Rolling Afropop / Afrobeats 2021

I do love that Bounce!

the new Kizz Daniel (with DJ Coublon producing) is fun (and, dare I say it, quite light):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7akR7AEAxg
Kizz Daniel • Flex

also really like his Masterkraft-produced naijapiano effort with unexpected doses of vocal harmony:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8CTebOm7QE
Kizz Daniel • Currently

hoping for a more... ambitious? album from him this time around

I know nothing about this but I like it a lot.

Blinky Bill & Ossie - Simmer Down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWbZuT8JUt8

Blinky Bill is from Kenya, I posted about him two years ago when he had his last album out.
oh, and I posted his first new single back (“Bado Mapema (Simmer)”) in November as well. he’s good!

lol we’re both messing up the titles here:

the current one is “Jam Now, Simmer Down”

the previous one was “Bado Mapema (Simama)”

hell, I'll repost it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFPu9zNU5yA
Blinky Bill • Bado Mapema (Simama)

https://www.npr.org/2021/02/24/970579500/davido-tiny-desk-home-concert

Davido mini-concert from home

Blinky Bill + Blick Bassy are one for the "always mixed up" thread for me

did I mention that I prefer my naijapiano to be as non-SAmapiano as possible?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDVO-DBSfck
Bils • E Choke

(apols for adding to your Blicky Bilsy confusion, rob)

lol!

and that song is cool. I like how naijapiano mostly sticks to naija norms for length -- 2:36 is just the shakers on an SAmapiano song ;)

tru dat - should I adapt my display name, I wonder?

oya back to the matter:

three current catchy upbeat Ghanaian hits with sparkling production:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSbi2Jvls7A
Okyeame Kwame ft. Kuami Eugene • Yeeko

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22rCt078QDw
KiDi ft. Kuami Eugene & Patoranking • Spiritual

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMOZaEP4Fl4
Kwesi Arthur ft. Joeboy • Baajo

(some overlap, some Nigerian input, it's all good)

Also, this is turning into a pan-African hit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6unnNvyupos
Gyakie • Forever

(she’s from Ghana, but I think this hit big in Nigeria first, which is quite unusual)
(but not unusually for a Ghanaian artist, a lot of her stuff is dancehall-adjacent)

(also, yet again, TikTok is involved in "Forever" blowing up, and her fans are called Gyakie Chans)

With the recent Spotify launches in several more African countries, I've been generating playlists to show what the new listeners in each country were disproportionately playing in their first few days. If you're interested:

Nigeria: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4RVekSXvQYyHrF6XyxEdwH?si=bPCTg3hlR5iERR1Z-j5z3g
Ghana: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0i3gO0KVgrTahrMziABjzi?si=qo64HhfaRgCDQqQO7k2J-g
Kenya: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4qTwmED83dqkVGNY9W76Jx?si=wePsV8afS0-Mw_0rL_B7pw
Tanzania: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5Z0dnLnskhYb1aCHmreyP7?si=azB7nRvISeKQ0NY6ElLgzw
Uganda: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1JY0Esk4iU4vvCvxM6WOH9?si=H7hM1lCUR1O-awDgdO-_IA
Botswana: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1vAV9s9KXwLCD7knb4TrDX?si=SJKH7Xb6TqeUJBBumbTrCA
Senegal: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1uV3spPPFM8rbTjQm5R0U8?si=ijx0CwytSEaKU51c8M3x3Q
Zimbabwe: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6jz4ew4EjyoQEc93QXItMa?si=_nbg2izzScGPqgF8pdpWgQ
Rwanda: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6vqW1BNtJLAtrDNv5l0abc?si=oY1K1PFnRh2tTsziEpa2WQ
Burundi: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1mRpE6qCP9aKMqrkzoUTto?si=YnoYpakIRVy6OJKNXYBj0w
Malawi: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/44WtZOWm90wMMiaeFQauGw?si=VK8hLFhvQiKSXBAX12iyJA

(cross-posted from Rolling Global Outernational Non-West Non-English (Some Exceptions) 2021 Thread (Often African bands))

much appreciated, glenn!

Wow cool, thanks so much Glenn. Will be so interesting to compare.

Out of those recent hits, I quite like Rush
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pyGsLat0jI
Bella Shmurda & Dangbana Republik - Rush

let's repost/repurpose some of the follow-up posts here as well:

can also report a sham upload in the Nigeria list: “High Way” is a big hit by DJ Kaywise featuring (famous rapper) Phyno, but some sneaky person re-uploaded it with the non-existing ‘Phynoo’ as the artist name.

― Blick, Bils & Blinky • Let's Skip The Shaker Intros (breastcrawl), woensdag 3 maart 2021 20:03

I was happily skimming through those but got stuck on Eli Njuchi (Malawi) for a while!

https://open.spotify.com/album/0KCzZIFaZ7BHdTHcLSM14x?si=TuFxj7SmQES1J_5Or6vXpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qJOFWXKo74

― glenn mcdonald, woensdag 3 maart 2021 18:32

More about Eli Njuchi: https://massplugmag.com/article/eli-has-taken-us-on-a-journey-people-from-all-walks-of-life-are-able-to-resonate-with-his-lyrics

have to say, that song "Phone" of his shares *a lot* of dna with a five-year-old Nigerian hit, Nonso Amadi's "Tonight" - up and including the actual "phone me, I am here for you" message:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcfOIfa5kvE

― Blick, Bils & Blinky • Let's Skip The Shaker Intros (breastcrawl), woensdag 3 maart 2021 20:35

another fresh Blinky - that new album promises to be very good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYrsEeU_8-Y
Blinky Bill ft. Kommanda Obbs • Terene

Yesterday I tried learning to move my waist Congolese-style and discovered that Innoss'B had additional awesome singles in the last 2-3 years: Lelo Lelo, Achour, Ozo Beta Mabe
His latest song is very fresh (it came out today)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFpD3EeiqM0
Innoss'B - Meme

If you go even further back to stuff like Cha Cha you reach levels of charm and innocence unheard from early Wizkid.

Okyeame Kwame ft. Kuami Eugene • Yeeko

^loved this one, blissfully jubilant trap floating up to the heavens

yes, that was my morning song today!
a perfect brew with those early-Young John bird plings and a healthy dose of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” added in as a secret ingredient

The Coming 2 America soundtrack has Tiwa’s “Koroba”, Davido’s “Assurance” (he performs it live in the movie), a very good old Mi Casa track and a new (or previously unreleased at least, it doesn’t sound very current, but it’s raw and fun!) track by Tekno on it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liQsQ9TR13A
Tekno • Waka Waka

oh, and Burna joins John Legend and Nile Rodgers on a new version of The System’s title track from the original 1988 soundtrack - that one’s not so good. file under Tiwa dueting with Bob Marley on the Tropkillaz remix of “Jamming”.

King Promise is the last artist I saw live, a year ago today :-(
his new single isn't his best, but I owe him one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgA3PEO9V9U
King Promise ft. Shatta Wale • Alright

Have some UK/Afro link ups

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r6MdGrLn48

NSG Ft. Potter Payper - DRUNK GUITAR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpYeFb6h8dw

Loski - Naija Man (Official Video) ft. Davido

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_WlT8WA1No

Yaw Tog, Stormzy & Kwesi Arthur - Sore (Remix) - Who knew Ghanaian drill was a thing?

The Teni album (her debut!) is making me very happy. have to admit I haven’t been on top her matter for a while, even when I know she can absolutely kill it at any given moment in the most unexpected places, but Wondaland is a multifaceted delight, both lyrically and musically (it’s a naijapiano-free zone tho, in case you were wondering).

don’t be fooled by ”For You”, her current big hit with Davido - it’s Teni-by-numbers and doesn’t do much for me. the highest light on the first pass is “Moslado”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWbxQCz9zPA
(if it reminds you of Fireboy’s “Gbas Gbos” there is a reason and the reason is producer Ozedikus).

there is one song that makes me even happier tho, and that’s “Injure Me” (an Olamide co-write!), which for all intents and purposes is Teni’s coming-out song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7bOeffd48E

big sis Niniola’s 5-track 6th Heaven EP is good stuff too btw. no afrohouse or naijapiano here either, it’s afropop-inflected old-schoolish r&b, and she does it very well. these two are Sisters With Voices for real!

“Baby” is so lovely:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUcJ3OmWp0E

I my just heard Rema - Bounce and it's the best song ever made

well, yes

all i need is a constantly rising bass-synth and i'm sold.

also enjoying Rema's move into slightly darker-sounding territory.

Just digging into this new thread, so much great music here.

This guy reached out to me on Reddit - I don't know much about him:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=553aPDtMNxA

Thoughts? Don't hold back!

nice track, I like it.

btw, it's Akoben x Specikinging • Body Bad

🔻🔻Could everyone please label the tracks they are posting?
It makes it so much easier to search for something, and as with all internet links, there is every chance these YouTubes (or Soundclouds or whatever the case may be) will become broken at some point (in a couple of years perhaps, or you know, next week, it happens all the time), and then we won’t have anything left to go on.🔺🔺

― partyin' maskless with Rudy G. and Vanilla Ice, it's a gas gas gas (breastcrawl), woensdag 6 januari 2021 8:32

Sorry! I saw that earlier but was a bit faded when I posted that tbh. I had just been digging into this thread all day, went out, came back and saw the message from him on Reddit. I think the guy who got in touch with me is the head of the label, I don't think he produced the track to be clear. I will try to dig deeper and resolve this mystery.

Anyway thanks a lot for your thoughts and uh basically being the main content provider here as far as I can tell -- not to minimize others' contributions to this thread and the S. Africa one, they are also greatly appreciated!

Would this be an appropriate place to ask if you're on Twitter?

this is the only place you’ll find me, for better or for worse. (well, you could find my Spotify profile through the playlists I shared upthread if you’re interested in more playlists)

anyway, thanx for the kind words, feedback is always appreciated! (as are more people posting, we could do with more than just a handful of posters)

this is the best song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCdgboWtvf4
Crayon ft. Rema • Too Correct
(produced by Andre Vibez, who I’ve never heard of - whole Crayon EP is nice)

It's no "Bounce" (which is remarkable and exquisitely fun to my ears) but it's catchy and fun! Rema's really firing on all cylinders isn't he? Consistent for a long time now

Also really like the Crayon and his fast and fresh delivery.

We haven't posted Hallelu. I don't know about you but I'm not even remotely tired of Amapiano in Nigeria.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPZsU17Z5T8
Masterkraft x Zlatan x Bella Shmurda - Hallelu

Reposting Forever because everything is better with Omah Lay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5URc13jOv0
Gyakie feat. Omah Lay - Forever (remix)

Yes I'm loving the unique flows on both Hallelu (is that like Hallelujah?) and Too Correct. Forever Remix also solid of course.

anyway, thanx for the kind words, feedback is always appreciated! (as are more people posting, we could do with more than just a handful of posters) (You also mentioned Spotify but I don't really fuck with that sorry.)

You're very welcome, and I'd love to post more but I'm not so knowledgable about afrobeats, I'm mostly into bass music/club music these days. My listening habits also tend to lag new releases by a month or more, gotta give it time to percolate.

Someone recommended to me Tender Love by Sha Sha feat. DJ Maphorisa & Kabza de Small. It strikes me as evocative of a powerfully refined mood, especially through the vocals.

I'd guess it's already been posted but if not I'll throw up the link. I tried searching for the afrobeats (or afropop) thread from last year -- I didn't find anything, but surprised to see there are threads for every previous year all the way back to 2013. That's a lot to dig thru!

Not sure if that in particular was posted, but I'm guessing most prev Sha Sha talk was on this goldmine thread: THE HOUSE OF SUN-EL: Sun-El Musician, Simmy, Mlindo The Vocalist, and other related artists

And this year there's a dedicated rolling South African thread: MZANSI MUZIQ 2021 🇿🇦 Rolling South Africa thread

Brilliant!

but surprised to see there are threads for every previous year all the way back to 2013. That's a lot to dig thru!

consider this the Rolling Afropop 2012 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, unfortunate title notwithstanding.

(2012 is also my personal ground zero year for afropop)

Bounce is SOTY so far.

Yes. It just goes. And by the time it peaks, Rema's in an absolute frenzy going "bootybootybootybootybootybooty" and I know the narrative arc is simple and the subject matter played out, but it just works