10 Songs You Need To Hear This Week’ is a 10 track-listing playlist highlighting the best of songs released over the past few days from Africa and the Carribeans (Jamaica). Follow and like our playlists on Audiomack , Spotify & Apple Music for weekly updates.
Sista Afia ft. Sarkodie & Kweku Flick – Sika (Remix)
Ghanaian singer-songwriter and rapper, Sista Afia since her inception to the Ghanaian music space has been able to adapt to all functions presented to her. She’s an all-rounded talented musician with a plethora of smash-hits to her name.
In October 2020, Sista Afia exploited the Hip-Hop which was then invaded with drill music or better still Asakaa, spearheaded by the Kumericans. She linked up with rising Ghanaian music star, Kweku Flick who concurrently was enjoying his conquest with his viral record ‘Money‘ to release ‘Sika‘.
Gaining success in easily, Sika was well received and gained enormous traction on radio and television. Few weeks ago, Sista Afia via her social media timelines posted images and videos of a BTS with Sarkodie and Kweku Flick. That followed with a cover art of the song, announcing the release of a new song which happens to be the remix of ‘Sika’.
The remix breathes a new verse from Africa’s most decorated rapper, Sarkodie who executes the hammering bass instrumental with his signature braggadocious but yet motivational rap theme. Retaining the chorus of the original, Kweku Flick tweaks his verse a little bit which redresses the song to more finer form.
Production credits to Apya.
Patoranking – Celebrate Me
Produced by Yung Willis, “Celebrate Me” is an inducing danceable track which sees Patoranking, one of Africa’s most multifaceted artists put on his retrospective hat on this impressive title.
The song opens with soothing strings paired with his evocative lyrics immediately drawing you in to anticipate the classic Patoranking listening experience. “Celebrate me is about giving people their flowers while they are still alive and not when they are dead and gone” says Patoranking of the new single. “We are all we got, let’s celebrate each other and create beautiful memories before it’s too late”
The core of Patoranking’s music is positivity and his deep desire to inspire every listener is evident in this infectious chorus which is one the highpoints of the song. Keeping to the theme of celebration, he also recognizes several prominent men and women as he name drops them throughout the record. The song was recorded at the Amari Musiq Studios in Lagos.
Angelique Kidjo ft. Burna Boy – Do Yourself
With a total of 14 studio albums to her name, ‘Mother Nature’ convenes well-known and famous music stars like Yemi Alade, Burna Boy, Mr. Eazi, Salif Keita, Shungudzo Kuyimba, Sampa The Great, Ghetto Boy, Zeynab, Lionel Loueke, M, Blue-Lab Beats & EARTHGANG.
The thirteen-track project carefully selected and released by the four-time Grammy winner largely themes around self-awareness and self-enlightenment especially as an African. The 60-year-old Legendary singer whose career has spanned across three decades has put out mind-blowing projects in the past, powerful projects that fully represent that African culture, mindset, and persona; she continues to dwell on that path.
The Album which enlisted several younger generation talents such as Nigeria’s Burna Boy, Yemi Alade, Mr. Eazi, and America’s Earthgang does prove that the living legend understands how to balance the past with the future.
Mother Nature underlines the brilliance of Angelique Kidjo and glorifies her musical journey so far.
Phaize ft. Fameye – Jah Jehova
Phaize is one of the fast-rising acts cropping up from the lively music scene in Kumasi. Having been around for a minute, the talented Ghanaian rapper and singer shot to eminence after his collaboration with Shatta Wale on the posse cut ‘Ahodwo Las Vegas‘. His impressive delivery induced music critics to turn their attention to his talent.
Debuting the year with the song titled ‘Asakaa’, Phaize keeps his hot form of commendable work rate with an inspirational sublime record titled ‘Jah Jehova‘ featuring Ghanaian singer-songwriter, Fameye. The duo pen down their adversaries in a quest for solutions from the Almighty Father in Heaven.
Fameye featured on this song is felicitous per it’s thematics, a subject he’s very skillful with. On the production fronts as well, Phaize employed the services of the highly skilled record producer Apya to add his quota to the creative process of this gem.
Smallgod ft. Efya & DJ Henry X – This Is Love
Ghanaian musician and artist manager, Smallgod has finally unveiled his keenly awaited debut album titled ‘Building Bridges’. The 20 track-listing album features a plethora of musicians in Africa and Africans in the diaspora. His aim or motive behind this project is to bridge the gap between Africa and the Western world through music which he seems to be achieving inch by inch.
Off the ‘Building Bridges’ album is ‘This Is Love’, the seventh track featuring award-winning Ghanaian singer-songwriter, Efya and US based disc jockey and producer, DJ Henry X.
‘Is This Love’ is a fusion of Amapiano and house music.
Olamide ft. Fave – Pon Pon
YBNL frontman and Nigerian heavyweight rapper, Olamide outdoors his keenly awaited latest album ‘UY Scuti’. This succeeds his previously released highly acclaimed album ‘Carpe Diem‘.
The 11-track album features relatively unpopular artists like Layydoe, Jaywillz, and Fave who is credited on two songs. The other featured artist is Olamide’s industry colleague and friend, Phyno.
UY Scuti is Olamide’s ninth studio album in his musical career, rendering him one of the consistent artists in the African music eco-system. Among his top albums include ‘YBNL’, ‘Baddest Guy Ever Liveth’, ‘Eyan Mayweather’, and ‘Carpe Diem’
G-West – Don’t Mind
Ghanaian singer-songwriter, G-West exhibits his genre-bending capabilities in his latest single, a laid-back ballad titled ‘Don’t Mind’, produced by Perry Mingle.
The song ‘Don’t Mind’ registers as G-West’s second single of the year, following his precursory debut ‘Ride Or Die‘.
Niinety9 – Indecisive
Emechebe Chukwunomnso (Ninety9 formerly known as Daddy99) is a rising Nigerian singer/songwriter from Anambra state, Nigeria. He’s been making music since he was 14. His music thrives on riding the ever-changing wave of the AfroSoul sound which has been redefined with the continuous fusions of genres to make it even broader. He demonstrates this well on his last single ‘Bad Trips’ (prod by JohnsonIP).
He released his first official single ‘Relate’ in July, 2016. He followed up with his next single ‘Style’ (Prod by OTO) in August, 2017 which has been doing really well across platforms till date. In 2018 he received an award as the ‘Artiste of the year on the Nigerian teen choice award (NTCA) which motivated him and attracted more listeners to his music.
He dropped his first official EP August, 2019 titled ‘NINETY9’. This project is a combination of Afropop and soul. This project has gained 100,000+ plays across multiple streaming platforms. Ninety9 believes in himself and his craft. Music to him is not a competition but an expression of individuals from different perspectives.
Following the release of his first single this year, Fancy, Niinety9 teased there is an EP on the way and further announced releasing the first single off the EP, Indecisive.
Succeeding the announcement, he dished out the keenly awaited ‘Indecisive’. Indecisive is a love story that is both-sided. However, decisions need to be made as this feeling of love cannot be denied.
D’banj – Banga
Highly-celebrated Nigerian singer, D’Banj returns to the music scene after a brief hiatus with a new single captioned ‘Banga’.
Before the arrival of ‘Banga’, D’Banj released a song titled ‘Ikebe’ but however chose this one as his reintroduction to his fans. The song has a feel reminiscent of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s style. It’s not the first time D’Banj has used that sound however and his tag of “Entertainer” makes him probably the best person for it.
Production credits to TUC.