Simi to make acting debut in Kunle Afolayan’s film, “Mokalik”

Posted on by The Native

With photo-shoot sessions and dramatic music videos, Simi’s career as a singer has afforded her more time behind the camera than most people. But despite having a familiar face on TV, she has never taken up an acting role. This is set to change as she has been unveiled as a cast on Kunle Afolayan’s upcoming Yoruba movie, “Mokalik”. 

https://instagram.com/p/Bm-VUxRFKO-/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_loading_state_script

According to Afolayan’s Instagram statement,  the title, “Mokalik” —‘Mechanic’ as pronounced by a native Yoruba speaker, as Afolayan affirms— is a tribute to his father’s 1983 classic Yoruba film, “Taxi Diver”. The script, which was written by Tunde Babalola, was supposedly inspired by his constant visits to mechanic shops. It follows a day in the life of Jaiye, an 11-year-old boy whose father him immerses in an apprentice job after he fails his primary school final exams, hoping that the experience would set him straight. Perplexed but unwilling to go against his father’s wishes, Jaiye grudgingly takes on the Job with different mechanics in various work stations.

Simi’s character —a 21-year-old lady also named Simi— meets Jaiye at work and as they discuss, he confesses to her that he has intentions to remain as a Mechanic-apprentice. In response, Simi offers valued advice about life and choices, which Jaiye ponders through the rest of the day.

As posted on the multiple-award winning director’s Instagram, the film is currently in production. Along with Simi, the film also stars Yoruba actors, including Femi Adebayo, Lateef Oladimeji and Ayo Adesanya.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/kunleafo
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Simi Covers Skepta and Wizkid’s “Energy”

 

See Bracket and Duncan Mighty in their music video for “Chinelo”

Posted on by The Native

The recent resurgence of Duncan Mighty on radio has marked the height of this sentimental era of Afropop.  With Bracket’s latest single, “Chinelo” which features Duncan, the group seem set to get in on some of the “Fake Love” action as well.

Afropop stars have been milking nostalgia for all its worth, through familiar samples and references to popular tunes from the genre’s deep bag of classic. “Chinelo” is a romance-themed song, and with a casual rhythmic percussion baseline and Afropop drum,  you can expect to hear it on church wedding dance floors too. Duncan Mighty joins Obumneme Ali, a.k.a. Smash and Nwachukwu Ozioko, a.k.a. Vast, to perform emotive sets which they perform in the intimate music video. Avalon Okpe directs showing lingering and slow-mo shots of a pleasant relationship that mirrors the artists lyrics.

You can watch the video for “Chinelo” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/OfficialBracket
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ICYMI: See the video for Tiwa Savage and Duncan Mighty’s “Lova Lova” here

Idris Elba Will Not Be the Next James Bond

Posted on by The Native

After nearly a decade of rumors placing Idris Elba as next-in-line to play the 007 role, the actor has definitively laid the speculations to rest.

At Tuesday’s premiere of his directorial debut —“Yardie”— on Good Morning Britain, Idris Elba was asked whether or not he was set to star as James Bond (after Daniel Craig) in the film series; he plainly replied, “No”.

This confirmation came just days after it was announced that the film’s long-running director, Danny Boyle, had parted ways with the franchise. According to Boyle, he left because the franchise was thinking of killing off 007 and he found the idea to be “ridiculous”. Daniel Craig’s appearance in the yet-to-be-titled 25th installment of the James Bond series is expected to be his last. It’s set to start filming in December and is estimated to be released in October 2019. These dates may however change after Boyle’s resignation.

Watch Idris Elba’s interview here:

Featured Image Credits: Twitter/Idriselba (rednoseday.org)

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See Idris Elba in “On The Run”

Ugandan Politician and Musician, Bobi Wine, released a week after arrest

Posted on by The Native

A judge in Uganda ( Justice Stephen Mubiru) has granted bail to Bobi Wine, a popular musician-turned-politician, arrested for treason during a campaign in Uganda (Arua Municipality). He is one amongst 32 other oppositions that have been charged.

Demands for his release were made after videos of a teary Bobi Wine started circulating in the media. The Law Society of Kenya were particularly vocal about their protest of the arrests, threatening to stage a protest on the streets of Kampala if the legislators weren’t released. This Monday, 27th August, Bobi Wine and 11 other Members of Parliament were granted bail and released with the court martial withdrawing the treason charges against them.

Bob Wine (who is formally known as Robert Kyagulani) was kept in a military detention centre in Uganda on 13th August, 2018, for an alleged involvement in the stoning of the current President of Uganda’s convoy (Yoweri Museveni). Bobi Wine’s lawyers said he had been tortured severely while in custody and could neither walk or talk. The claims were rejected by the government, including by President Museveni.

Although he was released from the military base last week, the Ugandan government rearrested him and 11 other Members of Parliament, charging them in a magistrate court for unlawful possession of weapons and ammunition.

Since winning a seat as Kyadondo East Member of Parliament, Bobi Wine has been more active than ever in politics, securing the votes of citizens who he has given hope to, some of who want him to become the next president of Uganda. The current president, Museveni has been in office for over three decades. Bob Wine’s supporters protested for his release in Kampala last week.

Bobi Wine, and the thirtyfold accused oppositions, are still expected back in court on 30th August and other court summons they may have to go for.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/bobiwine

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ICYMI: Read On Bobi Wine’s Parliament Win in Uganda

6 videos you should see this week

Posted on by The Native

Terry Apala – “Mushin”

Terry Apala has released a follow up video to “Mushin” —a cover to Ramz’s “Barking”— which was issued earlier this month. The song tributes Mushin, the street Terry Apala grew up in and the video finds a similar directive, set on the streets of Mushin, where friends from the streets show their support through their cameos. Like himself and his style, the video infuses the odd blend of his rough zonked out vocals and his urban lyrics. It is indigenously created with a clean, yet low-budget imagery of pot-hole ridden streets and wooden pillars of a street shop used as a makeshift stripper pole.

Uncle Murda x 50 Cent x 6ix9ine x Casanova – “Get The Strap”

The bromance between 50 Cent and 6ix9ine, and 50’s declaration of the 22-year old rapper as the “King of New York”, has long-envisaged a possible collaboration which we finally have thanks to Uncle Murda’s “Get The Strap”. The two rappers join Uncle Murda and Casanova for a gangster-core rap number where they ridicule their competition. The Eif Rivera-directed video opens with masked men robbing and shooting up a building before driving off, gun blazing. While Tekashi 6ix9ine rides out the window of a cop car, 50 Cent stands by the dork, delivering violent rap bars with a night view of the city as the backdrop. The video premiered during Episode 8 of “Power”.

Beverly Oh – “Pull Up” 

Being fierce has never looked sexier than in 2018, with role models like Cardi B, turning unfiltered charisma into charm. For her latest single, “Pull Up”, Beverly Oh performs an empowering set, basking in her glow. Over the catchy instrumentals produced by Insane Chips, she takes a dark intense direction to fend off competition. As she sings, “Warning, I’m Coming/ Toxic, I’m Burning”, Paul Gambit directs the music video portraying Beverly Oh as a superstar who walks around with an entourage of dancers and rides around the city in a Benz.

Cardi B – “Ring” feat. Kehlani

Off her recently released Invasion of Privacy album debut, Cardi B just released the video for the 8th track, “Ring”, featuring Kehlani. Produced by Scribz, Needlz and Donut, “Ring” is one of the more somber cuts from the album. On it, the rapper and the singer lament the lack of communication in their relationships. The surreal video for “Ring” is directed by Mike Ho, who shows both artists in symbolic shots such as a floating phone booth and Cardi in tangled black ropes. The unmistakable melancholy in the song reflects in the tortured direction of the video.

Joey B – “Stables” feat. La Meme Gang

Joey B’s latest single, “Stables” is instantly recognizable as Country music through the bounce of the guitar-led-instrumental produced by NOVA. However, the other elements of the production lean closer to Pop music through the fusion of synths and verses from Joey B and La Même Gang (Darkovibes, Kiddblack, $pacely, KwakuBS, and RJZ). The music video, directed by David Duncan, also infuses Country-esque elements through an open field setting where all artists tan in the sun and ride around on horses and bikes.

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween

After the success of 2015’s “Goosebumps” —which marked the fourth Sony film to reign at the top of the box office during the fall— Sony is returning with a sequel to the live action family film called “Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween”. Although cuts from the trailer reveal that the story continues from where the first part stopped with R. L. Stine’s book making an appearance, the cast for “Haunted Halloween” is primarily new. Some of the other changes made to the film’s franchise also include Rob Lieber penning the script and Ari Sandel taking over in the director’s chair. From the teaser trailer, we see two kids stumble on Stine’s old house, finding a locked book that unleashes an animate dummy that naturally embarks on an evil mission to bring more creatures to life on Halloween. The film is expected to start showing in cinemas this October.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Joey B
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ICYMI: Listen to Terry Apala’s “Mushin”, a cover of Ramzy’s “Barking”

Nana Rogues features Wizkid and Not3s for new single, “To The Max”

Posted on by The Native

If influencing is the ultimate millennial profession, Nana Rogues’ latest single, “To The Max”, blurs the lines between curator and artist. After producing Drake’s “Passionfruit”, Section Boyz’s “Trappin Aint Dead” and Dave’s politically-conscious “Hangman”, the UK producer and songwriter displays the culmination of his flirtations with dancehall on the new single featuring Wizkid and Not3s. For “To The Max”, he grafts Wizkid’s rubbery Afropop melodies, Not3s sultry patois and his own teasing vocals onto a breezy mid-tempo bop with a catchy Afropop bounce. Thematically however, their lyrics craft a jaded love story turned into liberating dancefloor number.

Stream Nana Rogues’ “To The Max” featuring Wizkid and Not3s below.


Features Image Credits: Instagram/nanarogues
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ICYMI: See Wizkid and MHD in their music video for “Bella”

Essentials: ‘Crown’ by Loose Kaynon and A-Q

Posted on by The Native

You have to be impressed with M.I’s resolve when it comes to taking charge of the hip-hop community. Like Kanye, he announced earlier this year that he’d be releasing a pair of projects and executive producing for other hip-hop artists before the end of the year and has since made good on his promise. His influence on Loose Kaynon and A-Q’s ‘Crown’ adds a prestigious gloss to the lofty 10-track supergroup project.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmbBb-Qg9YK/?hl=en&taken-by=loosekaynon

Though there are a number of guest appearances from OAPs, rappers, singers and other industry heavyweights that add to the album’s elite hip-hop appeal, M.I’s presence is only felt in a brief producer tag heard on the 7th track, “No Time (Freestyle)”. But it’s just as well, allowing Loose Kaynon and A-Q soak up the limelight and shine through their ostentatious rap lines. The album opens with “Out of This World”, where A-Q instantly takes the front pedal and runs with it, painting a vivid picture of how he climbed up hip-hop’s metaphorical hierarchy over stalking bass and a sample of choir harmonies. Loose Kaynon, on the other hand, feels no need for such character development with his cocksure bars selling the established rap star image by looking down his nose at other rappers; “Y’all mediocre down there talking polite/ It’s funny how all these jokers walking around proud”.

Debbie Romeo subdued vocals like she’s mumbling a prayer to herself on the hook of “Regrets” sets the tone for Loose Kaynon and A-Q’s introspection on their understated reputation. But on “Gang Gang”, Torna replaces her on the hook and infuses an indigenous style with his eastern influenced melody and lyrics. But the track stands out for M.I’s bass-led production with a snare that sounds like static and casually affectionate brags that show off the rallying allure of Chocolate City; “Whole Team Good, We Winning/ Really Don’t Give A Fuck About Who Scores”. A-Q’s verse, obsessing over his own brilliance only emphasizes the powerhouse of Chocolate City’s lineup.

The album’s title track, “Crown”, features the duo of ShowDemCamp, and they don’t hold back from taking up as much room as Reinhard’s sparse production offers. In true cypher-esque aggression, all four rappers go hard into critics of hip-hop with rap battle like vengeance and make “Crown” the obvious centrepiece of the album. However, the tempo switches abruptly on the next track, “By Your Side”, a sultry romantic single featuring Yoye Hayba. But the heartfelt confessional is a brief detour from the album’s core narrative and the speed at which they quickly return to their boastful ways on the next track, “No Time (Freestyle)”indicates the tunnel vision for rap’s competitive throne.

Chi Gurl assisted track, “Hustlers Prayer”, finds Loose Kaynon and A-Q returning to introspective lyrics where they reflect on the downsides to being the best at what they do; “I’m Trying To Sell Records To These Confused Kids”. It’s subtle, but very effectively disarming for any counter arguments to their claims to the throne. On the album’s closing track, “God Wants Us To Be Too Lit”, Loose Kaynon and A-Q keep the authoritative brags going for the party-driven track featuring Big Daddy Jay and a bouncy trap beat produced by Beats by Jayy. Though the 10-track—including a skit—length makes for a relatively quick listen, despite their best efforts, ‘Crown’ still winds up being a monument to their own inflated prestige. With Chocolate City’s reputation and the influence of A-Q’s contagious hunger to prove a point, Loose Kaynon and A-Q prop up each other’s egos and the result is a wholesome and idiosyncratic bird’s eye view of the rap game.

You can stream ‘Crown’ by Loose Kaynon and A-Q below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/loosekaynon
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ICYMI: M.I has released his long awaited 8th studio project, ‘Yxng Dxnzl’

Watch Carmen Ejogo, Mahershala Ali in “true detective” season three, premiere trailer

Posted on by The Native

HBO unveiled the first full trailer for “True Detective” third season, which, as revealed by the trailer, is to be released in January next year. Like the first two seasons, season three of “True Detective” is directed by the show’s director, Nic Pizzicato. According to him, this season will follow the gruesome crime in the Ozarks and how the mystery of it deepens over decades that will play out in three separate time periods.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm9rM0Xg7h-/?hl=en&taken-by=carmenejogo

As seen on the trailer, this season will center around  Mahershala Ali’s character, Wayne Hays, a police detective who time-jumps through three separate time periods to investigate the disappearances of two children who went missing in 1980. The trailer also shows glimpses of Carmen Ejogo, who plays an Arkansas schoolteacher connected to the case of the missing children, and Deborah Ayorinde playing Wayne Hays’ daughter.

Watch the first trailer for “True Detective” Season three here:

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/carmenejogo

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See full list of nominees 6th edition of for Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards”

Listen to Tay Iwar’s latest set 1997

Posted on by Adewojumi Aderemi

Tay Iwar has dropped the first piece off his upcoming album; a collection titled 1997. Comprising of 3 self-produced tracks, the set released exclusively on Soulection.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm8tkbslqVy/?hl=en&taken-by=tayiwar

Teaming up with Santi and Preyé for an upbeat opening to his collection, Tay Iwar stresses the need for “Space” on one’s journey, singing “Space is all I need, to get away, away with all my dreams.”

The next track he teases us with is  “Sugardaddy”, on which Odunsi [The Engine] brings in his Yoruba flare, as the duo narrate the story of a young mistress fed up of looking for love, willing to settle for financial displays of affection. Finally, the project ends in a passionate ballad – “Miracle Girl”, the standout from the trifecta – fittingly vocalised by Tay Iwar alone to express the depths of his emotions.

Tay Iwar’s debut album is expected to drop later on this year, and with this tantalising teaser it’s something we can’t wait to hear in full!

Stream 1997  here via Soulection

See the video for Adegboyega’s latest single, “Wura”

Posted on by The Native

For his latest single, “Wura”, Adegboyega exchanges the high-life influences heard on his previous single, “Fele” which featured Mayorkun. “Wura” combines street-hop’s pacy house drums, Yoruba vocals and booming bass drum thumps. The instrumentals Kash Beatz produces with saxophone solos that interlude the Yoruba lines about wealth, gold and the good life. Brian E. Ebden directs a video that sets Adegboyega and his dancers on the rooftop of a high-end set of flats, where he showcases his carefree lifestyle through dance and a flamboyant outfit that sets him apart from commercial fashion. He is also seen on the set of a white background, where he plays his saxophone solos as the dancers perform.

Watch the video for Adegboyega’s “Wura” here:

https://youtu.be/ESbT1jLViLA

Listen to Olamide’s latest single, “Criteria”

Posted on by The Native

For Olamide’s latest single, “Criteria”, Pheelz produces a mid-tempo high-life beat over which we hear Olamide’s raspy voice singing sweet confessions to a lover he almost lost. “What’s the criteria”, he sings to his lover, asking what its would take for her to accept his proposal, after which he spells out how he intends to express his love.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmwZ39ogRG8/?hl=en&taken-by=baddosneh

Olamide’s emotive lyrics also touch on how society and rash decisions prompted by misguided advice can diminish the value of a relationship. He expresses this through lyrics where, like a concerned counselor, he urges her to focus more on her values than chatter from external sources. 

Listen to “Criteria” here:

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Olamide releases “Motigbana”with a music video

Zoro and Mr Real link up for new single, “Upandan”

Posted on by The Native

Afropop’s repetitive style may give the impression that it runs on a trend mill, but Zoro and Mr Real’s “Upandan” shows it’s not such a monoculture. Not only is it split by the unbridgeable divide between commercial R&B fueled pop and everything else, it’s split into a bazillion fractions and overlapping factions based on geography, demographics, history, stylistic quirks, tribal allegiance and petty grievances.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmokga1F5En/?hl=en&taken-by=mr_realgram

For “Upandan”, the Zoro’s melodic eastern fused vocals is placed next to Mr Real’s cocksure Yoruba ad-libs from the trendy street pop sound from Lagos. Over the house music beat T’Spize produces, they perform a song for DJ turntables, describing scenes you’d expect in the club, “Go Shawty Go/ Upandan/ Let The Booty Go”.

Stream Zoro and Mr Real’s “Upandan” below.

https://soundcloud.com/freemedigital/zoro-ft-mr-real-upandan-prod-by-tspice

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/zoroswagbag
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ICYMI: NATIVE talks everything real about Mr Real and his Street-hop smash hit, “Legbegbe”

Juls’ releases new single, “Normal” featuring Kojey Radical with an accompanying video

Posted on by The Native

Juls may have built his reputation with Afropop releases like “Saa Ara”, promoting traditional African sound. But for his latest single, he embraces his hip-hop sensibilities. “Normal” features U.K. rapper, Kojey Radical who raps over Juls’ psychedelic trap beat with a decidedly Afropop bounce and traditional drum riffs. The menacing percussion baseline inspires aggressive bars from Kojey Radical who brags about his past scars, elevating his game and stunting on old friends; “Long Time Since Minimum Wages/ Long Time Since Man Seen Angels”. Juls also directs the video for “Normal”, using psychedelic filters reminiscent of a Busta Rhymes music video. 

Watch the video for Juls’ “Normal” featuring Kojey Radical below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/JulsVEVO
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ICYMI: Listen to Juls’ “Saa Ara” featuring Kwesi Arthur and Akan

Best New Music: Darkovibes is living in the moment on “Stay Woke”

Posted on by The Native

Of all of life’s most obvious uncertainties, loves thrives above all because we’re damned if we do or don’t; Darkovibes knows this best. Last year he dosed fans with “Tomorrow”, a sprawling Afropop smash about love against all odds—even if the love itself is not assured.

In the same stylistic manner, “Stay Woke” his latest single thrives on the line between loving for the sake of living and loving for the sake of loving. ‘This will fade as the day goes’, Darko sings, adding ‘I will pose here for you, all my life, cos I love how you work me’ in the next line. It’s a bittersweet imagery of undying love, in spite of Darko’s awareness of how things will end between them. But it’s no matter since he is decidedly ‘living every moment’ with casual hedonism—(this becomes even clearer on Stonebwoy’s verse)—indulging in sex and drugs till the day the relationship tips over.

Sonically, “Stay Woke” is a slow-whine bop, but its winning element is a fusion of Carribean melody with heavy bass-drops, jazz snares and electronic synths produced by Accra-based beatmaker, JumpOff. His greatest indention on “Stay Woke” is a mellow progression perfect for the underlying sensual theme that plays out in the accompanying video.

“Stay Woke” is a statement to the necessity of looking out for equal parts self-reward and beauty in every moment. Especially when it concerns matters of the heart where people are unpredictable and the rules are undefined, as in Darko’s relationship and perhaps life itself.

Listen to Darkobvibes “Stay Woke” here:

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Shaking Yemi Alade’s unshakable table and Afropop’s global takeover

M.I has released his long-awaited 8th studio project “Yxng Dxnzl”

Posted on by The Native

The roll-out for M.I’s new album, Yxng Dxnzl started in February 2016 when the rapper first announced the project alongside Illegal Music 3. But there was no word about the project again for many months and fans started to wonder if it was stuck in development hell.

Last year, M.I’s appearance on Pulse’ Loose Talk Giants gave a glimmer of hope to the album. According to M.I, he was forced back into the studio by criticisms of earlier versions of the project. Surprisingly, the next release from M.I was Rendezvous not the long-awaited Yxng Dxnzl. Yet again, fans were left with mouths watering for an album M himself had hyped enough to garner mythos that it would set a new tone for his legacy.

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

Earlier today, Yxng Dxnzl debuted on digital stores, bringing an end to a two-year-long ‘Yxng Dxnzl’ campaign. The much-anticipated project packs a handful of feature verses—from Tay Iwar, Odunsi, Lady Donli, Cina Soul, Lorraine Chia, Patrickxxlee and Niyola —despite running at about 40 minutes runtime, but M as usual, has a lot to say.

The Chocolate city top-dog runs through a range of familiar themes; love, hip-hop, self-affirmation, and self-destruction, centering the project with a stunning delivery on the brazenly-honest The Self Evaluation of Yxng Dxnzl. Yxng Dxnzl is M.I’s 8th studio album, though his latest project isn’t indicative of a linear career, his confidence, growth and maturity are told through the narratives that surface over the 10 tracks.

Stream Yxng Dxnzl here

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

Unanswered questions about Duncan Mighty’s domestic violence allegations

Posted on by The Native

Earlier this week, reports surfaced online accusing Duncan Mighty of assaulting his wife,  Vivien Nwakanwa, in their home in Port Harcourt over the weekend. With the support of photo evidence, the account owner who has only been identified as Vivien’s friend, affirmed that the singer left her with a swollen eye, and then “abandoned his family for Lagos”. Speaking exclusively to Onobello, the unnamed friend sent a picture, saying: “He beat her up yesterday as if she wasn’t a human being like himself and threatened to kill her. I am sending you this to show the world, let them know who he really is, what he really is behind the social media. Fake life…”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmtR1AAhre4/?hl=en

In response, Duncan Mighty released a statement addressing the issue where he neither confirmed nor denied the allegation. Instead, he tiptoed around the accusations with what he identifies as his family values saying “My Wife and Kids can’t do without their daddy” while lashing the media outlet that broke the news.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmvDXDygxzf/?hl=en

Oddly, while Duncan Mighty hasn’t fully convinced fans that he’s not culpable to the wife’s swollen eye, he has already garnered support from loyalists who agree the claims are nothing but hater-talk. In a country where domestic crimes are rarely ever reported, perhaps someone needs to be asking more questions. After all, there still no word in his statement about how his wife’s swollen eye came to be.

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Listen to “AZA”, DMW’s latest release featuring Davido, Duncan Mighty and Peruzzi

Children of Mud earns child actress, Mariam Kayode nomination for Best Actress in a Drama

Posted on by The Native

The 6th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) nominees have been announced, among them is 11-year-old Mariam Kayode which makes her the youngest person ever nominated as Best Actress in a Drama by the AMVCA.

Mariam Kayode is nominated for her role in Imoh Umoren’s film “Children Of Mud”, which Umoren describes as a child right advocacy film that explores the causes and consequences of child homelessness. Umoren stars Mariam as Emem, a young girl who is forced to fend for herself and her brother after they’re thrown out on the street by their an aunt they’ve been sent to live with. She also appeared in  Imoh Umoren’s sophomore feature film, “The Happyness Limited”. The Best Actress nominees also include Keira Hewatch (The Witness Box), Cinderella Sanyu (Bella), Omotola Jalade Ekeinde (Alter Ego) and Lilian Echelon (Black Rose).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmjSfc5Amg7/?taken-by=official_mariamkayode

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/official_Mariamkayode

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See full list of nominees 6th edition of for Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards”

Listen to “AZA”, DMW’s latest release featuring Davido, Duncan Mighty and Peruzzi

Posted on by The Native

Romance goes beyond a mere declaration of affection and you only need to listen to a couple Afropop songs to notice. Afropop love songs reflect the dating culture through outlandish and showy brags that almost undermine the love story at play. With DMW’s “AZA”, Davido, Duncan Mighty and Peruzzi flex over a mid-tempo guitar led beat Fresh VDM produces. While Duncan Mighty infuses lines in his local dialect, Davido and Peruzzi alternate between English and pidgin, using their wealth to entice love interests. Singing “What is It Wey You Want Wey Davido No Fit Do/ Dollar Alert, Credit Alert, Secure The Bag”, they clearly expect their money to do all the work when picking up women.

Stream DMW’s “AZA” featuring Davido, Duncan Mighty and Peruzzi below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/davidoofficial
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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

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Patoranking urges peace on his new single, ‘Heal D World’

Posted on by The Native

On his latest single, “Heal D World”, Patoranking urges listeners to choose peace and community over self-preservation and racism. He takes a page from Micheal Jackson’s book, urging growth as a global community and tolerance. Unlike Micheal however Patoranking also touches on corruption, superficiality and global insurgency — “Every corner is war and crisis/ Boko Haram Al-Qaeda and ISIS”.

In the accompanying video, we see Patoranking performing amid a multicultural peaceful protest. The protesters are holding anti-war banners and urging peace by the gates of a ruler, barred by police. It stars Patoranking and a child who he walks through the war-damaged city. The video also cameos BERA, who featured Patoranking on his single, “Fire To The Sun” earlier this year. Both perform “Heal D World”, with a choir singing along in the background.

Watch Patoranking’s “Heal D World” here:

Featured Image Credit: Youtube/patorankingfire

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“Tomiwa is figuring it out…” Tweet at her @fauxbella

BERA and Patoranking team up for “Fire To The Sun”

See Runtown and Fekky in video for new single, “Unleash”

Posted on by The Native

As 2018 comes to a gradual but eventual close, more bangers are gradually slipping out of the vault from all the far corners of Afropop, against all odds. Take Runtown for example, the singer has spent most of the year battling legal problems with his former management, Eric Manny. Recently, he pivoted with his own imprint, SoundGod Music Group and debuted “Unleash” featuring Fekky, as the first single released under the imprint. The singer has now updated the roll-out with the release an accompanying video.

In the newly released video, Runtown is shown as relaxed as a Cuban drug lord, smoking cigars and having a beautiful woman run her hands through his hair. Unlike the energetically-themed track it accompanies, the visuals for “Unleash” are mellow but dark-toned, featuring shots of beautiful women and Runtown thugging it out with his braids on.

See RunTown in “Unleash”

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

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Daramola turns romance into R&B bliss for new single, “Heartbreak Please”

Posted on by The Native

Daramola’s “Heartbreak Please” is about setting up cliches and pulling out the rug from beneath them. Despite his poignant auto-tune embellished vocals and the heavy tale of heartbreak he spins with it, upbeat electronic harmonies underpin the elated devotion of his lyrics; “I Can Take The Pain Away”. Over the EDM fueled skittering drums and chest-shaking basslines, he uses the trauma of failed past relationship as a tool for sweet talking a love interest. But with his charming voice and reassuring lyrics, “Loving You is Diamond and You’re So Hard To Find/ You Deserve All “, the counter-intuitive logic is rather convincing.

Listen to Daramola’s “Heartbreak Please” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/itsdaramola

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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

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