#SubmissionSunday | Obe Bomaye Featuring iamx – 40 000 Hitmen
by Phil Chard
Cape Town based rapper Obe Bomaye serves up his new single 40 000 Hitmen that features iamx. The song explores the topic of depressions and anxiety as Obe raps "How am I still down when I stay lifted" on an honest , introspective song that displays the rappers' vulnerability.
#SubmissionSunday | Linkris – Wat Het Djy Dan Ge-Check Feat. HemelBesem
by Phil Chard
Cape Town based Afrikaans rapper Linkris has linked up with HemelBesem on his latest single Wat Het Djy Dan Ge-Check?. The song is a deeply lyrical and emotional song that has me testing my rudimentary understanding of Afrikaans. ONe line that definitely stood out was " Die diepte van my werk kom uit Die diepte van my pyn" which translates to "The depth of my work comes from the depth of my pain". AWE.
#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 | Lali Ghost – Happiness
by Phil Chard
South African Lali Ghost hops on a neo-soul inspired beat with a catchy looped sample to speak about his quest for Happiness
#SubmissionSunday | Victor-J – Strong
by Phil Chard
Zimbabwean born, Cape Town based rapper Victor J activates lyrical mode on his latest single Strong. Over an instrumental comprising of bongos , hard hitting drum pads and haunting strings the rapper speaks on his music, the plight of black people, "rappers rapping with similar similes" and "rappers with fake powers like Pikachu"
#SubmissionSunday | Zeekapten Featuring SeouddrumS & Hopiho – Mwen Plen Lanmou Pou Ou
by Phil Chard
Haitian artist Zeekapten collaborated with the Cameroonian duo of SeouddrumS and Hopiho on his latest single Mwen Pien Lanmou Pou. The SeouddrumS produced song merges Creole and French as the the trio drop incredibly smooth and annoying lines directed at the ladies.
#SubmissionSunday | KuSs Diverse – Business And Pleasure
by Phil Chard
Durban based rapper KuSs has just sent in his first single Business And Pleasure the single is the first release under his own company U-Diverse Entertainment. Business And Pleasure was produced by Alka-G and will appear on his upcoming I Just Do What I Want EP set to drop later this year. The song is surprisingly impressive and well put together, I just wish he spent as tie and effort n his album as he did on his music.
#SubmissionSunday | Chanda Mbao – Selfish (Remix) (Feat. F Jay, Scott, Blake & Vinny Boy)
by Phil Chard
Chanda Mbao dropped his remorseful and reflective song Selfish a few weeks ago and now the song that is a plea to help get his woman back has soulful remix featuring verses F Jay, Scott, Blake and Vinny Boy. This is very smooth.
The Best of Kenyan Hip Hop So Far in 2016
by Phil Chard
Much like the rest of the continent that Hip Hop movement on the Eastern Ends of Africa is experiencing a great deal of growth within its various industries and nations. I linked up with Radio host and Blogger MIss Ruby to compile some of our favorite videos from the beginning of the year.
Odinareh Bingwa - Pressure
We featured this song from Odinareh earlier in the year here and we loved the trap feel and delivery from O. This song will be on his Diani – Papa La Kusini mixtape
Khaligraph Jones - Mazishi
Khaligraph is a veteran of the Kenyan scene having made his name known as far back as 2009. However 2016 is already proving to be one of his most successful years to date with appearances on MI's Illegal Music III mixtape, Coke Studio Africa and an East African tour in the works.
Raj - Bwakire / Good Morning
When Kenyan rapper Raj released the repetitive and catchy song Bwakire. I wasn't sold on the song initially until I found myself singing the it involuntarily days later. This song about early worms is a real earworm.
125 Ft Red Acapela - Taabu
Kenyan outfit 125 linked up with the folk music duo Red Acapela on Taabu. The song has an experimental yet refreshing sound that borrows from traditional elements produced by House of Dille
BV Accurate – Kwaheri
Former Cr3w member BV Accurate released the third video off his Day Departure EP titled Kwejeri. The song and EP can be streamed via Soundcloud here
Party Like A Moda (Explicit) - Abbas Kubaff ft Victoria Kimani (Official Video 2016)
Abbas Kubaff has been an institution in the Kenyan Hip Hop scene for a few years now, the outspoken artist linked up with Choc City artist and fellow Kenyan act Victoria Kimani on the aptly titled turn up tune Party Like A Moda.
Nyashinski - Now You Know (
Former member of the iconic Kleptomaniax rap trio Nyashinski returned from his extended sabbatical from Hip Hop and Kenya after moving back form the USA with one of the most impressive songs n this list . The song Now You Know which speaks on the ills of the game has a poignant and beautiful video that displays just how effective simplicity can be.
C2K - KIDERO GRASS FT. KAGWE MUNGAI
Since relocating back to Kenya from South Africa C2K seems to be building solid reputation and following for himself with popular releases like Lupita and his current single Kidero Grass featuring Kagwe Mungai on the song that pokes fun at Evans Kidero's Kidero Grass initiative that wanted residents of Nairobi to plant grass throughout the city in preparation for Barack Obama's' visit.
Kagwe Mungai – Doctor
And Finally we have accomplished producer, singer and rapper Kagwe Nugai (also the artist that inspired this whole piece) and his song Doctor. In my opinion this joint has the potential to be a certified continental smash as Kagwe merges Dancehall , Bongo Flava and Hip Hop.
E.L – Body Bags
by Phil Chard
E.L seems hell bent on hammering home the point that his Best African Rapper series is not just some marketing gimmick but a certified fact. With tracks like Kaa Bu Ame. Love God and Talk Don't Bother Me all dropping within the last few weeks has already made a very strong case for his argument. Not content with that E>L just dropped his new release Body Bags and once again it is a lyrical onslaught.
I sat down with E.L last week to talk about his new releases and his plans for BAR III, you can listen to the interview below.
Franko – Faut Pas Taper Sur Madame
by Phil Chard
Since coming across his work a few months Cameroonian rapper Franko has consistently impressed me with his releases. The rapper has found the right mix of lyrically impressive bars that have forced me to up my Duolingo app usage and melodic deliveries that will still get your head nodding even if if you parlez what he rappez . His new single Faut Pas Taper Sur Madame is more of the latter and melds several musical styles together beautifully such as Soukous, Hip Hop and Pop.
To here Fronko revert to spittin these bars in a real watch this radio freestyle that he dropped last week.
#SubmissionSunday | Hoax – BABA (Prod Subs)
by Phil Chard
South African rapper Hoax of Arcvde Music has released the second offering off the Mosh EP titled Baba. The song is a kwaito influenced trap-like hybrid that borrows from Thebe's Groover's Prayer.
#SubmissionSunday | Chealex Mpanza – Uzilwe
by Phil Chard
Chealex Mpanza is a South African rapper who just submitted his new single Uzilwe. THe song titled translates to "have you heard" and Chealex uses this as a platform to speak o his current grind and goals.
#SubmissionSundays | Nuhtkayz – Freespirit
by Phil Chard
Submission from a totally new artist on our radars , but one we look forward to hearing form in the future. Nuhtkayz is a Johannesburg based rapper with a truly unique and impressive sound that is on full display on her new song Freespirit , produced by the Kanif. Let us know what you think
#SubmissionSunday | T Bradster – Some More feat. Tamara Skye
by Phil Chard
South African T Bradster links up with songstress Tamara Skye on his R&B- Hip Hop joint titled Some More. The song which displays some of T Bradster skills as a silver tongued lyrical crooner is set to appear in his upcoming mixtape 14ninety1.
#SubmissionSunday | Fiddle Pop – Sammy Sosa Featuring Father Naz
by Phil Chard
Considering that success in music is predicated on a certain level of creativity and originality South African rappers seem to be going to the same well a lot as of late. That well being dedicating song titles to women in Media. Not one to be left out Fiddle Pop links up with Father Naz on their ode to the beautiful and talent Sammy Sosa aka Samantha Lehoko
#SubmissionSunday | Service Delivery – Bando
by Phil Chard
Service Delivery is a Joburg based group of three musicians, ZESTY-TOX who raps and producers, BIG EGO who raps and sings, and COM-RAD who also raps. The trio just released the uptempo track Bando
#SubmissionSunday | Kweiks -Doto
by Phil Chard
Kweiks teased the release of his latest single Doto with the release of his #DotoDeyCome freestyle last week and has just dropped the song itself. The song is a hard knocking track produced by Spiky with hard knocking trap drums and horns.
#SubmissionSunday | E.P.I.C – MANONG
by Phil Chard
Botswana's E.P.I.C has just released the first single off his upcoming yet to be named debut album. Manong is a song heavily influenced by Kwaito and House that has E.P.I.C reminding us to be weary of critch riders. This song bangs !
Happy Birthday Zubz! Here’s Why We Dig These 5 Songs On Your Soundcloud
by Tseliso Monaheng
Zubz turns 40 today. The Zam-born, Zim-based, SA-residing Golden Mic Holder* is one of the greatest emcees of our time. Have a look at the cuts below, straight off of his Soundcloud.
Handiende
Much as Zubz had been around wrecking shit, this was his breakout song, the one which received high rotation on national and trans-national radio -- Maseru ate this song up! -- and established Zubz as a voice worthy of attention. Shout-out to Mukuru Tuku for making the original.
My distress
One for Tar-Tar. Or Madiba. Or Father of the Rainbow Nation. Look, beyond the fraying facade of an internationally-revered figured, appropriated by global power structures and used to further their cynical quest of recourse without reparation, there exists layers to uTata Rolihlahla Mandela. "My distress", as a contemporary take on socio-political issues of the larger-than-life figure's past, attests to Zubz's capacity to investigate the before. The mundane. The man, not the myth, that is Nelson Mandela.
Appreciated all the well wishes. You've helped colour not just my birthday but a huge part of my first 40 years. Here's to the next 40!
— Zubz (@zubzlastletta) July 24, 2016
A Different Life
Look, this song. The beat. Pebbles. The story. Gaaahd, why so good Zubz?!
Heavy 8
None of the emcees featured on this song knew it was going to end up as a posse cut. If you were into rap music circa '04, you KNOW that this was the real deal mayne!
"Liberatum"
A lot rested on execution, with this song. With M.anifest on deck, Madina's very own own strengthened the appeal of this pan-African wet dream-turned-sapiosexual orgy. The song provides hours of stimulation, and can go on for a few rounds without irritating the listener.
Trivia: M.anifest is the only emcee we know of to have done a song with the unfuckwithable trio of Tumi, Zubz and Proverb. Ill, right?! We know...
Refer to "The Legend of the Golden Mic" for context