The 11 Songs You Need to Hear This Week
Featuring Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Kwesta x Rich Homie Quan, Simi, Teni, Khuli Chana, Mr Eazi x Tyga 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.
Burna Boy 'My Money, My Baby'
The official soundtrack for Queen & Slim has arrived, and it features a standout solo track from none other than Burna Boy.b"My Money, My Baby" is a heavily Afrobeat-tinged track that features a prominent sample of Fela Kuti's 1972 song "Shakara." The pulsating track also sees the singer, channeling Fela's signature talk-style of singing and repetition.
Mr Eazi 'Tony Montana' feat. Tyga
Mr Eazi comes through with a major link up in his new single and music video for "Tony Montana," featuring Tyga. The addictive new single is lead by Eazi's allusions to feeling like Scarface over a smooth Killertunes beat. "The energy of the record defines where I am right now in my head. It's like an announcement of my transition from Mr Eazi to Don Eazi. Once Killertunes (the song's producer) sent the record, it was an instant connection," Mr Eazi mentions.
Kwesta x Rich Homie Quan 'Run It Up'
After teasing the single for a week, Kwesta finally released "Run It Up." The song features Rich Homie Quan, who dominates the first half of the song with melodic raps and a catchy hook before the South African hip-hop superstar delivers a verse that reps his hood and reminisces of his come-up. The music video for "Run It Up" shows Kwesta and Quan in the hood performing before various backgrounds that include spinning Gusheshes, rooftops and an excited audience of ordinary community members. The visuals were filmed and directed by Ofentse Mwase aka Uncle Scrooch, who is also behind Kwesta's last video for "Vur Vai."
Simi 'Selense'
Nigeria's Simicomes through with the new music video for her recent single, "Selense." The song, which sees her sing about using your time and years on this earth preciously, gets a beautiful new video that follows Simi's verses about different characters who may or may not be spending their hours in the best way. The upbeat new music video, which was directed by Adasa Cookey, was premiered here on OkayAfrica today. "'Selense' is a song about time," Simi tells OkayAfrica. "The song draws inspiration from classic African highlife. A timeless classic that is perfect for all seasons."
Tiwa Savage 'Owo Mi Da' & 'Attention'
Tiwa Savage has returned with not-one-but-two new singles, "Owo Mi Da" and "Attention." The addictive and upbeat "Owo Mi Da" was co-written by fellow Nigerian hitmaker Olamide and produced by Pheelz. The smoother "Attention" is a song aimed at a man who isn't taking enough notice of his woman. " I guarantee all the ladies will know the lyrics to this one word for word," Tiwa wrote about the track. It was produced by Blaqjerzee.
Teni 'Billionaire'
Nigeria's Tenicomes through with the new music video for "Billionaire," the title track from her recently-released Billionaire EP. The monetarily-aspirational single, which produced by Pheelz, gets a feel-good music video that follows Teni as she sings from a cover of Forbes magazine and competes on a "Who Wants to Be A Billionaire?" TV show spoof. The music video features Frank Edoho, the former host of the now defunct Nigerian version of the trivia game show. While viral comic Broda Shaggi plays Teni's friend.
Khuli Chana 'Planet of the Have Nots'
Khuli Chana's third studio album Planet of the Have Nots has arrived. The 13-track project features both members of his crew Morafe; Towdee Mac and Kaygizm. A-Reece, Cassper Nyovest, Maglera Doe Boy, Melo B and a few others. Just as you'd expect from a Khuli Chana album, he sticks to the formula of motswako; he mixes different influences, sounds and languages to give you a refreshing album that you can only get from him. The album includes the single "Ishu," which was released a few months ago and features fellow motswakolista Cassper Nyovest.
Merry-Lynn 'Petrichor' EP
Merry-Lynn,is a rising singer and songwriter based in Abuja, Nigeria. She recently released her debut EP, Petrichor, which presents a masterful blend of reggae and R&B with a modern twist across its six tracks. Drawing you in with its resonant bass line and alluring vocals, EP opener "Skin," is a major head-bopper. Merry-Lynn pours her heart out over the rippling guitar chords singing "When you gonna call me baby?/ Or don't you think about me lately?" Before you know it you're midway through the sultry and euphoric cut, "Temptation," and fully locked-in to this musical experience.
WurlD x Sarz 'I Love Girls With Trobul' EP
Nigerian elite producer Sarz and buzzing artist WurlD connect for an entrancing new 8-song EP, I Love Girls With Trobul. The project has been at the #1 spot on Nigeria's iTunes charts and—with highly-addictive jams like "Trobul" and "Ego"—we can see why. Get into it above.
Stiff Pap 'Mkokotelo'
Stiff Paprecently shared a music video for their single "Mkokotelo." The song is from the South African hip-hop duo's latest EP Stiff Pap Radio. "Mkokotelo," one of the strongest songs on the project, blends the duo's influences from kwaito to electronic music using hip-hop as base. The song's video was directed by Evan Wigdorowitz, and shows the crew in Adidas tracksuits performing on a spinning Gusheshe.
2Baba 'Important'
Veteran Nigerian artist 2Baba has dropped his much anticipated single entitled "Important." Explaining what inspired the new single, 2Baba says reflectively, "Things are constantly happening around us that have an impact on the way we believe others see us or how we see ourselves, particularly in this social media age."
Berita 'Yours'
Berita's latest music video depicts Zimbabwe in a light you hardly ever see it in. The colorful visuals show the South Africa-based Afro soul singer in her home town Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. "Zimbabwe once revered as the breadbasket of Africa has crumbled politically and economically right before the eyes of the world," says Beria. "This video is my token of hope, love and positivity. I believe that one day Zimbabwe will see a brighter day."
Follow our SONGS YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS WEEK playlist on Spotify here and Apple Music here.
- The 23 Best South African Songs of the Month - OkayAfrica ›
- South Africans Are Trying to Figure Out Why Nigerian Musicians ... ›
- The Best East African Music Videos of 2018 - OkayAfrica ›
- Listen to OkayAfrica's New Playlists On Spotify & Apple Music ... ›
- 9 Vintage African Records You Need in Your Life - OkayAfrica ›
- Who Is Benefitting From the Nostalgic Vintage Releases in African ... ›
- Interview: Davido on Taking African Music Global - OkayAfrica ›
The Best West African Songs of 2024
This year’s list features emerging talents and an uptick in artists reaching to the past to create new sounds.
With “Sade,” Adekunle Gold Challenged The Nigerian Music Industry
As “Sade” turns 10, we take a look at how Adekunle Gold provided an alternative template to being a Nigerian superstar by making music with soul and commercial merits.