Photo: Tjeerd Braat. Courtesy of Marieme.
The 11 Songs You Need to Hear This Week
Featuring Bas, Ycee, Major League, Moonchild Sanelly, Niniola, Indigo Stella, Fireboy DML, Marieme 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 playlists on Spotify and Apple Music.
Bas 'Amnesia' feat. Ari Lennox & KIDDOMINANT
French-born, New York-raised, Sudanese rapper Bascomes through with the new music video for "Amnesia," his addictive single from Spilled Milk Vol. 1. "Amnesia" sees Bas linking up with fellow Dreamville artist Ari Lennox and Nigeria's Kiddominantfor a head-nodding blend of Afro-house, soca, afrobeats, and sounds from Bahia, Brazil. The uplifting track was produced by DJ Moma.
Major League & Focalistic 'Ndikuze' feat. Moonchild, Kabza De Small & The Lowkeys
Focalistic and Moonchild Sanelly share an amapiano instrumental on "Ndikuze," a single by the Pretoria-based rapper and Major League DJz. The song also features contributions from amapiano stalwarts Kabza De Small and The Lowkeys. Moonchild Sanelly's lyrics are littered with sexual innuendos.. [while] the influence of kwaito on Focalistic is evident in his verse, as he repeats many of his lines and delivers them with plenty of spaces in between. Focalistic is deliberate in his representation of the hood in his music, hence the kwaito and amapiano ingredients in his sound.
Ycee 'Vacancy'
Ycee comes through with the new music video for "Vacancy," one of the highlight tracks from his debut album, Ycee Vs Zaheer. "Vacancy" follows the Nigerian artist as he delivers smooth vocal melodies and rhymes over a house-influenced beat. The new clip for "Vacancy" was directed by TG Omori, the young director breathing new life into Nigerian music videos known for his previous work on "Am I A Yahoo Boy," "Agege" and others. The new video features an at times miniature-sized Ycee and DJ T Garbsas his counterpart and object of affection.
Marieme X Melanie Faye 'Be The Change' (Acoustic)
Senegalese singer-songwriterMariemehas been revisiting songs from her self-titled EP for a new visual project. "Be The Change," one of the standouts from that Marieme EP, is an uplifting composition about holding ourselves accountable for our actions. The Senegalese artist is now sharing a new and alluring acoustic video version of that song accompanied by Melanie Faye, which we're premiering here today.
Fully Focus 'Rush' feat. Nyashinski, Fik Fameica & Vanessa Mdee
Fully Focus comes through with an East African party starter featuring Nyashinski (Kenya), Fik Fameica (Uganda), and Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania). "Rush" is also co-produced by Focus alongside Ugandan hitmaker Nessim brings a new and different sound to the scene. "Rush" is a head-nodding track about the tingly feeling you get when you're with that special someone, a press statement mentions.
"Rush" is available everywhere now
A-Reece 'In Hi$ Image [ EXP 1 ]'
After a several-month hiatus that felt like forever to A-Reece fans, the popular lyricist finally shares a new single. In the song, which is titled "In Hi$ Image [EXP 1]," Reece raps over a minimalist instrumental that's built around a vocal sample and a piano. A selection of percussion rattle around a heavy kick. It seems Reece felt the need to remind his fans who he is and his peers that he's one of the nicest on the mic.
Niniola 'Omo Rapala'
Nigerian singer Niniola returns with the video for her latest single, "Omo Rapala," which dropped towards the end of 2019. The upbeat song, produced by popular afrobeats beatmaker Sarz, highlights the singer's smooth vocals as she harmonizes over dance-worthy production. The colorful music video sees the singer donning several bold outfits, including a dramatic gele and sequined lookas she delivers animated performances in various settings in Lagos, including a hair salon, the local village, and eventually at a lively party.
Indigo Stella 'Boss Up'
Indigo Stella's new music video is perfect. From the shots to the lighting and cinematography, the visuals are a work of virtuosos including director Young Matee and cinematographer Seizmeister, among others. The visuals shows performance scenes of a triumphant and pompous Indigo Stella. Most of the scenes are shot in low light and have a consistent texture that suits the music they represent.
Phyno 'Get the Info' feat. Phenom & Falz
Nigerian rapper Phynoenlists fellow Nigerian MCs Falzand Phenom for his latest single "Get the Info," a socially-charged track that sees the artist addressing some of the most pressing issues facing their home country. The track opens with words about government corruption, before the rappers deliver passionate verses atop the laid-back hip hop production from Major Banggz.
Fireboy DML 'Need You'
Buzzing Nigerian artist Fireboy DML has shared the music video for his latest single "Need You," one of the standouts from his warmly received debut album Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps.Laughter. The track is an emotive love ballad, that sees the artist singing about the strong feelings he has for his partner over mellow guitar riffs. The song was produced by Pheelz. The music video, directed by Clarence Peters, shows the artist and a love interest as they try and escape together, and later get caught up with the bad guy that's out to separate them.
Sun Xa Experiment 'Bayede'
Sun Xa Experiment is a South African group from Soweto. The septet is made up of Buyisiwe Njoko (lead vocals), Tebogo Mkhize (acoustic guitar), Lerato Seitei (electric guitar), Benedict Watte (percussion), Musa Zwane (bass), Siphiwe Mgidi (drums). They describe themselves as a band that "caters a spiritual ancestral sound that tells of stories of who we are as the global community without race, color or nation." The crew says their music is part of a spiritual journey into self-discovery which connects their listeners to their ancestors, reminding them of who they are and where they are from as human beings.
Follow our SONGS YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS WEEK playlist on Spotify here and Apple Music here.
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