DJ Speedsta is coming back to kill ’em as he previews the visuals for his latest release, Don’t Phazamisa Me with yungseruno, Stilo Magolide, and Okmalumkoolkat.
From the short teaser, the gang’s seen in a field of trees performing the track while draped in W.A.T.E.R. Without giving too much away, we definitely know the visual is ought to go hard.
Since dropping last month, Speedsta has been hard at work promoting his single with assistance from Stilo, who’s made appearances in several videos.
The Love & Hip Hop SA cast member has not shared when to expect the visuals so keep an eye on our pages for more updates.
One of SA Hip Hop’s golden boys, Loatinover Pounds has become a nationwide hitmaker with the success of Sosh Plata and continues to collect major wins.
Since dropping the remix with 25K and Thapelo Ghutra, the song has plummeted to great heights in the music charts, also earning Pounds millions of YouTube views for the music video in just 2 months.
Sosh Plata remix currently sits on a little over 2 million YouTube views, matching Spotify’s streams at 2,600,000, and is his most streamed song to date.
As Loatinover Pounds’ popularity grows, he is also getting more performance bookings and attracting brand partnerships. His signature “Faka Punyete” trademark has also helped grow the Punyete apparel brand, putting it in the spotlight as a fresh urban brand to look out for.
Punyete’s New Eyewear Range
The hood-popular streetwear brand, Punyete, has added to its growing apparel line with a new range of sunglasses.
The “Faka Punyete Retro Sunglasses” have been made available to consumers in three colorways – black, white, and brown. Retailing at just R200 a pop, the brand is making it possible for the average person to look stylish while also supporting local retailers.
Aside from the sunglasses, Punyete also has a wide range of shirts, fashionable “Nyete Là Punyu” tote bags, beanies, and their “Nyete Là Punyu” caps sported often by Loatinover Pounds.
Be sure to visit their website at www.punyete.co.za and shop for something cute!
Though many rappers were unfortunate to grow up fatherless, a lot of them are actively breaking this cycle by being present in their children’s lives. Some of our favorite emcees took the time off to show off their families and get into the spirit of Father’s Day.
Here are some pictures from social media:
Cassper Nyovest
Cassper celebrated his second Father’s Day with a short video of when his son, Khotso was born, until now – a bubbly and energetic 2-year-old boy who dances just like his old man.
Khuli Chana
Having recently welcomed his bundle of joy with his wife, Lamiez Holworthy-Morule, Khuli took to the socials to show off his kids and share a message about the importance of fatherhood.
Priddy Ugly
In a short visual of little Afrika singing her “ABCs,” Bontle Modiselle showed her love to Priddy Ugly for his consistency in being a world-class dad. “No matter what the world says to/ about you, your baby girl looks at you like you’re the greatest and that’s it – that’s the real magic.”
Zingah
Lawd of da chop, lawd of da pops motion, Zingah, shared a sweet photo of his little family out for a stroll while in a separate picture, he was presented with breakfast and a note for being “the best daddy in the world.”
We love to see it. Show us how you celebrated Father’s Day.
Kimilist is a rapper and singer born & raised in Kumasi, Ghana. His music style is influenced greatly by the Uk Rap scene, blending Grime, Trap music as well as Afrobeats and other Afro-fused genres. The idea for his name, Kimilist came from Anime: “Kimi” meaning sweet and tough, and “list” referencing his listed lyrics.
Kimillist is back with a vibey new single titled “Pon Gidi”. It’s the ultimate feel-good jam with irresistible beats and catchy lyrics…perfect for a cruise on the streets of Accra or hanging with friends.
“Pon Gidi” is a mid-tempo Afropop single describing the Mimlife Records signed artist, Kimilist’s lifestyle. The artist sings and raps over the NixieOfficivl beat, sliding over it casually as he paints a picture capturing his journey, touching on his hustle tendencies, love interests, and the influential people in his life who have shaped him into the artist he is today.
He summarizes this perfectly in the hook: “Suffer now later let the money Speak. Girl, I be the lotion wey your body need. Them dey hala when they see say we dey gully streets. Bless the people wey put me on as we stretch to touch all the billions”
Pressure is a different feel, a beautiful sonic blend with superb execution. You can feel the artistry behind Groovy Jo’s voice as she switches from hardcore to mellow sounds. She definitely is the complete package, a definition of an urban femcee.
Pressure is the latest EP by Groovy Jo, expressing her artistic growth on the album. An interesting fact about her is that she has a background as a singer. The sounds merge together beautifully to produce this record.
Pressure cover
A standout component in Groovy Jo’s art has been her crafty manner of weaving through different topics, themes, and lines poetically and majestically.
Pressure EP review
Pressure is an exploration of her vulnerable side, a contrast as audiences are used to the hardcore side that comes with being a rapper. The project is, therefore, more sentimental as she opens herself up to experience human emotions such as love and loss. This adventure makes pressure more explorative and diverse away from her usual rap stature.
The project is more relatable as Groovy tells her story of living and enjoying life.
The 8-track project boasts an excellent production with amazing features. Artists such as South Africa’s Buzzi Lee and Valerie Muthoni are impeccable additions and beautifully accompany Groovy.
The bars on this project are top-tier, with surgical precision exhibiting masterful lyricism. She is definitely getting better at her craft, placing herself miles ahead of her peers.
Pressure EP brings out a more confident Groovy Jo, marking a point where she does not feel the need to prove her rap ability with hard bars. She has already established herself as one of the hardest shrappers in Kenya.
The beat selection is a trip, having listeners upbeat and dancing in one instance, then transitioning to a head-nodding tempo. Groovy’s artistry is the constant feature that puts it all together.
The themes explored in the project vary from materialism, self-worth, romance and authenticity. Pressure is a must-listen project from the ADF’s very own superstar Groovy.
Mavin’s resident emcee Ladipoe has been quiet for a while since he released his critically acclaimed ‘Providence’ EP in 2021. The rapper followed up the project with videos and signed treatment for the Fireboy assisted ‘Running’ and Rema assisted ‘Afro Jigga’ respectively. Then he dropped ‘Big Energy’ right after his scene stealing verse on the Mavins All-stars posse cut ‘Overdose,’ in 2022. The former didn’t quite leave the same print on playlists as the latter.
Although besides his verses on songs like ‘Won Le Le’ and ‘Overdose’ on the Mavins All-stars Compilation album, Poe hasn’t dropped new music— the Ikeja-born emcee found a way to keep the ears of his “Lifelines” as he calls his fans, busy.
Poe did that with the help of his weekly ‘On The Rooftop’ series where he performed classic Poe verses or new verses on different instrumentals or Acapella from a rooftop somewhere in Lagos.
‘Guy Man’ is Poe’s first song since June 2022 and the Lifelines couldn’t be more excited, as the Mavins Records Hip Hop Prince Ladipoe teams up with Dagbana Republic Prince, Bella Shmurda.
On ‘Guy Man,’ Ladi is revisiting his formula for making Afro-rap hits; a rap cadence laden, laid back hook and a vocalized chorus by an Afrobeats singer, merging into a cocktail of earworm street-hop.
This formula gave us ‘Afro Jigga‘ with Rema in 2022, ‘Yoruba Samurai’ with Joeboy and ‘Know You’ with Simi in 2020.
The earliest fossils of this formula can be heard on Poe’s 2018 ‘Talk About Poe’ project, on the song ‘Falling’ that introduced a lot of fans to a certain young and budding alté gem called Tems.
He also used the formula on his 2019 underground hit ‘Lemme Know’ but without a Vocalist on the chorus.
When Poe realized that adding a Tenor vocalist on the chorus was the icing on the cake, he finally cracked the code and that was the birth of most of his biggest hits, an anthem for the ladies and party goers but still not losing the Hip Hop heads in the process.
Although, this formula has delivered Poe into the hands of Hip Hop purist critics who keep quoting the Drake line ” they run to the hottest n***s just to stay hot’ in their critique of the formula, but like Kanye said on Graduation, “50 told me go ahead and switch your style up, if they gon’ hate let them hate, just watch the money pile up.”
Even Ladi said it best on the song, ”‘Cause Afrobeat hit no mean say Hip Hop’s dead.”
The single was released on Tuesday, June 13, 2022 and fans are already going crazy from both the rap and Afrobeats spectrum of Nigerian music lovers.
Does Ladipoe have another Number One Anthem coming with ‘Guy Man?’
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On National Youth Day, we pay our respects to the youth of 1976 who were instrumental in helping shape the country’s history and future, during the Soweto uprising massacre.
As the country still struggles to gain stability, and the youth battle unemployment and personal struggles – we reflect on the impact music has made on everyday life.
While many South Africans step out in their former school uniforms to commemorate June 16, others will be seated in their homes watching Sarafina!, a 1992 local musical with themes inspired by the Soweto uprising.
From the days of apartheid, leading to the “free South Africa” in 1994, musicians voiced the sorrows many South Africans faced, in their music. From Hugh Masekela and Brenda Fassie, to rappers like HHP, Zuluboy, and the group Jozi – music has, for a long time, been used to address many societal issues while also giving us hope for a better tomorrow.
We compiled a playlist to acknowledge June 16, complete with sounds from all around the country from rappers who sought to use their voices to make a change.
Ukoo Flani Mau Mau is a hip-hop group from Kenya that emerged in the early 2000s. It is a collective of underground MCs from different slums in Nairobi and Mombasa. The group deployed socially conscious and politically charged lyrics to address the societal issues in Kenya.
Ukoo Flani Mau Mau popularized Sheng, a slang language that mixes Swahili and English, in Kenyan hip hop.
UKOO FLANI is an acronym that reads ‘Upendo Kote Olewenu Ombeni Funzo La Aliyetuumba Njia Iwepo’. This directly translates to love everywhere for all who seek the teachings of the creator; there is a way. They collectively enable hip-hop to be the language to pass the actual/valid message to society.
The Legends’ Origin
The group was formed by MCs inspired by Kalamashaka, another pioneering Kenyan hip-hop group. They mentored and supported young MCs from the slums, who formed crews and recorded songs at Mandugu Digital studio.
These crews included Mashifta, Wenyeji, Wakamba Wawili, and Ghetto Fabulous.
In 2001, these crews came together to form Ukoo Flani Mau Mau to create a united voice for Kenya’s youth.
The group also expanded to include MCs from Mombasa, who brought a coastal flavor to the group’s sound. The group’s members often refer to themselves as “Watoto wa Mau Mau” (children of Mau Mau). This is an expression of their connection to the history and struggle of their ancestors.
Career
Ukoo Flani Mau Mau’s career traces back to the late 1990s when some of the founding members were part of Kalamashaka.
Interestingly, the group had a rite of passage to test the member’s lyrical ability and skill level. A group member got officially admitted after winning a rap battle at F2.
Ukoo Flani Mau Mau’s first album, Kilio Cha Haki (Cry for Justice), was released in 2006. The album featured 18 tracks that tackled various social and political issues in Kenya, such as corruption, tribalism, and violence. The album received good reviews from critics and fans alike.
Some of the popular songs from the album include “Mazishi ya Polisi” (Funeral of a Policeman), “Umati” (Crowd), “Dhuluma” (Oppression), and “Hatuna Tena Nafasi” (We Have No More Space).
Impact on Kenyan Hip-Hop and Culture
Ukoo Flani Mau Mau is widely regarded as one of Kenya’s most influential and respected rap groups. The group has been instrumental in shaping the Kenyan hip-hop scene and culture., especially in language, style, and content.
The group’s use of Sheng has inspired many other Kenyan artists and fans to embrace their local dialects and identities. Their dressing style, which often incorporates elements of African fabrics, colors, and accessories influenced the fashion and aesthetics of Kenyan hip-hop.
The group’s content, which focuses on the social and political issues affecting the Kenyan people, has also challenged and inspired other artists and fans to use their music as a tool for awareness, education, and activism.
Ukoo Flani Mau Mau has mentored and supported many upcoming and established Kenyan hip-hop artists, such as Juliani and King Kaka. The group has also collaborated and performed with many local and international artists, such as K’naan, Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, Akon, and Damian Marley.
Highlights
The group has also received many awards and accolades for their music and contribution to the Kenyan hip-hop industry, such as the Kisima Music Awards, the Chaguo La Teeniez Awards, the Mzuka Awards, and the MTV Africa Music Awards.
Some other notable achievements include:
Collaborating with other Kenyan and international artists, such as Nazizi, K’naan, Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, Akon, and Damian Marley.
Performing live in various venues and events, such as Eastlands 2007 Edition. They joined forces with other Kenyan hip-hop artists to promote peace and unity.
Creating songs that address the social and political issues affecting the Kenyan youth, such as corruption, tribalism, violence, and HIV/AIDS.
Popularizing the use of Sheng, a slang language that blends Swahili, English, and other local dialects, in Kenyan hip hop.
Port Harcourt-born Nigerian emcee David Lari, popularly known by his stage name Sknny has been doing the most to put Port Harcourt Hip Hop on the national stage, under the radar— for almost half a decade now. Over the years Sknny has laced prolific bars over hi-hats-laden, boom bap beats, which has resulted in a barrage of some of the most floetic, yet lyrical hip hop out of Southern Nigeria.
“The golden child of hip hop” as he is fondly called by fans, raps about his life and experiences— his phone addiction on ‘Nomophobia,’ his love for the herb on ‘Vibing,’ his depression on ‘Tears in the rain,’ his ambition on ‘No Clues’ and now his sacrifices for his dreams as he reminds us he has paid his ‘Dues’ on the upcoming single.
Golden Child’s last release was the two-song pack ‘The Vibe Pack‘ where he ushered fans onto his new sound, focusing more on a melodic sonic approach than on previous works in his catalogue.
On ‘Dues,’ Sknny gives himself props as he reminisces on how far he has come in his career, but stays reflective about how much better it could still get, he raps “you know I done paid my dues for this, ain’t no way that I can lose for this, too prolific y’all can’t snooze on this, everyday I’m making moves for this”.
Released on the 14th Of June 2023, the jumpy, slow progressing trap record depicts a mix of braggadocious commendation and motivation from the young rapper who’s finely easing himself into the high regard he’s capable of attaining in the rap game.
Sknny is definitely one of the brightest rap stars leading the revolution of young Nigerian rappers. The golden child should definitely be on your radar.
Check out some of Sknny’s previous releases by clicking the link below.
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The Recording Academy has passed a vote to include three new categories for the 2024 Grammy Awards and it’s now official.
Best African Music Performance, Best Pop Dance Recording, and Best Alternative Jazz Album will be included in the 66th Grammys, adding to the already 94 categories.
What this means for African musicians
Over the years, African artists including Burna Boy, Nasty C, Tems, and Wizkid have been instrumental in growing African music to global markets. And with the rise of Afrobeats, many East and West African artists have found international recognition, becoming chart-topping superstars.
Previously, African-based songs ruled in nominations in the Global Music Performance category, where other genres such as K-Pop and Latin music could also be found. At the 65th Grammy Awards ceremony, South African singer and producer, Zakes Bantwini won his first Grammy in the category for his song, Bayethe with Wouter Kellerman and Nomcebo Zikode.
With the addition of the new category, many African musicians will be recognized for their artistry and given a chance to compete amongst one another.
The category highlights regional melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic musical traditions. It includes but is not limited to the Afrobeats, Afro-fusion, Afro-Pop, Alte, Amapiano, Bongo Flava, Genge, Kizomba, Chimurenga, High Life, Fuji, Kwassa, Ndombolo, Mapouka, Ghanaian Drill, Afro-House, South African Hip-Hop, and Ethio Jazz genres.
“The Recording Academy is proud to announce these latest Category changes to our Awards process. These changes reflect our commitment to actively listen and respond to the feedback from our music community, accurately represent a diverse range of relevant musical genres, and stay aligned with the ever-evolving musical landscape,” expressed the Recording Academy CEO, Harvey Mason Jr.
“By introducing these three new categories, we are able to acknowledge and appreciate a broader array of artists. We are excited to honor and celebrate the creators and recordings in these categories, while also exposing a wider range of music to fans worldwide.”
These changes are sure to make a significant difference as they will expand the reach of African music and its creators, offering them the opportunity to compete for the prestigious award.
