In January 2024, West African rappers brought their A-game, releasing compelling albums and EPs highlighting the region’s diverse sound. Hip-Hop Africa presents standout projects that caught our attention from Guinea, Cameroun, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Ghana.
AMAZA-MOUCTAR
Guinean rapper Amaza delivers an autobiography on Mouctar, his eight-track EP released on January 5, 2024. The project touches on his beginnings and reasons for starting a music career. He also gets personal with stories surrounding his family’s reluctance to pursue his career and his ideology of love. The Guinean media praised the EP for its wide range of melodies on each track. Moreover, it features guest verses from Guinean artists, including Bebe Baya, Tati Tati, and Bangaly Toumoutou.
MIC MONSTA & MIHNEY: NEW ERA
Cameroonian rappers Mic Monsta and Mihney take listeners to their new chapter on “New Era.” The six-track project, sung in English and Pidgin, was released on January 1, 2024, to signify a new beginning as the rappers embrace their new life as parents. The rappers welcomed a baby girl in August 2023, a year after Mic Monsta publicly declared his love for Mihney. Before Mic Monsta and Mihney’s collaboration, which brought forth a daughter and a joint EP, the two had worked together on “Wish.” The track was from Mic Monsta’s 2022 album, The Stars Are Watching, where they showcased their chemistry.
MGEEY-BIDEEW
Senegalese rapper Mgeey celebrates the courage to step out of one’s comfort zone in Bideew, which is Wolof for “star.” The artist, born Momar Gueye, recounts his departure from Senegal, experiences, challenges, and triumphs. The impact of Mgeey’s musical influences, such as 6Lack, A Reece, J Hus, and Wizkid, is evident throughout the tape. The 11-track project in Wolof includes collaborations on the tracks “KMF,” “Dangerous,” “Roungass,” and “Ndenkaane.” It was released on January 19, 2024.
Suprême Nabiga: Donnez Moi La Force
On January 5, Burkinabe rapper Suprême Nabiga gave his homeland its official first album of 2024, Donnez-Moi La Force. Consisting of 15 songs, the project sees the rapper call for integrity and good deeds for the development of Burkina Faso. He recruits renowned Burkinabe rappers such as Frère Malkom, Sa Majesté Askoy, Tosksa, and Joey le Soldat for the album. Peace, unity, and hope are the predominant themes on the album.
Kwesi Arthur: This Is Not the Tape III
Kwesi Arthur dropped the third installment of his three-track tape series, “This is Not the Tape,” on January 17. The Ghanaian rapper tried something new for the project. Instead of the customary three songs, he released nine. Additionally, he exclusively released the project on EVEN, a direct-to-fan project that requires fans to pay for the project. It features British-American rapper IDK and Ghanaian rapper Joey B.
More Projects
For more projects from West African artists, check out a roundup of our favorite Gambian releases.
