Press Play: New Music from Joeboy, Black Sherif, Asake and more.
Your weekly dose of the best new sounds around the continent!
“Cubana” - Joeboy
Not only is Joeboy’s musical formula very apparent but it’s also well documented at this point. He’s largely stuck to the same method since the release of “Baby”, his mega debut; lacing short, mid-tempo beats with his signature ad-libs and balmy lyrics that mostly revolve around hedonistic themes. This is the formula that his debut album is firmly built upon and it’s also the formula that his latest single “Cubana” is also built upon. While, in truth, the formula is losing its potency with every new drop, “Cubana” sounds sturdy enough to make the rounds, just like most of his singles almost always do.
“For Days” - BNXN
For his first drop after his controversial name change, BNXN returns to familiar territory, lovesick and crooning passionately about his feelings. “Something dey do me bebe / You never call me for days” he sings, his voice tinged with slight anxiety. He’s, however, not too lovelorn or discouraged, instead, he focuses more of his attention on reassuring his love interest that he’ll do just about anything to be with her, singing “And if you run go Sokoto, I must follow you” assuredly.
“Rose” - SaveMilli
When SaveMilli first debuted on the scene, he was a dynamic act, one who sounded super comfortable on a wide array of genres, but one who also clearly had a Hip-hop soul. For the first phase of his career, he displayed his eclecticism but always managed to infuse elements of Hip-Hop into just about anything he jumped on. But in this new phase of his career, he’s adopted a different sonic approach, substituting a lot of his Hip-Hop-inspired production for more rhythmic beats that oscillate between Afropop and Amapiano. On “Rose”, his latest drop, he smoothly glides over Brizybeatz’s Afropop-inspired production. While he mostly renders run-of-the-mill lyrics, it’s his fairly lively performance that truly breathes life into “Rose”.
“Sungba (Remix)” - Asake ft Burna Boy
Asake, the breakout star of the year (at least for now) is arguably the hottest artiste in the country and his single “Sungba” is arguably the hottest in the country as well. While the Olamide-assisted “Omo Ope” might have given him his big break, the dance-inducing “Sungba” not only confirmed he’s not a flash in the pan but it also strongly hints that the country might have another hitmaking mega-star in the making. Looking to keep his immense momentum going, he secures the services of the African giant for the remix of his hit single. While Burna Boy’s added verse isn't exactly his finest, it does the job and keeps Asake’s fiery flames burning.
“Kwaku The Traveller” - Black Sherif
Ghana’s Black Sherif is probably the most exciting act on the face of the continent at the moment. His riotous sophomore single “Second Sermon” catapulted him from hood hero to continental star. With huge expectations and all eyes on him, he’s dropped arguably a more riveting follow-up to his hit “Second Sermon” with “Kwaku The Traveller”. Here, he’s stuck to the formula that endeared most to him, giving an impassioned performance and singing lived experiences, straight from his soul. Lines like “Of course I fucked up, who never fucked up hands in the air” especially stand out, making his music hard-hitting and truly relatable.
“Midlife Crisis” - Pschyo YP
For his latest release, YP drops a two-pack single, with the extremely melodic “Midlife Crisis” standing out from the pack. While his credentials as a rapper is infallible at this point, recently, he’s been flexing his singing abilities more and more to good effect. On "Midlife Crisis", he croons and raps effortlessly over slick production about an unknown lady who's struggling with a midlife crisis. It's catchy, smooth and compelling.
