With this previous week’s new releases, African artists certainly deserve all the accolades they get. We’ve had new projects from Davido, Fave, Stonebwoy, Falz… oh, did I say Davido? While this was definitely a difficult one, here’s another edition of Soot Africa’s top weekly picks from new Afrobeats releases.
Far Away – Stonebwoy
Firstly, starting off on our list is Far Away by Ghanaian Afro pop and dancehall sensation Stonebwoy. The song comes as a pre-release off Stonebwoy’s upcoming album “5th Dimension”. Far Away showcases Stonebwoy in his element; Dancehall at its finest. With steady cadences, the song definitely commands the audience’s attention from the jump
What I found most appealing about this top pick was the log drum infusions. Now that Amapiano has all but taken over the music scene, most log drum elements tend to lean more towards Amapiano sounds. And even though Far Away had prominent log drums, it sounded nothing like an Amapiano song, but everything like an authentic dancehall tune.
Na Money – Davido ft The Cavemen & Angelique Kidjo
Davido’s recent “Timeless” album has got everyone in a chokehold, this writer inclusive. This particular top pick certainly stands out, from the brilliant features to even better delivery. While we can all agree that this is probably not a typical Davido trope, I think we can also say that he delivered.
The Cavemen brought in their original Highlife flair while the sensational Angelique Kidjo made the song a unique cultural sound that I’m sure resonates across Africa and beyond. Na Money is basically the complete package; catchy tune, witty lyrics, and solid production.
“Shorty say she go whine am for me if I go dash am money” Who wouldn’t?
Play – T.I Blaze ft Fave
In a collaboration we didn’t know we needed, T.I Blaze and Fave are out to put us in our feels with Play. This top pick is basically a smooth, almost whimsical tune, an obvious result of good sound production. On this song, the duo play around with vocals and intimate lyrics, two important elements of any good heartbreak song.
Play talks about sticking around to hear incessant lies from a hurtful lover while lamenting about a love that takes more than it gives. If you’ve been recently heartbroken, I strongly advise you skip this song. If you listen to it and end up bawling your eyes out at T.I Blaze’s verse, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Yakubu – Falz & Vector
On a different note, this song takes a dip into the corrupt pool of Nigerian politics. Falz doesn’t shy away from criticizing the recently concluded general elections, particularly the INEC chairman Mr. Mahmood Yakubu’s involvement in it. The song points brazen fingers at the obvious injustices witnessed all over the country. Simply put, Falz took the words right out of our mouths, “Mr. Yakubu, e ma n se bi fraudster?”
On the other hand, Vector’s sublime verse continues calling out Mr. Yakubu’s blatant incompetence. Listening to this top weekly pick made me remember how much I enjoy a good Vector verse. Almost good enough to make me forget the subject at hand- Nigerian politics. But regardless, Mr. Yakubu has a lot of questions to answer.
Unavailable – Davido ft Musa Keys
I bet you already know this one. It’s everywhere. TikTok, Instagram, and every platform that features fun choreographed dances. Unavailable became an instant crowd favorite the minute it hit the charts. Davido’s catchy chorus and infectious energy makes it an obvious hit, and South Africa’s Musa Keys made it an even better listen.
That brings us to the end of Soot Africa’s top weekly picks. These are the five songs we enjoyed the most. Curious to see what songs make it to our top weekly picks next week? Stick around and stay glued to our social media platforms for your daily music updates.