2022 is winding down, and it’s been an eventful year for Afropop. There’s been a torrent of great new music, spawning a massive stack of inventive smash-hit songs. From Highlife-infused Ghanaian pop, to the unrelenting force that is Nigerian street-pop to South Africa’s indomitable Dance scene, to tantalising Drill explorations in East and Central Africa, and much, much more, we’re living through abundant and musically expansive times.

Every week, many songs from African artists make their way to digital streaming platforms, and wading through them can be intense. That’s where The NATIVE’s Songs of the Day column comes in to help. We go through as many new releases as possible, spotlighting them here, two to three times every week. Today, enjoy new music from Black Sherif, Larry Gaaga, The Cavemen, and more. Lock in!

Larry Gaaga & Black Sherif – “Letter From Overseas”

Vulnerability is a major part of Black Sherif’s music and on the new Larry Gaaga-assisted record “Letter From Overseas,” the rapper displays this once again with bleeding sincerity. Over the up-tempo production, he spits a blazing soliloquy about his current mental state, transposing in his own way, a letter he would write a letter to a loved one from his home base in Ghana. On the chorus, he chants “this is my letter from overseas, I am doing good/Just pray for me and I’ll keep it moving,” his vocal pitch almost identical with his speaking voice.

The Cavemen – “Adaugo”

The Cavemen are preaching the message of community and Highlife. After rounding up 2021 ‘Love And Highlife,’ the music making duo opened the year by contributing their smooth and assuring timbre on a number of Afropop records including “Kokose” with Toyin Ores and bagging a feature on Johnny Drille’s ‘Home EP.’ Now, the Highlife duo have returned with their second official single of the year titled, “Adaugo.” The record sees the duo at their most relaxed as the drums and claps on her production sets a fine pace for the record. The romantic new track finds them imploring with a lover for her steadfast commitment and love: “If I say let’s go, tell me would you go, Adaugo,” they chant over the catchy chorus.

Maleek Berry – “My Way”

In 2016, Maleek Berry made his mark on the scene when he released his debut EP, ‘Last Daze Of Summer’ which captivated audiences for its amped-up jams and romantic numbers. Now, making his return to the scene after taking a 2-year hiatus from releasing any solo material, the South London singer and record producer is here with new uptempo romantic tune “My Way.” Latching on to the percussion-led sonics of Afropop, the new record finds Maleek Berry directly addressing a lover who he wishes to show his commitment. Sampling a classic R&B number “If You Had My Love,” by Jennifer Lopez, the romantic number provuides Maleek Berry the ample space to fire off his romantic intentions with lyrics such as “Shawty swing my way, and maybe we’ll fly away/I don’t have plans to lose you baby.” 

ShineTTW – “Designer”

Newcomer ShineTTW made his debut on the scene with the sweet-sounding “No Religion” which garnered him the attention of fans and audiences. Now, the singer has followed this up with his sophomore release titled “Designer.” Over the masterful production from Spellz production, ShineTTW sings about enjoying the life of a superstar to the fullest and enjoying his new levels of recognition. 

Bella Alubo – “Another Level”

After her iconic appearance on “G.O.A.T.” featuring Ty Dollar $ign and Notorious BIG, Bella Alubo returns with another R&B infused record, “Another Level.” On the track, she sings candidly about her journey in the music scene, tracing the trajectory of her career from its inception to its current stage, where she’s enjoying the reward of years of hardwork. Over the sweet-sounding production of the track, she sings “dancing queen in her dreams, counting greens seven rings.” 

Tha Boy Myles – “Roma”

On his latest release, “Roma,” Tha Boy Myles is at his most playful and romantic with his muse. Over the melodious production of the track, he teases his love interest with sweet words of affirmation and assurance as he chants “If na money, I go spend am dey go/baby ka ma roma roma.” 

Rowlene – “Frequency” 

South African R&B singer Rowlene has arrived with a new EP titled, ‘Frequency.’ The body of work features guest verses from Oxlade and Blaqbonez and cuts across matters such as love, romance and more. On the standout record “Frequency,” she chants “Don’t matter the distance or the time/You know what’s going through my mind, I know with you my heart is safe,” expressing her deepest feelings to a love interest. 

Shalom Dubas – “Gold”

Since her debut in 2017, Shalom Dubas has been folding genres such as R&B and Hip-hop into her own unique mixture. Following the release of “Don’t Leave” earlier this year, she returns with her most recent offering, “Gold.” On the Toyin Ores production, Shalom  raps about her current phase of life, her struggles and facing them, while figuring out the woman she’s becoming. “I’m 24 and still trying to figure this shit out/I seen a lot of prideful people never fall, I’m pissed,” she raps in the opening seconds of the track, boldly telling her story as it is.

Ugoccie – “Loud” ft. Niniola

After bagging a nomination for the 2022 Rookie Of The Year Award at the Headies, Ugoccie has been on a mission to push the envelope further. Earlier in the year, Ugoccie arrived with the hit record “Hookup (Onome)” and now, she’s returned with the new exciting tune “Loud.” Produced by Endeetonez, “Loud” is a catchy new track that finds Ugoccie teaming up with Niniola to deliver a powerful anthem which showcases their sonorous vocals. “Loud” is set to feature as one of the promotional tracks off her new EP which is currently in the works.

Khaid – “Amala” ft. Zlatan & Rexxie

Following the release of his debut EP ‘Diversity,’ earlier this year, afro-trap singer and uNder Khaid has teamed up with Zlatan and Rexxie for a catchy new track titled “Amala.” Produced by Rexxie, the new track contains audible influences from Amapiano’s dusty log drums and features catchy and relatable lyrics from Khaid and Zlatan who also infuse their noteworthy chemistry into the song’s accompanying visualiser.

Featured Image Credits/The NATIVE