There’s been a slow start to music this year, well music from the young minds pioneering their own lane of sound. It’s been an incredible year for them nonetheless. The Alté cruise is fast becoming its own lane and no one can deny the great content they’re making. M.I. said it best on the PGM podcast, calling them ‘Mutants‘ and the elite squad of the X-Men.
The media attention is on their music, the world knows something amazing and unique is brewing underground. It’s incredible to be involved as a creative in the scene right now cause the Nigerian/African audience is in tune.
A lot of music was released over the last few weeks so we’ve compiled a few for your listening pleasure.
Tonero – Don’t Go
The Euphonic Music company has been very quiet the entire year with only two releases, both from their producer affiliated artists Bond, Cuppy’s top producer, and Xoe with his debut project “Blood, Sweat & Tears” (the tape featured stand out single ‘Love Like This‘). Tonero, the lead man has also been absent pretty much all of the year but that’s about to change.
His new single ‘Don’t Go’ has the singer/producer back at his basics, taking a self-produced song which sounds like his version of reggae twisted with some Afropop into a ride that has him try to get the attention of a certain lady ‘Baby‘, (hey, those are his words). Gliding through the beat with different flows all made intricately for each rhyme.
Ross – Phynix
You’ll probably know him as the art director making all the fly posters and artwork for your favorite Abuja creative but a few know he alter ego is a musical genius in the making. The artist has slowly been building his followership with six tracks previously released on his SoundCloud page all attributing to his growth.
‘A young legend with a purpose‘, he proclaims at the start of his new single “Phynix“, a two-minute track that finally places him in the conversation and playlist of a new audience ready to appreciate his music. The song is a smooth & heavy hip-hop mixture of bar-to-bar delivery Ross. He flaunts his skills with his paced out lyrics, raping and singing through aesthetically.
Black Coffee & David Guetta feat. Delilah Montagu – Drive
Johannesburg based DJ/producer Black Coffee (real name Nathi Maphumulo) is currently one of the hottest music exports from the country, collaborating with different music creatives all over the world. His latest track, ‘ʼDrive’ features French superstar DJ/producer David Guetta and London-based singer-songwriter Delilah Montagu.
The song is a fusion of electronic music, Guetta’s pop-Parisian influence and Coffee’s African sound birthing a magical track. “Drive” is Black Coffee first Billboard chart appearance as a lead act and it’s certainly well deserved. We’re excited to experience how far this song will go.
Maayaa – Ride feat. Worlasi
Since the release of her project ‘Chapter Red‘, Maayaa adds to a list of young musicians like Amaarae, Ria Boss, Cina Soul, Adomaa, pushing soul music in the Ghanaian community. She delivers an incredible 7 track collection, injecting bits of Twi expressions and English to deliver a project that feels intentionally candid.
The jazz-influenced tape is filled with incredible tracks like ‘Ride’ featuring Worlasi. A mid-tempo, song about how it feels to fall in love.
Doz – Niagara feat. Joyce Olong & Mafeni
The 80s Sounds producer Doz has had a really good year after being featured on various tracks on both of Nigerian rap legend M.I. albums, and songs he’s made for other fellow artists. He’s finally back as his own self with his first official single of the year as a lead act, ‘Niagara‘ featuring incredible vocalist/songwriter Joyce Olong & the bundle of talent, Mafeni.
Niagara brings the best of Doz, in his comfort place with the melodic-drum fused sonic journey made perfect with the support from the simple yet awesome contributions from both Olong & Mafeni.
Blaqbonezz – Denied
Chocolate City ‘Nigeria’s Biggest Label’ (according to Label CEO, M.I.) has been rolling out music from different artists on his roaster, mostly acts from the hip-hop genre through the year. Blaqbonezz was the latest release from the label with his project ‘Bad Boy Blaq‘.
The standout track for us on the project, ‘Denied‘ shows the brilliance of Blaqbonezz delivery, witty rhyme schemes and most of all hunger to be one of the best in his field. A song that has him blame 2018 for his stunted growth to his ambition currently.
Maleek Berry – Love You Long Time feat. Chip
Love doctor, Maleek Berry is back with a new single dedicated to all the lovers out there. ‘Love You Long Time’ features UK-based artist, Chip together creating another good song that’ll have everyone in their feels while doing the ‘shaku shaku’ on the dance floor.
He’s accompanied the song with some visuals released this week.
