By Yinoluwa Olowofoyeku
Ahoy there, fellow music adventurers! I hope you are here with whetted appetites for the best and rarest of the gems from this week’s expeditions. Last week’s interruption has blown over and we now share the spoils of a week that was full of new and interesting releases, a perfect way to resume our regularly scheduled programming.
However, before we get into this week’s haul, I’d like to encourage you to follow us on our socials @Afrocritik to stay informed about our playlists, editorial lists, as well as more content on our website and beyond. For our regulars, you know we have a monthly editorial playlist that aggregates the best weekly finds over four weeks. Well, the most recent monthly editorial is available now, showcasing the standout gems from weeks 12-15. Be sure to look out for that on our platforms. Also, don’t miss out on the opportunity to get your own music featured on the playlists. Send an email to yinoluu@afrocritik.com for further details on how to get your work considered.
Now that we’re all caught up, I present to you the sixteenth edition of the Afrocritik Weekly Music Spotlight, a decently lengthy return from our realignment break. This week’s list boasts:
- A Few Big Names: British rapper, J Hus, enlists Burna Boy and Naira Marley for that authentic Afro touch on “Masculine” and “Militerian” respectively, off his new album, Beautiful And Brutal Yard; his fellow countryman Dave jumps on “Intoxycated” with Oxlade, Adekunle Gold continues to steam towards the release of Tequila After with “Ogaranya,”…
- Emotional Cuts: This week, we have a healthy selection of heartstring tuggers from emotive Afropop bangers to melancholic alternative ballads. We are covered by the likes of Adam Srae’s moving introspective “Introverted,” Dwin, The Stoic’s poignant “To You” featuring Ogranya, “Bad” off Frankeyz’s solid XIX EP, “Hear Me Out” from prolific crooner, Gabzy; the impressive “Wish You Were Here” and “Minds Already Made Up” off Ric Hassani’s collaborative Dance project Wish You Were Her(e) with Sigag Lauren…
- Gems for the Rap-Heads: This week gave the rap-heads quite a lot to cheer about and bop their heads to. They should be kept busy by a number of tracks off PsychoYP’s new Osapa London project such as the Odumodublvck-assisted “Settle Us!” and the smooth “This Country,” “Made It Out” featuring A-Reece and “Timing” featuring Blxckie which are some of the representatives of South African rapper Belo Salo’s new Chozen Rejectboi album, my album of the week You Want Some More? By South African wordsmith, Stino Le Thwenny, which gives us the likes of “Phuza Nam,” and “Tripping” …
- Our Weekly Dose of Amapiano: Every week, I bring a selection of the electronic styles sweeping the continent, and this week they come in the form of “Jaiva,” and “Lo Mandela” off Enkay De Deejay’s brief Vumpu King, “Pianoland” and “Asambeni” off the Kweyama Brothers’ hit-or-miss 4 By 4 EP before we spiral into full blown Electronic House with the likes of the star-studded “Indlela” Pierre Johnson’s “Kali’s Chant,” the powerful “Bambelela” courtesy of Like Mike…
…and so much more! These are just a handful of samples from the diverse selection waiting for you to peruse on the playlists you should see to the right of this page. If you have trouble with the playlists, feel free to find our profiles @Afrocritik on your music streaming service of choice and the playlists should show up there. I recommend you check out the albums named to find your own gems, too. Feel free to listen in the curated order or shuffle the playlist if you’re feeling adventurous. Either way, be sure to give the songs time to work their magic on you.
Don’t forget to add and follow the playlists, save your favourite songs as updates will be frequent. Share the playlists with the people you care about, and get the information necessary to submit your own songs (or those of your people) by reaching out to yinoluu@afrocritik.com.
ENJOY!