina Faso
In Shadows – Kenya
Coat of Harm – Nigeria
Tikitat Soulima – Morocco
Nice, Very Nice – Algeria
Visions (Shaitan, Buruja, Brood) – Nigeria
Fallou – Senegal
Still Water Runs Deep – Nigeria/USA

AMAA 2018 Award for Best Animation

Group Photo – Nigeria
Belly Flop – South Africa
Untitled – Ghana
Crush – Nigeria

AMAA 2018 Award for Best Documentary

Bigger Than Africa – Nigeria/USA
Winnie – South Africa
Boxing Libreville – Gabon
Silas – South Africa/Kenya
When Babies Don’t Come – South Africa
Uncertain Future – Burundi
We Came In Sprint Carts – South Africa

OUSMANE SEMBENE AMAA 2018 Award for Best Film in an African Language

Mansoor – Nigeria
Five Fingers For Marseilles – South Africa
Icheke Oku – Nigeria
Agwaetiti Obiuto – Nigeria
Nyasaland – Malawi
Tunu – Tanzania

AMAA 2018 Award for Best Diaspora Narrative Feature

Angelica (Puerto Rico)

Love Jacked (Canada)

Charlie: La Vie Magnifique Charlie (USA)

AMAA 2018 Award for Achievement in Production Design

Kada River

Five Fingers For Marseille

Tatu

In My Country

Cross Roads

AMAA 2018 Achievement in Costume Design

Icheke Oku

Cross Roads

Esohe

Five Fingers For Marseille

Isoken

AMAA 2018 Award for Achievement in Make-up

Siembamba

Icheke Oku

Five Fingers For Marseille

Esohe

The Road To Sunshine

AMAA 2018 Award for Achievement in Soundtrack

The Road To Sunshine

Tatu

Hotel Called Memory

Isoken

Siembamba

AMAA 2018 Award for Achievement in Visual Effect

Siembamba

Icheke Oku

Lucky Specials

Esohe

Kada River

AMAA 2018 Award for Achievement in Sound

The Lost Café

The Road To Sunshine

Hotel Called Memory

Pop Lock ‘N’ Roll

Sidechic Gang

AMAA 2018 Award for Achievement in Cinematography

The Road To Sunshine

Five Fingers For Marseille

The Lost Café

The Blessed Vost (Les Bienheureux)

Siembamba

AMAA 2018 Award for Achievement in Editing

Hotel Called Memory

Pop Lock ‘N’ Roll

Lucky Specials

The Blessed Vost (Les Bienheureux)

Siembamba

AMAA 2018 Award for Achievement in Screenplay

The Women

Potato Potahto

Ojukokoro

Five Fingers For Marseille

Hakkunde

The Lost Café

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/filmingafrica

Why Kanye West and his family landed in Uganda earlier this week

Posted on by The Native

To use the word embattled in describing the mess Kanye West left in America earlier this week would be to assume the whole world isn’t already used to the rapper’s tendency for controversy. In fact, the rapper’s most recent incursion began less sinisterly, with the deletion of his social media profiles.

Two horrendous Kanye West-related headlines have since been flying around: the first about his awkward oval office meeting with Donald Trump, the second, about his involvement in the Pusha Vs Drake beef. Neither of them has been kindly received online. Perhaps to avoid the media storm that would surely trail him and his uber-famous family throughout the weekend, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian and their daughter North have been spotted in a TMZ video from Uganda’s Chobe Safari Lodge, Lolim.

Kanye would reportedly be staying at the Chobe Safari Lodge for 10 days and Big Sean is also rumoured to have joined the Wests on their trip. The rapper had previously announced a trip to Africa as his next move to work on his upcoming album YANDHI, and according to Ugandan news website, Matooke Republic, Kanye has already contracted Ugandan production house and record label, Swangz Avenue, to work with him.

Swangz Avenue was founded by singer and producer Benon Mugumya, it is largely regarded as one of the most successful labels in Uganda. The entertainment company recently hosted the ‘Swangz All-Star Concert’ to celebrate its 10-year run in the Ugandan music industry. ‘Swangz All-Star Concert thrilled the crowd at the Cricket Oval, Lugogo with performances from Navio, Maddox, Vinka and a couple other popular Ugandan artists who opened for headlining act, Tarrus Riley. There will be more details from Swangz Avenue’s work with Kanye West coming up, in the meantime, here is a video of Kanye Listening to Burna Boy’s “YE” in Uganda

DJ Babus features Maka for new single, “With You”

Posted on by The Native

After impressing on her recently released CTRL+M project, a 5-track deep dive into the intricacies of romance, MAKA finds the warm and gooey center of relationships on DJ Babus’ “With You”. Over a bed of head-snap drums, twinkling casios, and the blunted bass of the house beat DJ Babus produces, MAKA delivers an impossibly sweet, plainspoken song that compares falling in love to getting in trouble with childlike innocence.

With the lush, and unassuming pop beat, catchy chorus and MAKA’s preppy ballad, “There Ain’t Nothing I Can’t Do/ I Wanna Be Starting Something With You”, there’s no shortage of joyful moments on “With You”. All the nostalgic 90s R&B boxes the single checks while still sounding fresh in 2018, makes it so pleasing to the ear.

You can stream DJ Babus and MAKA’s “With You” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/theofficialmaka
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ICYMI: Check out all the essentials from MAKA’s ‘CTRL+M’ EP

A-Q releases cinematic music video for his “The PVC Story”: Watch

Posted on by The Native

Just weeks after releasing Crown, his joint project with Loose Kaynon, A-Q is going back to his solo catalog with the release of the music video for his previously released “The PVC Story”. Most rappers take front and center in their music videos, especially on introspective songs delivered in first person narrative, but the short film 19-year-old film maker, Nora Awolowo, directs for “The PVC Story” casts actors to mime to A-Q’s lyrics.

While A-Q narrates his vividly rich tale, talking about socio-political issues like terrible government policies, political apathy, depression, drug abuse, rape, political injustice and Nigeria’s security issues, the video depicts his story with rising actors, Abdul Tijani-Ahmed, Mimi Ula and rapper, Wave tha Kid. A-Q’s absence from the video makes the story even more gripping.

You can watch the video for “The PVC Story” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/ThisisAQ
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ICYMI: Check out all the essentials from Loose Kaynon and A-Q’s joint project, ‘Crown’

See the full list of winners at the 2018 American Music Awards (AMA)

Posted on by The Native

Despite all the hype about Drake’s streaming numbers and his tie with Cardi B for most AMA nominations, he won no awards at this year’s AMA. Taylor Swift however, managed to take home three awards, including the biggest honour of the night, “Artist of the year”. The three awards make her the most decorated musician ever in AMA history after making her debut at the award show three years ago . This year, Taylor Swift, Cardi B, Post Malone, Camila Cabello were among the artists that performed while Tracee Ellis Ross hosted the show which aired Tuesday on ABC from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

You can see the full list of winners at the 2018 AMAs below.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Taylor Swift
Imagine Dragons
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran
Drake

FAVORITE NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR 
WINNER: Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Khalid
Dua Lipa
XXXTentacion

FAVORITE COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR 
WINNER: “Havanna,” Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug
“Finesse,” Bruno Mars & Cardi B
“Rockstar,” Post Malone ft. 21 Savage
“Meant to Be,” Beba Rhexha and Florida Georgia Line
“The Middle,” Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST, POP/ROCK 
Winner: Taylor Swift
Cardi B
Camilla Cabello

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST, POP/ROCK 
WINNER: Post Malone
Drake
Ed Sheeran

FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP, POP/ROCK 
WINNER: Migos
Maroon 5
Imagine Dragons

FAVORITE SONG, POP/ROCK
WINNER: “Havanna,” Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug
“God’s Plan,” by Drake
“Perfect,” by Ed Sheeran

FAVORITE ALBUM, POP/ROCK 
WINNER: Reputation, Taylor Swift
÷, Ed Sheeran
Scorpion, Drake

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST, COUNTRY 
WINNER: Kane Brown
Luke Bryan
Thomas Rhett

FAVORITE ALBUM, COUNTRY 
WINNER: Kane Brown, Kane Brown
This Ones’s for You, Luke Combs
Life Changes, Thomas Rhett

FAVORITE SONG, COUNTRY 
WINNER: “Heaven,” Kane Brown
“Tequila,” Dan + Shay
“Meant to Be,” Beba Rhexha and Florida Georgia Line

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST, COUNTRY 
WINNER: Carrie Underwood
Maren Morris
Kelsea Ballerini

FAVORITE DUO/GROUP, COUNTRY 
WINNER: Florida Georgia Line
Dan + Shay
Lanco

FAVORITE ARTIST, RAP/HIP-HOP 
WINNER: Cardi B
Drake
Post Malone

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST, SOUL/R&B 
WINNER: Khalid
Bruno Mars
The Weeknd

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST, SOUL/R&B 
WINNER: Rihanna
Ella Mai
SZA

FAVORITE SONG, SOUL/R&B 
WINNER: “Finesse,” Bruno Mars & Cardi B
“Boo’d Up,” Ella Mai
“Young, Dumb, and Broke,” Khalid

FAVORITE ALBUM, RAP/HIP-HOP 
WINNER: Beerbongs & Bentleys, Post Malone
Luv Is Rage 2, Lil Uzi Vert
Scorpion, Drake

FAVORITE SONG, RAP/HIP-HOP 
WINNER: “Bodak Yellow,” Cardi B
“God’s Plan,” Drake
“Rockstar,” Post Malone ft. 21 Savage

FAVORITE ALBUM, SOUL/R&B
WINNER: 17, XXXTentacion
CTRL, SZA,
American Teen, Khalid

FAVORITE ARTIST, ADULT CONTEMPORARY 
WINNER: Shawn Mendes
Pink
Ed Sheeran

FAVORITE ARTIST, ALTERNATIVE ROCK 
WINNER: Panic at the Disco
Imagine Dragons
Portugal. the Man

FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK 
WINNER: Black- Panther
The Greatest Showman
The Fate of the Furious

FAVORITE ARTIST, LATIN 
WINNER: Daddy Yankee
J Balvin
Ozuna

FAVORITE ARTIST, CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL 
WINNER: Lauren Daigle
Mercyme
Zach Williams

FAVORITE ARTIST, ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC 
WINNER: Marshmello-
The Chainsmokers
Zedd

FAVORITE SOCIAL ARTIST 
WINNER: BTS
Cardi B
Ariana Grande
Demi Lovato
Shawn Mendes

FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO 
WINNER: “Havanna,” Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug
“Bodak Yellow (Money Moves),” Cardi B
“God’s Plan,” Drake

FAVORITE TOUR OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Taylor Swift
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran
Beyoncé and JAY-Z
U2

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/amas
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ICYMI: Beyonce’s Coachella performance is not as unattainable as African performances will have you believe

Runtown hints at project and possible production and writing credit for Rihanna’s #R9

Posted on by The Native

Runtown has kept a relatively low profile since he released the music video for “Unleash”, his debut since he lunched his Sun God Music Group music company and severed ties with former label, Eric Many. However, in case you missed it in August, the singer was on “No Ketchup” podcast with Joey Akan, breaking down his next big moves and the global range of his music.

While dropping hints that his coming mixtape will be called ‘Afrobeats and Stadium’, he talked about his work with international stars and his visit to A$AP Rocky’s house. “I’m about the music and my legacy, that’s the primary focus”, Runtown explains that he’s not the type to take pictures for the gram. Then he slips into the conversation that he has been working on writing and producing for Rihanna’s forthcoming Afrobeats, pop and reggae project, ‘#R9’.

Read an excerpt from the podcast below.

“Rihanna works so hard. A night in LA may have about 20 studios with Rihanna session going on because she’s trying to fuse Afrobeats, pop and reggae which was quite obvious from the Work era.”

Listen to the episode of No Ketchup Podcast , here.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/@runtown

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ICYMI, Read: What to expect from Runtown’s upcoming project

Barry Jhay gets cocky on new single, “Don Pablo”

Posted on by The Native

If this is your first contact with Barry Jhay, you may want to take a seat. Barry Jhay’s debut single “Aiye” has been shuffled on the streets of Lagos as many times as any song you’ve heard lately. His relation to late Fuji legend, Sikiri Ayinde Barrister might be your first hint to why he’s so popular, but once you’ve heard his impassioned and soulful performance on the inspirational ode to surviving through hardship, you’d be forced to acknowledge he has earned the fanfare. His latest single, “Don Pablo” finds him embracing the luxurious life, flexing not one but 6 gold chains, while relishing in the reward of his grind.

Although his mix of pidgin English and Yoruba vocals over the mid-tempo beat Drey Beatz produces often listens like a prayer, “I Want To Make Way Pass Dangote. Dangote Ke, Esoro Don Pablo, Ke Soro Owo”, you get the sense that even if his broadcast of wealth makes anyone feel some type of way, so be it. The sentiment is refreshingly enough, and his cheer is way more infectious for it.

You can stream Barry Jhay’s “Don Pablo” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/therealbarryjhay
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ICYMI: See the music video for “Aiye”, Barry Jhay’s debut

Quavo Huncho is out: Listen to Davido’s verse on “Swing” featuring Normani

Posted on by The Native

Migos’s Quavo released his debut solo record today, Quavo Huncho. On a record that captures Malcolm X’ voice from back in time, to Madonna, Travis Scott, and Drake’s voices, “Swing” is a rare moment that fuses the sounds and energies of trap, R&B and afropop into an electrifying whole. Quavo achieves this by teaming up with fifth harmony’s Normani and Afropop icon, Davido who delivers a brief verse with delightful tongue-in-cheek humour.

It’s not really a story of serendipity how the two came to be on the same track; upon Quavo’s visit to Lagos to perform at the Beat FM christmas show in 2016, he appeared to be the most enthusiastic about the reception that the three Migos got from “Africa” during his talk with FADER’s Naomi Zeichner the month after. “They showed us so much love, it felt like we were still in the States. They know music, they know our songs, and they’re hip to what’s going on”, Quavo said. This undoubtedly planted seeds for the development of future tracks and collaborations with artists/producers from the continent. Davido seems to have been the seed that yielded sweet fruition.

The song has been anticipated for a while now, through Quavo’s release of a rough track list last week, and his tantalising one-word-interaction with Davido in the comment section of their Twitter and Instagram accounts. “Swing” is a beautiful testament to the primal pleasure of music, through three artists different styles on one love-themed song. It combines the languages of pop music from different continents to inscribe the feeling of something different.

Listen to Quavo’s, 17th track on Quavo Huncho, “Swing” featuring Davido and Normani below.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@davidoofficial
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ICYMI: Read about when Quavo hinted at the Davido feature here.

You can now stream all new tracks from Odunsi’s debut album ‘rare’

Posted on by The Native

The roll-out for Odunsi’s new album ‘rare.’ has been so meticulous. Fans have been curious about the singer’s moves since the blue album art with the lone word ‘rare’ first went viral. The anticipation only peaked even further when a disco-themed trailer officially announcing the project along with featured acts dropped last month. Silently, the whole music industry has been at the edge of its seats for what to expect from Odunsi who is now one of Nigeria’s most promising artists.

Thankfully, signs the long wait for a debut was coming to a close came earlier last week, when Ghanian fans were hosted to a listening party in Accra. Odunsi has since hosted a few fans to an early disco bus listening in Lagos, and last night, he had an intimate evening with a few friends to enjoy the album once more at Whitespace Gallery.

For everyone else who has been a part of the long wait for the project to drop, all you need to know is that the project wraps up under 40 minutes and boasts of guest appearances from Davido, RunTown, Nasty C, Tay Iwar and others. You can you now stream the 14 track project on Apple music here:

Spotify’s Afro Hub promises good things for African pop culture

Posted on by The Native

Leading music giant Spotify, recently announced the launch of the Afro Hub, a part of its Global Cultures initiative. Spotify’s Global Cultures initiative has seen the launch of it’s Latin and Desi music hubs, Afro Hub is the latest development in the same line of Spotify-based music hubs dedicated to exploring culturally diverse music from around the world.

Led by Tunde Ogundipe, the new head of African music and Cultures at Spotify, Afro Hub will curate a wide range of music from within Africa and it’s culturally adjacent diaspora. The new hub comes with the on-going growth of African music globally and the pop-culture explosion that has followed since.

Spotify’s new Afro Hub features already popular playlists like African Heat, as well as new titles like “Peppeh”, a collection of ‘early bets’, “Goldmine” for classic tracks and a couple of other newly curated selections. Afro Hub will also be the place to find curated playlists by Wizkid, Major Lazer, Burna Boy, DJ Maphorisa and Bas amongst others. The hub also features podcasts hosted by creatives including “Jesus & Jollof” with Nigerian-born novelist, Luvvie Ajayi, and Insecure star, Yvonne Orji.

Despite low internet penetration across the continent, music streaming services like Apple and Deezer first tapped into Africa’s growing music scene back in 2012. Last month, Tidal officially kicked off operations in Uganda, through a partnership with MTN. Spotify only recently launched operations in South Africa but the streaming giant has big plans to create a digital archive and resource for African music. According to a press release from Spotify: “It’s our mission to uncover every layer of this ancient, expressive and rhythmic musical culture which is an important component of today’s mainstream, modern music. Comprised of a variety of different styles, African music has influenced genres in the U.S. and abroad for centuries”

You can visit Spotify’s Afro Hub here

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

Watch Major Lazer’s ghanaian-shot video for “Tied Up” featuring Mr Eazi and Raye

Toyé has a new single, “Attitude”: Listen

Posted on by The Native

Even though a repetition of love narratives have been an intricate part of the longevity of Afropop, new artists who come into the scene bring new things to the table for sure: a new voice, personality and effervescent vibe. This is exactly what it feels like to listen to Toyé’s new single “Attitude”.

The Atlanta-based Nigerian singer-songwriter stirs in a few overtly popular Afropop gestures here, as he weaves a narrative of girl that he’s very much interested in. Although his song “Shayo”, released 8 months ago, takes a higher bar, “Attitude” is still absolutely worth an addition to your playlist. The bright drum kicks and light synths you’ll hear on the track are produced by Ace Harris—who has production credits on Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter V, and produced 3 songs on Lecrae’s Rehab, an album which was Grammy nominated for Best Gospel Album 8 years ago—and underground Atlanta producer, DJ Tag.

Listen to Toyé’s “Attitude” below.

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Darkovibes is living in the moment on “Stay Woke”

Mr Eazi Shares Track list for second project, ‘Lagos to London’

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Mr Eazi shared a rough sketch of his Lagos to London track list via Instagram. See below.

Since his entry into the mainstream music industry, Mr Eazi has evidently shown that he is a business man who understands what it means to have a blueprint and solid strategy. Life is Eazi Volume 1: Accra to Lagos was the engine that fully skyrocketed Mr Eazi towards the fame he enjoys today, from sold out shows in the Uk, to bagging record deals with top labels like Columbia Records UK and Universal Music for the second volume.

By dint of the project’s volume title, Mr Eazi established last year that his works will be a consecutive serial work. It’s been just about a year since Accra to Lagos was released and he has been teasing the second volume, Life is Eazi: Lagos to London for the most part of this quarter, even announcing a release that was only left to the grace of God —23rd May 2018.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BouVrXiH-hP/?taken-by=mreazi

A new release date has not been announced. The project will feature thirteen tracks, divided into two parts, ‘Lagos’ and ‘London’—just as he did with his Accra to Lagos mixtape. For his projects (including the upcoming one), Mr Eazi acts as a tour guide —as you’ll see in the promotional cover arts— creating and curating the sounds and energies of two zestful cities into an electrifying whole, rooted in traditional and contemporary society. Diplo Worldwide and Distruction Boyz will feature on the project. Already released tracks like “Property” and “Keys to the City (Ogede)” are also part of the project.

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

Mr Eazi’s video for “Keys to the City (Ogede)”, A Metaphor for Nigeria’s politics

Watch L.A.X get married in his video for “Panana”

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In the lead up to L.A.X’ first album Rasaking, which is set for an October 26th release date, L.A.X releases a follow up video to his love-themed song “Panana“. The video directed by Kurleva Production, is set using the typical girl meets boy, boy marries girl romance plot.

In three minutes approx, we are shown a short narrative between L.A.X and his lover: from meeting at a party where he serenades her with the song’s verse, to courting and eventually getting married —with Bollylomo as the officiating reverend— in the presence of friends and family. The video transitions accordingly through a single door, into different scenes.

This is L.A.X’ visually digestible way of saying this should definitely be atop your wedding playlists, in the same way many other Afropop songs have long been crowned fitting tracks for marital bliss.

Check out L.A.X video for “Panana” below, and anticipate his debut album.

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

ICYMI: Watch the L.A.X and Wizkid in their video for “Nobody”

Watch Burna Boy drop a new freestyle on “Behind Barz”

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While on tour in the UK, Burna Boy has been keeping the timeline busy, sharing new material for fans across the world. Just days after releasing the music video for “Gbona”, Burna Boy is back in the booth to drop a “Behind Barz” freestyle for London’s Link Up TV. The 4-minute long video shows Burna Boy walking up to the mic, putting on a pair of headphones while a soulful piano led beat plays. He goes on to sing “I Don’t Remember the Last Time that I Was Sober/ That Works for Me/ Bitch I Don’t Work For Nobody, I Work For Me” in his baritone voice, with a laid back flow that backs up his claims of being ‘high’. Though he switches flow severally on the beat, his melody stays unflustered till the beat sleeks into J Cole’s “Album of the Year Freestyle” and forces out the patios side of Burna.

You can watch the video for Burna Boy’s “Behind Barz” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Link Up TV
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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 delightful music video for Burna Boy’s “Gbona” here

Essentials: LADIPOE’s ‘T.A.P (Talk About Poe)’

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Poe’s cutting wordplay, dynamic story telling, unflinching flow and open-eared production choices have carried him across a tremendous run and earned him the support of a chunk of Nigeria’s hip-hop community before even releasing a project. He built his reputation as one of the best emcees by delivering killer verses on features, and releasing a handful of singles to appease his fans who chalked up the rapper’s aversion to releasing a body of work to his reclusive persona. Some predicted that this would change after he signed to a major label like Mavins; it still took nearly 2 years till he eventually released his debut project, T.A.P (Talk About Poe).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BojArR4hpwG/?hl=en&taken-by=ladipoe

From the art direction of T.A.P’s cover art, Poe seems ready to finally step out from behind the curtains and address questions fans and critics have had for him over the years. The result is a candid 10-track mixtape with a meticulously detailed narration of the complexity of his life, as a curious person, a lover and a rapper. The album opens with a voice recording of relatives wishing Poe a happy birthday on the “Intro” track. This warm and friendly greeting, playing as though listeners are listening from the inside of Poe’s head, sets up the project’s introspective direction with brutally honest lyrics from Poe.

The second track, “Voice”, features Efya on the hook. Her airy vocals, soaring to match the pace of the atmospheric guitar led beat quickly fades into the background as Poe opens the project’s rap bar log, boasting, “I Hear Voice and Things of That Nature/That’s Not Unlike a Prophet Receiving Divine Favor/ Except Like That Prophet In Isaiah/ I Struggle to Wear The Crown I’m in Need Of a Size Greater”. Over the soulful beat produced by Ikon, he reflects on his decision to follow the career path to be a rapper, despite having an MBA, admitting that he’s in it for the profit.

Poe continues to brag about his accomplishments and rap skills, later moderating it through SDC’s ghost on the next track, “Double Homicide”. Bragging, “Yeah I Personify Eating Rappers all the Time” on a track that features one of the the most acclaimed rappers in Nigeria, isn’t a throw of jab, but a flex that shows Poe is unafraid of any competition. Other guest appearances on the remaining tracks only serve as a background piece, while Poe hugs all the attention. On the Seyi Shay assisted “Red Light”, she plays the role of the song’s horny fan subject, singing “Don’t Want to Wait For the Right Time/ I Want All on the First Night” while Poe prepares to take advantage of the situation; “Baby, What You Say?”

His romantic sentiments continues on “One Step Closer” featuring Funbi over a laid back beat produced with synths, tubular bell samples, percussion, clap samples, mid-tempo drums and sultry horn harmony courtesy of Spax. The track highlights the rapper’s affinity for heady, atmospheric production and cerebral yet easily graspable rhymes as he speaks about his weak spot for an ex he knows is bad for him.

But it is on the next track, “Falling” featuring Tems, that Poe really cuts into his vulnerability, admitting his anxieties while questioning his need to take a leap of faith with the relationship, “Baby If I Slip, Would You Save Me When I’m Falling?” Later on, on “Hello Goodbye”, he explains that he hates goodbyes and even when the relationship ends, “You Can’t Forget This Love”.

“Mood” is a standout track for the project’s introspection, as Poe reflects on his fears as a rapper and the anxiety and challenges he has been through in life, as a result. Over the slow winding beat Bankyondbeatz produces, he touches on a number of topics from his desire to prove he’s the best rapper, to ghosting texts from those who care about him and feeling alone in his mind. The track paints a vivid picture of the existential debates that go in Poe’s mind as he asks “What Would Afrobeats Sound Like If You Couldn’t Say Whine?”

“Win Win”, Poe experiments with a trap flow. Inspired by the hard hitting base produced by Otee Beatz, he delivers rap bars, living life on the edge and showing his hunger to be a successful artist. Although he raps that “Life ain’t Easy But Still We All Want Shout Zaga Dat”, he still holds on to dreams of becoming big enough to sign Davido.

The project closes with “Revival”, an ego trip where he shows off  his pen game while attacking competition; “The Last of a Dying Breed Man and The Rest Don’t Deserve Any Crowns”. It might be a reach to assume the shot was directed at Chocolate City’s 100 Crowns publishing label, but it is hard to argue against the very specific namedrop for Crown the recently released joint project from AQ and Loose Kaynon. Either way, this album is sure to have people talking about Poe.

You can stream Poe’s T.A.P below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/ladipoe
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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 all the Essentials from AQ and Loose Kaynon’s joint project, ‘Crown’

Essentials: Maka’s ‘CTRL+M’ inspired by SZA’s ‘CTRL’

Posted on by The Native

Upon release last week, Maka made it clear that although her new project, CTRL+M, was inspired by SZA’s debut R&B album, CTRL, it should not be mistaken for a cover. In other words, CTRL+M is sonically identical to SZA’s CTRL as regards instrumentals, themes, concept, genre and a few cadences, but ultimately, the project’s genuineness lies in how Maka invents her own words for all five of the tracks. Nonetheless, Maka’s “Go Baby”, “Hula Hooping”, “Bad Enough” and “No Be Me” take cues from SZA’s “Go Gina”, “Love Galore”, “Drew Barrymore” and “Normal Girl” accordingly.

Over an acoustic guitar riff on CTRL+M’s opening track, “Love and Games”, Maka sets the tone: “It’s all fun till someone gets hurt, it’s all a game and it’s all love”, establishing that her’s is also a personal lens on present-day romance. The heartbreaking sentiment on the first track bleeds through the rest of the short project, telling one wholesome story when you listen attentively. And just like the title of the first track, the four tracks that come after are drenched in ‘love’ and relationship ‘games’.

Maka’s story on CTRL+M is an aide-memoire telling us that when we romantically love or date a person, we simultaneously accept the probability of a sour end. Her words on “Go Baby”, “I know that relationships will sometimes be unhealthy but I become distracted when you touch my body” is a stinging reminder about moments energised by sheer desire and lust, but not love. As her voice drones from “Go Baby” into the next track “Hula Hooping”, her words, “I’m stuck in the way I’m addicted”, rings with a tone of sadness as she accepts the fate of a tragic end all because of sexual satisfaction.

But while still having her hunger for intimacy, she demands to be taken seriously on “Hula Hooping” featuring an able Alpha. Singing, “don’t treat me like a fool though, I hate competition, no, nooo, I’m not doing this”, Maka realises the need to quit while tuning out a love interest who is someone else’s love interest too. Alpha quickly delivers an easily digestible candid verse, weaving witty remarks that allude to having sex with a side chick on Lagos’ third mainland bridge —illustrating just how dangerous it is to be unfaithful to one’s own girlfriend. The project ends with “Bad Enough”, where Maka speaks of insecurities while still clamouring for a foregone love, and “No Be Me”, where she finally lets go; “I think you fell in love with a girl who don’t exist, no be meee…I do not want to trap you, so maybe we could forget it”.

JustAccoustics and BigFootinYourFace are credited as producers on almost every track —asides “Go Baby”, which is co-produced by Whonickt.

The Nigerian soul singer, Maka, is at her sharpest when she does live performances and acoustics —as she has displayed on this work too. CTRL+M‘s instrumentation is gentle with few bursts of synths; smooth and simple across all tracks. Like the keyboard shortcut, she CTRL + M’s all of SZA’s greatness into a mini project that prompts a similar but different experience.

All five songs are as much a typical archetype as they are modern cautionary tales.

Listen to Maka’s CTRL+M below.


Featured Image Credit: theofficialmaka
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Fisayo is a journalist in search of words. Tweet at her @fisvyo

ICYMI: Muna makes a long awaited comeback on Maka’s paper anthem “I Just Got A Cheque”

M.anifest features Olamide for new single, “Fine Fine”

Posted on by The Native

Like all great rappers do, M.anifest walks the line between hero and villain, and the divide is defined by a listener’s willingness to buy his inspiring story. On “Fine Fine”, he employs Olamide’s street fueled vocals to drive home his cock sure rap bars over the bouncy hip-hop beat Kuvie produces. On one end, his boastful bars, asking who cares about rapping may be a tough pill for any hip-hop fan to swallow, but it gets across M.anifest’s ethos for pushing the bar beyond the conventional expectations.

He admits that “Boys Dey Grow/ Doing Biz Be The Action” and tells a tale of how he had to make his girlfriend his ex, allowing it to serve as an analogy for another tale. While M.anifest’s storytelling is outstanding, it’s Olamide’s catchy hook, rendered in a mix of Pidgin English and Yoruba that’s sure to get heads bumping as he lifts the mood of the track, emphasizing the flex of the collaboration between two of the biggest acts on the continent, “From UK Down To Naija and Ghana/ Omo No Clause But Na We Be Santana”.

You can stream M.anifest and Olamide’s “Fine Fine” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/manifestive
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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 M.anifest’s tribute video for Ghanaian boxing legend, “Azumah Nelson Flow”

Sarkodie just dropped a Shatta Wale Diss Track and the internet is losing it

Posted on by The Native

After a series of verbal attacks from Shatta Wale, SARK records boss, Sarkodie has released a diss track and video laying some strong words for Shatta. If you haven’t been following the drama between these two heavyweights, Shatta repeatedly publicly aired a series of grievances against Sarkodie. According to Shatta, the rapper refused to appear in the video for “Megye Wo girl” their collaboration together, he also accused Sarkodie of hob-nobbing with “wicked politicians” despite seemingly appearing to be a conscious voice against injustice.

Earlier today, Sarkodie released “My Advice”, an apparent diss to Shatta Wale rapped over the instrumentals from Joey B’s recently released “Stables”. In barely over three-minutes, Sarkodie dissected the other rapper’s career, giving Shatta for making it from nothing, but firing back with quips about not being the man to be messed with. See Sarkodie diss Shatta Wale while sipping wine in the video below:

Twitter has been also been alight with fans wading into the beef since the freestyle dropped earlier today. Here are some reactions below.

https://twitter.com/cole_xy/status/1050023081073348609

https://twitter.com/ShaggyKobby/status/1050033144299044864

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

The NATIVE Exclusive: Adekunle Gold talks everything “About 30”