The perfect intersection between the established acts across African music and brilliant underground acts you should be paying attention to!
“Which line, let them bring it out, has had more impact than that like on Cast,” Odumodublvck asks in a radio interview with Beat 99.9FM’s Osi Suave. “Which Hip Hop song,” he continues, “has had more cultural impact, in the last 20 years? Brother in the history of Nigerian Hip Hop, no song has had […]
5 days ago
A significant portion of Wizkid’s imminent HBO documentary Wizkid: Long Live Lagos is devoted to excavating the suffocating grief that arrived in the wake of his mother’s passing. As the documentary reveals, on the day of his historic show at the 60,000-capacity Tottenham Stadium, his mother, Morayo Balogun, was undergoing an emergency surgery. In clips […]
2 weeks ago
Despite his embattled situation, writing Wizkid off is a bit premature, he still has a huge fanbase and the talent to command rave reviews from critics.
2 months ago
To open 5ive, the poet Alhanislam recites a spoken-word commentary on the album and the man behind it. It feels a little pretentious, rooted in the same idea that drives artists to label every new project their deepest and most personal work yet. Yet some of it does have grounding in real-life events. Alhanislam hails […]
2 months ago
Last weekend, the youngest of the Uzama brothers, Osahan Uzama, more known by his moniker, Famous Pluto, joined the ranks of his brothers—Shallipopi, and Zerry DL, both fierce advocates of Benin Street Pop—with the release of his feverishly anticipated single Na Scra. Before its official release, the song had been making the rounds on TikTok, […]
4 months ago
“When I was a kid, I never thought Nigerian visuals could look this good. Now, people look to us for inspiration,” a friend messaged Anita after she shared behind-the-scenes shots from Davido’s Na Money video. “What you’re doing for Nigerian art and set design is history-making, it’s elevating the country’s prestige in ways that can’t […]
3 weeks ago
“For I think that to be beaten and to be put to death is sometimes better than to do what is wrong,” Socrates says in Plato’s Georgias. This pithy statement encapsulates the Socratic view on masculinity, which resists the Homeric obsession with honor through violence. In his day, Socrates’ single-minded focus on moral integrity as […]
3 weeks ago
After the emotional introspection of Starlight, Nigerian artist Troms returns with a fresh energy in his latest single, Think of You, a warm, heartfelt ode to love, light, and simply being. From the first beat, Think of You evokes comfort: mid-tempo drums, soft guitar riffs, and breezy melodies set the stage for Troms’ tender reflection on […]
3 weeks ago
Nigerian singer and songwriter Ric Hassani returns with his most personal and expansive project yet titled Lagos Lover Boy. This 21-track album explores the emotional terrain of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery through the lens of life in Lagos. A bold blend of soul, Afrobeats, and contemporary pop, Lagos Lover Boy is both a musical and […]
3 weeks ago
ZerryDL is no longer the underdog. T he Benin-born artist has turned viral moments into momentum, proving he’s here to stay. With his storytelling, he’s stepping into the spotlight on his terms. His latest single, My Amigo, is a streetwise tale of friendship, fame, and betrayal. Over a melodic yet bouncy beat, ZerryDL lays out […]
3 weeks ago
On June 13th, South London-born singer, producer, and Afro-R&B pioneer Maleek Berry finally unveils his long-anticipated debut album, If Only Love Was Enough, a bold, emotional, and genre-bending statement of intent. Featuring an all-star lineup including Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Ruger, and Zlatan, the project is largely self-produced, with additional contributions from acclaimed duo Legendury Beatz, […]
3 weeks ago
Nigerian genre disruptors and cultural visionaries BIG XX have released their debut EP, WXYZ, a powerful and transcendent body of work introducing a new genre they call “Sonic Spirituals.” This groundbreaking sound blends ancestral rhythm with futuristic energy, positioning BIG XX at the forefront of a global music renaissance. The duo, comprised of Bejay X […]
4 weeks ago
Much of the pleasure of listening to an Obongjayar project comes from watching the artist slowly unravel like a soap opera’s protagonist. On stage, he’s a frenzied animal, a shaman under the thrall of ancestral spirits, singing and dancing with wild energy. Somehow, his recorded music manages to pack that same urgency, that primal energy […]
4 weeks ago
