The Songs You Need to Hear This Week

At the end of every week, we highlight the creme of the crop in music and round up the best tracks and music videos that came across our desks throughout the last few days.

Follow our "Songs You Need to Hear This Week" playlist on Apple Music to get immediate updates every Friday and read about some of the selections ahead.

Two new Burna Boy joints

Burna Boy came through with two new releases this week.

The Nigerian star just dropped "Rock Your Body," an addictive new single produced by DJ Juls. According to Burna, this is the first of the new hits he'll be dropping this coming month. Check it out below via NotJustOk.

He also released the music video for "Boshe Nlo," from his latest EP, Redemption, earlier this week, which you can check out above.

Tony Allen x Art Blakey

Legendary Nigerian drummer Tony Allen will give jazz enthusiasts a major treat next month with the release of his new EP, A Tribute to Art Blakey. 

As it’s name implies, Allen’s latest EP pays homage to one of his musical idols, American jazz drummer, Art Blakey. The 4-track EP is lead by “Moanin’."

Shabazz Palaces are back

Shabazz Palaces have announced their new album, Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star, which is set to feature The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas, Thundercat, and others. According to the band, the new record will tell the story of a “sentient being from somewhere else” named Quazarz.

Stream the album's lead single, “Shine a Light (feat. Thaddillac),” and watch its lyric video, directed by Cristina T. Bercovitz and Jonathan Snipes, above.

Follow our ‘Songs You Need to Hear’ playlist on Apple Music for weekly updates of new music.

Michael Beharie's Voices EP

New York-based artist and producer Michael Beharie links up with Nigerian "afro experimental pop" singer SARO for "Reasons," one of the standout tracks from his new EP, Voices, which is out today.

The EP explores four different shades of Beharie's alluring and diverse electronic productions, and features collaborations with L e'Asha Julius and Marisa. A listen through the whole thing is definitely worth your while.

Andy Mkosi's This Audio Is Visual EP

Cape Town rapper Andy Mkosi combines photography with soulful beats in her new EP. The 8-track This Audio Is Visual is an introspective project in which she's not afraid to talk about her insecurities and fears.

E.L "Shape of You" (Afrobeats Remix)

E.L, one of Ghana's finest, tackles Ed Sheeran's massive hit in this afrobeats remix of "Shape of You"—it's lowkey hot fire.

Miles from Kinshasa "Fireworks"

UK-Congolese singer Miles from Kinshasa shares his new single and music video for "Fireworks," a track written in a style he calls Rumba-pop—a fusion of R&B and pop with influences from across the globe.

Roberto "Contolola" feat. Patoranking

Zambia's Roberto connects with Nigerian reggae-dancehall singer Patoranking for "Contolola," a jam tailor-made for your weekend parties.

Laolu NYC "Mama Africa"

Laolu Senbanjo is "an African boy and he's proud" in his Simon Sez-produced single "Mama Africa." Revisit the track, which is newly available on iTunes here.

You might remember Laolu's “The Sacred Art of the Ori” visual art work from when it was featured in Beyoncé‘s Lemonade.

Timaya x Electric Bodega

Nigeria's Timaya and NYC DJ/production duo Electric Bodega join forces for this summer electro-pop remix of "I Like The Way," which they describe as a fusion of EDM, dancehall, and tropical house. This one's giving us all the necessary beach vibes.