Straffitti teams up with Blaqbonez and PsychoYP for unapologetic new single, “100BENZ”

Posted on by The Native

Since his debut, it has been easy to criticize Straffitti for his penchant for using his music as a medium to send violent threats to his haters. It stands to reason that if one warning isn’t enough to stop the hate, a hundred warnings isn’t going to make much of a difference. But there’s a levity to “100BENZ”, his new single featuring Blaqbonez and PsychoYP. Despite the bass heavy trap beat GClef and JohnsonIP produce with percussion samples and layers of synths, there’s a peculiar guitar riff sample that is so sweet, it counterbalances the potential severity of their lyrics.

While glorifying the trap lifestyle with flashy brags and gun-toting machismo, all three rappers infuse enough of their personalities to give a more wholesome perspective to the lifestyle. With a verse from each rapper, Blaqbonez and PsychoYP let slip that their actual issues are with their lovers. And even Straffitti sounds happy to give away all his money for some head. If he is trying to sell listeners on his street life, “100Benz” is a convincing tale about the rash lifestyle of young people trying to make their way on the street.

You can stream “100BENZ” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/straffitti
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ICYMI: Listen to Straffitti’s “Hotel Tokyo” featuring JethroFaded

Stanley Kalu’s ‘The Obituary of Tunde Johnson’ will be directed by the co-creator of ‘Everybody hates Chris’

Posted on by The Native

The Obituary of Tunde Johnson, written by the Nigerian student, Stanley Kalu—who schooled in University of Southern California’s Cinematic Arts—now has a director, Ali LeRoi —the co-creator of the comedy hit Tv series, Everybody Hates Chris.

Kalu’s script for The Obituary of Tunde Johnson, won $1 million in a screenplay competition through The Launch, a fellowship co-created by Jason Shuman and Zachary Green to find excellent next generation of screenwriters from around the world. Shuman and Green are producing Kalu’s project with Chuck and Marni Bond, alongside LeRoi who just signed as the director.

Deadline reports that the movie production will begin later this month. And as the publication reports, the plot follows “a wealthy, black, high school senior who falls victim to an endless time loop of police brutality”.

In an old interview with his school, USC cinematic Art, the talented script writer—Stanley Kalu—spoke about his art through the perspective of his nomadic life with his family who has lived in seven different countries since his birth; “my fractured perspective turns my writing to mercury. Ever shifting. Ever changing. Always different”.

Through the many acheivements LeRoi has underneath his sleeves —being the creator behind the hit TV series, Are We There Yet, and an Emmy winner for The Chris Rock Show— he is a trusted partner to compliment Kalu’s artistic proficiency by directing The Obituary of Tunde Johnson.

We look forward to a release date.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@lord_kalu
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ICYMI: ‘Ugly Betty’ Is Getting A South African Version

Listen to “Yours”, a romantic new single by Gavi

Posted on by The Native

Produced by Konam, “Yours” is a gleefully mellow track with a rock-steady drum riff that’s certain to keep heads bopping. Over the mid-tempo beat embellished with ambient synth percussion instruments, Gavi performs a sultry set to win the affection of a love interest; “You’re the one that I want, I want to be with you”. The mix of English and his indigenous Igbo dialect helps to magnify the vulnerability in his vocals, as he admits to being in his feelings and willing to do anything to be called her man. “Yours” is Gavi’s second single, after debuting with “Sefunmi”, over a year ago.

You can stream “Yours” below.

https://soundcloud.com/listentogavi/yours-gavi

Featured Image Credits: Twitter/Gavi_Official
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ICYMI: Listen to “Sefunmi” by Gavi

Mo’believe shares “Poverty” music video to commemorate World Day for eradication of poverty

Posted on by The Native

Mo’believe is a singer and songwriter who makes smart indie-pop songs that everyone and their mothers will love. He just released the music video for “Poverty”, a compelling song narrating the harsh economic reality of Nigerians off his recently released debut project, Ariwo Eko. The video Adeniyi ‘TAJ’ Joseph directs for Nostalgia Media Agency is a perfect complement to “Poverty” as Mo’believe is seen in shots, invisible to the actors playing the characters he describes in his lyrics; “Preacher Man Dey Sell Hope/ Brother Emma Dey Live on Scope/ Sister Blessing Dey Sell Her Body”.

Although Mo’believe’s ghostly impression takes front and center in most frames, the obvious hardship in the rural compound setting of the video is striking. Still, it’s the type of cinematic sleight of hand that can make the song’s message more compelling, as Mo’believe releases the video on the 17th of October to commemorate World Day for eradication of poverty.

You can stream the video for “Poverty” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Mo’believe
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ICYMI: Listen to “Jolly Jolly” off Mo’believe’s ‘Ariwo Eko’ EP

Here are the full album credits for Odunsi’s “rare.”

Posted on by The Native

Odunsi’s first album rare. debuted last Friday. In addition to previously released singles like “Divine” and “Alte Cruise”, rare. contains 12 additional tracks, and there are some impressive features: Runtown makes a rare appearance, while Santi, Nasty C, Tay Iwar, AmmaRae, Zamir Los and Hamza amongst others contribute vocals.

Production contributions comes from sources as wide as Seyi Ogunnaike, Genio Bambino, Kingsley Okorie, Davido, Efe Jazz, Tay Iwar and Yinoluu. The artist himself is credited on almost every song as producer too.

See rare.‘s track list and production credits below.

rare

Arranged by Odunsi

Written by Bowofoluwa Odunsi and Malike Hamzaa

Vocals: Hamzaa, D.A.P, Dj Woske

Keys: D.A.P

Guitars: Efe Jazz & Banakoy aba

Rhodes: Clyde Lawrence

Spoken Word: Tomi Thomas

(this intro had 2 versions. TMXO inspired the current version on the album)

 

falling

Produced by Odunsi

Bass Guitar: Seyi Ogunnaike

 

take me there

Produced by Le Mav

Additional vocals: Lady Donli

Interview extract: Idris King speaking live on naija info fm with “massive mathew”

 

outcast

Produced by Genio Bambino

Keys: Tomi Thomas

 

divine

Produced by Hvrry

Additional Production: Davido

Additional Vocals: Sola King

 

wanted you

Produced by Odunsi

Additional Synth Bass: Altra Nova

 

angel

Produced by Odunsi

Bass Guitar: Kingsley Okorie (cavemen)

 

take a break

Produced by Odunsi

Additional Production: Krs.

Guitar: Efe Jazz

 

express

Produced by Odunsi

 

dancefloor

Produced by Odunsi

 

star signs 

Additional Production: Nosapollo

Guitar: Efe Jazz

Additional Bass: Kingsley Okorie (cavemen)

 

greenlight

Produced by Odunsi

Additional Vocals: Dj Yin

Guitar: Tay Iwar

 

hectic

Produced by Odunsi

Additional Synth: GMK

Bass: Kingsley Okorie (cavemen)

 

alté cruise

Produced by Yinoluu

 

All Tracks Mixed and Mastered by GMK

 

A&R: Chubbz

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/ @___tse

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Stream all songs from ‘Rendezvous: A Playlist by M.I Abaga’

‘Ugly Betty’ Is Getting A South African Version

Posted on by The Native

The ABC series, Ugly Betty, inspired by the megahit Colombian telenovela, Betty La Fea has been optioned for a local adaptation by South Africa’s Known Associates Entertainment. Variety reported that the deal was announced at Cannes’ Mipcom television trade show on Monday with Colombian net RCN, which owns the rights to the format.

Known Associates chairman, Joel Phiri, said the company intends to produce Ugly Betty just as the other seasons of it have been produced. Except this time, “with a local flavor, and in South African languages”. He is also quoted by Variety as saying, “It is a great pleasure to be able to bring this evergreen home to South African audiences, and we are looking forward to finding the best broadcaster for the series”. The production company is currently in talks with broadcasters to find the adaptation a fitting time belt and station.

The America version dubbed Ugly Betty, debuted in 2006, running for four seasons on ABC. The worldwide hit was created by Silvio Horta, executive produced by Salma Hayek and Ben Silverman and it starred America Ferrera, who later won an Emmy Award, making her the the first Latina to win a lead actress for the Emmys.

Featured Image Credit: Known Associates Entertainment
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ICYMI: South African Actress Phumzile Sitole Joins Cast Of “Orange Is The New Black”

YBNL Mafia’s “Juju, Guns and Roses” establishes them as the future of indigenous rap

Posted on by The Native

Over the length of his career, Olamide has had several narratives attached to his name; from the convenient DaGrin comparisons, street inclined rap, inspiring bromance with Phyno and later on, his preference for dance-ready pop songs. But after successfully establishing artists like Lil Kesh and Adekunle Gold in the music industry, he has earned a new career batch as an exemplary talent manager. Just yesterday, he threatened to expose “21st-century slave” masters in the music industry, disguised as record labels after signing budding talents, Picazo and Yomi Blaze. And though he is yet to make good on that promise, his latest signings, Picazo and Yomi Blaze have joined ranks with hip-hop acts in YBNL, Davolee and Limerick, to form a new rap crew called YBNL Mafia.

Just hours after the signing, YBNL Mafia have released their debut single, “Juju, Guns and Roses”, confirming the hunger the two new signings have shown in the freestyles released on social media. And after hearing their hard hitting bars over the percussion led beat with vocal samples and no hook, it’s easy to understand why they went with the name YBNL Mafia. Though they are still too new for their voices to be recognizable, all four rappers’ flow run into each other, packed with snap judgments, stream-of-consciousness observations that vanish as quickly as they appear. With their Yoruba bars embellished with English metaphors, Picazo, Yomi Blaze, Davolee and Limerick make rapping seem easy with their fluidity. But it’s the kernels of wisdom scattered in their musings that resonate more; “Wo Ni Sango Loko Iya But Mi O Gbo Pe Wo Se Engagement”.

You can stream YBNL Mafia’s “Juju Guns and Roses” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/baddosneh

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ICYMI: Olamide signs promising new acts, Picazo and Yomi Blaze after social media hype

Ryan Coogler has signed a deal to write and direct ‘Black Panther 2’

Posted on by The Native

The outsized success of Black Panther, both critically and commercially, has long instigated expectations for a sequel. But no one knew when it would happen. Hollywood Reporter and Shadow and Act have reported that the film maker behind the $1.3 billion worldwide hit, Ryan Coogler, has quietly signed a deal to write and direct a second Black Panther.

Although they did not disclose their sources, The Hollywood Reporter, who first broke the news, writes that before and after Black Panther was released in February, “both Marvel and Coogler’s camp were hounded about when a sequel deal would be inked”. Usually, a filmmaker and a studio are quick to sign a follow-up, especially after a successful opening. “But Coogler’s camp shook off the peer pressure and took its time in making a deal, which occurred under the radar some time ago.”

While Ryan Coogler is currently working on his next movie, Wrong Answer, the plan is for him to write Black Panther 2 in 2019 and for production to begin in the last quarter of the year or early 2020. Coogler is also executive producing Space Jam, starring LeBron James.

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AV Club: “Klippers” by Black Panther Alumnus, Ofu Obekpa, is a recycled Nigerian action-comedy

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

ICYMI: See the music video for “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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Fisayo is a journalist in search of words. Tweet at her @fisvyo

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