Milli – Unlooking The Movie
by Phil Chard
After revealing the sad details of his of his tenure as a Choc City artist in a 5 page letter shared with close friends on Facebook, (who eventually leaked the posts to the press) Nigerian rapper Milli has released his first video under his new label Up Next Universe.
The video for Unlooking plays out as an 8 minute movie with the recurring theme “Don’t Ask Me What Happened”. Which I am sure is an ironic reference the label drama that Milli himself brought into the conversation.
Either way we now look forward to hearing more from the artist who by his own admission is in a much more conducive creative environment.
Yung Swiss – David Genaro Remix Featuring Dj Speedsta, Reason & Ginger Trill (Official Music Video)
by Phil Chard
After an annoying and protracted fight with eTV to get the actor Jamie Bartlett who plays the famed character of David Genaro on the popular evening soap opera Rhythm City, South Africa’s Yung Swiss has released the video his David Genaro Remix.
The high energy track features Reason , Ginger Trill and the high energy adlibs of DJ Speedsta (in reality he says like 3 lines). The Kyle White directed video features the famed charachter doing what soap opera crime bosses do while the rappers enjoy a house party with an incredibly favourable women to men ratio.
@YungSwissPgp
Sarkodie – Bossy Featuring JaySo (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
Friends turn into enemies; it’s called life Two speakers, one flow and 4 mics
New video from Sarkodie titled Bossy featuring JaySo. The Juice Bigfellow directed video sees him engaged in a violent gang war with a Hong Kong crime syndicate.
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!
uSanele – Amabhodlela Featuring Mashayabhuqe KaMamba (Official Music Video)
by Phil Chard
The BoyzNBucks members uSanele and Mashayabhuqe KaMamba just released the Director Kit produced visuals for Amabhodlela.
As one would expect, the video is an impressive and visually appealing product featuring rich pastel colours, lots of milk, a tropical jungle sets, a lot of fruits and beautiful women in equal measure. (OK maybe the other stuff is a little unexpected)
The video also features a number of cameos, from other BoyzNBucks members to Ganja Beats (the song's producer) and a number of other cool kids who can also be found frequenting Braamfontein establishments.
@u_Sanele @Mashayabhuqe_ZA
Watch Priddy Ugly’s New Video For Hunnids And Stream His Album
by Phil Chard
Despite our numerous accolades (no humble brag) we are not an infallible entity, and there have been times when we have literally been caught sleeping on some incredibly talented artists.
Without question an artist who should be a regular on our site is South Africa's Priddy Ugly. Despite us being aware of and being impressed by some of his high profile collaborations , we have inexplicably been caught napping on his solo work. I was privileged enough to see Priddy perform at Back To The City during my last trip to South Africa, after witnessing his set up close, I can indeed say that young man has the juice. The combination of his stage presence, energy, and chiselled features had the crowd (particularly the ladies) in a tiff.
Boasting a solid catalogue to his name and having just released two versions of his You Don't Know My Name album Priddy certainly has the talent and drive that could translate into success if he remains consistent.
He has also been releasing a solid set of visuals to accompany his songs for some time now. His new video for Hunnids is no different. The Nkululeko Lebambo directed video makes excellent use of tracking and lens zooming effects to tell a story cantering around store fronts and what nefarious activities may go on in the back
The Wichi 1080 song is available on Priddy's YDKMNY project.
Submission | Sheen Skaiz – Towers (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
New video submission from a new act to appear on our radar. Durban producer and rapper Sheen Skaiz hopped on a Sketchy Bongo Hip Hop/Dubstep/Trap fusion beat on a song titled Towers. Sheen delivers a very simplistic flow with a predictable cadence that somehow fits the beat perfectly as his lyrics give a glimpse into the culture of Durban we have not seen as yet
This is how Sheen described his video
The “Towers” music video follows rapper/producer Sheen Skaiz as him and his crew scout Durban’s CBD, in search of opportunity. They explore urban landscapes and abandoned ruins as they look for a way out of the struggles of the lives that they lead. During their urban exploration, the city of Durban becomes their playground. This illuminates how seeking “more from life” becomes exciting, and how adrenalin from keeping on the grind kicks in and paves the road to success. Sheen Skaiz and his crew have only one agenda, and that is to work their way to the top. The over-all theme of “Towers” (“from having nothing to gaining everything through work”) is depicted by Sheen Skaiz and his crew in the music video as they embark on leaving their imprint on Durban. There are various visual connotations referring to the overall theme of “Towers”. The dilapidated buildings are signifying ‘the struggle’ and the defined architectural structures are metaphors that relate to success, stature, status and power. The masks that Sheen Skaiz and his crew have on as they venture around Durban CBD, emphasize how when you’re down and out, you’re barely acknowledged, no one knows your name – you feel faceless. But, the mask also has a contrasting significance because even with that mask on, you are striving to do great things; you are hustling and working hard so that everyone remembers your name, and knows what you are capable of.
Watch Lil Kesh get interviewed on The Juice
by Phil Chard
Lil Kesh recently dropped by The Juice for a sit down interview with Dorcas to discuss his career thus far and plans for the future. The Y.A.G.I Records head revealed a lot during his interview but these are the 4 main points that we gathered
Lil Kesh revealed details of his upbringing in Bariga Lagos . He also covers some these details in his recently released video of Ishe
Lil Kesh was unable to get a place UNILAG College to study Computer Science. So he had to settle for studying Linguistics instead before he dropped out to pursue music.
As a child LilKesh was a member of his church choir where he performed and wrote songs, he also played the drums.
Lil Kesh reiterated that even though he is no longer signed to YBNL the label, Olamide is still his close friend and YBNL still manage him as an artist.
@lilkeshofficial
Complex – Televised Featuring Shad
by Phil Chard
New video from American based Zimbabwean rapper Complex tilted Televised featuring Shad. The song and video aren’t going to blow you away, but it does represent a consistency and improvement in Complex’ music, who seems to be etching out a following for himself amongst a diasporans and local Zimbabwean fans alike
However Complex might want to change his name and/or the font for his name if he doesn’t want Marc Ecko and his lawyers knocking at his door soon.
Submission | QzA & Solo – Above All (Official Video) + Forever Stream
by Phil Chard
The raspy voiced QzA just dropped the video for his song Above All featuring BETR Gang member Solo. Directed by Mandla N and Scott Ross the video utilises low light studio shots and tinted lighting to create a dark visual ambience.
The song is part of QzA's 13 track release Forever which you can stream below.
Submission | Lolo Vandal – Qhusaa (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
Lolo Vandal just us his video for Qhusaa and what a video it is..... The best way to describe it, is that it like watching an old woman fall down a flight of stairs. You know you should not be watching or enjoying it, but it is still highly entertaining. Except with this video substitute a popped hip with debauchery of the highest order.
A-Reece – Mgani
by Phil Chard
A-Reece has been touted as one of the most promising young acts in South African Hip Hop for almost two years now , after his song Capper’s Picture, caught the industry’s attention. After singing to the legendary producer pH’s RawX stable the future looked very bright for the young Pretorian teenager. Sadly, after releasing The Forever King Mixtape in 2013 and the Browniez EP in 2014, production from the young artist seemed to stagnate.
Surprisingly a few months ago it was announced that A-Reece was now affiliated with Ambitiouz. Since then the artist has released two official singles on the stable that has been sweeping up all the awards recently namely, Couldn’t featuring Emtee and now his song Mgani (Mngani?).
The mellow song contains a sample of DeBarge’s A Dream which was in turn sampled by a number of artists including Tupac, Joe Budden, Fabolous and now A-Reece.
A-Reece – Mgani
Word By Phil Chard
A-Reece has been touted as one of the most promising young acts in South African Hip Hop for almost two years now , after his song Capper’s Picture, caught the industry’s attention. After singing to the legendary producer pH’s RawX stable the future looked very bright for the young Pretorian teenager. Sadly, after releasing The Forever King Mixtape in 2013 and the Browniez EP in 2014, production from the young artist seemed to stagnate.
Surprisingly a few months ago it was announced that A-Reecewas now affiliated with Ambitiouz. Since then the artist has released two official singles on the stable that has been sweeping up all the awards recently namely, Couldn’t featuring Emtee and now his song Mgani (Mngani?).
The mellow song contains a sample of DeBarge’s A Dream which was in turn sampled by a number of artists including Tupac, Joe Budden, Fabolous and now A-Reece.
@reece_youngking
Lynxxx Interview on The Juice
by Phil Chard
Nigerian rapper and Syndik8 Records front man Lynxxx was the subject of the latest episode of The Juice on Ndani TV. During the interview Lynxxx discusses his early life and what it was like growing up around his five older sisters and mother before explaining the meaning behind his name.
Lynxxx also speaks on his hiatus from music and his new found love for God and the shift in his message and mentality. According to Lynxxx, he has two albums set to drop. Th first will be smartly named "Album Before The Album which will be the precursor to his autobiographical album Evlolution. So it looks we will never get that Jollof Music album.
Yanick Afroman – A Dor De Um Pai
by Phil Chard
Angolan rapper Yannick Afroman just released the video for his latest track A Dor De Um Pai which roughly translates to “The Pain Of A Father”. The song speaks on the cultural ills affecting the people in his surroundings. In keeping with the song’s sombre lyrics the video features scenes from the lives of a troubled youth caught in a life of crime and the ills that await young girls online.
@YannickAfroman
Takura – Zino Irema (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
Soul Afrika is a Pop group that first broke onto the Zimbabwean music scene two years ago under the ABBRA Tribe umbrella. When I interviewed Tytan around that time he had been working closely with the group in a managerial capacity.
Since releasing their debut effort Ndimi Derudo the duo of Takura and Tatenda Mathe seem to have moved on to form a close relationship with Kenako Music. Now it seems the group are also trying their hand as solo acts
In his new single Takura experiments with a different sound to what his fans may be accustomed with. The track Zino Irema is surprisingly very Hip Hop and features Takura on a trap beat blending rap verses and sung choruses as he sings about fake friends and a woman who doesn’t have any genuine interest in him outside of the superficial .
The video was directed by Zimbabwe’s premier director Andy Cutta and is a highly impressive offering that integrates studio and outdoor shots featuring Takura and his cohorts dabbing enthusiastically as they recite the sombre lyrics.
Jay Rox – Glory ft Tim (Thugga)
by twoSeats
Last year, the news that Zone Fam was experiencing some possible troubles was met with a great collective sigh from some of us in the Zambian & Southern African hip hop media & fanbase. It is no secret that hip hop music groups in general are very prone to differences be they creative, developmental or otherwise & with Zone Fam's long awaited follow up to their album "The Business" seeming to have stalled in the studio & one of their members was leaving the group in order to pursue a new direction with Gospel music many of us, including myself worried that we'd never get to hear the
Fans were reassured that the split was amicable but there wasn't any proof of that until cameos in Dope G's My Hair video showed that there was still a good relationship between the artists. Now we have reason to celebrate because the award winning Jay Rox just released evidence that we can look forward to more collaborations between our favourite Zone Fam artists.
Roxa keeps to his recent dancehall-esque delivery on this & brings us a very special treat indeed both in the visuals with the video having been shot at a water purification plant & the first verse we've had the privilege to hear since Thugga Tim left Zone Fam. Quite simply it doesn't matter what the content is, Tim spits flames.
This is the first Jay Rox offering from an as yet unnamed project from Roxa. In fact because of an extremely kind Roxa who allowed me a quick early listen to some of the material he's working on; we can definitely look forward to a good project from him.
Favourite African Rapper-Producer 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 rapper-producer duos. 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.
What we had in mind was a duo that's managed to come together three times or more to produce classics, and an update on what producers have branched out 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:
Priddy Ugly's project You Don't Know Me Yet is entirely produced by Wichi 1080. Apart from the fact that a single producer on an album is 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 all sorts of fire flame emojis. The beats work in tandem with Priddy's unique delivery and voice.
Nyamz and Proverb who have a long established history. Classic tracks such as have stood the test of time
JaySo and Sarkodie. The criminally underrated rapper hailing out of Ghana has an ear for melodic beats. Jayso is responsible for most of them, also managing to churn out hiplife cuts. JaySo runs skillions Records where he's also released a solo album named Making Tasha Proud. Peep the album name sharing tite track
Sarz and Wizkid. Wizkid's dominant run has seen him stride mamoth paces over the past couple of years. He has been on this journey with the dependable Sarz who's moulded his sound into a mainstay on pop charts across the land, heres an actual afrobeat song infused with pop.
PH Raw X is responsible for working with pretty much everyone... his CV reads like a dream and the famous Raw X studios are responsible for joints such as KHULI MOTSWAKORIGINATOR And lost in time, Zubz coachella. He fits the bill as a producer's producer as his membership of music production team Octave Couplet. tailoring his style to expertly suit his wide range of clients for example most recently showing his versatility alongside Thandiswa Mazwai.
Shom C and Zone Fam a distinct Zambian sound by mixing elements of hip hop and a sprinkle of Zed and AfroBeats, Jay Rox, Dope G and Yung Verbal prove this is a succesful formula by featuring Badman Shapi, and Nigerians Ice Prince and Patoranking in Slow Mo. This track that 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 aftert the jump:
Tweezy and AKA have a promisingly formidable partnership. From churning 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 a controversial start to a solo career hasn't seen him shy away from leaving life behind the decks. An example of his solo offering is Ambition and the one below called Bonang
A relationship that also went through a similar period of acrimony was that between Thasman and HHP brought us hits like Harambe and the Cassper Nyovest-featuring Wamo Tseba Mtho .It's Bosso that got huge ad placements and probably ranks among the duo's greatest success though:
Odinareh Bingwa- Pressure Official Video
by Mayuyuka
Kenya seems to be making strides in building it’s Hip-Hop presence in Africa and if Odinareh Bingwa’s latest visual for Pressure is anything to go by, they are definitely on to something.
Odinareh is an urban rapper from the south coast of Kenya, Diani. Pressure is the first single off his forthcoming Diani - Papa La Kusini mixtape to tide people over before he drops his Mwana Haramu album. The release date is yet to be announced. Rather than write a young book about the track I’ll the track speak for itself. This one definitely makes it on my #MusicToDabTo playlist. The Swahili-English bars show that music is a universal language and will have you nodding your head to the flow.
Submission | Bala 2K – Kiss U (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
Cameroon's Bala 2K's just dropped the video for his first official song titled Kiss U . The song is a mix Makossa, Afro beats, and Dance. As the titles suggests the song tell the story of Bala and his lover as they traverse the highs of a relationship. Special shout out goes to the lady in the red dress.