SABOLAI RADIO PLAYLIST

Artist: SONGHOY BLUES

Video Title: AL HASSIDI TEREI

Malian music group Songhoy Blues put out this video for their debut single “Al Hassidi Terei,” off their up coming “Music In Exile” project. The group was formed as reaction to the unrest in Gao in 2012, which displaced them. In their quest not to be ruined by what had happened, they formed the Band. The debut album, “Music In Exile” is due to be released on February 23, 2015.

 

Artist: EMMY GEE

Video Title: RANDS and NAIRA FT. ICE PRINCE, CASSPER NYOVEST, PHYNO, ANATII +

After fair reviews for his debut single “Rands and Naira,” Nigerian rapper Emmy Gee has dropped a video for the remix of “Rand and Naira.” The song features “Alobam” hit maker Phyno, Ice Prince, Anatii, DJ Dimplez, Ab Crazy and Cassper Nyovest. This is a great effort at combating  Xenophobia in South Africa, but African rappers would sound so much better without the “Americanized” lyrics and unnecessary cursing. Its a good remix though to be fair.

NEW MUSIC AFRICA

Artist: PAPPY KOJO

Video Title: REALER NO FT. JOEY B

After their much talked about “Wave” single, Pappy Kojo and Joey B tag team on Pappy’s new single “Realer No”.  What stands out in the whole song is Pappy Kojo’s flow- We haven’t heard anyone make #Fante lyrics [spoken in the Western region of Ghana] sound so fresh since Kwaw Kese’s “Nonsense” circa 2004.  The blatant Hilfiger and New York Mets apparel is a bit confusing as Ghanaians don’t give a flying f*^@ about base ball let alone fashion by Hilfiger. Pappy and his gang could have gone for a much more interesting local aesthetic. The forced US HipHop tropes will throw you off but other than that, “Realer No” is a banger. Well to be fair some commentators online have mentioned how similar it sounds to “Wave”

Yasmin Furmie’s new line for Missshape Ambassadors

The new Missshape Ambassadors collection will launch online today. This will be the  third installment of the campaign is collaboration with Yasmin Furmie. Furmie’s story in fashion is an unusual one, from her modelling days in Sydney and LA, to her involvement in social work projects and now, as rising star figure on the South African fashion scene.

FRESH MUSIC AFRICA

Here are the songs bumping on the streets of Africa.

Artist: Jayso

Video Title: MAKING TASHA PROUD

Rapper/Producer Paul Nuamah Donkor A.K.A Jayso has released a video for his hit single “Making Tasha Proud”off his untitled yet to be released album. The visuals are supposed to be based on real life events of an inspired fan.  The video was Shot in the UK and Accra, and fellow Ghanaian born Glasgow based rapper Kobi Onyame also makes a cameo.

 

Artist: REASON

Video Title: 2CUPS SHAKUR

South African rapper Reason has an anthem for grand booze fantasies “2Cups Shakur” off his latest album “Audio HD (AHD).” The Black and White portrait flashes dreamy moments of Reasons life of success and his expensive tastes. [youtube

 

NEW MUSIC AFRICA

We found these new jams and thought it wise to share with our readers. The artists below are folks you should be curious about. Enjoy

 

Artist: SIPHO the GIFT Video Title: SOMEWHERE [dir Sam Turpin] Sipho the Gift is originally from Kimberly in SA but is currently based in Stellenbosch. He produces his own music and is an extremely dynamic lyricist quite unique among other South African rappers. He is currently working on his debut project “Coming of Age” which should be out in 2015 and has been in collaboration with US rapper (of Congolese origin) Well$ from Immaculate Taste.

 

 

Artist: ICE PRINCE Video Title: WHISKY FT. SUNNY NEJI Nigerian rapper Ice Prince’s new video”Whiskey”  off his album “Fire Of Zamani”  is a poignant tribute to fallen heros and friends. The Video features legendary Nigerian highlife singer Sunny Neji.

 

CHALE WOTE 2014: COME TO THE CENTER OF THE WORLD

Photography by MANTSE ARYEEQUAYE 

As we make ready for endless crowds to “Come to the Center of the World” on August 23 & 24, we give you more images of the artists who will jamming with us at the CHALE WOTE Street Art Festival 2014.

Strolling Goats in Accra with Chale Wote 2014, DJ Steloo

Selorm Jay + Yoyo Tinz are bringing Gbobalor Hiphop to Chale Wote 2014

CHALE WOTE 2014: THE OFFICIAL POSTER

This August artists from across the continent and the world are meeting in Accra for this year’s Chale Wote Street Art Festival. Over 200 of the city’s artist will be creating collaborative projects between the 19th to the 24th. Come to the center of the world.

2/28: TAWIAH x The Talk Party Series

Meet us at Friday’s Talk Party, 6:30 – 9:30pm

Last February, we held a special Talk Party Series with Ghanaian-British singer and songwriter, TAWIAH. At that time she had just wrapped production on her much-feened for mixtape, FREEdom DROP, and we gave the Accra fans a rare premiere before the rest of the world heard it. We also got a chance to rap with Tawiah via Skype and were even privy to an intimate live performance.

For those of us who saw Tawiah tear the stage apart at IND!E FUSE 2012, we have been patiently waiting to resurrect the magic of that night’s performance. Well wait no more, Accra city people. Tawiah’s back in the building and she will be representing at this Friday, Feb. 28th’s Talk Party. Tawiah will share a bit of her audiovisual exploration with us plus you’ll get to ask her all the questions you want. We also get a chance to hear some of her new material.

ZAKI IBRAHIM: The EVERY OPPOSITE Album Launch

@cvarin shares her supafresh photos with ACCRA [dot] ALT Radio

In an era where just being remembered is the average artist’s daily struggle, Zaki Ibrahim delivers Every Opposite, an album whose apocalyptic allure makes it impossible to forget. Producer Tiago Correia-Paulo attributes one thing. Her voice.

“Zaki has an extraordinary voice and no instrument – not even an orchestra – would be able to compete with it,” says Tiago who handled most of the musical direction for Every Opposite.

The two became acquainted in 2005 when his band Tumi and the Volume toured Canada, at the time Zaki’s abode. Elsewhere, they both are credited with building the score for award-winning South African film Otelo Burning. One of Zaki’s three songs for the soundtrack, produced by DJ Catalist, is also Every Opposite’s lead single Something in the Water.

A post-dubstep, synth-heavy, kalimba (thumb piano)-led track, it is at once futuristic and primal, and is now pulsating its way into radio’s mainstream having been championed by tastemakers such as 5 FM’s Catherine Grenfell who enthuses, “Amazing, soulful voice, beautiful songs! The gorgeous Zaki Ibrahim will move you in your body and soul and I look forward to watching her musical career grow as she rises above the rest.”

Recently, attendants at the house music mecca that is Miami’s Winter Music Conference reveled in multiple showcases given by the Canadian-born Ibrahim who was there to open the International Dance Music Awards thanks in no small part to her prominent associations within the genre: on long time collaborator Nick Holder’s Heartbeat, with DJ Kent on the soulful tech tune Sunrise, and on Culoe de Song’s album Elevation for instance. (Culoe also remixed Ansomnia, Zaki’s contribution to the soundtrack of Tyler Perry’s film For Colored Girls where Janelle Monae and Estelle among others also feature.)

You’ll hear strains of these dance formats deconstructed alongside pop, indie, soul, Hip-hop and afro beat sounds to create an utterly comprehensive album that is plural in its reach – (Every Opposite was recorded in eight different places) – and singular in its captivating effect.

THE JOZI FANS SHOW ZAKI LUV

Sade, Stevie Wonder, Zap Mama, Radiohead, and J. Dilla counting are just some of the icons Zaki names as life-long inspirations. “It’s told as a fable and is set in the future,” says the singer/song-writer who counts her fascination with science fiction as a major influence for her album’s loose narrative.

For her first full-length album, Zaki Ibrahim is impressively seasoned. With two preceding EPs she has galvanized her profile as a recording and performing artist sought after by celebrated contemporaries such as Spoek Mathambo with whom she has worked. One of them, 2008’s Eclectica: Episodes in Purple earned her a Juno Award nomination for Best R&B Recording in 2009 for the King Britt-produced Money.

Every Opposite’s diverse cast of producers – Kenyan producer Wawesh (Just a Band), South London production team LV, and Canada’s Ghanaian Rich Kidd (Drake, K-Os, Redman) – all help to consolidate a quality pan-global record set to raise the bar for South African cultural exports.

*Words from the official press release for Zaki Ibrahim’s Every Opposite Album Launch in Johannesburg, S.A. on June 4th, 2012.

For more dope photos by @cvarin, check out http://www.connervarinblog.com/