The 10 Songs You Need to Hear This Week
The best music of the week featuring Cassper Nyovest, Mr Eazi, Tay Iwar, Black Coffee and many 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 OkayAfrica on Spotify and Apple Music to get immediate updates every week and read about some of our selections ahead.
Cassper Nyovest "Gets Getsa 2.0"
Cassper Nyovest's latest single sees him return to what made him a household name: mixing hip-hop and kwaito. On "Gets Getsa 2.0," the first single from his newly-announced upcoming album, the South African rapper rides a bass-laden kwaito beat and takes it "back to kasi."
Sauti Sol "Tujiangalie" feat. Nyashinski
Following up to their massively successful single "Short & Sweet,"Sauti Sol have released a new politically-charged track called "Tujiangalie," which means "let's look at ourselves."The socially conscious song heavily addresses issues of corruption and tribalism while urging Kenyan youth to stop fighting on Twitter and start seeking solutions to the issues affecting the country through self-reflection.
Mr Eazi x Popcaan "Body So Good"
Popcaan dropped one of the best dancehall albums of the year so far with Forever, his second album with Mixpak Records. The Dre Skull-produced "Body So Good," the album's lead single and one of its clear highlights, is now getting an afrobeats-flavored revisit featuring Mr Eazi, who adds his own verse about both loving and being driven crazy by a girl.
Major League Djz "Family" feat. Kwesta & Kid X
With spring just around the corner, artists are releasing songs we could be jamming to all summer. South African producer and DJ duo Major League DJz' latest song, featuring rappers Kwesta and Kid X, could be one of those playing at all parties throughout the happy season.
M.I 'A Study On Self Worth: Yxng Dxnzl'
Nigerian veteran MC M.I Abaga just released a new album, which is a follow-up to 2014's The Chairman. Earlier this year, he released a mixtape/playlist titled Rendezvouz. Titled A Study on Self Worth: Yxng Dxnzl, the new album sees the MC give some advice on this life thing. What's great about the album is that even if it aims to motivate, it doesn't get corny and didactic. M.I still displays the aggression and cynicism that we love about rap, while still not alienating you.
Shane Eagle "Gustavo!"
South African rapper Shane Eagle recently dropped a song titled "Gustavo!." Fans feel that Shane is throwing jabs at AKA. In the beginning of the song, Shane says, "I fuck with Gustavo way more than I do with Pablo." AKA once rapped, "Don't talk to me like I ain't Pablo." Fans believe that Shane is referring to AKA's rival Cassper Nyovest as Gustavo, and is thus picking sides in the rappers' ongoing beef.
Tay Iwar '1977'
Tay Iwar is one of the most promising young artists that are spearheading the new wave of Nigerian music. To many it comes as a surprise that the "Video Star" singer is only 21—his atmospheric, alternative R&B; sound displays a spirit and skill set that is sounds beyond his years. To our delight, Tay just unveiled three new self-produced tracks off his upcoming debut album, 1997. The tracks were released exclusively via Soulection, a major co-sign for the Abuja-based prodigy.
Black Coffee x David Guetta
South African house music DJ and producerBlack Coffeejust released a new collaboration with famed French DJ and producer David Guetta. "Drive," which features the vocalist Delilah Montagu, is electronica meets South African house, with Black Coffee's drum patterns anchoring some subtle synths and pads. The South African DJ mentioned on Twitter how the single was a "very unique and cool experience" that saw him stepping out of his comfort zone.
Cuppy x L.A.X "Currency"
Cuppy follows her recent release of "Vybe" alongside Sarkodie with "Currency," a new slow-burning track for the dance floor. The track features another buzzing Nigerian name in L.A.X. Get into it above.
Asante "Drop Money"
Asante is a Detroit-based, Ghanaian-rooted artist who landed on our radar with the Sango-produced single "Run You Mad." Asante is releasing his new sleek boyEP today and to mark the occasion he's dropping the video for "Drop Money," one of the new release's highlights that's tailor-made for the dance floor. The song's music video, which we're premiering here, is a lively affair that features some of Detroit's best afrobeats dancers.