Entertainment
10 Songs You Need To Hear This Week
Featuring Runtown, Mr Eazi x Legendury Beatz, Shekhinah x DJ Lag, Skepta, Walshy Fire x Ice Prince and more.
Every week, we highlight the cream of the crop in music through our Best Music of the Week column.
Here’s our round up of the best tracks and music videos that came across our desks, which you can also check out in our Songs You Need to Hear This Week playlists on Spotify and Apple Music.
Follow our SONGS YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS WEEK playlist on Spotify here and Apple Music here.
Runtown ‘Tradition’ EP
Nigerian star hitmaker Runtown is surprise released his latest EP, Tradition, last Friday. Tradition features five new song, alongside the previously released ”Unleash,” a collaboration with UK grime act Fekky. The EP features production from Del B (“Redemption,” “Unleash”), Spellz (“Emotions,” “International Badman Killa”), Elputo (“Tradition”) and Ransom Beatz (“Goose Bumps”). Overall, Tradition l ooks to bring the hazy & downtempo sonic world of Runtown’s addictive hits like “Mad Over You” and “For Life” to higher levels.
Legendury Beatz x Mr Eazi ‘Zanku Leg Riddim’
The zanku is the dance of the moment, and with that comes several beats and “riddims” catered for the intricate dance. Mr Eazi and popular producer Legendury Beatz are the latest Nigerian artists to offer a song tailor-made to hit the zanku to. On their new project “Zanku Leg Riddim” the musicians share 3 versions of the core track “Zanku Leg.” Mr Eazi is joined on Mr Real on the first iteration of the song, and Zlatan on the second. The third version is a pure instrumental, allowing for Legendury’s production to shine on its own.
DJ LAG & Shekhinah ‘Anywhere We Go’
“Anywhere We Go” is DJ LAG and Shekhinah’s new single. The collaboration between two of Durban’s top musicians, sees Shekhinah lay her ethereal vocals over a bass-heavy house instrumental by one of the pioneers of gqom. The accompanying visuals, which were powered by adidas, feature a dancer (Thami Njoko), who glistens as he shares his acrobatic moves in an open space at night, which is in line with the adidas sneaker the video is essentially an ad for. The video was directed by veteran music video director, Kyle Lewis.
Walshy Fire, Ice Prince & Demarco ‘Round Of Applause’
Walshy Fire is readying the release of his new record, Abeng, which aims to be a conversation between the Caribbean and Africa, featuring some of the biggest names across the dancehall and afro-fusion scenes.The Major Lazer DJ/producer shared his latest drop, “Round Of Applause,” featuring Nigerian heavyweight rapper Ice Prince and Jamaica’s Demarco. The single is a sun-tinged production that blends deep dancehall synths with Ice Prince and Demarco’s addictive vocals about a girl that looks so good she, well, deserves a round of applause.
Skepta ‘Bullet From A Gun’
Skepta drops the music video for “Bullet From a Gun,” the first single from his highly-anticipated forthcoming album Ignorance is Bliss. After dropping “Bullet From a Gun” earlier this month, along with the track “Greaze Mode”. The British-Nigerian rapper has given the pensive, self-produced track a video that fits its serious mood. The nearly 3-minute clip, sees the artist sitting at a bench in London’s Camden Station with his newly-born daughter’s stroller next to him, during what seems like a typical day in London. He sits quietly and raps along to the lyrics as various characters pass him, and stop to sit at the bench as they go about their days.
The Busy Twist Remix 1970s Angolan Tracks
About 10 years ago, Analog Africa released their initial Angola Soundtrack, a compilation of gems from late ’60s and early ’70s Luanda. Now, those songs are getting new life courtesy of London-based production duo The Busy Twist. These psychedelic Angolan guitars and rhythms get revisited in London Luanda Remix Series, a new 4-track release that sees the UK producers digging into the original Analog Africa archives and injecting these throwback sounds with new percussive energy.
Emtee ‘Smogolo’ feat. Snymaan “Smogolo” is Emtee’s first single of 2019. The artist last released the music video for “Abantu,” a song from his EP DIY 2, which came out last year. “Smogolo” features little to no rapping, as the artist sings throughout. The song is produced by Kreazo, who produced a large amount of DIY 2, and it features Snyman, who also appeared on DIY 2, most notably on “Abantu.” This is a quintessential ATM (African trap music) song, as it blends genres such as trap, Afropop and a bit of mbhaqanga and maskandi.
Skiibii, Falz, Teni, DJ Neptune ‘Daz How Star Do’
One of Teni the Entertainer’s comedic catch phrases has been turned into an infectious new track by Nigerian artist Skiibii, and we’re here for it. “Daz How Star Do” is a Jaysynths Beatz-produced track featuring Teni herself as well as Nigerian rapperFalz and DJ Neptune. On “Daz How Star Do” Skiibii, Falz and Teni all spit a humorous and animated lines about their star power. “If you’re not talking money please don’t call me for a show,” rhymes Skiibii on the song’s catchy chorus.
Kwesta ‘Khethile Khethile’ ft. Makwa, Tshego AMG & Thee Legacy
Kwesta’s latest music video is a highlights video for his and wife Yolanda Vilakazi’s wedding, which took place in March. The clip covers the goings on of both the couple’s white and traditional wedding, and shows the guests who attended. The visuals were directed by K-Zaka, and they accompany, “Khethile Khethile,” a song in which Kwesta expresses his love for his significant other.
Popular businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, aka Cubana Chief Priest, has said that his relationship with singer Davido is beyond money and gossip.
He stated this in a recent interview with BBC Igbo.
“Davido is my friend. He is my in-law; he married Chioma who is from Imo State where I hail from.
“So the relationship I have with Davido is beyond money and gossip,” he said.
DAILY POST reports that Chief Priest disclosed via his Instagram page that his outfit for the wedding of the singer, Davido and his wife, Chioma, in Lagos on Tuesday cost seven million Naira.
The socialite recently appreciated Davido for not “discarding” Chioma.
He stated that the DMW boss has made Imo State proud by choosing to marry from the state.
Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has lent her voice to the ongoing anti-tax hike protests in Kenya.
The Tide’s source reports that Kenyan youths are marching against tax hike in widespread demonstrations tagged ‘RejectFinanceBill2024.’
Five people were shot dead and dozens wounded after police clashed with protesters who stormed the parliament building in Nairobi on Tuesday, according to Amnesty Kenya.
Reacting via her X handle on Tuesday night, Simi declared her support for the demonstrators.
She stated that “it is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights.”
The singer wrote, “I stand with the people of Kenya. It is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights. Godspeed and Strength. [Hash tag] RejectFinanceBill2024.”
In a series of other posts, she wrote: “Wow. When you’ve had enough, the fight is almost inevitable.
“African leaders- have not you done enough?
“I can’t wait for the day Africa is not a weapon fashioned against Africans. All of this amazing Black power and human resource, but the majority are not likely to thrive unless they run.”
Famous Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Davido was spotted among other top artistes at Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour concert in Atlanta, Georgia.
Asake’s performance at his sold-out show at the 17,000-capacity State Farm Arena in Atlanta began on August 16, 2024, and is set to run for 10 days.
In a trending video on social media, Davido appeared backstage with American rapper Quavo to support Asake during the live performance.
Other musicians in attendance included Nigerian hitmaker Zlatan and American rapper Russ Millions.
The Tide’s source reports that Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour is set to cover six U.S. cities, where he will headline notable venues including Madison Square Garden in New York, the Toyota Center in Houston, and the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Asake’s tour comes just days after the release of his latest hit, ‘Lungu Boy,’ which features several superstars, including Wizkid, British rappers Central Cee and Stormzy, Travis Scott and Brazilian singer Ludmilla.
‘Lungu Boy’ set a new record for the biggest opening week on Spotify Nigeria, garnering 18.9 million streams in its opening week and breaking the previous record of 14.4 million streams held by Davido’s ‘Timeless.’
