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There’s so much new music being released that it’s hard for even the most loyal fans to wade through the trash to find the gems. That’s why we’ve created #BumpThis – a Friday series that features new songs, by and featuring Nigerians, that you absolutely need to hear.
Davido — “FEM”
Following the success of his outstanding sophomore album, A Good Time, Davido is now gearing up to drop his third LP, the promisingly titled A Better Time.
For his first single off the upcoming project, the Napji-produced “FEM”, the afropop juggernaut sends a clear and concise message to his hoard of haters: “Shut the hell up”.
Mr Eazi & Major Lazer — “Oh My Gawd’ ft. Nicki Minaj & K4MO
One of Nigeria’s hardest-working stars, Mr Eazi has dropped a number of solid singles this year, from the stellar “Kpalanga” to the infectious “I No Go Give Up On You”
Now, he’s back with “Oh My Gawd”, a vibrant track that feels primed to be his biggest hit yet, thanks to major assists from Major Lazer and the always impressive Nicki Minaj.
Wande Coal — “Check”
After dropping some of the best tracks he’s had in years, Wande Caal has now released his new EP, Realms, which includes three previously heard singles and three new songs.
Out of the three new tracks, the one that instantly stands out is the dynamic “Check” — a song that greatly benefits from sounding like an amalgamation of the old Wande hits we all fell in love with.
There’s so much new music being released that it’s hard for even the most loyal fans to wade through the trash to find the gems. That’s why we’ve created #BumpThis – a Friday series that features new songs, by and featuring Nigerians, that you absolutely need to hear.
Mr Eazi — “I No Go Give Up On You”
Right after dropping the impressive throwaway track, “Bedroom Bully” — first teased on his acclaimed Lagos to London mixtape — Mr Eazi is back with another catchy single, “I No Go Give Up On You”.
On the Blaq Jerzee-produced track, Mr Eazi sings about trying to woo a stunning woman before another man gets a chance to. It’s another fun track that proves everything the banku singer touches turns to gold.
Adey — “Fugazi” ft. WANI
Adey, the producer behind YCee’s career-defining “Juice”, announces himself as an artist worthy of our attention on his killer new EP, Akiba, and the Wani-assisted “Fugazi” finds him at the peak of his powers.
Adey and especially Wani sound great on the effortlessly sexy track, but it’s Adey’s production work that really steals the show. On an EP with three other gems, this truly stands out as something special.
There’s so much new music being released that it’s hard for even the most loyal fans to wade through the trash to find the gems. That’s why we’ve created #BumpThis – a Friday series that features new songs, by and featuring Nigerians, that you absolutely need to hear.
Mr Eazi — “Bedroom Bully”
In 2018, Mr Eazi dropped Lagos To London, a stellar body of work that solidified his place as one of Nigeria’s most gifted stars. Two years later and that mixtape is still the gift that keeps on giving.
On the project’s Broda Shaggi-assisted skit, “In Molue To London”, there was a song playing lightly in the background, and Mr Eazi has finally dropped the full version. Unsurprisingly, it’s an absolute banger.
On the GuiltyBeatz-produced track, Mr Eazi sings about a lover who matches his energy, both emotionally and sexually. It’s such a solid song that it’s a little shocking it took him this long to release it.
Personas are important to artists, and that’s what birth their stage names. Since these names are what they give us, they are the only thing we attach to their faces. Nobody really bothers to find out their real names unless it’s absolutely important. Now, it’s hard to explain it, but some of these artists look like their real names. On the other hand, some of them have absolutely no connection to their names, and this article is about 11 artists who fall into this category.
1. Stage Name: Rema
Real Name: Divine Ikubor
Look at the name, then look at the picture. Do you see it? No! Absolutely not.
2. Stage name: Mr Eazi
Real name: Oluwatosin Ajibade
Will someone explain to me why I thought his name was Kwame or Kofi?
3. Stage name: Zlatan
Real name: Omoniyi Temidayo Raphael
Nobody can tell me nothing. Zlatan is DEFINITELY not a Raphael.
4. Stage name: Joeboy
Real name: Joseph Akinfewa Donus
Donus? I need to question everything I think I know.
5. Stage name: Reekado Banks
Real name: Ayoleyi Hanniel Solomon
LMAO! Apparently, this is what Hanniel looks like.
6. Stage name: YCee
Real name: Oludemilade Martin Alejo
Wait! Didn’t he say he was Omo Alhaji?
7. Stage name: Runtown
Real name: Douglas Jack Agu
Man, no. Who would have thought?
8. A-Q
Real name: Gilbert Bani
Does A-Q have a secret life where he is an author?
8. Stage name: Seyi Shay
Real name: Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua
Deborah? What else do we not know about?
9. Stage name: Tekno
Real name: Augustine Miles Kelechi
This is a revelation.
11. Stage name: WurlD
Real name: Sadiq Onifade
Every WurlD’s song I know is playing in my head right now, and I don’t see a Sadiq singing.
There’s so much new music being released that it’s hard for even the most loyal fans to wade through the trash to find the gems. That’s why we’ve created #BumpThis – a Friday series that features new songs, by and featuring Nigerians, that you absolutely need to hear.
Darkovibes — “Come My Way” ft. Mr Eazi
Earlier in the year, Ghanaian star, Darkovibes soared on BOJ’s criminally underrated banger, “Awolowo”. Then, he teamed up with Runtown for the solid “Mike Tyson”. Now, he’s enlisted Mr Eazi for his latest single, “Come My Way”
Produced by KillBeatz — the Ghanaian beatsmith behind some of R2Bees’ biggest hits — “Come My Way” is an instantly infectious banger that finds both stars giving an open invitation to women that are stuck in unsatisfying relationships.
As for Mr Eazi, who has been a faultless addition to just about every song he’s been featured on this year, he continues his winning streak with a killer hook. With “Come My Way”, Darkovibes certainly rounds up 2019 in grand style.
The first few lines of Beyoncé’s hook on “Bigger“, the opener for her just-released “The Lion King: The Gift” tells you all you need to know about the album. “If you feel insignificant, you better think again,” she sings, “better wake up because you’re part of something way bigger, You’re part of something way bigger.”
The album, which she says is a love letter to Africa was inspired by the Lion King franchise.
And as promised, the album is a celebration of African music. Beyoncé tapped the who’s who of Africa’s biggest musical movement, Afrobeats.
The list of collaborators — Shatta Wale, Burna Boy, Wizkid, Yemi Alade, Mr Eazi, Tekno, Tiwa Savage, Busiswa, Moonchild Sanelly, Bankulli, P2J, NorthBoi, GuiltyBeatz and many more — would make any African proud. From the tidal wave of pride sweeping through social media, the album’s Nigerian pop and Ghanaian Highlife influences have struck a chord, especially among West Africans.
It’s only fitting that we celebrate the Nigerian essence on Beyoncé’s “The Lion King: The Gift”. These are the 5 best Nigerian moments on a body of work that may be Afrobeats’ first true global moment.
WIZKID ON “BROWN SKIN GIRL” with Beyoncé, Saint Jhn & Blue Ivy Carter.
When fans first saw Wizkid on the tracklist for this album, familiar fears were raised. Wizkid has always been known for his melodies than any form of poignant songwriting, especially on an album packaged as a slice of African Pride. However, our fears were allayed on listening to the track. The ease with which Wizkid slotted his vocals into the beat is the level of comfort Nigerians should aspire to in these Buhari times.
The song is a celebration of Melanin and darker skin tones. Wizkid is not credited as one of the songwriters, unsurprisingly. But this matters only a little; Starboy focuses on his strengths and ends up nearly bodying everyone on the song, before rounding it off by harmonising with Queen B. Did you read that right? Wizkid, Baba Bolu, the patron saint of Nigerian gbedu flexed voices with Beyoncé on the best song off her new album. Wake me up. This has to be a dream. Hate him or love him, but Wizkid may have just crafted, with help, of course, an evergreen anthem for African women. What a time to be alive.
BANKULLI’s VOCALS
You may remember Bankulli as the chubby man screaming “Burna Boy, Call Me” in that viral video of Kanye West convulsing to “Ye”. Older fans may remember him as one of the first members of the Mo’ Hits team and the man who introduced D’banj to Kanye West thus kicking off the G.O.O.D Music/Mo’ Hits relationship. Long story short: Bankulli is an OG’s OG. On “The Lion King: The Gift“, Bankulli contributed writing and vocals to three songs. He’s the man responsible for the subtle ode to fuji music on “Find Your Way Back“. His best contribution to the album is arguably the spiritual outro on “OTHERSIDE“.
Sung in Yoruba, “Sokale o Oluwa, wawonuokan mi lo” (“Descend from the heavens, Lord and take over my soul”) is a staple of Nigerian pentecostal church music that elevates just another Lion King song to a call to God. It’s safe to say that while the lineup is heavily Nigerian, Bankulli represented the culture in ways that no-one else did.
A NIGERIAN BEYONCÉ
It takes a lot to curate a culture you’re not actively invested in. Sure, Beyoncé’s romance with Nigerian culture, especially the goddesses Osun and Yemoja is well documented. But what she achieves on “The Lion King: The Gift” is immense. She fits seamlessly into traditional Afropop & Ghana Highlife production on most songs and morphs into a soulful westernized Tope Alabi on “OTHERSIDE”, so well that when Bankulli’s vocals come in, she’s family.
Beyoncé’s romance with Nigerian culture, especially the goddesses Osun and Yemoja is well documented.
The most Nigerian version of Beyoncé comes on “ALREADY” featuring Shatta Wale. From her enunciation to how she interpolates melodies, you can almost swear she’s been listening to Yemi Alade. Queen B has delivered her love letter to Nigeria, maybe it’s time to come show that love in person.
EVERY TIME WE HEARD AFROPOP BEATS AND MELODIES
For decades now, producers have been the unsung heroes of Afropop’s evolution and subsequent journey to global recognition. In the last few years, producers like Sarz and DJ Maphorisa have gotten global recognition, but these were more of sporadic cosigns than full recognition of their abilities. Beyoncé’s “The Gift” may as well be that moment. It may have taken longer than expected for Nigerian/UK producer, P2J to get his coins and roses, but with credits on multiple songs off the album, it’s fair to say the man has etched his name in history.
NorthBoi Oracle, who produced Starboy’s “Soco” is also credited as a producer on the album and that’s not counting the back-end creatives — Michael Uzowuru, Bankulli, and more — who built what is a cinematic African experience. Much has been said of Afrobeats’ journey to global acceptance. This album, which may become its biggest moment yet, is evidence of how much collaboration and years of work behind the scenes we’ll need to make it happen.
Who’s the only artist with his own full song on an album made, curated and executive produced by the biggest musician in the world? That’s right, our very own Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy. Rankin’s ascent to the upper echelons of afrobeats and world music since the release of 2018’s “Outside” is one for the storybooks.
Many have guessed that Burna refused to have anybody else on his song, others claim no-one was a good fit; whatever the case is, you can see why Burna Boy is in a class of his own, literally. “JA ARA E” is another tribute to Fela’s Afrobeat, a very apt allusion in an album about African pride. The title, which means “Enlighten Yourself” is also consistent with Burna Boy’s Pan-African ideals. This song sounds like the soundtrack to the radicalisation of Simba and is already a fan favourite. With what we’ve heard so far, we simply can’t wait for Burna Boy’s “African Giant“.
Speaking of evolution, one artiste who is an unsung hero on this album is Zlatan. Artists enjoying a breakout year have the capacity to do anything from changing the popular sound to creating sub genres of their own. In the year since he released “My Body” w/ Olamide and caught the attention of Nigerian singer Davido, Zlatan has done both.
Zlatan’s friendship with Burna gave him his biggest hit yet, “Killin Dem” and stamped him in the eyes of a mainstream audience. In turn, Zlatan’s edge and energy have found a willing vessel in Burna, who dances the Zanku like he came up with it.
Fans have hailed Burna’s loyalty to his personal sound on the Beyonce album. And the best evidence of Zlatan’s influence yet is how his ad-libs spice up Burna Boy’s “JA ARA E”. Those shouts of Kuronbe and Eh Eh are dominating Nigerian airwaves for months now. They’ve made their way to a Beyonce album. Agege must be proud.
It’s a great time to be African.
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There’s so much music out there that it’s hard for even the most loyal fans to stay up with their favourite artists or what’s new and hot right now. That’s why we’ve created #BumpThis – a daily series that features the one song you need to listen to, every day. Don’t say we never did anything for you.
With the success that his 2019 hit “Baby” is enjoying, it’s a good time to revisit a song that is proof of Joeboy’s knack for party bangers. Like his fellow mid-tempo Afropop hitmakers, the Surulere, Lagos singer weaves sing-along lyrics into catchy rhythms.
On “Faaji” alongside Mr Eazi, the artist who has emerged as his mentor of sorts, Joeboy’s delivery is much more energetic. It fits the theme of the song; a call for anyone who’s listening to come ‘faaji‘ with him. “I can do as I like, make dance and party all night, tori mi o je anybody l’owo“, Joeboy sings over groovy synths and drums. Mr Eazi’s verse is a giant middle finger to everyone who’s directed thinly-veiled hate at his success; he too wants you to come catch a vibe inspite of them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2lzgHh8p-k
The music video – set as a house party – brings the campy, happy feel of the song to life. And if you think you hear Ajebutter’s signature “Olohun”, you’re right. As often, it lightens up the song – and makes it even harder to resist. “Faaji” is an outright party jam that shows off what may be Joeboy’s biggest strength – a sense of rhythm that lets him fit into any groove and has made “Baby” one of the biggest pan-african hits of 2019.
It appears Nigerians didn’t leave banter and shade in 2016 because Mr Eazi has been the brunt of it all since he shared an interesting tweet about Ghanaian and Nigerian music on January 11.
According to him, Ghanaian music set the pace and heavily influenced Nigerian music.
Instead of Mr Eazi to thank Nigerians for supporting his music.
You stay in Ghana and they didn't wanna share their awards with you, you come to Naija and blow and then you're trying to shade our sound pic.twitter.com/VkL1H4BGuG
