speaking of perfect blends of Naija and SA piano:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf7zrgeK_kULojay ft. DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small & Herc Cut The Lights • Canada
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Saturday, 19 November 2022 20:43 (one year ago) link
“Bad Boy”, Oxlade’s new song with Mayorkun, makes me a bit sad. yes, it’s produced by Magicsticks (a/k/a Mr. Providing Asake with the Vibes), but it’s a bit generic and is devoid of most everything that makes Oxy so unique as a vocalist and a songwriter:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcsYXN39_Rw(I can only imagine how hard it is to deal with an out-of-the-blue global smash hit when you haven’t even been able to establish yourself as a major star in your home market. the pressure (internal and external) to come up with the “right” follow-up must be enormous. CKay (a lesser talent), who was in a similar situation, might have handled it pretty wisely: come up with a copycat followup (“Emiliana”), but otherwise keep plotting your own course. hopefully it will pay off for him.)
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Wednesday, 23 November 2022 08:48 (one year ago) link
the new DJ Tunez joint, also a Magicsticks production, at least has a healthy dose of oomph and Wande Coal personality (plus killer organ licks!) - in short, “Flex”:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC0UJ32t3Us
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Wednesday, 23 November 2022 08:49 (one year ago) link
Hey! Emiliana is a *jam*!
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Wednesday, 23 November 2022 10:13 (one year ago) link
did I say it wasn’t?
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Wednesday, 23 November 2022 10:16 (one year ago) link
that Lojay song is great and the Canadiana in the lyrics/video is p funny, interesting that Canada has become such a diasporic/emigrant signifier (Skeng put out a "Canada" this year too, though it's not great)
I'm kinda bored by both those Magicsticks songs—not sure if he needs Asake to make it work, or if I'm tiring of this sound
― rob, Wednesday, 23 November 2022 14:17 (one year ago) link
did someone say they wanted faster stuff?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd0aor9XcVMOyoki Onanayo • Maman Bololo(cheating of course, as this is Ivorian)
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Friday, 25 November 2022 08:40 (one year ago) link
sounds like a hit - and not unlike “eMcimbini”:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqus4a-mxIIRotimi ft. Nektunez • Make You Say
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Sunday, 27 November 2022 18:09 (one year ago) link
timely, because yes, they did bring back the love today! - also quite subdued for a football anthem, and all the more appealing for it frankly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_zg693gBw4G.F.A. ft. King Promise • Black Stars (Bring Back The Love)
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Monday, 28 November 2022 21:52 (one year ago) link
Ivorian faster-stuff provider Oyoki Onanayo coming thru again, this time with old thread friend Serge Beynaud:
"Mata Pkohou": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEgNZhdl_jM
absolute scenes at the local market: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT3YFHLL1kE
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Tuesday, 29 November 2022 22:24 (one year ago) link
Loving the Ivorian stuff. My thing totally
― Urbandn hope all ye who enter here (dog latin), Tuesday, 29 November 2022 23:57 (one year ago) link
Have any of you listened to the Hagan album Textures? I checked it out after seeing this Resident Advisor review: https://ra.co/reviews/35161.
I'm not sure how to describe it as it's quite eclectic. There are some familiar guest vocalists on it (Bryte, Aymos), but my favorite track is "Royal Jama":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf9BAxsRaRQ
Lots of other beautiful stuff on there too, plus the one with Bryte gets pretty frenetic
― rob, Thursday, 1 December 2022 15:06 (one year ago) link
Love how that “royal hama” track sounds will check the rest. Didn’t expect it to be instrumental, there is a potential hit in the making with that one with a guest vocalist.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Thursday, 1 December 2022 16:17 (one year ago) link
That one isn't really representative, but then no single track is.
"My Love" has vocals and shows the more UK dance side of things:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcqJzi6Qkb4
"Sise Ntweni" w/ Aymos, naturally, is SA house:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HuZ6ZB8PJQ
That range might strike some people as unfocused, but the whole things *sounds* amazing and ultimately cohesive
― rob, Thursday, 1 December 2022 17:34 (one year ago) link
btw: https://hagan.bandcamp.com/album/textures
― rob, Thursday, 1 December 2022 17:35 (one year ago) link
really enjoying this album, the name Hagan didn’t ring a bell, but then I did remember that Aymos track from earlier this year. great *textures* indeed, love what he’s doing with gqom as well.don’t love the two UK r&b tracks tho, both of these singers are not good, wish these had been left off.all in all a very nice December surprise, rob!
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Thursday, 1 December 2022 22:21 (one year ago) link
my pleasure! and agreed on the gqom track, that's a standout
I do like those two rnb tracks (well, the one about praying kind of grates on me lyrically), but I doubt I would have listened to an entire album that sounded like that
― rob, Thursday, 1 December 2022 22:36 (one year ago) link
Ghana are in desperate need of help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cH8NP0lo_oKweku Flick ft. Smallgod • Blackstars (World Cup Anthem)
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Friday, 2 December 2022 16:00 (one year ago) link
speaking of December surprises: Kwesta and Kabza De Small made a kwaito album for the piano era. it’s called Speak N Vrostaan and it slams. it’s 2022, so there’s log drums and other traces of piano, which helps create a fresh, updated version of an old-school vibe. guests include veterans like Professor and Sizwe Alakine (f/k/a Reason) and young piano rappers like Young Stunna and Toss - and Kabza raps as well, under his alias Papta Mancane.“Mrholo Wayizolo” (ft. Masterpiece YVK & Papta Mancane): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMnLCFoFt-0
― I did see Xhaka crotchgrab (breastcrawl), Saturday, 3 December 2022 18:37 (one year ago) link
…and there’s a Nigerian December surprise as well: a Mavins album, celebrating ten years of Don Jazzy’s label (but with music by the current roster only).highlights (besides the hits “Overloading (Overdose)” and “Won Da Mo”) are the two new tracks with Rema in the starring role: “Alle” and especially “Amina”, which also features Ayra Starr, Bayanni, Crayon & DJ Big N: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmhNup0IQ_0
― I did see Xhaka crotchgrab (breastcrawl), Saturday, 3 December 2022 18:49 (one year ago) link
Oh wow, I hadn't realized it was Kabza rapping on that one (there was an earlier music video called yvk-K’shubile).
Very intrigued by the Textures, fantastic soundscape, completely new on Sise Ntweni !! Sounds like the future more than the past to be honest. Chopped, still intricate but more direct-hitting brand of amapiano-House, I'm ready and I want more.
― Nabozo, Saturday, 3 December 2022 22:04 (one year ago) link
Oh it's a British DJ. I hope the South Africans are paying attention. So fresh and playful.
― Nabozo, Saturday, 3 December 2022 22:12 (one year ago) link
long post alert!
― I did see Xhaka crotchgrab (breastcrawl), Wednesday, 7 December 2022 19:11 (one year ago) link
used Sunday’s Senegal match in the World Cup to treat myself to some current Senegalese sounds (a deep dive, if you will. it’s such a lovely term, isn’t it?) had never realised before how much of a blind spot the Senegal scene was for me, although sure, I’ve listened to my share of Youssou N’Dour and there was that 2003 Dakar dem Dikk rap compilation.my francophone Africa listening, which has always been spotty to begin with, has been mainly limited to artists from Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, DRC and Mali. and duh, the Senegalese sounds turn out to be quite different (although there’s some kora-related overlap with neighboring Mali), as well as extremely rewarding.those drum patterns the Senegalese supporters kept serving up non-stop from the stands during their team’s matches? there’s hardly a song without them - ballads are no exception, as you will see.sadly, the Lions of Teranga were eliminated, but I made a line up of favourites just the same (all from this year or, in some cases, from 2021):Your starting Eleven:1️⃣Mia Guissé • Idda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x76ayjZpht0percussive prettiness, as promised. this is #1 on Senegal’s YouTube top 20 - most of the top 10 are songs by female singers btw.2️⃣One Lyrical & Leyna • Lune de miel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1QEi6RitCwthe only track here that feels (Naija) afropop-adjacent3️⃣One Lyrical & Leyna ft. Bass Thioung • Dozéko: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZGhhkygAmAthis one has drill bass! (more on this duo below)two from the above-featured Bass Thioung. first one is a recent World Cup tie-in, the second one is from last year:4️⃣Bass Thioung • Na Flash Yi Takk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPxN2QkdFZM5️⃣Bass Thioung • Je m’en fous de ça: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSm-85A3fI4their video game is very tight too:6️⃣Samba Peuzzi • Mbaraj: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CekaUtYLggg7️⃣Samba Peuzzi • Lou Yakou Yawa (2021): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYBWX4vtql0c’est vraiment trop lit 🔥: 8️⃣Bilou XIV ft. Zo Flame • Fatal ma fofou: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKPE9ahsN8I9️⃣Bilou XIV • Touche du bois (2021): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkm8FXY53PMloving the lushness:🔟Fantastic Beatz ft. Matadi • eMaturr: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1TcK2zmOnsending with a mid-tempo ballad from last year, produced by that same Fantastic Beatz:1️⃣1️⃣Narah Diouf • Peundeul: on the bench: OMG Oumy Gueye, who comes across as a kind of local Rihanna, lots of dramatic ballads, but also rapper’s attitude and catchy jams.note: One Lyrical & Leyna (see 2️⃣ and 3️⃣) are a newly-wed celebrity couple, he a rapper, she a model. sounds corny as hell, but their Lune de miel (yes, it means ‘Honeymoon’) album is a pure delight. I might actually nominate it for the EOY poll.
― I did see Xhaka crotchgrab (breastcrawl), Wednesday, 7 December 2022 19:30 (one year ago) link
1️⃣1️⃣Narah Diouf • Peundeul: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKcrjleCEOY
― I did see Xhaka crotchgrab (breastcrawl), Wednesday, 7 December 2022 19:32 (one year ago) link
and here’s your supersub!El Maestro le Kangham ft. Satou Niang • Moulay Thieuguine Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0Sb4UJqKhI
― I did see Xhaka crotchgrab (breastcrawl), Wednesday, 7 December 2022 19:37 (one year ago) link
wow, this stuff is so nice!!! senegal!!
― sean gramophone, Thursday, 8 December 2022 15:10 (one year ago) link
yeah super interesting, bc, thanks!
― rob, Thursday, 8 December 2022 15:22 (one year ago) link
Yes, I like the supersub, El Maestro x Satou Niang, and have to still dig into more. Love how that Senegalese mbalax drumming style is there but it is melded with some afrobeats & r'n'b tinted melodies
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 8 December 2022 19:04 (one year ago) link
I’d rather senegal than camila cabell’:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWKyDIU8L2wOxlade ft. Camila Cabello • Ku Lo Sa I know what the point of these remixes is, but they are so fucking pointless
― I did see Xhaka crotchgrab (breastcrawl), Friday, 9 December 2022 20:04 (one year ago) link
(and to make matters worse, this is definitely a different vocal take by Oxy)
― I did see Xhaka crotchgrab (breastcrawl), Friday, 9 December 2022 20:05 (one year ago) link
something’s in the air…
My favorite Senegalese song of 2022 is Bilou XIV & Zo Flame’s “Fatal”. Modern mbalax songs have digital production that reduces the sabar drumming into these familiar, gestural rhythmic/melodic arcs—this doubles down on that in the form of a minimalist rap song. Phenomenal. pic.twitter.com/tIkT4H1eJO— Joshua Minsoo Kim (@misterminsoo) December 9, 2022
― I did see Xhaka crotchgrab (breastcrawl), Saturday, 10 December 2022 01:49 (one year ago) link
yeah that one and Dozeko stood out the most to me from your rundown
― rob, Saturday, 10 December 2022 15:06 (one year ago) link
I really like this minimalist banger from Zo Flame:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv5Z9dkHqco
"On a pas les moyens"
― rob, Saturday, 10 December 2022 15:17 (one year ago) link
nice one! (and his DLS EP is also good)
― I did see Xhaka crotchgrab (breastcrawl), Saturday, 10 December 2022 19:04 (one year ago) link
Kelvyn Boy finally follows up “Down Flat”, my Ghanaian song of the year, and it’s another treat.star of the show this time are the guitars, both the busy rhythm one in the background and the one that’s doing all those whoops and other flourishes more upfront (if it’s even a guitar!) - the background vocals and harmonies get a honorable mention. suspect we have producer DJ Breezy to thank for that. that makes ten years of reinventing himself now.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cIXsfzjZpg
― I did see Xhaka crotchgrab (breastcrawl), Monday, 12 December 2022 17:29 (one year ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZrDDbiZzOU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BerqreQ3KU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4kamcepV3g
posted these in the internet stuff/hyperpop thread but they can go here too because they vaguely fit and jim legxacy is just that good
― ufo, Tuesday, 13 December 2022 22:59 (one year ago) link
yeah some of those are really dope... feel like he could get even better if the songwriting improves but the style is intriguing. i think i like the candy rain one the most
― J0rdan S., Tuesday, 13 December 2022 23:24 (one year ago) link
Really loving the Kwesta and Kabza album. N'gud vibes!
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Wednesday, 14 December 2022 12:39 (one year ago) link
Candy rain melody too obvious for me to love but the dj song is good I think, albeit quirky conceptually for the states
― xheugy eddy (D-40), Wednesday, 14 December 2022 16:10 (one year ago) link
Bad news in London; there was a crowd crush at an Asake show: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/dec/16/four-people-in-critical-condition-after-crush-at-o2-academy-brixton
― rob, Friday, 16 December 2022 15:14 (one year ago) link
that looks absolutely horrible… :-(
― I did see Xhaka crotchgrab (breastcrawl), Friday, 16 December 2022 15:52 (one year ago) link
yeah that’s horrible. have been enjoying the asake album and had been thinking of going as it’s just down the road.
― Fizzles, Friday, 16 December 2022 20:14 (one year ago) link
💔 pic.twitter.com/ne110ugRFb— ASAKE (@asakemusik) December 17, 2022
― I did see Xhaka crotchgrab (breastcrawl), Saturday, 17 December 2022 15:27 (one year ago) link
The Uproxx poll of “hundreds of critics “ ( mostly US American I think) didn’t have much afropop afrobeats that I could see
Beyoncé won albums poll. 26 voted for Rosalia album, 3 votes for Burna Boy album, 2 votes for Rauw Alejandro album, 3 votes for Asake album
Burna Boy “Last Last” did make singles/tracks list
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 20 December 2022 16:30 (one year ago) link
ok thanks
― J0rdan S., Tuesday, 20 December 2022 17:35 (one year ago) link
enjoying this list: https://www.passionweiss.com/2022/12/27/best-afro-jams-2022/
favourite discoveries so far are cabo snoop - "controlla" and yemi alade - "baddie"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq_gDQPavVI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oPkeBJA5NU
― ufo, Thursday, 29 December 2022 11:44 (one year ago) link
Oh I had lost touch with Yemi Alade who was great live when I saw her a few years ago. Thanks
― curmudgeon, Friday, 30 December 2022 02:15 (one year ago) link
https://afropop.org/articles/2022-afropop-best-of-amapiano-and-afrobeats-top-10
These afropop. org lists are kinda randomly chosen it appears , but y'all might still find them of interest
― curmudgeon, Monday, January 2, 2023 5:13 PM (0 seconds ago) bookmarkflaglink
― curmudgeon, Monday, 2 January 2023 17:14 (one year ago) link
the rs list posted on the eoy thread looks promisinghttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-afropop-songs-of-2022-1234650065/
― corrs unplugged, Monday, 2 January 2023 18:02 (one year ago) link