The perfect intersection between the established acts across African music and brilliant underground acts you should be paying attention to!
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.
6 days 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 […]
3 weeks 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, […]
2 months ago
Fela remains the loudest figure against government oppression and corruption in our music history, but a lot of others have lent a voice to the struggles of Nigerians through the years. Daddy Showkey, an indigene of the backward Lagos slum of Ajegunle, pioneered Galala music, which often took aim at the government in power and detailed the poverty in his hometown.
3 months ago
Burna Boy’s eighth studio album is finally on the horizon. In the past few weeks, the album’s rollout has ramped up significantly. He has made appearances on the covers of magazines and teased the album on social media through cheeky puns and aphorisms. He has appeared on shows, letting viewers in on certain nuances of […]
3 months ago
Late last month, Tems uploaded a tweet containing only a picture and a date, two items that would be vague in most Twitter posts, but for an artist, were quickly understood to be a tease for new music release. This sparse announcement later revealed to be for Me & U, her newest single, generated some […]
2 years ago
23-year-old Bronx-born Ice Spice has released the song Pretty Girl with its accompanying video, featuring Nigerian pop star and recent recipient of MTV’s 2023 Video Music Award for Best Afrobeats, Rema. Ice Spice’s song is coming after being announced as the season premiere musical guest on Saturday Night Live. Other wins before her latest release […]
2 years ago
Mayorkun is back again with the release of his latest single, Low Key!, which follows closely on the heels of his recent hit, For Daddy. This new release takes his fans on an emotional journey, delving deep into his musical versatility, and serves as a prelude to his upcoming EP, Love For Free, set to […]
2 years ago
Budding Nigerian singer-songwriter, Nissi, has released her second EP, Unboxed, three years after her first project, Ignite. The much-anticipated EP serves as Nissi’s canvas, where she paints and showcases her artistic prowess through authentic storytelling and her rich vocal dexterity. Unboxed features the work of an array of creative geniuses, including Teni, Kiyagi, Jay Weathers, […]
2 years ago
Gathering acclaim from his latest single Alone, Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer, Kemuel has unveiled a captivating music video to emphasize the themes of the single further. Shot in Oyo State, Nigeria, and directed by Cindy Ihua aka Director C, the retro-styled visuals for Alone spotlight the track’s narrative of love and regret while showcasing […]
2 years ago
Since joining forces in 2012 on the single, Omo Pastor, Boj, and Ajebutter22 have not relented in dishing out quality music to their fans. Heralding the third volume of their EP, Make E No Cause Fight, the duo has released the lead single Rora. Luxuriating over a sounding instrumental on Rora, BOJ, and Ajebutter22 display […]
2 years ago
As more female songbirds continue to soar within the African music scene, it is clear that there are seemingly glaring biases in documenting these sonical heroines. It is why the contributions of people like Edna Ogholi, Lijadu Sisters, and Sandra Izsadore, among others, are given less prominence in the history books of Afrobeats relative to […]
2 years ago
Long before Westernization, labels, and genres —rich, original African music existed. Passed down from generations through decades of history in sound and musical instruments, these elements eventually created the foundation for Afrobeats as we know it today. Characterized by heavy pulsating rhythms, accompanied by a fusion of African percussion instruments alongside contemporary musical elements, creating […]
2 years ago
