Iyanya summons up all our lost famed heroes for “Not Forgotten” featuring Poe

Posted on by The Native

Iyanya has been on a steady row releasing videos off his Signature EP released in April. The last time Iyanya released a video for a track off his EP was for “Bow for You” on the 8th of this month. More noteworthy however, is the last time Iyanya saw his mum, 7 years ago. He partly dedicates his song “Not Forgotten” to her, his personal heroine and to all the fallen heroes of our time. For this, Iyanya teams up with Director Ogo Okpue who has been directing his other videos as well, and it now feels like a long-term partnership. And a good one at that, as each video constantly delivers, falling creatively far-away from the previous. For “Not Forgotten”, they create an ideal scene to capture the sombreness of the track, with an ethereal scenery that’s framed with picture frames of popular late Nigerian media industry stars —both the movie and music sector.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZn-kEVgPFZ/?taken-by=iyanya

“Not Forgotten” is reflective and it’s the sort of song artists spend years trying to write —pained and poised— tapping into a vein that’s definitely there but difficult to find and pierce. As Ladipoe aptly puts it “he was scared to jump on this song cause I thought I didn’t have the words, when you speak about the pain is when you realise how much it hurts”. It’s a stretch of introspective thinking and this video captures the depth with which people will feel the song, remembering those that Iyanya and Ogo prompt us to with texts that reads Fela Anikulapo Kuti, pictures of late Eagles coach Stephen Keshi, artists Dagrin, Nomoreloss, OJB Jezreel, famed Nollywood Producer Amaka Igwe and Veteran actors Ma Bimbo Ajayi and Justus Esiri who all told the story of a generation, and indeed, “Not Forgotten” summons up our own loved ones too.

The song shows its full, swollen-hearted height when Iyanya recalls a conversation in 2010, touching a picture of his mum on the wall while a heart to heart conversation of an acting young Iyanya and his mum are shown.

Watch the video for Iyanya’s “Not Forgotten” featuring his fellow label mate, Poe below.

Featured Image Credit: Youtube/Mavinrecords “Not Forgotten”

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ICYMI: HERE ARE ALL THE ESSENTIALS FROM IYANYA’S ‘SIGNATURE’ EP

Darkness and sex come to play in Burna Boy’s “Rock Your Body” video

Posted on by The Native

Over and Over again, Burna Boy careens past his music peers and social convention. “Rock Your Body” had been the perfect soundtrack for the club after Burna released it in May. He had put to halt the follow up video a while back but he’s finally released it for public viewing.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZmHYvQnKF8/?taken-by=burnaboygram

The backbone of his new video mines the psyches of people through sexual and horror-movie-esque scenes that can unlock a new part of the brain. With scenes that have a girl in a bloodbath, men and (barely dressed) women with Vampire eyes, it calls to mind humanity’s sexual fantasies, thoughts and perhaps nightmares and fears. The hallmark of a great pop song is its ability to inflate the most unassuming feelings into towering sound. And Burna Boy achieves this through the video along with his singing and Juls production —which are perhaps the only two things relaxing the listener here. The video opens with bronze skulls and two men opening doors with faces that suggest the presence of danger and it ends with Burna seated in the confines of a cautionary tape, two girls guarding him, making “Rock Your Body” the ideal soundtrack for the scene Burna sets from the beginning —a reckless Sanctum club for would be Christian Greys and well-heeled females looking to cross boundaries.

Check it out below.

Featured Image Credit: Youtube/BurnaBoyVevo “Rock Your Body”

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ICYMI: BEST NEW MUSIC: WITH “ROCK YOUR BODY” BURNA BOY PROVES THERE’S NO GENRE HE CAN’T OWN.

Dammy recreates arrest and trials in “Prayer” music video

Posted on by The Native

Just as we weren’t certain how much of the rumour mill concerning Dammy Krane’s arrest back in June was true and how much wasn’t, his recently released video continues with the mystic. Released last month, “Prayer” carries optimism within, a jubilant cry from prison following a temporary acquittal from fraud charges made laid against him by TapJets, a private airline company.

Over beats heavily influenced by Afrobeat, Dammy Krane shows his gratitude towards family, friends and fans who stood with him through his trials. His defence was strong enough to ensure he walked away from the scandal with nothing more than a stain on his reputation and as it turns out, the perfect backstory to play the victim.

The video directed by Ola Faronbi tries to recreate Dammy Krane’s arrest and cross-question in a cinematic light. Backed with videos shot while in the supposed TapJet aircraft and tough looking cops, the video for “Prayer” is a highlights some of the hardship Dammy Krane went through.

You can watch the video below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Usual Suspekt TV

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ICYMI: Listen to Dammy Krane’s “Prayer” from jail

Maleek Berry comes through with “Magic” medley

Posted on by The Native

Unsurprisingly, music as an art form takes inspiration from life as much as itself. For Afropop which often infuses pop elements, it makes sense that some of the finest acts will pay homage to their counterparts from around the world. Maleek Berry’s latest serving from the beautiful Bali island of Indonesia, fuses some of the best local and international hits into a medley aptly titled, “Magic”.

Mashing Coldplay’s “Magic” with Wande Coal’s “Super Woman” and Mario’s “Let Me Love You” to form a comprehensive whole, he pays tribute to the songs which he confesses are “Some Of (His) Favorite Songs”. Over the mid-tempo atmospheric percussion and classic boom-bap drum riffs, he harmonizes all three songs expertly. Save for the slight language change during his Wande Coal cover, Maleek Berry seamlessly transitions between the three songs.

You can stream “Magic” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/maleekberry

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: Go behind the scenes with Maleek Berry on Tidal short film, “Where I Come From”

Nonso Amadi’s “Long Live The Queen” expands his famed discography

Posted on by The Native

Given that each genre has its own nearly infinite potential, genre-bending takes talent, skill and ambition to experiment with unfamiliar genres. Fortunately, Nonso Amadi has proven to have all it takes and then some as he pulls off a monumental cross from acoustic R&B to EDM on his latest single, “Long Live The Queen”.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZkHhGFBAdr/?taken-by=nonsoamadi

While the guitar-heavy instrumentals aren’t new on Nonso Amadi releases, the lyrics are a lot more weighted. The mellow tune that the single opens with reflects the numbing feelings of being lonely and despite words like “I Never Loved You” ringing through the course of the song, the tempo remains somber for the most part of the song.

Synths give “Long Live The Queen” a much needed upbeat atmosphere that forces the song into EDM’s groovy soundscape. Though the bass drop doesn’t come till the latter part, it’s fun enough to be worth the wait. You can stream Nonso Amadi’s latest single below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/nonsoamadi

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

Hear Nonso Amadi’s refix of Daramola’s “Traffic”

Watch Davolee venture further into street pop in “Cirocing” video

Posted on by The Native

Judging by the success of Lil Kesh under YBNL, Davolee was presented with big shoes to fill after being advertised as the new future of Olamide’s street dominance. And though most self-proclaimed music analysts criticised Olamide for letting Lil Kesh off the label, Davolee’s impressive “Festival Bar” debut vindicated the move. “Festival Bar” is sold with storytelling that sets Davolee apart from Lil Kesh who like him, raps in Yoruba but is fixated on danceable melodies to bother with expanding conceptual plots.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZQY7rzD8aS/?hl=en&taken-by=eminidavolee

Davolee’s follow-up single, “Cirocing” however levels the playing field as he explores the dancehall wave over an upbeat tempo produced by  Young John. The club inclined number is a dancefloor ode to drinking and Davolee’s slurpy vocals accentuates the fact. It’s hard to imagine “Cirocing” becoming a staple for karaoke singalong sessions in the club but the melody is repetitive enough to be catchy.

And while there’s a chance it could grow on listeners, the lack of any memorable line hurts the song’s replay value—a negligence Lil Kesh ironically won’t commit. The recently released video highlights the song’s dance motif as Unlimited LA directs the video featuring energetic dance performance on a YBNL platform.

Watch the video below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Davolee

This post was been updated for the music video.

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

Listen to Davolee’s cimenatic story about “Festival Bar”

South African Actress, Thuso Mbedu becomes International Emmy Awards nominee

Posted on by The Native

Because Emmy Awards are given in different sectors of the American television industry, they are presented in different annual ceremonies held throughout the year. The just-concluded Emmys that happened about two weeks ago (Where Donald Glover and Lena Waithe bagged awards) is presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. While the one South African Actress, Thuso Mbedu has been nominated for is presented by the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The International Emmys, which annually takes place in November, are awarded for excellence in TV programming produced and initially aired outside the United States.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZi0OJRDn86/?taken-by=thuso.mbedu

The International Emmy Awards will take place in New York, where it has been held in the past years and the nominations, announced on Wednesday afternoon, spans 18 countries. The 26-year-old actress Thuso Mbedu, is a nominee for the “best performance by an actress” category for her sassy teenage role as ‘Winnie’ in Mzansi Magic drama series, Isthunzi. She’s the only one nominated from Africa, this is her first serious acting gig, her first Emmy nomination and hopefully be a first win too. She took Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to show gratitude to her cast and crew, and Mzansi Magic channel for the opportunity and support.

She’s already considered a heroine by many and will compete against Brazilian actress, Adriana Esteves, British star, Anna Friel and German star, Sonja Gerhardt for the same category.

You can check out the full list of other nominees here.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/thuso.mbedu

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

ICYMI: BETWEEN TRAVIS SCOTT AND CHIEF KEEF: A STORY OF A CONCERT IN SOUTH AFRICA

Major League’s video for “Do Better” is mushy just how you like it

Posted on by The Native

Released back in April, South African duo Major League DJz’s “Do Better” was colorful and romantic thanks to guest verses from Patoranking and South African artists, Riky Rick and Kly. The recently released video also emphasizes these attributes.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZX3j7ngo8C/?hl=en&taken-by=majorleaguedjz

Studio Space Pictures directs the video set at a party. The Major League twins Bandile and Banele, and their collaborators, Kly, Patoranking and Riky Rick feature in the party as guest but don’t play lead roles in the video. The starring actors do all the acting—as they should—to enunciate the song’s theme of following your heart. And though lyrics like, “I Ain’t A Player, I Just Crush A Lot” are hard to sell, the video showing the protagonist comforting his heartbroken love interest is almost convincing.

Watch the video for “Do Better” below.

Featured image Credits: YouTube/MajorLeaguedjz

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 Iyanya propose to his lover in video for “Bow For You”

Essentials: Abstrakt is doing the radio friendly thing on his debut EP, ‘Radio Irregular’

Posted on by The Native

Competition accelerates innovation, especially with hip-hop where clashing egos occasionally spark flares of beef. The ‘game’, as rappers like to call it is ingrained in this motif; to be the next chart topper, outbest the most acclaimed lyricists, or tip into the hall of fame for sound progression. Funnily we can’t all be Kendrick Lamar, or Kanye West and in search of this ‘iconic’ factor to immortalise their legacy, rappers often combine a range of elements, sometimes even veering into the obscure and complex. Perhaps this is why self-proclaimed “King of The New School”, Abstrakt opts for simplicity instead, diving into the bottomless wellspring of dance and pop rhythms for an ironically titled Radio Irregular debut EP. The resulting 7-track offering gives us a multilayered hip-hop tape that despite the EP’s title, will fit right into any radio playlist—Afropop, Afrobeat, House, Trap, Rap.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BY_W_schNlS/?taken-by=kingabstrakt

The opening track, “Fela Rap” featuring Otex establishes the hip-hop outlook of the tape and allows Abstrakt explore his braggadocious rapping to battle rap heights. Despite their aggressive insults and subliminals to competition over the hard-hitting base drums and electric guitar riffs that Tochi Bedford produces, they manage to avoid friendly fire.

“Angelica”, the second track finds Abstrakt abruptly switching to the groovy AfroHouse genre for a club driven number. Donny Ace produces the uptempo track with expanding and looped synth backdrops that play over the mixture of South African House music drums and horns to get dancefloors rocking even before Abstrakt’s “Start To Jinga/ Fire The Speaker/ Now Dance/ I Never Dance/” encourages listeners.

With features from Tochi Bedford and Hvas x, Abstrakt’s Radio Irregular EP turns towards Trap’s spacious synths and heavy bassdrums. Their energetic and showy vocals are playful but rather than undermine their brags, it only emphasizes their confidence. “Lagos Girls” also adds to Abstrakt’s Trap discography.

“Givvam”, a pre-released single from last year already hinted at Abstrakt’s tendency to follow the Afropop route that helped turn YCee into the superstar Jagaban that he is today. But the mid-tempo “She Wanna Dance/ U-I-WANT” embraces Afropop’s lightweight vibe more holistically.  “She Wanna Dance” has a Falz type comical narrative on pretentious good looking girls over Afropop’s piano-led harmonies before branching out to neo-R&B territories thanks to TYGM’s production.

However, final track, “2 Am Picaresque” produced by Tochi Bedford places Abstrakt back firmly within hip-hop regions with samples from Kendrick’s Good Kid M.A.A.D City. The “Sing About Me” sample allows him to focus on rapping as he delivers introspective storytelling and rhythmic bars that detail his hunger. The warm, sample-heavy production backs up his self-conscious lyrics as he tries to appeal to both mainstream and underground audiences.

Stream Radio Irregular below.

https://soundcloud.com/kingabstrakt/sets/radio-irregular

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/kingabstrakt

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 Falz and YCee team up for “Something Light”

If you wanted an edit button or a harassment-free Twitter, this new update is your undeserved shove it

Posted on by The Native

There’s no briefer way of expressing thoughts on any social platform than Twitter, making more matter with less; more substance, less rhetoric. And of course, helping people fire quick witted shots at others too. But for the first time in history, the corporation announced yesterday (Tuesday) that its changing character count for tweets —from 140 characters to 280 characters. Essentially, tweets won’t have to be as clever anymore, rant threads would become clunky paragraphs, attention span will depreciate even more, and the world will come to an end.

In the beginning, the 140 tweet limit had resulted from text messaging. SMS messages are limited to 160 characters before they’re split in two texts. This was part of Twitter’s founding idea, to be able to fit tweets aptly into a text message —140 characters for the tweet, and 20 characters for the username. As usual, this is still the testing period. This new change for its character limit will include only those who tweet in certain languages, including English, Portuguese and Spanish. Primarily because Twitter character counts is more of a problem for some users in specific languages.

Twitter explained in a blog post that in Japanese, Korean and Chinese, people can convey twice as much information as languages like English and Spanish. Tweets sent in Japanese use 140 characters just 0.4% of the time, while English-language tweets hit 140 characters 9% of the time. Only a small group of people will get the new limit before Twitter launches it to everyone. But all users will be able to see longer tweets.

People will definitely embrace the change but not without some reactions first.

https://twitter.com/AdamNFleming/status/912976168839761921

While some are even complaining that the new change is very trivial to what the service should actually be looking forward to. Like adding an edit button!

https://twitter.com/BillionTwiTs/status/912975528847724544

https://twitter.com/NightfallGloam/status/912974330069315584

https://twitter.com/rogue_kvng/status/912973850559881216

Users may also argue Twitter should focus more on the harassment and abuse, despite the company’s efforts to better police it. Last year, the media was flooded with a slew of think-pieces claiming Twitter had a troll problem. But Twitter’s problem really is abuse. Abuse of free Speech. Somewhere in America, where many have called on Twitter to address the President Donald Trump’s use of the platform:

https://twitter.com/Impeach_D_Trump/status/912977615803355136

All this is privy to our think piece, which we wrote earlier in August, the coolness of Twitter is now in the past and the bird is on its way out. You should absolutely read it here.

Featured Image Credit: Debola Abimbolu/@Debola_abimbolu

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

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

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.

 

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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