In June 2020, Dubai police arrested twelve alleged Nigerian fraudsters, including Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi. In the years leading up to the arrest, Hushpuppi was known for flaunting a ritzy lifestyle across social media, on Instagram especially, with pictures and videos of designer fits, luxury cars, worldly travels on private jets, expensive dinners with celebrities, and inspirational captions to match. For some, he was just another socialite and aspirational symbol living it up and showing the world; for others, the source of his wealth was a topic for negative suspicion, with the common allegation being cybercrime.
To the latter sect, Hushpuppi’s arrest by the Dubai police force was the beginning of a long-awaited reckoning, one that was compounded by information that it was triggered by an investigation by the U.S’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Shortly after his arrest, Hushpuppi was extradited to the U.S to answer charges of money laundering. The FBI alleges that Abbas was part of a multinational network that made hundreds of millions of dollars from Business Email Compromise frauds and other types of scams. A month after his arrest, he was denied bail by a judge at a Chicago court and has since been in detention while the details surrounding the case unfolds.
Very recently, news broke that Abbas named top Nigerian police officer Abba Kyari as one of the co-conspirators in one of his scams. It was a shocking revelation, one that inevitably feeds into the widespread perception that the Nigerian police is one of the villains in the fight against crime. At the moment, Kyari has been suspended by the Nigerian police force while an “internal” investigation is being carried out, and the status of the FBI’s request that the policeman be extradited to the U.S for questioning is still uncertain. There will probably be more twists and turns in Hushpuppi’s case, but it’s already eventful as is.
Earlier this week, on Thursday, Ace entertainment entrepreneur announced that her film production company, EbonyLife Studios, has acquired the rights to produce an action thriller based on the life of Ramon Abbas. The currently untitled project, which is set for Universal Pictures and will be executed with U.S-based Will Packer productions, will be using the Bloomberg article, “The fall of the billionaire Gucci master” by Evan Ratliff, as its primary source material.
Published just over a month ago, Ratliff’s article tracks Abbas’ life, from his beginnings in Nigeria up until the alleged multi-million dollar scams he initiated and took part in. While it isn’t a full-length biography, the article is quite exhaustive and detailed enough for one of Nigeria’s most prominent producers to attempt to turn into a feature film.
‘‘When the Hushpuppi story made headlines last year, I pitched the story idea to @willpowerpacker and James Lopez,” Mo Abudu wrote in the Instagram post announcing the project. “They bought the idea and as headlined in this press release, together we won the rights to the Bloomberg article by Evan Ratliff mentioned above.” While the project is still in the phase of sourcing for the script writers, reception to the potential film has been ambivalent, with concerns that it might end up being an endearing representation of an alleged fraudster.
Over the last few decades, cybercrime has become an increasing fixture amongst young Nigerians who see it as a way out of Nigeria’s poverty-enabling environment. It’s an illicit means that is now an international albatross, an agenda Hushpuppi’s arrest has only given further validation. Going by the source article, the film will attempt to chart Abbas’ path, showing us a character deeper than the ostentatious IG posts. It’s a delicate subject to engage without feeding into the worst expectations of the film.
“To ensure that this story is told with authenticity, a Nigerian storyteller with our pedigree needs to be involved,” Mo Abudu said of EbonyLife’s spearheading involvement in the project. “Too often, these types of characters are one-dimensional and feed into the worst stereotypes. Hushpuppi’s story is based on a real person whose story is already partly known to the world but the film gives us a real chance to tell a cautionary tale about a character formed by his environment and life choices.” She went on to cite the films of seminal director Martin Scorcese, noting that they told the story of mafia kingpins without leaving the impression that all Italian-Americans were in the mafia.
Whatever EbonyLife and Mo Abudu eventually come up with, expect Nigerians and many others across the world to be watching through critical lenses.
Barely six months into her entrance on the scene with her glittering self-titled EP, Mavins Ayra Starr is back with her most well-rounded effort to date. Unveiled today, the fast-rising star has now expanded the world around her music with the release of her debut album ’19 & Dangerous’. Imbued with a youthful spirit and awe-inspiring vocals, the album is teeming with possibility from one of the scene’s brightest stars with crisp lyricism and clear-cut delivery.
Speaking about the album in an exclusive interview with the NATIVE, the Beninese-Nigerian singer shared that ’19 & Dangerous’ was packed with fierce reflections about life, love, and becoming offering therapeutic levels of aural healing for her growing fanbase. That sentiment feels like the driving force of her current output as she tackles life’s experiences and shortcomings in her own unique way across 11 tracks.
After a month of build-up and the release of the promotional single “Bloody Samaritan”, Ayra Starr’s debut moment is finally here. So, what were the album’s best songs? Best verse? Best Feature? Below, the NATIVE team answered these pressing questions and more after giving the album a couple of spins. Here are our first impressions of Ayra Starr’s debut album ’19 & Dangerous’.
Wonu: My best song on this is definitely “Beggie Beggie”. I love everything about the song from the delivery, to feature selection, to the story being told to the listeners. This was one of the few songs I had to run back on first listen. Hearing Ckay’s tag also made me excited and I was not disappointed after his verse. He put up a stellar performance on this track and of course, Ayra did the same. A close second to this will have to be “Bridgetn”. I must say Andre Vibes went crazy on this beat and the chemistry between these two was undeniable. Also, I really like the lyrics. Ayra gassing herself on the hook is everything!
Ada: As usual, picking a fave song is so tasking as more than 1 always gets to me. However, on this album “Fashion Killa”, “Blood Samaritan”, “Cast (GEN Z anthem)” and “Amin” are top tier. But I’d have to say hats off to “Bloody Samaritan”, She did her damn thing with the song.
Dennis: If there’s any song that best captures the invincible side of Ayra Starr’s persona, it has to be “Fashion Killer.” It’s the sort of self-aggrandising song that’s brimming with outrageous, god-level swagger; Ayra’s voice is commanding, and the writing is so damn good and catchy every line is a potential Instagram caption. My memory might be failing me a bit, but this is possibly the best display of precocious overconfidence I’ve heard since Wizkid’s “Holla at Your Boy.” I mean, she enters the song with a pseudo-rap cadence proclaiming, “My denim faded but I rock it like a baby in a cot,” and that arguably even isn’t the best line on the song. There are several cuts that lean into boastfulness on ’19 & Dangerous’, but this one is easily the best in terms of craft.
Best Verse
Shina: The only song on Ayra’s album with a fast tempo. This isn’t Ayra’s usual lane but she rides the beat effortlessly and delivers one of the best verses on this album. Would love to hear more songs like this from her. Other honorable mentions will be the two guest verses from Foushee and Ckay and the hard-hitting first verse on “Fashion Killa”. With lines like “I light the room in the dark cause my bling is a torch / I watched fashion die today in the mirror that I saw” there’s enough braggadocio on there to confirm Ayra’s dangerous status.
Ada: My fave verse would be from the “Cast(Gen Z Anthem)”. A particular verse that really caught my attention was when Ayra said “Live my life the way I wanna live with no shame/Suck on these nuts if you’re ain’t approve of”. It spoke to me so much, both emotionally and personally and you’d always want a song to not just entertain but speak on some form of reality.
Nwanneamaka: The best verse for me came in the first since out of the album “Bloody Samaritan”. The intro song which doubles up as the chorus just exudes an air of confidence. It resonates with me because via her Native Exclusive interview she shared that she has always been the people-pleasing type but she’s grown out of that and we can definitely hear it on this verse of “Bloody Samaritan.” It’s one of the bad bitch anthems from the project and I’m always here for a song that makes me feel powerful.
Best Lyrics
Nwanneamaka: My favourite lyrics came from the album outro, “Amin.” She started the song off by rejecting poverty and ended it by saying she’s ready to accept all the good things life has to offer. Standouts like “I’m ready for the funds/ready to be happy” speak to me the most because all I really want is money and happiness.
Shina: I have quite a few picks. Lyrics from “Fashion Killa,” an obvious inspiration from A$AP Rocky’s song of the same title take up a majority of my picks. She starts the song with “My jeans faded but I rock it like a baby in a cot” and then goes on to say “I put the water in the ocean in the city that I’m from” meaning she has got the excess amount of drip to don. She ends her second verse with “Think of it, a brown shirt and no ribbon/Diamonds awaken every time I need it/Babushka on everything, my allegiance.” You’re going to have to choose your fighter at this point cause these are all testaments to Ayra Starr’s Dangerous lyrical prowess.
Tami: I’ve really enjoyed listening to Ayra’s debut and I’m pleasantly surprised to see thematic and sonic growth just seven months shy of her debut self-titled EP. On ’19 & Dangerous’, the quality of her lyrics is more elevated. Ayra is still saying the same things but the delivery is different. This time, the stakes are higher and she’s determined to show she’s her generation’s undisputed leader. Standouts from me are scattered across the entire album. From opener “Cast (Gen Z Anthem)” where she’s literally saying “Suck on these nuts if you ain’t approve of” to “Bridgertn” where she sins “Broke all the stereotypes, I make my rules”, it’s clear that Ayra isn’t looking to mince the truth for anyone.
Overall First Impression
Wonu: Honestly, I did not expect the album to be this good. Ayra Starr continues to outdo herself all the time. It’s such an amazing body of work. Her first tape dropped earlier this year and the growth between that and this is quite evident. I’m very much impressed by the tape and I’ll rate it a solid 8 out of 10.
Dennis: Ayra Starr is worth the hype and more, that’s probably my biggest takeaway from ’19 & Dangerous’. It’s not that her eponymous EP from earlier this year wasn’t impressive, but it was a stealthy introduction catalysed by one of the most consistent star-making machines on this side of the world, which made it a tad difficult (for me, at least) to sincerely gauge the extent of her powers and potentials. Whatever the bar was with that well-received EP, the Mavin singer has eclipsed it with an album that was crafted with wicked and profound poise. She’s jubilant and pensive, exuberant and vulnerable, vindictive and empathetic, and more, all in the span of eleven songs. That ’19 & Dangerous’ is out a few months after her EP is testament to Ayra’s readiness to play in the big leagues on her terms, a Gen Z star with a clear sense of self-worth, an already accomplished skill-set, and an infinite ceiling on how her powers evolve going forward.
Woju: Starting an EP titles ‘19 & Dangerous’ with a song subtitled “Gen Z Anthem”, I was definitely expecting a pop, Tik-Tok-friendly offering from Ayra Starr. But as the powerful intro track came roaring through my earphones, it was clear that Ayra Starr is doubling down on her impassioned vocalism. On “Cast (Gen Z Anthem)” the Tems comparisons seem valid, but when she delivers a track, “Lonely” reminiscent of Teni #thatyear, Ayra Starr capitalises on a culmination of our favourite characteristics from female musicians. From rousing crescendos at her hooks to triumphant horns across the project and adept lyricism, ‘19 & Dangerous’ is packed full of strong points and versatility. One of the highlights of the album for me is Ayra’s consistent pop-culture references. On the title of the track, “Bridgertn” — where the strings actually take us back to our Christmas binge; “Beggie Beggie”, where she jokes, “Hundred years, husband material;” or even when she announces “and my ass got thicker” on “Fashion Killer” where she references A$AP Rocky’s indelible record Ayra Starr’s lyrics are definitely 19. As Regina’s mum proudly refused back in 2004, “you girls keep me young, oh I love you so much!”
Stream ’19 & Dangerous’ below.
[Featured image credits: Instagram]
Written by Ada Nwakor, Adewojumi Aderemi, Dennis Ade-Peter, Shina Ladipo, Tami Makinde, Nwanneamaka Igwe and Wonu Osikoya
Amanda Black specialises in making music that’s attention-grabbing and affecting. 2021 makes it five years since her hugely popular debut single, “Amazulu,” and acclaimed debut LP of the same title launched the South African singer into ubiquity.
‘Amazulu’ was an excellently crafted representation of Amanda’s willingness to wear her heart on her sleeves on wax, aided by exquisite sonic choices and her soulfully reverberating voice. On the 2019 sophomore album, ‘Power’, she spun balmy and reassuring songs, with intelligent experimentation adding fresh tones to her finely-crafted Afro-Soul sound.
After months of build-up, the singer’s third studio album, ‘Mnyama’, has just been released. Conceived during the Coronavirus-effected lockdowns of 2020, the new project continues Amanda’s flair for turning personal vulnerabilities into emotionally resonant hymns. She draws inspiration from the existential dread induced by the pandemic and a heart-rending breakup just before. “It was a conscious decision to be like, ‘Listen, dude, it’s fine, it’s OK, you’re not the only person going through this. It’s OK.’ And that’s how the songs manifested,” she explained in the album’s Apple Music liner notes.
‘Mnyama’ was rolled out with two pre-release singles, starting off with “kutheni na,” a stirring song that finds the singer ruminating on the tough times dealt by the deadly virus, and it features a wonderful, reflective verse from rapper Kwesta. “let it go” followed as the second single, resolving the pensiveness of its predecessor with a reassuring outlook. Both singles are symbolic of the album’s teetering between intense introspection and gently uplifting declarations, with Amanda’s phenomenal voice aptly channelling anguish and radiating hope to give the album its overall enveloping feel.
To mirror the sobering period it was conceived in, ‘Mnyama’ is replete with soulful and delicately arranged musical choices, featuring a lot of grey guitar strums, emotive choral harmonies from Amanda herself, and pattering percussion. In addition to Kwesta, the album features J’Something, long-time producer Christer, and Zimbabwean singer Berita.
DETO BLACK, the bad bitch from Lagos, has always been a recognisable face amongst the alternative youth forces in the city. She at first captured hearts with her unique style and her ability to make almost anything look good. DETO surpassed the confines of her social media platforms when she bagged notable features from Dazed, Vogue and Crack magazines, and in recent times with a brand ambassador deal for Nike SKAir 5, a Nike x Skepta collaboration. But in May of 2020, during the heat of the pandemic, DETO BLACK arrested our attention in a brand new creative field, making a surprise debut in music with a stellar verse on Odunsi (The Engine)’s “Body Count” (beside other dexterous African female musicians, Amaarae and Gigi Atlantis).
The young multifaceted artist showed us that not only can she put iconic ‘fits together but she can also deliver one of the hottest verses of the year, that dismantles all notions of purity politics African women and women all over the world are expected to conform to. The rapper’s sex-positive lyrics, skilled penmanship and her ability to deliver word-play whilst recognising the experiences many women face was the seamless introduction we needed to the untapped niche of Rap Girlies — as they’re fondly known — in the African Music sphere. “Fuck a body count, I let my body bounce,” not only whetted our appetites for more outstanding projects from DETO BLACK, but also for the influx of talented Nigerian female rappers such as DEELA, SGaWD, YTboutthataction, Brazy, L0LA, T-Wu and many more emerging from the Lagos music scene.
With the release of her 2021 debut single, “Tesla”, produced by Odunsi (The Engine), DETO BLACK formally established herself as a creative image-maker, who uses her craft as a tool for defying social standards and embodying sexual liberation. DBLACK’s lyrics serve as a medium to voice her rage against society’s patriarchal and anti-feminine standards. She expresses that “Tesla”, was created as a middle ground between her femininity and masculinity whilst creating a “very sexy song” in an attempt “to make the girls feel like their sexuality and sensuality are super powers.”
DETO BLACK drew us further into the release of her debut EP with her Genio Bambino-produced single “Brag”, released last month. In the two minute song, with two choruses and two verses, DETO BLACK reminds us that this “bad bitch from Lagos” is not one to be messed with. The melodious hook tells us that she is too fly and she doesn’t need to put in too much effort. Just like her other works tailoring to uplifting and empowering women, DETO BLACK shares that “People think Lagos girls can be stuck up, but I think we should have the choice of not always having to have a smile on our face, if you get what I mean. This song is for the girls when they need to be reminded that they are that bitch and want to be in their own world.”
This statement is manifest in DBLACK’s online persona and style. Post after post we see the artist rocking various statement and alternative pieces most of us might not be daring enough to even try on, let alone purchase. From her colourful knee-high LOVE CHIDOZIE leather boots and MOWALOLA fur hats that resemble a colour explosion, to her rainbow coloured synthetic wigs and braids, it is evident that DETO BLACK doesn’t want a seat at your table because she has made her own. Her instagram page alone exudes creativity, independence, originality and fierceness and tells us as a matter of fact that DBLACK is THAT bitch and she doesn’t need your affirmation.
We recognise her successful attempt to translate this feeling of empowerment in her debut EP, ‘Yung Everything’. As we would expect, the project is an embodiment of the rapper’s recurrent themes of women’s independence, sexiness, sexual freedom and strength. This contemporary EP with seven songs, including“Tesla” and “Brag”, entails a refreshing mix of various genres such as rap, trap and pop, layered over a series of brazy beats and sounds encouraging women to feel free in continually expressing themselves and, most importantly, just having fun.
“three5zero” the EP’s intro sucks us into DETO BLACK’s world. With it’s sunny, upbeat sound we can tell this hyper-pop track was curated for enjoyment – a promising introduction to the artist’s world of fun. “If Mean Girls, the movie, was a song,” DETO BLACK explains, it would be “Betterrr”. On this trap track she brags about her ability to one up that girl who tries to copy everything she does saying, “anything you could do, I could do better/ bitch you ain’t no shit I can stunt on you forever.” There is a recurring air of confidence we get from DETO BLACK creative expression. It is evident that she doesn’t, in the least bit, feel threatened by anyone or anything because she is sure of herself. When she’s the target of Twitter trolls who fail to forget her less favourable moments, when her ex did her wrong for the last time, in times she faces adversary – whether in public or private – DETO BLACK shrugs the dirt off her shoulders and keeps it moving in her Mowalola red bottom boots.
This self-assured confidence glides onto the track following “Betterrr” where DBLACK refuses to stay sad after a breakup. If you thought you were toxic, then you’ve met your match in “F.U.N”.On this track which stands for “F***ING UP N*GGAS”, DETO BLACK raps over a buoyant beat about breaking out of the victim approach after a heartbreak “baby you dey try me/then you wonder why me?” In conclusion, you can’t expect to mess with DBLACK and get away with it. Similarly a bad bitch on Geeked and Gorgeous, “G an G” is a feel-good track evidently made for her trybe. The beat and sounds are reminiscent of the 2000’s era where DETO BLACK mentioned she gets her inspiration, in particular from sexually liberated artists like Kelis. This number, like DBLACK herself, inspires girl power. The round up track, “2 Myself” is the perfect outro serving a slower, mellifluous sound to the zestful and ecstatic EP.
‘Yung Everything’ was just the body of work DETO BLACK needed to make her debut highly-anticipated full appearance in the Nigerian music scene. This statement project is what this creative polymath uses to tell us that she is a force to be reckoned with. Though we live in instantaneous times, where our attention spans require shorter content, the tracks on ‘Yung Everything’ could definitely have benefited from being longer. Additionally, I would have liked to hear more intentional exploration of her vocal range. Regardless, this is only DETO’s first EP, and a promising one at that. I, for one, would like to hear more of DBLACK delivering bars in pidgin like she did in “F.U.N”.
This EP summarises, in seven tracks, what DETO BLACK is about and reasonable expectations can be made for the project to skyrocket her career. Like her verse on “Body Count”, I project ‘Yung Everything’ spotlighting the undeniable talent pool in Nigerian female rap, whilst encouraging her fellow rap girlies to release more projects and put Nigerian Female Rap on the world map.
Pan-African collaborations have become a regular, integral fixture in modern Afropop. It’s a trend that has multiplied exponentially over the last few decades, making a drastic shift from the occasional occurrences they once were. On the recent debut album by Ghanaian entertainment power player Smallgod, ‘Building Bridges’, he pulls in a cast of about two dozen artists from a handful of countries on the continent and in the diaspora. Playing the role of a connector and curator, the album is a colourful rendition of Afropop’s groovy, experimental, and eclectic terrain.
One of its standout cuts is “Let Dem Kno,” which pairs Nigerian superstar Tiwa Savage and Ghanaian star Kwesi Arthur over a club-ready groove. Produced by perennial hit-maker Young Jonn, the song finds both vocalists in self-assured, especially Tiwa Savage as she takes control with two unapologetic verses and a sassy hook. In the last few years especially, the Nigerian singer has shown a willingness to revel in her successes as one of the most visible artists on the continent, and she continues to exhibit well-earned self-confidence here. Kwesi Arthur follows suit with a melodic verse sandwiched between Tiwa’s verses, name-checking a part of Nigeria’s capital city as an indicator of the reception to his music beyond his immediate surroundings.
Today, Smallgod and his collaborators are sharing the new Six-directed music video for “Let Dem Kno,” a ravers’ delight that matches the song’s catchy tenor and the carefree braggadocio of its singer. Taking place in a cramped nightclub, Tiwa Savage and Kwesi Arthur can be seen performing their set and generally living it up, remaining in full control of their environment as the biggest star attractions amidst all of the waist whining and body grinding going on around them. It ties into the loose concept of ‘Building Bridges’, an album by Smallgod and friends featuring varying sounds but with a central purpose of bringing the pervasive fun of mainstream Afropop to listeners across the continent and beyond.
Much to the delight of the internet, there are moments that we share collectively that cannot be replicated or copied, no matter how much we wish them into existence. In a saturated market where streaming has made music uber-accessible at the click of a finger, these moments often arrive when we least expect it. Whether it’s a female rapper breaking glass ceilings and inverting gender stereotypes or a fresh-faced artist seamlessly breaking into the current sonic landscape, music and moments that demand to be felt globally are once-in-a-generation occurrences.
Yet Africa’s biggest musical conglomerate, Mavins has consistently found ways to hit the nail on the head and orchestrate these world-stopping moments all from their base in West Africa. Once upon a time, that position was reserved for Tiwa Savage and Wande Coal back in the early 2010s and then artists such as Korede Bello, Di’Ja, Dr Sid, and even rapper Ladipoe. Now, with a new generation of listeners in need of steady guidance from a formidable raconteur, Mavin has filled the gap once again with the likes of Rema, Crayon and more recently, its very own celestial being: Ayra Starr.
The 19-year-old singer arrived at the start of the year with a line of bangers and quotable lyrics straight out the door. Much like preceding labelmate Rema, Ayra Starr’s debut on the scene was felt greatly around the continent. Backed by Mavin and armed with a delectable self-titled debut EP, the singer came in hot and ready with an assured persona and a tightly-honed sound. ‘Ayra Starr’ included five glittering songs that touched on matters of love, life, family, becoming in a deeply comforting manner, with “Away” as its lead single. To many, it was immediately clear that Mavin had another star on their hands.
While Mavin found the right singer for the task, there was a slight chance that we would have missed out on this moment if the singer hadn’t found the courage to share song covers on her Instagram. At the tail end of 2019, after uploading an original song titled “Damage” to her Instagram feed, a young Ayra Starr received a DM from none other than superstar producer, Don Jazzy. “I didn’t even believe it was real,” she admits as we settle down for an interview a few weeks before her debut album release. The singer’s revelation is not surprising given that dreams are a luxury in these parts and they rarely ever look like we expect that they would. However, this reality hasn’t stopped Ayra’s shine as she is currently enjoying everything she’s worked so hard for. Ayra tells me that she still has a video of that exact life-changing moment. It’s a reminder of how far she’s come and how far she still has to go to see her dreams come true.
Ayra is now a long way from the girl who received a cold text from one of the continent’s greatest music producers and record executives, but she’s not forgotten the older version of herself that got her to her present reality. Ayra tells me that she’s always had an unwavering sense of self-belief in her musical abilities right from when she was a young girl. Music was peppered into the tapestry of her life right from the start, growing up in a musically-inclined family. The singer actually found her footing in music alongside her budding songwriter brother, who she tells me has been penning lyrics with her for as long as she can remember. It’s this supportive family background that Ayra leans on to propel her sense of self and bank on her superstar abilities.
Born Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe in Benin City, the singer, from a very young age, was armed with the tools she needed to show up in the world. It cultivated a willingness to be the one saying it out loud when everyone in the room was quiet. She speaks fondly of her mother who nurtured her musical abilities from an early age. It was Ayra’s mum who encouraged her to remain consistent in her song covers on social media. Shortly after, a few stars aligned, social media virality came around and in no time, she was making music for audiences stuck inside during a global pandemic and ready to be connected to something deeper.
“I recorded and worked on my EP for the whole year 2020 during the lockdown.”
The result is what we are now witnessing today. On ‘Ayra Starr’, the singer wielded an unquestionable voice that demanded that you stop and listen, a common feature among all of Mavin’s brightest stars in the latter part of the previous decade. The sharp and soulful pulse of her music endeared the singer quite quickly to her new fans who have exponentially increased within the past year. Now, with all eyes on her and millions of views racked up across streaming platforms, Ayra Starr is ready to step into her most defining moment yet: the release of her debut album.
While it’s only been seven months since she released her debut EP and carved a lane for herself on the music scene, the rising star is already unveiling the world around her debut album this weekend. With the release of promotional single “Bloody Samaritan”, a powerfully charged number about guarding your light, and Ayra’s near-daily exclusives about the project on her social media, it’s infinitely clear that she’s very good at creating a world that we want to be a part of, or at the very least observe.
‘19 & Dangerous’ is the most well-rounded glimpse into the singer’s colourful world. The album’s lyrics which delve into topics of love, loss, growth, and more capture something both inspirational and relatable while shining a light on Ayra, the storyteller. The focus, however, remains on the span of moods that Ayra is able to run through within the project’s runtime. “The first three songs are the badass anthems. Then we have the vulnerability side and lastly, there’s the self-acceptance side which acknowledges my journey where I’ve accepted myself and I’ve come into who I was always meant to be,” she tells me. The album is a testament to her growth and provides an aural balm for her listeners in need of healing.
“I’m allowing myself to grow. This album will speak for me in rooms where I am not there because I have put so much into the album so I want my fans to know that if you’re feeling hurt if you’re feeling sad, or powerful, this is the album for you.”
Over our Zoom call, Ayra Starr explained the process behind ‘19 & Dangerous’, her songwriting process, and staying true to oneself. Our chat, which follows below, has been lightly edited for clarity.
NATIVE: Hi Ayra, do you have an audience in mind when you create music?
AYRA: It just depends on the song. Sometimes when I go to the studio, I just want to vent out my feelings into the music. Sometimes it’s like you know I have a mission and I know that okay, I want to write on this exact topic. It really just depends on my mood.
NATIVE: Tell me more about the moment leading up to “Away” and going from that to now releasing music this year?
AYRA: I recorded and worked on my EP for the whole year 2020 during the lockdown. “Away” was one of those songs that I wrote six months before I recorded it because I wasn’t sure. I loved it so much, I didn’t even want to record it. It comforted me when I needed it the most as I’d sing it to myself to remain calm. I put that power into the lyrics and the music video because I wanted it to be as perfect as possible.
NATIVE: What inspired the title of your debut album ’19 & Dangerous’?
AYRA: I always knew I was going to name my album ’19 & Dangerous’. I said that by 19, I would release my first project and now, I am doing exactly that. People told me it was too early and doubted me but I refused to listen. Danger is just me. I was manifesting the danger last year and now I can feel it. The moment I knew that I was not afraid to fail and make mistakes was the moment that I knew I was ready for hard and diligent work.
“Once you are not afraid to fail and make mistakes then you have nothing to lose, then you become dangerous. Yeah, I’m 19 and I’m dangerous.”
NATIVE: What are some of the themes you’re exploring on the album?
AYRA: We have “Bloody Samaritan” which is the lead single for the album. Bloody Samaritan just talks about hypocrites and criticisms I get from people. It’s just me telling people that you know you can’t kill my vibe. I divided the album into three different moods. We have the bad -I don’t want to say bitch- ok badass anthem. The first three songs are badass anthems. Then we have the vulnerability side then we have the self-acceptance side which is like oh I’ve accepted myself and I’ve come into who I was always meant to be. I’m allowing myself to grow. I’m allowing myself to be who I want to be.
NATIVE: What was the most memorable song for you to record during the process?
AYRA: Either “Cast” or “Bloody Samaritan”. I was recording different songs that day and I wasn’t feeling any of them. I told the producer to just play me the piano chords and I would sing over it. I remember hearing the chords for “Cast” and I freestyled it from the beginning to the end. That’s the energy, I’m dangerous. I’m not trying to be like anybody. Then also “Bloody Samaritan”, when I was listening to this song in the studio, I was just so nervous because I had the beat for six months and didn’t know what to use it for. I found it so challenging but I kept begging London not to play it for anyone else. The lyrics weren’t flowing so London to leave the studio for me and I recorded myself. By the time London was back, he was in shock. I had pulled it apart and pieced it back together perfectly.
NATIVE: How was it like channelling so much of you in this album?
AYRA: I’d say it was kind of challenging. Without the EP I’m not sure this album would have been ready because I felt like the EP taught me so much on how to be myself. I used to criticise myself on everything I did and I wanted to ask for people’s opinions on every single thing I did but when it came to the album I felt like I was ready. I want people to listen to my music and feel like it’s therapy so I put all that emotion into my music. Without judging myself, I allowed myself to feel. For the first time in a long time, I allowed myself to feel. To feel love, to feel joy, to feel heartbreak, to feel all that and just put that into the music.
NATIVE: Now that you’re so close to releasing your debut album, do any of the songs resonate with you any better?
AYRA: Definitely, “Under Water” because when I wrote it last year, I didn’t even understand what I was writing because I wrote it in my sleep. I say that every time that I write it in my sleep but people never believe me. I didn’t even understand what I wrote until this year when I came out. However, when I was going through a rough patch, the song was so relatable and I never knew I’d be writing it for myself.
NATIVE: With your debut album hours away, what’s one thing you now want to share with the world?
AYRA: Just you know, believe in yourself, first of all. With this album I want people to not think of anything before they start to listen to the album. Just go into it with a clear mind and let the music take you away. Let the music take you away. This album i feel like will speak for me in rooms where i am not there because I have put so much into the album so i want my fans to if you’re feeling hurt, if you’re feeling sad, you want to feel like a badass, if you want to feel powerful, this is the album for you. Just go and listen to it and enjoy the therapy session.
More than most people, the team at The NATIVE knows that the sheer scope of music available to us at this exact moment in human history is mind-numbing but our goal is still the same as always: we don’t want exciting music to be slept on. That’s where our Songs of the Day column comes in. We try to keep our fingers on the pulse of music from across the continent and beyond, bringing you exciting songs from talented musicians who are continuously trying to bounds of artistry with their music.
Last weekend, we brought you new music videos from Yaw Tog and Omah Lay, the lead single from Ayra Starr’s anticipated debut album, Dlala Thukzin’s potential Gqom smash hit, and more. For our mid-week curation, we’re bringing you new releases from Teni, Maison2500, Ruger, Joeboy, Mowalola and more. Tap in.
Maison2500 – “x2 Much Dope”
The blunt and edgy youthfulness of Maison2500’s songs has earmarked the young rapper as one of the most experimental sounds out of the continent. Earlier in the year, the rapper came out as non-binary, a watershed moment that would open the doors for more queer and non-binary Africans to take centre stage. “x2 Much Dope” is their second release in 2021, following March’s upbeat “Methamphetamine.” In typically stellar fashion, Maison’s prioritises exuberant lyricism and experimental cadences, sliding over a woozy punk-trap beat with unflappable poise.
A couple of months ago, Mowalola dropped her debut single “Truck,” a notice that her creative abilities and interests go beyond the bounds of fashion designing. She is back with her latest single, this time featuring British singer-songwriter Lancey Foux, producer Mechatok and Bby$lut, popularly known as Igbospice, on “WAWA.” Featuring her hazy yelps and Lancey’s raucous raps, the song revolves around their evident ability to “ride over the beat,” with both approaches matching the thump of the psychedelic Trap production. The single is accompanied by a visually hectic music video, packed with flashing lights and animated performances.
Jomiz – “WHY”
After making his initial mark on the music scene in 2020 with a handful of singles, Nigerian singer Jomiz is back with his first single of this year. Produced by BMH, “Why” is a confessional love song, in the same vein as his previous releases. He questions his love interest’s suspicious actions towards him, repeating “why” on the song’s chorus as a marker of the emotions behind his expressions.
Teni – “Dorime”
Self-acclaimed ‘Sugar Mummy’ of Lagos, Teni is back with a new single that taps into the “Dorime” craze, a hugely popular slang that initially originated from a 1996 single by E.R.A titled “Ameno.” She’d shared the song’s snippet on social media a few weeks back, clearly in-tune with local pop culture trends. The track embodies the artists usual melodious tone as she sings about how she’s the life of the party in the chorus, “when we enter dem go play dorime/when we enter dem go play ameno”
Tim Lyre – “Real”
Afro-fusion singer and songwriter Tim Lyre is known for exploring various topics of general human experience we can all relate to. We’ve also heard him feature countless times with artists such as Prettyboy D-O, Fasina, Chop Life Crew and Loti, creating music we know and love. On his new single “Real,” Tim Lyre is back again giving us lyrics in Yoruba, Pidgin and English with instrumentals heavy on the drums, assisted with the guitar. The four-minute track has Lyre reassuring a partner that their love is real and authentic despite the fact that he gets jealous all the time.
Ruger & Midas the Jagaban – “Bounce (UK Remix)”
Off Ruger’s Debut EP Pandemic, “Bounce” has emerged as its widely loved, consistently charting behemoth and its popularity doesn’t look like it’s waning anytime soon amongst Nigerian, African, and audiences across the world. The reach of this track is evident in the recent release of a UK remix featuring Midas the Jagaban. “Bounce (Remix)” retains its OG captivating beat and lyrics by Ruger, aided by Midas the Jagaban joining in before and during the chorus with beautiful symphonies.
Tomi Owo – “Through The Never”
Tomi Owo has been around for quite some time, her well-received debut EP Pieces dating back to 2018. For the most part, though, she’s only released music sparingly, consistently swinging for quality singles that prioritise her sophisticated sound and lived-in writing. Her latest drop is a cover of Metallica’s “Through the Never,” one of the multiple covers on the American band’s 30th-anniversary compilation of their fifth, self-titled album. Drawn in by the song’s exploratory theme, Tomi puts an endearing spin on her cover, singing the words with a soulful candour over a musical arrangement that shifts between Soft Rock and Hard Rock.
Joeboy – “Better Thing”
Earlier this year, Joeboy released his long-awaited debut album, Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic. The LP confirmed Joeboy’s place as one of Afropop’s most personable troubadours, mostly comprising songs dedicated to romantic love. In the months since the album has been warmly received, and the singer is still very much in the middle of his promotional efforts. He recently shared the music video for the celebratory track, “Better Thing,” where he’s palpably elated by his successes. The video is essentially a feel-good set, with Joeboy performing his set in a dimly lit location and shots of dancers working their bodies to the mid-tempo bop.
Kwesta – “Kubo” (feat. K.O, Focalistic & Bassie)
Earlier in the year, South African rap superstar Kwesta released g.o.d Guluva, his first album in five long years. It included the instant, groovy standout track “Kubo,” an infectious fusion of Kwaito, Amapiano and rap with apt features from Shkanda Rap pioneer K.O, Amapiano-meets-rap specialist Focalistic, and vocalist Bassie. In support of the song, Kwesta has just shared a music video that splits the difference between glossy and artsy, featuring all four artists performing at a swanky set to emphasise their boastful and joyous lyrics.
Late last month, Big Brother Naija returned to our screens once again. The ‘Shine Ya Eye’ Season 6 has already generated a lot of buzz, with its double entrance weekend, surprise wildcard twists and a spate of talented contestants from dancer Liquorose to Blacklist actor Boma, art curator Arinola and more. While a lot of attention has certainly centred around the excitement of a new season and the promise of new stars to stan and celebrate, there’s also an ensuing conversation about this season’s headline sponsor: Abeg App.
Every so often, in these parts, a brand breaks into the market and immediately stands out for its ability to connect with audiences without much push and pull. We witnessed it with the likes of fintech apps such as Piggy Vest, Buy Coins Africa, Paystack, Tix Africa and more, which have banked on their relatability with the country’s millennial market who are looking for ease of doing business and making online transactions.
Abeg App is the latest of the fintech companies to garner similar attention in Nigeria’s busy tech ecosystem. Founded by Muheez Akanni and Dare Adekoya in 2019, the social payment app provides a peer-to-peer platform where users can easily transfer money to other users, partake in giveaways and request funds from their contact list of friends.
Hey #BBNaija fam! We’re glad to announce @abeg_app as the Headline Sponsor and @PatriciaSwitch as the Associate Sponsor of Season 6!
Abeg App provides an alternative to bank transfers in Nigeria, which are marred by several network issues and also eliminates the need for account numbers or any other account details. The only information required to sign up is the mobile number linked to the user’s preregistered Bank Verification Number (BVN). Its user-friendly interface taps into the young population in the country through its title: Abeg, a colloquial phrase used to beg or request for favours. In this same light, Abeg allows users to gift their friend’s money, conduct giveaways for their followers and earn badges and points for making other people happy through gifting money. The app has adopted emojis and sticker features to gain more traction from a younger audience.
However, Abeg is not the first wallet type of its kind in the Nigerian market. There is already existing competition in the country including some competitors in the African tech market: Paga App (15.8M users as of June 2020), Cowrywise (220,000 users as of January 2021), and Paystack (60k users as of October 2020). However, Abeg App now has now tapped into a market that none of these existing companies have done: Big Brother. The media value of sponsoring a show such as Big Brother Naija is undoubtedly high. According to reports from Brand Spur, category sponsorship on the reality show runs to about 750 million Naira per season with a fully-formed sponsorship package including 30-second ad slots, product integration, online activation, and other offerings. As such, many brands use sponsorship opportunities on Big Brother to get the word out about their products out.
Online retailer, Payporte was the headline sponsor in 2017 and 2018, while brands such as Bet9JA have previously sponsored in 2019 and Betway in the 2020 Lockdown season. Other recurrent sponsors include Minnie Mie Chin Chin, Nokia, Heritage Bank, Pepsi, Legend Extra Stout among others. As such, Abeg App stands a lot to gain by positioning itself as the headline sponsor on the 2021 season of Big Brother Naija, leading many to wonder about the brand’s products and its co-founders.
To that end, we spoke to co-founder and designer, Dare Adekoya about the app’s peer-to-peer features and its future in the fintech ecosystem following Big Brother. Our conversation, which follows below, has been lightly edited for clarity.
NATIVE: Hi Dare, could you tell us more Abeg app and its place in the Nigerian fintech ecosystem?
DARE: Abeg is a social payment app, it’s the easiest and fastest way to receive or send cash to anybody using their usernames (known on the app as their ‘abegtag’). Abeg was created to make spending stress-free and simple but very fun and exciting at the same time. The goal is for Abeg to become everyone’s go-to method of sending, receiving or paying for anything. It is meant to make customers’ lives easier when it comes down to these types of transactions. For example, no incessant waits for credit or debit alert between people or delay in purchasing items, or even in situations as petty as the stores’ POS being unresponsive. You won’t have any of those traditional banking issues in an ecosystem where Abeg is the preferred mode of payment.
NATIVE: What was the inspiration behind the brand name?
DARE: Abeg is a pidgin term that a lot of Africans can relate to. The name isn’t entirely original either. I’ve always wanted to use something like Cash App, PayPal, etc since I was younger because I could already imagine how easy our lives would be with such innovations. So on Dec 30, 2018, my friend sent a tweet by Asemota (shoutout to you Early Attoh) which read “I think one should build an app in Nigeria similar to $Cash and call it $Abeg. Bambiala culture is international.” I wanted to quickly flex my design skills and do something badass with Abeg. The plan was to post it hoping it could trend. So, I started working on the mini task, and immediately I fell in love with the logo and the rest is history.
NATIVE: The focus of the app is on millennials and even the digital outlook is made to feel like a profile homepage with a distinct character. I know you’re the designer, what inspired the interface?
DARE: Our plan initially was to disrupt the fintech ecosystem, because new apps kept springing up left and right and they were all doing the same thing the same way and most of them didn’t look or feel great. So I had one job as the designer, to show how it should be done. Trust me if you’re not using Abeg you’re missing out.
NATIVE: Tell us about being the headline sponsor for Big Brother Naija? Why was this the right time to tap into this market?
DARE: Big Brother is the biggest show in Africa, and has a lot of brand equity. I think anyone would agree that it’s the best place to market your product, and in this case, Abeg happens to be something a lot of Africans need. Big brother is the perfect place to educate them, while they enjoy the drama from the show.
NATIVE: Abeg also consists of a small, close-knit team. How are you able to handle the demands that now come from such a prominent involvement in a reality show as huge as Big Brother?
DARE: Yes, we’re still a close-knit team product-wise, but our support team is growing fast, so we can resolve more issues faster. But that aside we’re a rockstar team.
When you’re on the receiving end, betrayal can be very infuriating. In romantic relationships especially, a partner stepping out or continually taking egregious actions to seriously weaken the trust is justifiable grounds for lashing out. On her excellent new single, “Krazy,” Ona Dema sings about her experiences with betrayal from friends and lovers. It’s a song that embodies the moment when the dam finally breaks, and a relationship on its last legs crumbles beneath the weight of lies.
“Krazy” is Ona Dema’s first song in the twelve months since the announcement of her Sony Music West Africa signing, complete with a star-featuring major label debut single. In that time, she’s been working on her chops behind the scenes, and the developments are evident on her new single. Delving into the messier spectrum of romance, the leaps in her craft shine through as she sings with a haunting edge, aptly evoking pain and disgust in her vocal performance.
“You’re calling me wife, the love of your life/you’re telling me lies,” she sings over Marvey’s skulking Afropop percussion and R&B-style piano and guitar chords. Wasting no time to set her plans in motion, the opening bears the hallmark of a serially mistreated lover with receipts, keen to reclaim their time. “Krazy” is not exactly brimming with specific, picturesque details, but the scenario Ona presents with her writing is rich enough to conjure the image of a partner who’d prefer to explain their way out of indiscretions—“and when I talk, you say you dey test me”—instead of being accountable and committing to being better.
This approach gives the song’s perspective even more urgency, an acknowledgment of the events that ultimately serves as further validation for the resolve to exit a toxic relationship. These sort of offending partners will often resort to gaslighting as the tool to keep the cycle going, which is where Ona’s disgust is at its most potent. When she makes her threat on the hook, there’s a slightly hysterical feel to the melody to suggest she can—and, if the new ex doesn’t aid a peaceful exit, will—key your car, mix up your white and coloured clothes in the washing machine, or go whatever diabolical length she deems fit.
Ona’s songwriting also has a relevant pop culture dimension, recalling a popular meme that goes “do you wanna see crazy?” from a sketch featuring popular hood comedian Black Kamaru. Whether “Krazy” takes inspiration from that quip or not isn’t exactly the focus, rather it’s just the sort of random but relevant insight resonant songs inspire. It might also be an indicator of Ona Dema’s readiness to take on a wider market, by making substance-filled music that relates to universal experiences, while being singularly compelling.
Two weeks ago, Omah Lay returned to the top of the TurnTable Top 50, his recent single “Understand”debuting at No. 1. This feat wasn’t the least bit shocking, the song continues both his flair for making emotionally resonant music that instantly captivates ears and his reputation for dominating this weekly charts.
Last week, Ladipoe and Buju’s post-lockdown banger “Feeling” denied Omah Lay’s latest from a consecutive run at the top, by earning its fifth non-consecutive week at pole position. In this week’s edition of the charts, both songs have swapped positions, “Understand” inevitably climbing back to the top with a 4% increase in radio reach (51.8 million impressions) and 1.6 million equivalent streams. Omah Lay might remain at the top for yet another, following the release of its cinematic music video last Thursday.
Olamide’s “Rock” continues to hold at the third spot, becoming only the second song to have spent its first eleven weeks on the chart within the top three—the first was, you probably guessed it, Omah Lay’s “Godly.” The biggest leap of the week in the top ten belongs Adekunle Gold’s “Sinner,” which moved five places into No. 4. The charming video for the Lucky Daye-assisted single was recently released, and it features playfully intimate frames of AG with singer and wife Simi, keeping the song’s momentum going with the warm reception.
Breakout artist AV continues his debut run in the top ten, with ultra-catchy “Big Thug Boys” moving one step up to No. 5, matching its peak position. Jonzing World’s latest star Ruger also continues his remarkable breakout summer, “Bounce” is at No. 6 on this week’s edition of the chart. MohBad’s “Feel Good” remains at its debut No. 7 position from last week, further proof that the Naira Marley-headed Marlian Music is a consistent hub for hit songs. Rounding out the top ten, Rema’s “Soundgasm” is moves three spots from its previous position to No. 8 this week, Patoranking’s “Celebrate” is at No. 9, and Fireboy DML’s new single “Peru” debuts on the chart at No. 10.
Just outside the top ten, Lojay and Sarz’s “MONALISA” rises to a new peak of No. 15 while 2Baba and Falz’s “Rise Up” debuts at No. 20. You can check out this week’s full edition of the charts here.
Over the past year, Amapiano has been in unstoppable motion, connecting with ears, feet and minds way beyond its initial origins, despite a global pandemic. This is nothing short of exceptional and speaks to the genre’s growing commercial viability. Originating in the Gauteng province in the early to mid-2010s, the Dance subgenre captured the hearts and feet of young South Africans across local townships in the ensuing years, eventually spilling into the mainstream in 2019.
Dancefloors shuttered early last year, but what could’ve been a negatively disruptive factor has become the awe-inspiring context for a sound that is now the toast of the entire African continent. Late last month, a UK-based online radio station and music exposé hub NTS released ‘Amapiano Now’, a compilation project dedicated to capturing the essence of the increasingly chic sound. It’s one of the latest events that play into the budding global attention Amapiano is now receiving, with particular attention to what’s made—and is making—the style of music captivating.
At the moment, many Nigerians are still coming to terms with the fact that Nigeria can’t own Amapiano, and non-African publications are covering it as an exotic, about-to-trend sound when it is actually a culturally significant phenomenon indelibly tied with the originating country’s history. All factors considered, though, NTS’ ‘Amapiano Now’ is applaudably assiduous, as it offers a finely executed crash course into South Africa’s township sound. Comprising well over two dozen contributors, the project is curated to give listeners a glare into Amapiano’s multiple sonic dimensions, stuffing as many stylistic quirks as possible into a sprawling run-time.
Whether you’re already deeply enamoured or barely familiar—or even entirely clueless—with the sound, there’s a long list of thrills and surprises to justify the near two hours ‘Amapiano Now’ demands. Known for its mash-up of Kwaito’s wide basslines, diBacardi percussion, jazzy keys and airy pads, the foundational elements of Amapiano are recognisable and constantly dance-ready, but what’s made it riveting is the wild creative energy coursing through its arteries. That’s what NTS’ compilation champions, the myriad of ways Amapiano artists are taking those aforementioned elements and moulding them into inventive, yet familiar, output that keeps listeners grooving—and can keep them musically engaged on a more intellectual, soulful level.
At times, the project listens like a purist’s collection of the scene’s experimental essence, as it does on the glitchy and disruptive verve of Teno Afrika’s “Power Station.” At other points, the focus is on its irresistible suitability for the club, like the sleek thump of MachiinaSA’s “James Bond.” It’s very fitting, especially for a genre that consistently spawns really huge songs without a particular musical formula or audience preference for what becomes big. There can be skulking instrumentals like MDU aka TRP’s “16 Inch” or hulking organs like those on Vigro Deep’s “Untold Stories”; and if you want vocals, there can be sublime and soulful cuts like Scorpion Kings’ “Nana Thula” or riotous ones like Major League Djz and Abidoza’s “Le Plane E’Landile.”
Perhaps the clearest pop moment is its second pre-release single, “Possible,” an instant shoulder-twister that splits the difference between lush and groovy, with infectious vocal melodies to match. Helmed alongside Musa Keys, and with four other contributors, the song clearly builds on the previously established chemistry of DBN Gogo—one of the few female Amapiano DJ/producers—alongside Dinho. A significant portion of the project finds already familiar artists working together: “Sip Sip,” Alfa Kat and TidoSoul continue along the lines of the brassy style found in their recent joint project, Moya; Gaba Cannal, one of the very first producers to make Amapiano, combine with frequent collaborator E_Clips Mzansi on the anthemic lead single, “Shona Le.”
With the artists making the music how they usually would, it’s clear NTS simply focused on selecting songs and making them fit within their broader vision, which is quite refreshing because the case is often that most curators of urban Afropop compilations want to put together what’s hot. Freed from the mission of trying to curate a “bangers only” project, ‘Amapiano Now’ is successful in its roaming ethos. The transitions are rarely clean, from a strict album or loose DJ set-list standpoint, but that’s a minor gripe when the results are impressive from an explorative perspective.
In fact, there’s a pretty neat juxtaposition motif in the middle of the compilation that benefits from this freewheeling arrangement. On “Mswapheni,” MaWhoo chants in a trippy cadence over a clanging beat, meanwhile the immediate “Thula Thula” sees Kamo Mphela in typically vibrant mode, effortlessly exerting herself over rumbling log drums. They serve as fractional examples of the infinite amount of ways vocalists interact with Amapiano beats, much in the same way its producers employ instruments. Vigro Deep’s “Groove” and Unlimited Soul “Utlwa” both cradle the intersection between jazzy, techy and folksy, but next to each other the difference in approach is proclaimed, with seamless production that is incredibly layered and deeply profound.
It might seem trite to say Amapiano has unlimited range, but NTS’ latest compilation serves as reinforcement of the genre’s longevity and it’s fertile presence in the current sonic landscape. In today’s industry, there’s a lot to be said about genres and honouring the places where they emanate from, and NTS’ ‘Amapiano Now’ definitely pays homage to the past and present over 17 exciting new tracks.
More than most people, the team at The NATIVE knows that the sheer scope of music available to us at this exact moment in human history is mind-numbing but our goal is still the same as always: we don’t want exciting music to be slept on. That’s where our Songs of the Day column comes in. We try to keep our fingers on the pulse of music from across the continent and beyond, bringing you exciting songs from talented musicians who are continuously trying to bounds of artistry with their music.
During the mid-week, we spotlighted new releases from 1da Banton and Vector, a gauzy collaboration from RagZ Orignale and Lady Donli, and much more. For our weekend curation, we have new music videos from Yaw Tog and Omah Lay, the lead single from Ayra Starr’s anticipated debut album, Dlala Thukzin’s potential Gqom smash hit, and more. Tap in.
Yaw Tog – “Fake Ex”
No single singer represents the unbridled potential of asakaa music like Yaw Tog. At 17, the singer is already regarded as a leader in the Ghanaian drill scene and his Time E.P. released earlier in the year showed definitive signs that the youngster might even surpass the strictures of genres to become an important musical voice in his country. The video for “Fake Ex,” off the Time E.P., arrives a week after he performed at the Ghana Party in the Park in London and it sees Tog flexing on a former flame who jilted him, built around the cliche troupe of a man coming into wealth after a relationship, it’s quite trivial but it shows a definitive softening of Tog’s drill sound as he heads into pop territory.
Ayra Starr – “Bloody Samaritan”
Not many saw Ayra Starr coming, but when she arrived, she did so in stunning fashion, showing an appreciation of alchemical fusion of sounds across generations to create new expressions within pop music. Her Ayra Starr E.P. put her on a pedestal and it is a position she is aware of on “Bloody Samaritan,” the lead single of her debut album, 19 & Dangerous, scheduled for release next month. “I see you watching my movement,” she knowingly sings on the fast-paced release. Elsewhere, she insists that enemies cannot drain her of energy, revealing a relentless that stands her in good stead for what should be a long career at the top.
ZahZah – “Ground Zero”
In the last quarter of last year, Lagos-based musician, Zahzah, created a buzz with “Miss You,” his featherlight summer anthem that established him as a voice to watch out for. A little past the halfway mark of this year, ZahZah has returned with his self-titled debut project, a five-song project that features more of his melodic singing, inventive word-bending, and aptitude for fine songwriting. Across the project’s 12 minute runtime, Zahzah taps into a number of emotions, primarily love and desire, but on “Ground Zero,” atop a quivering instrumental, he sings about pushing on with life despite several obstacles in his way.
Falz – “Mercy”
Over the last year, without pulling off gimmicks or excessive posturing, Falz has been one of Nigeria’s consistent performers, soundtracking the earlier months of lockdown with “Bop Daddy” and seeing out the year with his Niniola-featuring “Squander.” Those tracks have shown an ability to reach into other music styles and put a spin on them to accommodate his often humorous delivery. His latest song “Mercy” drifts between his comic tendencies and the party-starting streak that makes him one of the most formidable pop stars in Nigeria. His flow is not to be laughed at, he half-drags out words to detail his innermost lustful desires, while encouraging a lady to bring those desires to life.
Amapiano’s ascendant has been quite the dictating factor in South Africa’s Dance music scene, dominating the mainstream and squeezing out related subgenres in much the same way Gqom did a few years back. That in no way means Gqom is creatively barren or struggling for attention, but it could use a few more widely anticipated potential hit songs like the newly released remix of Dlala Thukzin’s “Phuze.” Its OG version dropped back in late March to strong reception, but “Phuze (Remix)” is set to be a much bigger deal, partly due to the hype that’s been building since it was partially leaked a few weeks ago. Joining Zaba – the sole vocalist on the OG version – Sir Trill and Mpura, both renowned for their work on Amapiano tracks, add a magnetic energy to the song’s already combustible mix of thumping and dreamy.
Zamir – “A. Iverson” (feat. dndSection)
Even though it’s been nearly four years since he last dropped a tape, Zamir has remained active and present with a sporadic drop of new singles. Just over a week after releasing the woozy, Emo Trap cut “LUV HRTS” with Odunsi (the Engine), he’s back with the new dndSection-assisted “A. Iverson,” this time spinning boastful quips over rumbling bass. With its title referencing the famous Hall of Fame basketball player Allen Iverson, both rappers blow their images out with bold, self-aggrandising lyrics, oozing a larger than life confidence that makes the song every bit of a rap banger.
Ona Dema – “Krazy”
About a year ago, Nigerian singer Ona Dema signed a recording deal with Sony Music West Africa, debuting with the Dremo-assisted “No Time.” In the time since, she’s been in the throes of artist development, working on her craft and the results are evident on her emotive new single, “Krazy.” Over production that combines the mid-tempo bounce of Afropop and the sultry melodies of R&B chords, Ona fires off at an ex-lover, ruing the time they shared together and generally being mad at her partner’s empty promises. On the repetitive hook, she issues a threat that recalls a recent comic moment in pop culture, giving the already relatable theme an even more resonant edge.
Vader the Wildcard – “Seke” (feat. TiwaDara)
Vader the Wildcard is a man of many talents, with rapping and comedy being two of the more popular ones. On the former tip, he’s known for being a dead-eyed lyricist with a mean streak for incinerating beats, but in a meaningful bid to increase his wider appeal, he’s leaned into his comic side on several occasions. His new single, “Seke,” continues that vivacious approach, as he assumes the gait of a sugar daddy wooing a love interest he’s been after for a while. In storytelling fashion, he details their initial encounter and the lengths he’s gone to in search of her, name-dropping former Big Brother Naija contestant Nengi and pointing at affluence as a factor to tip the scales in his favour. TiwaDara sings the hook, his gentle rasp embodying the playful passion of the chase.
Omah Lay – “Understand”
During a lockdown-wracked 2020, Omah Lay emerged as a breakout superstar, with rhythmic hymns on love that resonated with many young Nigerians and Africans. The world is gradually opening up, but the singer’s flair for relatable, lived-in songs will continue to capture the hearts of listeners, as evidenced by the instant success of new single “Understand,” a caustic break-up song that immediately skyrocketed up local charts. In promotion efforts, he’s shared a cinematic music video, tracking down the timeline of the relationship he sings about, adding a potentially vengeful twist at the end that shows that the song doesn’t solely revolve around anguish.
Following the release of her 2019 debut album ‘Enjoy Your Life’, Nigerian singer-songwriter Lady Donli found herself catapulted into a new level of success. Critically acclaimed and largely regarded by many as her magnum opus, ‘EYL’ was a glittering collection of sunny, retro-inspired African sounds accentuated by Donli’s rich array of melodies and stunning musicianship from her collaborators. It earmarked the singer as one with a tightly honed craft and a deft conceptual eye, placing her amongst the artists championing excellence amongst the new Afropop vanguard.
However, when the world fell into lockdowns a year later, Donli found herself standing at a crossroad. Like many of us, 2020 was a whirlwind and the singer found herself holed up in Toronto for the greater part of the year. Somewhere between all the chaos, she found time to record her sophomore album and fashioned a new alter ego to suit the imminent release: Space Whore. While fans have eagerly waited to beckon in this post-EYL era from the rising star, it seems that Donli isn’t quite ready to open the floodgates quite yet.
The result is what we are witnessing today: the release of her third EP ‘W I L D’, his first in this format since 2017’s ‘Letters to Her’. The title of the new EP is aptly abbreviated to signify the question that occasionally popped up on our timelines this year: ‘Where is Lady Donli?’. She recently returned with the instantly compelling “Searching”, proving her time away has been focused on giving us the best music possible.
In usual 1-listen fashion, all reactions are in real-time while the music plays. No pauses, rewinds, fast forwards or skips.
“WILD”
This number opens up with a slow, smooth piano-led introduction bolstered by a groovy, memorable beat. She says “Donli where have you been?”, a question I’ve had to ask myself since her social media hiatus this year. So far I’m loving the sound of this comeback. This reference to fighting demons in quarantine is really hitting close to home because 2020 was one hell of a ride for everyone. Donli is talking about being at this crossroad as I mentioned earlier. It’s clear she doesn’t know where to go next but she is willing to take her fans along for the ride. I really like this intro. It’s short and leaves me super enthusiastic to hear the rest.
“Searching”
“Searching”is probably one of my favourite tracks on this EP. I’ve been listening to it on a loop since its release. It’s Afropop but with a bit more pizazz and that’s mostly thanks to GMK’s stellar production. At this point on the project,the pace seems to have picked up now but it’s still a bit slow. I love the faux adlibs, they carry the songs and its catchy melodies. The lyrics don’t disappoint either. As the title suggests, Donli is searching of searching: whether it’s herself or love or answers to life’s most difficult puzzles, it’s clear that she can’t quite grasp the results she would like. However, her words are very sincere. She lets the beat take centre stage at the end as her voice slowly fades out. This isn’t where you come to find answers, we’re here for a good time.
“Put It ON” (feat. Shae Universe & Sugabana)
This is a very sunny intro. The mood is certainly more exciting, and makes me want to dance. Sugabana is always fire so I’m really loving this patois-inflected intro. OK! Donli preaching consent with “Put it on you, only if you want me to”, as she should! I’m getting nostalgic from these lyrics as well as she begins chanting, “tell mummy for you” halfway through her verse. It’s not my beat but this is definitely Donli-esque (don’t ask haha). The rhythm of this beat is really catchy and, I imagine it being stuck in my head for days after. Shae Universe and Sugabana also complement Lady Donli beautifully on this track. I will definitely be revisiting this later.
“M.K.K”
Whenever I see abbreviations, my brain almost instinctively tries to work it out but alas! I wasn’t successful this time around. I could never have guessed Mysterious Kitty Kat but I’m really loving hearing Donli in a new light. This is a sex-positive number and Donli doesn’t hold back from laying out her sensual desires. Of course, classic Donli, that P Square reference isn’t out of place at all. I’m also pleasantly distracted by Donli speaking pidgin. Totally here for it. This sounds very fun! Perfect length as well, short and sweet.
“Dragon Fruit Freestyle”
I always love a good freestyle on a body of work. Okay, I’m living for this tempo, a perfect balance of upbeat at moments and segueing into a slow and steady pace as the song builds up. “Smoking in the hope of your love,” is exactly how I would describe myself when I catch feelings, would certainly not recommend it. While there are definitely great moments, this isn’t doing it for me but I’ll have to re-listen at a later time. The chorus is super catchy though.
“Set Tha Fire/Lova Gyal” (feat. RagZ Originale)
This is the final song on the project and I’m a bit bummed out that it’s over already. Are deluxe versions of EPs a thing because we should totally petition Donli to release one immediately! I will say to this point, each song on the project sounds very different which I absolutely love. Donli and Ragz Originale’s vocals blend so well on this as they delve into sensual matters. Back with the nostalgic lyrics with a smart reference to Asa’s in “Fire on The Mountain”. At this point, I’m ready to crown Donli the reference queen and would love to have a peek into her creative process. More patois from Donli as the song builds and oh I love a good conversational outro. “Abeg you guys should free me jor” is my mood for the rest of the year. Oh wait there’s more? This “Lova Gyal” outro is everythinggg. Wow, now, I’m left wanting more.
Final Thoughts
Over 6 new tracks, Lady Donli ruminates on the answer to this question, prodding at the source of her scars, questioning herself and her intentions all the while finding time to fall in love and have fun with her friends. Sound familiar? That’s because it’s literally the Gez Z-Millennial story arch these days. Lady Donli has become the poster girl for saying things we don’t want to say outright. With soul-stirring vocals and a mastery of different genres including R&B, Pop and Reggae, the chameleonic singer takes listeners on an immersive listening experience. It’s clear that she’s tipped the scale on her creative output once again. Come here for the answers and stay for the comfort in the lack thereof.
Vict0ny is fascinating. Since he broke out last year, he’s given us the pleasure of experiencing his multi-faceted skills and just how well he can explore various genres and themes outside what’s considered mainstream afropop. Only a few months ago, however, the singer faced a tumultuous time following an accident that has left him in a wheelchair. The singer got an outpouring of love all across social media, as we all prayed for his speedy recovery, which he shows gratitude for with the cover art for his latest release, “Dark Times”.
On the 2-pack release’s cover art, we see an animated Vict0ny in a wheelchair, reading an abundance of messages from Twitter fans saying praying for Vict0ny. Now, he’s back, and he’s even better with a new double release titled, “Dark Times”, which express how he’s been feeling since we last heard from him.
The tracks titled “Pray” and “Unfamiliar Realms” take the emotional and melodic route, and still manage to showcase Vict0ny’s dexterous ability. “Pray” starts with a memorable hook layered over a catchy beat, which juxtaposes the pensive lyrics where Victony shares how his mother’s prayers saved his life and protected him from the hands of the wicked.
In the outro, we hear his mother encouraging him to be strong and family and friends sending love and reminding him that he is always in their prayers. On this track, Vict0ny takes us on a journey through his recovery, showing that there’s always victory on the other side.The second track, “Unfamiliar Realms” embodies a more mellow sound, fitting for the message where Vict0ny assisted by Tredax cry for help as they are unsure of themselves. “Dark Times” feels like just what we needed from Vict0ny to ease us in to his next phase.
Back in March, following the release of JAE5’s “Dimension”, Skepta hinted at retirement. In a series of cryptic posts on his Instastories, the grime lord hinted at being “out” after a series of drops lined up for the year. Taking to the same medium earlier this month, he refuted claims that he was planning to stop making music, insisting that he was music personified. It’s hard to discount his claim: in addition to his work with JAE5 and Rema on “Dimension,” Skepta worked on the Fast and Furious 9 soundtrack, collaborating with late New York drill rapper Pop Smoke and A$AP Rocky on a track titled “Lane Switcha.”
His refutation of retirement has also flowed into an announcement of new music, with a synchronized social media post earlier this week signalling a new body of work to be titled All In. Skepta’s first solo project since 2019’s Ignorance Is Bliss, the five-tracker has already caused some excitement on Twitter due to the presence of Alté pioneer, Teezee, on a track alongside rap-punk star, Kid Cudi, as well as a song with Colombian Reggaeton megastar, J Balvin. There are production credits for long-time collaborator, Ragz Originale, and JAE5, with many eager to see what direction Skepta heads towards on one of his shorter projects. For what it’s worth, it is a needed update from one of the most intriguing music figures of the last decade, especially one who has played such a crucial role in closing the chasm between the British music scene and Nigeria’s eruptive cultural landscape.
In the usual 1-listen review fashion, all reactions are in real-time while the music plays. No pauses, rewinds, fast-forwards or skips.
“Bellator”
There’s no time for sentiments on this opener, Skepta is going straight into it and I think these are thoughts he’s wanted to get off for a while that has had to wait. I like how the bass is not overpowering his voice, just gliding with it and anchoring his message even if his verse starts out a bit slow. Most rappers usually start these sorts of projects with introspective tracks, but Skepta isn’t necessarily approaching this one like he ever went away. The fade-out effect at the end is also classy, adds something extra to a song about being loyal to your people and living your best life. Great opener.
“Peace of Mind” (feat. Teezee and Kid Cudi)
The one everyone wants to hear. I can’t recognize that sample at the beginning but I love that it switches up for Kid Cudi to come through with that punk energy. It all feels so raw and everyone is trying to get grandiose lines off. I feel like there’s just a sense of organized chaos at the heart of this song, everyone is here for a good time and a line like “I’m not politically correct” just sums it how non-conforming this song is. Skepta’s referenced Sex Education, so he’s up-to-date with pop culture and the bit about Zinedine Zidane is quite cheeky too, would have loved some more spurts of melody but alas I don’t get to make such decisions; asides from that, a delightfully rowdy track
“Nirvana” (feat. J Balvin)
Hearing “JAE5” heave at the beginning almost feels like a promise. This is the one: melodic, tempered rapping from Skepta. That’s what operating in nexus with someone like J Balvin just does. The guitar chords that undergird the track are so subtle but defining, they add a special flavour to the song, shouts to JAE5. Balvin’s voice is so pentatonic and even though I don’t understand Spanish, I just know he’s gone and got into a perfect zone that works for him, his cadence is at a perfect level to enliven the song, too. I’m adding this to my car ride playlist.
“Lit Like This”
In a project of brags, this one stands out but it also feels odd as an attempt to engineer a party anthem. I like the chants but it just isn’t getting that response from me. But I’ll definitely try this one again tomorrow with some alcohol inside me to see how I respond.
“Eyes On Me”
Let’s go. There’s ice in Skepta’s vein on this one when he rapped that “we aren’t trying to take any L” line. The energy from the “Showtime Riddim” sample is genuinely brilliant because the way this beat is attacked demands that constant cheering sound and I like the reference to his guys pulling up like it’s Merky Fest. And he’s an African Giant too, so I don’t think anyone wants that smoke. It’s genuinely an uplifting one. I like this, I recommend this, I am replaying this after I write my final thoughts on the project.
Final thoughts
It’s hard to imagine that Skepta has anything major to prove musically, after more than 15 years spent at the forefront of Grime and black British music and culture, he’s purely in this for the sport of laying his thoughts on exciting instrumentals like he largely manages to do here successfully. And that lack of worries unburdens the rapper to make a project that leans into themes of opulence and celebration, after the shadowy experimentalism of last year’s Insomnia with Chip and Young Adz. At five songs, All In is Skepta’s most concise body of work and a much-needed statement as his creative output extends beyond music.
Favouring an eclectic mix of soul and dancehall samples across the different tracks on All In, Skepta floats across a number of music styles while accompanied by guests who fit within the narrative of just trying to make the most exciting music they can at this exact moment: think Kid Cudi and Teezee colliding chaotically on “Peace of Mind” and Skepta’s melodic verse flowing into J Balvin’s pristine delivery on “Nirvana.”
A lyric-to-lyric study of All In will reveal little about the intimate details of Skepta’s life but listened to purely as an effort in technicality and presence management, it retains the gritty magnetism that makes Skepta a compelling figure.
At the 2019 BET Hip-Hop awards, Sarkodie picked up the inaugural award for Best International Flow. He also participated in the accompanying cyphers, unleashing a blistering, technical dazzling verse. To anyone who’s hip to the Ghanaian rapper, these events were par for the course: The award was less of a validation and more of an acknowledgement of his undeniable skill-set, and his cypher verse wasn’t a showcase as much as it was just another day setting fire to the mic and incinerating another instrumental.
At the beginning of last decade, Sarkodie fully emerged as one of the leading figures of Rap music in Africa, a pedestal he’s occupied and doesn’t look to vacate anytime soon. After months of waiting, he’s finally shared his new album No Pressure, a Teflon statement from the veteran who’s relishing having Ghanaian—and indeed, African—Hip-Hop in a chokehold. The new LP, his sixth official, is out at a time when Drill music is leading the charge amongst the younger generation of Ghanaian rap artists, a trend he acknowledged with the line-up of last December’s Rapperholic concert. At that, he’s secure enough in his accomplishments and position as the torchbearer—“10 years, every time e be me/everyone else is just tagging along,” he proclaims on intro track “Rollies & Cigars.”
Operating in rarefied territory, No Pressure casts Sarkodie in his already iconic light without any hints that he’s coasting, continuing his streak as a fierce lyrical Phenom and one of the greatest rap hit-makers around. No Pressure was preceded by a handful of singles hinting at Sarkodie’s self-assured candour on the album, including the groovy, unapologetic “No Fugazy,” and the brash, Vic Mensa-assisted “Vibration.” As he’s always done, the 15-song set is graced by a star-studded cast of guest features from both within and outside Ghana, with contributions Kwesi Arthur, Wale, Oxlade, Giggs, Cassper Nyovest and more.
Now, more than ever since March 2020 when our entire world was turned upside down, things are starting to feel ‘normal’ again. All around the world, people are reconnecting with shared experiences that were out of reach in the past year and once again, we’re able to experience music outside, whether it’s at live shows or festivals, or on the dancefloor at parties. Amidst this readjustment, music on the continent has found it’s way beyond the shores and across the world, bringing all of this goodwill back home to the roots, where the music was made and inspired by.
At the NATIVE, we remain committed to our mission to stay on pulse with new talent across the continent and the diaspora. Whether it’s breaking in new acts such as Omah Lay and Gyakie, two Fresh Meat alum who have cruised to undeniable victory in the past year, or discovering the hard-hitting bars of lesser-known female emcees around the continent, we constantly source for the best talent the continent has to offer. In today’s world where everything requires instant attention, reaction and satisfaction, it’s easy for us as consumers to get lost in the fray, and miss out on some things that we would ordinarily like, and that’s what Fresh Meat represents: taster course for the diverse skill harnessed by Africans from Pretoria, South Africa to Toronto, Canada.
On our 17th instalment of Fresh Meat, the entire team has had their ears to ground, listening out for music from all corners of the continent. Given the sheer amount of material there is out there, it’s always the best part of our editorial month when we gather to find Fresh Meat. Arguments and agendas across the team make selection of our top artists even more difficult, however, you can rest assured that with this list, we have representedf the multifaceted and multilayered soundscape over on this side. Featuring a talented spate of rising stars from South Africa’s Bonj to Nigeria’s Mizzle, here are 8 artists you should be paying attention to right now.
kZm
Normally, we wait until an artist has more than a handful of singles in their discography before we induce them into the Fresh Meat hall of fame. But when we caught a whiff of Toronto-based rapper kZm, we knew the potential was clear and it was worth putting him on your radar. While pursuing a Business and Communication degree in Toronto, the 20-year old newcomer has also been generating buzz in his own corner of the Internet.
kZm began making music when he was 7 years old. He was a musical child right from early and so, his Nigerian parents would encourage and endorse his musical skills by paying for piano classes for him and his brother. By the time, kZm got to high school, he was already spitting harder than many of his mates, filling up the time before classes with freestyle battles and hard-hitting rhymes in the playground. “I found it easy to put words together and guys would hype me up,” he tells the NATIVE. “The desire to make music just grew over time and then when I moved to Toronto, I knew it was time.” Born Ayomide Kazeem, the Nigerian-born rapper began taking his music career seriously when he saw the reaction to his one-off freestyle. While he’s certainly serious about his music career these days, kZm is also deeply inspired by the hard work and foundation laid down by his African parents. “My dad has gone through a lot to get me to where I am so I honour him by taking up our last name,” kZm tells the NATIVE about his abbreviated moniker. Wearing his family name as a badge of honour, kZm forged an identity rooted in his Nigerian heritage and one which set him in place to build a legacy on his own terms.
A year ago, kZm barely had one single to his name across streaming platforms. In November, he released his first offering, a catchy freestyle titled “Realize”. It was a succinct but potent introduction to his rapid-fire rapping skills, but the accompanying Youtube visualiser garnered a mere 196 views at the time of its release. Views are currency in today’s and low counts could be discouraging to any newcomer but kZm only used it as ammunition to come back ten times harder. His latest freestyle “Balance” which was released two months ago is already reaping the fruits of all that diligent hard work. Since its release, the rapper has now garnered over 12K views on Youtube and a recorded 34K streams on Spotify. Clearly, he’s hit the sweet spot and listeners around the country and the diaspora are catching to his skills. On “Balance”, he talks about his larger-than-life dreams as a boy from Nigeria: “God and endurance you know that I come from a sunken place/Boy I got to do shit by myself cause I wanna run up the bills” he sings-raps. While he’s clearly offsetting deep emotions about his time on the come up, kZm is also lacing potent stories about his love for women and the finer things in life. It’s clear that he’s got a whole lot to say but he’s not going about it in the same way as many of his peers.
kZm would describe his music as Hip-Hop/Rap with a dash of Trap sensibilities but ultimately, he’s not looking to be boxed into any stringent categories. He’s dedicated himself to making music work out for him on his own terms and that’s why he’s hopeful for the future. “I still think that my sound could become something different. That’s why I don’t want to say I make only a certain type of music,” he tells the NATIVE. “I love singing and I love rapping as well so I am trying as much as possible to be versatile. I don’t want to be stuck into one particular style.” These days, the borders and boundaries of traditional genres are being pulled and stretched apart by the new vanguard of Afropop hitmakers from around the globe, and in this new cultural zeitgeist, kZm’s music fits like a missing puzzle piece. With the summer almost over, kZm has his mindset on his biggest mission yet: the release of his debut EP. Till then, he’s out in the 6 making timeless music and recording out-of-this-world music videos. Watch this space.
Mizzle
Record producer, singer, and songwriter, Mizzle has proven versatility and range since he started his musical journey. With an undeniably unique sound, he continues to make leaps in the industry with artistry that continues to speak for him. Born and raised in Lagos Nigeria, Mizzle gained traction earlier this year when he was discovered for his entertaining TikTok videos. On this direct-to-consumer platform, the singer would imitate artists on beats that he would produce himself, the whole country would fall about laughing at his near-accurate depictions of Afropop stars. The uniqueness of these videos successfully gave him an edge over other artists in today’s oversaturated market. Artists worth their salt these days always have a unique quality that distinguishes them from the talented crop of artists in existence today and it’s clear that Mizzle is forging his own way through harnessing his range of skills from producing to singing, directing and more.
The record producer and artist began making music over 7 years ago, but he didn’t quite get his big break until he met Sarz in 2018. He worked as Sarz’s direct assistant for a while and learnt a lot of the ropes of the music industry. In 2017, he put out his debut body of work ‘Creed’, a 6-track EP that has the artist speaking on love, affection, and romance. After this, he continued to release a steady trickle of releases including “Signs”, “Connected” and “Hands For You”. This year, he’s expanded the world around his artistry with the release of his self-produced debut album ‘In The Dark’. The 7-track release finds the singer once again ruminating on matters of love, sex, affection, intimacy and more. The enjoyable 20-minute listen has guest verses from some of Afro-pop’s biggest names; Wande Coal, Oxlade, Niniola and Sarz, and more. For his debut project, this is light years ahead of any of his peers but it’s clear that Mizzle has worked hard to get to this moment in his career. One where he’s rubbing shoulders with big-ticket names while still showing us what makes Mizzle a name to remember.
There are many standouts on the project including the Oxlade-assisted“Smile For You” which was the lead single off the tape. Here, both artists declare their love for the women in their lives they are unable to leave alone. Over the groovy piano-led beat, Oxlade sings “I go dey smile for you/Whenever you need me, I’ll be there for you” over the song’s hook, as he convinces his lover of his affections. This theme carries through on other tracks including the project’s opener “Mizzle Love” where the artist and producer remind the ladies about the love they’re missing out from him. “This my love is magical/This my love is spiritual” he sings passionately on the warm acoustic track. Mizzle certainly has all the right ingredients to make the ladies swoon with pleasure. The Wande Coal-assisted track“Angelica”, has both artists serenading a beautiful woman as they mix vocals so melodiously and complement each other so perfectly with chemistry so divine. With a voice of gold combined with such melodious production and a 10/10 pen game, Mizzle is undoubtedly one to keep an eye out for. If you’re looking for a new musical experience, look no further.
Nikita Kering’
Nikita Kering’ is a star. Usually, that’s not a definitive qualification we ascribe to artists featured on Fresh Meat, but in the Kenyan singer’s case, it’s signed, sealed and delivered. At the 2019 All Africa Music Awards, Nikita performed “Tragedy,” her entry on the emPawa100 initiative meant to spotlight fast-rising artists. Her performance was rapturously received and, on the same night, she went on to win awards for Revelation of the African continent and best female artist East Africa..
If you search Nikita Kering on YouTube and scroll for a while, you’ll come across a video by a local news channel spotlighting a then 9-year old Nikita. In the video, she shows off her prodigious voice, and during the interview, she makes a statement that was quite self-assured and prescient: “Nothing will stop me from doing music.” Having already discovered her talent for singing about six years prior, and with a certainty about her future, she spent the next couple of years honing her skill-set, debuting professionally at 16-years old. “Happy with You,” her debut single is a blue-eyed ballad describing the feeling of being loved right, the sort of universal theme a young artist would use as a vehicle to make their mark on new listeners.
As established by her debut single, Nikita’s music mainly deals with romance, but it’s not only the rosy parts as evidenced by “Tragedy.” She’s stated that her music is mostly inspired by those around her and their experiences with romantic situations, and it’s to her credit that she embodies these emotions well enough for many people to resonate with her music. Released earlier this year, “Ex” is a stern statement at a love interest still teetering on the edge of certainty, a demand for reciprocity with one party’s cards on the table. It’s her biggest song yet, with the accompanying video being her first to cross over a million YouTube views.
In a minor but important snag, though, “Ex” seemingly borrows liberally from a song of the same title by American R&B singer Kiana Lede. Obviously, no piece of music is entirely original, but it’s symbolic of how closely the Kenyan singer veers closely to her seeming influences. On A Side of Me, her recent debut EP and a compilation of her singles over the last year, you can feel the spirit of singers like Adele, Emeli Sande and H.E.R on different songs. Nonetheless, the EP is impressive for its emotive writing as well as the sheer brilliance and affecting power in her voice. Nikita has admitted that she’s still finding herself as an artist, and her development will only make her an even more enthralling artist, which is exciting because she’s already an ascendant superstar.
Azawi
Earlier this year, Azawi dropped a prophetic piece titled “My Year”. A spritely Afropop jam, the Ugandan singer claims this year as her own, telling her listeners that they got this year on lock too. Releasing her breakout track and official debut single, “Quinamino” just one year prior, in January last year, Azawi’s inauguration as a recording artist is a story of fate. Writing “Quinamino” in just 40 minutes, Azawi intended to sell what then became the lead single to her debut EP to a Ugandan record label, Swangz Avenue. Once the execs heard her perform it, however, they didn’t want the song. They wanted her.
When you listen to her feel-good debut EP, ‘Lo-Fit‘, the decision to sign the well-versed Ugandan songwriter and turn her into the country’s newest sensation is an obvious one. Writing songs as a hobby before realising she could make money from it, Azawi’s voice is compelling, powerful where it needs to be on up-tempo Dance hooks, such as the “Lo-Fit” hook, and soft over love-tinged verses, for example on “Repeat It”. Having written for artists including Eddie Kenzo, Nina Rose, and Vinka, Azawi first started, Azawi’s lyricism is an obvious pull in her music. It’s quite the surprise that before Swangz Avenue, she hadn’t considered a career as a recording artist. A member of a band, which she still carries along with her in music videos and on songs, Azawi spent her university years moonlighting as a waitress too, working hard in all fields, which has given her an invaluable ethic that undoubtedly elevates her craft. Since her 2020 debut, Azawi has already pushed out four music videos, dished out live performances, earned award nominations, offered up her vocals for guest appearances and her style choices for fashion brand influencing.
Describing herself as a fusion artist who refuses to be boxed or labelled in any aspect of her life, Azawi is crossing borders with her accessible, yet locally-ingrained Afropop sound. Ensuring that her prophesy comes to pass, Azawi is making this year her year.
M’ax
Where most kids she grew up aspiring to traditional careers like medicine or law or engineering, M’ax was pretty sure she “wanted to be Hannah Montana” from a very young age. From working at radio to vlogging over the last few years, she took a few steps towards her ultimate aim of being an entertainer, letting the public in on her singing talent only sparingly until the last year-plus. She’d been singing for as long as she can remember and you’d find a handful of song covers if you scroll long enough into her YouTube page, but it took a personally devastating event to fully nudge her down her current artistic path.
“After my first major heartbreak where I thought I was gonna die, that’s kinda when I really got into making music and taking it seriously,” she tells The NATIVE via voice note, with a slightly animated emphasis on “die.” As tragic as they are, there’s a playful but profound quip that heartbreaks can be character-building episodes when properly channeled. It’s a silver lining belief that has produced a lot of great music and catalysed the careers of several artists, a foundation on which M’ax has seemingly laid the early blocks of her musical career.
Shortly after her manifesto-like debut single, “For You,” the South African singer dropped her first project, Based on a True Story, a succinct and immersive representation of the events of that major heartbreak. Relying heavily on emotive expression, she traces the romantic situation from its honeymoon beginnings to its doleful end, curating a linear sequence of events without underplaying the emotional complexities. Where upbeat soul-sampling intro “More Than a Crush” embodies the period of wobbly knees and vulnerable bliss, the project goes on to denote how things got progressively miserable, like on the acoustic “I’m Sorry” where M’ax apologises, negotiates and aims to pacify, and the wonderful penultimate track, “Small Talk,” is a requiem for when intimacy finally devolves into unfamiliarity. Her breathy voice trembles and wobbles ever so slightly, giving the project—and her music, generally—its gently off-kilter, lived-in appeal.
“When I make music, I’m not trying to make a song, I’m trying to make an emotion,” she says in the endearing mini-doc released shortly before the project. It’s a guiding principle she confirmed in one of her voice notes, prioritising personal honesty as the essence of her music. The statement also works in tandem for her musical choices, presenting her expressions with the apt sonic accompaniment. Where her debut project leaned into varying shades of contemporary R&B and bedroom Pop, M’ax took on groovier sounds on her follow-up EP, November’s Sizzle, including Deep House, mid-tempo Afropop and Amapiano. It’s fitting for a conceptual project that charts a night filled with lust and frivolous fun, even though there’s emotional turmoil bubbling underneath.
Earlier this month, a year after her debut project, M’ax returned with “Changing,” a single pack of a song containing the OG R&B version, a gorgeous acoustic rendition, and an Electronic remix. Framed romantically, it’s a graceful kiss-off to the past and an embrace of what the future has to offer. The song falls within the broader theme of her catalogue: love can be exhilarating and it can also be deflating, but our personal emotions are always valid as we grow forward. It’s a deeply resonant central theme, one that will leave a stronger impression as M’ax keeps bettering her craft and her listener base increases.
Msimisi
Msimisi is a South African singer and songwriter born and raised in the kingdom of Eswatini but his love for music has afforded him the freedom to broaden his sonic horizons. After one listen of his growing discography, the first thing you’ll notice is his deep raspy voice, which he sings with fantastic pitch control. While he began his foray into music almost a decade ago, he’s actually been interested in music since he was a young boy and singing in his church’s choir. Artists such as Cassper Nyovest, Black Coffee, 6lack, Khalid, and more inspire the music with her, and in addition, people like Chimamanda Ngozi, Kevin Hart, and Gordon Ramsay also inspire him with the way they changed the world with a revolutionised art or skill.
Msimisi began making music in 2011 when he had the opportunity to work with artists such as Soul Candi and Dj Qness on a song titled “Everything”. The catchy number went on to garner success from around his home country as it got major rotations and plays on the radio and tv stations at the time of its release. He then went on a hiatus from music for a couple of years to focus on his education and successfully obtained a degree in Industrial Engineering. A few years later, Msimisi made his return to music and since then, the sky has been the limit. He’s since gone on to produce alongside several well-known South African rappers such as Nasty C and Tellaman as well as working on a project called “Lift as you rise” with Redbull SA. His biggest hit to date is “Zumbu”featuring Sands, an earworm track that finds the rapper treading outside his comfort zone and exploring an unfamiliar sound accentuated with a rich array of melodies. This year, Msimisi has been busy expanding the world around his music. Earlier, he released his EP titled ‘Obsessions’, a 7-track R&B offering that touched on topics such as love and longing. The Hanna-assisted “Get Right”was one of the project’s highlights showing off the singer’s sweet-sounding voice and his matured pen game.
When asked what message his music conveys, he doesn’t hesitate to take a concrete standpoint as to how down-to-earth he is with his sound. “I push to convey authenticity and vulnerability through my music, as there are so many fakes out there. Honesty is key when telling my story. As the world evolves, so does my sound and music”. Tap on now before it’s too late.
Moyoswrld
For some, the lockdowns of the past year were a blessing in disguise. While it was a tough time for many of us, it also seemed to have produced some of the finest musical talents from all over the continent and the world at large. At the start of 2020, Nigerian-born US-based multi-genre artist, Moyoswrld barely had a single to her name, but before the year ran out, she’d gone on to release over three singles. She first debuted on the scene with a studio freestyle title “BOOM”, a bouncy track that gained traction on both TikTok and Instagram at the time of its release. The song ended up garnering over 300,000 streams across all platforms, a move that definitely showed her penchant for commanding attention with ease. As a Gen Z artist operating in today’s industry, Moyoswurld has stayed ahead by sticking to her own distinct style of music which allows her to fire off lines that fit perfectly within the experiences of young African Gen Z’s today.
While she allows herself a lot of creative licenses to spit off these rapid-fire verses, she never strays too far from the places and experiences that define the young adult life that many of us are now making sense of. The 21-year old rapper and singer has an unquestionable voice that draws listeners in with each world she enunciates. Drawing from elements of different genres such as Alternative, Hip-Hop, R&B, Afrobeat, and more to create a style that is entirely idiosyncratic, Moyoswurld’s music constantly meets the demand for something new, fresh and with the times. Her second official single “It’s Alright” is a more mid-tempo offering where Moyoswurld momentarily drops the melodic rap to show off her impressive singing skills. Over the breezy guitar and delectable drums, she sings ‘I’m not trying to settle down/You’re not trying to hear me out/Why you tryna stress me out?’ speaking directly to a muse who she’s currently having communication issues with. The message on “It’s Alright” is fairly still the same as her first single, but this time around, Moyoswrld melds her voice, adapting to a lighter flow that would help her convey the song’s weighty message. It’s always endearing when an artist–particularly a newcomer–is able to straddle different genres and soundscapes with ease. Despite her ability to wear many faces, Moyoswrld makes music that is beautiful and emotionally layered.
Since then, the singer and rapper has continued to show her enviable flow in a string of subsequent releases including “Kit Kat” which was officially released in October last year. Here, she returns back to the off-the-cuff rapping skills that first endeared her to listeners. “She got two twins, so I told her make it clap/Tryna get a piece of that kitty kitty kat” she quips over the song’s bouncy production as she lays down her sensual desires for a muse. With each new release, it’s like Moyoswurld reinvents herself, morphing with whichever beat she has in front of her and making melodies that are front and centre on everything she does. Her inspiringly firm sense of self ensures that she’s inserting more of that Moyoswurld charm into each of her releases so that listeners are receiving something otherworldly each time she steps to the mic. Earlier in the month, the Alternative hip-hop artist released her single, “Supersonic”, a fast-tempo tune on which the artist hypes herself up without holding back. Alongside her music, she’s also founded a collective called the Butterfly Brigade, a group of African Creatives as well as a fashion brand aiming to bridge the gap between music, fashion and progressiveness. With all these, Moyoswrld continues to prove why she deserves your time (and your ears).
Bonj
At present, South Africa is home to one of the most globally resonant music genres, Amapiano, however, regardless of Amapiano’s vaunt to popularity, a number of other genres still continue to produce artists of the highest standards in the country. Rising singer, Bonj, is among a crop of musicians making alt-pop music that is a melding of all the popular sounds brewing in South Africa without bowing to strict genre constrictors. Whether softly floating over tempered house instrumentals or helming anthemic offerings, there is an unshakeable feeling of grooviness that underpins all that the Soweto-born singer does musically.
Her first steps as a musician were taken when she moved to Cape Town to study jazz at the University of Cape Town where she was the lead singer of a band called TheCITY. After moving back to Johannesburg in 2017, she began a solo career, releasing “Til The Tide” in 2018 to critical acclaim. The intervening years have been spent soaking up life experiences and perfecting her craft while working on her debut solo material resulting in her in ‘A Journal’, the seven-track extended play that she describes as “an audio diary of experiences I had, people I’d met, things I’d done, places I’d been to.”
The music lives up to its thematic premise, 2t56with snapshots of stories from her years leading up to the project but beckons for a better world. On the project opener, “Ain’t It True”, Bonj chooses to believe in the best of humanity, sing-asking: “what will it take for you to realise that we’re all the same?” Her agile voice carries the intent of her message powerfully on the DJ Zinhle-featuring “Against The Grain” where she sings about being a companion for her loved ones even through the toughest time, buoyed by a funky four-on-the-floor pattern, the opening stretch of “Against The Grain” heaves into a sunlit declaration of her affection. Near the end of A Journal, Bonj slips into the sort of brooding, experimental pop music that has risen in popularity over the last five years and she maintains the balance with assiduous songwriting on tracks like “Hangover” and “Shivers,” proving that she is attuned to diverse vibrations of music.
Featured image credits/NATIVE
Written by Ada Nwakor, Adewojumi Aderemi, Dennis Ade-Peter, Tami Makinde, Wale Oloworekende and Wonu Osikoya
More than most people, the team at The NATIVE knows that the sheer scope of music available to us at this exact moment in human history is mind-numbing but our goal is still the same as always: we don’t want exciting music to be slept on. That’s where our Songs of the Day column comes in. We try to keep our fingers on the pulse of music from across the continent and beyond, bringing you exciting songs from talented musicians who are continuously trying to bounds of artistry with their music.
Last Friday, we had Fireboy DML’s first solo single post-Apollo, as well as a heartwarming collaboration between British-Nigerian Dave and Afropop icon Wizkid. Today’s editions has exciting music from Port Harcourt-bred singer and producer, 1da Banton, Ajebo Hustlers, and some genre-meshing sweetness from British producer and singer, Ragz Originale. Tap in.
Ragz Originale ft. Knucks and Lady Donli – “No Doubt”
North London-born singer and producer, Ragz Originale, has played a key role in the renaissance of grime music over the last half-decade, producing three songs on Skepta’s critically-acclaimed 2016 album, ‘Konnichiwa’. But on his solo material, the singer has explored a more melodic side to his music, diverging from the grit of grime with mellow singing based on solipsistic reflection as explored on 2018’s Nature. His latest song, “No Doubt,” is a sensual burner expressing his desire to be with a love interest, featuring rapper, Knuck and Nigerian singer, Lady Donli, who delightfully sings the line, “he’s never been with a Naija girl.”
1da Banton – “Original Vibe Machine”
For the last 18 months, the sweet melodies of Port Harcourt have established a presence in the high courts of Nigerian pop. Very few embody the city’s ethos like 1da Banton does. The singer-producer helped craft Ajebo Hustlers’ breakout single “Barawo,” and on his debut album, ‘Original Vibe Machine’, he comes into his own as an artist, flowing nimbly on songs like “Sekkle Down” and “No Wahala.” Collaborations like “No Sleeping” with Zlatan show 1da’s ability to lean into the world of the others without losing the core of his artistry.
Vector, Khaligraph Jones, Dip Doundou Guiss and Ashs The Best – “Crown Of Clay Remix”
Back in March, Nigerian rap icons, M.I. Abaga and Vector squashed their long-standing beef with the Pheelz-featuring “Crown of Clay”. Four months later, the song is receiving a cross-continental remix featuring Kenyan rapper, Khaligraph Jones as well as francophone artists Dip Doundou Guiss and Ashs The Best. The song’s guests definitely bring a fierce urgency to the remix, referencing black greatness and Zamunda while matching Vector’s verse about Nigeria’s servicemen.
Ajebo Hustlers – “Bus Stop”
Ajebo Hustlers spent much of last year being cast as conscientious voices thanks to the potent messaging of “Barawo” that touched on the dangers of jungle justice and the wider decay in society.
The duo’s debut album, ‘Kpos Lifestyle Vol. 1’, aims to offer a more panoramic view of them. Here, we see the duo in a new light as they show their proficiency in serenading love interests and soundtracking social justice movements. Album opener, “Bus Stop,” sees some of that mellow singing as Piego and Knowledge take turns declaring that they are ready to commit to long-term relationships while spicing things up with sprinklings of their Port Harcourt cadence.
Ogranya & WondaMagik – “Carribeana”
Ogranya’s incredibly prolific streak continues with the release of “Carribeana” featuring his creative partner, WondaMagik. The mid-tempo jam is an ode to never being forgotten as the singers try to ensure they are long ingrained in the mind of their lovers. The first song off Wonda’s forthcoming project ‘Chronicles of Magik II’, “Carribeana” tunnels into feelings of attachment that both singers explore delicately over minimalist production.
Powpeezy – “Lagos Party”
While drill hasn’t necessarily been fully established in Nigeria, the seeds for its emergence are being laid by a determined crop of artists who, in homage to the origins of the Chicago-pioneered sub-genre, are directly layering their life experiences over the ominous beats. Powpeezy has been steady with drill-influenced drops since the last quarter of 2020 and the video for his latest single, “Lagos Party,” documents the raucous energy of a night out on the city as he tries to get lit while referencing pop culture mainstays like demon time and shutdowns without going offbeat.
We may be in the thick of the summertime on paper but in reality, it doesn’t exactly feel like summer in Lagos. For one, vaccine passports may be in full swing but the threat of the Delta variant and its ensuing lockdowns and restrictions are looming in the air. For another, it’s raining season here in Lagos and the weather is less than satisfactory at the moment. This is not the hot girl summer that we were promised. Although there aren’t any major concerts or shows right now due to the pandemic, the clubs and lounges here are still going crazy as always but I mean, it’s Lagos anyway so nothing new there.
It’s NYSC camp season again and I’m not feeling very enthusiastic about it. I just graduated a year ago and so, it’s time for me to also obey the clarion call and serve my country or whatever. I can’t help but feel nervous as the day draws closer because I’ve heard horror stories about NYSC camps in this country and I refuse to have a similar experience. From waking up at 4:30 am to early morning marching and showering in public spaces, it’s giving me high school PTSD all over again and I’m definitely not looking forward to any of that.
For this week’s Hot Takes, I’ll be taking the reins to work you through some of the most important cultural conversations happening at the moment. With the summer days rolling in and reality shows popping up at the second, you know I had to weigh in on the latest season of Big Brother Season 6. I also dish about the latest from Netflix who have just launched a new games network on their platform, the potential case between Kai Collective vs Fendi, the Olympics 2020, and much more. Enjoy.
What I’m currently listening to:
If you thought Afropop couldn’t grow any further, then this year, you’re in for a surprise. Music on the continent is growing at an exponential rate with new releases popping up every minute. One of the best parts of the year has been watching Sarz work with and partner with Afropop artists still making a name for themselves. He did it with Lojay a few months ago and now, he’s hit back with ‘Sweetness’, a 4-tracker that ruminates on love, life, sex, and more in collaboration with British-Nigerian singer, Obongjayar.
As the title suggests, the tape is literally savoury and saccharine in every sense of the word. The 14-minute listen is honestly the easiest thing to consume and enjoy and it’ll have you running it back in loops all day. I’m definitely also hooked on Jaylon and Azanti’s new single “Firedncr” (Help I’m currently listening to it lol). Apex Village’s latest member, Azanti made his way into the music scene just last year and already, I’m his biggest fan and I’m rooting for him to win. The kid has so much potential, he may be quite young but he’s already acting as a pop rookie with veteran tendencies. I’m a lover of good harmonies and romance (haha) so this is definitely for me. It’s a very smooth listen and it’s catchy as hell with replay value. Of course, Jaylon went crazy on the production as well, as the reverb on this beat just does what needs to be done. Together, the union of Jaylon’s melodious production and Azanti’s harmonies sounds like a welcome friend. Tap in below.
What I’m currently watching:
Well, I’m not really a cinephile so I’m not watching anything right now. However, I just finished watching this South African Netlix series called ‘Jiva’, all thanks to Tami. She recommended this a while back and I took time to watch it over the weekend and I must say, it wasn’t bad at all. It’s a street dance series about a South African girl who has a passion for dance and making it big in her country. However, she has to put her career on the side to cater to her family when her mother becomes indisposed. She finally decided to face her fears and choose herself which was basically her chasing her dreams and choosing dance, neglecting family objections. South Africans seem to be doing the thing with their movies right now and I’m loving it. I’m definitely going to be on SA Netflix more because I seem to enjoy their series a lot.
Big Brother Naija Is Back
It’s that time of the year again. Following the conclusion of the BBNaija Lockdown season reunion a few weeks ago, the arena is open once again and the new contestants for BBNaija Season 6 have been introduced to us, the ever-nosy viewers. This season, there are 22 housemates in the house with 11 men and 11 women out to win the cash prize and the famed title of the BBNaija winner. While last season definitely garnered incredible fanfare due to its boisterous housemates and all the drama, this year’s season comes with a new twist: wildcards.
At the Sunday opening ceremony, Ebuka, the show’s longtime host announced that this ‘Shine Ya Eye’ season would feature two wildcards amongst the housemates. The housemates were asked to get better acquainted with one another and figure out the wildcards amongst them. If they were able to, the wildcards would be dropped immediately from the show. However, if they were unsuccessful, then the wildcards would be free to remain in the show and compete for the cash prize. This has definitely been a welcome twist and it’s put a spin on the BBNaija franchise which has successfully run for the past five seasons.
This year’s season is also sponsored by ABEG – a peer-to-peer platform that enables users to request money from another Abeg user on their contact list. It is marketed as a brand for millennials which bypasses the stress and hefty fees of local bank transfers. The app which launched back in 2019 is actually a product of leading FinTech company, PiggyVest and associate sponsor Patricia – Crypto made easy. According to sources (don’t ask, I won’t tell), it costs roughly about $2 million to be a headline sponsor for a show like BBNaija which sums up to about 1billion Naira. That’s a bit insane if you ask me seeing as the selection is always tight for this spot due to the vast number of players competing and bidding for the headline title. Alongside Abeg, there’s also a number of new and returning sponsors this year including Pepsi, Guinness, Boomplay, Dano, Close Up, Airtel, Innoson Motors, Darling, and more.
The season has been off to a good start and it’s been quite entertaining to witness it all unfold these past few days. As always, there are so many different characters and personalities in the house and I’m excited to see how this season pans out. However, if you want to know where I stand, I’m rooting for a female winner this season #TeamAngel.
Kai Collective Vs Fendi
The fashion industry seems to be stuck in a creative rut. Yet again, Fisayo Longe’s famous Gaia print has been replicated by a brand, however, this time around the culprit is the international fashion house, Fendi. Following the previous cease and desist order issued by Fisayo Longe to fast fashion behemoth, Boohoo, it seems that brands are still replicating the Gaia print which is protected by copyright law in the UK and the US.
In a tweet shared by CEO and Founder Kai Collective, Fisayo Longe’s page, the fashion designer and influencer shed more light on the gross replication of the Gaia print. Placing images of the orange Gaia print and an orange print featured on Fendi’s Resort 2022 Collection side-by-side on her timeline, she was able to stoke the embers of conversation in her favour. The similarities between the two prints were clear as day for all to see.
While the Italian fashion house are yet to comment on this error, Fisayo has already made it known that she will be seeking legal action and redress if the prints were to be sold in the UK and US, the two places where the Gaia print is currently registered under exclusive trademark laws. It is yet to be seen what would come of this case, however, we’re not a fan of bullies here at the NATIVE and to witness a huge international brand piggyback off the hard work of a Black-owned Nigerian brand is truly sinister.
This will neither be the first nor the last time that fashion will borrow inspiration from other lesser-known brands but when this inspiration treads lines closer to flat-out copying and forging, then there is a huge problem that needs to be addressed immediately. Kai collective has risen to become a fashion powerhouse in their own right and they deserve to have something that is distinctively theirs and attracting returning customers. Already, she’s made the most out of a shit situation and gone ahead to officially release the orange print Gaia in one-of-a-kind robe sets and more. Go show some love and get yourself a pair here.
Kai Collective Orange Gaia (June 2020) and Fendi Resort 2022 (July 2021). Black women continue to be the blueprint. I see you, Kim Jones. You might not want to release these items in the UK and US because the print is protected and you will be receiving a cease & desist for sure. pic.twitter.com/KJFA4ACs0q
Netflix Is Introducing Video Games on The Platform
Netflix, one of the streaming behemoths of this decade is planning its expansion beyond film and entertainment. Announced recently, it seems that the media giant will be delving into the world of video games and virtual reality. The streaming giant recently hired Mark Verdu, a former Electronic Arts Inc. and Facebook Inc. executive to lead it into this new frontier. The new virtual reality platform follows the company’s recent efforts to provide choose your own adventure style interactive films such as 2018’s ‘Bandersnatch’.
The games will appear alongside current fare as a new programming genre, similar to what Netflix did with documentaries or stand-up specials. According to official reports, the games will be primarily accessible and played on mobile devices, though they may eventually migrate to TVs as well. This move is also inspired by the company’s significant dip in subscribers over the past year. A report in CNBC also states that subscribers in the U.S. and Canada declined by 400,000 in the second quarter, a sign the business may be reaching a near-term saturation point.
Speaking about the move, Netflix’s chief operating officer shared: “We think the time is right to learn more about how our members value games,” the company said in its quarterly earnings release — but also says it expects to be in gaming for the long haul. “This is a core part of our subscription offering.”
Over the weekend, the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony took place. In its usual fashion, it was broadcast on television stations around the world including the NBC broadcast. While conversations leading up to the Olympics have definitely been rife, this year’s opening ceremony drew 16.7 million viewers the smallest US television audience for the event in 33 years, according to preliminary data.
According to reports, the Tokyo opener’s TV audience declined by 37% from 2016, when 26.5 million people watched the Rio de Janeiro Games opener, and 59% from 2012, when 40.7 million people watched the London ceremony. It was the lowest audience for the opening ceremony since the 1988 Seoul Games, which attracted 22.7 million TV viewers. According to the president of the LHB Sports, Media, and Entertainment, “The TV ratings are down more than anticipated,” said Lee Berke. Between the lack of a live audience, the move to streaming and the ongoing dropouts of key competitors due to COVID, all of it seems to have a negative impact.”
I’m not too shocked at the low numbers this year. I, myself, didn’t tune into the broadcast over the weekend and only glanced at the games in passing since it began. It just doesn’t feel the same anymore. There was a time when we were younger that these games would have elicited so much joy in us as we watched world-class athletes take centre stage and win games for their respective countries.
However, that excitement is clipped this year by the fact that international sports games continue to uphold archaic rules and punish Black women much harshly than others. This year alone, we’ve seen the constant piling on women such as Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, Simon Biles, Sha’carri Richardson and more, who have been treated unfairly by sports governing bodies and had their mental and physical wellbeing disregarded. I can’t help but shake these feelings and I’m sure it’s affected my willingness to watch the games. I don’t know if I’ll be tuning in later but for now, it’s F word the Olympics.
I don’t cook, I don’t clean and I also don’t want this ring
By Adewojumi Aderemi
Years ago, Nigeria’s hardly beloved President Buhari came out with a horrifyingly inappropriate statement “my wife belongs to my kitchen, my living room and the other room.” Not even giving Mrs Aisha Buhari ownership or even shared ownership of these domestic spaces, Buhari – for once – reflected popular Nigerian sentiments that a woman’s purpose is to tend to and care for men, and their offspring. Around the same time as the President’s incendiary comments, Beyonce was beckoning right-minded women into “Formation”. After seeing this hilarious video of Beyonce explaining why she doesn’t cook, this is where you’ll find me.
Starting on Twitter and ending up on Instagram, as always, a throwback video of Beyonce describing her kitchen traumas sparked conversation over the web about women’s domesticity. “Every time I try to cook it’s disastrous,” Beyonce says after describing how the ice from her frozen chips mixing with oil caused the pan to pop; “I thought I was gon’ burn the house down.” With enough money to not have to cook to survive, Beyonce is living the life I can only imagine. Eating out, hiring a chef, having a laundry person and a cleaner, these are the luxuries I aspire to, but in these parts, I’m made to feel like feeding and cleaning the family are my duties and my responsibilities… as a future wife. I reject it in Jesus’ name.
It has been said often that Western ideals are corrupting our youth, with many citing secular music as a particularly poor influence. But have the elderly considered that traditional values are imprisoning capitalistic tools? And songs that praise our wet ass pussies, unifying anthems of liberation and empowerment, and not chants of to cult-initiation or defilement?
On the wholly controversial “WAP” Cardi B espoused the iconic bars, “I don’t cook, I don’t clean, but let me tell you how I got this ring.” Summarising my proudly lazy personality in two sentences, Cardi B’s rejection of traditional gender roles is every bit of me. I don’t have much ass to shake but my hands do flail about in the air in solidarity… until she gets to the bit about her ring.
Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of attending my dear aunty’s book launch (buy here). In one of his introductions, the master of ceremony confidently announced to the congregation that a woman is not complete without a husband. Much to the offense of all the single ladies, this dogma is heavily purported throughout Nigeria – and even still globally – resulting in miserable pairings and unjust compromises for women. From ‘Lemonade’ to Toke Makinwa’s ‘On Becoming’, whilst many women, and men, in society are accepting the fact that women are so much more than homemakers, there is still a general consensus that we should have a home, with a man. The expectations of domesticity might be waining, but heterosexual marriage is still being presented as the pinnacle of female existence. I’m sorry (not sorry) but having ‘l-o-v-e-d’ two men, coming out barely breathing, marriage is decidedly not on my agenda.
So, tell those 30+ aunties I’m a bad bitch – sorry Cardi, Bey. I’ll cook for myself only (cos I love food and I gotta eat), I won’t lift a finger with the cleaning and if I only ever fall in love with myself, it’ll be the happily-est ever after, ever.
Kida Kudz’s trajectory is as peculiar as it is inspiring. Over a decade ago, he captured the eyes, hearts and imagination of many young Nigerians with his impressionable approach to rapping and his eccentric fashion sense. Those attributes earned him his win at the second edition of the Peak Talent Show, but the ensuing fanfare took a while to gestate into his currently enjoyed high-flying music career. After a few minor hits in the immediate years, he relocated to the UK where he found himself as an artist and later came into his own in the second half of the decade.
These days, Kida operates on a peculiar lane of the Afropop bridge that spans from Lagos to London. His gruffy, distinct voice and knack for memorable flows have earned him a dedicated set of listeners who recognise the uniqueness of his sound, which he famously dubbed Afro-Swank. Based in the UK, with frequent visits to Nigeria, Kida has managed to establish his presence in his home country and in the diaspora, connecting across seas with his catchy fusion of Afro-Fusion and Rap music.
Early last year, Kida released his debut full project, ‘Nasty’, where he presented his distinctive sonic alchemy across 10-tracks, including the instantly memorable “1AM.” In the following, pandemic-riddled months, he remained prolific as ever with multiple single drops and several guest appearances. He closed out the year with the 3-track tape, ‘Jiggy Pack Vol. 1’, with promises of a new full-length sometime this year.
After months of build-ups and single releases, Kida’s ‘Top Memba’ graced the public this past Friday. With a panel that consists of most of the guys on the NATIVE‘s editorial team, below are our first impressions of Kida’s new tape.
Best Song
Rahman: It has to be “Animalistic” for me. On this track, Kida tells us how he should not be looked down upon and how he is going to take what is his whether it is handed to him or not. He also gives off this contagious dose of confidence that we hear in his lyrics.
Wale: I’d go with “Cherry Mango.” I like that Kida is unhurried here, and that languid pace just works for me. There’s also a nice texture to his voice while his verse just flows naturally over the mid-tempo instrumental. The instances when Made’s saxophone grace the track are also gorgeous. So many times, when Afrobeat artists are called on for afro-fusionist songs, it’s usually hyper-pop, so this was a nice one.
Dennis: For me, it’s a tight call between “Cherry Mango” and “Never Saw Us.” The former intrigued me immediately when I saw the tracklist, mainly because Kida and Made Kuti isn’t a combo I ever thought would happen. The chemistry isn’t through the roof but, between Kida’s version of romantic cooing and Made’s warm saxophone, it’s cordial enough to make “Cherry Mango” a standout. I like “Never Saw Us” because it’s a little more profound than we’re used to getting from Kida, he’s aware of his surroundings with relation to being a father and a young black man. It’s not the deepest, most introspective song you’ll hear, but it’s quite affecting—a description I never thought I’d use for Kida’s music.
Best Guest Feature
Shina: Love almost all the features on the album, even the one I didn’t understand a word of because it was sung in Spanish. But the one that really stands out for me is Tanika’s feature. On “Nobody” she’s soothing, adding the necessary backups when needed. Her and Kida have great chemistry on this one and it’s the same to say with the feature on Kida’s previous album, Nasty. It wouldn’t hurt to listen to a joint project from the two.
Dennis: I have a very strong Made Kuti bias, so I’m very tempted to name him here. The way his sax sails around on “Cherry Mango” is simply captivating. At the same time, though, I think Tanika significantly elevates “Nobody.” They collaborated on Nasty, so it’s safe to say Kida really loves working with the singer and it’s understandable considering their complementary energy on both songs. Apart from a quick bridge towards the end of the song, Tamika mainly functions as a vocal foil to match Kida’s melody on the hook. She doesn’t command too much airspace, but she simply makes everything better with each slinky purr.
Best Lyrics
Wale: There was a line from “Animalistic” where Kida says, “shey you know Jesus Christ was a black man?” It doesn’t make sense in the wider context of the verse but it just struck me as quixotic because it appeals to my desire for the radical deconstruction of religion. At the same time, it is also banal because the colour of the salvation figure doesn’t matter to most [African] people – I think – they just want something to follow. So even if Jesus was black, it just is a song flex at the end of the day. Probably need to rant about this in my journal.
Shina: My favourite song on this album is the pre-released single, “Animalistic” and I have a lot of favourite lines from this song, but I’ll say “Jumbo when I blow my medicine” is my favourite just to answer the question asked. As funny and pretentious as this might sound, this line interprets to me as ‘go heavy on self-care.’
Rahman: There is a part on the song “Never saw us” where he says, “chasing that bag till I pull my hamstring”. I feel like that’s a top 10 line easily. I mean he has to chase the bag till he physically can not. So no matter what the situation may be, keep chasing the bag.
Overall first impression
Dennis: Kida Kudz has struck me as the quintessential streaming era artist in the last few years, with a prolific style better suited to sporadic single drops. ‘Top Memba’doesn’t change that impression, it’s a collection of good bops and not necessarily a project with high stakes. There are really not that many stylistic tweaks: The songwriting values exuberant hooks, and the beat selection is still very rooted in Afropop and Afro-Swing dalliances. It does have some good replay value, I breezed through on back-to-back listens without feeling fatigued, that’s a big positive in my books. ‘Top Memba’ is Kida’s way of reminding us of how well he’s settled into his own Rap corner within the larger context of Afrobeats.
Wale: I need to sit with it more. I can’t lie. Aside from a couple of songs here and there, I’m not fully convinced. But I do see what he was going for. I don’t want to say the mid-tempo template but it is what it is. From my first like 5 plays of the album, I’ll say 5.5; will definitely go higher with more plays.
The vast majority of Afropop’s intentions hinges on evoking a feel-good atmosphere. While the sounds that make up the urban landscape across the continent are wildly diverse, there’s an emphasis, especially on the mainstream level, for artists to imbue their music with a fun-filled energy. Perhaps no other stakeholder understands this ethosnbetter than the DJs who serve as curators, conduits and everything in between, linking the music with audiences often on a visceral level.
Cameroon-born, Abidjan-based DJ Jeune Lio is extremely conversant with the relationship that binds groovy African music and its immediate consumers. He emerged as one of the driving forces behind the La Sunday parties in Ivory Coast’s capital city, which grew its attendance from a few dozens to 10,000 people in less than a year, culminating into a colossal festival with two stages and a roster of DJs from around the continent and beyond. While the coronavirus pandemic temporarily shuttered La Sunday, it’s afforded Jeune Lio the creative time to expand his output in a way that emboldens his ambitions.
Around this time Last year, he collaborated with serial Cameroonian hit-maker Magasco for his debut single, “My Love,” a delightful ode to being love-struck. He’d follow-up with a few more singles over the course of 2020, each ticking the rhythmic and melodic boxes associated with modish, mid-tempo Afropop. Those singles brought his budding A&R skills to bear, especially on the standout “SGFA (Sexy Girl from Abidjan)” which combined Oxlade’s helium falsetto, Didi B’s sturdy raps, and Chrystel’s otherworldly croon. Building on the gains from these single drops, Jeune Lio’s recent debut project, ‘A Night in Cocody’, is an impressively curated set that hinges on familiar thematic concepts for the DJ.
Evident in its title, ‘A night inCocody’ moves through the nocturnal adventure of partying, with an emotional undercurrent that gives it substance and warmth. The setting is important to fully grasp Jeune Lio’s motive and appreciate the music: Cocody is an upscale part of Abidjan, home to the sort of affluence fitting for a memorable nightlife experience. The palpable events that make up the 8-song set are universal, but there’s an extra compelling edge due to its positional specificity. The project moves through physical attraction, lustful tensions from grazing body parts, and the possibility of romantic entanglements, basically what you’d associate with hitting the streets at night.
Unlike M.I Abaga’s ‘Rendezvous’, a similar-minded concept project, there are no set characters, just scenarios where listeners can see themselves and interpretation is loose. That all of it takes place during a night in Cocody is the only thing Jeune Lio, with the help of his collaborators, is rigid about. The project’s beginning half is its most consistent, tonally, with the first three songs—all mid-tempo bops—produced by Port Harcourt-based polymath Veen, and setting up the part of the narrative for the rest of the project.
Opener “Test Me,” with its soft bounce and sax drizzles, pairs Chrystel and Ghanaian singer Yung D3mz to personify the entry points of a conversation where both parties tease each other out. Following the Lekr-assisted, blue-eyed title track, “Midnight Crush” signifies—to use a cultural colloquial—the “boo’d up” point, where Magasco’s tenor gently collides with Soukeïna’s siren harmonies. As pivotal as it is within the project’s narrative, it’s also consequential for historic reasons: Soukeïna is the daughter of Ivorian Reggae great Alpha Blondy, whose 1980s hit “Cocody” is arguably the most popular immortalisation of Abidjan’s urban area. Considering the sequential curation of ‘A Night in Cocody’, this detail doesn’t seem coincidental on Jeune Lio’s path, a minor but significant marker of his curatorial abilities.
The middle to latter parts of the project are far more visceral, with sonic choices solely made for losing yourself to dance. “The Call,” featuring the lively chants of protégé Diane Dddd, is bathed in the green-yellow-red sheen of Caribbean Pop, while lead single “Encore (zo)” is an up-tempo banger that somehow marries Soukous with the recognisable bounce of Nigerian street Pop. This section of the project mirrors that point during the night where flirting evolves into fun, with a sly nod to the complexities and differences in relational situations when two people have decidedly cut a corner on the dancefloor.
“We only got one night, we got to do this right,” Chrystel sings in the hook of her solo appearance on “Trust,” but she also proclaims a willingness to ride for this person towards the song’s end. The seeming incongruity is a reminder that Eros situations on a night out can be ephemeral or long-term, depending on the two people involved. It’s also a reminder that dancefloors aren’t restricted to deepening the infatuation between people who were strangers a few hours before. On cue, ‘A Night in Cocody’ closes out on a wistful tone with the Amapiano-influenced “Forever,” featuring Cameroonian singer Stanley Enow evoking early morning bliss with a partner.
Looking through his cast of collaborators that cuts across Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Ghana, and Nigeria, there’s a tangible conceit that Jeune Lio fancies himself as a burgeoning pan-African connector, especially between the Anglophone and Francophone countries in the West and Central region of the continent. It’s a position that definitely needs some filling, considering the controversial discussion on the dominance of Nigerian music in Cameroon and the current, relatively sparse collaborations between these countries, in comparison to the frequent link-ups between Nigeria and Ghana, and the South.
By now, it goes without saying that Jeune Lio positions himself as an ambassador for Abidjan, flaunting it as a potential hotspot for Afropop activities on a continental scale. “Lagos for me is the number one place for African music,”he told Pan-African Music earlier this year. “But Abidjan is going to catch up because there is a new rap-ivoire scene that is on the rise, and the music scene is becoming more professional.” It’s a noble mission, and A Night in Cocody is excellent proof that Jeune Lio is committed to playing his part.
For some, the lockdowns of the past year were a blessing in disguise. While it was a tough time for many of us, it also seemed to have produced some of the finest musical talents from all over the continent and the world at large. At the start of 2020, Nigerian-born US-based multi-genre artist, Moyoswrld barely had a single to her name, but before the year ran out, she’d gone on to release over three singles. She first debuted on the scene with a studio freestyle title “BOOM”, a bouncy track that gained traction on both TikTok and Instagram at the time of its release. The song ended up garnering over 300,000 streams across all platforms, a move that definitely showed her penchant for commanding attention with ease. As a Gen Z artist operating in today’s industry, Moyoswurld has stayed ahead by sticking to her own distinct style of music which allows her to fire off lines that fit perfectly within the experiences of young African Gen Z’s today.
