D-Black Featuring MI Abaga – Champ (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
Ghana’s D-Black and MI Abaga were invited to South Africa by SA Tourism a few months ago to help promote the nation in West Africa. While on the trip the two took the time of out of there schedule to shoot a video for their song Champ. Directed by Nick Campos the video is far from a complicated affair featuring the two rapper reciting their verses in front of a garage filed with two luxury super cars while taking occasional break to recite the verses inside the car.
Simon & Phil List Their Favourite South African-Nigerian Hip Hop Collabos
by Phil Chard
Nigeria and South Africa are undisputedly the two biggest powerhouses in the African music scene and, by extension, the African hip hop scene. Both countries are home to some of the biggest names in African hip hop, and when the two nations collaborate, it often produces some amazing work. With that in mind here are some of our favourite South African - Nigerian collaborations:
Undeniably the biggest SA-Naija collabo team right now is The A-Team, consisting of Da L.E.S, AKA and Burna Boy. The team has 5 singles in varying combinations since their formation- Special Someone, All Eyes On Me, Baddest, Birthday and Paid. Da L.E.S had discussed his interest in doing a full A-Team project in a few interviews, but noted that scheduling conflicts were hindering its completion. .
The two biggest beneficiaries and the South African – Nigerian Hip Hop Trade Scheme are undoubtedly AKA and Ice Prince. The two have mad enough songs that fit the criteria to fill an album.
AKA has manged to secure a number of big SA-Naija collaborations, the Super Mega was one of the first South African rappers to see the massive potential and benefits with the cross continental collabs. From working with Ice Prince on the N Word remix to the massively catchy Same Shit with Wande Coal to his current single with Nigerian Dancehall star Patoranking titled Special Fi Mi, AKA has been playing his part in facilitating the cultural exchange. AKA’s ear for new sounds and “no fee for collaborations” policy has also resulted in the Super Mega working with a number of upcoming artists and providing them with a much needed boost to their burgeoning careers. This was very evident when AKA got on the remix for one of the biggest songs of 2015 – EmTee’s Roll Up alongside Wizkid.
Since 2015, the youthful duo of EmTee and Nasty C have presented the most formidable threat to the dominance held by the old guard of successful rappers like AKA and Khuli Chana. In 2015 Nasty C cemented his arrival on the scene with the surprise commercial hit Juice Back. On the remix, the Durban ‘ute manged to rope in Nigerian superstar Davido and Cassper Nyovest.
The Motswakoriginator, Khuli Chana has also began looking further afield in recent years , working with the likes of Victoria Kimani and Muthoni, his two most impressive collaborations with Nigerian artists have come via E-Kelly’s production. The first of which was his massively popular No Lie that saw him working Patoranking. The second was the remix to YCee’s Condo which also featured KidX and Pato once again
South African DJ Dimples and his brand are synonymous with partying and party anthems. The DJ gave his turn up anthems the West African treatment when he enlisted Ice Prince and Emmy Gee for Bae Coupe and Burna Boy on the high energy Clean In This B.
Emmy Gee’s Rands and Nairas could be the poster child for South African - Nigerian Hip Hop collaborations; on the original he enlisted the help of AB Crazy who delivered one of his most impressive pieces of writing to date. On the remix for the massively popular song he upped the ante and recruited Cassper Nyovest & Anatii from South Africa and Ice Prince and Phyno from Nigeria to lend their verses to the hit single.
In 2014 Ice Prince was undoubtedly the biggest rapper on the continent. At the time he boasted over 500,000 followers on twitter (unheard of at the time) and everyone and their mama was clamouring for a verse from the Jos rapper. One of the few artists that managed to secure his services was L-Tido who got Ice to lend a verse to his song Fresh And Clean which was the fourth single off his sophomore album All Of Me.
Around the same time Ice Prince parlayed his massive popularity to get verse Sarkodie, Wizkid, M.I, Khuli Chana (Mercy Johnson dropped half a line. Her feature was window dressing)
Tweezy has had one of the most eventful careers in recent years. After producing three of the biggest songs on AKA’s album Levels, the producer has also been part of a few song writing controversies, awards show ticketing snafus and then a successful rebrand and transition from producer to performing artist. All within the space of two years!
His first singles as a solo artist was the song Ambitions. After receiving a positive response from critics and the populace alike Tweezy linked up with Khuli Chana, Victoria Kimani and Nigeria’s Ice Prince on the massively impressive remix.
In a recent conversation, M.I Abaga revealed that he just recorded a song with AKA and was keen to work with Nasty C. Long before talk of these high power collaborations floated across our timelines, the Chocolate City CEO did a song with Hip Hop Pantsula titled Superhuman that appeared on his Illegal Music II project.
And finally, the last song from this collaborative list of some of the best South African and Nigerian collabs is a song that has been my ringtone for close to a year now. Possibly one the of the best dance tracks to ever be released. A song by a Nigerian Rap/Pop star and a South African outfit more famous for their contributions to House. Banger by Runtown and Uhuru shall be taught in schools one day
There are also a number of impressive collaborations that appeared on albums that were not released as singles such as the only Doc Shebeleza remix we acknowledge featuring Burna Boy and Anatii’s Proper featuring Tiwa Savage. There is also Dreamteam’s Talk That Shit featuring AKA and Ice Prince.
MI Talks About His Upcoming Projects & Finding Value In Being A Nigerian
by Phil Chard
Chocolate City Music CEO MI recently appeared on Nigerian talk show Rubbin Minds where he discussed a number of issues with the show’s host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu. During the 20 minute chat MI spoke about how he runs the label, the artists under it and Choc City’s plans to transition into a business akin to what Universal and Sony have built overseas.
When asked about the state of his career however MI shared some interesting thoughts regarding upcoming projects and his view on going international
Ebuka : Are you happy with where your career is now? You have in the industry for 10,11 years now.
MI: I think the fact that I'm happy as a person and trying to find balance as a human being first, it takes a little steam out of a career because you need to take breaks, to spend time with your family, to be personally fulfilled. You need to secure what you're gonna do next. So me being a CEO and working at chocolate city and planning the next thing after I've been an artist. Personally I'm completely happy, of course you are never meant to be satisfied. You always want to have hunger to do more. For instance 2Face [2Baba] and I are doing a series of projects this year and I'm like a kid in a candy shop looking forward to what's gonna come out if it. Jessie, Ice Prince and I have spoken about doing an album together. I got like 2,3 albums that I'm working on. I'm excited to make music, I'm excited to perform, I'm excited to keep going. But you also want to be happy as a person and say hey let's turn off the lights now, I need some time for myself now.
Ebuka. do you feel you should've done more international work by now?
MI : You know I'm very weird about the international thing I'm not interested at all. I'm interest in building in Africa. I'm interested in building in Nigeria. The biggest thing that we can do internationally is set up our business and our industry right here. America is very funny… when I first came out I was one of the guys that was seen as “you should go international, you should do this “. I just lost interest with that and I said wanna I come back home and work on what's happening back home. It doesn't seem glamorous but that's really our way to the top. For you to be successful in America you need to be American. There culture is so closed and complete. Nobody is gonna listen to you talk about Lasgidi in America. They want you to talk about about 57 Street and New York. I don't want to do that. I want to find value in being Nigerian. I want to find value in my language, in my neighbourhoods, in my people.
Wise words from about finding value within before we look for external approval. I cannot wait to hear what else MI and 2Baba have been cooking up. You can their song Babylon here
MI & 2Baba Dropped Babylon and I Got Very Excited
by Phil Chard
My fandom for Jude MI Abaga is no secret. So when MI teased us the photos with him and fellow Nigerian legend 2Baba earlier in the week I was literally bouncing off the walls with excitement. A few days later MI and 2Baba unleashed Babylon - a powerful and poignant song that speaks of the political and social ills in Nigeria and expresses the level of frustration and hopelessness felt by the Nigerian populace. Sadly this song's lyrics resonate well with so many other citizens of African states.
There is a possibility that Babylon could be the lead single off a collaborative project . I can only hope and pray that this happens..
See proof of fandom below.
@MI_Abaga speaking to me on this song. You are a continental treasure.. One day we shall enshrine your lyrics in museums and marvel
— Phlynt Phlossy™ (@PhilChard) July 21, 2016
MI Just Dropped a Video For Everything and I Couldn’t Talk About It Before Giving Illegal Music III The Praise It Deserves
by Phil Chard
While I was enduring my unwanted and ill-timed Internet hiatus Nigeria's MI was out here collecting bodies. Literally. Two months ago MI released the third and final instalment of his Illegal Music series subtitled The Finale.
Despite my inability to cover the release during its release I could not speak on anything on Illegal Music in good conscience without explaining how incredible it is. As with previous Illegal Music releases MI utilises the instrumentals, melodies, and hooks of existing songs to create his own unique renditions. What is new however with this release is how polished the reworks and mash-ups are. We are treated to blends of Jay Z's La Familia and Kanye West's Never Let Me Down on Head Of The Family and the seamless transition on NotJustOK-Savage which incorporates AKA's Composure before switching to Rihanna's Needed Me while also splicing in Greg Hardy's infamous interview after a Dallas Cowboys loss, all while MI raps about his ChocNation empire. Illegal-Music-III-Art
“At this stage in my career and life, finding the time to record another Illegal Music was purely a labor of love. I hope that Nigerian HipHop will rise and claim its place at the table on Hip-Hop’s mount Olympus. I would like to see a lot of rappers remix and recreate the song ‘The Box‘. The team was GPLUS, Ckay and I. And I want to appreciate them for their love in making this ‘FREE’ project. LOL. To the fans.. I love you #LoveYours.”
MI is undoubtedly one for the continent's most skilled wordsmiths and Illegal Music III is a boisterous and triumphant reminder that Jude Abaga still wants to be considered as one of the finest. Throughout the project and in its footnotes MI declares that he no longer wants to be considered one of Nigeria's or Africa's finest rappers. But one of the world's best. As he states "at the Hip Hop Vatican I'm seated right next to Hov ".
Illegal Music also provides MI the platform to address the controversial NotJustOK Hottest rapper list that I ranted about last year while also addressing the Headies and his disdain for unqualified opinions on his music.
Ultimately, Illegal Music III is an exhibition match that allows MI the opportunity to flex on us all and remind those who ever questioned his ability as an artist and leader not to make that mistake again. His lyrical prowess and use of various sound clips and songs to narrate a very clear story makes for an impressive offering that will have you hitting repeat repeatedly.
MI also just dropped the visuals for Everything - the introspective song about his career and his untimely sabbatical from music. Produced by Capital Dreams Pictures the song utilises stop motion animation, cutaways and slow pan shots in a single set to narrate MI's message.