Go My Way Will Go On No More

Posted on by The Native

What’s happening to the world? Maybe when that person had claimed it will end on September 23rd what the person really meant was there will be changes on Instagram, Twitter and now Go My Way, that may lead to their extinction.  GoMyWay, a trusted ridesharing community that triumphed way before the Uber you know in Nigeria today will sadly be going out of business, the CEO announced in an email to all users today morning. 2 years ago, GoMyWay was established by clever entrepreneurs with support from influential tech VIPs; Konga’s CEO, Sim Shagaya, CcHub and ex-Amazon executive, Bill Paladino to “connect travelers with drivers who have spare seats to share”. Smart right?

GoMyWay focused on city to city transport though also piloted for intra-city daily commute too. In an interview with Techcabal same year it launched (2015), Damilola Teidi, the CEO of the founding management had said they “are building the new African rail network…except [they] are doing it on roads” and we believe it.”

As its said by those experienced wise who sometimes speak with a gravity beyond their years, ‘a business without a funding source will flounder under the weight of its own debt’. Now it’s unfortunate that just this morning it’s the same Damilola, front-man and mouth piece of the founding management, who had to carry the burden to write the long email on behalf of the company, announcing that they are closing down. In the email, Damilola writes “We went from less than 1000 members in the first few months to 12,000+ members; 106,630 rides offered and rides shared across 16 states. However, it does take a lot of resources to run this business and the initial plan was no longer sustainable. The Shareholders/Investors came to a conclusion to shut down operations and close the business as there were no funds to invest further.”

Savings capital in funds is used to finance companies’ investments. And GoMyWay sure had this from the beginning but it appears they’ve lost it. Companies need capital to develop and by issuing shares or corporate bonds, they enable investments that allow the companies to invest in innovation and development for long-term profitability. They had a good understanding of their market and competitors too but their rivals have surpassed them.

To end the email, Damilola says kindly, “it would be unfair to leave you and other users hanging with no alternative; so, if you are resident in Lagos and in need of an affordable ride to/from work, please check out the guys at Shuttlers who run an affordable shuttle service for professionals. If interested, fill out their form.”

Featured Image Credit: gomyway . com

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

ICYMI: HERE’S SOME GOOD NEWS, MAX GO SWEARS THEY HAVE THE SOLUTION TO BEATING LAGOS TRAFFIC

Sute Iwar’s “Girl Like You” continues his exploration of 90’s hiphop tropes

Posted on by The Native

As Sute Iwar navigates a return to the Nigerian music industry’s top echelons he has slowly chosen to return to the purist origins of the musical genres he is inspired by, especially hip-hop. Starting with the folk inspired “Juno” released 9 months ago (and featuring the distinctive piano sample that popped up on Wavy The Creator’s monster hit “H.I.G.H” six months later), “Overtime”released under the now inactive Friday Cruise collective and the excellent 90’s R&B heavy bop “Get Back!”, which Iwar refers to as ‘something for the fans’, it is obvious that Iwar was making music mostly for himself. His new single “Girl like You” might be his first commercial single this year.

With production that will remind purists of Dr. Dre at his peak production wise, (think heavy synth, drum machine loops and a minimalist sound) Sute Iwar raps about a manic pixie dream girl, musing on her otherness and how her wit and reluctance to bow to anyone makes her extra attractive to him. That too was a common 90’s trope but Sute knows just how to update the idea for a contemporary audience. “Girl Like You” segues into an unexpected bridge that switches things up with afrobeats break down. It is unexpected quirks like this that throws off the listener and affirms Iwar’s talent.

We are really looking forward to a major project, if this is anything to go by.

Listen to “Girl Like You” here.

 

Edwin eats his rice and cabbages. Tweet at him@edgothboy

Sute Iwar’s “Overtime” is a jaunty little doo-wop bop

“No More” is existential musing according to Johnson IP and PsychoYP

Posted on by The Native

Not many artists can successfully integrate an audio sample of someone brushing their teeth into a one minute song and not have it suck. Fewer artists can take that sample and open a song with it. But Johnson IP has just enough tact to make it work. The rapper and producer (who has been fairly busy in the last two weeks with an informal EP he calls “I Cant Sleep” features Psycho YP on his new single, “No More”, which takes elements of trap, emo rap and a heavy dose of autotune and blends them altogether into a very enjoyable interlude.

There are many hallmarks of classic Kanye West production on “No More”; from the audio sample that starts the song, the vocal manipulations (autotune/vocoders) and the use of vocal samples in lieu of percussions and instrumentation and of course, the heavy choral harmonies that West leaned heavily on for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The lyrics however are somewhat disingenuous, referencing the West Coast and the East Side (predominantly American iconography) but Psycho YP and Johnson are convincing that it doesn’t really matter if you’re into vibes. “No More” really hits its stride when the song hits its percussive breakdown and the song transitions from aspirational Kanye West heavy hip-hop to contemporary trap heavy bass.

Ultimately, the biggest problem with “No More” is that it bows out just when things start to get really good. We could have really benefited from being at least one or two minutes more minutes of Johnson IP and Psycho YP vibing off each other. They have real chemistry.

Listen to “No More” here.

Edwin eats his rice and cabbages. Tweet at him@edgothboy

Listen to PsychoYP’s literally socially-conscious new single, “Who Dis”

Koker heads to the streets for “Okay” video

Posted on by The Native

Koker’s latest single, “Okay” attempts to uplift the the souls of Nigerians striving to make the most out of Nigeria’s socio-economic troubles. Its core message is optimistic, as Koker wishes for himself and his sundry to be ‘Okay’, the least anyone trying to survive the trying times can do. Backed with peppy synth harmonies that allow Koker punctuate the song’s somber undertone with his mellow melodies, “Okay” listens like the perfect motivation boost for particularly stressful Mondays.

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

However, the recently released video inverts some of the social consciousness of the single to show carrying life on amidst strife. Adams Gud directs the video set in an unnamed street where Koker performs in front of people carrying on with their daily lives (People playing tennis, selling fruits, a taxi driver, tailors and passers by who take time to join in the performance). The video captures the people smiling and having a good time grooving to the beat produced by Minz. Popular comedian, Saka also features in the video to further establish the lightweight motif of the video.

“Okay” portrays how music can provide an escape to help us get through difficult times. Though the beats and melodies are incredibly catchy, it’s the eerie undertone that makes it more intriguing.

Stream the video for “Okay” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Koker

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 Koker’s summer music video for “Wavy”

Watch Lil Kesh’s video for “Baby Favour”

Posted on by The Native

Artists who make music for the dance floor often combine the carefree thrills of love, braggadocio or dance itself, with up or mid tempo production. “Baby Favour” by Lil Kesh shows the artist to be a master at spanning this branch of Afropop, his music often recalling some of his previous hits, including his break out single “Shoki”. He’s mostly stayed with the same formula and subsequently, his tracks may prove too familiar territory but it works for someone who isn’t trying to make “too much sense” as he says in this song’s chorus. The kick here really is that Kesh’s fans can’t keep their hands off him.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZgYTZwhOsF/?taken-by=lilkeshofficial

For  “Baby Favour”,  high thrums of percussion and synths worked by wicked producer Young John, serves as a good backdrop for Lil Kesh to take us on a salacious tale of perhaps, a summer fling. Crass as the concept is, his boasts that “this jam e make no sense but Na nonsense dey make more sense cause if the jam make too much sense then too much sense e make no sense” and flirtations trills are undeniably fun. The accompanying music video directed by Unlimited L.A shows the West Syde Life Dancers of Olamide’s Wo fame, a prototype of a boom box, Lil Kesh preaching in tongues across a matching hound’s-tooth-background and him seated as a “Biggy man” on a three stage platform that says “King of the new school” too.

Check it out below.

Featured Image Credit: Youtube/Keshvevo

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

ICYMI: LIL KESH STICKS TO HIS AFFECTIONATE NARRATIVE FOR NEW SINGLE “LOVE STORY”

Shaydee features Wizkid on new “Make Sense” single

Posted on by The Native

After releasing “Koyewon” as his debut single with his new label, 506 Music a few days ago, Shaydee is keeping up the steam with a new single, featuring former label mate at EME, Wizkid. “Make Sense” is second outing by Shaydee and Wizkid since “Won Gbo Mi” in 2013.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZd9xEWgTUp/?hl=en&taken-by=shaydeeboi

Though “Make Sense” shares the same mid-tempo architecture that made some of the biggest tracks of the last few months, producer Spax opts for ascending synth loops and base drum drops. Shaydee’s praise for his love interest doesn’t keep him from subdued gloats; “Living Life With No Worries/ I Am Doing Alright”. Wizkid contributes a verse that feigns vulnerability with restrained vocals in English and Yoruba. And given that not one syllable listens out of place—despite the loose composition—the Starboy seems to be paying more attention to songwriting lately.

The video for the single is expected to be released soon but in the meantime, listen to “Make Sense” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/shaydeeboi

This post has been updated with corrections concerning Shaydee’s record label.

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

 

Wizkid’s Future feature on “Everytime” is more tha just an international feature

DJ Yin uses “Kilimanjaro” to advocate for mental health

Posted on by The Native

In the right hands music could become an effective tool to disrupt social norms, start conversations and change status quo. On “Kilimanjaro”, DJ Yin is a spokesperson for easily digestible social progression, helping relieve people of despondency. She’s preaching from a mount, prompting people to recognise the grim blues in a society where mental health issues are filtered through the vague lens of taboo and spiritualism.

Yet, “Kilimanjaro” isn’t a track too moralising, and neither does it have the maudlin feel of a song written to solve a problem. The uptempo instrumentation underpinning the vocals, positively diverts from making the track a mawkish ode to depression and instead makes it moderately uplifting.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZeOE-2F0zb/?taken-by=officialdjyin

As part of the campaign for “Kilimanjaro” to echo the voices of the depressed and unheard, DJ Yin and evenly paired collaborator, BankyOnDBeatz recruit some friends to help project their voices to the movement to fight depression. Amongst the additional vocals included are comments from Cool FM OAP, Kemi Smallz, Odunsi (The Engine), Fasina and Bennie Macaulay amongst others to share their thoughts by using their voices as a tool to connect with millions of people. Although the layering of the sound sometimes overtakes their vocals when they give bits and pieces of their experiences, the outro by Ayo Wright is free from instrumental distraction to help focus on the quick spoken word poetry.

Stream “Kilimanjaro” below.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/officialdjyin

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

ICYMI: BEST NEW MUSIC: BANKYONDBEATZ AND DJ YIN MAKE A HOUSE BOP FOR THE AGES WITH “GOOD LOVING”

Emmanuella and Pete Edochie are helping Wikipedia promote reading in Nigeria

Posted on by The Native

Social media shares have been circulating two comedy skits that feature Young Comedian, Emmanuella and Veteran Actor, Pete Edochie to raise awareness of reading through Wikipedia in Nigeria. It’s ironic that in Emmanuella’s video she is the little girl teaching and in the video featuring Pete Edochie—a man who is renowned for often dishing words of wisdom in movies—is the one being taught.

Riding on the back of Wikipedia’s mission to push for open Knowledge, the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria(WUGN), headed by acting president Olushola Olaniyan, have been creating student clubs for Wikipedia readers in Nigerian universities and weekly radio programs to explain Wikipedia. As part of the master plan, Eyitayo Alimi one of the Wikimedians says they are “bootstrapping and doing a whole lot. Organizing meetup events—at least once in a month, sometimes twice—working on partnership deals with media agencies both digital and print, ensuring we get spaces for events, inviting people for training, and following up to ensure they are retained within the community.” Including Eyitayo, Olushola invited four fellow volunteers (Sam Oyeyele, Blossom Ozurumba and Kayode Yusuf) as part of the “community marketing team” to join him and the foundation in creatively directing the video ads that just launched this september.

With internet access on the rise in even the innermost part of the country and approximately 190 million residents, Nigeria is the largest country in Africa. Consequentially, it’s target market for many consumer dependent businesses and organisations to profit and grow as they offer their services. Early this year, YouTube also kicked off a promotional strategy to gain more audiences on their platform through ads targeting the three major categories Nigerians often visit on Youtube: Football, Make-up and Music videos, in turn, prompting others to also open their own Youtube Channels for free. Similarly, online encyclopedia, Wikipedia is raising awareness for the platform in Nigeria amongst internet users and of course, targeting mostly the 60% of Nigerians who are school-aged and can use and improve the platform.

In Olushola’s words, “The video ads show a blend of characters between the old and young generations in Nigeria. It reflects our cultures, it shows that Nigerians are eager to learn new things, it shows that knowledge is not restricted by age.” 

Check out the comedy skits featuring Emmanuella & her uncle and Pete Edochie respectively via twitter below.

Featured Image Credit: Youtube/Wikimediafoundation “Emmanuella Goes To School”

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

ICYMI: INSTAGRAM MAY BE ABOUT TO RUIN YOUR PERSONAL FEED FOREVER

Chilling video of violent P Square argument surfaces online

Posted on by The Native

While things continue to fall apart internally at the Okoye camp, only bare details  of the on-going recursion of blood beef between the three brothers have made it to the media.  Though Peter broke the group’s protocol for silence and social media subliminal posts in the stead by releasing a statement announcing his breakup from P Square through the group’s lawyer. In the letter, Peter claimed to be a target for his brothers, referencing violent threats his siblings have made against his nuclear family.

The video referenced in the “Termination Letter” Peter sent to P Square lawyer, Keyamo has leaked on the internet and it confirms that P Square isn’t the perfect picture of brotherhood as we once thought. The brothers exchange angry words and express their hatred right in the presence of witnesses who have to stop them from exchanging blows. The resulting standoff is so dramatic, you’ll question if this entire thing is staged. Either ways, Peter can certainly pursue a career in acting action movies. Watch the video below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/p_square_fanpage

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

Here are all the shocking plot twists in P Square’s latest family fued

The Shuffle: You won’t believe how good this forgotten track from Tiwa Savage’s debut album is

Posted on by The Native

Despite unwittingly but unavoidably coming of age as a superstar pop diva, complete with success as an artist coming tandem with brand endorsements and tabloid-worthy scandals, it’s hard to place Tiwa Savage’s sound. Tiwa Savage’s artistry is almost weird because by design she is both an amazing songwriter and composer, yet some of her biggest hits have come and gone in true pop fashion: pushed through the airwaves and eased out of circulation, only to be forever remembered by stage performances. This is why ” Written All Over Your Face” will come as a shock to those who have only heard the ‘best’ of Tiwa Savage on her most jollof Afropop singles.

The premise to ” Written All Over Your Face” is another ambiguous part of the Tiwa Savage story. The release of Tiwa Savage’s debut album Once Upon a Time earmarked the end of a three-year rollout beginning with 2010’s “Kele Kele Love”, and ending with “Eminado” featuring Don Jazzy, the last single released to push her album release in the summer of 2013. By the time Once Upon a Time hit the streets and digital stores, 6 pre-released singles from the album were still in active rotation and fans had been too fatigued to pay attention to a 22-track full-length project that seemed to have already pandered all of its hidden gifts.

But a song like ” Written All Over Your Face” is not one you can miss. While Tiwa Savage tried to use the accompanying video for “Wanted” (off the same album) to stamp out good girl expectations by embracing a more sensual outlook, ” Written All Over Face” takes a deeper dive into details woven with cheeky metaphors and sweet bedroom whispers. Tiwa Savage comes into the track almost suspended, over the bass-heavy instrumental softly singing, ‘ When the world is dreaming/ No one here to listen ‘. Afropop Tiwa Savage transforms here completely, creasing melody into the set piece with smooth silky vocals that build up to a soft whine bop.

Cunnilingus is not the rarest amongst R&B themes, but Tiwa Savage is at her most daring on ” Written All Over Your Face”, reinventing sex music in a manner only the R&B can permit for the most skilled songwriters. Here is an excerpt below:

I can never say No
Not when you’re moving down so low

Boy, you’re a mess
But you look your best
Baby, when I’m written all over your face

It’s almost hilarious, but it’s not corny, nor does it fall out of place with the overall theme of sex behind the song. Tiwa Savage is not only wielding her femininity slickly, she also manages to bring the mutual romance at the heart of their lovemaking to the fore. You hear this when she upturns the glamour of sex with the implied awkwardnesses of oral sex, when she sings ‘ Now I know the flavour of my love/ Cause when you kissing me, I’ll be tasting my love ‘. It’s not pretty, but it’s not gross either because there is some honesty here, a lot more than many tracks on Tiwa’s debut project, many of which wax strong with melody but lack a true identity.

Sadly, instead of unintentionally being one of the foremost formal declaration of the right of the African woman to be sexual in music, the legacy for “Written All Over Your Face” is tainted by Tiwa’s rejoinder that she’d recorded the song for her fiance at the time and now estranged husband, Tunji Balogun. This narrative rejoinder was to circumvent the slut-shaming negative feedback that trailed the track after critics and fans caught on to its core message. However ” Written All Over Your Face” holds Tiwa Savage in peak form, as a top dollar R&B artist and a multi-versed songwriter and composer.

Stream “Written All Over Your Face” via Apple Music below.

Essentials: ‘Sugar Cane’ is a return to form for Tiwa Savage

Essentials: Kenisa’s solo compilation, 4 AM: Sad Tapes

Posted on by The Native

Though much of the Hip-hop currently coming out of South Africa largely disregards the genre’s soul-sampling in favor of exquisitely destructive synth sounds, Kenisa’s recently released tape, 4 Am: Sad Tapes is something of a sonic experiment. Fusing dreamscape synth harmonies, soothing heartfelt vocal samples, open-hearted narratives of pre-My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Kanye and Migos style ad-libs, the palpable melancholy is pleasant, to say the least.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUy7YVYgC4B/?taken-by=foreverroyal97

Released under Forever Royal’s Soundcloud page, the 5-track EP has just one guest verse from TshegoTune as Kenisa spills his soul with rap flow and singing melodies through the short 17-minute playtime of the EP. Opening track, “Tammy’s Intro” sets the pace for the rest of the tracks on ‘4 Am: Sad Tapes’ with the somber vocal samples and Eminem-esque introspective narrative. Trying to build a love interest’s self-confidence, he expresses his love for her.

Though there’s more singing than rap on “Call Me” and the bass is almost too loud , it holds the heaviness for his broody second and last verse, what began as a love song slowly transforms to egocentric bars about himself. This narcissism still resurfaces on “Lonely/Love Yourself” , however, here his introspection, though based, is channeled with optimism.

“Suicide Letter” featuring TshegoTune finds Kenisa trying to revive a doomed relationship—“I Know I’m The Worst For You”—because though he cheated, he still loves his muse. TshegoTune’s moody melodies compliment the song’s emo narrative and while Kenisa pleads for her to stay, her resolve doesn’t weaver. The last track, “Free” is a bonus track that references Forever Royal teammate, Caesar for the soulful trap slowburner. It exemplifies the tendency of mesmerizing sonic instrumentation to give a sonic experience that overshadows lyricism.

Listen to 4 Am: Sad Tapes below. It could either brighten your cloudy days or just give it a deserving theme song.

https://soundcloud.com/foreverroyal/sets/4amsadtapes

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/foreverroyal97

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

Revisit: Between Travis Scott and Cheif Keef : A story of a concert in South Africa

The Accra Food Festival celebrated everything we love about Ghana

Posted on by The Native

Ghana is clearly not done with us with the amount of festivities churned out in the past few months. They are mostly done in summer when everyone has the time to attend.

Summer is over but Accra managed to sneak in a two days Accra Food Festival hosted by Accra Premium, which took place at the grand Independence Square.

Exactly what you are thinking about right now is what happened at the food festival, yes, there was fried plantains. No? Bear in mind that there was also goat meat, kebabs, pizza, popcorn, tasty looking women and men, fashion, alcohol and music. Everything a festival should have.

But here is what caught my attention. 

On the issue of climate change, saving the earth and recycling I thought it was really nice to have a display of plants for sale at the Accra Food festival. Potheads, as is the name of the company that took up a space, had lovely things to say about plants and its benefits to us in terms of oxygen and air purification. To top it all off they had the plants stored in recycled plastic bottles that was cut and then placed inside a woven basket. The aesthetic!

Being a lover of extreme sports it was easy for me to be drawn to the beauty of power-bikers from Ghana’s Bikers Forum out in the square meeting and greeting.

Dancers from the Universal Wonderful Street Academy took turns to do acrobatics and play with fire.

I thought it was really cool that a barber, despite the food mixture, thought it was nice to come out and give the fellas cool cuts. He was far away at the extreme end but I wandered into him.

More images here. 

 

P Square are breaking up again and it’s messy AF

Posted on by The Native

When you’re famous, everything is magnified.

It’s common place for brothers to get into all sorts of fights but when you throw in a couple hundred million Naira endorsement deals and a gross net worth of 70 million dollars according to Forbes, the story can get a lot darker. One of Nigeria’s biggest pop icons, Peter and Paul Okoye otherwise known as Psquare have enjoyed a successful run as the most consistent artists in Nigeria (band or otherwise) with a career spanning from 2003 debut, Last Nite to 2014’s Double Trouble album. But along with the awards and fan’s favour, the group has had more than their fair share of tense moments and family feuds.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZHNBykgQw5/?taken-by=peterpsquare

Back in 2016, fans were given a scare when Peter and Paul split up over differences concerning their elder brother, Jude’s managerial role in the group. Peter felt Jude had a preference for Paul who many regard as the musical talent of the group. And given Peter’s contributions to the more visual part of the group—dance, video and stage performances concepts that are are essential for P Square’s collective allure—it’s only fair that he gets equal treatment as his brothers.

The breakup however allowed a glimpse into the problematic relationship between the brothers and where their individual strengths and weaknesses lie. Paul floated a solo MVP brand that although lacked the finesse that Peter brought, still listened better than Peter’s “Look Into My Eyes” single. Paul showed his lyrical superiority on “Call Heaven”, referencing the loss of their parents as one of the catharsis to their unresolved quarrels; “If to say una dey for everything wey dey happen today/ E for be say una go intervene/ Cause right now everything na play.” They eventually patched things up by March that same year, but it seems the reunion was short lived.

The tension between the brothers has  devolved into something truly ugly with accusations and threats of cinematographic and lawsuit proportions being made. Peter has released a statement to the group’s lawyer, Festus Keyamo to end his membership with P Square.

The statement, written as a “Termination Letter” and most likely leaked by someone in Keyamo’s firm to gossip bloggers details the abusive relationship between the families, “Me and My Wife Have Been Getting Different Threatening Messages. I Fear For My Life And The Life Of My Family.” He goes on to give instances of these appalling behaviors from canceled tours to social media abuse to physical violence with names of witnesses to boast. And though no one can blame Peter for choosing to protect his wife and kids over a problematic family franchise, it is disheartening to see the Okoye brothers come so openly about personal struggles.

Since the death of their parents in 2012 and 2014, the relationship holding P Square together has continued to unravel piece by piece. Peter seems the emotionally damaged by the course of events and will now be “Operat(ing) As (An) Individual”. Though if his last attempt is anything to go by, he’s probably better off focusing on video production, modeling or somewhere his talents will be better utilized.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/psquare_officialpage

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

Revisit: The title track from P Square’s platinum selling album, “Game Over”

Kah-lo goes delightfully retro for “Fasta”s music video

Posted on by The Native

It’s finally happening guys.

Kah-lo is transitioning into a bonafide solo career. She just created her very own solo VEVO account to promote her debut single ‘Fasta’ as an independent artist (she got famous as part of a duo with dance DJ and producer Henry Riton) and now she’s put out the music video for the song. There could have been no better way to make the video than drawing on 90’s vintage-y colour distortion, solo choreography and a silver two piece ensemble that needs to be in my wardrobe like stat.

Seeing as Kah-lo is still making music with Riton and now a solo side career doubles her chances of getting nominated again for a Best Dance Recording grammy. Dr. Alban would be proud, we are.

Watch the video for “Fasta” here.

Edwin eats his rice and cabbages. Tweet at him@edgothboy

Revisit Riton and Kah-lo’s “Money” featuring Mr Eazi and Davido

BarelyAnyHook shows out on on Oma Mahmud’s dancehall heavy “Truth”

Posted on by The Native

With two EP’s featuring most of the buzzier names in the New Age music movement and a whole catalogue of singles, Oma Mahmud has been one of the more prolific emerging artists; keeping himself very, very busy experimenting with his music and refining his sound. His Interlude EP released four months ago was his last major project and with just three songs, was sparser that we’d come to expect from an artist as prolific as Mahmud. But he seems to be returning to form, releasing his first single post EP called “Truth” with a feature from in-demand freestyle rapper BarelyAnyHook.

Mahmud describes “Truth” as world music, but its very Caribbean influenced heavy single bass veers clearly into the easily accessible dancehall trope that supergroups like Major Lazer have built their career on. A sax riff is looped through the entire song and interspersed with simple bass guitar and piano chords and a synth scaffold. Mahmud can write a mean chorus and is one of the few Nigerian artists who can really make autotune work for him as he tries to define his relationship with a potentially destructive lover. His decision to feature BarelyAnyHook was also ingenious, the rapper comes in on a stripped down bridge, drops some fire bars and elevates the song from a decent throwback to Afropop of the early 2000’s to a truly contemporary treatise on love.

Oma Mahmud has one last trick up his sleeve, tacking on a sax solo at the end of the song performed by Adegboyega. If you don’t wait for anything else, you certainly have to hold out for that and the vocal sample that follows.

Listen to “Truth” here.

 

 

Edwin eats his rice and cabbages. Tweet at him@edgothboy

Best New Music: With Amaa Rae, AYLØ’s “Whoa” is a sweet sultry tribute to lost love

Red Bull Culture Clash 2017: DJ Tira battled AKA for the win, Patoranking Disqualified

Posted on by The Native

Over the last 7 years, Red Bull Culture Clash has tried to pull off one of the world’s most innovative live music experience, defined by a classic Jamaican sound system culture, through the use of cutting-edge lyrics, fierce competition and ridiculously loud sound systems. First established in London in 2010, the last editions of it have steadily gained popularity in cities like New York, Lisbon, and Paris. But for the first time in five years, Red Bull Culture Clash 2017 took place on African soil, at Orlando Stadium in South Africa yesterday (23 September) with four heavyweight sound systems.

The night was indeed a blast of four intensely competitive rounds. Each of the four groups comprised of Africa’s A-list artists: AKA leading “Top Boyz” sound system, battled it out against DJ Tira’s “Durban Massacre”, Patoranking’s “Red Hot” and Admiral and Jahseed’s “African Storm” sound system, repping their four respective genres —hip hop, house, afro-beats and reggae.

Surprise acts are also a big part of the excitement at Red Bull Culture Clash. This year, international reggae star, Beenie Man was part of the African Storm, and Red Hot’s surprise guest was Zola. But a strong throwback from Mdu Masilela for DJ Tira and Durban Massacre sound system, was really what skyrocketed the group’s performance. With Patoranking disqualified for repeating The Game’s “It’s Okay (One Blood)”, which African Storm Sound System had previously played, it was between AKA and DJ Tira’s team. In the end, DJ Tira’s Durban Massacre sound system won over the crowd, taking the coveted title of the year.

DJ Tira who was proud to hoist the winning title belt, after the event said winning the title means a lot to him because “it shows people that Gqom and Durban house is here to stay, and will dominate and shape future sounds. That’s all we ever wanted to do – stay true to ourselves and where we come from. We gave people what they wanted and they responded to the genuine, heartfelt music we shared. That’s what it’s all about and we are proud to solidify our sound further.” He further thanked the music lovers and supporters, who to a large extent, make it all possible.

Hosts Siyabonga ‘Scoop Makhathini’ Ngwekazi and Thapelo Mokoena also brought a chemistry that kept the whole night moving to rhythm on stage.

Take a look at the highlights from the event below.

Image Credits: Tyrone Bradley for Red Bull Content

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

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Waje’s “In the Air” is full of straightforward bliss

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When Waje had her interview with Guardian Life earlier this year, she promised she’ll be releasing an album by August, September is almost over now and we still haven’t gotten it. Waje’s back catalog, however, is full of straightforward bliss. Her new song, “In the Air” another lead single to the promised album I guess, is preoccupied with texture and mood, succeeding on the strength of her vocal performance.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZWCeWaD754/?taken-by=officialwaje

Waje provides additional vocals of her own on “In the Air”, layering  her vocals in the same manner we have heard on “I wish” or more recently her cover of Ed Sheeran’s  “Shape of You”, the technique is present on this track too. Then, Sizzle’s drums and synths setup the atmosphere for Waje to sing but she leads when she comes in and all what the other sounds do is twine round her as support. The Synths move gently but positively menacing underneath, flourishing just at the upper register as Waje reaches for the higher notes of the chorus.

It’s a similar headway to what you find on “Mountain”; things go higher just when she goes higher, but never surpassing her. With Waje, there’s always a whoosh of air, the gradual pacing of the instrument before that rise she’s been preparing you for.

See the accompanying video for “In The Air” below.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/Waje

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

ICYMI: HEAR WAJE’S DEADPAN DELIVERY ON HER TAKE OF ED SHEERAN’S “SHAPE OF YOU”

Wande Coal continues his feel good affair on “Oh No No”

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It’s a known fact that Afropop is best served endearingly. Sound evolution over the years may alter instrumentation and melody, but the themes never stray too far from romance. And though exceptional artists can always stretch the limits of their song’s narrative, fans tend to warm up to uplifting love songs more due to the emotional value.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZVhyZ2HYtD/?hl=en&taken-by=wandecoal

Wande Coal’s latest single, “Oh No No” is a grand taste of how enchanting a well-rounded artist’s love song can be. He channels feelings of overwhelming attraction over a mid-tempo piano-led beat with an ambient synth backdrop that Cheeky Chizzy produces. Going from singing his love interest’s praises on the first verse to rapper style self-brags on the second, his exalted lyrics are almost convincing.

You can stream Wande Coal’s “Oh No No” below.

https://soundcloud.com/purple_tunes/wande-coal-oh-no-no

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/wandecoal

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

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Lotto Boyzz’s “No Don” gets a touch of Afropop from Mr Eazi

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Ruling the summer is one way to stay on the playlists and turntables of the world’s most in-demand Dj’s, but collaborating with Mr Eazi, who is currently having a global moment, is another way to turn things up a notch. Since Lotto Boyzz broke out with the original mix of “No Don” a few months ago, they have racked over 20 Million streams across platforms.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZTXQbOjQ2U/?hl=en&taken-by=lottoboyzz_

Just last month, Julie Adenuga’s Beats 1 radio show premiered a remix of “No Don” featuring Chip and Not3s. Mr Eazi’s latest refix is a seamless fusion of the singer’s Afropop chill layered style against Lotto Boyzz’ effusive self-described genre, Afrobean.

“No Don” remix featuring Mr Eazi, comes ahead of the group’s upcoming Afrobbean – The Genre Definition EP, album. A follow-up to a great year that has culminated touring with J Hus, landing major festival sets, and scoring hits singles “Birmingham”, “Gangster”, “Hitlist” and “Bad Gyal”.

Listen to the Mr Eazi refix here.


 

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/lottoboyzz_

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 Mr Eazi’s premier on Apple’s “Up Next” and The Late Late Show with James Corden

Essentials: ‘Sugarcane’ is a return to form for Tiwa Savage

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For many, Tiwa Savage’s career in the Nigerian music industry can be split into two unequal halves; before and after Mavin Records. Her pre-Mavin singles were anti-pop bops that often set snappy wit and relatable themes to Afro-influenced pop melodies. Nigeria was ripe for a pop star and we accepted Tiwa almost immediately, dazzled by her high-concept music videos and decent choreography. She signed with Don Jazzy after a handful of collaborations and moved into the Once Upon A Time era that saw her shed western influences for a more direct Afrobeats inspired overhaul. Her original fan base was alienated by her new sound and linear lyrics but with the clout of Mavin’s heavyweights behind her and this new, more accessible sound, she was often the only female headlining artist on the setlist on many of our locally organized concerts.

After a high-profile wedding and a pregnancy that saw her sidelined for the better part of a year—the year in which many argue Yemi Alade finally got her big break—Tiwa returned with her sophomore album R.E.D. With songs like “Keys to the City” and the Olamide supported “Standing Ovation”, R.E.D should have succeeded, but instead, Tiwa found herself in the eye of a very public scandal. For much of 2016, Her career as a singer was eclipsed by a high-profile separation from her husband Tunji ‘Tee Billz’ Balogun. Even her new deal with Roc Nation (which many speculated was to replace Rita Ora who was leaving her contract) was subsumed by the gossip mill. But all that noise was just the right amount of camouflage for Tiwa to really reinvent her sound and return to the magic that made her a super star in the first place.

Tiwa’s new EP Sugarcane is a precursor to her new album to be released early 2018 and is certainly an experiment from her new label to see how the international market will cotton on to the new sound she’s created for her third era. Taking the lessons she’s learned from Mavin’s Don Jazzy, Tiwa manufactures dance heavy pop confections, bringing on in-demand producer Spellz to work behind the boards. The hallmarks of a new synth driven, percussion heavy Afropop is the undercurrent that runs through the entire EP, most especially on the frenetic title track, “Sugarcane” and the stadium ready “All Over”. Even the when the EP’s slower songs take on influences from pop genre tropes like “Get It Now”, and the Bollywood inspired riff on “Hold Me Down”, Afropop remains the major influence on Sugarcane.

One of the EP’s big surprises comes via production work by Maleek Berry on “Me and You”, a collaboration that attempts to reclaim Tiwa’s penchant for bubblegum love pop and succeeds. Then of course, closing out the EP is a second collaboration with Wizkid on high-life inspired “Ma Lo” and an official feature from Spellz. 2014’s “Eminado” from her debut album Once Upon A Time was an interesting take on high-life and its unsurprising that she returns to the genre and proves to herself (and us) that she’s still got it.

It’s safe to say at this point, that we’ll never get back the Tiwa Savage of the Kele Kele Love days, that person is long gone. But the Tiwa we have has evolved to truly embrace her path to greatness as an Afropop icon. With Wizkid on international charts and Mr Eazi and Yemi Alade taking on Europe, there’s no better time to jump in.

Stream the Sugarcane EP below

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Tiwa Savage and the curse of the groupie effect

No one knows how to weave sexuality into music quite like Niniola

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Nigeria’s conservative society will have you believe that sex is a deadly transgression that should be avoided all together or if you cannot abstain, heavily regulated. And though the contemporary music scene has tried to counterbalance society’s somewhat hypocritical restriction through the relatable allusion to our nastier tendencies, the motives are often too one-dimensional to be authentic or credible. Few artists have the distinction of being able to explore their sexuality and channel that exploration into their music in ways that go beyond the Shakespearean sense of the word, and Niniola is quite the except at it.

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Her growing discography may as well be a part of school’s curriculum to save parents from awkwardly fumbling over a question about fisting. Her Yoruba melodies and influences fused with electronic sonic experimentation  transgresses Nigeria’s traditional notions. But the gentle caress of her vocals and liberally honest composure allows her push the limits for inventive sexual metaphors that are almost as tame as they are exciting.

While everyone (including the NBC) was too busy chasing Davido’s “Banana Fall On You” line, Niniola’s crowd favorite, “Maradona” sparkled with enough sexual innuendo to make Lil kesh and Reminisce blush. Not one for hiding the song’s sexual context, she sings of her attempts at satisfying her promiscuous lover in a delightful mixture of Yoruba and English lyrics—“To Ba Wa Di Lale/ You Come To Me Within”. Her profoundly refined take on the sex theme over dance beats that can be played in everyday sphere and more intimate circumstance is both charming and edgy.

What’s more risque however are her videos that shamelessly embraces the sex sells motif with earnest delight. The video for her newest single, “Sicker” sees her bath in a teasing red glow as she struts in a skintight latex suit. From her “Ibadi” video debut, her linear trajectory from horny youth to confident woman is emphasized by her performance in “Sicker”. She’s teasing, playful and completely aware of the fantasies she arouses as she wields her sexuality better than any other artist has in recent Nigerian pop scene.

The female sexuality usually only features as passive objects in the majority of love inclined songs in Nigeria, which is to not exist at all. Niniola addresses it with awe, empathy and unapologetic flourish. And they aren’t even hidden behind double entendres or gimmicks, they are front and centre to her hits. She brandish her lusty aesthetic with a sincere narrative that cuts across all her subject matters—“What I Really Want/ Is To Be A Stinking Billionaire”.

On “Ibadi” Niniola confesses that she “Stand(s) Up And Dance(s)/ Cause (She) Know(s) That What You Like”. And gives an academic paper worthy detailing of the female vulnerability and vanity in “Jigi Jigi” before assuming the role of a heroic damsel—“If I Die For You/ All Is In Vain”—showing concern for her cheating ex on “Maradona”. “Sicker” is filled with lines like “Gimme Pan Igi La”, reminding everyone why the parental advisory stickers exist.

It’s hard to imagine any pop star better at singing about sex than Niniola, which is saying something given the stereotypically subdued African woman narrative. She sings of sex as lust, ritual, competition, redemption and the occasional dance routine. For every extreme, she gives a nuanced undercurrent that asides making sex appetizing and acceptable, makes sex pop.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/officialNiniola

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

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