The conversations that keep coming up during our daily newsroom more often than not revolve around platforming the music we love and the communities that surround its wider culture. Very regularly, the music that excites our team reflects The NATIVE’s vision of being a bastion of music from parts of Africa and the Black diaspora. There are exciting acts from the ever-evolving Nigerian music underground, rappers experimenting with Dance Music and Hip-Hop from South Africa, as well as emotive singers whose work blurs the boundary between Hip-Hop and R&B. 

Discovering these acts, being blown away by their skills, and sharing our community about them continues to excite us more than three years after we conceived this column as a platform to spotlight talents that represent all that’s exciting about African music. In a world where marketing budgets, ad spends, and PR placements continue to reshape the music landscape, uNder is still our way of raging against the system and spotlighting deserving acts whose works are vital to sustaining the creative spirit that makes African music indispensable. For our October entry, we have Monochrome, Esoterica, KKeda, and Y Celeb. This cohort is united by a thrilling sense of freewheeling experimentation that is sure to serve them well as their career progresses. We hope you enjoy discovering them half as much as we enjoyed listening to their music and writing about them. 

Monochrome

For Fans of: Seyi Vibez, Mavo, Danpapa GTA

A cursory glance at Monochrome’s Instagram page, and it’s pretty evident that the Abuja-born singer, songwriter and producer does not deal in subtlety. More often than not, he’s dressed in showy outfits that blend high fashion with streetwear influences, creating a visual spectacle that is captivating and, perhaps more importantly, mirrors and amplifies his equally flamboyant musical style and larger-than-life disposition. This eccentricity that courses through his music and sartorial choices has helped Monochrome, born Praise Echu, gradually emerge as one of the more exciting names to come out of the vibrant underground scene in recent months. 

Even though Monochrome only started putting out music officially in early 2024, his frequent releases have helped him quickly establish an omnivorous style that mostly mixes and mashes Western Trap influences with drum-heavy styles like Amapiano and Afropop. His first single, “PAY ME,” and the follow-up “SOBOBO,” which came two months later, are both peppy, uptempo bops that set the tone for ‘+P4R4NORM4L,’ his debut project, which arrived in April 2024. On the opening track “Je M’appelle 444,” he wastes little time making known his modus operandi as he repeatedly sings ‘Je M’appelle 444, I no come here to conform,’ over some buoyant percussion. He goes on to showcase more of his eccentric approach across the other six tracks, especially on highlights like “Dirty Diana” and “Omoge Diana.”

While most of the production on ‘+P4R4NORM4L’ was handled by close collaborator Irigo, Monochrome began to produce his own beats soon after. This hands-on approach enabled him to infuse his sound with a pronounced psychedelic edge, a characteristic that has become increasingly prominent in his more recent music. Following the release of his debut, he put out a couple of singles to maintain his growing momentum before ‘+SWAGU°,’ his sophomore project, arrived in May 2025. 

The project expands on Monochrome’s non-conformity as he seamlessly blends different styles to produce even more dynamic and compelling cuts. “NEW SWAGGA,” the opening track, is powered by some ominous synths and bouncy drums. Standouts “COMPUTER” and “BILLIE JEAN” are tailor-made for the dancefloors thanks to insistent thud of log drums, hypnotic shakers and piano rhythms, while “MIA KHALIFA,” the most downtempo offering on here, highlight just how malleable his style is as he continues to showcase what he’s all about. 

Esoterica

For Fans of: Lorde, Jorja Smith, Asa

Esoterica’s voice possesses an unmistakable power. It’s a distinctive, rich alto that she wields with expert precision, capable of soaring through complex melodies and imbuing every lyric with profound emotion. Even though the Lagos-based singer, songwriter and painter’s music does not always adhere to a set or specific style – Spotify bio describes her as an “alt-pop-grunge-surrealist indie darling” – her rousing vocals remain consistently captivating, whether she’s delivering a tender ballad or an upbeat, Pop-inspired anthem. 

After putting out several unreleased demos on social media and making a name for herself in Lagos’ underground live music circuit, she put out her official debut single “Goldmine” in June 2023. The single finds Esoterica grappling with the existential as she sings, “Feels like I’m running out of time, but I’ve been here all my life / The house is burning, but I’m doing all right, I’m doing just fine” over some haunting production courtesy of close collaborator Yosa. In an interview following the release of the single, she went into detail about the meaning behind “Goldmine”, stating that ‘I think the human mind is a goldmine, it can give you everything that you hope for in life, but you have to figure out how to access it. “

Following the release of “Goldmine,” Esoterica went months without releasing new music, but she continued uploading unreleased demos on social media and expanding her reach with a couple of noteworthy live performances across the city. The follow-up to “Goldmine” wouldn’t come until two years later, when she released the Cozy Kiyo-produced “Think I Might,” a fun, summery single that proved she’s as effective singing light, spirited jams as she is making sombre, melancholic tunes. 

Since the release of “Think I Might,” the powerhouse singer has put her foot on the gas, releasing a bunch of singles and collaborations that paint a fuller picture of her range and rich artistry. She shows off some of her rap skills alongside SGaWD on “Decisions,” while her soaring vocals take centre stage again on “She Said,” a stripped-back number that borders on vulnerability and self-acceptance. She put on an outstanding showing on “Time Of My Life,” a prominent cut from Peruzzi’s latest album ‘SABALI,’ before recently teaming up with EDM bros Spenser M and MR KENOU for a pulsating track titled “Inner Feeling.” One release at a time, Esoterica continues to establish herself as a dynamic force to be reckoned with, and with the promise of even more music to come, she’s definitely on course for wider acclaim. 

Kkeda

For Fans Of:  Tiwa Savage, Tems, and Efya

Kkeda weaves heart-tugging narratives around the motion of romance and love, examining its highs and lows with a focused clarity that has made her one of the most exciting rising acts in Afropop right now. Born in London to second-generation black British parents of Jamaican heritage, she bears the imprint of both cultures, pulling resonant rhythms from inside her as well as leaning on sticky-sweet patois in other songs. As a child, she moved to Ghana, spending a significant part of her formative years with her grandmother.  A spinal injury necessitated a return to London down the line, and during that period of her life, music became an escape, helping her to deal with life’s pressures. 

A stint at a London-based theatre school followed as Kkeda worked on sharpening facets of her performance skills. Convinced of her artistry, she once again returned to Ghana, eager to kick off her career, announcing her arrival with the chorus of “I Like It,” a soulful cut on ‘We Outside; Y3 W) Abonten Vol. 1’  by Ground Up Chale. “I Like It” planted Kkeda’s feet, introducing the world to her dexterous blend of R&B and Soul. One year later, she returned with “Cheating,” a reflection on temptations in relationships that ends with the singer reinforcing her dedication to her lover.  She further explored her fascination with romantic dynamics on songs like “Temper” and “Hopeless Romantic” from 2021. 

Her knack for enlivening collaborations was visible on “Tomorrow” off K1’s ‘Love Never Dies,’ a delicate sung-rap collaboration about the hard times in a relationship. A sultry turn on “All Night” saw the singer step into Afropop terrain over a subterranean instrumental that artfully platformed her voice. “Steady,” a textured anthem about being focused on making money was her only release from 2024. 2025 has seen her return to the love-themed releases that helped build her profile. “Love Away” is a thrilling disavowal of toxic love and relationships, while “StarSigns” finds her seeking out a fulfilling romance. 

Y Celeb

For Fans Of: Nyashinski, Sarkodie, and Focalistic

Y Celeb makes music that pays homage to the realities of life in his native Zambia. The  Kitwe-born rapper distills his perspective on wider life in the Southern Africa country into vibrant anthems that straddle Hip-Hop and Dance music. Born Webster Chikalaba, he rose to prominence in 2022 with the release of “408 Freestyle,” a collaboration with Wau China that showcased his gritty delivery and a capacity for world-building that his gravelly voice enhances. His breakout year saw him experiment with with Dance on “They Lie,” a posse cut that featured Xaven, Jae Cash, and Briyo. Other songs like “Speedo Meter,” “Mumano,” and “Ah Fenta” found the singer broadening the reach of his sound while perfecting his Dance-Rap fusion. 

The breadth of his vision came to the fore on his 2023 album, ‘Zambia Ku Chalo,’ a pulsating 21-song effort that found Y Celeb expressing pride in his Zambian identity as well as presenting his country as a place to visit. “PUSANAKO” reverbrates with that sense of pride, featuring Emmy Zambia, both acts craft a homage to the country that reimagines it as a land of peace and plenty.  Huge swathes of  ‘Zambia Ku Chalo’ are built on a framwork of Dance and Hip-Hop finding common ground in suitable fashion. RAY DEE and JC KALINIKS are a complimentary foil for Celeb’s emotive bars on “WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE,” delivering a high point that luxuriates in national pride and self-confidence. 

In the two years since,  ‘Zambia Ku Chalo,’ Y Celeb’s vision has only grown stronger. His May 2025 album, ‘MOST WANTED,’ casts him as an elusive figure who’s operating at the cutting edge of Southern African music. On “Money,” he lets off bars about  paper-chasing alongside a balmy chorus supplied by Goddy ZM. There’s an invocation to embrace the journey on “Dont Rush” and a party summons on the dance-ready “Confess.” Just months after ‘MOST WANTED,’ Celeb returned with “Ichushi,” a jaunty hip-hop cut with Smart Kays (Dope Boys) and Jay Dollar that found at his venomous best.