As the year winds down, the sheer number of music we receive at The NATIVE keeps growing at an exponential rate. With live shows back in full swing and Afropop hits such as Wizkid’s “Essence” and CKay’s “Love Nwantiti” climbing the charts both home and abroad, there has never been a more exciting time than the present for the ever-evolving sonic landscape. Through it all, we remain committed to the ideal of music discovery and sharing that is a big part of what we stand for.

That’s where our Songs of the Day column comes in. We’re doing the work to stay on pulse with all the music coming out from across the continent and beyond, bringing you exciting songs of tomorrow: today. Last time out, we had exciting music from DJ Neptune, Ruger, Blaqbonez, and more. Today, we bring to you new music from Zinoolesky, Alpha P, Bryan The Mensah and more.

Niphkeys – “Blessing” ft. Zinoleesky

Zinoleesky is a street-pop artist who wears his city on his back. On his latest release “Blessing”, he teams up with fellow Nigerian producer Niphkeys for a catchy upbeat song celebrating his journey so far. The track finds the artist showing gratitude for life and counting his blessings one at a time. On the hook of the track, he sings  “Sit down count my blessings, make I enjoy this flexing/Me I no look person oo, no stressing,” painting a picture that visualises his experiences from street-pop crooner to mainstream success.

DJames – “Whine” ft. Alpha P

After collaborating on the Masterkraft-remix to Justin Bieber’s “Peaches” with Omah Lay and releasing his first single of the year “Oh No”, Alpha P has just teamed up with DJames for a new catchy single titled “Whine”. The romantic track finds Alpha P gassing his muse about her physical appearance and her physique over mid-tempo production which fits the song’s amorous lyrics. Over the hook, he quips “Your body is so proportional, Me I wan shoot my shot when I open you four corner,“ serenading his love interest with all the right words.

BRYAN THE MENSAH – “Until I See You” ft. Titi Owusu

On Bryan’s latest album ‘Road To Hastafari’, he features a talented spate of artists from around West Africa such as Black Sherif, PsychoYP, A-Q, Titi Owusu and more. On the standout track “Until I See You”, Bryan sings from a place of hurt, as he expresses to his muse the emptiness he feels and requests that she stays by his side through it all. “Cause when I’m at the show, I make mistakes/With you my mind the whole time,” he sings optimistically, letting his lover know of her importance. 

DJ Neptune – “Abeg” ft. Omah Lay & Joeboy

Following the success of his debut album ‘Greatness’ which he released 3 years ago, the DJ and producer is back and operating on his best form. The full-length LP is a 16-tracker, which features a good number of Afropop stars. On the standout track “Abeg”, DJ Neptune links up with Omah Lay and Joeboy for a mid-tempo number which finds both artists speaking on the sudden hold their love interests have on each of them. With lyrics such as “Somebody call me the popo, I think that I am in love,” both artists are armed to the teeth with flirtatious one-liners. 

Ojahbee – “Yawa” ft Asake

Following the success of the Oxlade-assisted single “Dutty Wine”, talent manager and producer, Ojahbee is here with the Amapiano infused track titled “Yawa”. The catchy new single finds him teaming up with fellow Nigerian singer, Asake as the pair trade lyrics about the predicament they have found themselves in. “Yawa Dey, Sawa Sawa le/Fire Fire,” sings Asake over the song’s intoxicating hook while accompanied by a rich array of melodies and vivid percussion patterns.

Ruger – “Dior”

Earlier this year, Jonzing world signee, Ruger came in hot and ready for the competition with the release of his debut EP ‘Pandemic EP’. Months after he’s here with its follow-up by the way of his sophomore EP titled ‘The Second Wave’. The 4-track project finds the singer blending vibrant sounds and melodies to his will as he fires off his romantic and lustful intentions.  Standout single “Dior” is a more braggadocious track that sees the artist feeling himself and his sense of style. He quips on the hook of the track “Badman looking good in Dior, badman drip to the core”, admiring his good looks and his designer sartorial choices.

Singah – “Bumshort”

Fast-rising singer and songwriter Singah is here with his sophomore tape ‘The Moon And Back’, a 10-tracker that finds the artist speaking on matters such as self-elevation, love, romance, leveling up and more. On standout single “Bumshort”, he sings “my girl she murder, she murder when she step in the place everybody dem know/Balance it o, nonstop with your bumshort” over the bouncy production of the track, singing in detail about his muse and appreciating her physical appearance.

KIBRA- “Live Your Life”

Following the release of her sophomore EP And It Was Good last summer, Eritrean-born, Toronto-based singer, songwriter and musician KIBRA is gearing up to unveil her debut full-length album in 2022. Ahead of this, she’s shared a new single “All That” back in August and its follow-up “Live Your Life” last weekend. “Live Your Life” is an exquisite R&B-pop offering fused infused with Kibra’s East African heritage sounds. Driven by her soulful jazz-esque vocals, lush harmonies and resounding strings and drums-led soundscapes, the track sees Kibra paying homage to our ancestors that have paved the way for us to be where we are today, and calling on us all to live our lives to the fullest in response to all the work and prayers that have been put in for us.