Your weekly dose of the best new sounds on the continent!
"5 Star" - Adekunle Gold
AG Baby’s new single “5 Star” sees him reminisce on his come-up story, expressing gratitude for everything that has made him what he is. While this seems like a cliché topic, his take on it is refreshing, crooning sweetly about his new status, Aye 5 star la n’je o/I dey try for myself/VIP, no regular/Can’t copy this formula. Kel P’s production lays a good foundation for Adekunle Gold to do his thing, creating a pretty decent record in the process.
"Bandana" - Fireboy DML feat. Asake
The first thing that stands out on this record is the chorus. Asake puts a choric spin on it as is characteristic of his breakout records this year. Fireboy’s writing is still his standout quality, and he knows it himself as he sings, Music chose me/Know this and know peace. The YBNL boys put together a record that will find space on DJ rotations, increasing the label’s grip on Nigeria’s top music charts.
"Spiritual Gbedu (A COLORS SHOW)" - Joeboy
COLORS continues its siege on the Afrobeats space with another episode featuring a Nigerian artist. After recently bringing Ayra Starr, BOJ and Oxlade to its suspending mic, they tap up Joeboy for the latest addition to their extensive collection of curated shows. Joeboy keeps it simple but engaging through the song’s 2-minute duration, weaving colorful patterns over the simple, 6-beat pattern production.
"Iz Going" - Bad Boy Timz
If you need a song to excite you on the dancefloor, “Iz Going” is just what you need. Bad Boy Timz’s new music has everything it needs to make an impression on his listeners. The “Loading” crooner adds another layer to his already impressive discography, and it won’t be long before he becomes a staple in Nigeria’s mainstream music scene.
"Like" - Iyanya feat. Davido and Kizz Daniel
Iyanya returns with a new record, titled “Like”. It seems he made a good decision with his features, as Kizz Daniel delivers a performance characteristic of his artistry — you might have never heard a bad Kizz Daniel song. Davido does more for the song than just triggering streams, and with a strong contribution, it’s nice to hear his voice in the mix.
"i’m a mess" - Omah Lay
Omah Lay’s highly anticipated full-length debut album Boy Alone was released earlier today. He had the charts in a chokehold in his breakout year, and now he’s back to reclaim those different spots. On one of the instant standouts, Omah Lay opens up on “i’m a mess”, highlighting his pain and the effects of drowning it in alcohol through soulful crooning and deft songwriting. This isn’t Omah’s first rodeo, and it’ll be interesting to see how his album will be received over the next few days.
