Ladipoe ends the long-wait for a debut album with ‘Talk About Poe’

Posted on by The Native

Considering his arrival on the scene happened over half a decade ago, saying LadiPoe’s debut is overdue, is an understatement. After years of dropping epic guest verses making music with alternative music group The Collectiv3, Poe joined Don Jazzy’s MAVIN records last year and eyes have been on the rapper for a project ever since. Talk About Poe is the debut project to finally put an end to expectations for a debut project from the rapper. Featuring an elite cast of features from Efya, Show Dem Camp’s Ghost, Funbi, Seyi Shay and more, Talk About Poe serves up 10 new tracks that blend his introspective tendencies with his penchant for laid-back rap.

Keep it locked with The NATIVE for a detailed breakdown of the essential tracks you need from this project.

Stream LadiPoe’s ‘Talk About Poe’ here

Cuppy and Skuki redefine what it means to work in their video for “Werk”

Posted on by The Native

While many have questioned the credibility of Cuppy’s prominence in mainstream music conversations, she has remained relentless, releasing more music to prove she deserves her spot in the limelight. After featuring L.A.X for their romance themed “Currency”, her latest single, “Werk”, features Skuki. Sure, most of her songs are carried by the charisma of the featured artists, but for “Werk”, she contributes a rap verse and pulls off song that champions the very crucial message to take advantage of available resource to earn money. Backed by the uptempo beat DJ Mo produces, “Werk” is sure to work up a sweat on dance floors; the video Unlimited L.A directs portrays this with the colorful gym setting where Cuppy does some physical exercises, while the duo of Skuki encourage the other casts to “Werk” their money makers into shape.

Watch the video for Cuppy’s “Werk” featuring Skuki below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Cuppy
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ICYMI: Cuppy and the irony of women distancing themselves from feminism

Mr Eazi’s video for “Keys to The City (Ogede)”, a metaphor for Nigeria’s politics: Watch

Posted on by The Native

The political landscape in Nigeria has been a Joke. In the lead up to the 2019 elections, voting has been critical and inimical for the construction of a democratic state in Nigeria. It’s not new knowledge that the media system of any country is a reflection of the social, political and economic environment in which it operates. It is therefore not difficult to understand the stinging satire of Mr Eazi’s music video, “Keys to The City (Ogede)”, on Nigerian politics. Even as the video is filled with a lot of extravagant living and ill means of earning votes, Mr Eazi uses it to illustrate the ridiculousness that it will be if  youths do not vote wisely.

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

The visuals directed by Meji Alabi, also suggests that the elite domination of the political space in Nigeria is at odds with the democratic spirit, which should reflect equality of participation. After every metaphorical expression is said and done, the music video ends with a more remarkable statement: “Vote wisely, do not sell your votes for stomach-fracture”.

Thus far, the Banku music artist has released “Property” and “Keys to The City (Ogede)” while he continues to tease his next project Lagos to London, to follow up his Accra to Lagos mixtape. Also, through his community service work, the Eazi Sound Foundation completed projects in Owode, Iwoye and Ayetoro in his origin state of Ogun two months ago; he has also been advocating for youths to vote for the 2019 Nigerian elections through the #NotTooYoungtoRun campaign.

Watch Mr Eazi’s “Keys to The City (Ogede)” directed by Meji Alabi below.

Featured Image Credit: Youtube/Mr Eazi

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See Efya and Mr Eazi in the video for “Maame”

Watch Phyno and Tekno in the video for their love serenading track, “Iwa”

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Phyno has released the official music video of “Iwa”, which he released earlier this week on Nigeria’s Independence day. In the post, we appreciated Phyno for his signature use of poetic Igbo lines, his play on words and good humour. The video, shot and directed by Clarence Peters, finds Phyno and Tekno actually serenading their love interests in separate scenes  —which is in essence what the song’s lyrics is about. The visual storyline for “Iwa” is easily digestible, beginning with the happy moments the two share with their love interests, but it lasts for a very fleeting period as their infatuation dissolves into a visible white wind that signals the entrance of Clarence Shot It signature, reminding yet again, to the exclusion of all that has happened, that this at most, just a music video.

Watch Phyno’s “Iwa” featuring Tekno below.

Featured Image Credit: Youtube/PhynoVevo

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Phyno’s “Iwa” ft Tekno is a reminder of how poetic Nigerian languages are

Listen to “Balanciego”, Flash’s debut single

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After the impress of his verses as a featured artist on romance themed club songs like “Get Up” and more recently, “Too Much”, Flash is finally putting out his own single debut, “Balanciego”. On it, Flash doesn’t stray from his sultry and emotive vocals, but he seems more honest about his feelings with lyrics that more evidently preoccupy the minds of people dancing. Singing “Ma Lo Nogere, Don’t Be Wicked Oh/ Girl You’re Gifted Oh” over the scatting mix of synths, rattling samples and bouncy drums that Sarz masterfully produces, “Balanciego” is a brilliantly ambiguous pop song. It’s at once, a celebration of a love interest, Afropop’s competence on dancefloors and a tribute to the luxury designer, Balenciaga.

You can stream “Balanciego” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/flashworldwide
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ICYMI: Flash and DJ Tunez make NATIVE Best New Music

Premiere: Wavy The Creator is here to “Stay” with the visuals for her second single

Posted on by The Native

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnjOLMblS25/?hl=en&taken-by=wavythecreator

It’s been quite a year for Wavy The Creator.

Fresh off her live debut to the public eye at NATIVELAND 2017, she has been widely tipped as one of the leaders of the new generation of Nigerian creatives breaking boundaries. Back in January, she released her second single, entitled “Stay”, and now we receive the visual to this: exclusively on The NATIVE.

Wavy held a private viewing party for the video last week in Lagos, attended by artists such as Santi, Odunsi and Olamide. Shot by Farai in Ghana, and directed by Wavy herself, the video is the truest representation of the artist till date. She tells us via email:

“I think out of all the songs I have released so far, STAY is closest to home. I can remember every feeling I felt while I was recording this song, especially because it was my first time recording an actual song. So it does hold a lot of meaning to me in some way.”

Check out the visuals for Stay (produced by Giggz) below, and keep watching for the latest from this mercurial talent.

The Shuffle: Revisit M.I’s Illegal Music 2 gem “Lost” featuring Loose Kaynon

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The greatest validation for M.I’s latest album Yxng Dxnzl is that the ‘Short Black Boy’ will face little to no resistance on his climb to legend-hood. Hard to say how to say how that makes M.I feel, considering the album that catalysed this new era for him is pulsed with raw introspection that often found M tearing himself apart. What’s interesting, however, is the resulting honesty of Yxng Dxnzl also glimpses how ahead of the curve M.I has been when his old materials are played back. “Lost” the lead single off M.I’s critically-acclaimed Illegal Music 2 mixtape, tells this story best.

The year is 2011 and the release of “Lost” marked M.I coming off a year-long silence following the release of M.I 2: The Movie, his most commercially successful album till date. Until the release of M.I:2 in 2010, M.I’s entire catalogue could be summed up with the first Illegal Music mixtape and Talk About It. So it was no surprise that the heavily pop-influenced sophomore that followed two rap-heavy projects was trailed with mixed reactions by fans who felt the rapper had watered down his sound.

To rebut the claims that he’d fallen off his rap game, M.I didn’t need to do interviews or media rounds, instead he released “Lost”, a guns-blazing diss track to critics and all fans-turned-haters. On “Lost” M.I admits he understands the critical fixation for his mixtape projects while hinting at artistic growth as the ultimate goal nonetheless. The confidence he exudes on the track, creates a worthy premise for Illegal Music 2, as the project to set him back “on the path to greatness”, after what many considered a shoddy sophomore.

As M.I raps, ‘So when M.I.2 was released/ All the bloggers said I ceased to be the rapper that released / Talk About It they at least should have waited a couple weeks / My marketer just said I did a milli in the east’. It makes a bolder statement for the Coldplay sample that opens the track, where Chris Martin belts ‘Just because I’m losing / doesn’t mean I’m lost’ .

M.I’s biggest win with “Lost” is the self-awareness of Nigeria’s music scene and his role within the hip-hop machinery, an ethos that still seems to be recurring in his artistry till date. To celebrate The Chairman’s birthday today, (5th of October), stream “Lost”, a reminder of the many times M.I has had to defend his title and legacy as Africa’s number 1 rapper.

2018 Nobel Peace Prize: Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad, helping victims of sexual violence

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In a series of breaking-news tweets delivered through their verified Twitter account, the Norwegian Nobel Committee broadcasted the Nobel Peace Prize for this year, given to Congolese gynaecological surgeon, Denis Mukwege and Iraqi human rights activist, Nadia Murad “for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict”, the committee stated.

The 2018 Peace Laureate is “the foremost, most unifying symbol, both nationally and internationally, of the struggle to end sexual violence in war and armed conflicts”. In the series of tweets, the committee gave a brief prosopography about their lives, which you can find here and here, or read below.

This year’s Nobel Prize not only recognises Mukwege and Murad, but also recognises those who are helping thousands of victims of sexual violence; it’s an outstanding reminder that everyone must root out the pernicious rape culture that targets and victimizes men and especially children and women at large.

Denis Mukwege has spent large parts of his adult life helping the victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Dr. Mukwege and his staff at the Panzi Hospital (Hôpital G.R de Panzi) have treated thousands of patients who have fallen victim to such assaults. His basic principle is that “justice is everyone’s business”. Denis Mukwege has repeatedly condemned impunity for mass rape and criticised the Congolese government and other countries for not doing enough to stop the use of sexual violence against women as a strategy and weapon of war.

Nadia Murad is one of an estimated 3,000 Yazidi girls and women who were victims of rape and other abuses by the IS army. The abuses were systematic and part of a military strategy. They served as a weapon in the fight against Yazidis and other religious minorities. Following her escape from IS, Peace Laureate Nadia Murad chose to speak openly about what she had suffered. In 2016, at the age of just 23, she was named the UN’s first Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking.

She is a witness who continues to tell of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others. She has shown uncommon courage in recounting her own sufferings and speaking up on behalf of other victims.

Read the full announcement here. And below is a short clip showing Berit Reiss-Andersen, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, making the announcement.

Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@NobelPrize
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ICYMI: Ushahidi’s sex scandal is a cautionary tale for the new age and the work ahead of all of us

W Magazine Spotlights Nigeria, briefly hinting that all that glitters is not gold

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W, American fashion magazine published by Condé Nast Inc., owners of Pitchfork and Vogue amongst others, debuted a remarkable feature story yesterday. Written by Siddhartha Mitter, it is titled “The World Is Witnessing Nigeria’s Creative Golden Age”.

“But let’s be real: Nigeria is also a mess,” Mitter writes with appropriate bite. The article succeeds in first, painting a hall of fame of Nigerians who have internationally excelled through the global acclaim of their creative product/service, before finding a middle ground to briefly illustrate the true happenings of the country.

There’s no contesting that many Nigerians have creatively crafted their culture and beautifully presented it to the world, but until such creativity begins to translate into a substantial benefit (economically and socio-politically) for the development of the country and its peoples, we can then declare a golden age. Opinion leaders like Ayo Sogunro, Olutimehin Adegbeye, KingWole on Twitter and others, will relentlessly argue the same. Mitter however, rightfully acknowledges this in her article. By so doing, Mitter guides readers to also recognize that all that glitters —through the beautiful images taken by Ruth Ossai, the palatable words Mitter used to illustrate the works of creatives in the industry, and the features from Daberechi, Jidenna, Jimmy Ayeni, Zina Saro-Wiwa, Elnathan John and others— is not gold.

Many of Nigeria’s elite winning class wine and dine in the success of this creative global influence that the country as a whole is supposedly earning. But in spite of this delicious narrative that “the world is witnessing Nigeria’s creative Golden age”, as the article headline says, Nigerians are also witnessing a lot of exploitation by their own people (and by foreigners) who eat portions of food that could feed and profit many more Nigerians. The elites retain their status by profiting even more from said article, which puts more spotlight on them. But Africans at large have long complained about how the Western media illuminates only the doom of the continent through images of poverty stricken children and slums. So perhaps, this feature is one in many starlights that the country needs to progress.

However, a headline appropriate to the feature’s true write-up is the working title, which is revealed in the article’s reader view and URL, “Meet the Nigerian Artists, Musicians, and Designers Taking Over the World”. Because lets be real: that is what it is. Nigerians who are making a name for themselves by charmingly exporting the culture in different forms.

Nevertheless, there are people like Lola Shoneyin, the founder of Aké literature festival, who is actively looking towards sustainable development for the country through her “vibrant institution” as the article calls it and several others, whom the article also features. One of the major takeaways is this: “Nigeria succeeds in spite of itself, and that’s what’s great about it,” said by the writer, Shoneyin.

The article is a referential one and makes for an interesting read. More features and personalities spoken about include, Duro Olowu, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Skepta, Toyin Ojih Odutola, and others.

Here’s a direct link to the article by Journalist and consultant, Siddhartha Mitter and many more colourful images by uk-based Nigerian photographer, Ruth Ossai, who is known for her portrait and studio photography that empowers Nigerian communities.

Featured Image Credit: Ruth Ossai for W Magazine
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ICYMI: Wizkid talks pushing a global sound and Fela influences on Hunger Magazine

Elevate your mood with DJ Maphorisa and DJ Raybel’s “iWalk Ye Phara”: Watch

Posted on by The Native

The growth of house based music genres in African states like Nigeria has left the South African house music scene positively overexposed, with their sound being the most dominant influence for the sound in Africa. But rather than sit around and watch each new derivative style make the sound exhausted and liable to collapse, DJ Maphorisa and DJ Raybel are re-purposing the sound on their new single, “iWalk Ye Phara”, tailored to hip-hop taste.

“iWalk Ye Phara” features South African rappers, K.O and Zulu Mkhathin, and a rap verse from the versatile Moonchild Sanelly. The prom party themed video Seriti directs highlights the groove of the house beat DJ Maphorisa and DJ Raybel produce through the school setting of the video with scenes of students dancing, a public bathroom and a basketball court where all the preforming artists dance while rapping their bars.

You can watch the video for “iWalk Ye Phara” by DJ Maphorisa and DJ Raybel featuring Moonchild Sanelly, K.O and Zulu Mkhathin below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/DJMaphorisaVEVO
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ICYMI: Mr Real takes the gospel of “Legbegbe” to South Africa with his remix featuring DJ Maphorisa, Niniola, Vista and DJ Catzico

Samklef taps the biggest stranger to Afropop we’ve seen thus far for “Low Profile”: Listen

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“If you ain’t know, my name is Safaree…I’m in the motherland, yes I’m finally here” _Safaree, 2018

The result of Afropop’s relationship with foreign artists has become such a foregone conclusion, that the reality of it is not even worth discussing as a surprise. But in the past years, few would have expected that Safaree would also seek to strengthen his share prices by jumping on the fashionable Afrobeats bandwagon today. Samklef has shared a new collaboration with the American rapper, Safaree, called “Low Profile”.

So what does it mean when the biggest stranger to Afropop music we’ve seen thus far quietly drops a collaboration with one of Afropop’s establishing producers, Samklef? On “Low Profile”, Samklef and Safaree recruit themselves for a beat that harkens back to the Nellyville 2002 hip-hop classic, “Dilemma”, resulting into a track that is drenched in Afrobeats percussive instruments and synths produced by Samklef with vernacular Yoruba verses also sang by him. Midway into the track, Safaree declares his entrance with much-ado about pride, “If you ain’t know, my name is Safaree…I’m in the motherland, yes I’m finally here…When I shoot, I score”, introducing himself with a presumptive diagnosis, to Africans who do not know him.

Knowing that his feature could be startling on his own accord, the rapper tells listeners that he has finally joined the rest of his mates who have paid homage to the motherland, where it all began. “Low Profile”, a love soliciting song primed for dance floors, signifies that there are no boundaries and no limitations between Afrobeats’ avant-garde past and acid future.

Listen to Samklef’s “Low Profile” featuring Safaree below.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@iamsafaree

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The Shuffle: Revisit “Molowo Noni” from Samklef’s Nonilizing years

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

Posted on by The Native

Back in February, M.I released his remarkably star-studded project, Rendezvous. Though he has since released a new album, Yung Denzel, his latest offering is a video for “Lekki”, a standout cut from the Rendezvous party-themed tracklist.

Backed by the bouncy house beat, Odunsi’s catchy hook and comical rap verses from Falz and Ajebutter22, M.I’s commentary on the Lagos nightlife is turned into a party anthem. The video that The Myth directs also compliments the song’s themes, set at a bar where M.I is seen partying with Falz, Ajebutter22, Odunsi and several cameos including Blaqbonez, Zoro, Instagram comedians and some pretty models who are tagged “Party Starters” to make the sexist message of the song unmistakably clear.

You can watch the video for “Lekki” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/MI Abaga
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ICYMI: Check out the essentials from M.I’s ‘Yxng Dxnzl: A Study on Self-Worth’

Major Lazer continue to accomplish their mission with “Loyal” ft Kizz Daniel and Kranium: Watch

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As a result of their fascination with global dance music, Major Lazer have often been admired as culture vultures who appreciate and craft good electronic music for different country’s dance floors. But the trio’s act of recruiting a particular genre’s bona fides, from reggae stars like Kranium and Patoranking, to Afropop icons like Burna boy and Davido, is still sticky with an undercurrent of appropriation —even despite the fact that (excluding Diplo) DJs Jillionaire and Walshy Fire are Trinbagonian and Jamaican.

But with all the pitfalls Major Lazer have faced, they still maintain their penchant for dancehall-inflected afro-carribean and afrobeats music. As people who possess the ability to coax listeners to a particular genre’s waves —whether its EDM, dancehall, reggae fusion, trap, soca or electric house— Major Lazer have also gained characteristics as scene setters who can contribute to Burna boy, Davido and Wizkid’s pursuit to continue to turn around the reception of foreign peoples towards Afrobeats. 

Through rightful credits with features from artists who also benefit from the fusion of sounds, they are not forcing their game, but spreading their wings. With their latest music video, “Loyal” featuring Afrobeats singer, Kizz Daniel and Jamaican reggae and dancehall singer, Kranium —off the Afrobeats mixtape they released last month— Major Lazer continue to accomplish their long established mission from the genesis of their career. Albeit, they will suffer some criticisms from the true purists of Afrobeats, dancehall (and other genres they acquire for themselves).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BoeTjaUBReF/?taken-by=majorlazer

The music video for “Loyal” was shot in Dakar, Senegal, showing Kizz Daniel and Kranium in completely different scenes but the director, Jonathan Qualtere, manages to completely unify the video by interpolating the scenes with vibrant dancers and Senegal’s aesthetic objects and landscapes. “Loyal” sparkles with liveliness, enthusiasm and love; Major Lazer will bring this and many more to their Lagos tour tomorrow at Hard Rock Beach, Lagos.

Watch Major Lazer’s music video for “Loyal” below.


Featured Image Credit: 

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ICYMI, Best New Music: Major Lazer and Burna Boy’s “All My Life” brings on a vibe for a lifetime

Reekado Banks’ short film for “Blessings On Me” is a take on family and big dreams

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A lot of Afropop songs are tailored for dancefloors at parties because let’s face it, that’s where you get to appreciate the full effect of the drums, layered harmonies and the catchy lyrics. For people like me, who like to observe the phenomena of dancefloors and reflect, Reekado Banks’ new single, “Blessings On Me”, clicks like glasses of champagne. It starts out sounding and feeling like a chill, introspective and broody cruise, then slowly, it double-times into a euphoric hallelujah.

Despite the groove of the guitar-led high-life beat Princeton produces, Reekado Banks’ lyrics listens like a prayer, singing “Father, I Want To Hammer/ I Want To Spoil My Mother/ I Want to Shower Your Blessings”. Perhaps to give context, the “short-film” Reekado Banks ominously released to promote the single, a story of a family torn apart by poverty is told through the life of their superstar footballer son. Given the amount of pseudo-religious songs that get rolled out weekly, Reekado Banks’ “Blessings On Me” cinematically unfolds like wishful thinking, the heart of his short film, however, is the reconciliation of the footballer’s parents whose joint behind the scenes effort had propelled him into success. The greatest blessing it would seem is love.

You can listen to Reekado Banks’ “Blessings on Me” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/reekadobanks

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ICYMI: Reekado Banks and Duncan Mighty make high-life magic with “Bio Bio”

Essentials: Ria Boss’ on-going Friday EP series, ‘#ThankGodItsRia’

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#ThankGodItsRia is the official hashtag for Ria Boss’ “Friday takeover”. Ria, via her twitter and Soundcloud accounts, announced plans to release a collection of songs every Friday until an undisclosed date. At the release of the first project, LOVEFLUX, on the 14th of September, she tweets “I Own your Fridays now”, like a demigod with the power to hold time.

WILDWOMAN, the second of two consecutively released projects is a 4-track EP that exhibits the many sides of Ria Boss —singer, songwriter and poet. It begins with a low-tempo “Intro” track where she basically defines the crux of the project. You get a sense that she’s warning anyone who doesn’t agree with her women-uplifting words to stop here.

Singing over a soft synth baseline, she introduces us to a woman who unwittingly emanates power, tagging her a “wild woman”. The theme continues until “Crown Funk”, the concluding track that doubles as a subtle call to action. On it, Ria softly commands the woman to fix her crown and trust herself, “cause you’re a queen”, she sings, reminding listeners of her royal power as a woman. Likewise, “Who Gon’ do you” is a soulful paean to the limitless attributes simultaneous to self-trust. Ria sets the universal mantra, “Who gon do you better than you?”, emphasizing the liberating effects of true self conviction.

“Bad mama” however asks that the mantra be individualized as Ria reminds listeners that self-trust must come with a willingness to shape shift, because growth is a part of the process. Ria odes the woman’s ability to transform like the earths seasons, encouraging her to explore every form of her many selves. 

So far, #ThankGoditsRia has continued Ria Boss’ introspective songwriting direction, as she introduces meditative themes using pianos and rain samples to set a soothing ambiance. “Blossom”, off LOVEFLUX is a romance themed track where she is telling a love interest that she is here to save him, opposing the usual counter narrative.

As if to emphasize this narrative further, the next track, “Equal”, finds her singing of a relationship based on the foundation of mutual respect and true partnership; a ”Yin to my Yang” style courtship. On “Wasting Time”, the concluding track for LOVEFLUX, Ria reintroduces the piano and presents a number of topics to meditate on: “think about your love, think about your legacy”, recommending these thought processes as tools for a free mind.

In her interview with the NATIVE, for the 2017 magazine print edition, Ria Boss highlighted her desire for love and self actualization as two of the few things she’s looking forward to. With a central theme of heavy introspection as well as inward and outer love on both EPs, you get to see how the 8 meditative tracks Ria Boss presents over the course of LOVEFLUX and WILDWOMAN are as much for her audience as they are for herself. 

Follow the rest of #ThankGoditsria on Soundcloud via the artist’s page. You can listen to the first two below.

WILDWOMAN

LOVEFLUX

Featured Imge Credit: Twitter/_riaboss_

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NATIVE BIRTH ISSUE: Ria Boss Is Ready To Let Us Into Her Kingdom

Essentials: Ayüü’s ‘Mango Juice and Bad Decisions’

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After giving us two projects, H. E. R. (His Emotions Recorded) and ØÜ by ØÜ, last year, the Abuja based singer known as Ayüü has released Mango Juice & Bad Decisions, a 4-track EP, where he continues his emotionally rending vocal performance over densely layered and meticulously produced instrumentals. The romantic direction of the project is quite straightforward, revolving around complicated relationship woes that happen often, but it exemplifies why Ayüü’s projects are so outstanding, creatively ambitious and unafraid of embracing the nostalgia that 2000 pop music offers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BobFAArFMUf/?taken-by=ayuu_safi

Mango Juice & Bad Decisions opens with “00 Nostalgia”, a mid-tempo lo-fi track with ambient synth production credited to Benny Que & DOZ. The atmospheric instrumentals set a beach party mood heard all through the rest of the EP. Although Ayüü’s verse samples lines and melodies from Sinqo’s “Thong Son”, he infuses his personality by singing of the things his love interest’s good looks is doing to him. The featured artist, Andrè Wolf, performs a rap verse to complete the song’s wistful intentions.

For “In2 Ü”, Ayüü continues to reference pop classics to perform his confessional love song, backed by a bouncy beat produced by Jaylon and Higo. “In2 Ü” doesn’t feature any guest artist, but Ayüü’s impressive vocal range is highlighted through his array of layered voices, rapping, hitting a falsetto and singing his own back up. “Teyana” featuring PyschoYP finds Ayüü convincing a love interest he’s worth her attention, but with the mix of samples from Westlife, Craig David’s “7 Days” and Wizkid’s “Wiz Party”, the track seems to document the strain of being stuck in a limbo with someone you love.

“Pull Up”, the last track on Mango Juice & Bad Decisions, takes a more showy direction as Ayüü performs over a party beat Jaylon and Higo produce with sweeping synths, string riffs and a catchy drum pattern with head bumping high-hats. Ayüü sing raps in a more baritone voice than we had previously heard through the EP as he brags and threatens his oppositions. It’s an aside from the rest of the project which listens like a medley of songs from the ’00s, re-purposed to the relax warmth of beach hangouts.

Stream Ayüü’s ‘Mango Juice & Bad Decisions’ below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/ayuu_safi
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ICYMI: Listen to Ayüü and Tay Iwar croon about unrequited love on “Careless”

Listen to Deena Ade and Bella Alubo’s endearing single, “Savage”

Posted on by The Native

“Savage” isn’t a love song, as much as a platform to show off the underrated strength in passionate emotions. Doubling up on the themes from her The Cries of my Subconsciousness EP, Deena Ade performs an ode to her tender affection for a love interest over an immaculately moonlit house beat Tiwa Dara produces minimally with layered synth harmonies, soft piano chords progressions and a preppy Afro-house drum riff that keeps to a steady pace with uplifting horn samples.

Singing “Baby, Your Loving Got Me Drunk, Hennessy Drunk/ Make Me Believe I Need You, Yes I Do” in her dreamy alto, Deena Ade’s lyrics are so endearingly sweet and subtle, it almost blurs out sentiments that are more graphic: “This pussy popping for you/ And if anyone tries to breakup what we got, I will die on the matter baby, I’m boko haram”. While the chorus for “Savage” is loudly chanted, Bella Alubo’s vocals is silvery, registering barely above a whisper at first, then gathering momentum as she joins Deena to weaponize her emotions, singing, “I Know you need my fire/ It’s a Cold World, it’s a Jungle”.

You can stream “Savage” by Deena Ade and Bella Alubo below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/deenaade

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

ICYMI: Check out the Essentials for Deena Ade’s ‘Cries of my Subconscious’ here

6 videos you should see this week

Posted on by The Native

Dice Ailes – “Diceyyy”

If Dice Ailes wasn’t already a household name before he released “Otedola”, which spawned into a hit and a slang, the track itself certainly made him into a mainstream superstar. His latest single, “Dicey”, embellished with lyrics that sing praises of himself, listens like a testament to his stardom. Over the mid-tempo beat bop Ckay produces with percussion instruments and cheering vocal samples, Dice Ailes confesses that he’s “Making more money” and “Your girlfriend is feeling (his) melody”. Although his lyrics also carry some shade for his competitors and those who belittled him before he got so successful, the video directed by Tee Tash of Visionarie Pictures, only emphasizes his wealth and chic magnet with colorful designer clothes and beautiful admirers chasing him in his drop-top car.

2 Chainz – “Bigger Than You” Feat. Drake, Quavo 

2 Chainz is set to release his 5th studio album, Rap or Go to the League in the following months. His lead single, “Bigger Than You”, featuring Drake and Quavo already has a video. All three artists seem too cool for school as Nathan R. Smith directs the video showing child actors playing the roles of the three rappers in high school. The cinematic clip follows 2 Chainz and his crew, as they perform their rap bars while they sit in detention and cause mischief. Donning a fur jacket, shades, and head scarf, the young Drench God and friends take over the library, terrorize their teachers, and throw a party in the halls, making for a fun hip-hop video that may be wrongfully inspirational for kids.

Tobi Lou – “Buff Baby”

Off his recently released Tobi Lou and the Loop EP, “Buff Baby” was a standout track which featured Tobi Lou interpolating the “Puncha Your Bun” song from an episode of Adventure Time to reminisce on heartbreaks that have inspired him. The music video Ronald Grandpey animates for “Buff Baby” is also inspired by the cartoon, showing Tobi Lou carrying a singing baby version of himself through a surreal animated landscape where butterflies and flying rainbow ponies sing along to the song’s lyrics. With his consistent release of feel-good rap songs, sampling Adventure Time almost seems like a natural cross over.

CDQ – “Flex”

For “Flex”, CDQ’s latest single, he ditches the hip-hop beats that made his Afro-house songs so famous in favor of string, high-life and house influences produced by Jaypizzle. With Fiokee handling the guitar harmonies, the house instrumentals are locked to an irresistible groove, which sets the mood for CDQ’s celebration of wealth. “Flex” was released with a video set at a party in South Africa as if to show CDQ’s respect for the booming South African House music scene. However, it is more likely that he’s just there to flex. As we see the Mazi C.I Jizzle directed clip showing CDQ party so hard, he steals the love interest of one of the party guests.

Xxxtentation – “Moonlight”

Four months after his death, XXXTentacion posthumously releases a video for his hit single, “Moonlight”. The video is the second posthumous release, following the release of “SAD!” in June. X wrote and directed the video himself, set at a party in the woods where he seems comfortable, smiling at his friends, but never speaks to anyone. He is seen with headphones in certain shots, but everyone else is dancing to the music. The video also hints at a possible love interest lurking in the background, but XXXTentation remains lonesome under a tree, tuning out the world while occasionally smiling at his phone. Although it won’t be a reach to assume the video speaks to the rapper’s everyday life as a young boy, the relevance of the commentary it gives on party culture is one that almost all young people can relate with. The last we heard from X came through a posthumous feature on Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter V, Kanye West has also hinted a potential feature on his upcoming Yandhi album as well.

Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse – “Trailer #2”

It has been confirmed that Spiderman: Into The Spider-Verse would hit cinemas December 15th. Anticipation for the animated film has been high since the first trailer was released. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have also upped the ante for the new Spider-Man Universe through their creative work in The LEGO Movie and 21 Jump Street. Their animation style is the first of its kind and the surreal ambiance is just fitting for the alternate dimension narrative of the film’s script. The first trailer already introduced Brooklyn teenager, Miles Morales, his dad and the Spider-Verse, where more than one person can wear the mask. The newly released trailer details the other Spiderman characters that will feature in the film, including Scorpion, Spider-girl (played by Gwen Stacy), a detective looking Spiderman and a Spiderman from a dimension where pigs can talk.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Sony Pictures Entertainment

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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: You can watch the first trailer for “Spiderman: Into the Spider-verse” here

See Odunsi, WavyTheCreator and Santi in Beats 1 Homecoming Documentary

Posted on by The Native

In a recently released three-part series by Beats1 radio, Julie Adenuga walks the audiences through her experience at Homecoming 2018 back in Easter. Linking up with BBK (helmed by Skepta and Greatness Dex), Grace Ladoja and our family at Nike, we curated a three day experience designed to further strengthen the bridge between Nigeria and the rest of the world – a bridge that The NATIVE has been committed to forging since our inception.

The series uses the pop-up concert as a backdrop to explore the growth of the new generation sound and the urban culture and fashion scene adjacent to all the recent global hype for African music.

The series features never seen before clips of BBK Africa’s three-day event in Lagos, including cuts from the performance, the NATIVE x Nike Football Tournament, and the pop up shop. Beats 1 talked to Skepta’s manager Grace Ladoja, Greatness Dex who provided their take on the Nigerian culture from their POV.

Elsewhere in the documentary, Odunsi, WavyTheCreator and Santi talk influences and give insight into their sound and what it means to be an African growing up in this increasingly digital landscape for global music. There are also clips of Modus Vivendii and WAFFLESNCREAM who feature in the fashion and urban culture part of the series.

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ICYMI: Mr. Eazi talks inspiration behind ‘Accra to Lagos’ with Julie Adenuga on Beats 1 

Quavo hints at Davido feature on solo album debut, ‘Quavo Huncho’

Posted on by The Native

Late last year, the three Migos started to branch out to work on personal projects with other artists and producers. While Quavo released Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho with Travis, Offset dropped Without Warning, a collab tape with 21 savage that was solely produced by Metro Boomin. Although Quavo debuted three new singles and promised that his debut solo project, Quavo Huncho, would be released in September through a possible cover art on his Instagram, the Atlanta rapper is still yet to release the project.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnVWUVXA97b/?taken-by=quavohuncho

However, fans got a glimpse of what to expect through a new post on Quavo’s Instagram today, hinting at a list of potential featured artists, written notably on a rough piece of paper. The piece of paper was an image with burnt holes containing unseen names that had been scribbled out, with the names of other Migos —Offset and Takeoff— as well as Travis, Lil Baby, Drake, Kid Cudi, 2 Savage, Cardi B, Davido and Saweetie. The Instagram post was captioned “P R E  S E A S O N  C U T S (Not Final Cut) Q U A V O H U N C H O”.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BoaK7ebB_cp/?taken-by=quavohuncho

It’s unclear if this means more artists will be added or if some of the mentioned artists could be dropped from the final cut, however, a Davido and Quavo feature certainly happened.

The resulting track on Quavo’s final project will serve as more pertinent proof to confirm that the Afropop sound is more than just a phase or an aesthetic; it’s a globally recognized genre. Perhaps, the Quavo X Davido collaboration could even cause a repeat Billboard appearance after Wizkid’s “One Dance” feature scored a number one on the charts. Davido seems to think so.

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

ICYMI: Here are the 5 take-aways from Davido’s interview at the Breakfast Club talk show

B4bonah celebrates his rise to fame on new single, “Indomie”

Posted on by The Native

Coming hot on the tail of his well accepted “Devil is a Liar”, B4bonah’s new single, “Indomie”, shows off the Ghanaian artist’s ability to make introspective records tailored to Afropop’s dancehall preferences.  “Indomie” has a bouncy drum pattern mixed with other percussion instrumentals produced by Zodiac, which listens like an hip-hop beat with the scratch effect, rattling riffs and vocal samples. Although B4bonah does give a brief rap performance, he sings for the most part of the 4-minute listening time, expressing how blessed he is to have made so much from his humble beginnings; “They Show Me Love/ Can You See Food on My Plate?”. While he celebrates the comfort of being an accomplished artist, he acknowledges the times when what he now has were mere wishes. With the popular meal for masses referenced in his “Indomie” track title, B4bonah knows how to back up introspective song writing with relateable sentiments.

You can stream B4bonah’s “Indomie” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/b4bonah
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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 video for B4bonah’s “Devil is a liar” and 5 other videos you need to watch here