Dj Sliqe was recently invited over to Entlek Entlek, a YouTube channel that hosts local artists to decipher their lyrics, to break down Sta Soft along with Flow Jones Jr. who is also featured in the song.
The track forms part of Champion Music 2, Sliqe’s collaborative project with 25K and MagleraDoeBoy released in late 2022.
As it also features Emtee as well as a verse from Don Kilo; Sliqe and Jones humorously deciphered some of the bars while linking them back to the central theme – grinding and working hard to stay soft.
Kenya’s finest poet, the rabbit king, has embarked on a tour that will see him visit different locations to connect with his fans abroad. The top-tier lyricist will stage shows in various cities in Europe and the U.S.A.
The tour kicked off with an electrifying show at the Royal Regency in London. Dubbed the Madaraka Festival, the series of concerts will take place over a span of two weeks.
The Madaraka Tour dates and venues.
The 2023 festival is uniquely curated to empower cultural diversity and inclusion across the African diaspora across the United States. It aims to reach more than 30 million people online.
The Festival has deepened the relationship between African and African American communities and fostered partnerships with other global communities.
One Vibe Media, the organising company, will host a series of concerts across the United States, culminating in New York. It will celebrate community and culture by bringing together different African musicians.
The lineup for performances includes Sauti Sol, Eddy Kenzo, King Kaka, Draze, Anthony Cole, and other award-winning and influential artists.
King Kaka has already rocked several shows, staging spectacular performances. He has treated his fans with a great time, and his promise is more is still to come.
The rapper is fresh from dropping his latest hit single. A collaboration with singer Masauti. This ensures that audiences are presented with new projects from the star.
The festival has two shows left before it wraps up on the second of June in New York.
This has been a season for Octopizzo fans to eat. The rapper has dropped yet another hit, a timely addition to his fantastic catalogue. The song is titled “Sijawai”, referring to never recognising mediocrity.
With an upbeat tempo, the jam is a certified summer anthem. Octopizzo flexes his lyrical ability with laid-back bars that a slick enough to require a second listen. Listeners have to stay attentive to grasp the intense wordplay.
Octopizzo has been a versatile artist, able to incorporate new sounds and navigate away from a comfort zone. His projects are works of art with creativity in his artistic expression.
The song is exciting, with a dancehall beat intro before the catchy beat kicks in.
One spectacular aspect of this latest project is the visuals. Mr Namba Nane, as he is popularly referred to, puts great emphasis on videos with an appealing aesthetic.
You can tell how invested he is in making his videos stand out. He has established himself as top tier from the video quality to set locations. There clearly is an endeavour to make an impressive impression on the audience.
Octopizzo has maintained his creative status, raising the bar for his peers in the game. The rapper displays growth in the project, appealing to a broader audience while catering to his loyal fanbase.
Taking to his Twitter handle, he flexed by assuring that the video would cross the 1 Million view count within 24 hours. It had amassed an impressive over 900k views by the 20th hour.
Last year a video went viral on Nigerian twitter where a you g Nigerian was playing a Roddy Ricch song and incorrectly attributed it to Lil Durk and said the Yoruba phrase, “trap l’anje” meaning “Trap is what we will eat.” Then later said “Roddy Richy Omo werey” loosely translated as “Roddy Ricch is crazy.” This scene attributes to the love Nigerian Youth have for Lil Durk, Roddy and his trap/emo compatriots from across the Atlantic.
Lil Durk L’anje
O-Block’s finest and OTF de facto leader Durk Derrick Banks, popularly known as Lil Durk has recently debuted just one spot off the submit of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and not just that, he has also made it to the submit of the Apple Music Nigeria and Spotify Nigeria Charts.
The ‘All My Life’ trapper is known to be notoriously popular amongst urban crowds of young hustlers, party goers and fraudsters (read as hustlers) in major Nigerian cities like Lagos, Abuja, Benin and Poet Harcourt etc.
This love the streets of Naija show to “The Voice” is because he really is the voice of the young hustlers on the streets and the ghettos, he speaks about their daily realities in his music including Police harassment, poverty, profiling, a shared sense of fashion and music, internet money and a penchant for recreational drugs.
But so does Psycho YP, Erigga, Kaptain, Odumodublvck, Cruel Santino, Blaqbonez, Zlatan etc.
One can argue that Odumodublvck’s ‘Declan Rice’ recently made it to the top of the charts in Nigeria, but one must realize that it was so celebrated because the feat is an anomaly in the Nigerian mainstream music scene.
The Afrobeats and Pop acts always have an upper hand amongst Nigerian music listeners and party goers.
Nigerians’ Love For American Hip Hop
Nigerians have been recorded in the past to be the second biggest consumers of American Pop and Hip Hop music, after the country of its production.
Nigerians are some of the biggest fans of Eminem,Lil Wayne, DaBaby, Roddy Ricch, NF, Kendrick Lamar etc.
In 2018, five days after J.Cole released his fifth studio album, he visited Nigeria for the Castle Light Unlocks Concert and even the Dreamville emcee was surprised at the reception from the fans during his performance of his five days old album.
The crowd of thousands at Eko Hotel were singing along word for word to the intro of the album ‘KOD.’ That’s right, an intro, not a hit single.
At the same show MI Abaga, arguably Nigeria’s biggest hip hop expert ever, had a lukewarm performance (read as lukewarm reception from the fans during his performance.)
This has been the case for the better part of the last decade and this decade, foreign rap acts get more clout from our local listeners than our local artists, and even the treatments of these artists by even organizers differ significantly.
What happened to Nigerian rap?
When did we leave the days of MI Abaga’ spitting “back with a banger for the hood, for the streets, for the zanga,” and he wasn’t capping because he really did have the streets and the charts in a chokehold.
The days when Phyno’s ‘Alobam’ and Olamide’s ‘Durosoke’ were chart topping anthems. With the latter’s ‘Baddest Guy Ever Liveth’ album spanking five chart topping singles on the MTV Top 10 chart in 2014/15.
The days when Vector chest beatingly christened himself ‘King Kong’ and a wave of remixes took over the whole country in 2015.
The days when Ice Prince’s ‘Oleku’ was the most played song on Nigerian and even African radios and became the most remixed song out of the country of all time.
We have the internet, but why are the corporates not supporting?
As stated at the beginning of this article The internet is an entirely different virtual universe, its reach knows no bounds, we are in an era where we have a million times more information in one day that our ancestors got all their lives.
The youngins are using the internet t their benefit but there’s so much you can do without corporate support, why are the corporates not tuning in?
Why is Ladipoe not receiving the same kind of budget and push the likes of Rema and Ayra Starr asre seeing.
Rema himself only taps into his trap/hip hop once ina blue moon and none of those songs gets the same push his Afrobeats singles get, the likes of Victony and Alpha P rap every once in a while with most of their fan base not even knowing they rap.
Khaid who alongside Psycho YP is the latest well known proponent of trap music in mainstream Nigerian music, is more known for his Afro signs than his trap and emo songs.
Why do rappers feel they have to switch genres to make it in the industry.
Rappers and trappers like Swayvee, Yarden, Sknny, Ifnyi, Preacher Kingz, Tonee C, Remy Baggins etc. who are making wavs on the internet are not getting the clout and push they deserve and this may just be the root of the problem.
Do we blame the market, the industry or the corporate executives?
If you enjoyed reading this article do not hesitate to share with friends via all social media platforms.
Few months ago Jesse Garba Abaga, brother of Nigeria’s biggest rap export Jude Abaga released his first single since returning from a music hiatus. Hip Hop Africa takes a look back at Jesse Jagz 2013 hit ‘Redemption,’ the song that began Emperor Jaggz’ Ragga era.
In 2013, the ‘Jagz Of All Tradez’ rapper released his sophomore studio album ‘Jaggz Nation Vol 1: Thy Nation Come’ under his indie label Jaggz Nation , after leaving Chocolate City.
The music video is set in the backdrop of a militant, civil war-esque/ apocalypse scene with the famous scene with the little boy brandishing the Nigerian flag for “Redemption” while Jesse raps about his whereabouts after taking so long to drop his sophomore:
“Man dem fi hear me out Everytin moving fast dey are wear me out Man puff spliff drink beer and stout Man dem na fi wear me out No fi wear me out I swear Babylon demma fear me clout Wanna know Jaga’s where about Everything in the news you ‘a hear about Jesse Jaga ‘a air it out Man never fear nothing”
His background and street credibility:
“Raised by the streets me na wear nothing (Blackout blackout) The youth never hear nothing Babylon empire never share nothing”
The state of the music and the politics of the country:
“Musicians are beer popping we near rotten Clergy na swear nothing The only sound in the air is tear dropping Electric out is near shocking But hear something piercing and ear popping Soul rebel my music is chair rocking Revolutionary air force air dropping Apocalypse vocals so clear cutting No bloodshed flow and clear spotting”
The video was shot by MEX films at Samklef‘s studio in Lagos. It was uploaded to YouTube on May 29, 2013, at a total length of 4 minutes and 24 seconds.
This song set the tone for the album and Jesse Jagz’ Ragga influenced and politically and socially charged sound which has endured till today.
The classic psychedelic, horn lead instrumental produced by Jesse himself is a herald of the early post Choc Boi era, in Nigerian Hip Hop history.
Where were you when this classic dropped?
If you enjoyed reading this article do not hesitate to share with friends via all social media platforms.
Back in October 2022, the prophet, Novl. released his album, H M B, L M R (Hold My Beer, Let Me Rap) to positive reviews. He has since promised to drop a mixtape which appears to be what he’s building up to.
Seemingly breaking his silence, Novl. shares a short teaser of his forthcoming song titled Searching where he’s seen seated with a jug in hand, rapping “Give me my purpose. Lord, I’ve been feeling like I am worthless.”
NOTBENJAMIN is a multi talented South African rapper and music producer who started out as an event planner in his highschool. The rapper who shares a physical resemblance with East Rand rapper Shane Eagle, began his career by hosting events in his highschool called NOTBENJAMIN & FRIENDS, which is also the title of his 2022 debut album.
“So the event was called NOTBENJAMIN & FRIENDS and I brought so many artists together on stage, so now all those artists are on the same album, that’s why I named the album NOTBENJAMIN & FRIENDS,” said the emcee.
NOTBENJAMIN currently sits on 14k Instagram followers. His debut features such big names and new comers as Blxckie, Lucasraps, Priddy Ugly, KashCPT, Belo Salo and Indigo Stella.
He is leading a pack of new generation artists who are continuing the internet wave of SA hip hop, by breaking boundaries between rap, emo and R&B.
On the 3rd of June 2023, NOTBENJAMIN true to his event organizing history will be at the center stage of urban fashion and music festival $TREETFE$T IX.
The event will hold in Agog, Maboneng. Don’t miss out on this incredible experience as NOTBENJAMIN will be on stage with an incredible posse of some of SA’s biggest hip hop stars including Zulu man with some power Nasty C.
Coast-based rap duo Double Trouble recently took to social media to celebrate their viral freestyle achieving record video views. The track has been in rotation with significant props from their fans.
Double Trouble consists of two members, namely: Troubletooreal and Realbene1. They have been making waves on the scene with their consistent releases of African trap.
The hip-hop group was established in the port city of Mombasa, representing the Swipe Gang from Old Town, Majengo. The group affiliates with the 80100 collective, a coast-based music and arts platform.
The group performs music for social impact to counter societal vices such as radicalisation and extremism. These issues are prevalent in the region, with most youths lacking meaningful employment.
The carton freestyle refers to their high status in the game, clearly expressing their intention to go for the throne. The line “Throne Ilkua Empty The Time I Sat On, 24 Bars Nki Deliver Kwenye Carton” references their entry into the game.
The carton freestyle defines their prowess, unmatched styles and endless bars that they serve in full cartons. Double Trouble proves they can do it with the best of them and emerge victorious.
Renowned award-winning media personality Jamal Gaddafi co-signed the group by saying:
“Young Generation Ya Wahenga cheki industry nzima ikipagawa Na Wamanga….” they are the face of Mombasa Trap…this low key slaps.
Check out the freestyle and keep commenting your views.
For Hip-Hop heads and enthusiasts in Lagos, Nigeria, the long wait is finally over. “Str8up Hip-Hop“, the much-loved platform for the broad-based celebration of authentic Naija Hip-hop returns bigger and better.
Event & Expectation
Respected for its robust approach to celebrating Hip-Hop culture covering spoken word, deejaying, graffitiart, breakdance and rap, Str8up Hip-Hop was the convergence point of choice for enthusiasts during its initial monthly stint that wrapped almost a decade ago.
The 2023 comeback aptly tagged The Relaunch Throwdown will be hosted by Hip-Hop connoisseur Raezy Winston and feature special guest appearances by Vector and AQ, two ace lyricists, and the incredible DJ Michelle.
The lineup of jaw-dropping offerings also includes electrifying cyphers, spoken word, graffiti and rap & B-boy battles. The event takes place on May 28, 2023, at Pop Haus, 18B, The Rock Drive, Lekki, Lagos, starting at 5 PM.
In addition to showcasing the best of Hip-Hop culture, this edition will also pay tribute to the departed great, B-Elect by celebrating his life through the art form he loved and the culture he lived.
Str8up Hip-Hop, a property of Buckwyld Media, executed in partnership with Collective Media Services and Dark Cypha Entertainment, is a platform dedicated to promoting the Hip-Hop culture in an authentic and broad-based fashion.
Prior editions featured leading Hip-Hop figures like Blaise, Amb. Elajoe, B-Elect (late), Ill Bliss, M.I, Toni Payne, Obi Asika, Sage, Pamela Braide, Phyno, Modenine, Weird MC, Sasha, DJ Lambo, Splash, DJ Neptune, Big Street, Efe Paul Azino, Titans, Ovoke the Stunt King, El Dee X-Large, DJ Jimmy Jatt and DJ Spinall amongst many others.
Don’t miss out on the definitive throwdown of the Naija Hip-Hop community. For more information, follow @Str8up_HipHop on Instagram, Twitter, and Str8up Hip Hop on Facebook. Also, follow @buckwyldmedia on Instagram & Facebook.
Coming off his newly released EP ‘Thought It Was Over,’ Brakan-born Amapiano Artist Toss is dropping a new single with SA rap veteran K.O, as he shared a picture of himself and the rapper together in the studio.
K.O hasn’t done much besides a UK tour and a diss freestyle, since ‘Sete.’ This is a welcomed collaboration as Maskandi is about to meet Amapiano this Friday.
Which rapper would you like to see Toss collaborate with next?
If you enjoyed reading this article do not hesitate to share with friends via all social media platforms.
