Your weekly dose of the best new sounds around the continent!
"Commander" - Blaqbonez
Blaqbonez's calendar seems to never slow down. Fresh off his recent headline show at Muri Okunola, he keeps his fans sated with another healthy addition to his catalogue titled "Commander". Staying in character, the record is a balancing act between outrightly NSFW lyrics and clever sexual innuendo. Utilizing his singing more, his vocal improvements are clear as well as the highlight of the record.
"Try" - T.I Blaze
In an attempt to maintain his streak of hit singles, T.I. Blaze’s follow up record to "Sometimes" is another take on his established subject matter. Once again telling tales from the pov of a street prophet, "Try" borders on motivational prose. Primarily rendered in pidgin, the songs hook “I don try, I don try, I no fit to stop dey try till I get enough money to stop konji” is as transparent as it gets. Certain than money is the only substitute for longing, T.I. Blaze assures his fans and himself that his journey is far from over.
"Ocean" - Asa
For the second single off her fifth studio album titled V, Asa's vulnerable side is even more on display. Carrying on with similar themes from the first single, "Mayana," the songstress opts for less bubbly production as she engages a lover in intimate praise. Asa’s recent sonic switch takes a more Afropop direction on Ocean, her blend of superior songwriting as well as her vocal prowess creates a uniquely sophisticated variation of the subgenre.
"Love Doc" - Moliy
Popularized by her vocals on the hit single, "Sad Gurlz Love Money" off Amaarae’s debut album The Angel You Don’t Know, Moliy’s ascent has been gradual and well-paced. Appearing on critically acclaimed underground records since 2019, she took her profile to the next level with "Sad Gurlz Love Money", proving she was more than a bedroom pop sweetheart. Her first single of the year was a Valentine Day’s drop titled "Love Doc"—a predominantly R&B record that allows her breezy voice do most of the work. While the songwriting might be a tad puerile, the confidence she sings the lyrics with sells her desire for emotional aid.
Touch It (Remix) - KiDi ft. Tyga
Providing the remix treatment to one of the biggest singles "Touch It", off his sophomore album, The Golden Boy, KiDi taps Californian rapper, Tyga for his return to the scene. The dancehall imbued record remains mostly the same, save the verse from Tyga. Seemingly an effort to capture the attention of an international audience, the feature could perhaps have been better utilized on a brand new record.
"Koobi" - Pappy Kojo
Ghanaian rap stalwart, Pappy Kojo, makes his return to music in 2022 with the release of the lead single to his next project, Logos Hope. The gritty drill record features fellow Ghanaian rappers Reggie and O’Kenneth.
"Nobody Else" - TOME
Dropping the latest single leading up to her sophomore album titled "Nobody Else", Nigerian-French-Canadian singer/songwriter, TOME, sets off the year in style. The stock Nigerian Afro-R&B production belies the sophistication of the record. TOME’s development has undergone subtle changes since her last release, her vocal performances are stellar as ever and her commitment to less routine songwriting is evident.
"Dracarys" - Tobolos
Dracarys is a lyrically dense number delivered by Tobolos on a bed of heavy bass, 808s and soft-spoken pianos. The hard-hitting record looks to explore the injustices and inequality in the society, especially the economic hardships of capitalism which are imposed on members of all classes (except the upper and ruling class). It also highlights the importance of making sound electoral decisions and calls on Nigerians (especially in light of 2023) to “Stand Up!”
