After an electric performance in front of an eager crowd, the Nigerian singer Oxlade considered spending his last day in Cyprus exploring the island’s pristine beaches, but instead opted for some indoor bonding with old friends from back home that now live in the Mediterranean country. “I was like, nah, …
Read More »Coachella Files Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against Afrochella
Goldenvoice, the concert giant behind Coachella, has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the organizers of Afrochella, a Ghanaian music festival specializing in Afrobeats music. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday at a California district court and obtained by Rolling Stone, comes three years after AEG (which owns Goldenvoice) issued a warning …
Read More »'The Headies' is a Nigerian Award Show for African Music. Here's Why It's Happening in Atlanta
Drawn to Atlanta as one of the world’s Black music and entertainment capitals, executive producer Ayo Animashaun’s Headies Awards will take place at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre this Sunday, September 4, in front of an anticipated full house of 2,750. Since 2006, the Headies have taken place in …
Read More »What Makes Davido Afrobeats' Benevolent King
Outside the Conrad hotel in downtown Washington DC, a high-end stay outfitted in tasteful neutral tones, a mass of men with deep skin stood congregated around an SUV, bantering in what sounded like West African Pidgin English. Meanwhile, in the lobby, the language filled the air as another pocket of …
Read More »'The Devil's Music' No More: Inside Nigeria's Rock Resurgence
In 2013, Bianca Okorocha, a Nigerian artist who performs as ClayRocksU, received a DM from one of her Twitter followers. It was an invitation to Metal and Romance, a party in Lagos focusing on rock music — a genre long plagued by negative stereotypes in Nigeria. When she got there, …
Read More »Meet Black Sherif, the Ghanaian Rapper Channeling Pop Smoke and 070 Shake
When I spoke to Ghanian rapper Black Sherif in May, he was attempting to make an artistic leap with the new music video for his hit song “Kwaku the Traveller.” Taking some shots from Polo G’s “RAPSTAR” video, it’s a banger and an example of the types of visuals and …
Read More »Afro Nation Comes to Puerto Rico: Big Dreams, Canceled Sets, and Growing Pains
The energy on the waters of San Juan’s Balneario de Carolina on March 24 was majestic but stormy. Tropical rain and wind buffeted the opening night of Afro Nation Puerto Rico, muddying the festival grounds and sending some festivalgoers ducking for cover while others danced in the mist. But another …
Read More »Pheelz and Bnxn's 'Finesse' is Utterly Cool — and Breaking Through Globally
Pheelz is perhaps best known as the Nigerian producer who’s contributed to notable releases like Fireboy DML’s Apollo, Olamide’s Carpe Diem, and Tiwa Savage’s Celia. But he worked both the boards and the mic on his latest single, “Finesse.” He floats across the slinky beat, built around gentle guitar, subtle …
Read More »Burna Boy Doesn't Care About Crossing Over, But It's Happening Anyway
“It’s hot as fuck!” Earlier this month, the Nigerian singer Burna Boy took the stage at Prospect Park in Brooklyn in front of roughly 9,000 people to celebrate the imminent release of his new album, African Giant. The show commenced in the middle of a heatwave, with weather apps saying …
Read More »Beyoncé's 'Lion King: The Gift' Suggests a New Direction — and a New Challenge
On Tuesday, Beyoncé announced The Lion King: The Gift, an album that will accompany the remake of the famous Disney animated film, which opens Friday. Some familiar collaborators will be joining Beyoncé (Jay-Z, Pharrell), but track list is notable for also including stars from Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa, artists …
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