Essentials: Victoria Kimani releases ‘Afropolitan’, a 7-track EP

Posted on by The Native

Growing up in conservative African societies, we’re taught to suppress our sexual desires and erotic thoughts. This is true across gender lines, but it’s women who have been the most carefully taught. It has been drilled into their heads and then reinforced by the adverse effect of this suppressed desires on the men who also have no idea how to control their erotic desires. Victoria Kimina’s sexually expressive music has been lauded for subverting that norm but she may have suffered the brunt of that when she was sexually harassed during her Safari Kenyan Tour in Kisii. Fortunately, that wasn’t enough to stop her as she released her new project, ‘Afropolitan‘, a 7-track EP cock full of sexually positive anthems, post-break up numbers and peak self love.

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The tape opens with pre-released single, “Wonka”, where she flexed her agency as a sexual being with straightforward and playful nastiness that isn’t typical of a woman in dancehall; “I Like It When You Go Down On Me/ I See You Get Harder”. Backed by the tropical influenced harmonies GospelOnDeBeatz produces with a subtle creaking sample that sounds suggestively like the backboard of a bed during sex, Victoria Kimani kicks off on a sexy and melodious note heard through the rest of the EP. However, on the second track, “Should Be”, she’s a bit more sentimental about passionate, letting her sultry vocals convey as much emotions as the words, “Would You Fuck it Up/ Oh Yeah”.

On “Highest Calibre”, she addresses unwanted advances from men who she describes as “Regular”. Though it’s not exactly a surprise given her looks and the themes heard on her songs, it adequately illustrates the dangers of being sexually expressive in our society. Though the synths and feel-good melodies make the song sound more like a love letter than a kissoff, singing “You’re Just Trying To Ruin My Life/ Should’ve Known Not To Let You Inside/ See Me, Everyday I Cry”, gives away the haunting theme and a sense that she’s speaking from personal experience. She also incorporates vocabulary from teaching institutions, “No Extra Curricular”, as if to situate where the issue is most prevalent in our society.

“My Sweetie” is a more romantic cut from the project, produced by Ace Harris and DJ Tag for PK ONEDAY with mid-tempo Afropop harmonies that heighten the song’s dancehall attributes. Selasi produced track, “Boom” fuses Victoria Kimani’s pop influences from R&B, Afropop and dancehall as she performs another club driven romantic song, only this time, making sure she represents the “African Sound”.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi6OIq0jKD4/?taken-by=victoriakimani

‘Afropolitan’ however closes on a more conscious theme of love being too valuable to be price. Over the catchy beat GospelOnDaBeatz produces for “Not For Sale”, she describes how much love she has to offer and how it takes more than money to buy her love; “If You Give Me Love/ Me I’ll Do The Same/ I Do Not Charge For My Loving/ No I’m Not For Sale/ African Fairy tale”.

Victoria Kimani’s ability to speak about taboo topics so plaintively is, perhaps, her strongest quality as an artist. A woman putting forth her own truth, telling her own story, is one of the most powerful ways she can support other women in a landscape in which we are still so often told to be ashamed of our sexuality or, at the very least, to simply hush. Her relatability has kept her fans loyal throughout her career, and her new album, ‘Afropolitan’ certainly has potential sexual empowerment anthems in it.

You can stream ‘Afropolitan’ below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/victoriakimani

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: Watch Victoria Kimani’s raunchy video for “Wonka” here

Watch the video for “Battery Low”, T’Neeya’s debut release under Aristokart Records

Posted on by The Native

African artists collaborating is increasingly becoming popular and despite the varying cultures and language differences, the artists have continuously produced music that resonates with and outside their countries of origin. The authenticity of this homogeneous sonic goal is seen in the friendships formed by the artists from the various countries, catering to their fans around the continent. Record labels have also joined in to strengthen the foundation by signing artists from all ends of the continent.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BipDzH7lJXf/?hl=en&taken-by=tneeya

Nigeria record label, Aristokart records recently signed Cameroonian singer/songwriter T’neeya. The label announced this with the release of T’neeya’s first song under the label’s imprint and it’s titled “Low Battery”. The song also features production from Ghanaian producer, Paq who produces a mid-tempo beat for T’neeya’s melodic narration of how her patience with her lover is wearing thin. The video is set in a saloon where T’neeya gives a heartfelt performance, unnoticed by others who are at the saloon with her.

Watch the video for T’neeya’s “Battery Low” here:

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

Connecting Africa: Niniola and Kagwe’s ‘Till the end’

Tomi Agape and LadiPoe’s “Complicated” is not as cliche as the title suggests

Posted on by The Native

Friendships that develop into romantic relationships are supposed to be the best ones, I mean, why go through the dating process with someone you barely know when you can date someone you’r already comfortable with? All you need is a mutual attraction and you’re good to go. But when it doesn’t work out, you end up in a complex loop, wondering if you’re still friends or not, especially when this ending isn’t mutual. On Tomi Agape’s “Complicated”, Tomi and LadiPoe paint a scenario of how the negative side plays out

Over the Spax-produced low-tempo beat, LadiPoe asks “What is it about friends that become lovers and then lover that are no longer friends”, and as the beat dips into relaxing drum riffs, Tomi Agape’s lyrics depict the mental state of a person who gets dumped abruptly by a long-term friend turned lover.

Listen to “Complicated” here:

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/tomiagape

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

Listen to the first track off Tomi Agape’s forthcoming EP, “In the Night”

Mr Eazi and Giggs have released a video for “London Town”

Posted on by The Native

Mr Eazi dropped “Overload” and “London Town” from his forthcoming EP, ‘Life is Eazi Volume 2: Lagos to London’ last week, giving us a taste of what to expect from the U.K. and Lagos inspired project. Unsurprisingly, the tracks featured artists from both ends of the Atlantic.

Mr.Eazi, aka Happy Boy (also known as detty boy), just released the music video for “London Town” featuring U.K. based grime artist, Giggs. The video for “London Town” is shot in what looks to be an abandoned underground-train-turn-party-train, thanks to the smoke machines, neon lights and dancers who perform to the bouncy beat.

Check out the video for Mr Eazi and Giggs’ “London Town”

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Mr Eazi

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

Listen to the lead singles from Mr Eazi’s forthcoming project, “Life of Eazi Volume 2: Lagos to London”

This young lawyer’s online platform looks to change the face of human rights litigation in Nigeria

Posted on by The Native

Nigeria’s criminal justice system is as fundamentally flawed as they come and the defects are evident at every point of the line. Time and time again, Amnesty International reports have exposed Nigeria as a conveyor belt of injustice. From the failure of governing institutions to design justice policies that serve the current needs of an evolving society, to lacklustre legislation and a judicial system plagued with corruption, bottlenecks, bureaucracy and gross incompetence. And that’s understating the derisory method of policing and a correctional system that inhumanely persecutes and warehouses those deemed ‘innocent until proven guilty’ by the very law that locks them up.

All of Nigeria is affected by this injustice because it has been brought to the backyards of all of the masses, privileged or not. Now, your perceived lowly connections is a long-term contingency that won’t necessarily save you from some on-the-spot brushing with corrupt and trigger-happy police officers, looking to obtain you for the night’s turn up. It’s easy to think losing your money to these guys is the worst thing when the fact that for every one victim that is shaken down, there are about five other victims who have to wait for an average of 6 years between filling and delivery of justice in a prison filled above its capacity isn’t factored in.

In a bid to influence reform, Adeboro Odunlami launched a platform that connects underprivileged litigants without access to representation with lawyers willing to take up their case pro bono. With “chapteriv.ng”, you can make a report if your fundamental right has been violated and have your case handled for free once you sign up to offer lawyering services. This is how we get our hands dirty and do the work to drive the change we hope to see. You might not need this service—yet—but someone not so far from you does. Tell someone to tell another about chapteriv.ng.

You can follow them on Twitter here for more information

Featured Image Credits: Web/chapteriv.ng

Cobham Asuquo’s “Everyday” takes addressing politics a step further

Posted on by The Native

Election season in Nigeria doesn’t just feed pop culture, it is pop culture. It’s months of digging into a figurative bowl of popcorn and cackling at the show. Mudslinging attacks on your personal choice in candidates, propaganda (the propaganda is a personal fave because who doesn’t want to see these guys pretend to be slumming it?) and lets not forget the auditions for election jingles contracts that assault the air waves prior to the big thing. 

Featuring BEZ and Sound Sultan who making conscious music isn’t unfamiliar territory for, Cobhams Asuquo’s new single, “Everyday” satirically weighs in on the state of the nation with varying shades of personifications. But what makes it so distinct is how it doesn’t just throw the failings of the nation in our faces. It goes further to reassure the victims of the cycle of government failings of a better tomorrow.

In Cobhams words, “Everyday” is a story of threes that draws several parallels with the Nigerian State. It’s a story of three friends who hoped for a better life, a story of betrayal, and a story that speaks to how there should come a time when people get tired of the status quo. It highlights the dangers of being a complacent people and speaks to the need to take one’s future into one’s own hands as opposed to leaving it in the hands of those who would squander it. As we prepare to cast our votes next year and decide our future, “Everyday” calls on us to reject complacency and do something. It is time we leave that space of taking things as they are, and get to that point where sidon look is no longer acceptable. It doesn’t make sense that the hardworking Nigerian youth should continue to slave away with little or no guarantee of a future. I wish that we would recognize and exercise our power to choose so that we can shape our collective future into that which we desire. Special thanks to my brothers Sound Sultan and Bez, outstanding and conscientious musicians in their own right who lent their voices to this song. “Everyday” is a song for the people. “Everyday” is a song for you. God bless Nigeria.

Listen to “Everyday” here; 

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/Cohbamsasuquo

See WavyTheCreator’s video for “Shaku (Dance)”

Posted on by The Native

The concept for WavyTheCreator’s “Shaku (Dance)” video is simple: Wavy is cast in her ’90s themed photoshoot/house party video where the white background is lit up by neon lights, disco balls, brightly colored balloons and the models in their cool outfits.

The lyrics to “Shaku (Dance)” are vivid and uplifting, with nods to the latest dance rave in Nigeria. And the video finds similar excitement in the freestyle dance direction of the video’s cast and the retro filtered frames that offer their own type of harmony. Street pop meets the charm of the ’90s fueled alternative music scene, with a lowbrow nostalgic house party kiss to boot. It’s a clever way to remind everyone that though music tastes may differ, partying is a sentiment shared across all genres.

Watch the video for Wavy TheCreator’s “Shaku (Dance)” here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mpd1FONp-ak

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Wavythecreator

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: WavyTheCreator’s music video for “H.I.G.H” is eye-candy for retro enthusiast

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

Posted on by The Native

The impact of a Wizkid and L.A.X collaboration isn’t just heartwarming for the nostalgia, it has also been proven efficient with smash hits like “Caro” and “Ginger” still ringing in fond memory. The duo have teamed up for yet another sultry dancehall number titled “Nobody”, this time, backed by synth led instrumental Altims produces with mid-tempo percussion, synth harmonies and bouncy drum riffs.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjH-agtHgqn/?hl=en&taken-by=izzlax

With the slow wine primed instrumental, it’s easy to mistake “Nobody” for another club driven number to add to the ever growing list of romantic fueled Afropop songs. But L.A.X and Wizkid are singing their own praises not their love interests’. Still, it’s almost pointless to resist the song’s alluring melody, especially with that earworming and murky refrain from L.A.X; “SelivitinDaCountinChicken”?

You watch the Kurlevra Pictures directed music video for L.A.X and Wizkid’s “Nobody”.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Rasaki Music

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: Wizkid has been silently reclaiming the homefront in the last few months

AYLØ debuts with the video for “wys?”

Posted on by The Native

Since emerging in 2016 through his well accepted ‘Honest Conversations‘ EP, then doubling up with a more centered sophomore project, <insert project name>, released last year, AYLØ has managed to build quite a remarkable following despite not being the most visible artist. Besides a handful of live performances, it takes some expert level Google search skills to find AYLØ on his Instagram where there are a few shots of him. With the release of his debut video, “wys?”, we see him making an effort to connect his image with his music brand.

“wys?”, is released in collaboration with brands like Samsung Nigeria and HelaBase. But it’s the playboy figure AYLØ strikes in his robe, chains, braided hairstyle and accompanying sexy models that make the video a moving, much-deserved celebration of self. So much so that it’s almost fitting that featured artist, Santi only makes an appearance through his name on a phone’s screen. In accordance with the ballad’s soothing affirmations of vulnerability, the clip is soft and relaxing.

Watch the video for AYLØ and Santi’s “wys?” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/AYLØ

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: Listen to AYLØ and Amaarae’s “Whoa” off his ‘<insert project name>’  project

Piggybank.ng raise $1.1 Million in seed funding and announced a new product, Smart Target for group investment

Posted on by The Native

Benefiting from the CBN’s efforts to regulate fintech in order to sustain growth in Nigeria’s payment system, Piggybank was founded in 2016 to assist Nigerian debit cardholders to save little amount of money frequently with little to no stress. The informal savings group is an online based investment startup that offers online savings plans to low and middle income Nigerians through deposits of small amounts on a daily, weekly, monthly, or annual basis. Asides the perk that there’s no upfront fees, savers can also earn interest rates of between 6 to 10 percent, depending on the type and duration of investment.

Piggybank just closed $1.1Millon in seed funding while announcing their new product, Smart Target. The financing was led with a $1 million commitment from LeadPath Nigeria while Village Capital and Ventures Platform contributed $50,000 each. The float adds to the revenue they normally generate through asset management.
They also announced a new product, “Smart Target”, which offers a more secure and higher return option for Esusu or Ajo group savings clubs common across West Africa.

The chief operating officer for the online based savings platform was quoted saying “The market that we are trying to serve is largely the millennial market, though we do not exclude anyone”. Looking to meet the demand in Nigeria for accessible investment options, the company mentioned the possibility of also serving banks, investment houses, insurance, and pension funds. But as it stands, the company currently has 53,000 registered users with a large majority being Nigerian Millennials who have saved in excess of $5M since 2016 according to a released statement.

PiggyBank.ng will use its $1.1Million in new seed funding for “license acquisition and product development”

Featured Image Credits: Web/piggybank.ng

Watch Bemyoda’s latest release, the music video for “Complicated”

Posted on by The Native

Almost a year after the release of his debut ‘Stark’, Bemyoda revives the project with a video for “Complicated”, the fourth track on the overall emotive 10-track album. The neo-soul track tells stories of relationships that have taken violent turns but stay silent, as these things tend to; “There’s a cold war going on/No blood being shed, but hearts are getting broken”. 

The Trademark Pictures directed video for “Complicated” takes a similar narrative, showing a seemingly stable home turning upside down with Bemyoda moving slowly through rooms oblivious to the chaos.

Watch the video for Bemyoda’s “Complicated” here:

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/BemyodaVEVO

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

Check out Bemyoda’s “Stark”

Listen to Yemi Alade’s “How I feel”

Posted on by The Native

Following the release of her third studio album, ‘Black Magic’, Yemi Alade put out a couple of captivating videos for the tracks on the project. However, Mama Africa isn’t holding her horses and she has put out “How I Feel”, her first single post Black Magic.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjPpB4xAepB/?hl=en&taken-by=yemialade

“I’ve fallen completely, my baby you too set oh, my baby you get sense oh“, Yemi bares on the mid tempo love song that finds her addressing her feelings for a significant other. “How I Feel” gives plenty room for Yemi Alade’s voice to stand by itself in the sun without the burden of heavy presence and sensuality her songs are usually laden with.

Listen to “How I Feel” here;

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/Yemialade

6 videos you should see this week

Posted on by The Native

Lil Pump and J Cole interview 

Like most feuds, Hip-hop beefs are usually as a result of misunderstandings that can easily be ironed out if those involved would put their egos aside to listen to the other-side’s story. These days, the disparity between real rap and mumble rap is the most divisive conversations in hip-hop with J Cole seemingly sending out warming shots to Lil Pump and his peers on “1985 (Intro to ‘The Fall Off’)” track from his KOD album. However, latest reactions from J Cole shows fans may have read too much into the track as he stopped fans from chanting “Fuck Lil Pump” during his concert and now has a nearly an hour long interview session with the rapper where he repeated refers to the 17-year old as “Smart”. Most of the interview plays out like a therapy session as both rappers delve into their childhood and some of their inspirations.

Yxng Bane – “Vroom” Remix Feat. Beenie Man

You know your song is fire when you can get one of your influences to feature on the remix. Yxng Bane’s “Vroom” was released in back in March with an energetic video to match the song’s compelling melody. The single is growing to become one of the bops for summer 2018 and as if to further establish this, he just put out the remix of “Vroom” featuring Beenie Man. After infusing his Jamaican patios to the song, he also shows up for the colorful summer themed video for “Vroom” remix.

Jennifer Lopez – “Dinero” Feat. DJ Khaled, Cardi B

After releasing the audio for their previously teased collaboration, Jennifer Lopez and Cardi B just released the picturesque representation of their money crazed single, “Dinero”. DJ Khaled who produces and does the bilingual summer song’s ad-libs also features in the video as the two Bronx natives show off their wealth and swag. Though the video is shot in black and white, the gloss and shine is unmistakable as they celebrate their extravagance lifestyle in the video shot in Miami.

Sauti Sol “Short N Sweet” Feat. Nyashinski

Sauti Sol continues their monthly releases for their collaboration project, ‘AfrikanSauce‘. After already featuring Patoranking, Tiwa Savage and Burna Boy for “Melanin”, “Girl Next Door”, “Afrikan Star”, respectively, their latest release, “Short N Sweet” features Kenyan artist, Nyashinski. While Sauti Sol pours out their regular dose of sultry vocals over the guitar harmonies, Nyashinski infuses a brief rap verse professing love. Nate Thomas directed video is lighthearted as well with the wide smiles on the face of the dancers who all spot colorful costumes.

Anderson Paak – “Bubblin” 

After Anderson Paak’s brilliant debut with ‘Malibu‘, music lovers have anticipated his sophomore project. But if his latest single, “Bubblin”, is any indication for what to expect, the Aftermath artist is in a different head space from when he was obsessed with his languished roots. The new single is frantic and fun produced by Jhalil Beats and Antman Wonder who describe the song as “some black 007 action adventure high speed chase type of music”. Anderson Paak’s pacy rap vocals adds to the cinematic high-speed car chase of a song, complete with dramatic violin flourishes and a wild video to boot.

Cassper Nyovest – “Push Through The Pain”

Cassper Nyovest just released the video for “Push Through The Pain”, one of the standout tracks off his 3rd studio album, ‘Thuto’. While Cassper’s vocals delve into the gritty reality and struggles from his past; “My Mama Was Crying, I Told Her I’m Trying/ It’s Tough But Don’t Ever Feel Hopeless”, the lead for the Nate Thomas directed video is a woman who has to work at a strip club to pay for her bills. The video is shot in a black and white frame that builds on the song’s melancholic undertone, but spoiler alert, the video gets even darker towards the end.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/

Listen to David Meli’s new single, “Bonjour”

Posted on by The Native

As Afropop continues to grow its international acclaim, we can expect artists from different parts of the world to delve into the genre and perhaps infuse more languages like Chinese or French. Or at least that’s the conviction that drives from Nigerian UK based singer, David Meli’s latest single, “Bonjour”.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjMSs3oggBp/?hl=en&taken-by=daviid_meli

Over the Mari mid-tempo beat Mari produces splicing layered synth harmonies with drum riffs, David Meli performs a confident set, bragging about his growth and showing off his doubters; “Now The Blessing Done Dey Come Through/ They Always Say They Love You/ French Girls, They Are Telling Me Bonjour”. And given the song’s catchy melody and Afropop’s undoubted proficiency on dancefloors worldwide, his conviction isn’t just understandable, it’s contagious.

You can listen to David Meli’s “Bonjour” here.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/daviid_meli

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 all the Essentials from David Meli’s charming ‘Indecisive’ EP

Straffitti and Rastavelli collaborate for new single, “JABO”

Posted on by The Native

Anyone who pays attention to music charts around the world knows by now that Trap music is just as accomplished as the more conscious hip-hop songs. If Straffitti’s feature on M.I’s recent ‘Rendezvous’ project attests to his proficiency in the booth, his latest single, “JABO” featuring Rastavelli is proof that the rapper has a long career ahead of him, both as a musician and cultural icon.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiC6yIgl_Wx/?taken-by=straffitti

JohnsonIP’s airy production for “JABO” uses atmospheric synths to provide a grand cinematic ambiance that ushers listeners into the rappers’ crime leaven universe, where they’re “Heading To The Star Though/ Know The Shit Ain’t Random Cause (They’ve) Been Working For Days/ Spray Them Haters With An AK47”. Though their celebrating outlook on the life of crime isn’t peculiar to Nigerian music with the hero treatment often given to internet fraudsters, it feels right at home on their trap song. And with Rastavelli’s verse infusing some street influenced vocals, “JABO” is a brilliant instance where art imitates life.

Stream Straffitti’s “JABO” featuring Rastavelli below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/straffitti

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 Straffitti’s “Trounce” here

Trokosi : Enslaving women into the 21st century

Posted on by The Native

You know how you hear about something and you can immediately tell your life would never be the same again? Yep! That’s how I felt when I stumbled on this documentary and did some digging on the Trokosi System. Predominantly practised in Ghana, Togo and Benin, young girls are being torn away from their families and sacrificed at shrines to atone for the sins of the men in their family. No, you didn’t read that wrong; girls as young as five years old are given to the priests of these shrines as property where they get raped by these priests at the completion of their third menstrual cycle.

Forced to live and work for priests at a shrine as restitution for the sins of a relative, Brigitte Sossou Perenyi had her life sentence rescinded when a Christiane Amanpour documentary on the Trokosi system featured her twenty-one years ago and led to her release from the shrine.

This is her story, her journey and her way of breaking through into a life of freedom and reconciliation of her past with her present to embrace her future. To take all of her experiences and lead a conversation in hopes that some other young girls trapped in this system will also get the freedom she is blessed to now have.  Brigitte’s passion is to share her story to inspire and encourage others. Her hope is to start a dialogue that helps others recognise the potential of all girls trapped in harmful practices around the world. Like Brigitte, creating conducive environments for girls to realise their potentials is important for the growth and holistic development of a child. It is a basic right of every child and no one should deprive them of that.

Watch “My stolen childhood” here;

 

Listen to Ocho’s new single, “Shine” featuring AyoMageek

Posted on by The Native

It doesn’t take long before most people realize that love and all its charm can take a sour turn really quickly. But with everything in the world around us (including music) serving as constant reminders to keep our hearts safe, we often find that one person that makes us throw caution to the wind and fall blindly. On Ocho’s new single featuring AyoMageek, “Shine”, there’s a superficial but hard to contest explanation for why we’re willing to take the risk, “She Don’t Compare To Other Girls”.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bimw8oQgUIL/?taken-by=ochoforeign

Over hazy bliss of the mid-tempo beat produced with oxygen-rich synth cloud that hangs somewhere in the atmosphere above the dancefloor the Afropop drums induce, Ocho and AyoMageek sing to a lover, perhaps forbidden; Ocho urges, “Does He Really Love You or Is He Wasting Your Time?” It plays like an invitation to drop everything and run for the hills together.

You can stream Ocho and AyoMageek’s “Shine” below.

https://soundcloud.com/ochxo/shine-ft-ayomageek

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/ochoforeign

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: Listen to Ocho’s “A Little More” featuring Bawa

Falz’s “This is Nigeria” says a lot about Nigeria but not enough

Posted on by The Native

The Hiro Murai directed video for Donald Glover’s “This Is America” is already one of the most iconic moments of 2018. Upon release, “This Is America” turned into think-piece mine with analysts offering several interpretations and picking out the most seemingly insignificant detail for meaning. One debate questioned if such a serious message should be treated so whimsically, others speculated it may encourage trolls, and generate material for memes. As if on cue, Falz who practically grew his fan base off the memes and funny videos, has released his rendition of Donald Glover’s montage titled, “This is Nigeria”. 

With his latest video, Falz uses the same interchange of cameras and scenery as Childish Gambino to run through a range of issues that affect the everyday Nigerian. Falz’s most important creative tweak from the source material is background commentary that emboldens the images we see throughout the four-minute runtime of the video. The manoeuvre pays off for “This Is Nigeria”, allowing director Prodigeezy, to ignore the subtleties that made “This Is America” so poignant, for a more direct but empathetic depiction of tribe relations, the normalisation of terrorism, insecurity and other issues that make every other front page. However, this convenient plot trope also seems to narrow the field of vision for the message at the core of  “This Is Nigeria”. 

The most graphic example of this tone-deafness happens in the first few seconds of the video where a Fulani man playing his goje and seemingly having a good day, turns to behead another man in the next scene. It’s a tough pill to swallow for all the right and wrong reasons: On one end of the scale, it’s the first ever mainstream media representation of the herdsman violence, on the other, it manages to brandish a people as a murderous ethnic group. The misinformation becomes more obvious when a little research uncovers that though violent attacks on other tribes in the North is often linked with ethnic-patriotism, many Northerners who work menial jobs in the West of Nigeria, also fled from violence by Boko Haram-affiliated terrorist cells often purported as herdsmen by the media.

Focusing on societal issues—like the glorification of internet fraud culture— has put Falz under fire before. The rapper wants to be seen as the guy who speaks on societal issues, but given his privileged upbringing, the public is often quick to question his moral position, with the pretext he can’t actually relate with the things he speaks of.  If Falz learned anything from the feedback that followed his attempt to call out the yahoo-yahoo boys, it should be the importance of context and the different angles to every story.

Even worse, compared to “This Is America” that closes with a black man with lividly terrified eyes, running slow-mo, away from all the dangers out to get him, Falz offers no respite for all the bleakness. “This is Nigeria” may be entertaining as an adequate conversation starter presented in an amusing manner, but ultimately it muddles up details and doesn’t plot any path forward.

But while it’s easy to begrudge Falz for taking on Nigeria’s socio-political climate with humour and levity, it’s also the greatest reflection of a political apathy that is perhaps the truest mark of a Nigerian. Would it even be Nigerian if it wasn’t passive enough to reflect this basic Nigerian trait? For fear of dehumanizing the pain and oppression, no one gets a free pass to reinforce stereotypes that have formed painful memories for many, but it’s a fair reflection of a country where kidnappings are starting to feel like a state-sanctioned sport. This is Nigeria afterall.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Falz

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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: Revisit that time Falz became the villain and Evans the kidnapper became the hero

PatricKxxLee has had it with comparison on new single, “So and So”

Posted on by The Native

It’s not surprising to hear the influence of American radio on African music, especially in places like South Africa, with the nation’s colonial history. But besides instigating messy and fierce debate that usually ends with no result other than a ton of mean tweets and hurt feelings, comparing two artists never goes down well—especially in hip-hop where music beef quickly turn violent. Like that line from Omar Little, ‘come at a king, you best not miss’, PatricKxxLee’s latest releases, “So and So”, is an offensive response to haters who keep trying to compare him to other artists.

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

Though “So and So” has PatricKxxLee’s signature synth heavy production, his flow is a lot more aggressive than anything we’ve heard from the rapper. Opening the song saying “This For All You Haters Saying I Sound Like So And So, No/ If You Had A Brain, You’ll Know That This Is Game of Throne Bro”, the reason for his antagonistic attitude is immediately apparent as he spends the 1:47-minute listening time highlighting his unique blend of emo-angst and brash hip-hop.

With the short playtime for “So and So” also reflected on his last release, “Birthday Cake”, PatricKxxLee may have a model for efficiency, cranking out catchy songs that seem to end just as quickly as they started. Short rap songs seem to be the wave at the moment with songs like “Gucci Gang” and other rap hits ending under two and half minutes, ostensibly to placate the shorter attention spans of young listeners online.

Stream PatricKxxLee’s “So and So” below.

https://soundcloud.com/patrickxxlee/so-so

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/patrickxxlee

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: Listen to PatricKxxLee’s “Birthday Cake” here

Watch the video for DJ Spinall and Kizz Daniel’s “Baba”

Posted on by The Native

DJ Spinall and Kizz Daniel [who apparently changed his name from ‘Kiss’ overnight] have released a video to match the dance party feel for “Baba”, the duo’s previously released Afropop single. Set as an all-white party, the video begins with the DJ taking the role of music provider at the all-white party that the video develops into as it progressed.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjH_IHYhBk6/?taken-by=djspinall

While Kizz Daniel sings of his greatness and undeniable ability to make a hit out of anything, the Director Q directed video shows him dancing with a gold handle cane, switching between a party background and DJ Spinall playing the piano behind him the “Baba” that he is and dancing.

Watch the video for “Baba” here:

 

Watch the video for Omawumi and Kiss Daniel’s “Me Ke”

Posted on by The Native

Omawumi’s first release since Timeless was a commanding song titled “Me Ke” with support from Kiss Daniel. “Me Ke” translates to “I No Vex” and through the song, both artists complement one another by taking turns to confirm their awareness of their authority while reminding their anti-fans that they’re inconsequential and do not concern them. The duo has released a video for “Me Ke”, and while it doesn’t quite tell a story, the light-heartedness reaffirms the cheeky feel the song brings.

Watch the video for Omawumni’s “Me Ke” here:

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

Kiss Daniel’s 4Dayz video is beautiful but it still leaves question about his gender politics