Listen to Reekado Banks on DJ Big N’s “I’m In Love”

Posted on by The Native

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

“I’m In Love” is a rework of “Trilogy” with only Reekado Banks’ verse. DJ Big N initially released this as part of a three-set featuring YCEE, Reekado Banks and Iyanya. With the release of “I’m In Love”, the “Trilogy” almost appears to have been snippets of individual tracks, so it’s safe to assume YCEE and Iyanya’s contribution to the progenitor track will get individual releases.

Listen to “I’m in Love” here;

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On “Flora My Flawa”, that ‘Son of Mercy’ slump and Davido’s return to high-life

NATIVE x The RoundTable Journal Presents: ‘Songs for Women’

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To celebrate International Women’s Day 2018, we invited the women of the Roundtable Journal to curate a playlist, and these are their words. “This playlist has been curated with the busy woman in mind. Put this on, get a glass of something soothing, and forget about the fact that most women still pay taxes on their sanitary products.”

See the tracklist for ‘Songs for Women’ below:

Songs for Women – Frank Ocean

Normal Girl – SZA

Behind the Curtain – Ibeyi

Weary – Solange

Power – Joy Crookes

Sugar Don’t Be Sweet – Jaz Karis

W.A.Y.S – Jhene Aiko

Bluff – Kelela

Hear My Call – Jill Scott

Mascara – Jazmine Sullivan

Weak – SWV

He Wasn’t Man Enough for Me – Toni ‘That Bitch’ Braxton

Moon River -Frank Ocean

Diving Woman- Japanese Breakfast

Best to You- Blood Orange

By Ourselves – Blood Orange

Diddy Bop – Noname

Cranes in the Sky – Solange

Dear Skin- Nakaya

Fu-Gee-La – The Fugees

Unfoolish – Ashanti

Spotless Mind – Jhene Aiko

Me Myself and I – Beyonce

Focus – H.E.R

A Woman’s Worth – Alicia Keys

You Don’t Know my name – Alicia Keys

I Am Not Afraid – Jill Scott

Ex Factor – Lauryn Hill

Nothing Even Matters – Lauryn Hill

Girl – The Internet (feat KAYTRANADA)

Wish I didn’t Miss You – Angie Stone

Rock the Boat – Aaliyah

Jailer – Asa

Insecure – Jazmine Sullivan

Sadboy – Naaz

Casket Pretty – Noname

Jungle – H.E.R

Bad Blood – Nao

212 – Azealia Banks

Let it Go – Keyshia Cole, Missy Elliot, Lil’ Kim

On & On – Erykah Badu

Ego – Beyonce

Creep – TLC

Habib Galbi – A-Wa

Ha Po Zamani – Miriam Makeba

Chove-Chuva – Miriam Makeba

Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Rae

Bam Bam – Sister Nancy

Love Hangover – Diana Ross

Vul’indlela – Brenda Fassie

Weekend Special – Brenda Fassie

Feeling Good – Nina Simone

9 Lives – Cocoa Sarai

Treat Me Like Somebody – Tink

Stream ‘Songs For Women’ via Apple Music below

8 artists you should be listening to right now

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Moonchild Sanelly

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

Despite South Africa’s flair for electronic music, Moonchild Sanelly is a rare bird. Her music packs bass-heavy beats and rattling samples. But asides the hybrid rhythm of 21st century Africa heard on her songs, her confident no-hold-back style also tackles issues of sexuality and female empowerment. The singer first made a name for herself in the music scene in Durban in 2006, she has since spent the last 12 years moulding her craft. Last year, Moonchild Sanelly featured on DJ Maphorisa and DJ Tira’s smash hit, “Midnight Starring”. Moonchild Sanelly fuses elements of electronic dance music, afro-punk and edgy-pop with hints of kwaito and  Hip-hop as she encourages girls to embrace their sexuality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-QS_Djywm8

BbyMutha

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfwbP13lSk9/?hl=en&taken-by=bbymutha

Though you won’t have to listen too closely to pick up references to her kids, BbymMutha’s music refuses to be boxed by motherhood. She uses her music as a tool to vent about her life experiences dealing with the stigma of being a single mother while delivering gems as if to inspire others not to accept the limitation society places on them. It’s a peculiar combination of brash no-fucks attitude with an incredible sense of care. On “Rule”, her confident flow and smirking charm tie the two contrasting traits together as she offers a pussy rulebook over a gritty hip-hop beat. The appearance of her older daughter, Michaela, in the video validates her authenticity without fear for the moralists’ questioning her values as a parent.

Amaa Rae

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZQUYqwBFns/?taken-by=amaarae

Amaa Rae’s music is what happens when an expressive person also knows how to write a good song. Her music has more gut than a butcher’s window. From her captivating voice to the soothing synth arrangements, the moment you hear Amaa Rae’s music, you’re ushers into her story. Though her voice may come off as seductive, she never shies away from vivid descriptions of her romantic relations using metaphors and wordplay to convey moods and emotions. “Lonely” is a slow-burner penned for a love interest who has been unfaithful. And though you can hear the melancholy in her Lana Del Rey-esque vocals, her confidence remains unflattering singing “You Say You’ve Been Over Boarders, Overseas/ The Girls You’ve Seen All Pale In Comparison to Me”.

IAMDDB

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

IAMDDB is no conventional hip-hop artist. The 22-year-old Manchester-born artist gathers musical inspiration from her Angolan and Portuguese roots, and sites playing with bands in Angola, where her father lives, as one of her influences. She throws this diverse mix to produce a sub hip-hop genre she refers to as “urban jazz”. Her kittenish single “LEANED OUT” featuring INKA properly captures the essence of the young Piscean singer: gliding naturally between singing and speech, IAMDDB tells us how much better than the rest is, in the calmest of summer vibes, with an equally playful video. As she says, it’s #MermaidSeason, take a quick dive into her urban jazz haven with “LEANED OUT” below

Junglepussy

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf9UMTGgaF_/?hl=en&taken-by=junglepussy

Shayna McHayle, best known by her stage name “Junglepussy” is an alternative music artist from NYC. On “ME”, she cites Erykah Badu, Missy Elliot, Brandy and a few others as her influences. And like her influences, Junglepussy stands as the personification of a woman’s freedom to express herself and her sensuality whichever way she pleases. This message is echoed through her lyrics and her delightfully lewd stage name. Junglepussy took a long sabbatical after her 2015 studio album “Pregnant with success”, she recently returned with a new single titled “State of Union” from her upcoming album, giving us a little hint at what’s to come. Through a spoken word performance on “ME”, Junglepussy embodies the essence of a woman happy to be here on earth, being what she wants when she chooses. She begins her poem saying: “I just want to be free, swinging my titties from tree to tree, sipping ginger tea and Hennessey”. And to that, I just want to say this: SAME.

Jean Feier

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc2EpMAnxJo/?hl=en&taken-by=jeanfeier

Jean Feier seems to focus of producing music for people who understand her message and value rather than the mass music market. In 2014, the Ghanaian-German rapper released her debut project 93MChild, which put her at the top of the list of rappers to definitely pay attention to in the music space. Since then, Jean expanded her discography with a collection that has her recognized as one of the more successful in her genre. If she’s not on your playlist already, you can start by checking out our review of her latest single, “XXX”, you can also listen here:

Tei Shi

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfEQ3rCB8ve/?hl=en&taken-by=teishi

Tei Shi is a 27-year old singer and songwriter today, but that has always been a part of who she is. Born, Valerie Teicher, Tei Shi began writing music at the age of 8. On her latest album, Crawl Space, “Way To Record”, the opening track, is an instructional manual to making music featuring actual vocals from ten-year-old Valerie, who was merely playing around the basics of capturing vocals at the time. More anemic cuts like this feature along the LP, serving as nostalgic anecdotes to Tei Shi’s exploration of growth and self-discovery.

Saweetie

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgCuGj6A-pi/?hl=en&taken-by=saweetie

Saweetie always wanted to be a rapper, but that’s not how the 24-year old’s music career started off. The rapper merely used to record raps on her phone to share with friends. According to her she never really took it seriously, but one day she sent a friend a verse from now the boss-lady anthem and “she was really messing with it”, she told XXL last year. Saweetie soon recorded the track and updated with a video, making it her biggest track yet. The rapper is set to drop her High Maintenance EP, later this month.

The Shuffle: Revisit Freshlyground’s post-apartheid jingle, “Doo Bee Doo”

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Zolani Mahola and her band, Freshlyground have been described as one of the most influential voices on the continent in the new millennium. Formed in 2003, Freshlyground released its debut album Jika Jika in the same year. However, the group didn’t become internationally renowned until the release of Nomvula, Freshlyground’s second studio album in 2004.

Perhaps due to a catchy hook, off Nomvula, “Doo Bee Doo”  has remained on air as one of the most successful tracks from the project. While “Doo Bee Doo” is framed as an alt-pop song, it’s characteristic success is social awareness. “Doo Bee Doo”  is call for an almost poetic activism to challenge what’s wrong with this present world and our individual roles in reaching a collective nirvana for all. But in spite of this profound theme, Freshlyground opts for feel good, liberating lyrics that remind us that change is everyone’s responsibility, privileged or otherwise.

The video “Doo Bee Doo”, shows the band trying to convert a particularly reclusive man who lives in an isolated area with a ‘Keep Away’ sign on his door. After hearing Zolani singing “Did you hear the news on the radio today? people have agreed to give their love away” on his TV screen, he gets agitated and flips the TV channel to avoid her. But he cannot because she soon appears at his door with her band members as if to establish that no one will be left out of the revolution,“Even enemies will come to be friends.” Given the importance of the song’s message and the subtlety it was delivered through, the Jehovah witness stint of the video is understandable and effective.

Freshlyground is expected to return with Can’t Stop, their first music release after a 5-year break. And though we can’t say for sure if their new album will be politically charged as well, they did release “BLCK GRLS” off the coming album in time for women’s month.

Watch the video for Freshlyground’s “Doo Bee Doo” here:

Featured Image Credits: Web/BigCircle

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

The Shuffle: The Shuffle: The Funkees’ “Akula Owu Onyeara” is a classic from Nigeria’s psychedelic rock era

The Bumplist: The Kuti Brothers, Swae Lee, Odunsi The Engine and 6 more artists you need to hear this week

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IRE – Adekunle Gold

This much-talked-about acoustic-set track is the first single off Adekunle Gold’s upcoming debut album, ‘About 30’. It’s easily another one of the singer’s eclectic pseudo-spiritual releases.

Last Revolutionary – Seun Kuti

“Last Revolutionary”, the opening track off Seun’s Black Times offers the perfect inspiration to lead a revolution against the oppression and injustice in today’s society. Through the urgent Afrobeat harmonies provided by the Egypt 80 band, Seun invites listeners to join the fight against injustice.

Dem Militarize Democracy – Femi Kuti
Perhaps because Seun took on Fela’s perceived aggression, Femi seems to have embodied the place of the level-headed elder brother who takes more inspiration from Fela’s positivity instead. This is even reflected in the titles of their respective albums dropped successively in the past weeks, with Seun opting for a grim depiction of the human condition with Black Times and Femi choosing an optimistic outlook on ‘One People, One World’. Thematically, however, “Dem Militarize Democracy” would be the track where Fela’s past and present align, in the work of his sons, and the activism the Abami Eda lived for. On this track, Femi Kuti runs through the hypocrisy of Nigeria’s so-called civilian rule, tracking a democratic era for the country that has failed to deliver on many promises.

Check On You – Cassper Nyovest and Davido

Following their respective wins at the SoundCity MVP awards earlier in the year, Casper Nyovest announced, two collaborations with Davido. “Check On You”, produced by Fresh VDM, is the first of two tracks expected from both megastars.

Nana Hemaa – (feat. Adina, MzVee, Efya, Freda Rhymz, EShun, Feli Nuna & Adomaa)
In honour of late Ghanian pop singer, Ebony Reigns, who recently passed following a ghastly car crash, The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) and The Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) got some of her colleagues together to render a tribute on wax. Try to hold back tears on that Efya verse. RIP Ebony Reigns.

Dark Side Down (feat. J.Molley)- Patrickxxlee

In a true sequel fashion, to their earlier collaboration, “Phonerotica”, “Dark Side Down” makes room for all that has changed in the lives of both rappers within the twelve month period. Be warned, if you follow Patrickxxlee and J.Molley into this dark hole, you may never make it out.

Hurts To Look (feat. Rae Sremmurd) – Swae Lee 

From the three-track care package from the Sremm Brothers, this Swae Lee solo track shows just why people (not this writer) thinks he should go solo full-time. Imagine his star showings on French Montana’s “Unforgettable” and Rae Sremmurd’s “Swang” met and went for a drink. That’s what we get with “Hurts To Look”.

Alte Cruise – Odunsi x Zamir x Santi
“I Ain’t Really Got What You Need, But I’ll Be Here For The Night”, Odunsi sings, championing a derelict cause for relationships without any commitments. It’s not totally bizarre that King Zamir and Santi share his sentiments, but theirs come across as an unconventional approach to relationships, without sounding like heartbreakers, thanks to mellow production work by GMK

Izzokay (feat. Mayorkun) – Dremo
“Izzokay” is an elemental first collaboration for Dremo and Mayorkun who have been both spent considerable time under DMW. Fortunately, on this track, Mayrokun’s light comedy compliments Dremo’s lofty-minded gaze both artists trade bars strengthened by boyish banter, reflective of a chemistry built off more than studio time

The Bumplist is The NATIVE’s official weekly playlist – what we love this week, in no particular order

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Essentials: Zamir’s debut album, ‘XXIII’ packs a few heavy punches

BadBridge, Bris B and Genio take no prisoners on new single, “The Distro”

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After going the pop route for the most part of his Regular Trademark EP last year, Bad Bridge’s latest single, “The Distro” is a sharp return back-to-basics. Chalk it up to the peer pressure from working with the bros, Bris B and Genio or the sparse loop and booming bass Elijah Bane produces, Bad Bridge flexes the potency of his punchlines. All three artists spit bars going for outlandish  stunts, but what makes it so interesting is how much personality traits they seem to share. For a bit of a test, try to guess if this colorful brag belongs to Bad Bridge, Bris B or Genio: “Seven Kilos on A Wrist Watch/ Back on Track, Like I’m Pulling Out of A Pit-stop”.

Listen Bad Bridge, Bris B and Genio’s “The Distro” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/badbridgelos

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ICYMI: Check out all the essentials from Bad Bridge’s ‘Regular Trademark’ EP

Dremo and Mayorkun have had it with fake friends on “Izzokay”

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DMW starlets, Dremo and Marorkun have been the label’s flagship artists for a minute but neither have collaborated on a solo track with the other, until now. Luckily, “Izzokay” makes up for lost time , leveraging what is perhaps a bromantic relationship behind the scenes for humor themed lyrics and light quips.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfiWIl9Bttv/?hl=en&taken-by=dremodrizzy

“Izzokay” is an Afropop track produced by Young Jonn. Here, both artists do what they are good at with Dremo rapping and Mayorkun singing. “Izzokay” has a beat primed for dance floors and they both know how to keep a melody going with head bumping flow, but the song’s lyrics aren’t as lighthearted. They come for fake friends and stunt on them talking about their life of fame and glamour.

Listen to Dremo’s “Izzokay” featuring Mayorkun here:

https://soundcloud.com/afro-songs/mayorkun-izzokay-ft-dremo

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/dremodrizzy

Watch Tobi Lou’s video for “LOUNAR”

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Tobi Lou’s “LOUNAR” is part of a three-song series called ‘Tobi lou and the moon’. But don’t let the title make you think him pretentious, Tobi Lou is quite capable of executing abstractness. Thanks to the combination of Tobi lou, JuiceBangers, Swrly and Facer’s synth-heavy production, “LOUNAR” conjures up a sound that is a golden hour glow with cotton candy-coloured skies.

Tobi Lou describes the state of his relationship with a love interest singing, “I think I’m in love with you, but I don’t think its working”. His lyrics confirm the eventual loss of this love, “What we had was special, now we don’t exist” and as most people whose relationships have suffered a falling out, the regret lingers. The video for “LOUNAR” shows Tobi performing the song in a green-room where surreal and trippy images flash mirroring his distressed emotional state.

See Tobi Lou in “LOUNAR” here

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Tobi Lou

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Tobi lou’s “Solange” is an ode to post breakup blues

Sade Adu’s first song in seven years is a dream worth the wait

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Two weeks ago, filmmaker, Ava DuVernay announced via Twitter that Sade Adu was working on her first track since her 2010 album, Soldier Of Love. “It’s entitled ‘Flower of the Universe’ and it is a dream come true”, Ava said in her joyous tweet, celebrating Sade’s contribution to the soundtrack album for her upcoming film,  “A Wrinkle In Time” .

‘Flower of the Universe’ sustains Sade’s dreamlike soulful essence, in a manner that has yet to be replicated, in spite of years of discovery and advancements with electronic vocal manipulation. Sade Adu wields her voice like a lone boat on the Nile, sailing soothingly, in a melancholic yet distant manner, like the war-like drums heard at intervals on “Flower of the Universe”. The trance-like beat rises and falls on apprehensive electronic melodies, as Sade sings “They hear you when you cry, this love is far and wide, when you smile, the stars align, flower of the universe, child of mine”, perhaps hinting at the source material behind the track.

Shortly after Ava DuVernay’s announcement, producer No I.D. also confirmed his contribution to the “Flower of the Universe”, which rightfully intensified the already growing anticipation around the song. No I.D. who recently worked on Jay-Z’s 4:44, is also said to have produced a remix of “Flower of the Universe”. This version will be released on the 9th of March, along with the movie and the original soundtrack

Featured Image Credit: Web/Pintrest

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Shuffle: hear “King of sorrow”, a classic off Sade’s millennium album

Kasiien is disillusioned by love in “Heartbreak Kid” music video

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Kasiien’s music presents him to be a feelings-first tragedian who writes about his despair in playful way. Last year, the rapper energised a live moshpit at NATIVELAND ‘18 to rage along with his hip-hop blues. “Heartbreak Kid” finds his sweet spot: dejected, murmured croons delivered in buoyant confessionals venturing into Lil Uzi Vert-esque glossy emo universe where lines like “I’ve Been On The D Low Getting So Waved” feel right at home over ambient synths.

With most of the synths surging off into the distance while the others occasionally twinkle just above an unseen horizon, Kasien navigates nimbly through the motions as he bares his soul, blaming his return to his egotistic and savage ways on his cheating ex. It’s a bit of an overreaction but it’s an honest response to heartbreak. The video for “Heartbreak Kid” is directed by Rose Gold Pictures who uses Kasiien’s self-directed expressions to convey the song’s mood.

Watch the video for Kasien’s “Heartbreak Kid” shot somewhere in Lagos below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc-ZLfWySRY

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/KASIENX

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ICYMI: See how surprise performances made NATIVELAND ’17 our most memorable one yet

Watch YCee and Eugy’s “Say Bye Bye” video

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YCee kicked off the year with “Say Bye Bye” featuring Eugy, and went on to show how versatile their brand of hip-hop is assisted by the mid-tempo beat Team Salut produces.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf-stCunyVs/?taken-by=iam_ycee

The video for “Say Bye Bye” shows YCee, torn over relationships that aren’t going well. In his bid to move on from his ex, he ends up with a girl who in a twist of fate turns out to be his ex’s girlfriend. With an interesting love triangle in play, the night ends with a win for all involved. And yes, it’s exactly what you think it is.

We know how far fetched that seems but you don’t have to take our word for it; watch the Visionnaire directed video and see for yourself.

Featured Image Credit: youtube/YCee

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Essentials: Ycee and Bella Alubo get in their feels for ‘Late Night Vibrations’ EP

Listen to Eké Miller’s “Directed by Tarantino”

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Like any decent creative, Eké Miller knows how to use his understanding of pop culture as a muse. His latest single, “Directed by Tarantino” had our attention quicker than you could say “Kill Bill”. Even faster than he could open the guitar-led song saying “This Sound Like a Movie by Tarantino“.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf29CUkAsVY/?taken-by=duke_millz

“Directed by Tarantino” finds Eké Miller lamenting his unfaithful partners while swearing he’ll settle the scores through the success of his grind. Rather than dissolving into broken bitterness, the song maintains an optimistic atmosphere through the harmonious guitar licks and his confident sing-rap bars. From narcos trade to police killings and betrayal, Eké Miller touches socio-politics and still makes hip-hop you can do a line to. And why not? Just like any Tarantino movie will show you, life is better when loyalties are tested, revenge extracted and there’s an ever-present tension between humour and violence.

Listen to “directed by Tarantino” here;

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/duke_millz

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Ajebutter’s ‘what happens in lagos’ story continues in “lifestyle” featuring maleek berry

Best New Music: Seun Kuti’s “Last Revolutionary” channels rebellion through Afrobeat

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The socio-political underling of truth speaking and authority defiance of Afrobeats has sustained a cult-ish following for the genre as the sound of outlaws. Seun Kuti, a true outlaw son of his equally outlawed father, just released ‘Black Times’, his 4th studio album, just days after Femi Kuti’s ‘One People, One World’ hit stores around the world. Though both sons are evidently channeling Fela’s socio-political message through their music, they seem to have split Fela’s pathos into two equally enthralling slants.

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

While Femi Kuti’s One People, One World sustains Fela’s message for justice by preaching joy and love, Seun seems to have taken after Fela’s pointed rebelliousness. “Last Revolutionary”, the opening track off Seun’s Black Times offers the perfect inspiration to lead a revolution against the oppression and injustice in today’s society. Through the urgent Afrobeat harmonies provided by the Egypt 80 band, Seun invites listeners to join the fight against injustice.

Fela’s dedication to challenging injustice may have made him the cultural icon he is today, but the obstacles he fought are still towering and as insurmountable as ever. From gender inequality, racial injustice to Trump calling Africa a ‘shithole’, perhaps at no time in history has our freedom ever been more under attack than it is today. Seun’s recognizes this and lends his voice to highlight the struggles in a bid to inspire activism and show his sympathy for the oppressed.

Describing himself as the “Walking, Talking Struggle of (African) People” over the Jazz infused harmonies, he acknowledges and sings the praise of fallen Pan-African icons. Here, he ascribes himself the plight, pain and personality of the African activist through an energetic call and response melody, name-dropping a few activists like Isaac Monroe, Kwame Ture, Kwame Nkrumah and his own late father, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

“Last Revolutionary” isn’t just another song sampling from the heartache and the anger of the injustice we are facing in the society today. It’s a reminder to those who forget how much we’ve lost to the struggle and why we can’t stop now—“Remember the Ones Wey Fight? Remember the Ones Wey Die For Me?”

Regardless of when you grew up, “Last Revolutionary” is familiar in both style and substance. People have long tried to reason with oppression. They’ve tried to shout at it, thrown bottles at it, cursed its name and lit the streets on fire beneath it. But “Last Revolutionary” is on the right side of things because while it’s aggressively charged, it’s more inspirational and eye-opening than violent. Seun Kuti is using a contemporary sound to hit at something more plainly human. “Till We Free, You and Me, Them No Go See The Last Revolutionary.” 

Listen to Seun Kuti’s “Last Revolutionary” here

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/shotsdboss

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

The Shuffle: “Trouble Sleep, Yanga Wake Am” is Fela at his most succinct

Listen to “That’s Me”, a new slow-wine dedicated single from Endia

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https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf07DgLgSFe/?hl=en&taken-by=endiaofficial

Endia’s latest single, “That’s Me” picks up right where his last single, “Oboche” left off; Hoping to serenade his way into a love interest’s heart. With Chopstix’s deft production on hand to assist, apathy is totally out of the question. Starting by acknowledging that “Every Girl Deserves To Have A Good Time”, before going on to declare “King of The Girl Dem, That’s Me/ Queen of The Girl Dem, That’s You”, it’s a coy game we’ve all played before getting intimate.

Listen to Endia’s “That’s Me” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/endiaofficial

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 Endia’s “Oboche” here

DJ Woske’s “Rude” scores diversity points featuring Kel, Boogey, Falz and Bayomi

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Hip-hop’s diverse subject matters ranging from gangster rap to conscious rap, and sub-genres like trap and grime gives the genre a comprehensive scope that fits all tastes. Houston based DJ, DJ Woske features Kel, Boogey, Falz and Bayomi for his latest single, “Rude” and all four take different routes rapping over the hard hitting and uplifting hip-hop beat he produces with pacy drums and sweeping synths.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfzP-z9ABQj/?hl=en&taken-by=djwoske

There’s no tortured introspection or narrative arc or grand thematic sweep on “Rude”. It’s a collection of twerked-up riot verses from all four rappers who infuse so much of their individual charisma that the song listens like a sonic Frankenstein. But seeing as there was no observable topic to tie all the verses together, the song highlights the difference in each rapper’s style and frame.

Listen to “Rude” below

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/djwoske

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ICYMI: Listen to Ric Hassani’s “Believe” remix featuring Olamide and Falz /

See the full list of winners at the Oscars

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The 90th Academy Awards is in the books and asides NBA star, Kobe Byrant’s Best Short Film (Animated) category win, this year’s Oscars was different from Oscars past. Unlike the previous 89 editions, the awards for acting, directing, writing, composing and more were spread around a variety of acclaimed films. See the full list below.

BEST PICTURE: THE SHAPE OF WATER

Call Me by Your Name
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
Get Out
Lady Bird
Phantom Thread
The Post
The Shape of Water (Winner)
Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri

DIRECTING: 

Dunkirk
Get Out
Lady Bird
Phantom Thread
GUILLERMO DEL TORO for “The Shape of Water” (Winner)

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE: 

Timothée Chalamet, “Call Me by Your Name”
Daniel Day-Lewis, “Phantom Thread”
Daniel Kaluuya, “Get Out”
Gary Oldman, “Darkest Hour” (Winner)
Denzel Washington, “Roman J. Israel, Esq.”

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE: 

Sally Hawkins, “The Shape of Water”
Frances McDormand, “Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri” (Winner)
Margot Robbie, “I, Tonya”
Saoirse Ronan, “Lady Bird”
Meryl Streep, “The Post”

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: 

Willem Dafoe, “The Florida Project”
Woody Harrelson, “Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri”
Richard Jenkins, “The Shape of Water”
Christopher Plummer, “All the Money in the World”
Sam Rockwell’s, “Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri” (Winner)

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: 

Mary J. Blige, “Mudbound”
Allison Janney, “I, Tonya” (Winner)
Lesley Manville, “Phantom Thread”
Laurie Metcalf, “Lady Bird”
Octavia Spencer, “The Shape of Water”

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: 

The Big Sick
Get Out (Winner)
Lady Bird
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: 

Call Me by Your Name (Winner)
The Disaster Artist
Logan
Molly’s Game
Mudbound

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
The Boss Baby
The Breadwinner
Coco (Winner)
Ferdinand
Loving Vincent

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: 

A Fantastic Woman (Winner)
The Insult
Loveless
On Body and Soul
The Square

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:

Abacus: Small Enough to Jail
Faces Places
Icarus (Winner)
Last Men in Aleppo
Strong Island

CINEMATOGRAPHY: 

Blade Runner 2049 (Winner)
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
Mudbound
The Shape of Water

FILM EDITING: 

Baby Driver
Dunkirk (Winner)
I, Tonya
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri

PRODUCTION DESIGN: 

Beauty and the Beast
Blade Runner 2049
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water (Winner)

COSTUME DESIGN: 

Beauty and the Beast
Darkest Hour
Phantom Thread (Winner)
The Shape of Water
Victoria & Abdul

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING: 

Darkest Hour (Winner)
Victoria & Abdul
Wonder

ORIGINAL SCORE: 

Dunkirk
Phantom Thread
The Shape of Water (Winner)
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri

ORIGINAL SONG: 

“Mighty River,” Mudbound
“Mystery Of Love,” Call Me by Your Name
“Remember Me,” Coco (Winner)
“Stand Up For Something,” Marshall
“This Is Me,” The Greatest Showman

SOUND EDITING:

Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk (Winner)
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi

SOUND MIXING:

Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk (Winner)
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi

VISUAL EFFECTS: 

Blade Runner 2049 (Winner)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Kong: Skull Island
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
War for the Planet of the Apes

ANIMATED SHORT FILM: 

Dear Basketball (Winner)
Garden Party
Lou
Negative Space
Revolting Rhymes

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM: 

DeKalb Elementary
The Eleven O’Clock
My Nephew Emmett
The Silent Child (Winner)
Watu Wote/All of Us

DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT: 

Edith+Eddie
Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405  (Winner)
Heroin(e)
Knife Skills
Traffic Stop

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/theacademy

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 this article on aiding and abetting a shitty Nollywood and other Oscar related dilemmas

Kah-Lo is working on an album with Riton

Posted on by The Native

Kah-Lo’s music journey with Riton so far has earned her global recognition as a techno-house singer. In an interview with EarMilk, she revealed that before meeting the DJ, she made mostly monotone rap and alternative R&B music with electronic influences, but since they began collaborating, she has skewed closer to electro-dance. She said in the interview that Riton’s production style tends to influence the way she makes music. Since they began collaborating, the duo have produced dance hits such as “Fasta”, “Fake I.D” and the Grammy-nominated “Rinse and Repeat”. And the duo seem to be kicking their partnership up a notch.

In a recent interview with Emporio Armani Sounds she said she is working on an album with the DJ which will be out soon. In her interview, she hints that we may get a bit of the Kah-Lo from before the collaborations, having learnt from Riton, and channeling previous influences. “you’ll see we’ve taken on different styles and tempos across one album” she said. “I’m really excited for people to discover the different sides of me; many people don’t know that I can sing too and I don’t want to be put into one box, so hopefully this album will showcase that”.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/thatkahlo

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

See Five things you probably don’t know about Kah-Lo

Get your fan merch ready, Comic-Con is coming to Africa this September

Posted on by The Native

Though Comic-Con inspired events have held in African countries like South Africa and Nigeria, we’ve never had a chance to get the full experience of the comical convention. All that is about to change though as the creators of Comic-Con announced that the San Diego convention will be held in South Africa this fall.

With the current fanfare around Marvel’s “Black Panther”, and the collective desire to visit Wakanda—albeit a fictional African society—this is the perfect time to have the international event held on the African continent. What’s more exciting, is Comic-Con Africa is South Africa’s Channel 24 news reports that this version will be two days long, perhaps giving visitors time to explore the continent outside the comic book reality. Global gamers, comic book lovers and so forth will gather at Johannesburg’s Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit and International Convention Centre on September 14-16, 2018, courtesy of Reed Exhibitions Africa.

Comic-con Africa is also currently accepting applications from folks in the comic book, film, television, video game and collectables industries looking to be exhibitors at the convention. Ticket information and a confirmed list of exhibitors is still on the way.

Featured Image Credits: Twitter/VSGamingWorld

 

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

A brief update on African representation in Marvel’s “Black Panther” so far

Nigeria’s first digital agriculture platform, Farmcrowdy, just got a major grant

Posted on by The Native

After the drop in demand for petrol, oil producing countries are exploring alternative means of trading at the international market. Nigeria, for instance, is circling back to exporting agriculture after neglecting the sector during the rise of industrialization. Though the government already promised to provide subsidies and such for farmers and exporters, some organisations have devised other ways to leverage the industrial age and rise of technology to provide opportunities for farmers across Nigeria.

Agric-tech start-up Farmcrowdy, is a platform that offers farmers opportunities to find investment to scale-up through crowdfunding from sponsors. The organization was awarded a $325,000 grant through Groupe Spéciale Mobile Association’s (GSMA) “Mobile for Development” fund. This will serve as an important investment to push their agenda further by connecting with mobile operators that can provide technical support, as well as provide equity-free funding for the project focused on social development via mobile platforms.

A week before this announcement, Farmcrowdy announced a $1million seed fund led by international and local investors. The seed fund is to allow the start-up scale operations to expand across more cities in Nigeria. They also aim to increase the number of small-scale farmers they work with and increase their platform’s farm followers and supporters. GSMA’s grant, coupled with their seed fund will help push Farmcrowdy operations further and help Nigeria improve agricultural practices, nationwide

Featured Image Credits: Web/Farmcrowdy

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

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Listen to “Staying Power”, Wale’s first single since Atlantic Records drop

Posted on by The Native

Who knew that with indie allowance came energised inspiration to rekindle ambition? Wale Folarin may have parted ways with Atlantic Records, his former record label, last month. But rather than sulk, his latest single, “Staying Power” is a celebration of his independence and a reminder to doubters that his lyrical abilities are as sharp as ever.

Over the eerie, soulful and sombre beat, Wale raps confirming his position in hip-hop today; “I’m like the Outkast of the new school.” He also references his out-of-music success on HBO’s “Crashing” saying “Actin’ Gig From Judd Apatow/ It’s So Funny, I’m Fly From My ‘Crashing’ gig” before issuing out a warning to other rappers by rapping that he “Can out-rap (His) Opponents/ Somebody Tell ’em I’m Back in My Zone”.

Listen to Wale’s “Staying Power” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/Wale

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

Watch the video for Wale’s “My Love” featuring Dua Lipa, Major Lazer and Wizkid

Not3s and Maleek Berry leave haters a message on new single “Sit Back Down”

Posted on by The Native

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd3GKCuFjBd/?utm_source=ig_embed

Coming off back-to-back collaborations with Mabel on “My Lover” remix, then “Fine Line”, the singer is back with new track featuring Maleek Barry. “Sit Back Down” combines Afropop, hip-hop and grime tropes that suites the song’s underlying message about the kind of success that makes winners invincible. Not3s warns those trying to come for him to “Sit Back Down” while Maleek Berry echoes this sentiment as he sings describing himself as “The Boss” who can’t be bothered by haters since they can’t touch him.

Listen to “Sit Back Down” here

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

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