Rolling Afropop 2023

Opening up this year's game with Ghana and another nicely shot video. I need to get that hat. I couldn't find it on YT at first until I realized that in my head his artist name was Kwaku the Traveller.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtJQX53Syec
Black Sherif - Konongo Zongo

Assuming that South African House and Amapiano will go under one of the other threads

Otherwise the song I've been listening to the most at the beginning of this year is Ruger - Asiwaju.

Thanks!

You're welcome !

Since it's early in the year, maybe it's a good time to post some of the big songs that we missed in last year's thread. This one goes back to a 2017 sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0qiBMe8MRw
Patoranking & Diamond Platnumz - Kolo Kolo

From Kenya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H059rrXKX1s
Vic West - Kuna Kuna

The EP was mentioned by The Breast but no song posted

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPBRGWUgQsA
Victony & Tempoe - Soweto

I wrote a post about Victony on the Naija Albums poll thread, the Soweto video was very much included.

mentioned by The Breast

Pure Akan is one of Ghana's best rappers, combining indigenous storytelling traditions with old-school US rap influences. his two albums, Onipa Akoma (2017) and Nyame Mma (2021), are classics.

he just dropped a new song with Efya, called "Yete Apor". I think I love it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUoIHJnrNgY

(btw, initially he called himself just 'Akan', but from 2020 onwards he rebranded as 'Pure Akan', I'm guessing to avoid confusion with singer Akon. it's a road Buju could have taken as well, 'Basic Buju' would have been just perfect)

another one from Ghana

"2Am", Fameye's new single is just too lovely. it's produced by LiquidBeatz, with whom he also did last year's excellent Songs of Peter album, which I now regret even more not nominating for the EOY. theirs is one of those special artist/producer partnerships (much like Asake + Magicsticks and Ruger + Kukbeats in Naija):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy8ZsrcF9ws

wau

https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_1800,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best/ANM23---POSTER-TEXTURE_1_thcznw/burna-boy-and-wizkid-to-headline-afro-nation-miami-2023.jpg

Favourite so far is the Vic West - Kuna track. Real earworm there

Not sure if this has been featured before but it came on after Kuna Kuna and it's really good:

BREEDER LW X MEJJA - "GIN AMA WHISKEY"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bul2_AwOqHY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j7Fa2PCMow
Kizz Daniel & Empire - Cough

That's an interesting one

le Sénégal vous souhaite une très bonne année !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm5bJos1H7w
Attack ft. Bass Thioung • Wichakh

I'm feeling that one

not sure if I had encountered amapiano touches in Senegalese pop before:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_koRwPVvNfs
Mia Guisse • La Vie est Belle

That's really nice!

Went on a little Coupé Decalé rabbithole the other day and found some nice stuff.

This is Shado Chris - CPLM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=412Z_SZCreU

just calmly posting Senegalese bops as I normally do:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT1yrrDb83c
Akhlou Brick • Man lagn bouga

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewZRajbJDzo
Akhlou Brick ft. King Kheuch & El Menemo • Deff Effect

no video as of yet for this one unfortunately, but it's another rhythm killer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkRG31milRc
Dip Doundou Guiss ft. Hussain Dada • #BBDD (Bo Bëggé Degg Dëg)

I made an hour-long mix of some of my favourite Afrobeats/Afropop tracks from the last couple of years, including a lot of faves picked up from these threads. Hope you enjoy it Ilxors :-)

Charlie Stoic - E Choke!: Afrobeats and beyond

Khuli Chana - Buyile
Burna Boy - Last Last
Tetu Shani - Spend My Money
Breeder LW ft. Mejja - Gin Ama Whiskey
Omah Lay - I'm A Mess
Alex Muhangi - Something Good
Ruger - Girlfriend
Rosa Ree - Mulla
NSG ft. MHD - In Da Car
Vic West ft. Fathermoh, Savara, Brandy Maina, Thee Exit Band - Kuna Kuna
Dunnie - Overdose
Muzi - Need Dat
Pongo - Doudou
Prettyboy D-O - Police n Teef
Tulenkey ft. Ice Prince & Falz - Proud Fvck Boys (Remix)
Laycon - All Over Me
Sarkodie ft. Prince Bright - Oofeetsɔ
Obongjayar - Tinko Tinko (Don't Play Me For A Fool)
Fave - Scatta Scatta
Skiibii - Daz How Star Do
Dai Verse x Buju - Sweet Daddy
Rema - Bounce
Lasmid - Friday Night
Midas The Jagaban - Party With A Jagaban

https://soundcloud.com/charliestoicdj/echoke

Years later “Jerusalema “ has reached the Black southern soul and r’n’b American audience:

Friday night driving in my car in Washington DC area the DJ doing a late night special mix on the commercial station that plays r’n’b and some rap ( old school not trap) played a version of “Jerusalema “ and then Beenie Man “Rum and Red Bull.” Then the next night I was at a club seeing a southern soul band ( current southern soul with keyboard and congas and not just retro) Hardway Connection. After their 2nd set , the DJ played “Jerusalema “, and lots of the crowd ( many Black women) started to line dance to it.

Plz visit my new thread … not afropop more afrobeats

Thraed of Nigerian Cruise / Freebeat

Tyla has signed to Epic Records and released a single produced by Tricky Stewart ("Been Thinking"): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7jSoCzxC0I

le Sénégal vous souhaite une très bonne année !

📹
Attack ft. Bass Thioung • Wichakh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeIT8OHwtd0
Asake • Yoga

Do you know what else than the ILM year-end poll is ongoing ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frBT2Jx2cvA
2Point1 - Stimela

Minimalistic Kwaito, anthemic House vibe, and Amapiano, it has it all. The cowbell is killing me (positively).

xp
that's really nice! maybe a bit too idk stately or something, but it works as a deserved victory lap

Stimela is a good time

You're right I think with victory lap. Shameless retro and good vibes too, but rather refreshing with its country vibe (they're from Free State).

Oh I meant Asake wrt victory lap. I don't know anything about 2Point1

lovely Ruger trifle with DJ Neptune - this is “Bienvenue”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lN1W3Y_Qv4

“Stimela” is a big banging Decemberrrr favourite, I approve

"yoga" is great, nice to hear him slow it down a little bit