The 12 Songs You Need to Hear This Week
Featuring Rema, J Hus, YoungstaCPT, Thutmose, N'veigh and more.
Every week, we highlight the cream of the crop in music through our Best Music of the Week column.
Here's our round up of the best tracks and music videos that came across our desks, which you can also check out in our Songs You Need to Hear This Week playlists on Spotify and Apple Music.
Follow our SONGS YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS WEEK playlist on Spotify here and Apple Music here.
Check out all of OkayAfrica's new playlists on Spotify and Apple Music.
J Hus 'Must Be'
J Husis back. The British-Gambian MC has just shared "Must Be," his first official single since his release from jail in April. The songs sees J Hus going in over a bass-heavy production from frequent collaboration JAE5, who oversaw production on the London rapper's highly-acclaimed debut album Common Sense. The track follows J Hus as he raps about being guilty by association in his staple laidback flow. . He goes in about a general state of untrustworthiness regarding his surroundings and enemies lurking, "if it look like an opp, talk like an opp, must be an opp."
Rema 'Lady'
Nigerian artist Rema shares the music video for his latest single "Lady" from his new EP Bad Commando.The music video, directed by Tadas Vanagas also features choreography fromSophia, which is performed throughout the video by a talented dancer who takes the spotlight. Rema appears later in the video, dressed in trendy streetwear as his love interest ties him up and serenades him. The song itself is an airy with house-inspired production from Altims. It's made up of harmonies that Rema deliveries mostly in pidgin.
YoungstaCPT 'To Live And Die In CA'
YoungstaCPT's influences are varied, and they always show in his work. His latest single "To Live and Die in CA" was inspired by 2pac's "To Live and Die in LA." The song is littered with West Coast references like "I grew up around 2pac's they were all on death row" and "It's nothing but a g thang, and I'm the new Snoop Dogg." He further raps, "It's like Cape Town and Compton are step bros" In the song, YoungstaCPT paints the picture of life in Cape Town's Coloured neighborhoods. He touches on the Western Cape province's gangsterism crisis.
Banx & Ranx x Kojo Funds 'Traffic Jam'
Ghanaian-Dominican artist Kojo Funds links up with Canadian production duo Banx & Ranx for their upbeat new single "Traffic Jam." The collaborators headed to Accra for the song's lively music video, which sees them caught in a traffic jam like no other. The traffic jam turns into more of a block party as colorfully dressed dancers take over the streets and everyone turns up. The video was directed by popular afrobeats video director Meji Alabi.
N'veigh 'Summer 95'
N'veigh's "Summer 95" is a fitting single for the upcoming festive season. The song is heavily influenced by 90s' kwaito, and sees N'veigh adjust his delivery to fit the low BPM. The video is simply a mood, showing a day filled with festivities in the street—from the rapper performing with a fizzy drink in his hand, hanging out with his boys and girls around cooler boxes and the scantily dressed women on bikes and spraying everyone with water guns.
TOBi 'Faces' ft. Sango, Wax Roof
Nigerian-Canadian rapper & singer TOBi drops "Faces," a head-nodding single alongside Soulection's Sango. The new song, which was produced by Sango and Wax Roof, sees TOBi dealing with all the new people that have come into his live as his popularity goes up.
"Faces" is available now
A-reece 'We Both Know Better'
After a silence that has been too long for his fans, A-Reece has resurfaced with a new music video for "We Both Know Better." The music video was directed by Cape Town-based director Motion Billy. It was filmed in the Mother City and consists mostly of night scenes in the city's streets. Apart from the models featured in the video, A-Reece's longtime producer MashBeatz makes an appearance. "We Both Know Better" is a song from A-Reece's latest project Reece Effect, which was released in April around the same time the Pretoria-based emcee hosted his Reece Effect concert.
Thutmose & Rema 'Love in the Morning'
Buzzing Brooklyn-based, Nigerian rapper Thutmose links up with none other than Rema on his new single, "Love In the Morning." The song is a standout from Thutmose's new EP Don't Wake Me, which dropped on Tuesday as a folllow-up to his 2018 debut album Man on Fire. "Love In the Morning," is a mellow and melodic track that sees Thutmose and Rema singing their devotion to their love interests.
Lurah 'Pop Off' feat. Chingatime
Cape Town-based rapper Lurah's recently released EP, New Drug 2, is a display of talent and flair. With songs like "For Kids on the Come Up," "Icon Hotel Nights (Interlude)" and "10K" among others, the project is a perfect soundtrack for the come-up as Lurah and his collaborators take you to the trap with them where they are doing their best to conquer the rap game and life in general.
JimmyWiz Feat. Gugu Zwane 'A Woman Scorned'
On "A Woman Scorned," JimmyWiz tells the story of gender-based violence he grew up witnessing. It's not just his story, but the story of South Africa, the continent and the world at large. The rapper from the East Rand recalls his uncle abusing his aunt. The song was written two years ago at the height of Karabo Mokoena's tragic death at the hands of her boyfriend. The story triggered the memory which the emcee shares on "A Woman Scorned," a piercing narrative that lives over a breezy instrumental straight from the golden era.
Bantou Mentale 'Château Rouge'
Bantou Mentale come through with dark and hazy blend of influences from their homes across Kinshasa and Paris in their new self-titled album. The four-piece group's album marks a "fulfilment of their long-held dream to create an African band with the weight and sensory attack of knife-edged rock and hot-wired club beats," they mention.
Priddy Ugly & Bontle Modiselle 'Sweetie Lavo'
Priddy Ugly and Bontle Modiselle recently got married. The couple recently shared an aftermovie of their wedding in the form of a music video for their newly-released single "Sweety Lavo." The music video is filmed by Nkululeko Armsdeal Lebambo of CideFX Films, who has worked with both Priddy Ugly as a solo act and alongside Bontle as the duo Rick Jade.
Follow our SONGS YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS WEEK playlist on Spotify here and Apple Music here.
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