Listen to Lily Allen and Burna Boy on “Your Choice”

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Before the release of his Outside earlier this year, Burna Boy released “Heaven’s Gate” featuring Lily Allen as the lead single which. And from watching the video, Lily’s telling half-smile in the video combined with Burna Boy’s pensive and assertive lyrics confirms a soul bond Burna himself has reiterated, before.

Shortly after the release of “Heaven’s Gate” song, Lily Allen announced that her own album No Shame. The recently released album features 14 cheekily and unapologetically honest pop songs, one of which is “Your Choice” featuring Burna Boy.

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“I’m not Gonna lie but this might be dying”, Lily Allen sings, Over the pop-dancehall fusion beat produced by Pro2Jay. She sings to a man who seems to have gotten the terms of their relationship mixed up. He’s “Crying everytime” she gets a text from other people, which is surprising to her because as she sings “I’ve always said no man can own me”. She doesn’t necessarily want him to leave, but she’s cool with it “If you really wanna go that’s fine/That’s Your Choice Not Mine”. The beat picks up organically as Burna Boy takes the position of the responding lover trying make sense of the relationship. But again, she makes it clear what the dynamic is “I’m yours for the night”

Listen to Lily Allen’s “Your Choice” here:

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Watch Burna Boy in his video for “Devil in California”, off his ‘Outside’ album

Watch A$AP Rocky and Skepta in their video for “Praise The Lord (Da Shine)”

Posted on by The Native

Last year’s “Ghost Ride” with A$AP Nast made it impossible to have ruled out having Skepta on an A$AP Rocky track, it was more of a question about when it would come. Thankfully, fans didn’t have to wait too long with the release of A$AP’s long-awaited third-studio record Testing featuring “Praise The Lord”, a chemical combination of Rocky’s Harlem style and Skepta’s coldest flow yet.

A$AP Rocky just released the video for “Praise The Lord (Da Shine)”. The video follows both rappers in a split screen view of their hometowns, New York and London. The charismatic energetic of the record is displayed in the erratic nature of the video, done in vaguely psychedelic filter frames where the scenery refracts and wobbles around them.

Watch A$AP Rocky and Skepta in the video for “Praise The Lord (Da Shine)” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/ASAPROCKYUPTOWN

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ICYMI: Listen to “King”, Nasty C’s new single featuring A$AP Ferg

Best New Music: Return home with Fatoumata Diawara’s “Mama”

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Of all the odd shuffles that kept on popping up on replay at the NATIVE’s office last year, Fatoumata Diawara’s 2011 album, Fatou was the most loved. Born in Cote d Ivoire to Malian parents, Fatoumata’s profile in film and theatre provides some context for a climatic storytelling style but nothing substitutes for her compelling silky smooth vocals. After years of acting across Francophone Africa and France and performing with greats like Oumou Sangare and AfroCubism, Fatou picked up the guitar somewhere along the way and started writing her own songs.

Unlike Fatoumata’s intimate genre-mashing debut Fatou, Fenfo, her latest sophomore project is directed at where her heart will always be: home. Fenfo is Fatoumata singing against beliefs that prevent intermarriage on “Kanou Dan Yen”, emphasising the dark skin and honour for black heritage on “Kokoro”, and laying vocals on Vincent Segal’s beautiful cello baseline for “Don Do”, a haunting track about unrequited love.

Across 11-tracks—no more, no less—Fatoumata delivers a perfect album that peaks at the Afrobeat-infused dance number, “Negue Negue” before segueing into a somber second half, starting with seventh track, “Mama”. “Mama” is only lightly dabbed with a touch of synths, allowing the acoustics from her band, serve as the bedrock for lyrics praising her mother in an endearingly daughterly way that invokes Asa’s similarly-themed “So Beautiful”. There is even a casual shoutout to her dad: Baba yo, Baba yo my only Baba

It’s a sharp contrast from “Willie” a rebellious stand-out off Fatou, where Fatoumata sings of a young woman who was labelled “stubborn girl” because she refused to be forced into early marriage, and chose to run away instead. The story is very much like Fatou’s own life, as a young woman who found solace in theatre to escape a being forced into an arranged marriage. In a way “Mama” feels like a do-over for some of the choices, the same girl in “Willie” may have made on her journey. Going against odds of norms deeply intertwined with family will leave everyone involved with a lot to say if the wounds are to ever heal. Thankfully, Fatoumata presets the mood with “Mama”, as guitars melt the whole arrangement into an emotional mind warp.

Stream “Mama” via Apple Music below:

Image credits: Guardian UK/ Aida Muluneh

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The Shuffle: Between Sinzu, “Carolina” and a phone call with Davido

Listen to “N.W.A”, a new single by Phyno featuring Wale

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Since Phyno’s feature as a cameo in the recently released video for Wale’s “Staying Power”, many speculated whether Phyno and Wale were working together on a single or even a project. Phyno’s new single, “N.W.A”, confirms they have indeed been working on releasing new music together and with the synergy shared on the vain new single, they keep the hopes of a joint project alive.

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While Phyno is comfortable singing about his acclaim and his grass to grace story, Wale spits boastful bars bragging about everything from his chain to his Yoruba genes. Their lyrics stands as a sharp contrast to the mellow piano-led beat IamBeat produces, but the combination authenticates their brags by infusing an air of seriousness.

Listen to Phyno and Wale’s “N.W.A” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/phynofino

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ICYMI: Listen to Wale’s energetic single, “Staying Power”

YCee teams up with Joyner Lucas for “Juice” Remix

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There was a time in 2017 when it was nearly impossible to be anywhere for more than five minutes and not hear YCee’s “Juice”. You can probably hear it in your head even now: the catchy drum riff, YCee’s coy and sugary vocals, delivering that euphoric hook, “Too Much Juice, Too Much Sauce”. Despite the foray of hits single that punctuated the year, there was no denying its impact and ubiquity.

While we wait on the dust to settle on the rush of new Afropop releases this year, YCee is reviving last year’s summer hit, “Juice”, with a remix featuring American rapper, Joyner Lucas. Joyner Lucas takes the first verse as he tries to impress a love interest before he switches to a more melodic vocal performance that mirrors YCee’s penchant for mixing his rapping with singing. YCee also adds a new verse blurring the lines separating rap and R&B as if to say he never needed the Maleek Berry feature to make the song melodic and catchy.

Unlike previous international collaborations, Joyner Lucas’ feature on the remix of “Juice” seems organic and free from industry politicking; They are both relatively new artists making a wave in their respective states. The balanced alliance makes their team up sincerely cordial and that, in turn, reflects in the chemistry.

Listen to YCee’s “Juice Remix” featuring Joyner Lucas below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/iam_ycee

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ICYMI: Listen to YCee get in his feelings for new single, “Your Love”

Check out Chike Frankie Edozien’s book”Lives of Great Men: Living and Loving as a Gay African Man”

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Nigerian-born journalist Chike Frankie Edozien latest release Lives of Great Men is a memoir that follows his life as a gay man within and outside his country of origin. In his book, Edozien illustrates instances and stories that counter the narrative that homosexuality does not exist or has only recently become a thing in Africa.

Homosexuality is not new on the continent, what is fairly recent is the shift from generally ignoring the community to outright criminalisation. In Nigeria and Uganda for example, homosexuality was criminalised as early as five years ago. Now anyone who is found guilty in either country is threatened with 14 years to life in prison.

The book is to tell stories of the people who have lived through these time, before and after these new laws were established. He intends to tell the stories of their lives, as opposed to the usual narrative which almost always an alteration between disdain and distress. “I didn’t just want to talk about the bad stuff”, he said in an interview with OkayAfrica, “I wanted to talk about the wonderful people who are being very supportive of their gay friends and children, and those who are living fulfilled lives and doing things, in spite of all of this.” and those who are living fulfilled lives and doing things, in spite of all of this”.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjcQeVTBQlL/?taken-by=livesofgreatmen

LGBT advocacy has become more pronounced around the continent. Last year, Rafiki, a Kenyan drama about lesbian love and the first Kenyan LGBT film was produced. Though it was banned by the government shortly after, it was largely celebrated both on and off the continent. Others have been silently and actively opening up room for dialogue around the continent. For instance, in 2004, Nigerian rights activist and founder of Bisi Alimi Foundation, Bisi Alimi became the first Nigerian man to come out as openly gay on national television, through Funmi Iyanda’s show New Dawn with Funmi.

Though people within the LGBT community are still understandably wary of opening up, as Edozien observed during his encounters and interviews, he hopes his book will encourage more people to share their stories. The book will undoubtedly add to the steadily growing number of advocacy and discourse materials being developed by people living within and outside the continent.

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

Adekunle Gold shares the music video for “Fame”

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Adekunle Gold continues the roll out for his recently released sophomore album, ‘About 30’, with the release of a gripping music video for “Fame”. In line with sentiments already heard on the stand out track from the project, the video is a show of celebrity and solitude.

In order to convey Adekunle Gold’s solemn confession, director, Scott Jaeger’s camera moves in constant motion, mirroring the singer’s sluggish and anguished gestures as he moves around a spacious loft. The empty room seems symbolic to the most reoccurring lines from the song, “Sometimes, I Feel Alone” while the antique set and guitar prop plays to the song’s folk influences.

Watch the music video for Adekunle Gold’s “Fame” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Adekunle Gold

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ICYMI: Pre-released single, “Ire” off ‘About 30’ is everything you need to make you feel better

Tomi Agape released Video for “In The Night”

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Tomi Agape’s “In The Night” is a taste of what is to come from her yet-to-be-titled EP, scheduled for release later this year. The upcoming EP is expected to reach for a blend of contemporary R&B and Afro-Caribbean dance music. “In The Night” features Nonso Amadi, who cameos under the strobe lights in the accompanying video directed by UAX. Tomi performs in an antique store, lit by sunrays peeking through holes in the window. “In The Night” is light on lyrics, but the concept is unmistakable as the preview of the project that’s to come.

Watch the video for Tomi Agape’s “In The Night” here.

Features Image Credits: YouTube/Tomiagape

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

Davido and Odie lined-up for Jay-Z’s ‘Made In America’ festival this fall

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For 7 years, Jay Z’s, ‘Made In America’ festival has hosted a range of artists from hip-hop’s front-liners like, Eminem, to the alternative and obscure like Grimes. This year, Nicki Minaj and Post Malone have been listed as the headlining acts along with Meek Mill, Diplo and 6lack. Last year, ‘Made in America’ fielded two Nigerian artists, Maleek Berry and Tiwa Savage and Nigerian-born Canadian singer, Odie and Davido will be continuing the tradition of Nigerians featuring at the festival. ‘Made in America’ is set to hold on the 1st and 2nd of September, at Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia.

Check out the full line-up here:

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Featured Image Credit: Instagram/tidal

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The Shuffle: Between Sinzu, “Carolina” and a phone call with Davido

Listen to Magnom’s “Stress Free” featuring DarkoVibes and Nana Benyin

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Ghanaian producer—turned artist—surprised many with the release of his 3rd studio album, ‘We Speed 2’, a 20-track offering with over 20 featured artists. ‘We Speed 2‘ fuses hip-hop’s trap bouncy with Afropop’s catchy feel-good melodies and does a good job of it thanks to the collaboration with artists like Kwesi Arthur, $pacely, Kidd Black and Sarkodie.

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“Stress Free”, one of the highlights of the album features DarkoVibes and Nana Benyin. Backed by the chirpy beat from Moor Sound and Foreign Local, both artists channel a cheerful summer vibe that makes the song listen like an invitation to party by the beach even before DarkoVibes sings, “Stress/ Free/ Life E/ Sweet/ The Whole Clique Dey Ball For The Beach”. Though the high spirited nature of “Stress Free” is its most distinct feature, the rose-colored veil both artists insist to see the world through is what makes the cheerful song so affecting.

Listen to “Stress Free” featuring DarkoVibes and Nana Benyin here.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/MagnomBeats

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ICYMI: Here’s an energetic song by Darkovibes for your next turn-up

Nasty C debuts “King” and “Jungle” from his forthcoming album

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Nasty C’s forthcoming album, ‘Strings and Blings‘ is one of the most anticipated albums of the year. A few weeks ago, the South African rapper promised that the album was “0.9999999999% Done” in an Instagram video post before he was in Nigeria and gave an interview confirming that Runtown, A$AP Ferg and Ycee were for among the featured artists on the album.

The album is set to be released on the 6th of June but he just debuted two singles off the project to give a taste of what to expect. His social media posts leading up to the album had us contemplating various directions the album could take, but after listening to his latest releases, “King” featuring A$AP Ferg and the solo track, “Jungle”, it is clear what direction the album is taking.

According to Nasty C, “King” is “about the kids who talk too much”. Over the Tweezy produced beat, Nasty C raps about the kids who call themselves ‘kings’, questioning if the ‘lifestyle’ is really all they believe it to be.

Though the Cody Rhones produced “Jungle” is more about society at large. Nasty C raps about society as a jungle and how things that should be scored tend to go unnoticed because they’re believed to be the norm.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/Nasty_csa

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Nasty C gets super self-aware on “Changed”

Listen to “Agidi”, the latest single from D’banj

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“She Say Change Religion From My Religion, Make I Move Down To Her Region” is the most cutting line from D’banj’s latest single, “Agidi”.

Produced by Chopstick who lays down a spacious beat with horns, guitar harmonies, drums and claps, it finds D’banj taking listeners down a familiar path for those conscious of the pop-star’s history and his Fela influences. More than a handful of artists from around the world have listed the Afrobeat legend as among their influences, few can lay claim to adapting Fela’s daring personae as much as D’banj has. On “Agidi”, he combines the Afrobeat harmonies with his penchant for gutsy songwriting to give a holistic Afrobeat experience; live music ambiance and pseudo-romantic but too cocky to be bothered about charm.

Stream D’banj’s “Agidi” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/iambangalee

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ICYMI: Here’s an energetic song by Darkovibes for your next turn-up

Tekno has a new deal with Universal Music Group Nigeria

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Universal Music Group subsidiaries, Universal Africa and Island Records UK have teamed up to sign Tekno. Tekno joins the growing list of names that have been affiliated with the brand since they began operations in West Africa last year—other artists include Tay Iwar, Nonso Bassey and Idyl. Though the nature of the deal is unclear, Tekno believes this is an opportunity to actively present his music to the global community and the right step in furthering his career. In his words; “I am extremely excited to sign with UMG as I’m ready to take my music to new heights, have a platform to showcase my versatility, push my music and ideas, and show the world how diverse African music and musicians can be. I want the Tekno brand to reach the global stage. Being with a full team in Nigeria, in Africa, and working with Alex and Island UK means that there are machines in place to ensure my music is delivered to my fans and the world with the best quality possible”. Universal Music may just be establishing itself in the soundscape but the label already partnered with Odunsi for the rollout of “In The Morning”, spurring speculation that UMG will only be working with Nigeria’s Soundcloud undiscovered. Tekno is the first mainstream artist to align forces with the label, glimpsing the potential for more deals to come.

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Featured Image Credit: Instagram/teknoofficial

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Meanwhile, check out Tekno’s makossa moves on “Yur Luv”

Here’s what we know so far about Wizkid’s coming album

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Three months ago, Wizkid announced that he will be releasing a joint EP with the members of his label to, “bring it back home”. It was an expected direction for a follow up to his more intercontinental previous project ‘Sounds From The Other Side’. Via his tweet, we were assured that Wizkid’s EP would be a more African project by him and his Starboy crew titled ‘Made In Lagos’. He reaffirmed this in the statement release of the supposed first song off the EP, “Soco” featuring artists under his Starboy label imprint, Terri, Spotless and Ceeza Milli.

It appears the Starboy has since changed his mind though. In an interview with Tim Westwood, after his sold-out Afro Republik concert in London. Wizzy told Tim that he has been working on an album of the same name “With no features” to be released “very soon”. The constant changes leaves fans wondering what the eventual project will look like, considering we still have the Skepta feature he has been hinting at to look forward to. But for now, the only thing that seems unshakable about Wizkid’s coming project is that it will be named ‘Made in Lagos’ and will be made in Lagos for his Nigeria fans.

Either ways, if the recent slew of Starboy releases are any marker for the direction the project will take, we are looking forward to the 10 songs expected to be on the project.

Check out Wizkid’s interview with Tim Westwood below:

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/wizkidayo

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Essentials: Of ‘Sounds From The Other Side’ and the place of Wizkid in African music

DJ Neptune and Kizz Daniel release video for their latest collaboration “Wait”

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DJ Neptune’s recently released project, ‘Greatness’, is a 15-track Afropop album with a multiple of collaborations, perfectly curated for radio playlists. Along with the previously released audio and video for “Why”, featuring Runtown, the album also features contributions from M.I, Kizz (formerly Kiss) Daniel, Pasuma, Burna Boy and almost everyone you’ll expect to hear playing on radio.

For the second video release from the ‘Greatness’ project, DJ Neptune picked “Wait”, featuring Kizz Daniel. Coming at the project’s mid-point, “Wait” is the 7th track on the album and has an uptempo baseline and lyrics, fit for exciting times on the dancefloor. The Adasa cookey-directed video follows two young boys working enthusiastically to get to a beach concert staged by Kizz and DJ Neptune.

Watch DJ Neptune and Kizz Daniel’s music video for “Wait” here:

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/DJ Neptune

 

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DJ Neptune taps RunTown for potential club smash, “Why”

Essentials: Deena Ade is self-assured but sensitive on ‘The Cries of My Subconscious’ EP

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It took over three years of releasing music on streaming platforms before Deena Ade finally released her first proper project, ‘The Cries of My Subconscious‘. Among the pre-released singles that made it to the luxurious 6-track project is “Melo”, produced by ThaBeatSmith. Asides proving her to be an explorer of both contemporary pop and retro R&B  “Melo” also amplifies her reputation as the self-assured founder of SLUTWALK Lagos. Her birdlike voice cooing about physical intimacy invokes cocktails and caftan weather, like Deena Ade, recorded it by the beach. It serves as the perfect opener for a project that unveils her as self-assured but sensitive; a dedicated music fan with an earnest attentiveness to craft.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjH98ashupI/?hl=en&taken-by=deenaade

‘The Cries of My Subconscious’ opens with an “Intro” track where Deena Ade shows her proficiency at spoken word. The nearly a minute long rendition describes her struggles with anxieties and how it affects her relationship. It offers further context to “Melo”, making her lyrics, “Melo Melo La Fe So” more affecting than initially perceived. However, on “Lover”, it’s her resonant alto and ability to imbue a dreamy love track with a wistful melancholy without giving up any of her power that draws in listeners, wondering if love was really strong enough to bring Amy Winehouse back from the dead.

Deena Ade’s ability to shimmy between genres is accomplished thanks to her taste in collaborators. Though there are no artists featured on ‘The Cries of My Subconscious‘, her work with producer, TiwaDara, provides the chance to experiment with her sound. On “Shere”, she sings over guitar riffs that makes her confessional love rendition listen like a highlife number, but the EDM influenced baseline, and instrumental solo interludes veer into house music territories. The same house influences are heard on the EP’s closing track, “Down”, also produced by TiwaDara.

Deena Ade has always been interested in speaking truth (however painful) to power, and she mines her personal relationships for a slyly political backdrop that feels neither too obvious nor preachy. Like most good projects, ‘The Cries of My Subconscious‘ listens like a  journal, using the artist’s raw confessionals and experiences to deliver the message for the understated strength in vulnerability.

Listen to Deena Ade’s ‘The Cries of My Subconscious‘ below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/deenaade

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: Deena Ade is crazy, sexy and cool on “I Miss You”

The Shuffle: Between Sinzu, “Carolina” and a phone call with Davido

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When Davido announced that he’d be unveiling a new artist many suspected DMW may unveil a woman as its new act. As rewarding as that would’ve been for the culture, Sinzu, the latest addition to the DMW family is no less a vital nerve for the spot DMW has held since its inception; as the platform for deserving artists to get recognition. The unveiling, however, has a more elemental backstory that dates back to a song Sinzu (who was Sauce Kid at the time) recorded with Davido nearly seven years ago.

In the world of pop, where music and collaborations go as quickly as they come, with artists, even the most successful, constantly releasing music for airplay, six years may seem like a lifetime. But with the quality and obvious chemistry on “Carolina” is one that stands the test of time.

In a recent interview with Sinzu shared that this timeless collaboration is how his new partnership, the new chapter in his life, came to be, starting with a phone call from Davido:

“I was listening to Carolina the other day, and 6 years on, there is nothing that sounds like that, I liked how we rocked that. But my man [Davido] was like, we could do that or, we could do this, I feel like we should do this. And I’m like, aight let me think about that. I didn’t take too much thinking, you feel me”. 

Produced by Maleek Berry, “Carolina” dropped at the peak of Sauce Kid’s career and in Davido’s formative years. Fast forward to 2018, shortly after Sauce Kid returns from his inexorable break from the music industry, Davido is ready to take a chance on his old friend in his growing establishment. The announcement came in the form of a performance reminiscing on their old friend chemistry at a Davido concert in DC and is followed shortly after with an official announcement.

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The DMW recruitment begins a new chapter in Sinzu’s life. We’re looking forward to the new music the synergy between him and Davido will produce. Dremo is pumped, and so are we.

Watch Sinzu and Davido’s “Carolina” here:

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/Davidoofficial 

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Best New Music: Davido’s “Assurance” stamps Summer ’18 as the season of love

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

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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”