Afrobeats 2013

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5WxjV1PUXQ

wish there'd been more of this sort of x-over

http://soundcloud.com/atumpan/the-thing-todd-edwards-remix

HELLO

Is there a bit of a buzz around Atumpan at the moment? The original The Thing is great and he's playing in London soon.

Also Wizkid appears to now be signed to Tinie Tempah's label.

atumpan signed to ministry this year

i think moreso than scrambling for breakout hits labels are probably just cottoning onto the low but solidly reliable level of afro interest. all the big songs have a seemingly endless shelf life really, no one ever minds hearing them again

have a punt on a rerelease, get a few remixes on it, maybe a bob sinclair thing might happen, maybe just a bit of major lazer pleb money, see what happens

Atumpan's been played a lot on 1Xtra in the last week - so, yeah, there must be a buzz.

http://africaindc.wordpress.com/2013/09/14/waiting-for-p-square-we-dont-run-things-things-run-we/

Aww, I missed P-Square's 2 am to 3:30 a.m. D.C. gig

http://www.mtviggy.com/articles/ghanas-new-viral-dance-craze-is-alkayida-yep-meaning-al-qaeda/

I missed Nigeria's Timaya too last night. He's in Chicago at the Shrine tonight

http://africaindc.wordpress.com/2013/10/05/weekend-african-music-in-dc-1-419ed-at-the-timaya-show/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhk52GlkhVA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ILZLgPVkFI

Khona is just astonishing

While Nigerian corporations seem to be currently losing the battle to South African ones for retail domination of the continent, demographics are helping Nigeria win the battle on the entertainment front. In my experience, South African music (like Kwaito) has a very limited following in much of Africa and is not even that strong in the SADC (southern African) region, with Namibia being a notable exception.

Conversely, Nigerian pop stars are massive throughout west Africa and are quickly gaining ground across the continent. The same holds true for Nollywood movies. Accordingly, I was very interested to see this piece in a Zimbabwean state paper about an upcoming performance by D’banj, a Nigerian star with ties to Kanye West.

http://africaindc.wordpress.com/2013/10/18/the-spread-of-africa-in-africa-sa-vs-naija/

"Khona" is one of the best tracks of the year imo. I posted it on the Summer Jams thread in June, hoping for more traction than on this seemingly moribund Afrobeats one, but nothing much happened. Biggest hit out of South Africa this year, a smash across the continent.

"Jaiye Jaiye" was posted upthread (by ahem me too). I'm eagerly awaiting Wizkid's second album. He's probably overtaken D'banj as the biggest star of Naija music, with his deceptively simple but very addictive beats and melodies.

A small tribute:

Starboy feat. L.A.X. & Wizkid "Caro":
(Starboy is the name of his label)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF47kno4Dro

Maleek Berry feat. Wizkid & Phenom "New Bounce":
(Maleek Berry is the producer he signed to his label, their first collaboration "The Matter" was posted upthread)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPpuHY7Ejt4

and this early hit, still my favourite - "Don't Dull":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcJhrOStkl4

This one was posted over on the old thread, but definitely needs to be here: Nigeria's current #1, DaVido "Skelewu":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6zixMk7gnQ

Been loving this jam from Tiwa Savage's album, not a single, but it should be, "Ileke".

Tiwa Savage – Ileke (Spotify link)

Another Naija smash that belongs here, P-Square "Personally":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttdU19Kwce8

And finally a biggie from Ghana, Shatta Wale "Dancehall King":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYiCIyhq01o

here's that Spotify link for Tiwa Savage's "Ileke" again:

http://open.spotify.com/track/7AwIBOQeAE43sCMNgqC64j

"Khona" is great. Thanks

"skelewu" and "caro" are so amazing - can't get enough of the percussion in the former

the mad sax in "jaiye jaiye" >>>

is that tiwa savage album worth buying btw?

Skelewu is fantastic.

My other favourite doing the rounds rn: Lola Rae's Fi Mi Le. It only does one thing but it does it really well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3mXXKc6QXA

*Sarkodie, Ghanaian afrobeats rapper, is doing some US shows. Friday October 25th he's at a Howard U Homecoming Afterparty 9 pm to 3 am at Vita 9 Lounge DC, 1318 9th Street Northwest Washington, DC

street-team promotion

http://carmencham.wordpress.com/2013/10/24/alunguntugui-dont-be-shy/

x-post -Sarkodie missed his flight from Ohio, so DC show got postponed. Maybe it will be this Friday. Not sure

Sneakbo ft. L Marshall - Her Name
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQN_2TuK44Y&feature=c4-overview&list=UUzoRAhSu72f-FkidkvZj-mw

^ thats ILL BLU on producky

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.