Somi – Brown Round Things
In 2011, Rwandan/Ugandan, Illinois-born jazz artist Somi left her New York home for Lagos on a whim. The plan was to stay for 15 months and figure things out as she went. The outcome – 18 months later – was the Lagos Music Salon, her elegantly crafted major label debut on Sony Music/OKeh. It was released this summer and features Angelique Kidjo and Common. It’s a collection of candid observations drawn from her time spent immersed in the bustle of Lagos. This video, shot in the red-light district of the Nigerian city, is a nod to the streetwalkers in this and other African cities.
M.anifest – No Shortcut to Heaven ft. Obrafour
Ghanaian rapper M.anifest seems to be making a habit of partnering with veterans. You may have caught him on tour with Damon Albarn as part of the Rocket Juice & the Moon project with Tony Allen and Flea, or his collaboration with Ebo Taylor. This fourth single from his EP, Apae: The Price of Free, sees the MC enlist Hiplife legend Obrafour for a striking new song and video. A traditional hip-hop narrative weaves the story of a young hustler. Its video was shot in eastern Ghana, and is set primarily at a mining site.
Boddhi Satva – Flawless
Afro-house is often criticised for its repetition. Central African DJ/producer Boddhi Satva avoids this generalisation, having developed and matured Ancestral Soul, a sound that is unmistakably unique. Inspired by Osunlade and introduced to the world via his Yoruba Records, it’s attracted endorsement from Masters at Work’s Louis Vega. Boddhi Satva’s 2012 debut album Invocation came out on Vega Records and BBE. The next one is due out in March 2015 and features UK Soul stalwart Omar on the lead single, Benefit. Besides these two studio albums, Boddhi Satva boasts an astonishing catalogue of official remixes (Oumou Sangare and bootlegs). He’s currently on his third in a series of mix tapes called Ancestral Interpretations, in which he flips classic and contemporary songs from R&B and hip-hop – like the below version of Beyoncé’s Flawless – into more primal-sounding house versions. Rumour has it that this will be the last instalment of the franchise. So hopefully this means something new is around the corner.
Melo B Jones – Run Jozi
Run Jozi is a Johannesburg rap anthem by leading mainstream MCs AKA and K.O. Newcomer Boitumelo Mpya AKA Melo B Jones has taken their braggadocio rhymes and given them her own spin. It’s a recent release in her social media music initiative #TurnUpFridays where she drops a weekly soulful a cappella version of familiar songs. Crowd favourites so far include Chris Brown’s New Flame and Juicy J’s Bandz a Make Her Dance.
Temi Dollface – Just Like That (Story)
One of the most original African music videos out last year came from Temi Dollface. Her Pata Pata, a visual feast of Azonto dance moves mixed with pidgin infomercial and 1950s pin-up style references, made her fans eager for more. A year and a half passed while the British-Nigerian “drama soul” debutante prepped her full length, but this track’s seamless blend of hip-hop and afrobeat was worth the wait.
