Listen to Jesse Jagz and Vector’s “Shook Ones” freestyle over hardest hip-hop instrumental ever

Posted on by The Native

Hip-hop’s romance with violence makes it attractive for rappers to take on a dark personae with their lyrics. However, these hard guy bars come off as corny in the hands of most rappers who don’t have real stories to tell. Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones” off their The Infamous album is regarded as one of the hardest rap songs ever and as it should; they dedicated the song to “real niggas who ain’t got no feelings”. The song’s sinister haunting beat has been recalled several times since it’s release in 1995 by hip-hop heads and perhaps Eminem’s B-Rabbit character in his 8 Miles film has the most famous freestyle. Nigeria rappers, Jesse Jagz and Vector have earned their place as Nigeria’s biggest rappers and as if to establish that claim, they take on the daunting task to freestyle over “Shook Ones” instrumental.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BV0EOG5BXvf/?taken-by=vectorthaviper

Jesse Jagz goes first delivering lines about being a bad ass as he switches casually from violent talks to his sexual exploits and being high. His confidence allows him sing an outro for both his verse and Vector’s but by Jagz’s standards, his freestyle left a lot to be desired. Vector on the other hand came prepared to battle and even goes as far as name dropping Fela Kuti and Wole Soyinka while shading Michael Jackson; “This is not the Neverland ranch, we don’t like boy”.

The collaboration could easily be an opportunity for either rappers to make a bold statement not to mention the historical significance of a beat The Game, Fabulous, J. Cole, Crooked I and other highly rated rappers have also jumped on. But Jesse Jagz and Vector seem comfortable with their positions on Nigeria’s hip-hop hierarchy. They end up bragging about their jewelry and other insignificant hip-hop talks, which ironically is still an insult at their competition.

Listen to Vector and Jesse Jagz’s “Shooke Ones” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/vectorthaviper

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 “Best in you”, another single expected to usher in jesse jagz’s upcoming album

Watch Show Dem Camp’s music video for “Up To You”

Posted on by The Native

Blue skies, beach houses, palm wine cups, gourds, and beach mats paint perfect visuals to SDC’s “Up To You” music video directed by King Davies and Shot by Shakes. The video captures the essence of the group’s Palmwine Music Vol. 1. EP ;
“Up To You” shows the crew in casual outdoor wears with cameos from their music counterparts and camaraderie including BOJ, Odunsi, Avala, Poe, Tomi Thomas and others who equally have some part on the music duo’s Extended Play.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BV2yd5SANag/?taken-by=showdemcamp

“Up To You” plays out like a Palm wine beach house party with nothing less than good vibes. The video marks the entrance of the kind of visuals to expect off other tracks on the EP, which is themed as Palm Wine music.

Get a comprehensive overview of the duo’s Palm Wine Music Vol. 1 Ep here while you peep the video to “Up To You” featuring Funbi, below.

Fisayo is a journalist who thinks writing is hard and reading too. But her journey somewhere reveals, words are like pawns on chessboard when writing. She wants to see, create and share with the world, experience & communicate these experiences. Tweet at her @fisvyo

ICYMI: Check Out Last Week’s Best New Music: Rock with the SDC and Funbi on the high-life inspired “Up 2 You”

Breaking down Dbanj’s Game of Thrones inspired album art

Posted on by The Native

Words by Ehimenim Agweh

As the penultimate season of Game Of Thrones approaches, we must look back at how much the award-winning tv series has influenced pop culture. From baby names to European elections, the books and show series are consistently turning the world on its head. Now D’banj is resurrecting classic Game of Thrones imagery in the art for his upcoming King Don Come album.

Let’s set the scene: a befurred Dbanj is seated on a throne with dragon headed armrests, a spiky crown on his head and a dragon on his arm. He is laughing, surrounded by dragons flying about him while the sigil of House DKM blows in the wind on a tattered flag in an ashy battle field. In the top right corner are the words, ‘KING DON COME’ written in Game of Thrones font style. The middle word is pierced by a sword resembling Jon Snow’s Longclaw.

Either this is a shade or Dbanj is just really in love with G.R.R.M.’s epic saga.

Game of Thrones readers and viewers would recognize the dragons and ashy landscape as something out of a Daenerys fantasy. Lots of burning involved and only her Targaryen sigil left to rule the land. Even Dbanj’s laughter follows the signature description of Daenerys’ father, Aerys the Mad King. He’s just laughing away, at his enemies maybe but we can only guess. The crown on his head aligns with Aerys’ rippling dragon motif crown. His might resemble the spikes on a dragon’s back but it is clearly a theme of domination all through.

The swords and battleground are reminiscent of Season 6, episode 9 of the show. The Battle of the Bastards which ended in a critical win for Jon Snow and the Starks. Dbanj is fighting for something and he is unleashing all his forces to get it. But the real kicker comes in the way the sword goes right through the DON in the title. It’s suspicious and brings a hint of coming battles between him and his former friend, Don Jazzy.

It is, however, no surprise if the pointy end is aimed at Don Jazzy. Dbanj this weekend, was up and at it in a reply to a fan on Twitter. Calling out to Don Jazzy and implying that Don Jazzy regrets their split, faith in House Dbanj was coasting away like Gendry in season three. It was a call to arms of a sort and it seems now that Dbanj might be heading to knock on the gates of House Mavin for a Lannister vs Stark style showdown.

King Don Come comes out on the 7th of July, 2017.

Feature Image Credit: Twitter/iambangalee

A journalist by training, Ehimenim is a lover of history, good books and Game of Thrones. For her, the real world is just another Westeros and everyone is a supporting character. Read and repeat is her motto. Give her a wave on Twitter @EAgweh.

 ICYMI: D’banj’s “It’s not a lie” Was Once Our Best New Music. Read a Comprehensive View here.

Watch Poe’s debut video as a Mavins recording artist, “Man Already”

Posted on by The Native

Questions were raised about what could come out of Poe getting signed into Mavins. Don Jazzy has a large portfolio of managing hit making artists but until now the veteran producer seemed to be wary of rappers actually doing rap. The turn around of D’Prince and Dr Sid whose genre classification should be hip-hop, but have since gone on to do anything else raised fears that Don Jazzy may lord over Poe’s sound. However, Poe dropped his first single under the label, “Man Already” and it must be said that all our fears were instantly allayed.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BV46XqyBJ32/?taken-by=ladipoe&hl=en

“Man Already” is the exact kind of statement you’ll expect Poe to make after a record deal with one of Nigeria’s successful record label owners. He delivers brash punches on the fast-paced instrumentals, remaining as vocal as ever on what he thinks of dumbing down lyrics for commercial success while shutting down possible claims that he’s signed to Don Jazzy because he ran out of ideas to take himself out of the underground.

Poe’s “Man Already” gleans a rapper that knows what he’s doing. A record deal with Don Jazzy may seem like a big break for those who have followed Poe’s career from a distance, but the rapper remains jaded as ever, treating fame and its constituents with derisive indifference, as if his cross into the mainstream was always a given regardless of circumstance. The video on the other hand doesn’t make any statement; just Poe performing his verse while models and dancers entertain viewers.

Watch Poe’s debut video “Man Already” below.

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

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/MavinsRecord

Revisit Poe’s “Lifelines” where he officially addresses his haters

Dáramólá is no longer longing for love because he has it “So Good” already

Posted on by The Native

https://www.instagram.com/p/BV2MhSbhi0G/?taken-by=itsdaramola

If you’re familiar with Dáramólá’s voice and style from “Lagos City Wave”, “Lotto”,  or any other song from his debut album Last Time I Tried, you probably already recognise his high-pitched falsetto and sub-romantic musings about (lost) love.

“So Good” is his second post-album release since the debut of his Last Time I Tried album. Although he mostly sings RnB and soul, when he chooses to stay out of this box, the main difference between the genre and Dáramólá is not always cut-and-dry because the soul of his voice still lingers near. This is why when he sings a faster paced Yoruba in the bridge of “So Good”, –“Baby girl they go blow your phone, your phone, O bo lo wo won, mo ti de mo ti lo mo ti la gun gan mo ti blow”– it sounds atypical to how the song began, but the sound peculiar to him remains there.

Also, this same bridge of the song bears such limpid notes as though Dáramólá intended not to overuse the goodness of such composition and alter its beaut state. But after all of this is stripped away, what you hear is still very Dáramólá. Sonically, “So Good” is undisturbed by it’s instrumentation. Lyrically, it is not complicated or abstract either, Dáramólá speaks of Love like he just found it and he’s willing to do anything to keep it.

Dáramólá now finds himself in a position other artists too have often found themselves. With much of his catalog filtered through Afro-folk themes and low to mid-tempo melody progressions, one may presume Dáramólá a one trick pony.  But as the chorus for “So Good”  croons in with composition similarities with “Lotto” and “Lagos City Wave”, Dáramólá’s voice is heard balanced on thinly veiled emotions, an elemental draw his music has always borne at its core.

Listen to Dáramólá’s “So Good” produced by Juice Banger below.
https://soundcloud.com/daramola/so-good

Fisayo is a journalist who thinks writing is hard and reading too. But her journey somewhere reveals, words are like pawns on chessboard when writing. She wants to see, create and share with the world, experience & communicate these experiences. Tweet at her @fisvyo

Feature Image Credit: Instagram/itsdaramola

ICYMI: Watch Daramola in Visuals for “Lagos City Wave”

Watch the video for KLY’s “Scrrr Pull Up” featuring Wizkid

Posted on by The Native

KLY’s debut project, KLYMAX Reup made quite an impression in South Africa after it was released last year. Ycee features on the 12 tracked hip-hop EP and one of its biggest hits, “Scrrr Pull UP”  adds another Nigerian to the South African’s featured list. Wizkid was called to work his Starboy magic into the slow base-heavy trap beat produced by Wichi 1080.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVt0dIsDFjJ/?taken-by=klyofficial&hl=en

“Scrrr Pull Up Remix” retains the original track’s narrative of dealing with female drama and Wizkid revamps Travis Scott’s “Pick Up The Phone” for a mash-up of Daddy Yo from Nigeria and international Afropop singer. Ambitiouz Entertainment, KLY’s record label released the video for the remix last week and it’s set in a garage where KLY and Wizkid perform their verses solo till they are joined by models and friends that liven up the atmosphere. The video is directed by Blxckworx.

Watch the KLY’s video for  “Scrrr Pull Up” featuring Wizkid below.

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Ambitiouz Entertainment

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

Tiwa Savage and the curse of the groupie effect

Hear Mystro’s “Issa Vibe” featuring vocals from Davido

Posted on by The Native

The major feel of summer is tied around youthfulness; you want to hit perfect places with friends & hang out, take a walk in the waves & feel the sunshine or take a couple – actually, a lot – of drinks with them & chill out. So it’s no surprise to hear Mystro sing ‘I dun dey look you from a far, I know say you go want go party, I dun day look you for your eyes girl, I know say you go want drink Shayoo o’, .

There’s so much expectation for summer isn’t there? But like everything that ends, summer passes by and soon, we begin to await the next one. But just before that happens, Mystro’s “Issa Vibe” featuring Davido isn’t a song to give room to roll off your ears.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVxQ-cgANlU/?taken-by=mystroofficial

Mystro marked his entry into the industry as an artist, after a bit, he found a mainstay as a producer, working with artists like Waje, Iyanya and Harrysong among others. These days, a deal with Sony/ATV allows Mystro balance both parts of his artistry, which also led to the release of his first project titled Expressions of Mystro.

Mystro taps Davido for “Issa Vibe” and the two utter phrases and words similar to “Fall” and “IF”, which are not heavy on grand ideas but even Unlimited L.A’s video direction is just a simple concept and idea that captures the song’s essence: Vibes.

No in-depth narrative, no beginning, middle or end plot, just good music to move body to. So, “Oya dance, issa vibe”.

Watch “Issa Vibe” featuring Mystro and Davido below.

Feature Image Credit: Instagram/MystroOfficial

Fisayo is a journalist who thinks writing is hard and reading too. But her journey somewhere reveals, words are like pawns on chessboard when writing. She wants to see, create and share with the world, experience & communicate these experiences. Tweet at her @fisvyo

Best New Music: Get on the “Ghana Bounce” with Ajebutter22

Best New Music: Get on the “Ghana Bounce” with Ajebutter22

Posted on by The Native

At the rise of neo-Afropop thanks to the infusion of electronic dance music with African sounds in the 2010s came Ajebutter22. Ajebutter22 is not a man whose grand plan has never been evident to anyone. The rapper’s choice to tag his music “alte”, is a diminutive attempt to carve his own genre, away from industry square-pegging.

Despite sharing the same candid humour style as Falz, and the ultra-laidbackness of BOJ, it’s unlikely you would allude his delivery to anything you may have heard elsewhere. This is in part due to is use of imagery with a mix of social commentary and feel-good themes tied to cheeky one-liners. But mostly thanks to a artist-producer synergy like no other shared with production group, Studio Magic.

As the name implies, Ajebutter22, new single is hinged on the same Marimba-infused baseline bounce mimicked with steel pans on Mr Eazi’s “Skintight” and Runtown’s “Mad Over You” . It’s however not as distinctive as you would expect considering the entire song seems to have been built around the idea of an audio bounce. But the intended double etendre soon becomes evident in Ajebutter22’s raunchy delivery of verses and hooks where he repeatedly asks his lover to show him the “Ghana Bounce”, presumably with her butt cheeks.

Ajebutter22 has done well to consistently appear on the charts with at least one radio-hit every year, the most any one can do in an over-saturated soundscape like Afropop’s. Though “Ghana Bounce” leans slightly into Ghanapop, there is also a slight indication nobody could’ve possibly re-purposed the sexy drum-based sound like Ajebutter22 without reaching “Pana” level corny. As stated earlier, Ajebutter22’s grand plan may not seem evident to anyone, but he doesn’t seem to be on the same journey with anyone else either. And it may be unlikely he even needs a plan where he is headed.

Stream Ajebutter22’s “Ghana Bounce” via Apple Music below

ICYMI, Last Week’s Best New Music: Rock with the SDC and Funbi on the high-life inspired “Up 2 You”

Wizkid bags BET Award for Best International Act Africa

Posted on by The Native

Last night at the Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, California, Wizkid took home the award for Best International act: Africa at the BET awards. The Starboy slugged out the category alongside contenders, Mr Eazi, Davido, Tekno, alongside AKA and Babes Wodumo from South Africa and Stonebwoy from Ghana. And for the record, this wouldn’t be the first trophy he’s taking home from the show.

For now, Wizzy is on the road to finish updating the Sounds From The Other Side album to complete release status in July and a performance on Jay Z’s Budweiser-powered “Made in America” Festival in September, yet putting him in another perfect place to continue to market his brand of Afropop to a more diverse international mainstream audience.

See the complete list of 2017 BET Awards Winners below:

 

Best Male Hip-Hop Artist


Kendrick Lamar

 

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist


Remy Ma

 

Best New Artist


Chance The Rapper

 

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

Bruno Mars

 

Best Group

Migos

 

Best Gospel Artist

LeCrae

 

Centric Award


Solange

 

Young Stars Award

Yara  Shahidi

 

Coca-Cola Viewer’s Choice Award


Beyoncé, “Sorry”

 

Best Collaboration


Chance The Rapper f. Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz, “No Problem”

 

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist


Beyoncé

 

Video Director of the Year

Kahlil Joseph and Beyonce, “Sorry”

 

Album of the Year


Beyoncé

 

Best Actress

Taraji P. Henson

 

Best Actor

Mahershala Ali

 

Best Movie


Hidden Figures

 

Sportswoman of the Year

Serena Williams

 

Sportsman of the Year

Stephen Curry

 

Best International Act: Europe

Stormzy

 

Best International Act: Africa

Wizkid

 

Humanitarian Award


Chance The Rapper

 

Lifetime Achievement Award


New Edition

 

Feature Image Credit: Wizkid/Instagram

Fisayo is a journalist who thinks writing is hard and reading too. But her journey somewhere reveals, words are like pawns on chessboard when writing. She wants to see, create and share with the world, experience & communicate these experiences. Tweet at her @fisvyo

ICYMI: Check Out Whizkid’s SFTOS latest update

On the toxic values African parents imbue in their children about religious holiday food

Posted on by The Native

Words by Ehimenim Agweh

This article is an holiday special in honour of the Muslim Eid-el Fitri celebrations.

Hands up if you’ve ever felt victimised by the sight of your mother throwing juicy looking Sallah meat. Do I have a no? A yes? A maybe? That’s better. Personally, I have because that piece of meat looks like the stuff good dreams are made of. But seriously, why is it that for some of us, the Sallah meat never sees the light of day?

Those of us from Christian families have had to experience our Muslim friends and neighbours deliver their goodwill during Sallah in form of a goody pack loaded with jollof rice and crowned with a well fried piece of meat. We might have been there even when the meat was on the fire and our eyes, noses and stomach had to wait like the ten virgins for the food to be delivered to us.

But what happens when the meat comes? Two options: either it is eaten or it is thrown away. Both options are decided and executed by our mothers whose word over the Sallah meat is law. For those of us who got to share in the bounty, oh the joy we felt. We were the champs as we wrestled the flesh into submission. But for the other half of us, oh well. It was ‘Thank you’ and ‘Off you go.’ That meat was entering the dustbin, rice included. But why did it have to end up there?

Many times we attribute it to the difference in belief as there are muslims who grew up in homes where food from Christian holiday celebrations like Christmas and Easter have been given the same treatment. Usually, many African parents are skeptical because the celebration is a to a God they do not worship. Some of us have even been trained to never eat the meat, wherever we are, regardless of our relationship to the person gifting it to us. Other times, it’s just plain suspicion. Our mothers aren’t sure how the meat was killed, cooked or anything thing at all. So they just risk it and throw it out all the while thanking the neighbours. Might sound shady but, it is the truth a lot of us have to live with.

Anyway, as Sallah rolls around this weekend, let us take some time to contemplate what we are going to do as the Sallah ram arrives. Let’s not be hasty and rush to the bin. In a country like Nigeria’s with a multitude of cultural values and belief systems, toxic values based on suspicion and difference of faith will only further divide the nation along lines of socio-ethnic differences. We need to do better than our parents; there is no greater sign of tolerance than sharing, even better, accepting what is shared based on intent instead of unfounded stereotypes.

Feature Image Credit: Nairaland Forum

A journalist by training, Ehimenim is a lover of history, good books and Game of Thrones. For her, the real world is just another Westeros and everyone is a supporting character. Read and repeat is her motto. Give her a wave on Twitter @EAgweh.

ICYMI, Read Up: Livestock now acceptable means of economic trade in Zimbabwe

See Highlights from WAFFLESNCREAM x NATIVE BMX Skate Jam

Posted on by The Native

Over the weekend, WAFFLESNCREAM hosted a Skate Jam powered by The Native and Red Bull NG in Broad Street, Marina, Lagos. This first event came to be as part of WAFFLESNCREAM’s campaign to help signal-boost Nigeria’s growing skate scene as well as to introduce other extreme sports to the local youth urban culture.

With nearly eight hours of bright sunny daylight, we had a ramp, skate railings, and other field gear for skaters, bikers and roller-bladers to get their spin-ons. Here are some of the highlights from the event from last weekend. See images below

WAFFLESNCREAM SKATE JAM 02

WAFFLESNCREAM SKATE JAM 08

Documenting Nigerian skate culture with Leonard, Slawn and Onyedi

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

Posted on by The Native

Words by Ehimenim Agweh 

As hip-hop continues to become a global arts and culture phenomena, it is not unusual to see Africa at the brunt of jokes aimed at highlighting the continents perceived ignorance of urban culture and its proponents. In a recent case-in-point, Chief Keef fans had a row on social media on the assumption that Travis Scott was misidentified as Chief Keef in South Africa.

https://twitter.com/GLOGangHQ/status/876510842732376064

For context, a video recently surfaced on Twitter on showing a group of children in South Africa who seem to be shouting ‘Chief Keef’ despite Travis Scott being in right there. The immediate assumption was that the children were referring to Travis Scott and laughs began to fly. Travis Scott however, was not pleased and came out to debunk the claim.

But Travis Scott was quick to effectively put the shamers to sleep, with a counter video. In his version, the children can be heard clearly saying “I’m on TV! I’m on TV! Shoot me. Shoot me.” It was never a case of mistaken identity, just a bunch of excited kids.

Travis Scott who was in South Africa to perform with Bryson Tiller has a history of being mistaken for other people. And being upset about it. His most frequent doppelganger has been A$AP Rocky and he has hardly been chummy with it. But this time, Travis Scott did not take offense but took it in good stride and defended the children’s exuberance. The first video was flawed, the second wasn’t.

Feature Image Credit: Instagram/travisscott

A journalist by training, Ehimenim is a lover of history, good books and Game of Thrones. For her, the real world is just another Westeros and everyone is a supporting character. Read and repeat is her motto. Give her a wave on Twitter @EAgweh.

ICYMI: Watch Cassper Nyovest’s tribute to fatherhood on “Superman” featuring Tsepo Tshola

Sleek Dave and Dapo are all about good vibes “Feeling Fly”

Posted on by The Native

Nigerian collaborators Sleek Dave and Dapo had our attention with their rough around the edges but strong on content debut “Level Up”, a tongue in cheek single that referenced gamer pop culture (think Mario Bros) and spoke at length about the challenges the young millennial faces in a country where everything seems out to get you. It seems the duo enjoyed working together too, because they’re back with a sophomore single and more of their grungy aesthetic on their new song “Feeling Fly”.

It is obvious from the first note, that much of the greenness that characterized the duo’s debut is receiving some much needed polish. The trap instrumental that Sleek Dave (who also produces the duo’s singles) cobbles up is more intelligent with it’s sampling. He builds the whole thing on a tribal drum percussion base, thicken the broth with droning synths to bring the much needed drama. Occasional ephemeral sounds of millennial life like iPhone ringtones and toaster sounds are intellgently interspersed in the instrumental.

Dapo and Dave, take turns vying to own the beat, their subject matter far more cheerful than the song’s ominous trap beat lets on. They’re literally happy to be alive and making the music they feel needs to be out there and they’re grateful about it. Dapo really impresses with his word play, miles ahead of his bars on “Level Up”. He even lands a tricky punchline on the controversial TV series Thirteen Reasons Why. Smooth, very smooth.

Nothing like some carefree black boy swag to make you want to vibe to a song.

Listen to “Feeling Fly” here.

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

Dapo and sleek dave mix afrotrap and mario on level up

Listen to “Radio”, an Afro refix of Kygo’s “Firestone” by Mide Michael

Posted on by The Native

Electronic dance music has grown from its humble roots in the American queer underground and British Raves to become a global phenomenon and Nigerian artists are starting to catch the wave by fusing it with their Afro sounds. Mixing electronic sounds isn’t new in Nigeria of course with Lagbaja’s auto-tuned vocals on “Gra Gra” but now more than ever, artists are embracing the EDM sound and if you can’t beat them, join them. Mide Michael debuted this year with “Rambo”, a soulful trap song with an haunting electronic baseline to introduce himself as an R&B singer with enough sauce to dominate over any kind of beat. For his new single, “Radio” he completely embraces EDM, a move R&B artists like Chris Brown, Rihanna and others have used to achieve international pop stardom.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVp7Tx2nFlV/?taken-by=midemichael1

BTG produces “Radio” with piano and drum patterns that are curiously similar to  Kygo’s chart topping “Firestone”. For the sake of moral ambiguity, we’re categorizing it as refix of Kygo’s hit. But instead of Conrad’s soulful singing about hope, Mide Michael does the opposite, giving us an upbeat about being restricted from confessing his love through song. “There’s a song I’ll like to sing but they will not allow me to sing it” he whines. Although the lyrics aren’t as memorable as the original’s, he deserves some credit at least for avoiding the EDM cliche of hands in the air and general party themes.

Mide Michael’s “Radio” builds into an uplifting finale and sometimes that’s all you need. A heartbreak song you can bust a move to.

Listen to Mide Michael’s “Radio” below.

https://soundcloud.com/mide-michael/radio-prod-by-btg

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/midemichael1

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

ICYMI: Wizkid taps EDM group, Major Lazer for “Naughty Ride”

Vader debuts with a brutally honest “Wasted Dreams” single featuring Bawa

Posted on by The Native

This morning singer Vader released his debut EP, King Of The Night via Soundcloud. The 10 track EP also features the project’s lead single, “Wasted Dream” a curious song that is both ode to the unconventional and challenge for the new voice in Afropop.

Vader sings over a carpet of minimalist futuristic synth harmonies and a continuous bass kick similar to the Noah “40” produced “Signs” that Drake released yesterday. Drake’s reputation for co-opting the sounds of other artists makes this suspect but it’s so unlikely that we can admit that suggesting some kind of plaigarism on either side would be a reach. It however shows how hip to new sounds Nigeria’s Gen-Z is, considering “Wasted Dreams” was released first. The beat serves as canvas for Vader to create an emotional portrait, his genre defying voice, his primary instrument of creation.

“Wasted Dreams” details a reaction to a bad break up; “I ain’t hurt/ Even if you put a dagger through my heart”. The honesty he displays all through the song is rare, and it elevates even the weakest parts of the song. Bawa who features on the song, is far less memorable, he seemed to be more invested in keeping in line with the dancehall feel of the song.

Vader doesn’t sugarcoat anything on “Wasted Dreams”. He gives a clear take on life that isn’t perfect for any stretch. If the rest of the album is anything like it, then we might have an ‘Insta-classic’ on our hands.

Listen to Vader and Bawa’s “Wasted Dreams” below.

Featured Image Credits: Soundcloud/Vader

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 Wizkid’s new single, “Naughty Ride” featuring Dj group, Major Lazer

Listen to Mobelieve’s new “Jolly Jolly” single

Posted on by The Native

Thanks to free streaming sites, talent scouts can find the next big artists right from the comfort of their rooms. Artists like Adele, Justin Bieber and Sean Kingston were first discovered online before becoming mainstream sensations and lately more artists (Playboy Carti, Odunsi and even Princess Vitara) have taken advantage of the exposure provided by the web, built a viable fan base that helped bring commercial success to their music. Like most upcoming artists trying to get recognition online, Mobelieve’s debut single, “Friends And Frenemies (Mash Up)” was a medley of instantly recognizable hit singles from the Nigerian soundscape done over a soulful instrumental, par the course for indie artists looking to announce themselves by appealing to already existing fan bases. But his new single, “Jolly Jolly” is more pop and it also affords him the opportunity to show off his song writing skills.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVZc8cYhyr5/?taken-by=mobelieve_

The mid-tempo synth beats for “Jolly Jolly” is produced by OLSB using a piano baseline over gong loops and electronic harmonies that could easily be categorized as EDM. The drum pattern however, is very much inspired by Nigerian tribal music. “Jolly Jolly” listens like a pop bop influenced by Nigerian folk and layered on with dextrous vocal work done in Yoruba language as he describes a traditional party scene using “Drinking my Emu” and “Pepper soup” for imagery.  “Mukeke”, a popular Yoruba onomatopoeia also features for sexual context.

If you’ve ever been drunk off the “Emu” at a party, you’ll definitely vibe to this,  and as far as party music goes, Mobelieve’s “Jolly Jolly” checks all the right boxes.

Listen to Mobelieve’s “Jolly Jolly” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/mobelieve_

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 video for SDC’s “Up 2 you” off their ‘Palmwine music’ EP

Wizkid taps EDM group Major Lazer for “Naughty Ride”

Posted on by The Native

In the weeks since Wizkid announced the release date for his highly anticipated Sounds From The Other Side mixtape, leaks off the project have also rolled out in an unassuming manner. Perhaps this is why the Starboy decided to capitalise on what initially looked like a leak of “Naughty Ride”, with an official release. “Naughty Ride” is the fifth track off his upcoming project and it houses a feature from EDM DJ-ing group Major Lazer.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVqq49XgPBs/?taken-by=wizkidayo

Like much of what we have heard of Sounds From The Other Side, the narratives are inherently loose, instead emphasis is preened on melody and rhythm. Major Lazer’s lithely production is lighter than what anyone familiar with their riotous electronic catalog is used to, but the bass thumps sleekly swing on the same Afro-Carribean baseline we have become accustomed to from Wizkid.

Obviously there is still a lot to look forward to when SFTOS drops mid next month, but there is already a hint of what to expect: the wistful longing for summer love, sweaty basement slow whine and music intertwined with nothing but good vibes.

Stream “Naughty Ride” via Apple Music below

Feature Image Credit: Instagram/wizkidayo

ICYMI, Read up: Afrobeats is the future and Wizkid is its ambassador

Watch Patoranking and Navy Kenzo preach monogamy in new video for “Bajaj”

Posted on by The Native

Every girl that has ever been in a break up knows that boys are better at the chase than the actual relationship. After dedicating time and attention to their love interest, they become uninterested when wrangled for commitment. But the craving for newness and excitement isn’t specific to one gender—or sexual orientation for that matter. Navy Kenzo’s “Bajaj” featuring Patoranking from their debut album AIM (Above Inna Minute) follows this narrative as they try too give tips on how to keep the initial heat of romance from cooling.

The dancehall number has Caribbean and high-life guitar harmonies fused over a backdrop of piano harmonies, flutes and high bpm drums that peaks and loops at a drum roll. The Tanzanian duo of Aika and Nahreel deliver some wisdom on how to sustain a relationship listing “Make her relax/ Tell her no lies/ Tell her sorry” in a mixture of English and their native language. Patoranking’s verse also has some advise as he sings “Stand beside her/ Teach her how to dance” in a call and response duet with Aika.

The video shot by Justin Campos is set in a bright afternoon for a couple who spend the day together picking up fruits from the market before going on a date. Shots of Navy Kenzo and Patoranking also feature but they leave room for a few frames showing the lovers having a good time riding in a go-kart, doing all the cute quirky things that lovers do.

Listen to Navy Kenzo’s “Bajaj” featuring Patoranking below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/NavyKenzoVEVO

Falz called out your faves for hyping Yahoo Boys

Posted on by The Native

Words by Ehimenim Agweh

Slingbacks, clapbacks and comebacks have a habit of hitting where it hurts and there’s no better example than when someone gets called out online. Introducing Twitter’s bone of contention for today, the Falz versus other artists episode.

The premise is simple. Falz comes on camera. Falz speaks. Falz leaves. That’s ordinary enough until you see why Twitter unleashed its ire on him. Have you guessed it? Yes, he called out another musician. Today, Falz called out 9ice for praising Yahoo Boys in his songs and he also lashed out at other musicians encouraging these ‘Gee boys’ activities. In his words, ‘Stop hailing Yahoo Boys with your music. It’s killing our future.’ And Twitter lost its mind.

Reactions ranged from flashing back to his song ‘Bahd, Baddo, Baddest’, and pointing out Davido’s Dele Momodu reference

To stating the validity of Falz’s statement.

https://twitter.com/IsyNene/status/877894604074373121

Some were just there for the puns

While others were pointing out the dissimilarity between the two cases

While we bash Falz and wait for him to clear the air, let us remember that hip-hop in its early form was all about the gangster and quick money life. The same thing Falz is speaking out against and eventually, hip-hop grew out of that stage and became more conscious as a genre. Afropop may have thrived on similarly shadowy cliches in the past, but as the times evolve, so must the culture.

Feature Image Credit: Instagram/Falzthebadguy

Read Up: Bright outdoors and lush colours make Falz’ “Jeje” video a piece of art

NATIVE Mix 009: featuring SMOKING INDOORS

Posted on by The Native

SMOKING INDOORS helms the 9th NATIVE Mix, and after a two episode absence, he returns with some heat. The London-based DJ/Producer opens with The Alchemist’s “Hold You Down”, paying homage to the late, great Prodigy. He moves on showcasing his usual eclectic mix of bangers, shuffling from Adey’s “Dirty Diego” to ESTA’s Slide edit, “I Might”.

There’s also an uptempo bootleg edit of YCEE and Maleek Berry’s “Juice” at around the 21:51 mark that we didn’t know we needed till just now. Before wrapping up his mix, SMOKING INDOORS slips in an unreleased Tau Benah track, “Talking Trees” which we will be needing immediately.

Have a listen to his best episode yet, and peep the tracklist below.

Hold You Down (feat. Prodigy & Nina Sky) – Alchemist
Astro Travelling – Quasimoto
Freakin You – PARTYNEXTDOOR
Ngud – KWESTA
The World Is Yours – AKA
Baddest – AKA
Cant Knock The Hustle (Fools Paradise Remix) – Jay-Z
Notice – Not3s
Rotate – Ceeza Mill
Dirty Diego – ADEY
juize – SMOKING INDOORS
I Might – ESTA
In Check – Bryson Tiller
Fun – Meltycanon
Hustlin – Donovan
Hell Naw – Nasty C
Charlotte – Prince Kaybee feat Lady Zamar
Geomancer – Recloose & Ezrakah
Mask Off (Dillip bootleg) – Future
Waps – SIx7
Alright – Leafs feat Young Nnelg
Unity & Equality – Meltycanon
Talking Trees – Tau Benah
Hey I Know U – Octn

Listen to the Native Mix 008: featuring Addy Edgal

Ocho and Bawa ask you to give them “A Little More” of your time for some electro pop

Posted on by The Native

The first that hits you when you hear the debut single from emerging singer Ocho, is how frantic the instrumental is. The song’s percussions, slightly tinged with autotune, are a non-stop staccato, reminiscent of marching band drum lines. This frenetic drum line vibe is something that pops up in the artist’s compact catalogue released over the course of a year, Ocho steadily refining what has distilled to become his very own brand of afro inspired electro pop. Add some synth work, and a steady bass line and you have all the ingredients for his new single “A Little More”.

Mad props to producer Hvrry for his excellent mixing work, because “A Little More” which features Bawa, sounds like the work of far more seasoned professionals. Hvrry even goes the extra mile with carefully placed vocal samples, and rare synth melodies. The premise behind the song is pretty straight forward however, revolving around the worn trope of a lover intoxicated by his love interest’s wiles and desperate to have just a little more of her time and affections all to himself. The song writing on “A Little More” could have benefited from some nuance, and a few pidgin based double entendres, but other than that, Ocho and Bawa deliver par the course for the standard contemporary afro pop song and surprise us with a very catchy chorus.

Ocho has the potential to become something really special (think Burna Boy) but while he’s got the production and sound end of his music down pat, he still needs to find a point of view that isn’t formulaic or repetitive. We have enough love songs, what we don’t have are smart ones. Ocho has a smart love song in him, he just needs to tease it out.

Listen to “A Little More” here.

Best New Music: SDC tap Funbi for high-life inspired track “Up 2 You”