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”

Coca Goods is bringing back minimalist ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ design with the ‘Tebur’

Posted on by The Native

When people about the millennial creativity in Nigeria, they rarely consider industrial and product design. But in a world that has become increasingly technology reliant, finding that intersection between efficiency, beautiful optics and optimal user experience has become a discipline gaining popularity in the world. Intellectual greats like Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos have built multi-billion dollar empires and enduring fan bases based on the quality and efficiency of the products they designed for consumption.

Millennial Nigerians like Funfere Koroye have been preaching the gospel and patenting designs that seek to take every day objects and improve them for a more efficient life. But brand strategist Lanre Masha, and Nifemi Marcus-Bello are taking things a step further with their company Coca Goods, and their new product, the ‘Tebur‘. For the uninitiated, the word ‘Tebur’ is a Hausa corruption of the English word ‘table’. The duo take that base idea, and ‘corrupt’ it, dismantling the table to it’s component parts and reworking them so they are portable, mobile, and functional for small spaces. What they come up with what they describe as a ‘flat pack work desk’, and my is it beautiful.

The duo explain their motivation for conceptualizing and building the work desk this way.

“As we adapt to living in smaller spaces, we need products that are unobtrusive but at the same–‐time enhance our daily life. Tebur meets this crucial need, with the heavy consideration of emergence of upwardly mobile Africans who live in small spaces and are always on the move.”

It doesn’t hurt that the “Tebur” is made entirely in Nigeria, with material sourced from Nigeria and Nigerian workmanship (too many people skrimp on the details). Masha and Marcus-Bello through Coca Goods are designing the furniture of the future, right now and we’re here for it.

Read our interview with ‘Bfyne’ swimwear designer Buki Ade

Essentials: Show Dem Camp delivers high-life treats on ‘Palm Wine Music Vol.1’

Posted on by The Native

After the acclaim of their Clone Wars Vol. 3 (The Recession) tape last year, Show Dem Camp wasted no time before teasing a new project which has finally surfaced online for their enthusiastic fans and lovers of good music. The rap duo have managed to stand out from their counterparts with their laid back ambient themes that challenge all the preconceptions we already have about them. But it’s always nice to hear uplifting rap music as opposed to the throne hungry rap bars that have become as threatening as they are repetitive.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVkYlMOlK5p/?taken-by=showdemcamp

For their new project, Show Dem Camp are building off the success of their high-life infused “Feel Alright” single produced by Ghanaian producer Juls, they decide to take the plunge on a full on, all out project. Enlisting producer Spax to produce all 6 tracks on Palm Wine Music Vol. 1 proves a stroke of genius. Other regular features on Show Dem Camp releases—BOJ, Funbi, LadiPoe, Ajebutter — also feature plus Tomi Thomas and relative newbie Odunsi The Engine who have made their mark as biggest exports of the modern-day Nigerian pop sound-scape. They all add their distinct sound to the West African traditional beat samples but Ghost and Tec remain front and center as they orchestrate the playlist inspired tape.

Palm Wine Music Vol. 1 begins with “Up 2 You“ featuring Funbi and it listens like the opening performance of a reunion party. Funbi ensures that the track lives up to expectation with a signature cutesy hook that conjures images of a dance tutorial as he sings “Lemme show you how/ Catch you when you feel the vibe”. SDC’s laid back melodies are mirrored by the mid-tempo acoustic guitar riffs and piano harmonies primed to have hips swaying. “Threw dirt on our name but we laughed it off” they joke.

The relative ease with which they approach this project allows them include a skit in a seven track EP but it works for the feel good atmosphere they are trying to build. Ajebutter takes the hook on “Independent” giving heft to the skit to show appreciation to women but the humor keeps the topic light before it escalates into an argument as discussions often do at parties when the drink starts flowing. “She Wants More” follows the same narrative and Poe features delivering his story telling rap lines on his verse as well as chorus on the mid-tempo jazzy afro-beat.

Boj’s obvious chemistry with the rap duo has shown on previous releases but Palm Wine Music sees him work with new a artist he hasn’t worked with before. “Compose” is the 2nd track on the EP and he instantly leaves his mark with his unmistakable gruff vocals on the love song but it’s Spax’s production that really resonates as he fuses calypso palm wine guitar riffs, Caribbean piano harmonic concepts and jazz horn arrangements to build an Afro-pop vibe that can be heard almost all through the tape. Boj also features on “Popping Again” along side Odunsi on the mellow piano harmonies that snake around the gong riffs and guitar samples. The song is perhaps the most serious minded track that sees the artists reminisce on where they started from and how far they’ve come. It also serves as the perfect exit point for an album designed to provide a feel good atmosphere at parties while drinks go around.

Palm Wine Music has all the characteristic feels of party music. Their rap flows don’t disappoint and though the melodies are laid back, the production is far from spiritless. The tape may not convert anyone who didn’t already think highly of the group but the success of their Clone Wars trilogy leaves us confident they have no worries in that department.

Listen to Show Dem Camp’s Palm Wine Muisc Vol. 1 below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/showdemcamp

Find out how “Up 2 You” made it to our Best New Music

Listen to Lady Donli’s “Vibe” featuring Genio Bambino

Posted on by The Native

Let’s make some music, Let’s make a vibe. We’ll keep it grooving, all day, all night

The first line (also multitasking as the chorus) in Lady Donli’s new release with Genio Bambino, titled “Vibe” is pretty self explanatory. And true to its message, Lady Donli’s been making some music, teasing and releasing them on Soundcloud, keeping our playlists updated and our interest in her sound sated. “Vibe” is the latest in a string that includes March’s  “Kashe Ni“ and  “Ice Cream” featuring Tomi Thomas in May.  Free from the constraints of a major project, Lady Donli is experimenting, especially with male rappers and singers and running through her version of mumble pop with more urgent testosterone driven features. Genio Bambino, however is more her pace on “Vibe”.

“Vibe” as a single doesn’t aspire to be anything more than a feel good song. It isn’t a song that relies heavily on a story line or even visual imagery, leaning heavily on ambiance and sonic undertones to get you in a good mood “through the hot summer night”. Probably why there are words having reference to some intimacy of some sort with one’s own lover. With a bit of word salad thrown in, that you may have to strain your ears to hear, and a splash dab of Lady Donli’s native Hausa, “Vibe” is catchy while being totally non-committal to genre tropes. Genio Bambino raps effortlessly on the track, bringing the necessary zing to keep things interesting.

Listen to “Vibe” featuring Genio Bambino via Soundcloud below.

Feature Image Credit: Instagram/Lady Donli

Read up: Ice cream may seem a cheesy way to describe love but it’s actually more elaborate than you think

The Shuffle: Revisit Burna Boy’s “Like To Party”, the only contender for African summer song of all time

Posted on by The Native

In this part of the world summer days are rainy and the nights are freezing cold. Evenings are also longer because dusk creeps in early and lasts forever. At this time of the year, the only respite are exceptionally bright sunny days when the wet floor soaks up the heat and the wind bellows coolly. On such seasonal oddities, the day is bright and optimistic but traces of stormy ones prior are still marked by flooded roads and mud pools. Burna Boy manages to capture this on “Like To Party”, complete with the emotional dialogue of a turbulent relationship, and a sense of enthusiasm that hints at making the best of the moment.

Unlike many typically Afropop turn-up songs at the time, “Like To Party” does away with the loose narrative, fast-paced arrangement and heavy thumps that built Nigerian party music. Instead producer Leriq settles for soothing synths and slow claps for ambiance, while Burna balances it all out with a gruff voice and high pitched layered vocals.

The thematic appeal of “Like To Party” is the contrasting string of emotions passing through Burna Boy’s mind. Even as he pleads to the African summer skies for the ‘rain rain’ to ‘go away’ so he can party, he also longs for a lover, and wishes the circumstances between them were different. Ultimately Burna feels as though he has put his best into whatever they had and hopes it won’t be too much of a sin that he’s out having a good time instead of moping.

The rest of this warped love story is left untold, but as Burna sings ‘and you talk say i no be human being’, the inherent softness hints words sometimes cut deeper than knives. And though he’s still hurting, he is also here in the moment to enjoy a bright day.

Stream “Like To Party” by Burna Boy via Apple Music below

Here are 7 burna boy songs you should get high to

Phyno tackles kidnappers in romantic “If To Say” video

Posted on by The Native

After starting his career as a producer and finally breaking out as a rapper, Phyno has refused to allow his talents be boxed by any genre lines despite the obvious success as a hip-hop artist. We’ve seen his aptitude with pop and soul on previous releases from the Pent Hauze Music artist especially on his The Playmaker album that recently threw the internet into frantic drama after one of its tracks got remade by American singer, Pia Mia. “If To Say” was released perhaps to ride that publicity wave he enjoyed but more obviously, to show off his vocal chops. The issues was eventually laid to rest and Phyno seemingly putting it behind him has released an adjoining video for his latest single.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVmlobFFaMh/?taken-by=phynofino

“If To Say” listens like a folk love song. There are several explanations for this including Phyno attempting to widen his commercial reach by accommodating other sounds but sometimes the answer is less complicated than we think. The romantic single has mid-tempo baseline with somber guitar riffs livened up by trumpet harmonies, drums and synth sounds designed by producer, I am Beatz to have heads bumping. While there are several love themed Hip-hop songs, the best ones usually features pop or R&B artists to emphasis the affectionate emotions that rap flows may be too aggressive to express.

Sticking to his Igbo and Pidgin English lyrics, Phyno sings about his feelings for a love interest with careless abandon. His lyrics on “If To Say” suggest that wedding themes with lines: “I no fit wait another day oh. To dey with you na blessing/ If to say the world na my own oh. I go make you the queen for my throne oh”. It’s Safe to say it won’t be too long before “If To Say” becomes a regular feature at weddings. But the video directed by Unlimited LA takes a darker route as it sets Phyno up against kidnaps who snatch his love interest from him. It’s not clear if it was his dark shades that fooled them into thinking they could kidnap one of the biggest artists in eastern Nigeria’s woman interest without consequence but needless to say, Phyno takes off his glasses, the kidnappers are overwhelmed and he rescues his damsel.

Enjoy Phyno’s video for “If To Say” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/phynoVEVO

Check out Phyno’s reaction to Pia Mia’s “I’m A Fan”

‘JT Mole’s “12AM With Ademola” dallies around hip-hop’s boundaries

Posted on by The Native

Nowadays the rapper/singer divide is blurring. Not only are genres being bent in different directions, so that it’s not uncommon to find an Apala influence (or high-life if it’s Phyno) in a rap song and vice versa but vocals are being bent as well. Since Drake’s “Best I Ever Had” took him from relatively unknown Canadian actor to celebrated artist, breezy pop influenced sung rap have become the calling card for aspiring new artists. ‘JT Mole is one of the rappers pushing the boundaries of sung rap experimentation, proving artists no longer have to be classically trained before they can hit high notes. Chances are you just need a touch of auto-tune. Some even get by without it.

His latest single, “12AM With Ademola” sees him take the helm of the campaign to make singing a staple in hip-hop because God knows it sounds cool as fuck.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BViS20iBCRe/?taken-by=gong_mole

“12AM With Ademola” is set to ambient synth piano harmonies propped up by a more traditional piano sample and drum riffs reminiscent of Future Hendrick’s “Shit” to mark the single as a trap song. ‘JT Mole swings rhythmically between rapping to soaring melodies on the mid-tempo song. The title brings to mind Drake’s similar aesthetic for shouting out cities as ‘JT Mole shout out’s friends and relatives showing how far their support has gotten him though he spends more time boasting.

‘JT Mole’s “12AM With Ademola” is as appealing as any hip-hop song can be and he does this with his vocals more than his lyrics though the lyrics aren’t bad either.

Listen to “12AM With Ademola” by ‘JT Mole’s below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/gong_mole

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

2047 Collective’s Deoba’s “One Dance” is a new wave return to alt hip-hop roots

Posted on by The Native

It wouldn’t be quite right to talk about British-Nigerian rapper Deoba without referencing in-demand singer Fasina. In 2013, the duo worked together under the stage name Tribeqa and started the 2047 collective as a way of  blending their unique styles and navigating the rapidly changing Black British music landscape as Nigerians with a unique point of view. In 2017, they parted ways amicably, with Fasina leaving to start a solo career as an afropop singer and Deoba taking on the mantle of managing the collective and sticking to purist alternative hip-hop roots.

The rapper is properly reintroducing himself and the Collective to the world with his new single “One Dance”, and it is an intriguing experiment in mixing different influences and styles to produce something entirely new and cohesive. The song’s title is taking from the Drake song of the same name, and Deoba samples the chorus, a mystery woman lending smooth jazzy vocals. Deoba also samples  90’s piano driven renaissance jazz/folk for the song’s instrumental, a tack that was incredibly popular in the 90’s and helped artists like Janet Jackson cross over from pop to trip-hop at the height of their fame.

Blunting the entire thing with a vocoder, for that dreamy, underwater vibe, Deoba’s bilingual bars stay the focal point of the song, the complex instrumental complementing instead of drowning the rapper. “One Dance” ticks all the right boxes, in advance of the rappers’ forthcoming short film/EP Chillogy, which is expected to launch next month, and will feature various artists and producers including Toronto-based singer Culture ’95 and Egyptian Art.

We can’t wait.

Listen to “One Dance” here.

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

Sir Victor Uwaifo Crowned Unesco’s Living Human Treasure

Posted on by The Native

Sir Victor Uwaifo has done a lot of things right. In college, he was the best graduating student, with a major in the art of sculpture. Picking an interest in strumming the Guitar at the age of 12, Sir Victor grew from being a child prodigy into lord and master at age 75. Even if his fingers get hurt, its no worry cause Sir Victor Uwaifo can play the Guitar with both his tongue and feet. Beyond that wonder, Sir Victor Uwaifo has even encountered a mermaid at the beach. He is also an inventor —Sir Victor Uwaifo developed the Akwete rhythm sound, launched a beat called shadow and a dance of the same name.

Sir Victor Uwaifo made history in Nigeria when he won the first Golden record for his song “Joromi” in 1966. The song itself has a Legendary status of it’s own. He was also the first to be given a National Honour in Nigeria thirty one years ago, hence how he got the title “Sir”. Sir Victor Uwaifo is listed in the Groove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Considering all the skills he has at the tip of his fingers, Sir Victor Uwaifo is sometimes regarded as a Jack of all trades. And henceforth, Sir Victor Uwaifo will go by the moniker of a “Living Human Treasure”.

To be a “Living Human Treasure” is to be an invaluable gem. Nothing could possibly equate to the thing’s worth(or “his worth” when you think of Sir Victor Uwaifo, a living Legend).

For this reason he’s been venerated by UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation) as one who posses to a very high degree the knowledge and skills required for performing or re-creating specific elements of the intangible cultural heritage”. In three words, a “Living human treasure”.

To congratulate him, the Governor of his home state, Edo, Governor Godwin Obaseki, made a post to him on Twitter, as a man who has enormously improved on the benin-edo culture.

Overtime, there are many things that gradually wear out from culture, some of our inherent values are not preserved, the knowledge about a lot of things are forgotten. And man has overtime tried to document some but not all. Sir Victor Uwaifo is a man filled with rare gem, with wisdom of many many years apart.

Feature Image Credit: Victor Uwaifo Music Cover Art

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