With Africa on My Sleeve
Before we get into this, let me acknowledge all the positive feedback I got for my playlist a couple of days ago. It’s always a pleasure to put people on to the sauce down here. Today, I felt like hightlighting music that treads off the beaten R&B and hip-hop path. Nowadays, where catering to your...Continue reading
I was bemused that, after all the buildup to its release, the promo push for Chance The Rapper’s debut studio album, The Big Day, was rather tame. Maybe it had to do with some of the dispiriting feedback, or the powers that be thought that the album — essentially a big celebration of love —...Continue reading
Burna Boy had a great year and, by all indications, he’s still on tear. After his firecracker collaboration with the Zanku champion Zlatan (on “Killin Dem“), Burna Boy reloaded with “Dangote”, an ode to the hustling and grinding disposition of young Nigerians to overcome their hardships and lack of job prospects. He’s joined on this...Continue reading
The best thing about having this platform is playing favorites. And Lady Gaga has always given me great reasons to prop her up. I’ve heard a lot of good about her movie with Bradley Cooper (A Star Is Born) and the soundtrack. The single “Look What I Found” is in line with the continued emphasis...Continue reading
I’ve been talking up the summer and the bangers that usually come with it. Well, summer’s here and it’s not looking disappointing at all. Stefflon Don’s star has been on the rise for a couple years now. She broke through with “Hurtin’ Me” last fall and she’s poised to keep us on our feet for...Continue reading
Hey, the NBA playoffs are finally here and that’s as good an excuse as any to pull out a mix from Diplo, one third of Major Lazer. OK, The Give and Go mixtape was released around the NBA All Star Weekend. But I give you two reasons why this is best suited to celebrate the...Continue reading
I think that Drake deserves a lot of props for his woman-lauding, Lauryn-Hill-sampling, Southern-bounce-reviving hit single, “Nice for What”. What’s more, I can’t see any better way to drive the point home than the dope star-studded video directed by the talented future powerhouse Karena Evans. (Can you?) And all the women in the video commend...Continue reading
The Wu is back! And, going by the singles they’ve rolled out so far – “Lesson Learn’d” and “People Say” – I can barely contain my excitement. (The Saga Continues is expected for next week.) On a more grave front, let’s salute the hurricane disaster relief efforts of Lin-Manuel Miranda and Artists for Puerto Rico....Continue reading
Dispensing with any form of objective, I’ve chosen to lead this edition with an artist whose talent I firmly believe in. That aside, I’m very pleased to gather so many promising that are (for better or worse) keen to flirt and push the traditional boundaries of rap. Enjoy.