Chanda Mbao – My Town Featuring Kaladoshas (Official Music Video)
by Phil Chard
Zambian Chanda Mbao just dropped the impressive video for his connection with Dancehall artiste Kaladoshis titled My Town. The song represents the current movement within African Urban music as the lines between Hip Hop and Pop become ever more blurry. On the song Chanda adopts an incredibly simplistic AB type flow that is akin to the most basic of pop songs. I have been noticing number of artists particularly rappers, adopting such styles and flows in recent songs - chief among which is Ice Prince. I am not the biggest fan of this particular brand of popification but its what radio loves rght now, so the trend will continue.
The DJ Lo directed video is stunning as it utilises aerial shots to help show off Lusaka's beauty.
J-Smash I Don’t See You Niggas – Feat Ginger Trill, Tumi Tladi & WiziBeatz (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
“You balls deep in the friendzone, all my friends come with benefits - Ginger”
Limpopo's J-Smash just dropped the video for his trap joint I Don't See You Niggas featuring Ginger Trill, Tumi Tladi and WiziBeatz . We first featured the audio two months ago here. The Kyle White video splits its scenes among an abandoned airport, and the obligatory hood shots , capped off with the posse close up cutaways.
Ma-E Has a New Video Hlasela But We Still Have Questions About His Album
by Phil Chard
From my vantage Ma-E has received one of the rawest deals at Cashtime with the release of his debut solo album Township Counsellor . The release and promotion of the album has been plagued by a number of snags and strategic decisions that make me scratch my head. Mainly because these errors were not present with K.O’s album release
It all started when the physical copies of the album failed to be be delivered to stores before the Easter holiday as expected. Then only a few short weeks after the album dropped K.O rained on the marketing parade and released his song Papa Action. Despite releasing 5 singles off the project and 2 videos since the album was released, marketing efforts to push the project have been subdued.
Now on the album's 6th single Ma-E has released the video for track 4 on the project titled Hlasela. The well shot visuals are being touted as a 4 minute trailer to a more detailed movie that will feature the parallel tales of a criminal family man and an incarcerated Ma-E.
4 months after its release Township Counsellor is still unavailable
It almost feels like the it's a little too late in the game to right the ship that is the Township Counsellor marketing train but I certainly hope so. The reviews that I've heard thus far praise the project for its delivery and originality. Sadly I haven't been able to hear it , despite the the album being released over 4 months ago, it still isn't available on iTunes or Apple Music….
SPHEctacula & DJ Naves Featuring Reason, Kwesta & PH Raw X- IDWGH (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
The Dj duo of SPHEctacula and Naves collectively commonly known as the Kings of The Weekend just released the third video from their KOTW album titled I Don't Wanna Go Home. The video which was produced by Uprooted Media sees the duo linking up with Kwesta, Reason and PH for a night of upmarket club fun. The video also featured a cameo from DJ Cleo, which reunited him and with SPHE once again since their first appeared together in a video back in 2011 for Cleo's Bhampa Side To Side video .
Phyno – E Sure For Me (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
Nigerian rapper recently cum Gospel singer Phyno just dropped the Clarence Peters directed video hos latest single E Sure For Me. The release of this video caught me by surprise since Phyno's last single Fada Fada is still enjoying incredible success in Nigeria . According to MyPlay Data the song has been the most played song on Nigerian radio for 13 weeks now.
Nigerian Top 10 radio songs via @myplaydata pic.twitter.com/zSqR87ZQar
— African Hip Hop Blog (@AfricanHHB) August 10, 2016
The video features scenes of Phyno in a graffiti littered room with hanging mics as he recites the song's lyrics giving thanks to Olisa (God) for the success he has been able to attain. E SUre For Me also sounds eerily similar to Falz song 406 Na Di Code. Let us know if you agree in the comments
Baru – Kingin Featuring Patrobas & Play01
by Phil Chard
Ugandan producer and rapper Baru released his 8 track EP Young King, three months ago. The project which was produced fully by him also features fellow Dustiville/Crane Gang artists Abasaa, Pryce and Patrobas, Play01
Kingin is his first video release form the project and features Play01 and Patrobas riding over a high energy Grime like beat that suits Patrobas style perfectly. Play01 seems to struggle to match the cadence needed on such a frantic instrumental.
You can stream The Young King EP below.
DJ Jimmy Jatt – The Greatest Featuring M.anifest, Navio, Modenine & Femi Kuti
by Phil Chard
When it comes to Hip Hop icons, DJ Jimmy Jatt has become more of living institution that anything else. The veteran just dropped a video his track Greatest from the Industry Vol. 1 Album. The track features the piercing saxophone bellows of Femi Kuti as M.anifest opens the song with with 20 fire bars as Navio and Modenine pick up the baton while simultaneously trying to out do each other on the following verses.
E.L – Portay Dey Be Featuring Cabum & Edem (Official Music Video)
by Phil Chard
E.L., Cabum and Edem take us back to the late 90s on the BAR’s latest video for Portay Dey Be. The Pascal Aka is an ode to the high budget, pastel colour themed videos of Hype Williams and Director X that dominated the turn on the century.
On the song E.L pays homage to The Notorious B.I.G borrowing the flow made famous by the Brooklyn MC on Victory. Cabum opts to adopt an early Busta Rhymes flow circa his E.L.E album. Edem adopts a flow very similar to that of Method Man.
I have always felt that E.L makes a better rapper than the pop act he usually morphs into for his albums. His recent releases that are leading up to the release of BAR III have been nothing short of stellar.
When Rap & R&B Meet| Three Soulful Hooks By South African Singers
by Mayuyuka
There's nothing more memorable than a soulful hook. One that stirs your spirit, rings in your ears all day and has you humming the melody through your weekly escapades to the grocery store. A good Hip Hop track has the qualities, that inspire such a reaction, we think. So here are three very different hooks, helmed by South African singers, that promise to stand the test of time.
TUMI & THE VOLUME FT PEBBLES- PEOPLE OF THE LIGHT
RAPSODY FT NOMSA MAZWAI- KINDA LOVE
PROVERB FT THE SOIL- BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVOURED
Let us know if you catch yourself singing to these in the next couple of days!
#SubmissionSunday | AYAT – BARISUJEY Featuring KIddblack
by Phil Chard
Ayat is a an artists hailing from Medina, Ghana who currently resides in the United States. The rapper just linked up with Kiddblack for the video for his trap themed single BARISUJEY
#SubmissionSunday | Hanta The Samurai – Niko Kazini (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
We featured the audio for Hanta The Samurai's single Niko Kazini in an earlier edition of #SubmissionSunday and now we have the accompanying visuals from the Kenyan artist. The video features some impressive aerial shots as Hanta speaks on hte importance of a 9-5 and working for the man, man.
Lil Trix – Baddie Feat. Beey Royce, Mikhale Jones & Versa-Tyle (Lyric Video)
by Phil Chard
Since leaving Blayze Entertainment about two years ago, the trajectory of Lil Trix’s career has been somewhat unclear. The talented young artist and producer doesn’t seem to have the direction he needs to steer his burgeoning career in the right direction. We are now three years removed from his debut project Colour Me Bad which displayed all of Trix potential, yet it does not seem that much has been achieved to build on that offering since.
In the 3 years since its release, Trix has failed to recapture that raw magic that had us sitting up and paying attention. Trix last single Life which he touted as his “best single to date” failed to impress me with it's much used Daft Punk baseline and his Kanye like flow borrowed from another song where ‘Ye sampled the French electro duo too. Couple this release with a very underwhelming performance by Trix at the African Star 8th Anniversary Dinner ( Trix is now one of their clients. The irony of his move from Blayze to African Star was not lost on me) The performance was supposed to be his introduction to the industry's A-list but it fell very flat.
With all this in mind, I approached Trix new single with an obvious level of bias as the previews that I had already heard had done little to change my outlook on his career. Somehow, however this song has changed my mind and reinstilled my initial optimism in Trix and his position in the South African Hip Hop scene.
On a song with a steel pan caribbean influence, Trix and his ensemble of collaborators that include Beey Royce, Mikhale Jones and VersaTyle deliver a song that plays directly to Trix strengths - a laid back delivery and catchy melodies. What Triz has always lacked in lyricsm he has made up for in his ability to blur the line between singing and rap coupled with his skills a s producer
Looks like Zunaid might still have something in his little bag of Trix
AKA – One Time (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
In his new video for One Time AKA looks to tell the tale of the moral dilemma faced by a Blessee on a night out with friends as they look to woo a cadre of pot bellied Blessers while ignoring calls from “bae”.
The video is shot mainly at an exclusive lounge , the type these blesser types might frequent and is peppered with cameos from BigStar Johnson, Yanga, Cass, Da L.E.S and many more who are all trying to out bless each other to get the attention of the ladies.
Navy Seal – 100 Dollar Bills Featuring Phuture Phil (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
Zimbabwean rapper Navy Seal has just released the the RasquesityKeaitse directed video for 100 Dollar Bills featuring Phuture Phil (i repeat, no relation)and the word that came to mind on several occasions while watching this video is “irony”. It is drenched in ironic imagery.
My only complaint about Navy Seal and his music has been his adoption of American idioms, topics and accents in his music. To me they paint his work with a coat of unoriginality and a lack of authenticity.
In the video Navy Seal is seen exiting a home with a design very common in Zimbabwean low income, high density suburbs. He then takes a long walk to a shopping centre whose amenities feature a car wash amongst other things.. It is clear that Navy Seal is trying to paint the “I'm from the grimy streets but I'm on my grind “ type of visual, which he manages to pull off... However in an ironic twist he helps prove my point for me. Would any of the people at the locations in the video was shot listen to his music? Would they understand what he is speaking about in his accent? Do they understand the phrase “pushing whips” and “stacking chips”. I would hazard a guess and say no.
Until Zimbabwean rappers begin to recognise the value of their own original and unique stories instead of falling over themselves to recreate what they hear coming from overseas, their only believable music will always be about the grind and haters, not about celebrating their successes.
Cassper Nyovest Featuring Casey Veggies – 428 To LA (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
Well over a year since Cassper released the song 428 To LA which first appeared on the platinum edition of his debut album Tsholofelo and was mysteriously included on his sophomore album Refiloe we now have the visuals for the Anatii produced song.
When I spoke to Cassper last year the rapper spoke of his intentions to shoot the video in LA with Cassey Veggies. During his recent trips to the United States Cassper got his wish and linked up with the rapper to produce a video that Cassper directed himself. The video features scenes of Cassper lapping up American culture in New York and LA as Cassper and Anatii meet up with a plethora of celebrities including Black Though, Naughty By Nature, DJ Drama and culminating in his interview on Sway.
Considering the timing of the release (the song is now an album old) it doesn't look like Cassper invested too much into its production. Cassper has also spoken of his intention to shoot a video for his Game assisted song Cooking In The Kitchen. Whether or not he was able to shoot it during his trip will become clear soon.
REVIVO – Don’t Tell Me Whattado (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
The South African collective Revivo (Revivolution) dropped their album Kotas & Kaviar last month and one of my favorite tracks on the project was Don't Tell Me Wattado. The song caught my ears attention mainly because it had a sound very different to the rest of the album and had a very strong club and dance appeal.
The group just dropped a video for the song that features verses from Inferno Williams, FuSion and Impropoe. The video which looks like it was shot at Tiffindell Ski resort features the group battling artificial snow as they deliver the songs versus with a number of cameos thrown in just to keep things spicy.
Part Time Cooks & SoulChef – Smash Town ft Nucksal (넉살) (Official Music Video)
by Phil Chard
Part Time Cooks have just released the first video off their recently released 7:30 Album. As I declared in my review of the album this is definitely the duo's best body of work since they formed.
However though Smash Town was byno means my least favourite song on the album it is a surprising choice for a first single, but despite that it fits the brand Part Time Cooks have built for themselves with their 3 projects. I'm sure the feature from Nucksal (넉살) will also help give the song traction in Korea.
The video is a highly entertaining affair where the duo spend the night wining and dining a duo of blow up dolls only to be hustled in the end. You just gotta watch it.
DJ Dimplez – Bet It All Featuring Maggz & Kimosabe
by Phil Chard
DJ Dimplez just released the first single off his upcoming sophomore album titled Bet It All featuring Maggz and Kimosabe. In a shocking twist, DJ Dimplez abandons his trademark club sound and opts for a slow and mellow Hip Hop ballad aided heavily by Kimosabe’s vocals while Maggz drops some smooth bars on the hook and bridge.
Patrobas – Voice Inside Featuring Abaasa (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
British based Ugandan rapper Patrobas is an artist that we just came across and it is a surprise that a man this talented has managed to go unnoticed for so long. The rapper recently dropped a video for Voice Inside, an introspective song that speaks on rebirth and reinvention featuring the vocals of Abaasa over the hook.
Slege – Exercise Skill (Offical Video)
by Phil Chard
South African rapper Slege (fka Slege Lee)just dropped a video for his hard hitting lyrical offering Exercise Skill. The song features a Thedawn produced beat with a looped sample, boom baps and DJ scratches as Slege delivers a 3 minute verbal combination on his competition. The Brad Tapinos directed video features Slege in boxing gym (if that wasn't clear from all my puns) reciting his verses as he shadow boxes with these bars.