The Best West African Hip Hop That You Haven’t Heard Yet
by Mayuyuka
West African music is steadily spreading its wings and its influence can be traced in other regions of Africa as well as on a global scale. This is great for the continent and reveals how the world is finally waking up to the potential of our arts sector.
We usually focus on Nigeria and Ghana as the centers of cultural production in the region, and for good reason... with a string of acts breaking through over the years these two countries are stamping their place on the musical map. For a bit of a switch up though; we decided to list a few gems from other West African countries that deserve our attention. Here's a little taste of some of the artists who grabbed our ear:
Weei Soldat - Tignè Fogné
Weei Soldat is out of Mali and his track Tigne Fogne has a hint of trap to get us started. The cut is taken off the album Magnum Vol. 1.
Kossi - Ape' Son - Elahoba
Togolese artist Kossi Ape'Son is a traditional singer and this video pays homage to Senegalese culture. From the setting to the colourful fabrics, it's a great watch. The song Elahoba matches the visuals in this impressive track from the man who started under the tutelage of the renowned King Mensah.
Joey Soldat - Burkin Bâ
Joey Soldat of Burkina Faso released this track Burkin Ba that shares a name with his album a couple of years ago. This catchy song is a definite head nodder, don't snap your neck!
DenG - Put Foot
For a dabble in Koloqua music, Liberian DenG is the go to guy. His Killerbeatz-produced track Put Foot is a great companion to his previously released Lappa Fine. This is another infectious offering!
Liberian Hip Hop seems to be in a good place, so while we're on the topic let's have a peek at the Lib Hip Hop Cypher that happened at the recent Liberian Entertainment Awards:
Anny Kassy - Nimba
On to Guinea, the home of rapper Anny Kassy. The artist dropped a socially conscious offering with Nimba, aimed at promoting the upliftment of young girls through education. The amazing video is worthy of high praise too.
E.Ray - Ma Prière
Maintaining the theme of social awareness we have E.Ray, a renowned rapper from Benin. His song My Priere is a lyrical masterpiece that sees him exercise his civic duty by evaluating the political realities of Beninese society. The lyric video and simple melodies help you get the message with this one.
Akhlou Brick Paradise - Ara ak Dayza
Finally, we head to Senegal for a track with a great hook by rapper Akhlou Brick. His song Paradise features Dayza and the track is as clean as the visuals!
To wrap up here's another cypher, this time from the Galsen Hip Hop Awards showcasing some of the rap talent Senegal has:
As usual , you can let us know of any other artists we should check out in the comments section!