Stream | Phlow’s – Asuai Mini EP
by Phil Chard
When I interviewed Phlow a few months ago she spoke briefly about her upcoming EP with Swedish Producer Ryko. The 5 minute mini EP Asuai represents the culmination of their work. Utilising a unique format the Nigerian rapper delivers 4 verses and choruses over 4 different beats from Ryko that form the 5 minute offering.
Asuai translates to My Year in the Igbo dialect of Ukwani. The 4 songs trace the path of a relationship from the giddy butterflies on Little Girl, Big ‘Ole World to the heart breaking The Exit.
You can listen to Phlow discussing her plans for the Asuai and how she discovered Ryko on Soundcloud in my interview below.
#SubmissionSunday | Miikah – Prelude of the Compendium
by Phil Chard
South African artist Miikah released the NegativeXero EP earlier this month. The 8 track project represents the nexus of electronic, alternative. Hip Hop music and Miikah's unique mentality and approach to life. He just dropped the single Prelude Of The Compendium which s the only song on the NegativeXero EP that he did not produce.
Prelude of the Compendium draws inspiration from 90's alternative free wave music and curing the concept of flying in this world, bringing to light the concept of the 'Sypabong', a term coined by Miikah, relating to an object, emotion or abstract that is not able to exist in the current realm of existence, being too complex to occur, fathom or vibrate... This song is a plea to God to reach the frequencies which enable the youth to find their Ikigai and seek truths beyond the simple realm humans dwell on...
Stream the full EP Below
#SubmissionSunday | Karabo – Poor Conversations & Journal Entries
by Phil Chard
South African rapper Karabo just dropped a 5 track EP titled Poor Conversations & Journal Entries, a project that plays out like a diarised snapshot into the young creatives life. The project features a number of spacey instrumentals and soft pads as Karabo raps over them with his husky voice.
Album Review | KLY – KLYMAX EP
by Mayuyuka
The Klymax EP explores several themes as Kly “wanted this project to be a representation of a 22 year old navigating love, pain and the joys that come with life”
Kly, an acronym for Keep Love Young, is a South African Midrand-based artist who infuses trap, r&b, afro and electronic influences into what he terms urban soul. The talented artist is a triple threat as a singer, songwriter and producer who recently got the chance to sharpen his skills at Anashe Media Group's writing and production boot-camp.
The Klymax EP explores several themes as Kly “wanted this project to be a representation of a 22 year old navigating love, pain and the joys that come with life”. The impressive production credits include Brian Soko, Dj Maphorisa and Ray Kola with a majority of the project helmed by Wichi 1080. We've written about Wichi's impressive partnership before and in his latest musical team up; he lays down a lush landscape strewn with intricate basslines and unfettered TrapnB beats, upon which Kly can grace us with his vocals.
The track 5AM In The East features Wichi's frequent collaborator Priddy Ugly as well as fellow rapper Frank Casino. The title and aural aesthetic of the track are a strong signal of Kly's musical influences in the dark, overarching bassline and the simple hook. Soul Touch and Start Over more especially are indulgently romantic and perfect for anyone in their winter feelings. Wake and Bake is probably my favourite joint though, it's the best representation of a well sang, stripped down beat that still gets the speakers knocking. The EP is mellow throughout with standout tracks like Direction keeping the energy up midway through.
Direction is a superbly constructed cut and brings out the best in both producer and vocalist, with the infectious hook perfectly complimenting the catchy beat. Towards the closing, the Dj Buckz-featuring Ain't Done Yet shows a lot more bravado and the ambition in Kly shines through. It's the closest song you'll get to a straight up rap banger with sprinklings of vernac. Impressively, despite the switch up in mood and tone, the pace is well maintained: another sign of a well constructed listening experience.
Wichi 1080's uncluttered production can't be overstated and he deserves as much credit as Kly does for filling the TrapnB gap, strangely unfilled, in the local music scene. The dreaminess of the production is perfect for a laidback, bae'd up chill or the perfect accompaniment for the come down after a night out. There's enough to showcase Kly's vocal range and at 50 minutes long, it's a generous offering too.
Twitter Review | C-Real – Business Suits & Dress Shoes EP
by Phil Chard
Ghanaian wordsmith C-Real dropped a surprise 5 track EP to mark his birthday on July 16 . We decided to give it a brief review on our twitter account.
Business Suits EP - Curated tweets by AfricanHHB
Review | EyeAmI – Y, Songs About You
by Phil Chard
I decided to title my new project Y, Songs About You after going through some extensive soul searching. I was born in the early 90’s, so I identify best with “Generation Y”. For a while, I was in a space where I was trying to figure out why my first project did not do as well as I’d hoped and what direction I was going to take as an artist. My intention was to write stories from the perspectives of other people. I believed that if I sought to first understand others, I will learn how to make them understand me. So I started with the generation I best identify with - Generation Y, the 90’s kids. The more I wrote the verses for these songs, the more I understood about my myself - why I was making music and the legacy I would like to leave behind.
Zimbabwean born, Toronto based artist EyeAmI (formerly known as Lewis The Artist) has just release his new 5 track EP title Y, Song About You. The project is a brief glimpse into the EyeAmI’s growth as an artist and his currently mentality. When comparing it to his last release Far From Home I noticed how his sound, delivery, and even rapping voice have changed as Lewis becomes more ingratiated in the culture of his newly adopted home.
Upon first listen I struggled to find the anchor of this project and EyeAmI as the reborn artist that he is. But on second listen, once I began to notice the small touches and the fusion of “African” sounds and those of his new home, Toronto shine through. The drums on Uber and Africa. Far From Home, the Afrobeat like Saxophone on Wagadugu and the small inflections and adlibs peppered on the songs all point to this growth. Lewis also credits this melting pot of sounds to a new genre that he hopes to pioneer called AfroBounce.
I am not particularly fond the of flow and delivery adopted by Eye on the project’s first two tracks, I have always felt that he would be better served as a rapper adopting a slower and more deliberate cadence. On Wagadugu (not the capital of Burkina Faso, the word seems to be euphemism for sex) which was actually originally a song I had sent to EyeAmI two years ago for this blog’s project with Rymez. Since then Eye has reworked the song and added that distinct saxophone to the beat.
It is the LP’s third song – Uber ,that I truly feel EyeAmI hits a home run. I have never been the biggest fan of rappers with limited vocal ranges attempting to sing. Especially the type of singing spearheaded by a certain rapper who also hails from Toronto, but it is on song where Eye truly shines. From the catchy and repetitive hook filled with emotion as his voice cracks and breaks to emphasize his words, to the excellent production and the perfect backing vocals from Sydne Barnes.
Y, Songs about you COVERThe song Mary which has also been a long time in the making, (I received rough draft of this track about a year ago) tells an abstract tale that likens the experiences of a promiscuous woman to marijuana over a chopped and screwed beat meant to signify the state of being high which switches as Eye’s lyrics become more “conscious”.
The closing track Africa. Far From Home is another great piece of production that features a marriage bongo and electronic drums with chants and passionate lyrics from EyeAmI
"Whats a child without a family to go and love him, what's a soldier without an army to go and cover for him?”
With Y, Songs About You I feel that EyeAmI is still finding his musical identity. The time and effort that went into a 5 track offering is evidence of that. There is certainly a great deal of potential in him as an artist, provided he sticks to his strengths and addresses up his weaknesses ad song writer. Sonically I can see where he is going and the sound of Afrobounce looks and sounds promising,.