The Songs You Need to Hear This Week
The songs you need to hear this week, featuring Ayra Starr, Runtown, Bruce Melodie & Joeboy, Njerae and more.
Every week, we highlight the top Afrobeats and African music releases through our best music column, Songs You Need to Hear This Week.
Read ahead for our round-up of the best new African music tracks and music videos that came across our desks this week.
Ayra Starr – “Jazzy’s Song (Coke Studio Music Video)”
Shot in collaboration with Coca-Cola, there's a bubbling celebrity allure to this new visual fromAyra Starr. It's colorfully delivered, with exciting choreography and the narrative of a young fan who wants to be as successful as Starr. A (rare) successful showcase of creative-corporate partnership, the video for "Jazzy's Song" gives a beautiful visual extension to The Year I Turned 21, which is unarguably one of the best Afropop releases from last year.
Kho'si – "Mama"
Swirling with soul influences, the deep emotions evoked by the memories of one's mother are the vision behind this record from Kho'si. The South African singer's voice floats with the mysterious lightness of a siren, painting the image of one who needs cradling even though they "have enough love to last [them] a lifetime." With poetic visuals to pique that sense of longing, this is an experience rather than a song.
Vector – "It's A Chill"
One of the most underrated aspects of Vector's artistry is his ability to handle a sensual bop. Arguably, no other African rapper flexes so much lucidity with heated moments, and "It's A Chill" showcases some of his best work within that category. The song, as the title infers, is a chill, sparked with triumphant horns and shiny synths, while Vec works his way around with graceful finesse.
Dej Loaf, Runtown & Libianca – "Up Or Down"
American rapper Dej Loaf immerses herself in the Afropop tradition on this stirring three-way record. She calls herself John Cena and sing-raps in Nigerian Pidgin, a choice that must have been influenced by her features on the record.Runtown is typically brilliant, andLibiancaprovides the hook, swinging her bright tones in flow with the production's sharp bassline.
Njerae – “Beg For It”
Kenyan artist Njerae has a disarmingly chill voice that she deploys in stirring, post-R&B ballads — a skillset that makes her an artist to watch out for. "Beg For It," the first single off her forthcoming EP, is a vulnerable lover girl record that sees Njerae wanting the other person's love so much she doesn't mind begging for it. Whereas the writing is lived-in and intimate, the delivery makes this such an easy song to return to.
Godwin – "Broken"
It's always refreshing to hear an artist create from the timeless material of the human condition. To want to capture the longing for form, whether through relationships or whatever else, is a high artistic vision and one that demands an astute talent. "Broken" showcases such a talent at work, showcasing Nigerian act Godwin's unhurried, painterly evocation of a love gone wrong. "Are you sure you are not broken inside?" he asks a lover amidst the warm riffs of a guitar and simple drum line.
Bruce Melodie – "Beauty On Fire" feat. Joeboy
On the lead single from his Colorful Generation album, Bruce Melodie demonstrates why he's one of the most exciting East African artists today. Bold drums and sharp synths contribute to the groovy overtones, amplified by crowd vocals bursting in the right places. This is all paired with evocative singing from Melodie and his guest,Joeboy, who's no stranger to such sonic flourishes. This is quite a purposeful collaboration.
Shatta Wale – "African Mandiba"
Creating records on the move is a dancehall tradition. Tapping into the dividends of spontaneity,Shatta Wale makes a triumphant record reiterating his self-acclaimed position as Africa's dancehall king. "African Mandiba" is enthralling on a sonic level, but even more so on a visual and aesthetic level, as the video sees one following the Ghanaian star to Miami and then to Jamaica, where he performs at the sold-out concert of one of the country's musical icons, Vybz Kartel.
Kenny Sol – "Phenomena"
On "Phenomena," Rwandan sensation Kenny Sol taps into the upbeat, fun quality that makes East African pop distinct. He flexes a lot of vocal awareness, utilizing his voice as the leading part of a choir-like background, which energizes the single's overall soundscape. With touches of violin giving a live feel to the record, it's a well-realized invitation to dance, one with a natural understanding of what makes people move.
Rose May Alaba & TAR1Q – “DANCE”
Austrian singer of Nigerian descent, Rose May Alaba, has been making concerted efforts to represent Afrobeats. She's collaborated with several artists within the genre, and with each new song, she inches closer to the form. "DANCE," featuring TAR1Q, is arguably one of the best she's created yet, tapping into the flamboyance of an electro-charged Afrobeat.
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