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.
Bella Shmurda — “Liquor”
Last year, Bella Shmurda scored a breakout hit with “Vision2020”, a fantastic song which got even more well-deserved attention when Olamide hopped on the remix.
Now, in a bid to hold on to our attention, the rising star has dropped his debut EP, High Tension. While every song on the impressive project is a testament to Bella’s gifts, the standout track has to be “Liquor”
On the stunningly produced “Liquor”, Bella sings about a girl that makes him feel like he’s high. It’s a truly impressive love song that proves Bella deserves our undivided attention.
A lot of Nigerian restaurants that consider themselves “fancy” always find a way to overcharge and underdeliver. If you’ve ever found yourself feeling immensely disappointed after a visit to one of these fine establishments, then this post is for you.
1. How the waiters look at you knowing you’re about to finish your money:
“This one is not ready”
2. You, navigating the menu like:
Is it only water I can afford?
3. When the waiter “suggests” the most expensive thing on the menu.
Please, nobody asked you.
4. When you see the portions.
Is that all?
5. You, calculating all the ingredients to see how they got that price:
This shit don’t add up.
6. You, wondering why you didn’t just cook at home:
Is it pasta I cannot make, abi what?
7. Your mouth realizing the food wasn’t worth the cost.
I’m really a broke clown.
8. When you finally see your bill.
This can’t be right.
9. When you realize they charged you 7k for ambience.
Is it AC and chair I’m paying for?
10. When you see how much tax you have to pay.
Is the food not expensive enough?
11. When the manager comes by to ask if you enjoyed your meal.
Don’t be asking me annoying questions.
12. You, leaving with your empty account:
Nobody sent me oh.
Are you a certified olodo or a super genius? Forget what all your teachers and report cards might have made you believe, this quiz right here is the true test of just how intelligent you are.
Take it to find out:
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.
Mayorkun — “Geng”
Mayorkun is one of the most gifted afropop stars working today, and every new song reaffirms that fact. For his first release of the year, “Geng”, he proves that he’s even capable of turning a freestyle into a certified bop.
On “Geng”, Mayorkun seems to be having more fun than he’s ever had on a track, as he calls out posers and brags about his crew. It’s an exciting start for DMW’s not-so-secret weapon, prepping us for what’s to come.
Jamal Swiss — “Lifestyle” ft. Remy Baggins
A criminally underrated star, Jamal Swiss is yet to drop a weak song. For his first release of 2020, he keeps that same energy, enlisting the silky-voiced Remy Baggins for the hypnotic “Lifestyle”.
On the Jay Blakez-produced track, Jamal raps about the allure of his party-hopping lifestyle. A perfect fit for the track, the talented Remy delivers a killer hook that effortlessly complements Jamal’s solid verses.
Angélique Kidjo is easily one of Africa’s most influential artists, and her acclaimed album, Celia — a moving tribute to iconic Cuban singer, Celia Cruz — was about as stunningly executed as any album that dropped last year.
That being said, even she seemed shocked that her project beat out Burna Boy’s career-defining opus, African Giant for the ‘Best World Music Album’ Grammy. Taking to the stage to accept her fourth Grammy, she thoughtfully dedicated her win to the afro-fusion star.
She said:
“This is for Burna Boy, [he] is among those young artists [who] came from Africa [who] are changing the way our continent is perceived.”
An instant favourite from the moment it dropped, Burna Boy’s African Giant not only ended 2019 as the most-streamed album in Africa, but it was also the most critically acclaimed, earning nearly unanimous praise from music critics around the world.
So, that begs the main question: If a Nigerian album that broke chart records, had tangible cultural impact and was fervently praised by fans and music critics alike couldn’t bag a Grammy, then what kind of Nigerian album can?
A category issue
It definitely doesn’t help that ‘Best World Music Album’, the category Nigerian artists are most likely to be lumped into, is extremely flawed. ’World music’ is a borderline racist term for music that doesn’t fit the European or American mould.
When you take a look at some of the artists that have won in the past — from Ladysmith Black Mambazo to Soweto Gospel Choir — it’s pretty clear that when it comes to this category, voters don’t care for projects with pop-leaning sounds or influences.
Based on the kind of projects that typically get nominated, a Nigerian album by anyone without the last name Kuti would stick out like a sore thumb in any year, making a triumph in this category seem damn near improbable.
That’s why a win for African Giant — a project that fuses afrobeat, dancehall, pop, r&b and hip-hop — would have marked an exciting new direction for the outdated category, but it seems we’ll just have to keep waiting for the Grammys to catch up.
What’s the solution?
It’s about time the Grammys introduced an Afrobeat category — honouring projects that are predominantly influenced by the genre Fela Kuti pioneered. Afrobeat has been immensely influential, and it’s insulting to still have it exist under the flawed umbrella of ‘world music’.
Burna Boy’s African Giant might not have taken home the Grammy for ‘Best World Music Album’ — losing to Angelique Kidjo’s worthy Celia — but the career-defining project remains a winner in our book. So, it’s time to prove how much you jammed it by answering a few questions.
Here you go:
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.
BUJU — “Mind Games”
The immensely talented BUJU is one of the rising stars we said is primed to dominate the afropop scene in 2020. With his new release, “Mind Games”, he seems more than ready to prove us right.
On the fantastic track, BUJU sings about a girl who supports him and never asks for more than he can give. The up-and-comer seems incapable of making a bad song, and “Mind Games” effortlessly reaffirms that.
J Hus – “Play Play” ft. Burna Boy
While Burna Boy soars on any collaboration, he seems especially in his element with J Hus (“Sekkle Down”, “Good Time”). Now, they’ve been reunited on “Play Play” – a standout off the rapper’s new LP, Big Conspiracy.
On “Play Play”, a very unconventional love song, we get J Hus skillfully rapping about girls and guns. Burna Boy also matches his energy, delivering a hook that elevates the track, making it their strongest collab yet.
Before I get into this article, let me confess something to you guys: My favourite Nollywood movie of all time is 2011’s Blackberry Babes — a movie so objectively terrible that it inadvertently morphs into something hilarious and undeniably entertaining. I’ve seen it 12 times; 11 more times than I’ve watched any other Nollywood movie.
So, now that you know that I’m a man with truly garbage taste, I can get into why RedTV’s new show, Assistant Madams is my latest obsession. The web series, which exists in the same flawed universe as The Men’s Club, follows the lives of “three hustling ladies who are hell-bent on living their best lives at any cost, one man at a time.”
Like a lot of people, I genuinely love good movies and TV shows — a great story, a moving score, deeply-felt performances and gorgeous cinematography — but I also have an appreciation for movies and TV shows that fall into the so-bad-it’s-good category. Basically, they fail on every level, but like a car crash, you can’t look away.
Assistant Madams fits the bill perfectly. The acting, especially from the typically luminescent Osas Ighodaro, is both wooden and over-the-top. The overdramatic score feels like it belongs on Legend of the Seeker. The writing, without spoiling anything, is laughable. The editing is staggeringly inconsistent. Honestly, I could go on, but I think you get the point.
So, yeah, I think it’s one of the most poorly executed shows I’ve ever seen in my nearly three decades on earth. Then ask me why I’ve watched the pilot episode three times? Why did I force my co-workers to watch it too (they are now obsessed with it as well)? Why did I scream for joy when I saw that the second episode had dropped?
It’s because, in spite of everything that the show gets painfully wrong, it’s immensely entertaining. Granted, I don’t think it’s entertaining in the way the creators were hoping — I spend most of the time laughing AT the show, not WITH it — but that’s definitely still a win in my book. That’s why two episodes in, and I already can’t get enough.
Last year, we created a quiz that told you what your worst quality is. Now, to make up for dragging y’all, we’ve created another one that lets you know what your best quality is. Is it your kindness, your generosity or your loyalty?
Take to find out:
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.
TOBi — “City Blues (Remix)” ft. The Game
One of the best projects to drop in 2019 was STILL, the debut album by Nigerian-Canadian rapper, TOBi. A clear standout off the tape was the astonishing “City Blues”, which just got an equally impressive remix.
On the original track, which was inspired by Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues”, TOBi raps about the immigrant experience, focusing on the struggle of feeling caught between two worlds.
For the remix, he enlists The Game, who brings an added layer to the already complex track. On his verses, the Grammy-nominated rapper thoughtfully tackles the reality of growing up black and poor in America.
