Somewhat reticent profile of Asake: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/asake-afrobeats-new-album-mr-money-with-the-vibe-1234588970/
Tbh a Magicsticks profile might be more revealing (not that I have any idea how they collaborate)
Anyone watched the Afrobeats documentary series? On Netflix, at least in Canada
― rob, Saturday, 10 September 2022 15:03 (one year ago) link
hey, did you know we had a trend going on?http://thenativemag.com/asake-davido-anthemic-chants/
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Saturday, 10 September 2022 17:21 (one year ago) link
I shall have no qualms posting Amapiano in this thread (there's a nice spectrum here after all).
Mbosso from Tanzania has a nice track with Costa Titch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKWey2e8NY0Mbosso Feat. Costa Titch & Phantom Steeze - Moyo
Going back to SA, very chill amapiano "ballad" here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErB9HJU2vOkK.O feat Young Stunna & Blxckie - SETE
Nomfundo Moh still in her space but I don't mind a romantic duo with Kwesta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnrWXf5yuU8Nomfundo Moh feat. Kwesta - Sibaningi
And finally, afrobeats-wise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ommOZ_493yUMr Eazi - Personal Baby
― Nabozo, Sunday, 11 September 2022 09:23 (one year ago) link
asake album is really lovely but i wish he let the songs breathe a little they're so short & he definitely has enough ideas to carry them a bit longer
the occasional amapiano beat makes it particularly fascinating, a 2 minute amapiano track just seems perverse
― ufo, Monday, 12 September 2022 04:59 (one year ago) link
Much as I am loving the proliferation of amapiano, I am starting to get (only slightly) concerned that quite so many artists within and without SA are taking on the sound to the point where everyone has to have at least one amapiano song in their repertoire (usually a lot more)
― Urbandn hope all ye who enter here (dog latin), Monday, 12 September 2022 09:40 (one year ago) link
you can spare yourself your ever so slight concern trolling - that ship has long sailed.this is from a year ago already:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rphoHc0JLU
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Monday, 12 September 2022 10:08 (one year ago) link
and as Davido said in an earlier incarnation of this phenomenon, it’s The Sound! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVNPkCI-ytY
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Monday, 12 September 2022 10:12 (one year ago) link
Nowadays I feel like the Amapiano export industry is where all the creative potential is. I especially appreciate it when it's really well integrated and subtle. Compared to the deep and hard sound that tends to be crushed under its own dark gravitas and sluggish block structure (Felo le Tee, another 3-hour album by KdS). The core sound is a little behind. I will still lend an ear to Busta 929, Focalistic, but I haven't even listened to the aforementioned KDS, couldn't get into the new Mr Jazziq at all, I find myself skipping and getting tired, too many songs are absorbed in that opaque internal space, that inner conversation. So I get the Amapiano fatigue and I've been wondering when the next sound is due.
Part of my own fatigue is the exacting challenge of finding songs from Spotify though.
― Nabozo, Monday, 12 September 2022 13:04 (one year ago) link
thanking you for rating an album you haven’t even listened to, very useful information. it’s a great album by the way, can’t be mentioned enough
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Monday, 12 September 2022 17:39 (one year ago) link
Lol, I will eventually get to it, if only out of loyalty to the artist. I was just pointing to the obvious that artists going deep into the rabbit hole may discourage even original fans of the sound, and widen the divide between the DJ-side and the pop-side, which feels more vital and interesting right now. There's something for each listener though, I just don't have the dedication to line up 100-minutes+ albums, and I think KDS can take a little blame for this excess.
I've always tried to keep up and posted Amapiano in our threads, so please don't get mad at me breastcrawl :)
― Nabozo, Tuesday, 13 September 2022 09:08 (one year ago) link
I found this tune by a new Canadian artist in an Apple Music R&B playlist. Very distinct amapiano influence.
https://open.spotify.com/track/68qSx0qS9nfVm4X0wFIBx1?si=up-UF1tpQuS2uvoiaEdKJQ
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Tuesday, 13 September 2022 13:30 (one year ago) link
According to this, it's not so much influence as intentionally trying to make ama: https://www.onscenemagazine.com/home/news/music/2022822-luna-elle-is-crazy-off-love-for-her-amapiano-debut
― rob, Tuesday, 13 September 2022 13:40 (one year ago) link
Oh right! Fascinating.
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Tuesday, 13 September 2022 13:41 (one year ago) link
Correct me if I'm wrong, but what's most interesting about the genre's spread is there isn't really a particularly prominent artist or track leading the wave, right? Unlike afrobeats' slow rise to prominence, which was punctuated by both one-off hit singles and artists like Wizkid and BB consistently releasing tracks & albums, making guest appearances, having mediocre US/UK features on their songs, Drake taking an interest, etc.
― rob, Tuesday, 13 September 2022 13:46 (one year ago) link
on second thought, I gather this might be somewhat different in Europe?
That track/artist will surely come along. But you’re right. It seems to spread in an… organic sort of way. As much as I enjoy current SA amapiano though, I am a bit frustrated that so little of it seems to be at all concerned with the genre’s pop potential - if only because someone outside SA looks set to be the one or ones spearheading the movement globally. Looking at the Apple Music London charts today, Oxlade’s Ku Lo Sa is number one (!) while Asake and Burna Boy dominate the list. Which is great. But seeing a “real” amapiano track in the mix would be awesome.
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Tuesday, 13 September 2022 15:06 (one year ago) link
From the little time I've spent in SA, Amapiano is played as is on the radio and blasted in some popular restaurants / taverns / shops, public space, and obviously in clubs. Afrobeats has relatively little penetration and influence, since SA produces so much music of its own, it's there but a little further in the global periphery. The pop side is already well covered between the gentler house, hip hop, the gospel type of stuff. At its core, Amapiano remains dance music from the lokshin, an underground culture, much like Gqom was.
― Nabozo, Tuesday, 13 September 2022 15:33 (one year ago) link
Of course. I’d just like to see some of the originators get a little of the crossover action that must surely be on its way.
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Tuesday, 13 September 2022 18:32 (one year ago) link
I think amapiano succeeds in part by playing the long game
― xheugy eddy (D-40), Wednesday, 14 September 2022 20:51 (one year ago) link
Africa’s most out there music festival (afaik) is blossoming and Museveni’s government doesn’t like it:https://thequietus.com/articles/32062-uganda-s-government-issues-guidelines-for-nyege-nyege-festival
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Thursday, 15 September 2022 14:55 (one year ago) link
wow…
This just made my year 🤍🌴🦅 pic.twitter.com/eQsNHwAIa2— Ozedikus Nwanne 💯 (@ozedikus) September 17, 2022
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Saturday, 17 September 2022 18:46 (one year ago) link
just wow…
…Just some boys from surulere doing what they know best pic.twitter.com/mbg3UE1EbI— ᴏғᴀ (@oxladeofficial) September 17, 2022
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Saturday, 17 September 2022 18:47 (one year ago) link
asake album debuted at no 66 in the US, outselling ari lennox (among notable other debuts last week). wild times
― J0rdan S., Tuesday, 20 September 2022 20:16 (one year ago) link
highest-charting nigerian debut album of all time
― comedy khadafi (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 20 September 2022 20:36 (one year ago) link
yep, also debuted at #22 in the UK album chart. not so much outselling as outstreaming tho, it’s #12 on US Apple Music Top Albums today, and the #1 (!) on UK Apple Music Top Albums - two weeks after its release. wild times indeed.
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Tuesday, 20 September 2022 20:38 (one year ago) link
streaming = selling these days
― J0rdan S., Tuesday, 20 September 2022 22:29 (one year ago) link
clearly not to the chart compilers or it would be much higher up there
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Wednesday, 21 September 2022 05:42 (one year ago) link
j0rdan is right. there are multiple streaming services and the albums in front of him seem to have more cross-platform appeal
for example, asake is doing much better on apple than spotify, where he’s not in the global or us top 50 album charts
― comedy khadafi (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 21 September 2022 12:31 (one year ago) link
just checked the uk album chart on spotify and he’s not on there either
― comedy khadafi (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 21 September 2022 12:33 (one year ago) link
Steady green like broccoli
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crtQSTYWtqEAyra Starr - Rush
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TZAt8mPvnUKwesta X Kabza De Small Feat Masterpiece - yvk-K’shubile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNzLp2OChBUCosta Titch & Diamond Platnumz feat. ma Gang - Superstar
― Nabozo, Saturday, 8 October 2022 15:13 (one year ago) link
That Ayra Starr track is right up my alley. I especially love the subtle synth bass.
― daavid, Saturday, 8 October 2022 22:14 (one year ago) link
Yeah it's infectious, lots of hooks (Aje Aje Aje, chorus, bridge), backing vocals & pulsating bass doing wonders, her best track so far.
― Nabozo, Monday, 10 October 2022 07:52 (one year ago) link
https://theface.com/music/black-sherif-interview-album-the-villain-tour-burna-boy
Black Sherif interview
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 13 October 2022 14:38 (one year ago) link
Moliy's new EP Honey Doom is very enjoyable if you dig her voice (as I do)
Hard w/Moonchild Sanelly isn't quite representative, but is fun:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhwBr5VkrpI
― rob, Wednesday, 19 October 2022 19:19 (one year ago) link
Young Jonn, "Xtra Cool"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWWCj-EbevI
I don't much about this guy, but this is kind of a perfect distillation of the amasake sound
― rob, Wednesday, 19 October 2022 20:37 (one year ago) link
talking about making it against all odds:
So what do we think of Young John's apparent attempt to become a solo artist over other people's production?https://soundcloud.com/dee-moss-374676760/dj-hol-up-feat-young-john-gbagbe-prod-mojarz― human and working on getting beer (longneck), woensdag 24 februari 2016 10:57Hmmm, it's nice enough (though really nothing special), and I wish Young John all the success in the world, but I think he's already found his calling.― breastcrawl, woensdag 24 februari 2016 18:29I hope so too, lol― human and working on getting beer (longneck), woensdag 24 februari 2016 21:15
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), woensdag 24 februari 2016 10:57
Hmmm, it's nice enough (though really nothing special), and I wish Young John all the success in the world, but I think he's already found his calling.
― breastcrawl, woensdag 24 februari 2016 18:29
I hope so too, lol
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), woensdag 24 februari 2016 21:15
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Wednesday, 19 October 2022 20:45 (one year ago) link
wait it's that Young Jonn??
― rob, Wednesday, 19 October 2022 20:48 (one year ago) link
none other
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Wednesday, 19 October 2022 20:49 (one year ago) link
He’s still a boring vocalist lol. Wish him all the best nonetheless.
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Wednesday, 19 October 2022 20:49 (one year ago) link
ok lol that thought did occur to me (since "Young John the wicked producer" is perma-lodged in my brain) but he looks so, well, young in the video I assumed it couldn't be him
― rob, Wednesday, 19 October 2022 20:51 (one year ago) link
My favorite non-Asake song at the moment is probably Electricity, which just suddenly started to make all the sense in the world to me.
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Wednesday, 19 October 2022 20:51 (one year ago) link
this is his biggest hit yet, massive in Naija and getting there in the rest of Africa, #43 on Shazam worldwide. perseverance pays off, people! he seems more interested in this than in production (although he’s had some big hits as a producer in the past couple of years, that distinctive sound he used to have has long since been buried in the past)
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Wednesday, 19 October 2022 20:55 (one year ago) link
he looks so, well, young in the video I assumed it couldn't be him
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Wednesday, 19 October 2022 21:04 (one year ago) link
I thought Zinoleesky looked like a child and he’s like 26 so I know how you feel.
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Wednesday, 19 October 2022 21:06 (one year ago) link
haha wow yeah I wouldn't have guessed 27, though dang 20 is impressive.
I kind of agree about him being a boring singer, but I think that tracks works anyway—or at least, I'm not surprised it's popular
― rob, Wednesday, 19 October 2022 21:16 (one year ago) link
I mean, someone like P.Priime is only 20 *now*, and he came up three years ago
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Wednesday, 19 October 2022 21:23 (one year ago) link
sheesh
― rob, Wednesday, 19 October 2022 21:25 (one year ago) link
speaking of palm wine (well people were speaking of it months ago), came across show dem camp's 'palmwine music 3' album, and it's worth checking out. reminds me a bit of the juls album from last year in concept (though that one was clubbier and more influenced by uk sounds) in that it's a revue-style compilation featuring one artist collaborating with some of the best and brightest in the nigeria scene.
loved this one with bellah, who i am def checking out more of after thishttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=232XULY-SJA
and this one with our guy bojhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r49K9xwf3UM
― comedy khadafi (voodoo chili), Thursday, 20 October 2022 21:18 (one year ago) link
bellah seems to be more for the r&b thread, but "wyw" still goes
― comedy khadafi (voodoo chili), Thursday, 20 October 2022 21:55 (one year ago) link
after 33 million views as an A Colors Show vid, the song of the year (well, it’s top three at the very least) finally gets the proper video treatment:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4qud199tQk
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Friday, 21 October 2022 16:04 (one year ago) link