Afrobeats 2013

Whatcha know about ChingChangWallah?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KJZXx2vMpA

for earlier stuff, see the old thread: "See I like Beyoncé, but she dey with Jigga / I like Nicki, her yansh is bigger..." // D'BANJ - OLIVER TWIST // afrobeats in the charts

^ THAT tune there should be enough, but just to make sure this thread gets off to a flying start

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGsSQHz03Qk

Thanx, Benny. Good start for sure. Especially loving the Ching Chang Wallah joint!

Oh and here's Olu Maintain's first single since NAWTi, over a year ago now I think. Following up a single like that must have proved impossible, but this has got Olivia of 'Candy Shop' fame (and apparently 50 cent is involved somehow according to this article http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/olu-maintain-my-collabo-with-50-cent/135426/) and is decent enough. Album on the way soon too.
http://youtu.be/lclL-Lg1pjc

One more post for the night. Beatmonsta is a new producer to watch this year going by these. Riddims for fans of Krynkman or Ball j's nuttiest stuff from last year ie; the stuff I reaaaly like.

1Fame Blue-Balls
http://youtu.be/qZrzHiV7ZXg

Lighter - Bounce to the beat
http://youtu.be/4M9BHWepXl0

Not too keen on the vocals on that one but a hot beat anyway.

!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8ImcWpQXBg

I thought I recognised the name - this is the same Stella Mwangi who represented Norway in Eurovision with some awful Shakira-lite nonsense?

the very same!

Cool, another Kenyan girl to watch this year could be Victoria Kimani, she's just signed to Chocolate City, the same Nigerian record label as Ice Prince (and seemingly flits between London, NY, LA, Nairobi). She released this great single last year which has been unfairly overlooked I think.

Ayaya
http://youtu.be/UbfHgD9yE2A

Back to Ghana, yet another great Kwaw Kese track just appeared, riding some next-level opera sampling riddim.
http://youtu.be/UOOxLt49lf4

Apparently he's also reshot the video for last year's incredible Ball J produced single 'Let me do my thing'. Would be nice to see that blow up properly this year, it definitely deserves to be heard more widely.

I have nothing to contribute so far but I'm glad this thread exists. Gonna have a bang on most of this lot tonight.

"Let me do my thing" was a great discovery from the year-end poll nominations thread.

Been appreciating a bit more of the GH Rap stuff recently which I'd almost totally ignored in favour of azonto. Check Sarkodie's double time flow in this one, pretty stunning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS1rbIPocX0

and this, yet another brand new Kwaw Kese- like Sarkodie I think he gets the slower tempos right in a way not many GH rappers I've heard do.
http://youtu.be/hYk9bfZO1UY

The problem usually comes with rapping in an american accent, almost always embarrassing, and rarely happens on the azonto stuff. Case in point, this new Sarkodie one 'Pizza and burger' is fantastic until Jayso comes in (though its not just the accent but the lyrics are well cringey too). These ex-skillions guys need to stick to producing - Ball J, I'm pointing at you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYCyVms4p-o

Anyone found any other GH rap worth listening to?

Some more brand new azonto to check out. These are all quality.

London's Fuse ODG's 2012 hit 'Antenna' has received the full video treatment and remix featuring Wyclef Jean!
http://youtu.be/6LCoksSQMzs

Kwaw Kese killing it again...probably my favourite vocalist right now.
Bradez - Wossop (Remix) (Feat. Kwaw Kese)
http://youtu.be/wEnnGqIMpEY

B-Gee Ft. Keche & Kankam - Odo Mu Tolerr
http://youtu.be/pSperwGf6WQ

VIBE SQUAD - AKOLA KITI KITI
http://youtu.be/M0u_5qlqK_8

guys.... Benny... check out this dancing!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSmiwQvwYYQ

Def gonna be checking this thread through the coming year :-)

That video is brilliant! Great selection of hits for the soundtrack too.

1. DANCE TONIGHT - SONNI BALLI
2. VERA - D-BLACK FT JOEY B
3. AZONTO FIESTA - SARKODIE FT APPIETUS & KESSE
4. INNIT(UK AZONTO) - GASMILLA
5. JEGGINGS PARTY - YAW SIKI
6. KUKERE - IYANYA
7. SHIGEGE - T.O & STUNNAKID

Love that "Jeggings Party" is the name of a song, sounds more like an ILX display name.

suddenly discovered this totally insane Ball J beat, that Benny B linked to last month and that I hadn't really listened to so far...
instant number one for 2013:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrrFO3rDEww

Blaq Jee ft. Joe B: "Grugye"

^ yeah that one is growing on me, wouldn't say its up there with ball J's best, its <i>slightly</i> too knotty and lacks a really strong hook. But all the little details will keep bringing me back to it. 'Asore party' was like that for me too at first but now its one of my favourites, just WTF is this music? http://youtu.be/rE-TrIwxybc

This first appeared late last year but is apparently receiving the full video and single release treatment soon. Its produced by Amadaa (AKA Krynkman/Nshona Music/shadowy genius behind numerous classics last year). Deserves to be huge!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy08AHNOY68&playnext=1&list=PL7_4CsBVOueSJevYJah5UVHPbmMxtrYPh&feature=results_video

Is there enough material for a Benny B Ball-J Beats Part 2 Mix now? The first rules my life like a quixotic emperor.

you know what? I think there probably is. Watch this space.

^^^ Awesomest customer service ethic.

:)

An all krynkman one would be just as juicy tbh. It kinda blew my mind when I read this http://www.thefader.com/2012/06/27/lungu-lungu-mystery-of-the-fisherman-beat-maker/ ...and realised just how many absolute TUNES he's been involved in.

New krynkman/kwaw kese for 2013 (posted at the end of the last thread but needs to be here)

Shoelace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCFsNaqm7Ls

I will generously grant you permission to make as many afrobeats auteur mixes as you deem appropriate.

Guys, guys, can I just...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XC3hgCWujw

^^^ Dylla ft. Gasmilla - Shashee Wowo

Like, how much is there going on in this track? Those chipmunk voices! In what other genre would throwing in a bit of 'Sweat' by Inner Circle seem like an amazing idea?

haha at first I was like "this tune is real good but I don't quite see the cause of the hosannas", and then it keeps getting crazier and crazier and crazier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeN8fL6qAXo

Felly - Ghana Girl Swag. Absolute hall-of-fame football rhyme on that one.

vp Good find. There was another great song called Shashee Wowo by Stay Jay & Tiffany last year.

http://youtu.be/kv2Fkr37dqY

The chipmunks in this one are super-awesome too
http://youtu.be/P1XoOA1HyTk

* xp i mean

I think shashee wowo is a dance? It's namechecked alongside the Migraine Skank in the Fuse ODG Azonto.

An all krynkman one would be just as juicy tbh.

a Krynkman mix would be hugely appreciated--have pretty much loved everything I've heard from him and have read that Fader piece a couple of times but haven't quite put in the effort to run down a proper selection of his stuff

that Kwaw Kwese "I Feel Good" track (http://youtu.be/hYk9bfZO1UY) Benny posted a few days ago has about 30 different things going on in it that are amazing, like that "Billie Jean"ish walking rhythm.

Ball J Beats Volume 2

DOWNLOAD
http://www.mediafire.com/?dss5o846pti7csj

STREAM
http://www.mixcloud.com/bennybrassic/ball-j-beats-volume-2/

1. Obrekuo ft. Praye - Ayifuro
2. Torgbe ft. akc4 - School Girl
3. Praye - 2012
4. 2Blows - Medi
5. GreenField ft. EL - Carry dey go
6. Bluebox ft. Bottlez - Spedede
7. Dompe Sope - Fyne Boy
8. Diary Ft King Ayisoba - Come see for Ghana
9. Nana Tee ft. Stay J - Mr Dross
10. Rocky Jigga - Nana Akua
11. Nhyiraba Kojo ft. Ball J & Screw Face - Ayalolo
12. Blaq Jee - Grugye
13. Konfi ft Dobbie - Tekkie
14. Mr kash ft. Joe B & Nii Funny - Nkwan Nko
15. Jousack ft. Joe B- Kiss ya girl
16. Fifi Selah ft. Stoneboy - Survival
17. 2Blows ft. Awal & Joe B - To Wo Bo
18. Nana Tee ft. Old Sodja - If you are an African
19. Kweku - Pressure

Thanx, Benny. Loads of new stuff to feast on, yet again! ;-))

Found this on YouTube: Konfi & Dobble, recording that track "Tekkie" (#13) in Ball J's studio.
Ball J: "Takes a lot of convincing (hip hop) niggas to do azonto". A recurring theme, it seems...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4VfncMvopY

^ Interesting. This interview with Ball J is worth a listen http://www.hulkshare.com/ydni3mkmvnv6

He talks about how his heart is really in hip hop rather than azonto but acknowledges he sounds 'too much like Jay Z', mentions UK Funky and Garage as an influence on Lapaz Toyota, the recording of 'Let me do my thing' etc.

rob if you like that kwaw kese track 'I feel good' you might be pleased to know it features on a compilation of Appietus productions coming out soon. The big track released so far is 'Azonto Fiesta' with Sarkodie, and this other new one with Samini makes it sound very promising indeed.

Samini - Too Serious
http://youtu.be/nvshlB9Qx8U

And this old (pre-Azonto craze) Appietus compilation on bandcamp is very sweet highlife and also worth checking. Fantastic producer.
http://appietus.bandcamp.com/

This one might be on the new comp too and is also brilliant.

5five - Gargantuan body
http://youtu.be/jgCKbfxs2MA

The Samini is good and the 5five is awesome, very excited for that comp. I'm going to check out the highlife one now too, thanks.

Ah here's the official video, apparently banned from TV in Ghana as (I quote),

"‘Gargantuan Body’ is a song that extols the body of plump women. The group, in the song, professes its love for such bodies; hence some ladies displayed their heavy buttocks for the cameras.
That is what the TV stations apparently have problems with. According to NEWS-ONE sources, if TV stations have to edit the video for their platforms, they will have to edit the heavy buttocks parts out but that will also take away some excitement from the video."

lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kfMjode7bl4

that track is dope

Benny, your Ball J mix #2 is excellent btw. it's funny, as excited about the D'banj thread as I was last year, I feel like a lot of this stuff is only just starting to really click to me--like I've only really just now absorbed the azonto logic. I should revisit your year-end list from the old thread.

Hey this is such a great thread I had to register.

I visited Ghana recently. Here's a list of tracks that were in heavy rotation in parties and everywhere. Some of them have been mentioned here before but not all of them I guess.

Fuse ODG - Antenna
R2Bees - Life
Iyanya - Kukere
Dr Slim & Dobble - Seke
Timaya - Bum Bum
Bisa - Azonto Ghost
Criss Waddle - Ayi
D-Black - Vera
Edem - Over Again

There's a new vid for this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm5Pdlt9fPA

Bisa - Azonto Ghost
Criss Waddle - Ayi

^ aren't these two songs the same?

Welcome to the thread by the way. Cool to hear that Antenna is doing well over there, need to get that Fuse ODG album I think.

Welcome, daje. I was pleased to see the Fuse ODG album is on spotify--not much of this stuff has a legitimate presence in the US. "Oliver Twist" is still not officially released over here.

"Azonto Ghost" and "Ayi" indeed have similar elements but they are not the same song. Both feature Bisa on vocals and I guess Ghanaians know the songs also from the movie, "Azonto Ghost".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVlxrPVp_XY

The availability of this stuff is a problem... It seems artists themselves distribute their songs via hulkshare and don't care much about bitrates. Some singles and albums end up in itunes too. I guess one of the most anticipated albums is "Revolution II" from R2Bees, it was supposed to come out already, but: http://www.mtvbase.com/news/r2bees-album-delayed/

posted on the hip hop thread but belongs here as well:
http://www.tropicalbass.com/2013/02/fokn-bois-strong-homosexual-guys/

haha yeah I posted about that album on the last thread - its good for a laugh (and really well produced). Sample song titles 'I want to be white', 'Laffin at cripples'. 'Thank god we're not a Nigerians'...

xxpost

Daje I was just being stupid, clicked on the same song twice on youtube cos it said 'azonto ghost', didn't realise they were both from the same movie. Turns out they're both crackers :)

Fya, fya, fyayaya!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ9e4wMOdcY

yeah been loving that

great innit, suppose it was just a matter of time before those lot made a proper afrobeats song together.

Guru sounds good over the Khona beat btw
http://youtu.be/-l1PTm9M0WE

Guru does have great taste in beats

Guru - Alkayida
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rq1A8b6JPw

Then there's
"Guru drops the first ever Gospel version of Alkayida"
http://www.ghanamotion.com/music/motion-hype/guru-amen-prod-by-beatmonsta

the beat on that is next level.
This too

Guru - More Vim
http://youtu.be/lYER3MwFA7s

Interesting set of articles about the recording of the 'Roots of Azonto' soundbank.

http://www.thisisafrica.me/music/detail/19968/the-roots-of-azonto-day-10-recording-master-drummer-mohamed-alidu

more here
http://www.thefader.com/2013/08/08/lungu-lungu-fruity-loops-live-drums-in-ghana/

Krynkman aka Nshona apparently made this sick beat in a few minutes using it.

https://soundcloud.com/akwaabamusic/nshona-muzick-naano-afro-afro

hot on the heels of "Skelewu", this new scorcher from DaVido, "Omo Mummy":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJFZQUVroh4

Lex, a late reply, but: Tiwa's debut album is nice enough, and it includes most of the singles she released over the past years (some as bonus tracks), but it has a serious lack of new killer tracks. Apart from "Ileke" the only one that 's up there is the deliciously blunt "Written All Over Your Face". Nothing Afrobeats about that one though, so not really for this thread. It's an R&B track (she has a side career in the US, she did backing vocals for Whitney and wrote songs for people like Fantasia and Monica).
This is her previewing "Ileke" at the album listening party. Very cute.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfOs-SzY98E

a couple of Naija hits:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN6qNDMeWm4

Timaya "Ukwu"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pe7whelUMc

Skuki feat. Phyno "Voom Va"

...and Temi Dollface's "Pata Pata", Nigeria by way of London.
Don't think it was ever posted here, reviewed in the Singles Jukebox though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EinxcEiDNU

Anyone seen any end of year ballots highlighting this stuff?

http://www.afribizcharts.com/top100.php

As breastcrawl noted back in February, this chart is flawed, but it does include lots of Nigerian, South African, and Gahanian stuff that may be of interest.

Sweet. I feel a Youtube rabbit hole coming on.

x-post-- uh Ghanaian

xxxp

A few have been nominated so far, from memory: Skelewu, Jaiye Jaiye, Khona, an Olamide ("Durosoke") track that hasn't been posted here, I think. There may have been one or two more. I might add a few too...

Sounds like you're talking the ilx poll, I meant the other thread of critics polls

Pata Pata was nommed as well. Going to follow Matt DC down that Youtube rabbit hole, I reckon ...

Mafikizolo follow up "Khona" with "Happiness":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVUFju4tnWQ

xxp

Yes, I was talking about the EOY nominations thread, what's the other one?

Looney (aka Looney TKR) "Amanda" (feat. Cliff Nino). His "Mempene" was posted earlier this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUcV82QkH4w

xpost to breastcrawl-- I was looking for websites and critics who named African club sounds. I thought you were just naming songs appearing on the ilx thread for best of 2013

Nothing from this thread seems to have made that Pitchfork staff list of singles...Was hoping Tim F. could have gotten something on there

Language barrier, marketing, various obstacles I guess

fuse odg's new single is out next week - hopefully he'll get another top 40 hit. it's kinda owning my life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhYhX7c2KlQ

Really really wish Mafikizolo's music was anywhere near as wonderful to me as the videos' design, costumes, etc are.

http://www.mtviggy.com/lists/tina-2013-10-burners-from-new-afropops-magic-year/

I'm in agreement with Ilx & Pitchfork's Tim Finney who did list Mafikizola's "Khona" on his Pitchfork singles list. While the music is a tad less unique than the wardrobes in the video, it still has a catchy charm to it.

oooh, "Atinga" by DeeVS off that MTVIggy list is goooood!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygz7-z3vXEA

http://youtu.be/xJ72hOk7GiQ

this one is really strange and good, I think. Joey B feat. Sarkodie

spooky azonto with more than a touch of SA house to it, Bryte "I like your girlfriend":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmHFKp6APvY

fuse odg is on newsnight speaking to paxman right now!

Aww, missed it.

Nigerian Kcee the Limpopo King is gonna be in DC February 8th

Benny B come back to this thread, or start a new one

Hello ILX. Long time lurker first time poster here - just thought this would be the perfect place to shamelessly publicise a mix of Afrobeats (2013) stuff that Rinse FM's DJ Brackles did for my blog recently:

https://soundcloud.com/jah-klaw/dirtnap-presents-brackles

TRACKLIST

Olamide - First Of All

Lola Rae - Watch My Ting Go

Stay Jay - Format gurlz

Tictac - Pumpum

K9 - Kokoma

Timaya - Ekoloma Demba

Tiffany - Akyee Wo!

May7Ven - Ten ten

Sarkodie ft Fuse - Down On One

Wande Coal - Rotate

Madtraxx - Ita Waiter

Tiffany - Dance

DJ Malvado - Zenze (Uhuru Remix)

Davido - Dami Duro

Hope you lot like it, I think it's brilliant.

nice

http://museke.tumblr.com/

African dance music tumblr

That one is not being updated.

But I think there's still this:

http://www.afribizcharts.com/top100.php

Oh man, that chart is amazing. Is presently checking out everything that peaked at 1, Khona by Mazifikozolo is awesome!

I think "Khona" got some votes on the ilm poll as well as Village Voice critics poll

not enough though :(

I feel so bad I didn't discover it soon enough to vote for it!

Great no 1 at the moment as well!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgHoQsMAtek

amazing

on a more understated tip, also into yemi alade's "johnny"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_XkTKoDI18

Don't call it a comeback! Guru meets up with Ball J again and gets caught in a fat "Pooley" groove. Like it says above: Amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl89MMYoe3Q

someone dancing to it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6vFKj7FTvA

I love how Wizkid is starting to try out new styles. Last year there was "Jaiye Jaiye" and now in "One Question" he is totally convincing in highlife mode. The band is on fire!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LZHNln5Afk

Tekno "Dance": nice minimalistic track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGhMoatjr-g

Rayce "Jack Sparrow": finally a Naija track that takes a few cues from the glossy production style of Olu Maintain's 2012 hit "Nawti".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhGhs8S4UZw

Don't think this was ever posted here?
Tiwa Savage "Eminado" (feat. Don Jazzy).
One reason I didn't like Tiwa's album too much is I felt it has too many sticky sweet old school tracks, but when they're as irresistible as this one, who can complain?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxPqkwahxe0

Man, Pooley is absolutely amazing. Song of the year so far.

Lex, thanks for posting Phyno - Parcel, absoluting stunning beat! Sickest thing ive heard in ages. Worthy of starting a new thread you think?

The new thread: Rolling Afrobeats thread 2014