rolling afropop 2022

Introducing Magixx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=divDTLBDmCw
Magixx - Chocolate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwsGYaF-cEM
Magixx feat. Ayra Starr - Love Don't Cost a Dime (Re-up)

hadn’t checked in on prolific Ghanaian (self) producer Magnom for quite some time, but “Sweetie”s low-key vibe hits the spot for me today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gs9kaxxI4U

"kwaku the traveller" is really something, isn't it? immediately commanding. idk if i've ever heard this kind of delivery over a drill beat

Mellow & Sleazy are dropping a 9-song album (EP ?) in three days. I am enjoying the drive and percussions in recent single SJEPA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkAeAc23vLU
Mellow & Sleazy (feat. Focalistic & M.J) - SJEPA

Actually, that edit is no good and they should all be credited
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHkm9Odpzw4
Focalistic, Mellow & Sleazy and M.J - SJEPA

went on vacation for a week so I'm behind here, but that Boj "In A Loop" song is really nice

Billboard profile on the newly Warner-signed Pheelz

he’s hoping for Cardi B and/or ***Ye and/or Rihanna and/or Drake on the remix for “Finesse”

I mentioned Poco Lee’s “Yard” upthread because of its Black Sherif feature, but it merits more than just a mention - it’s a great track!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbDSxVrT4ZA
Poco Lee ft. Black Sherif, Bella Shmurda & Alpha P • Yard

(the fact that it’s produced by P.Priime may have something to do with it)

BOJ feat. Wizkid & Darkovibes, Awolowo remix is alright

I'm out the loop and doing a DJ set on Sat. What's really making you tick?

people, don’t sleep on Oxlade’s “Want You”. textbook example of a grower, that one.

I'm out the loop and doing a DJ set on Sat. What's really making you tick?

― Urbandn hope all ye who enter here (dog latin), 26. april 2022 17:47 (three days ago) bookmarkflaglink

Anything Fireboy and/or Rema, Sungba Remix, Kwaku the Traveller

New Burna Boy out 2 July titled 'Love, Damini' (his real name)

yesss

For fans of Osama

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZhKGa_d-Tk
Thee Suka - Aluwawa

Also we haven't posted either Mufasa or Jinja. Tekno has entered that sweet territory of effortlessness and he has endured remarkably well since his initial streak of hits (Duro - Pana - Rara - Samantha).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H0AEH3kPTY
Tekno - Jinja

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6LPkQyYdwg
Tekno - Mufasa

He has endured, but he is a bit past his prime, no?

There is no denying that Tekno has a formula, but it does not sound stale to me, rather like the classic afrobeats sound.

Playfully yours from Ghana, previously mentioned re-Horoscopes EP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2Qfe8JZHJE
Kwabena Kwabena - Fingers

I like those two recent Tekno singles a lot, especially “Jinja”, but his problem is he hasn’t sounded current in ages, which *might* be by choice, but it has made him more or less irrelevant as a hitmaker.

there’s something sad about his career. he was almost on a par with Wizkid and Davido at one point (remember he gave “If” to Davido when Davido was at the nadir of his career), but when he finally released his debut album in December 2020, at least three years after the fact, I don’t think anyone talked about it, anywhere. at least the album’s bizarre title, Old Romance, made a lot more sense than when he came up with it in 2017 or whenever it was. I listened to it once, and it was nice enough, but again, out of touch with the times and no urgency to it whatsoever.

but who knows, he might catch a wave again someday 🌊

but speaking of endurance: this slept-on track from 2019…

In other news: Wande’s still got it (see also the Amaarae track posted over the weekend):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snpa4_kUkkg
melvitto ft. Wande Coal • Gentility
― breastcrawl, woensdag 5 juni 2019 23:38

A friend turned me onto this great lo-fi afropop track from Nigeria (not to be confused with the Toronto indie-pop act of the same name):

Hotkid - "Star"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksEfm6MuJ0w`

^^ really nice, thanks to your friend

liking the boj album a great deal, even if he does tend to fade into the background and let the guests shine sometimes

Focalistic touring the US through June. In Houston MY 13; Dallas May 14

but who knows, he might catch a wave again someday 🌊

disclaimer: unabashed Oxlade fanboy here, but here’s yet another song of his I just•can•not•stop playing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x80x3_JqOws
Smallgod ft. Oxlade • Biou Biou

Oxy is permanently crazy in love, basically.

Smallgod is a Ghanaian-Dutch entrepreneur-turned-artist/A&R guy whose new album features an impressive line-up of Ghanaian, Naija, UK and Dutch guest artists: https://thenativemag.com/essentials-smallgod-connecting-the-dots/

Omah Lay has announced his first album Boy Alone is being released on 24 June 2022. Woman is the latest song revealed after Understand and the Bieber duo. I find it dangerously drowsy though, which I suddenly have less patience for after Rema's energy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFtZqhnXyGw
Omah Lay - Woman

For those interested, Kwaku the Traveller now has a video. The guy loves the camera.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIDiI5kyBDQ

In the last hour or so I've been discovering King Promise who has shaped up a nice career. This little ballad is unassuming but pleasant enough to post, I dig the use of amapiano. Other favorites include his early singles Selfish, Alright with Shatta Wale which I will post for pleasure (2020), Fine Wine with R2Bees, CCTV. His other single from 2022, Bad 'N' Rude with WSTRN, is not bad either.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCbAYj9tH2k
King Promise - Ginger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgA3PEO9V9U
King Promise (feat. Shatta Wale) - Alright

Also, I'm usually not a fan, but legit sound production from Stonebwoy on his latest and I didn't remember he was doing such an excellent Burna Boy impression.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bD2pME-cLiY
Stonebwoy - Therapy

Fresh and irresistibly groovy from SA, hope it hits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0RbA4RntcA
Konke & Musa Keys (feat. Nkulee501, Skroef28 & Chley) - Kancane

The man behind Dorobucci and Adaobi is reborn from his ashes to gather some young stars around... a very soft beat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8SNlvR86xc
Mavins, Crayon, Ayra Starr (feat. LADIPOE, Magixx & Boy Spyce) - Overloading (Overdose)

that is a beautiful tune, thank you

after all these years i'm still a total sucker for classic dorobucci/passionfruit kinda vibes

Two new Ghanaian hits that both incorporate that big backing chorus line thing that’s all the rage in Naija pop this year.

Wendy Shay’s bleak “Survivor” even has a bit of Yoruba in the chant - in hopes of a crossover perhaps? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUbqTYsQpGs

Kuami Eugene’s “Take Away” is all about tauntingly flaunting it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZBYRX6USqE

more of a good thing:

is there such a thing as “too much Oxlade”? don’t think so!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pDQjwaH3qk
Oxlade • Ku Lo Se

more of a good thing, part 2:

lyrically at least, this is Bloody Samaritan Redux, but do we need more female fuck-you songs in afropop? I think we do!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S06IoLBDI7I
Ayra Starr • Ase

(oh, and London producing)

2022 will be remembered as the Asake takeover.
Here’s Peace Be Unto You:

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

^^ in at 92 in the midweek UK chart, another milestone for afropop.

“Last Last” climbed to number 20 last week, making it by far Burna’s biggest UK hit as the main artist.
Meanwhile, after almost *six* whole months, “Peru” is *still* in the top 20.

sorry i'm a real newb to afropop, just hearing "last last" and damn that's a good song.

welcome aboard, map!

thanks, i have ambitions to keep up that i'm sure will recede shortly

that Asake song is fantastic. I'll probably tire of that naijapiano/rubbery bass sound soon-ish but not yet

otm about "last last" and about the new asake, loving them both a lot

new DaBaby (yes, this is the Afropop thread):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QJl3NMDePs
DaBaby ft. Davido • Showing Off Her Body

that's a dud imo

what makes this a dud for you? the track itself ( I happen to think it’s a jam) or the fact that it’s DaBaby (which, sure)?

mostly DaBaby, who I've rarely loved but don't have any prejudice against. But I don't get anything from his presence here, the chorus is particularly eye-rolly. Production isn't bad or anything, I could see liking it with a vocalist I like more. Probably doesn't help that I'd listened to Last Last and PBUY right beforehand

idk maybe I am a bit prejudiced about crossover attempts tbh. but compare that to this, which just has tons more atmosphere & character:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmZ7KQD5Qvg

loool you’re going to apple-and-orange me with an *Oxlade* track? of course that one is much better, it’s from last summer’s Eclipse EP, one of the musical highlights of 2021, as noted upthread. didn’t know he dropped a video for “More” after all this time, so thanx for the headsup!

(you really should listen to that whole EP tho!)

I have! I'm super grateful for your Oxlade hyping

And yes that was an extremely deliberate thumb on the scales / hey check out this new video :)