Essentials: ‘Foreign Ororo’ by Riton and Kah-Lo

Posted on by The Native

For many people, the electric duo of Riton and Kahlo first struck a chord after the UK producer and Nigerian singer’s “Rinse and Repeat” got nominated for the Grammys in 2017. Though they didn’t win the award, they’ve continued to win the hearts of music lovers with subsequent releases like “Up and Down”, “Fake ID”, “Ginger”, “Fasta” and Afropop fueled, “Money” featuring Mr Eazi and Davido. The techno house duo now has a debut project titled, ‘Foreign Ororo’. The 14-track offering highlights all the versatility and nuisances that make their songs so accomplished on dancefloors around the world.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlbwkQ-hBxf/

‘Foreign Ororo’ opens with “Rinse and Repeat”, as if to make the salient point that it’s impossible to break the repeat button of the catchy club driven hit single. After running through the previously released first 5 tracks, the 6th track, “Catching Feelings” explores the warmth romantic themed dance music inspires. Riton is credited as a featured artist on this one as he joins Kah-Lo to sing of the blissful lightweight feeling of being in love. “Charged Up Gyal” features Boy Matthews for a track that tests the outer limits of techno, using auto-tune filters and ambient synthesizers as if to simulate the buzz of getting lit at a party as Kah-Lo sings, “Ion Wanna Get Messy But I Can’t Help Myself”.

“Roll (Top Mid Bass)”, the 10th track opens with a rap verse, Kah-Lo keeps pace with a rap verse of her own, saying “I’m in the dance with Charley/ I’m in the dance getting party with your man and thing”,  sticking to the club setting she remained in through the most part of the album. Thing got a tad bit more serious on Mr Eazi assisted “Immigration”, giving some social commentary on the life of an illegal immigrant. But the mellow lightweight sense never leaves as it is delivered in a fun manner that doesn’t make it weird when Kah-Lo reverts to performing a sultry set on the next track, “Ready to Make a Move”.

The steady pace of ‘Foreign Ororo’ and Kah-Lo’s seemingly instinctive leaning towards the dancefloor gives the album a wholesome feel. Pared down to the point where the impact of every twist of a knob is deeply felt across the whole project, you’d get the sense that either all 15 tracks were recorded in one take or made to sound like it. The flow and ebb of the beat is pulse-raising enough to mosh-pit at a concert and meditative enough to set the mood for studying.

You can stream ‘Foreign Ororo’ below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/thatkahlo

Afropop on The Rise: Simi, Wande Coal headline shows in the UK, Niniola shuts down Lagos

Posted on by The Native

With the increasing growth of Afropop outside the borders of Nigeria, it seemed only a matter of time before international Afropop concerts began to clash and fans are forced to pick between their favorite artists. Over the weekend Afro-house queen, Niniola held down the home forte, performing her debut headline show, “The Human Radio Concert” at the Landmark Event Centre.  After the release of her debut, This Is Me, last year,  the singer has taken her whole craft to South Africa where house electronic music is already successful to doubled down on her RnB-inflected electronic style. Returning to headline a show in Lagos is only right after the year she’s had.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqF3rq-lnXA/

A 6-hour flight away from Lagos finds Simi and Wande Coal debuted headlining concerts in the UK in the same weekend. Wande Coal’s pedigree in the UK Afropop scene goes all the way back to his time with the MoHits crew so it’s no surprise that he chose to bring his show to the over 2000 capacity Indigo arena at the O2. The Nigerian RNB icon dug deep into his bag of hist and thrilled fans to classic like “Kiss Your Hands” and worked his way up to the more recent “So Mi So”. Wande Coal had Basketmouth as co-host and guest performances from Burna Boy, Maleek Berry, Naira Marley and Wizkid to keep fans entertained, but he didn’t disappoint the fans who had come out to watch him perform.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqF0Fz6hEfu/

For Simi’s  concert the 800 capacity O2 Academy, Islington, was packed to the brim. Wizkid also made an appearance at the O2 Academy, Islington venue for Simi’s concert where she performed her hit singles of her own and had guest performances from Mr Eazi, Adekunle Gold, Falz, and a couple other artists who came to show support. Perhaps due to the fact that it was her first show in the UK, Simi could hardly contain her excitement and she took to social media to express her surprise and gratitude to some special guests. Though the Concert in UK has already been tagged a success, Simi still has her “Simi Live In Concert” to worry about. Her Lagos concert has been scheduled to hold on the 9th of December at the Balmoral Convention Centre venue in Victoria Island.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqE1jjzHhZn/

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

PatricKxxLee and Straffitti’s “Loose” is a mosh pit-inducing battle cry

Posted on by The Native

Despite the occasional crossovers like their joint feature on Ice Prince’s “Hit Me Up”, PatricKxxLee and Straffitti have occupied different corners of the hip-hop spectrum. PatricKxxLee rose to stardom in South Africa for turning to more raw and emotional music, diving head first into the angst and darkness of nu-metal and deathcore bands, while Straffitti raps out of Nigeria, and wears it like a brand when he sings “And I Take Her to Naija for the full cruise”.

Ahead of PatrickxxLee’s upcoming album, ‘Nowhere Child’, comes “Loose” , an organic collaboration from two promising acts of Africa’s blooming forward-thinking rap scene. “Loose” is not only a South African trap song that fuses a unique West-African nuance but also PatrickxxLee and Straffiti trading bars with chemistry that feels wholly organic and musically-driven.

“Loose” brings the surreal video game-esque reality PatricKxxLee’s music inspires to compliment Straffitti’s twisted sense of humour. Over the bouncy trap beat, they go back and forth exchanging brags like an evenly matched tennis game with no rules. Though thematically, “Loose” shows off their knowledge of drugs, women and violent tendencies, the chant melodies and mosh pit-inducing “God Damn” battle cry that venue security will dread to hear.

Years after collaborations like HHP and Neato C’s “Boogie Down” and AKA and Ice Prince “N-Word” amongst others gave a taste of what good pan-African hip-hop can do, PatrickxLee and Straffiti, bring a future that lives up to those legendary ambitions. Whether “Loose” will play at rager nights in Johannesburg, or Lekki House parties in Lagos, there is one thing we know for sure, this is a golden era for African pop-culture like nothing the world has ever seen.

You can stream “Loose” below.

https://soundcloud.com/patrickxxlee/loose-feat-straffitti

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/patrickxxlee
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ICYMI: See the tracklist for PatricKxxLee’s ‘Nowhere Child’ expect to drop on the 29th of November

Watch the music video for “50/50” by Rose May Alaba and Mayorkun

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Though Caribbean music has grown to global prominence, few Afropop songs have embrace the glossy sound of Caribbean pop as wholeheartedly as Rose May Alaba’s “50/50” featuring Mayorkun. After scoring several hits in Austria and writing the theme song of the 2017 Special Olympic World Winter Games, Rose May Alaba has the exposure foreign artists leverage for respect but she turns to Mayorkun for an inspiring blend of dance music influences.

Kiddominant’s masterful mix of ambient Caribbean harmonies with EDM nuances serve as the backdrop for the sultry sets from Rose May Alaba and Mayorkun as they balance the dance-driven melodies with biting lyrics about romantic relationships. The music video Sesan direct however focuses on the dance, casting dancers to perform along with Rose May Alaba and Mayorkun.

You can watch the music video for “50/50” below.

–Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Rose May Alaba

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ICYMI: Here’s what to expect from Mayorkun’s coming debut project, ‘Mayor of Lagos’

South African singer, King Monada’s #MalwedheDanceChallenge is the latest viral dance challenge in Africa

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The role Shaku Shaku played in Afropop’s global relevance today and the “In My Feelings” dance challenge will have you convinced 2018 is the year of the viral choreography. But this isn’t the first time dance challenges have helped push a song into the collective consciousness of music consumers. Over the years, through the #MannequinChallenge, #RunningManChallenge and most recently, King Monada’s #MalwedheChallenge have all benefited from the popularity of social media platforms and the widefire-like spread of their contents.

In an age where everyone is vying for views and likes on their posts, a fun jig to a popular song is the perfect recipe. Take King Monada’s “Malwdhe” dance challenge for instance. It started when the South Africa singer’s hit single,  which translates to “Illness” in his native Bolobedu dialect, inspired a dance where listeners feign a faint in tune to his “ke na le bolwedhe bao idibala (I have an illness of fainting)” chant. And as you’d expect, the challenge videos have become memes on Twitter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w17DYQ4JNnM

Though it might still be too soon to say if the viral meme will translate to a massive hit for King Monada, we spent most of last year trying and failing to avoid Patapaa’s similarly ridiculous “One Corner”. If we’re lucky, these viral challenges will reach a saturation point and the internet will move on to the next phenomenon for content. But right now, we live in an era where dance craze are in till another one comes to replace King Monada’s alarming #MalwedheChallenge.

In Nigeria, Shaku Shaku has remained as relevant as it has by being flexible and accommodating other dances. Olamide shined the spotlight on the dance with his #WoChallenge, and added more sauce to the move in his music video for “Motigbana”. Shaku Shaku also incorporates the Zanku dance, which is essentially the same dance with fancier legwork. You can watch this video of the Zanku dance tutorial below and update your Shaku Shaku package.

 

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/kingmonadamusic
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ICYMI: You can watch the music video for Olamide’s “Motigbana” here

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

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Boybands and the early 2000s are almost synonymous in every country, any genre. From B2K to The Remedies, from Boyz 2 Men to P-Square, the late 90s and early noughties was a time for brothers to join arms and croon (a terrible word but it really applies here).

One of the most iconic groups from this period was Styl-Plus. Originally a 4-piece gospel group from Abuja, the incarnation the country fell in love with was the third remodelling of the band. After relocating to Lagos and changing their name from STYL to Styl-Plus (after the death of co-founder Lanre Faneyi), they started their own label and a few hit records later, were one of the hottest tickets in town. In a traditional noughties roll-out, they toured their singles between 2003 and 2006, before dropping their classic debut album Expressions.

From the Easter of 2004, they perform their magnum opus “Olufunmi” at the once annual Kennis Music Festival – the celebration of music by legendary record label Kennis Music (home to 2Baba, Eedris Abdulkareem, and Tony Tetuila).

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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THE SHUFFLE: RE-LIVE THE NOSTALGIA OF STYL PLUS WITH “RUNAWAY”

Paula B. is done playing games on her new single, “Package Deal”

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Countless songs have been penned about the wholesome joys of romance and it’s dreaded but often unavoidable pitfalls. And though Paula B.’s spin—focused on the uncertainty that’s sure to doom any relationship—isn’t exactly novel, her emotionless “Baby, This Ain’t No Game/ This Ain’t No Pick or Choose” chant sets “Package Deal” apart from other romance themed songs.

The ebb and flow of the beat ThaBeatSmith produces with percussion and 808 drum kits, keeps pace with the highs and lows of Paula B.’s recount of her relationship with a lover she believes she wasted time chasing. Capturing an array of emotions (from love at first sight to feeling uncertain, to cold-hearted fixation) in the short listen time of the single makes it both relatable and aspirational. “Package Deal” is like the stalker anthem we didn’t know we needed till we heard it.

You can stream Paula B.’s “Package Deal” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/humajenkins
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ICYMI: See the Essentials for Odunsi’s album debut, ‘rare’

Loti’s “Talk Too Much” is a warning and a bop

Posted on by The Native

Even the most forward-thinking hip-hop heads could not have foreseen the rap climate we now live in, where auto-tune is welcome, mumble rap is fashionable and a singing rapper has the whole world’s attention. Drake’s dominance atop Billboard charts has birthed a generation of artists unafraid to express their more emotional side through melodic singing performances. Loti’s new single, “Talk Too Much” borrows from the cadence of singing-rap, slinking between boastful and threatening lines aimed at competition and lines about his relationship woes. Over the bouncy trap beat, his literate rap verses build to a swinging hook where his vocals swell capably. And despite his best effort at wryly self-aware lyrics like “They Say That I’m Scum”, “Talk Too Much” listens like a bop.

You can stream Loti’s “Talk Too Much” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/rnbloti
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ICYMI: Listen to the drugged out romance on Loti’s “Addicted” single

Listen to DaRe’s “Mystical” featuring July DRama and MOJO

Posted on by The Native

DaRe’s new single, “Mystical”, featuring July DRama and MOJO gives new meaning to the phrase, ‘make love to the beat’. The beat clatters along with a syncopated, thudding drumbeat bedded beneath synth lines and a piano harmony so soothing, it forces all unpleasant thoughts out of the mind.

July Drama sets the sultry tone for “Mystical” with his smooth vocals coasting over the beat, singing “And I Bet You Make Love to the Track till your Pussy Ring Stuck in your Lingerie”. DaRe and MOJO contribute verses each to give more specific and graphic descriptions of their lover’s love making prowess. And though the song’s most obvious allure lies in the sex driven narrative, the dynamic blend of the ambient lo-fi synths and Afropop swing is what makes it such a delight for sonic palettes and a must have if you’re into mood setting music to knocking boots to. Prettyboy D-O also contributes vocals to add to the song’s charm.

You can stream “Mystical” below.

Featured Image Credits: Soundcloud/itsdare
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ICYMI: Listen to DaRe and Tim Lyre’s extraterritorial fueled “Another Planet”

Watch DJ Cuppy and Masterkraft play dress-up in the school themed video for “Charged Up”

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Nigerian producers had no issues embracing EDM enthusiastically—and successfully—during the genre’s heydays atop Billboard charts. While the genre itself is slowly getting reshuffled back into the fringes of niche sonic appetites,  Masterkraft’s latest single, “Charged Up” fuses Afro-house drum riffs to the glucose-coated synthesizer lines he produces. “Charged Up” features a hyped up DJ Cuppy who contributes vocals to really set the party tone the beat already inspires. It’s easy for her energetic performance and the cuts of vocal DJ samples to seem a bit overboard, but it feels right in the moment as the let the beat do most of the work. Audiences at festivals would be grateful that their need for a steady paced beat isn’t sacrificed for any sort of theme.

Avalon Okpe direct the music video with a school setting that asides hinting at the song’s target audience, allows Cuppy play dress up as a cheerful school girl.

You can watch the video for “Charged Up” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/MasterkraftVEVO

This post was updated to accommodate the recently released music video*
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ICYMI: See the Essentials for Odunsi’s album debut, ‘rare’

Naira Marley gets in a goofy chase with the cops in his music video for “Japa”

Posted on by The Native

Despite being a brilliant Afropop song, the success of Naira Marley’s “Issa Goal” has largely been credited to the World Cup season and the star power of Olamide and Lil Kesh. For his new single, “Japa”, he discards the braces, allowing him to take the glory for himself as he delivers another Afropop number for dancefloor fascination.

Inspired by the recent events in Nigeria, Naira Marley sings over a mid-tempo beat showing a consistency with trendy Nigerian lingo and making dance music. He also interpolates Adewale Ayuba’s lyrics from the 90s to speak on the recent insurgency at the over-policing of youth in the country as he sings, “If You Want To Fire Me, Fire Me Make I Die/ I Will Never Follow You To That Station”. However, the music video for “Japa” takes a more foreign direction as it is set in the UK, where Naira Marley is shown in a goofy chase with the police.

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

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Naira Marley

*This post has been updated for the music video

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ICYMI: See the video for Naira Marley’s “Issa Goal” featuring Olamide and Lil Kesh

Watch the music video for “To the Max” by Nana Rogues featuring Wizkid and Not3s

Posted on by The Native

In case you don’t already know, global media is calling this era a renaissance for African pop culture and things are only getting better. Take for example, this simple yet compelling music video for “To The Max”, a single released by Drake-collaborator, Nana Rogues back in August to very little fanfare. But the newly released minimalist and colourful music video is set to capture more audiences and perhaps elevate the song to sleeper-hit status.

For most of the video, the trio are shown delivering their ghostly ballad against a minimalist backdrop of the “Hotline Bling” inspired set designer. But while the video also features cuts of women in all black dancing, the ever smooth Shaku dance move rescues Wizkid and Not3s from imitating Drake’s embarrassing dance moves. Despite being just a tad bit derivative, the Silent Tapes-directed music video for “To The Max” is thematically apt as it depicts the song’s breezy mid-tempo harmonies and the catchy Afropop bounce through the oceanic imagery and well-choreographed dance routines.

You can watch the music video for “To The Max” by Nana Rogues featuring Wizkid and Not3s below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/NanaRogues
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ICYMI: See the Essentials for Odunsi’s album debut, ‘rare’

Watch D’banj and Tiwa Savage make a stunning pair on “Shake It”

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The love affair between Wizkid and Tiwa Savage may have hit an abrupt snag with the release of D’banj’s new single, “Shake It”. The raunchy vibe she evoked during her cameo in the music video for Wizkid’s “Fever” had most people convinced she and Wizkid were an item, but the equally convincing partnership with D’banj on his new single might actually break the spell blinding fans from the simple fact that music video’s are typically more performative than real.

Spellz produces “Shake It”‘s catchy mid-tempo beat with just enough spunk and flair for D’banj to do what he does better than anyone else in Afropop; be a sexually positive man in 2018. And with a responsive verse from Tiwa Savage to stoke the flames, “Shake It” instantly listens like a classic from a time when things were simpler and the word ‘Cringe’ wasn’t such the buzz word it is today. Sesan directs the music video with similar intentions with a retro theme that highlights D’banj’s fashionable sensibilities and captures the eternal youth of Tiwa Savage’s romantic life.

You can watch the music video for D’banj and Tiwa’s “Shake It” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/DbanjVEVO
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ICYMI: See some of the most outlandish reactions to Wizkid and Tiwa Savages romantic performance in “Fever” music video

Duncan Mighty is doing the Caribbean thing on his new single, “MieKeRasSo”

Posted on by The Native

Duncan Mighty is responsible for some of the most distinctive highlife melodies we’ve heard in recent years. Either through his own hit singles or the numerous sample references from Davido and Tekno, his signature mid-tempo guitar led harmonies dominated the sound space for the most part of this year. However, on his latest single, “MiekeRasSo”, he reminds fans—and the new audience that came with the hype off Wizkid assisted “Fake Love”—that he is more than a one trick pony.

“MiekeRasSo” is produced by Spellz and his blend of Caribbean influenced guitar riffs with a synth backdrop and percussion harmonies leans away from the highlife sound that has defined Duncan Mighty’s music. But his smooth vocals, caressing the soft guitar harmonies, match the more accessible Caribbean harmonies with expert precision. His pseudo-romantic lyrics, addressed at a particularly attractive fan tells a fascinating story, but it’s his catchy melodies that charm the heart.

You can stream Duncan Mighty’s “MiekeRasSo” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/duncanmighty
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ICYMI: Here’s why the return of Duncan Mighty is a false narrative

Watch Davido and Skales in ‘Currency’

Posted on by The Native

If 2018 were a benchmark year for popular music in Nigeria, Davido has had a pretty good run at being one of the most prolific artists of the time. Skales whose new superpower appears to be keeping an eye out for good collaborations features Davido on his new single ‘Currency‘.

“Currency”, produced by Princeton is your regular pop song with its entire premise is the availability of funds in the artist’s pocket is sold on a catchy hook and Davido’s more believable verse. The video, directed by Bash EM panders to the pedestrian idea of what a life of luxury looks like (no surprise there).  Bright lights intermittently illuminate the prosaic mix of scantily dressed women and loads of money.

Stream ‘Currency‘ here;

https://youtu.be/7TYHM_1t9Y8

Niniola’s “Bana” is a colourful lyrical and visual thrill

Posted on by The Native

After releasing her ‘This is Me’ album debut a year ago, Niniola has continued to build on her reputation as the life of the Afro-house party, putting out subsequent single releases to keep things interesting in the Afro-house scene. She got back to her sexually mischievous ways for “Bana”, released in September and has now followed up with the release of the music video directed by Clarence Peters.

Over the length of her career, Niniola’s music videos have set some modern guidelines of its own, offering a never-ending succession of GIF-able tableaus, color-coordinated outfits, and highly stylized dances. Her video for “Bana” has all of those same qualities with the colorful and flower decorated set design and well choreographed positioning and movements from the entire cast of the video. Singing “Banana to ni pon ni”, her sexual lyrics mean the more violent shaku dance can be put to good use conveniently while also showing off her love interest’s baby-oiled chest. The video has enough aesthetic precision to mirror the sexual intentions of a song to obsessive extremes without damning the innocence of younger audiences.

Watch the music video for “Bana” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/officialNiniola
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ICYMI: See the Essentials for Odunsi’s album debut, ‘rare’

Mr Eazi releases ‘Life is Eazi Vol.2 – Lagos to London’ EP with a music video for “Chicken Curry”

Posted on by The Native

Mr Eazi’s strategy has been clear since the singer toured the world last year with Lagos to Accra, performing small to medium scale venues in Europe and America. His third project, ‘Life is Eazi Vol.2 – Lagos to London’ is celebration of his growth to global renown since his last project, ‘Lagos to Accra’. The Banku music singer has made his rounds around the globe, preaching his ‘Life is Eazi’ gospel through his world tour and international collaboration with artists like Major Lazer and Riton.

‘Life is Eazi Vol.2 – Lagos to London’ is a new chapter in Mr Eazi’s ‘Life is Eazi’ adventures, a linear continuation of the story that began in his last project. Lagos to Accra was built around his success in Ghana despite being Nigerian, life is still easy but a lot has happened in between, and this has already reflected in the new project’s marketing. Earlier today the singer posted the picture of a red London bus, branded black and yellow like Lagos Danfo, a YouTube sponsored ad for his new project. This is a strong signal of how Mr Eazi has taken advantage of the digital era for global music he has found himself since his SoundCloud days.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp7SLErnlsa/

‘Lagos to London’ is a 13-track tape that takes listeners through Mr Eazi’s diverse sonic palette, fusing Afropop, highlife, Reggae, dancehall, disco-pop and even hip-hop. He pulls off this heterogeneous sound through a wide array of guest features from 2Baba, Burna Boy, Giggs, Mi Casa, Slim Case and others, as well as productions from the top beat makers Africa and Europe have to offer. With Simi’s songwriting credits, you can expect to hear traces of her romantic sentiments on the project.

Though Mr Eazi already debuted the music videos of tracks from the project, he unveiled ‘Lagos to London’ with the music video for “Chicken Curry”. The video is set in London but also has some Indian influences portrayed through dancers and a cameo from internet sensation, Just Sul. Mornix directs the gleeful music video that ends in a playful dance-off between the Africans and Indians.

You can watch the music video for “Chicken Curry” below.

 

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Mr Eazi
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ICYMI: See the Essentials for Odunsi’s album debut, ‘rare’

Watch Idris King take on his haters in his music video for “Jiggy”

Posted on by The Native

If there’s any common denominator that stretches across the expanse of Idris King’s music, it’s his knack for idyllic imagery. “You’re Looking Jiggy in Person. I’m Idris King, Nice to Meet Ya” is the type of phrasing that could seem overly simplistic or trite in clumsier hands, but not in the soulful way Idris King does it on “Jiggy”. The self-directed music video for “Jiggy” serves as one of the most striking, though not unexpected, videos he’s put out in a long time.

The video visually expands on the track’s lyrical themes with his attempt to woo a love interest (played by filmmaker, Ifeoma Chukwuogo) via a televised appearance on a TV screen featuring in true inception fashion. We watch the video escalate from sweetly romantic to violent when he sings, “I Don’t Play with the Cash” and proceeds to beat up a midget with his gang. But even his gun wielding gang roughing up a midget can’t save Idris King from his delightful ways as it all ends in a party.

Watch the music video for “Jiggy” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Idris King
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ICYMI: See the Essentials for Odunsi’s album debut, ‘rare’

PatricKxxLee shares ‘Nowhere Child’ tracklist and cover art

Posted on by The Native

PatricKxxLee has maintained a more cordial relationship with his fans than most artists can pull off. While on a radio show earlier this month, fans called in to thank him for his inspiring and helping them get through their depression with his emo-confessional releases. However, the Zambian artist has held back on the release of his promised album, ‘Nowhere Child’, saying, “I Make Music for You and I Don’t Want to Give You Anything But the Best.”

PatricKxxLee teased the tracklist on his Instagram last month with a picture, wearing in a white Tshirt that advertised the 12-track album. His quot read “#NowhereChild Tracklist out & merch loading | HMU in the DMs for pre-orders”. After months of waiting, he has finally announced ‘Nowhere Child’ will be released on the 29th of November on Soundcloud and the 30th for other digital platforms.

You can see the post along with the full tracklist for ‘Nowhere Child’ below.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpFKY-JlWke/?hl=en&taken-by=patrickxxlee

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/patrickxxlee
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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: PatricKxxLee talks breaking barriers and standing up for sad kids on “The Stir Up” interview with DJ Cosmo

PREMIERE: DAP THE CONTRACT SHARES VISUAL ALBUM ‘EVERYBODY FALLS IN THE SUMMER’

The young Nigerian producer-rapper makes a triumphant return with a sprawling, independent short film.

DAP the Contract is playing the long game, and it seems to be paying off.

In the last two years, he has shown an admirable work-rate, with a steady stream of releases, including his Two Roads EP last year and his impressive summer series of Contract Thursdays. This is not to mention his production credits on the Ajebutter22 album What Happens In Lagos, and his MVP-showing on the title-track to Odunsi The Engine’s rare. But on Everybody Falls In The Summer, something is markedly different. In the fully independently-shot and produced visual album, he sounds laser-focused: his rapping is tighter, he is showcasing more of his vocal range in his singing, and as always: the beats are one of a kind. 

He more or less tells The NATIVE just this via email:

“While I really appreciate Two Roads and Contract Thursdays…in hindsight that now looks like a transitionary period. As I say on track 2 (the first substantive track on the album), “swear now I’m feeling like myself again, I’m feeling myself”. That’s what turning 25 felt like. That’s what earning my first check felt like. That’s what this album feels like. This is truly me. This is an honest representation of my truth as a young 25 year old black Nigerian man living in the privileged NY melting pot of so many different cultures, my fears, hopes, and dreams. “

The 16-minute long short film chronicles the upcoming trials on the mind of the young rapper: turning your hobbies into professions, finding true love and getting married, raising children. DAP feels these pressures vividly, as he takes watchers through the mind of a 25-year-old coming to grips with his responsibilities. Balancing back-to-back Ivy League education experiences with music has always been a large part of who he is as a person, and it’s no different in the inspiration behind this album.

Musically, DAP has been through the various different experiences, which may have turned some against the industry. Unreleased songs with Mark Ronson from Abbey Road, disappearing managers who promised the world and more, and everything in-between. DAP has channeled those energies into this short film.

Closing with the phenomenal “Vibrate”, with images that harken back to Outkast’s “Hey Ya”, DAP turns in his most impressive vocal performance of his short career thus far. A cry from the artist to the rest of his generation to put down their phones for a minute and enjoy the moment. It’s a thought he says dawned on him when contemplating raising his own children. “Conceptually and sonically, I wanted the album to feel like outdoors.” He tells The NATIVE exclusively. “I think that’s what I miss most from my childhood and what I think will be one of the greatest detriments to future generations because of technology, especially social media.”

DAP is reflective but not preachy, and this visual albums showcases an artist that has truly found his pocket. So far, his music career has been consistent but perhaps not in overdrive – and DAP wants this album to connect with both old fans and new.
“This album is for old fans to realise that we grow and change and see different thing sin life that shape how we perceive the world and perceive ourselves, but is also the perfect introduction to me as an artist because it covers my entire personality. It is an album for Everybody.”

DAP has worked in silence, but consistently and powerfully. Now, he’s ready to make some noise.

You can watch Everybody Falls in the Summer exclusively on The NATIVE below. 

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’

Prettyboy D-O’s debut ‘Everything Pretty’ is finally here

Posted on by The Native

Prettyboy D-O released the cover art and tracklist for his coming project, ‘Everything Pretty’, on his Instagram earlier this week, a prelude to the release of the project today.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpz2m8Qlmmo/

The record features a collaboration with Sugabana on the track called “Terminate”, Santi on “Pull Up”, Escojay Luciano on “Rabba Man”, July Drama on “Pata Pata/ No Drama” and Falz on the album version of his pre-released single, “Chop Elbow”. ‘Everything Pretty’ is Prettyboy D-O’s debut project and boasts of 12 tracks with “Chop Elbow” and “Itty Bitty” being the lead singles.

Stream Everything Pretty here:

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/prettyboydo
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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 Prettyboy D-O’s NATIVE 11 feature