Best New Music: Juls lets Maleek Berry and Nonso Amadi shimmer on “Early”

Posted on by The Native

You ever sat in a room with African music playing in the background and suddenly caught off guard by a distinct voice or melody? Usually the next question you ask whoever owns the playlist is ‘Who is this?’ or perhaps more dramatically, ‘Why the hell is this the best thing since (Nigerian) Jollof?’. If this happened to you over the past few months, the song was probably sung by Maleek Berry or produced by Juls, or like our case-in-point, both.

It’s no longer news that producer only projects often sail under the radar, but since Juls announced his Leap of Faith EP, one of the major points of anticipation has been a tracklist featuring some of the most promising names of modern Afropop. Though a pre-announced Burna Boy feature on the cover art Juls shared last week failed to make the final cut, fans will not be disappointed with the eventual 9-track serving. Particularly with Juls lead single and Leap Of Faith crown jewel, “Early” featuring Maleek Berry and Native fave, Nonso Amadi.

Nonso Amadi’s gentle adlibs open “Early”, a tribal chant follows, then drums set in allowing Nonso sail on the rhythm with a series of questions about time of day to an unnamed lover. Maleek Berry has been on a  row in the past few months, but his role here is relegated to a slick second verse drenched in sexual references while maintaining his exotic Yoruba-Caribbean drawl. Once again, Juls avoids production overwrought with multi-layered instruments and auto-tune for the near-minimalist sound he carefully curated and mastered with Mr Eazi.

As Afropop continues to ease its way into the global mainstream, a few things have become apparent: vocals are great, songwriting is even better, but clean production wins it all. This is the greatest success Juls, Maleek Berry and Nonso Amadi achieve with ease on “Early” thanks to the crispness of British neo-Afropop and the ambient touch of Nonso Amadi’s sub-romantic melancholy.

Listen to “Early” our best new music for this week below

Featured Image: Instagram/@MaleekBerry

Burna Boy’s “Rock your body” was named Best New Music for last week

Kiss Daniel was the brightest thing about 2016’s music and now he’s about to do it again with “SOFA”

Posted on by The Native

Words by Fisayo Okare

It takes a lot to captivate people with music and I for one haven’t given much thought to Nigerian music only until recently. I can’t deny that Kiss Daniel receives quite a good reception. His song “Woju” is probably the only song I’m familiar with because it has been everywhere since it came out. More so, he bagged three major award at last year’s Headies, of which two were to reward his efforts off his New Era Album. Interestingly, his music transcends age barriers because while he has a good following on social media, aunties and mummies boogie down to his music too. You see, I have been quite indifferent but I don’t want to be left out this time and so I’m looking forward to be impressed by his next album. But while it’s uncertain when that would be released, Daniel has promised to release a new single on the 15th of May.

The release date will mark a year since the release of New Era and Daniel has shown the cover art cover for “Sofa” on his Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTqf7RrjpWB/?taken-by=iamkissdaniel

“Sofa” will be Daniel’s first single since his widely successful album. The new single could be a feature on his sophomore album and the you can be sure the critics have set the bar a tab bit higher by now. Because truth is, your second album buys you a place in not just the hearts of more fans and supporters, but a place in history. Those first two albums of your music career are what will go on to be referenced each time your name is mentioned. So, I will be here sipping my tea and looking forward to what Daniel has to offer on  “Sofa”.

Feature Image Credit: iamkissdaniel

Read about how Kiss Daniel almost got cancelled because of the statement he made about booty twerking women

Yung L’s “Cheers” Can Turn Your Monday To A Weekend

Posted on by The Native

My favorite wise saying, “No reasonable person likes Mondays” is not popular. Well, mostly cause I just made it up but also because lately, it has gotten really attractive to be different. Really though, Mondays can be a cup of piss when weekends get really busy from a social calendar swamped with events and barely any breathing space. When you eventually get around to having fun, you sacrifice the time that should have been spent resting. And since it’s obviously not our fault, Monday gets the blame for our lack of rest through the weekend. But while we wait for a proper politician to come help us negotiate the length of the weekend, Yung L seems to have some adventurous ideas on the weekend.

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Music’s ability to set moods is amplified on Yung L’s latest release “Cheers”. TUC produces the lively Afropop beat with trumpets, piano riffs, synth sounds and a drum baseline. The theme of the song is easy enough to get from preppy synth sounds that give the song a turnt Caribbean atmosphere. Yung L uses this to preach the gospel that any day can be a weekend if the mood is right.

“We turn a weekday to a weekend. Pour the Henny in the cup. Put the Ciroc on the rocks, Put the Martel in the cup. Make we turn up in the spot”

While I won’t advise anyone to go ahead and follow his simple recipe for a good Monday, I can definitely get behind his message of making the most of every opportunity to have a good time. Also I don’t think the weekend gets the appreciation it deserves. “Cheers” is catchy and will feature at parties with the same vigor that Mo’hit’s “Pop Something” did.

Listen to Yung L’s “Cheers” below.

https://soundcloud.com/afro-songz/yung-l-cheers

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/yunglmrmarley

These are the essentials from Wale’s ‘shine’ album

Davido Live in Chicago 2017

Posted on by The Native

Words by Fisayo Okare

If you were wondering how big Davido’s “If” would get when he released it, well, wonder no more. His recent concert at the Harold Washington Cultural Center in Chicago had an impressive turn out. Special Ed, Davido’s official hype man was the concert opener and he spent the first few minutes making a whole show of introducing Davido and the rest of Davido’s set, ad-libbing and echoing Davido’s lines while he performed, supposedly to fill the dead air from the audience. Normally they have some chemistry but Special Ed was just too much, and his hyping often went from enhancing the concert to distracting the audience. But who knows, maybe that was the point. Thankfully, by the time the set list got to “If” the audience basically rendered him redundant.

Davido began with his set with past releases and features from “Dami Duro” to “Ekuro”, “All of You”, “Gobe”, “Tchelete”, “Shoki”, “Nek-Unek”, “Gallardo”, “Dodo”, “Osinachi”, “Bahd Baddo Baddest”, “Skelewu”, “Money”, “Aye” and then he closed out the set with “If”.

The energetic performance had some major distractions, which made the entire thing hard to watch. There was just way too much happening on the tiny stage. There were too many people just milling around, not quite doing anything we could discern. Then there was the reams and reams of exposed wiring that made the stage feel like it was half way being constructed before the show started. I for one don’t like to see photographers and videographers when watching a concert footage, because who then was officially commissioned if I can see more than one person on stage taking videos and pictures. In short, the commotion made the medium sized stage quite a sight to behold. ‘Boisterous’ is the word I’ll use to describe the concert.

It seems those who released the video for the live concert also didn’t do much to clean up the raw material. But hey, it’s still worth the watch.

Check out the Video for “Davido Live in Chicago 2017” concert below.

Feature Image Credit: Instagram/Davidoofficial

Back To Basics: Davido is Finally Touring Nigeria with his New Material

Essentials: Juls Did His Homework Before His ‘Leap Of Faith’ EP

Posted on by The Native

With the recent wave of artists and songs enjoying airplay, Afropop is enjoying a breath of fresh air. Fela made the genre global and since his death, different artists have come around trying to redefine the sound by adding new sounds. Wizkid is the movement’s biggest vanguard, his “Ojuelegba” remix with Drake and Skepta helping the genre break into US and UK markets. He prepped the American and UK audience for the new brand of the Afrobeats that is gradually shifting from being a sub-genre to a major genre.But producers and Dj’s have been the hidden sculptors of the afrobeats revolution and producers like  DJ Juls have been very instrumental in the genre’s new incarnation.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTpEGnlAXPs/?taken-by=julsbaby_

As a Ghanaian producer working with a decidedly Nigerian medium, Juls’ work has shaped the new sound of Afropop since he gained international attention for his production work on Mr Eazi’s “Skin Tight”. He stripped down the sounds to a borderline minimalist sound with ambient piano riffs and steel pan drums. The melodies are subtler, the production cleaner than the noisy Afropop songs we used to have before the genre became more global. DJ Juls is realizing that afrobeats can transcend its hyped up origins in the clud and morph to become relevant no matter where it is listened to.

His debut project, Leap Of Faith, was released today following months of carefully orchestrated promotion. It is easily the most anticipated Afropop project of the year. The EP opens with “My Wave” featuring Odunsi (who has gotten big within Nigeria) and Sona (who is still struggling to grow a fan base in the UK). They both stay true to Afropop with their sound but Juls’ transcendental aesthetic is what truly elevates the song. Sona sounds ironically more traditional than Odunsi, who made his name through wild experimentation but they both meet at a comfortable mid point. Trumpets are added to give a feel of celebration and nostalgia to when Jazz was still a major influence on the Afrobeats sound.

Love songs tend to hit soft spots either because their themes are universal or because all artists can personally relate and are thus better at expressing emotions of love. Either way, “After Six” is one of the best song on Leap Of Faith EP. Juls invites singers Tomi Agape and Santi to feature and they deliver strong performances. Tomi who recently has started getting a lot of attention for her delightful vocals features on the first verse, hook and really most of the song but Santi isn’t the type of artist that can easily be drowned out. His reggae rhythm and baritone is very distinct and they complement the good job Tomi already began.

“Early” is the lead single on Leap Of Faith and it has grown to become our favorite song. We were initially skeptical on how well  “Early” would do as a dance track but that has changed after hearing it at a club right after Tekno’s “Pana”. Juls produces a mid-tempo beat with snare drums and steel-pan beats for “Early”. Nonso Amadi and Maleek Berry bless the song’s catchy beat with restrained melodies that are both in complete contrast because of their vocal styles but are also oddly complementary.

Leap Of Faith takes listeners through the different iterations of the Afrobeat. Juls uses the different features to show the many mutations that have occurred in Afrobeats since 1993 when the Remedies put out their first single. Of course this means that the EP is not at all cohesive and although at times sounds like a Frankenstein, Leap Of Faith does a good job of representing the current Afropop soundscape in the UK, Nigeria and Ghana while also paying homage to the original Afrobeat sound.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/julsbaby_

Here are the essentials of Nonso Amadi and Odunsi’s ‘War’ EP

Tolani shuns Naija’s Neo-afrobeats wave for the real thing on “No Yawa”

Posted on by The Native

Some music heads will tell you that Afrobeats and Neo-Afrobeats is played out. They are right in a way. Especially in Nigeria, there is a bandwagon syndrome where once a concept or an idea plays out as successful on a big stage, that idea is plagiarized to an inch of its life, and whatever originality or innovation that made the idea interesting is milked so studiously that the audience to which it is being sold quickly loses interest. This is why singles have a much shorter life span here in Nigeria and why we are always in search of a new wave. The last two years have seen the newest incarnation of Afrobeats, Neo-Afrobeats become the subject of this phenomenon. However singer Tolani is switching things up by returning to the classics.

His new single “No Yawa” released as  the first in a follow up to his 2016 Mixtape Fire or Flames is instantly recognizable, deliberately so. Instead of stripping down the traditional hallmarks of an afrobeats song and adapting it fit into current sonic trends as most Neo-afrobeats songs do, he celebrates them.

His instrumental produced by Cracker feels like it was recorded right off the stage at the New Afrika shrine, Clay pot drums, the Ogene and the Shekere  and the very distinct fela-esque trumpet solos are all building blocks on which Tolani erects “No Yawa”. He even uses Fela’s call and response delivery, adapting it to suit his own lyrics. So it is somewhat of a marvel that when you listen to “No Yawa”, it doesn’t sound like plagiarism, it sounds like Tolani did his homework, studied the artform and made it work for him.

While Tolani doesn’t go as far as categorizing “No Yawa” as an homage to classic Afrobeats, he does affirm that he studied and replicated the form. And did a damn good job of it. With iterations like this, Fela’s music will live forever.

Listen to “No Yawa” here.

Burna Boy’s “Rock your body” was named Best New Music for last week

Bobby Trauma has been silently making some seriously rad art

Posted on by The Native

I’m a big fan of concept art, especially if it’s abstract enough to leave me feeling intrigued at the idea the artist’s trying to parse. This is because the things we see evoke different feelings within us. The same goes for music. Songs that speak to personal situations last longer on my playlist than hit records. Nearly anonymous concept artist Bobby Trauma’s art is a delightful double whammy cause it draws direct inspiration from music while also remaining abstract.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOrq4qNB7CK/?taken-by=bobbytrauma

It’s easy for music to influence art and vice-versa because both share similar abstract qualities. Because music and art occupy a place and time, they often seek inspiration from the same sources. Social inspirations like culture, politics and technological development are vivid in Bobby Trauma’s art works.

The culture aspect is obvious from his music, anime and movie references. Direct portrait representations of musicians like America’s Asap Mob and several new artists from the Nigerian soundscape make for the bulk of his work. He also fuses different cultural references by portraying the musicians as samurais, showcasing his ability to fuse his interests into his art. Asides from his music muse, he also has social and political themes of money and historic cultural leaders highlighted in his work.

His choice of digital paintings bring to light the tech innovation in our time. The conventional canvas has become traditional since the invention of digital software that allows artists sketch on their devices to make masterpieces.

He displays his interpretation of life through his digitally drawn sketches and if art is meant to express feelings, we are feeling Bobby Trauma’s moxie. Enjoy some of his works below and open his Instagram to view more.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSvcC2kgHIv/?taken-by=bobbytrauma

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTBaiCGgR_0/?taken-by=bobbytrauma

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPBIUV-hDm0/?taken-by=bobbytrauma

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPVACcThIWE/?taken-by=bobbytrauma

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOB8oDLhXny/?taken-by=bobbytrauma

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJD4CwaAvjr/?taken-by=bobbytrauma

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGSSWiDCyEs/?taken-by=bobbytrauma

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/bobbytrauma

Eugene Odugwu’s art is a swirl of psychedelic fantasy and science fiction

Olú’s conscious debut “The Cry” is a rallying call that checks all the right boxes

Posted on by The Native

There are many conscious music tropes in singer Olu’s debut single under Beam entertainment. A simple but haunting refrain thumped out on ethnic drums, a decidedly reggae instrumental, sanitized enough that you barely hear the strains of Bob Marley and all the stereotypes that have been attached to his music. Strings swell in the right places, a piano picks out single notes, everything seems geared to elicit emotion out of you. It is all very familiar and might have even veered into cliché territory if not for Olu’s voice.

For a singer who grew up in the church circuit (that has given us many of our biggest pop names) she wields considerable control over her voice and all through “The Cry”, it is this control and restraint that makes you sit up and take notice. Olú’s voice is urgent when she needs it to be, funneled into a quiet whisper when the song calls for it, a literal shout at the song’s crescendo. The song’s conscious message is served excellently by this and you are even able to overlook the formulaic conscious song format.

Olú has talent and potential, all she needs now is to find an original sound.

Listen to “The Cry” here.

Listen to Nonso Amadi and Odunsi (the engine)’s joint EP ‘War’

The Bumplist: Nonso Amadi, Odunsi, Burna Boy, Lana Del Rey and 6 other artists you need right now

Posted on by The Native

From The Cloud

Stay – Nonso Amadi and OdunsiTheEngine
“Stay” is the the shortest cut off Nonso and Odunsi’s joint four track EP, War. Despite the heavy bass thumps, It’s the closest thing to pangolo street pop. Sprinkle some R&B fairy dust on that and what you get is light touch of many simple ideas that work because of how quickly it comes and goes.

Radio (feat. YCEE) – Bella Alubo

Tinny Entertainment’s new signee, Bella Alubo marks her first label debut with “Radio” featuring labelmate YCEE. It’s not raw enough but Bella is confident enough to run through hard brags, and switch between melodies and bars without missing a mark. YCEE’s presence is felt on a slurpy sing-song melody, the rest is just Bella working the beat for anything that sounds good and she finds it with every note.

Nowadays – Musmah
African hip-hop is becoming a thing so you can stop wondering why this sounds like trap Afropop with actual rap. But “Nowadays” is a little bit more than that. Musmah tells a story, builds a central character similar to the sub-romantic Drake we all fell in love with, then lets the stage of a failing relationship roll across your eyes. And thanks to that subtle bass guitar, you never forget the acoustic leanings of African music, Musmah may be brokenhearted but he sure knows how to compose a song.

Save Yourself – Nu Fvnk
Of those who dare to take from the age of disco snares and complex song building we have Dev Hynes and Nukubi amongst others who ride the wave with synths and deep voices. Nu Fvnk’s “Save Yourself” is a stretch further than that. He carries a melody leaning on broody and layers vocals for harmonies, that blend into a perfect non-ballad about saving yourself from unrequited love.

From Our Pot of Jollof

Rock Your Body – Burna Boy
“Rock Your Body” is produced by Juls and set on the same steel drums that made Mr Eazi’s “Skin Tight”, allowing Burna Boy to ease into the comfort of melody from his earlier days in the game.

Issa Vibe – Kida Kudz
Kida Kudz is finally catching on to what he should have been doing since he won that TV reality show many years ago. “Issa Vibe” waxes strong on an unmissable chill, that seeps his auto-tuned vocals into the rhythm for full effect.

Early (feat. Nonso Amadi, Maleek Berry) – Juls

Juls “Early” may not be a typical dance floor number but the beat is catchy enough to imagine it playing for a late night slow-wine.

Overseas

I’m The One (feat. Justin Beiber, Chance The Rapper, Lil Wayne, Quavo)
If hip-hop had what Nick Fury is to the Avengers, it would be DJ Khaled. His latest assembly of the A-list artists, “I’m The One” features an irresistible line-up. There is always that tendency for DJ Khaled to outdo himself to a point that it becomes annoying, but none of that happens on “I’m The One”,a song already predestined to ease into summer playlists in the coming weeks.

Love Galore (feat. Travis Scott) – Sza

While we wait for the release of Sza’s Z, here is “Love Galore”, a neo-R&B soul single featuring Travis Scott, that came accompanied with a steamy video and a dark but hilarious plot twist at the end.

Lust For Life (feat. The Weekend) – Lana Del Rey
Queen of sorrow, Lana Del Rey is back with what seems to be her strongest release since “Love”, the lead single off her upcoming album titled, Lust For Life. “Lust For Life” features The Weeknd, who has already proven himself a worthy Del Rey collaborator with “Prisoner” off his 2015 album Beauty Behind The Madness and the “Stargirl” interlude on his 2016 follow-up Starboy. “Lust for Life” is peak Lana Del Rey living at edge of life and doing the most to enjoy the thrill.

Listen to the previous BUMPLIST featuring songs from Kendrick Lamar, Wizkid, Playboi Carti and others

NATIVE Mix 005: Featuring Addy Edgal

Posted on by The Native

For the latest NATIVE Mix, Addy Edgal takes the reins for a guest set. Addy is family with us here at The NATIVE, and has experience on the 1s and 2s at raves in Nottingham, London and Lagos.

His debut NATIVE Mix starts off mellow with Nav’s “Nothing On You” and climaxes with Young Thug’s “Wood Would”. The second half of this mix houses YCEE’s “Juice”, DJ Yin’s “What You Started”, closing on New World Ray’s post-love song, “Love Is Stupid (Flowers and Hersheys)”.

Check out his mix and peep the tracklist below.

Nothing On You- Nav

Out Yo Way- Migos

Might As Well – Future

Fiji- Traplanta (Ka$h & Folabi Xan)

Cracks & Crevices- SahBabii

Hallucinating-Future

Location- Playboi Carti

Futura Free- Frank Ocean

Persion Rugs (Falcons Bootleg )- PARTYNEXTDOOR

Wood Would- Young Thug

Lovin- Shaki Sauce

Rapids- Damola

X N O FT Tokyo- Lash Vanegro

Juice – Ycee

Vanilla Freestyle- Odunsi

Solo- Future

Chanel-Frank Ocean

Faded- Asiahn

Versus- Tomi Owo

Breathe- Rubee Rayne

What You Started- Dj Yin x Bankyondbeatz

Love Is Stupid (Flowers and Hersheys)-New World Ray

Listen to the Native Mix 004 featuring Dj Wayne

Genre-bending ain’t nothing but a thing on Tenatenpo’s “Apartment 15”

Posted on by The Native

Multi-genre singer Tenatenpo is easily one of the most consistent creators making their way into the mainstream. His opus “Dirty Designer” released earlier this year as the lead single for his EP, For The Ladies on the Runway, introduced him properly to the discerning Nigerian listener. And his svelte vocals and Latinx inspired strain of reggaeton put him miles ahead of everyone else dabbling in the genre. But Tenatenpo has no intention of being pigeonholed as a dance hall artist and is branching out, this time with a cover that samples Mac Miller’s “Red Dot Music”. 

His cover, called “Apartment 15” sees him use a complete sample of the original song’s classic hip-hop instrumental and put his own trippy trap soul spin on it. Weaving a tale of co-dependence, drugs need, and mutually destructive behaviour, Tenatenpo lures us into the lives of a couple whose relationship is spiraling out of control and makes us empathize with their flawed love. He does a great job of owning the beat, so much that if you had never heard Red Dot Music, you’d never guess the song’s past incarnation.

We love Tenatenpo’s music just how it is, but with the dexterity he shows on “Apartment 15” we can’t help but wonder if we’re missing out on a whole other Beasty Bragga.

Listen to “Apartment 15” here.

Listen to “Taboo” off tenatenpo’s ‘Ladies off the runway’ EP

Kida Kudz: Nigerian Born Rapper, UK based Afropop singer

Posted on by The Native

Kida Kudz was a child prodigy who became winner of the second season of Peak Talent show nearly seven years ago. A couple mixtapes and EP releases down the line, he still remains largely obscure, despite features from industry giants like Olamide.

Though he has been in the UK for a while, his music is primed for the Nigerian audience. However, his newest release marks a deliberate switch from rap to the neo-Afropop wave sweeping through the UK Afrobeats scene. The influence of Kojo Funds and J Hus on UK artists has prompted Kida Kudz to pursue a different genre after the near success of his “Don’t Play” song featuring Kojo Funds.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTmY-HElv7R/?taken-by=kidakudzgram

Kida Kudz released the video for his new single “Issa Vibe” exclusively to GRM Daily on Sunday. The video is directed by Chas Appeti who shoots an exclusive house party themed video, featuring models and Kida Kudz.

“Issa Vibe” is Kida Kudz’s latest attempt at breaking through a mainstream that has eluded him in the past, and it’s easily his best attempt yet. The similarity between his title and 2Chains’ “It’s A Vibe” almost gets lost in the Afropop beats, but the video screams the same narrative. Then again, nearly all pop videos with dance-hall themes have the same video concept; hot models, smoke effects, actual smoking and neon lights.

Watch the video for “Issa Vibe” below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4oKDwgO8ic

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/ogkupdates

Listen to Olamide’s 1st single of the year, “Love No Go Die”

Give your instrumental playlist a facelift with Johnson the Insomnic’s “Chasm”

Posted on by The Native

We know we gush a lot about musicians and their ability to convey emotion with lyrics and melodies, but sometimes words are overrated. Sometimes, words end up limiting the scope of interpretations that you can apply to a superb beat. They end up distracting you from truly appreciating the work of the producer or beat maker who crafted a mad ass beat literally out of nothing. Thankfully, producer Johnson the Insomnic is giving us newest joint “Chasm” completely unsullied by vocals, harmonies or melodies. Bold, but all the best beat makers have to be.

For this instrumental, Johnson takes on trap music exploring all its fundamental elements, the bass drop, staccato percussions and ambient sounds that prevent any sonic vacuums. Using synths like tides, Johnson the Insomnic orders the mood, layering on the ambient sounds till they wash over the listener like a wave in high tide, then stripping them back to reveal the sparse but no less impressive percussive scaffolding that holds the entire thing together. He also resists the urge to throw in some kind of ‘African’ accents, a gimmick some producers use as a way to market their beats. He lets the music speak for itself.

“Chasm” is great trap instrumental no matter where in the world you’re encountering it.

Listen to “Chasm” here.

Best New Music: Burna Boy’s “Rock your body” proves that there’s no genre he can’t own

Watch Daramola’s video for his latest single “Lagos City Wave”

Posted on by The Native

There is a deep longing that surrounds Daramola’s music. Some of this yearning for a distant lover is portrayed in the video for “Lagos City Wave”, when Daramola sits beside a woman in wolf-head mask. It’s a subtle message that may either go over your head or piss you off when you fully figure it out. But, you will definitely not miss it. ‘Everything has its place’ and for Daramola, its with his lover by his side, even if she is hiding her real self, or showing her true colour (depending on how you look at it).

The video ends with Daramola in the city, looking up to the sky with the candour of man moving onto other things. It’s an abrupt ending that makes the story feel incomplete but this is very similar to much of Daramola’s catalog. Instead of telling one long story, Daramola focuses on aspects just enough to give vivid imagery, allowing him to sing—for example—about multiple contrasting events and emotions at the time within the same song.

“Lagos City wave” is Daramola’s first single since the release of Last Time I Tried, his debut album. Going forward, we will be expecting Daramola to come packing more of the Kanye West symbolism and The Weekend mystery that made “Lagos City Wave”

Watch Daramola in “Lagos City Wave” below.

Daramola delivers another tribute serenade with “Lagos City Wave”

Tiwa Savage Is That Shy Girl At Every House Party On Young Paris’ Video, “Best Of Me”

Posted on by The Native

Young Paris has continued to pay homage to his African heritage by pushing the culture through his music and visuals. Though, he grew up in New York and is signed to one of America’s biggest record labels in the world, his music is classified under the Afropop genre. This furthers the narrative that genres are no longer restricted by geographical location.

The original version of “Best Of Me” featuring Ben Bronfman was on Young Paris’ African Vogue album but his latest project, Afrobeats, got an upgrade via the presence of African features. Reekado Banks, Tiwa Savage and Blackah Ranks brought their individual brands of Afropop to the Young Paris’ Afrobeats.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTmk8pHjFJ8/?taken-by=youngparis

The video for “Best of Me” remix featuring Tiwa Savage is directed by Cinemadona and it was premiered exclusively on Tidal. The shots are set in a festive house party displaying black models, tribal prints, African attires and Young Paris in mask of paint. The video’s imagery depicts Roc Nation’s appreciation of African culture. Tiwa Savage is satisfied and just swaying to the beat from her seat despite how live the party looks and how “Best Of Me” thrums urgently.

Watch the video for “Best Of Me Remix” exclusively on Tidal.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/youngparis

All the essentials from Young Paris’ ‘Afrobeat’

Listen to Young Paris’ EP featuring Tiwa Savage and Reekado Banks ‘Afrobeats’

Jay Z Enlists Tiwa Savage, Wizkid, Maleek berry & More for “Made in America” 2017

Posted on by The Native

Words by Fisayo Okare

Over the last 6 years, Jay Z has continued to bring together music and culture through the annual Music festival he founded in 2012, “Made in America festival”. The event is identified as first and foremost a hip-hop festival but it also hosts live music from a slew of genres including EDM, rock, pop, R&B. Last year’s edition was headlined by Rihanna and Coldplay with DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, Chance the Rapper and Lil Yatchy, amongst others as supporting acts.

For the 2017 edition of the annual Budweiser-powered “Made in America festival”, Jay Z has announced that he is headlining this year’s festival which is a big deal considering Jay-Z hasn’t given any public performances since his 2014 co-headlining “On the Run Tour” with Beyoncé. He is sharing the top bill with rapper J. cole and EDM sensation the Chainsmokers. This year’s festival also features the British Nigerian producer and artist Maleek Berry, Tiwa Savage and Wizkid, putting them in the perfect place to continue to market their brand of Afropop to a more diverse international mainstream audience as they revolutionise the African music industry.

“Made in America festival” will hold on the second and third of September in Philadelphia. Other artists expected to feature at the event on the Jay Z-curated line-up include Solange, Sampha, Migos, 21 Savage, Run the Jewels, Little Dragon, Pusha T, DMX, Lizzo, Kelela, Vic Mensa, Yung Lean, Kodie Shane, and more.

Check out the full Made In America line up below.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTjoYYiBjbG/?taken-by=thenativemag

Afropunk Festival to come to Africa for the first time this year

Mich Straaw just raided his archives and blessed us with new Demos

Posted on by The Native

For a singer who has only been in the industry for less than two years, Mich Straw has  seen unprecedented success culminating in him from being on the line up of artists that performed at Gidi Fest. The very same stage where he opened for the Festival’s main act, producer and member of super group, Major Lazer. Perhaps, in celebration of an event of that magnitude, Mich didn’t perform any of the songs we’ve come to know him for, not even “CTRL”, which is a fave here at The Native. He debuted two new songs from his archives: “Fallen” and “I Wan Luv You”. Both in the genre he calls ‘Afro Blues’.

Both songs fit nicely into the universe Mich is creating. They expand on the complicated love story that revolves around him and his fictional love interest. In “CTRL”, both characters only past first acquaintances and sizing each other up. In “Fallen”, Mich Straw, unabashed with his affection, is openly declaring how deeply he has fallen for his love interest. “I Wan Luv You” will sound familiar because it references the instantly recognizable melody from the classic Bob Marley song “Is This Love” but set to a decidedly chillwave instrumental, full of synth sonic vistas and otherworldly flourishes.

If Mich Straaw’s demos are this interesting, we wonder what an actual EP will sound like. Greatness, obvs.

Listen to “I Wan Luv You” and “Fallen”. 


Tiwa Savage, Wizkid and Maleek Berry to perform at Jay Z’s ‘Made in America’ music festival

Hue and The Sound’s “Good Girl Go” is trap excellence and we’re here for it

Posted on by The Native

Afrotrap is huge right now, like…huge! Especially among the new generation of artists grown off Tumblr and SoundCloud, unafraid to explore genres and create their own. But like everything that is hip, Afrotrap as a genre has quickly become saturated and it is near impossible to separate the genuine talent from the culture vultures trying to capitalize on the sound. Hue and The Sound (a rad as fuck name by the way) gained our attention by doing the opposite. He took afro-trap, stripped away the often-superficial ‘African’ elements that are usually thrown in, and dropped “Good Girl Go”, an honest to goodness trap song.

I’ll admit, that was the first thing that drew me to “Good Girl Go”, but I stayed for Hue and The Sound’s musicality. Darn! That man can write a catchy hook. Sparse piano arrangements add a bluesy soul to dreamy synth arrangements, all of it grounded by a relentless drum loop. The instrumental produced by Steine, is very much in the style of Danish beat maker and producer, Galamatias. But Hue more than owns the instrumental.

Using techniques like repetition, run-on verses and whispery backing vocals all amount to a subtle but very effective haunted vibe as the singer laments his relationship woes.

It is a heartbreak music you can dab to and we fuck with it.

Listen to “Good Girl Go” here.

Here are the essentials from Nonso Amadi and Odunsi’s EP, ‘War’

Bella And Ycee Are Surprisingly Good Singers On “Radio”

Posted on by The Native

Bella Alubo released her first EP, Bella The EP, last year, but didn’t get the credit or publicity she deserved for successfully fusing hip-hop and pop. Realizing the potential of a rapper who can dabble in sung-rap, especially in this era where genre fusion is encouraged, Tinny Entertainment quickly signed her and have released her debut single, “Radio” featuring the label’s biggest artist, Ycee.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTn9_WblH8o/?taken-by=bellaalubo

Both artists have shown the ability to drop traditional rap bars and hit melodious notes on previous singles. However, in “Radio” they settle for the latter on the Afropop beat produced by Syn X. Their synergy is tested by the mid-tempo synth piano baseline that’s as catchy as every radio hit song since Mr Eazi’s “Skin Tight”. Lately, the media seems to make concessions for rappers who choose to sing their own choruses instead of outsourcing to RnB artists to make their songs more radio friendly. Since Drake found mainstream success by mixing pop with hip-hop, the fear of critics calling singing rappers soft became baseless.

Tinny Entertainment are either trying to make the most of their new signee by encouraging her to try out the more commercial Afropop genre, or are letting Bella choose what genre to explore despite the fact that she was signed as a rapper. What is obvious though, is that Tinny Entertainment have scored a definite radio hit with Bella’s “Radio”. Her singing voice is heavily autotuned, but it takes nothing away from her melodies and lyrics.

You can be sure that “Radio” will make it’s way onto radio stations’ playlists, riding on the attention Ycee has been enjoying recently. Plus, Bella is surprisingly brilliant at singing too. Her next project just got elevated to the list of projects to look out for.

Listen to Bella’s “Radio” featuring Ycee below.

https://soundcloud.com/bellaalubo/radio-ft-ycee-prod-syn-x

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/bellaalubo

 

Everything you need to know about Ycee’s First Wave EP

Juls Releases “Early” ahead of ‘Leap Of Faith’ EP

Posted on by The Native

British born Ghanaian producer, Juls, announced the release date for his debut EP, Leap Of Faith, with a sneak peak into the track list on his Instagram page last week. So while we still haven’t quite decided who has the better jollof, we know Juls draws on his Ghanaian hip-life influences and Nigeria’s whine friendly Afropop.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTl7b9Ggg2p/?taken-by=julsbaby_

While we wait for the official release of Leap Of Faith, Juls has teased the project with pre-released singles and videos from the track list. The latest release came in earlier today featuring indie and commercial divides of the Nigerian soundscape. Though the digital sales are blurring the lines of indie and commercial artists in Nigeria, the similarity between Maleek Berry and Nonso Amadi’s sound is heard on “Early”.

Nonso Amadi takes center stage on “Early” , starting the song and featuring on the chorus. Maleek Berry sounds more familiar due to his distinctly thin voice, but doesn’t take attention away from Nonso’s melodious sound. Juls produces a mid-tempo beat with a piano baseline and a tropical chant overlay at the start and ending of “Early”. This might not be a typical dance floor number, but the beat is infectious enough to imagine “Early” playing for the slow whine type of night.

Maleek Berry’s songs are regular features on dance floors but Juls is gifting Nonso Amadi a more comfortable spot on DJ turntables within and outside Nigeria.

Listen to “Early” below.

https://soundcloud.com/orealeb/juls-early-ft-maleek-berry-nonso-amadi

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/nonsoamadi

See the full track list for Juls’ Leap Of Faith EP

Michael Jackson’s Biopic to premiere on his Memorial Day – 25th June

Posted on by The Native

“The greatest education in the world is watching the masters at work – Michael Jackson”

Words by Fisayo Okare

That quote from Michael Jackson holds so much truth, especially when it comes to his own life and work. Jackson is a favorite subject for film makers and biographers and his life has been scrutinized and documented on all kinds of mediums: audio, print and video, 8 years after his tragic death. Lifetime is throwing its hat into the ring with a biographical film titled “Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland”, set for a 25th of June 2017 release date, same day the world beheld the king of pop’s demise.

The film is based on the last few years of Michael Jackson’s life as told through the eyes of his bodyguards, Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard. “Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland” finds its backbone on Whitfield and Beard’s 2014 book titled “Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days”. The bodyguards write in a conversational form recalling the craziness of watching over MJ and his family, even if it meant carrying around two Oscar statuettes in a briefcase in case Michael had to pay a bill because he was so broke.

As Michael’s debts increased to an estimated $500 million, their wages stopped and Whitfield writes that he found himself paying for petrol out of his own pocket as they drove Jackson around. Nevertheless, both of them didn’t mind going through a hard time for their boss; “We stayed with him out of loyalty”, says Whitfield. As Michael moved from one rented apartment to another, they were times in hotels and “credit cards were being maxed out and management were about to ask us to leave. This was Michael Jackson and I was thinking ‘How is this happening?’” they write in the book.

The authors narrate a number of stories about Jackson, including his need to ride in his own SUVs for security reasons. They also write about Jackson’s abandonment of his ranch, Neverland. The stories are told at first-hand what many do not know amidst the fame and other scandals that are more popularized. The two show the reader how one of the most popular singers in history tried to live a decent life and provide his kids: Prince, Blanket and Paris (who loved being around their dad so much) a life of privilege, while balancing normalcy. Whitfield and Beard have also been bodyguards to Shaquille O’Neal and Alicia Keys.

There is an extent to which the book covers as the two were only with Jackson for a short while. But the film will follow Whitfield and Beard’s story, to be executive produced by Lifetime Network. In the biopic, Navi, considered the world’s most prominent Michael Jackson impersonator, who Jackson himself recognized and often used as a decoy, plays Jackson in the movie (see above in the featured Image). Meanwhile, Chad L. Coleman plays Bill Whitefield and the Nigerian-American actor, Sam Adegoke is Javon Beard.

Check out the teaser-trailer for Lifetime’s “Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland” here.

Featured Image Credit: Lifetime

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