Dremo – Ojere (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
Dremo - one of Davido's first signings to his Sony Imprint Davido Music Worldwide has just released the video to Ojere. Directed by Q, the video was shot in Lagos and the UAE and features cameos from fellow label mates and OBO himself.
DreamTeam Release Three News Videos For The Interludes on Their Album
by Phil Chard
The Durban trio of DreamTeam have just released three new videos in a very unique way. On their album Dreams Never Die the group divided three interludes that shared the same beat (and the album intro) among the three members.
The videos for the interludes of Dash, Saso and Trey all begin in a location specifically significant to each member before they transition to shots taken in a dimly recorded vocal booth and a studio with all three members.
This is actually a very impressive and ingenious concept. What would have been a cool concept would be if all three videos were merged into 1. Just a suggestion for the next album.…
@DreamTeamDBN
Tuks Senganga – Kontle (Viral Video)
by twoSeats
Tuks has always been my favourite South African rapper. To this day, no album has knocked me off my feet the way that Mafoko A Me did. It for the first time really showed me the power of the African rapper telling African stories in an African tongue using this medium that we appropriated from the Americas.
Tuks was always so powerful to me because he managed to use Setswana (representative of any African vernacular) in a way that I couldn't believe at the time. I had Tuks' first album on repeat for the better part of its year of release & that was despite the fact that I couldn't understand 90% of what the man said.
Alright, now that my fan moment is over; Tuks is back. An official video for 'Kontle' is in the works. Let us all cross our fingers for a new album.
Chanda Mbao – Selfish ft Scott Official Video
by twoSeats
Zambia's Chanda Mbao released a new song and video yesterday in celebration of his birthday with a very romantically inclined offering. His partnership with producer Shom C, is proving a strong one with the pair putting out song after song that are extremely well produced. Mbao enlists vocal assistance from the talented Scott & the collaboration is flawless as the video spins a tale of Chanda losing his girl due to not paying her enough attention then working to get her back once he sees the error of his ways
Chanda's next project will definitely have a sound unlike projects he's put out before & so far, this is far from a bad thing
Falz- Bahd Baddo Baddest Official Video featuring Olamide & Davido
by Mayuyuka
This is a star-studded Nigerian lineup... and the visuals for this smash collaboration don't disappoint. Coming off Falz sophomore album, Stories That Touch, this track and accompanying video has all the ingredients for a viral success. With the feature of Davido and Olamide, there's already been major anticipation for this offering.
Now the response to the Unlimited L.A directed video has the potential to grab a large share of our attention for the coming weeks. The musician's ascent to the foremost of the mainstream Nigerian entertainment industry from his social media beginning has been something to behold. Now he can spread his wings even wider with his upcoming tour of the United Kingdom in June, where he promises to impress, with support from Moelogo and Studio Magic amongst others.
Dj Switch – Now Or Never (Official Video) Featuring Kwesta, ProVerb, Reason & Shane Eagle
by Phil Chard
In South Africa one individual who seems determined to make songs that focus on quality lyrics and delivery is ironically a club DJ. The name of DJ Switch has been synonymous with Southern Africa pop culture for some time now thanks to his residency on the popularly youth program Yo-Tv at the turn of the millennium. The Cape Town native has found a way to stay relevant and grow with his fan base while producing Hip Hop music that seems to be heading towards a specific point. The evolution of the music is evident, from song like Pick A Box, To Switch , to Way It Go and now, Now Or Never. DJ Switch seems to determined to start making more Hip Hop that focuses on lyrics and skill as opposed to catchy melodies devoid of content.
Now Or Never is a no holds barred onslaught on “Dab friendly rap” as Switch enlists the skills of Reason, Shane Eagle , Proverb & Kwesta to drive home the point. The video for the song is as gritty as the song itself. Directed by Studio Space the visuals depict all four rappers in a rap battle trading bars while Switch provides the beat and the camera rotates around them continuously on a circular track.
Patoranking – No Kissing Baby Featuring Sarkodie (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
Patoranking is clearly not one to rest on his laurels. 24 hours after releasing the audio for his collaboration with Sarkodie titled No Kissing Baby, the Nigerian has just dropped the video for the song. Directed by famed UK director Daps and shot in the UK, the video features Patoranking on a strict non PDA date with his lover while Sarkodie rolls around in a very clean Mercedes SE Coupé.
Kwesta – Day One Featuring AKA & Tweezy
by Phil Chard
Do you ever read the papers, do you think the money changed us,
Do you blame us? Roof back for my day ones
Started with the wolf pack buy I ain’t Aewon - AKA
The controversy behind Tweezy and the writing of the hook on Day One is well documented, yet we are still awaiting conclusive answers around the song. Despite the storm surrounding the song Kwesta has decided to go ahead and release the song as his next single. In preparation for the single launch which will take place this Sunday (May 28th) in Zone 6, Kwesta has dropped the song on his Vevo channel for our streaming pleasure.
The song sees the K1 rapper and AKA in incredible lyrical form as they trade a set of impressive replay worthy bars
Watch The Gidi Fest Aftermovie & Riky Rick’s Set
by Phil Chard
Eclipse Live Africa, the organisers of the Gidi Fest, which they tout as “the biggest music festival in Western Africa” just released the after movie for the 2026 edition of the festival. This year the Fest featured acts like Yemi Alade, Phyno, D’banj, Tiwa Savage, Adekunle Gold, K.O, Riky Rick, DJ Obi and Small Doctor among other artists who all performed at the Fest over the Easter weekend.
Gidi Fest also released part of Riky Rick’s set at the fest. Though the Boss Zonke delivered a solid live set it is clear from the crowd reaction that SA Hip Hop still has a way to go before it becomes part of West Africa’s Urban mainstream. Peep it below
What I Listened To On Africa Day
by Mayuyuka
African music has always been a major part of my music collection; ranging from Kwaito to Jazz classics and even some obscure Hip Hop. In celebration of African music past and present I decided to have a look at a few releases that keep music from a previous generation alive and well, by borrowing from it and updating it for a younger audience. Think of this as the musical equivalent of continuing to pursue the goals set by the Organisation of African Unity, now done through the African Union, 53 years after the original institution's inception. Here are a few songs I picked out on Africa Day that represent that passing of the baton pretty well:
Sampling a classic track is a pretty gutsy thing to do. The attempt can lead to rapturous applause or just plainly rub people the wrong way. When it does go right it's something to behold. The Fraternity's Bheka Mina Ngedwa is a feel good song that brightens up my day any time I listen to it. The song sample's Brenda Fassie's Weekend Special and keeps the funkiness of the original alive whilst adding a fresh twist. A little bit of nostalgia is a great addition to the ingredients when making a hit, and this song will transport you to the blissful days of your childhood.
The next song on my playlist was Handiende by the mercurial Zubz. The song's guitar rhythm is hauntingly rhythmical, and provided a solid base upon which one of the most gifted MCs I've heard could rhyme. This somber tale of a disintegrating relationship owes it's being to the original track done by Steve Makoni. The track was later covered by Oliver Mtukudzi, with the similarly named Hakuendwe; and has the Zimbabwean legend wistfully croon over the outstanding guitar riff. Zubz brilliantly conveys the emotive story in his version of the song whilst staying true to the subject matter of the original.
I came across Moelogo's Penkele somewhat by chance and was immediately enthralled by the infectious bassline. This England-based artist had found a way to infuse the intensity of a Trap beat with the infectious melody of an Afro Pop song. I couldn't escape the result of this unique approach for days after I'd first heard it. A little while after my discovery, finding out the history of this song was the cherry on top. To my surprise, I found that it had reworked the original song of the same name performed by King Sunny Ade. Despite not understanding most of the lyrics, I can assure you both these songs are amazing!
In terms of politics, the continent faces the challenge of carrying the torch lit by a generation of stalwarts who envisioned a brighter future for it. Musically, the sounds of the past can also be relayed to a new generation and keep the cultural heritage of Africans firmly in our midst. Africa Day was a great time to reflect on the achievements of Africans of all walks of life... it made sense to have a proudly African playlist to go along with the celebrations!
Karizma – Shisha Pipe (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
UK based Zimbabwean artist Karizma just dropped the video for his laid back, Young Nash produced track Shisha Pipe. The Ofentse Mwase and Richboy directed video was shot in a swanky luxury apartment in Sandton Johannesburg and features a cameo from Zimbabwean producer Yagi Dojo as well as a number of beautiful women who are all queuing up to light up Karizzy's Shisha Pipe.
This is definitely a great set of visuals that will be celebrated in Zimbabwean Hip Hop circles. But the oft repeated question of when and how Zimbabwean Hip Hop will gain regional appeal remains. Maybe working with the talented duo of South African directors on a song with a sound that seems to be popular at the moment will help put Karizma over the edge.
Cassper Nyovest Surprises A Lucky Fan With A Performance
by Phil Chard
Amstel Lager & Cassper Nyovest recently surprised one of the Maftown rapper’s fans with a performance at the Bannister Hotel in Johannesburg. Reginald Manamela got a massive treat when what he thought was a regular night out turned into a personalised concert after Cassper Nyovest popped out from behind the jukebox where Reginald selected Cassper’s last single Le Mpitse.
The Jukebox prank is part of Amstel’s #AmstelAmplified campaign that see the beverage brand partnering with South African artists to surprise unknowing fans. Back in March Amstel partnered with AKA to surprise one of his fans at a Karaoke events at the Hard Rock café.
[button url=http://www.amstel.co.za/ icon=laptop]You can get more information on the #AmstelAmplified campaign here[/button]
Burnaboy – Duro Ni Be Featuring Phyno (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
Nigeria’s Burna Boy just dropped the video for the fourth single off his sophomore album On A Spaceship. The MattMax directed visuals for Duro Ni Be feature the Igbo lyricist Phyno .
Fecko & Teck-Zilla – Fela Must Rise (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
Back in February we featured Fecko and Teck-Zilla’s tribute album to Fela Kuti titled A.R.T. The Nigerian duo have now dropped the visuals for one of the most popular songs of the project titled Fela Must Rise. The video was directed by AKD of Block20 Media
That’s What The Old Tumi Would Do
by Contributor
Friday night at the Arque restaurant in Sandton’s upmarket Diamond Walk was not exactly what you would expect for a Hip Hop single launch. The Diamond Walk- an elite upmarket section of Sandton City that houses brands like Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armani, Louis Vuitton and Gucci is a world apart from Newtown’s Bassline, a venue that has played an influential role in Tumi’s career.. The upmarket stores are all located along quarter mile long walk that bridges Sandton City and the 5 Star Sandton Sun Hotel.
[pullquote]“A Stogie is a cigar…. and cigars have come to represent you know a certain elegance and growth for me”
It was all glamour with a generous drizzle of Hip-Hop. The hip-hop aficionado Tumi Molekane graced us among the crystal champagne flutes and lights for his debut as an artist performing under the new moniker, Stogie-T. Traditionally, artists adopt different stage names as a guise to experiment with new sounds or styles without doing away with their individual musical identity. Tumi (Molekane) is an accomplished rapper who has reinvented himself a few times over as a solo artist, then the lead of the now defunct Tumi And The Volume then once again as a solo artist. Sandwiched in between those career reincarnations are his collaborations with the French Outfit Chinese Man.
There is always a great deal of unpredictability surrounding an artist’s change of stage name. Will the reincarnation follow the line of those of David Bowie or the abject mess that was Snoop Lion?
With Stogie T we already has few hints before the event via the singles which he dropped earlier that day and a brief statement which read
Tumi represented an idealistic young black male emphasizing the nest of human nature and yearning for a better world, Stogie T simply represents the world as it is whilst retaining peerless lyricism”
Stogie T was very much still like Tumi, the wordplay and delivery remained a constant, the shift seemed to lie in his sound and subject matter. The shift was also evident in Tumi’s styling on the night. Stogie opted to wear designer loafers on the night, where Tumi might have opted to don a pair of Jordan’s from his vast collection of sneakers. As he summed up in a speech
“A Stogie is a cigar…. and cigars have come to represent you know a certain elegance and growth for me”
Initially the launch was a gathering to Diamond Walk and Big Dreams and Stogie-T insisted on only giving us brief introductions as opposed to a performance because “I’m cold, that’s what the old Tumi would do!” but staying true to his inner Tumi he gave the crowd an unexpected (even to himself) performance of his trap banger Everybody Clean (which caused a great deal of discussion on social media when he performed it on Urban Sessions thanks to a certain line that address Riky Rick and Reason) a moment that was ultimately breath-taking. He engaged the crowd with such ferocity and reminded us what magic big talent can really pull off in the heat of the moment. The music is hip, fresh, lyrically smart and the musicality is unmatched as far as I have heard. It’s not just another day in Hip Hop for this new artist.
Favourite Producer-Rapper Partnerships
by Mayuyuka
In the spirit of focusing on the sterling contributions to the game by African producers, we decided to have a look at a few of our favourite producer-rapper combos. What we had in mind was a duo (or any other size and shape set-up) that's managed to come together three times or more to produce classics. We also try to give an update on what the producers may have branched out to from their roles behind the scenes.
A range of old and new alliances have formed over time so here's an overview of matches made in musical heaven: We sometimes take producers for granted and to borrow from a phrase swirling around; this is our little offering to the 'producers must rise' movement. Tweezy and AKA have a promisingly formidable partnership. From churning out hits like Run Jozi and All Eyes On Me to the brilliant Sim Dope, these two are hand and glove when it comes to dropping hits. Recent exchanges on social media might dampen this relationship, but despite a controversial start to a solo career Tweezy hasn't shied away from leaving life from behind the decks. An example of his solo offerings are the trap song Ambition and the controversy-surrounded Bonang performed below:
Priddy Ugly's project You Don't Know Me Yet is entirely produced by Wichi 1080. Apart from the impressive fact that a solitary producer on an album is exceedingly rare nowadays... the different kinds of beats included on this work keeps it a refreshing listen! From standout tracks like Cocaine Ghost and the Big Star Johnson assisted Nobody, to the certified banger Bula Boot: the production deserves a string of fire flame emojis. The dope beats work in tandem with Priddy's delivery and voice to provide a unique offering you can sample out here:
Sarkodie, the criminally underrated rapper hailing out of Ghana has an unfailing ear for melodic beats. Jayso is responsible for most of them, also managing to fuse Hip Hop and Dancehall to create irresistible Hiplife cuts like the catchy Special Someone that features Burna Boy and AKA. Jayso runs his own label, Skillions Records; where he's also released a solo album named Making Tasha Proud. This debut release, inspired by a true story, features a few other Ghanaian mainstays such as Efya and M.anifest. Peep the title track ft A.I to track his journey from behind the decks:
Wizkid's dominant run has seen him stride mammoth paces over the past couple of years. He has, however, been on this journey with the dependable Sarz who has helped mould Wiz into a globally recognised pop star. This partnership has led to regular stays on pop charts across the land. Here's an early Femi Kuti-featuring, Sarz-produced example of the fusion between Afrobeat and Pop we've become accustomed to over the years:
pH Raw X is responsible for working with pretty much everyone in the South African Hip Hop scene. His CV reads like a dream, either solo or part of music production team Octave Couplet. The famous Raw X Studios are responsible for work on albums such as Zubz' Coachella and AKA's Altar Ego. What stands out is his linking up with Khuli Chana on both his albums Motswakoriginator and Lost In Time. pH spreads is talents further than just Hip Hop releases. He shows his versatility on his album From Giyani With Love alongside Thandiswa Mazwai in Wa N'Tiva(Bo't) below:
Shom C and Zone Fam carve out a distinct Zambian sound by mixing elements of Hip Hop and a sprinkle of both Zed and Afrobeat. Rappers Jay Rox, Dope G and Yung Verbal prove that this is a successful formula by featuring Badman Shapi and Nigerians Ice Prince and Patoranking in Slow Mo. This track showcases the best in both the production and lyrical aspects this combination of a trio of rappers and one beat head offers. Have a listen after the jump:
A relationship that allegedly went through a period of acrimony was that between Thasman and HHP who brought us hits like Harambe and the Cassper Nyovest-featuring Wamo Tseba Mtho. It's Bosso that got a huge ad placement from a local mobile operator though, and probably ranks amongst the greatest success of a duo. Revisit it here, and see if it rings any bells:
From the producer-rapper who specialises in Batman and Robin styled duos, to those that have the skill to work with a range of artists: the value of solid production is something we'll always appreciate. For some of the producers we've covered, they continue to strengthen partnerships with specific acts whilst others focus on their solo endeavours now. Whichever way their next chapters play out... we hope it's not strictly by ear!
L-Tido – Oh No (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
L-Tido
L-Tido now also known as 16V, just dropped the video for his trap joint Oh No featuring Durban’s WTF (Witness The Funk) whose high pitched auto tuned vocals are laced on the chorus and a high energy second verse sandwiched in between Tido’s verses
In the Kyle White directed video Tido delivers a set of aesthetically pleasing yet highly predictable set of visuals.
Beautiful light skinned women
Expensive vehicle driving aimlessly in the desert
Party scene with obligatory sponsored placement of an alcohol brand
Slow motion cutaways
Sean Pages cameo
L-Tido – Oh No featuring WTF
Falz Shares How He Broke Into Music in Interview On The Juice
by Phil Chard
@falzthebahdguy
The rise of Falz "The Bahd Guy" has been steady and impressive over the last few years but in the last 6 months his ascension and solidification into the Nigerian and African Hip Hop and Pop Culture lexicon has been nothing short of impressive. From the release of his impressive debut effort with a handful of breath taking videos, his popular skits on social media, a number of TV hosting gigs and now his budding acting career which helped him secure an AMVCA Trophy, Falz is quickly becoming one of Nigeria’s most popular and diverse entertainers.
On the season premiere of Season 3 The Juice, Ndani TV interviewed Falz for a candid and humorous chat. During the chat Falz shares that he was practicing as a lawyer before he decided to swap the courtroom for a studio. Contrary to popular belief Falz was recording music as far back as high school and recorded his first professional song in 2009 but his music career only began to take off after his antics on social media started going viral.
Boolz – Mirror Mirror (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
New Visuals from Boolz off his Love Tha Hate LP. On Mirror Mirror , Boolz hops on a very unorthodox beat that samples 16 bit beeps, congas all placed atop a syncopated bassline. It is awfully reminiscent of the experimental sound and delivery that helped Dirty Paraffin capture the sub culture’s imagination.
The video for Mirror Mirror is just as left field as Leneave Hansen incorporates an aged sepia tone and a timestamp that reminds of old VHS home videos while editing in a mix of fast moving and static images.
DreamTeam – Svunguvungu Featuring Abdus (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
The Durban trio more commonly known as DreamTeam released their debut effort Dreams Never Die almost a year ago now.
Though I enjoyed the project as a whole, the inconsistent raps from the group were its biggest let down. Their fourth single and video off that project, Svunguvungu, encapsulates my overall sentiments. With a hard hitting beat and piercing horns, the group delivers two solid verses and an infectious chorus, and then it falls off a cliff on the third verse.