This Week’s Episode Features a Conversation With Ruger, the 5 Hottest Tracks of the Week, Africa Rising and Dadaboy Ehiz’s Favourite Track of the Week!

Tune in to Africa Now Radio with Dadaboy Ehiz this Friday, July 1st at 9a Lagos/London / 10a Johannesburg/Paris / 1a LA / 4a NYC on Apple Music 1 and broadcast on Cool FM in Nigeria every Sunday at 6pm.

Cover Star Interview
Nigerian Afropop star Ruger joins Dadaboy Ehiz via FaceTime on Apple Music 1 to talk about his latest track, “Girlfriend.” He also discusses his new album, ‘The Second Wave (Deluxe),’ recording music in unusual places, and reaffirming his talent.

The Big 5
Dadaboy Ehiz shares the 5 hottest new African tracks of the moment. This week’s selection includes new tracks from Ibraah feat. Maud Elka, Timaya, Mlindo The Vocalist feat. Madumane, Yemi Alade, and Sampa the Great feat. Chef 187, Tio Nason and Mwanje.

Africa Rising 
Ghanaian Afro-fusion singer-songwriter Gyakie is the latest Africa Rising cover star, a campaign which shines a light on the next generation of African superstars, and this week’s show features her singles, “FOR MY BABY,” and “SOMETHING.” Listen HERE.

Read Also: Headie One Releases “Bigger Than Life” Featuring Dutch Rapper Frenna

Dadaboy’s Song of the Week
Each week, Dadaboy Ehiz chooses his favourite track from one of Apple Music’s African playlists. This week he spotlights South African singer-songwriter Samthing Soweto and his single, “Amagents,” from Apple Music’s Mzansi Hits playlist, showcasing South Africa’s biggest hits. Listen HERE.

Tune in and listen to the full episode this Friday July 1st at 9a Lagos/London / 10a Johannesburg/Paris / 1a LA / 4a NYC on Apple Music 1 at apple.co/_AfricaNow or on Cool FM in Nigeria every Sunday at 6pm.

RUGER ON RELEASING A DELUXE EDITION OF ‘THE SECOND WAVE’

It was only right for us to do that, because these songs were supposed to be on that from the beginning. We were supposed to release like 7 songs, but we cut it down to 4. Then, the idea came from releasing ‘The Second Wave’ EP. We said that we’d release 4 songs, then release 3 additional songs as a deluxe. Then, as life goes on new vibes came from the studio, so we said we’re not even putting those additional 3 songs, we’re going to put new additional 3 songs. That’s how it happened, and I’m happy with how it’s going. Thank God for everything.

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RUGER ON HIS GRATITUDE AND DETERMINATION

I feel good, I feel blessed going to every country that I go to. Netherlands, Australia… People singing my songs word for word. It’s an amazing feeling because not every artist comes out within a year and that song travels that far, but I am a testimony. I thank God and I thank everyone that enjoys my music as it comes out every time. It’s just encouragement for me to work harder and keep doing my best. Never going to the studio to do any mediocre sounds, never going to the studio to say “Whatever I drop they’re going to listen,” I go into the studio giving my 100% best and God will do the rest for me.

RUGER ON FAST-CONSUMING FANS

People tend to forget how good Ruger is. People are fast consumers so they consume what they have now and then… Do they forget about you? I don’t know but I feel like if they don’t hear anything from you in a while they feel like “Where’s Ruger?” They should always know that whenever Ruger comes through, it’s always a 100% vibe so these songs are very personal songs to me – “Girlfriend” is a personal song, “WeWe” is a personal song, “Warning” is a personal song – it’s just me stating about my personal experiences, and people who can relate to what I’m talking about, can relate. I feel like these songs are going to go very far, I’m proud of what I’ve done in the studio and I’m thankful to everyone supporting me in every little way they can. I’ll keep giving my best.

(more…)

The 2022 Tour de France is on track for its 109th edition. It will kick off on 1 July in Copenhagen (starting abroad for the 24th time) with the final stage finishing at the Champs Élysées in Paris on 24 July. Riders will cover a total of 3 328 km across flat, hilly and mountain stages.

Showmax Pro subscribers across the African continent (excluding those in South Africa, Mauritius and Lesotho) will be able to join the ride live to see who will finish the race in the coveted yellow jersey.

Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar, winner of both the 2020 and 2021 editions, is the clear favourite to bring home his third title in a row. The 23-year-old is riding for UAE Team Emirates. His compatriot Primož Roglič of Team Jumbo Visma has three Tour de France stages to his name and is also among the contenders. Others include Welshman Geraint Thomas, riding for Ineos Grenadiers, and last year’s runner-up, Jonas Vingegaard.

Two South African riders, Lotto-Soudal’s Reinardt Janse van Rensburg and Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux’s Louis Mentjies, will be looking to make their country proud in the French tour.

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Other riders to keep an eye out for include Kenyan-born and four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome, who will want to pick up a recent win with his last victory coming in 2017. He will be racing for Isreal-Premier Tech.

The 109th men’s edition of the Tour de France will be followed by the first ever edition of the Tour de France Femmes, one of women’s cycling’s two grand tours. This comes after years of campaigning to get an equivalent to the men’s tour, with the action getting underway from the 24 to 31 July. What many are calling a race for the history books will begin on the Champs-Élysées in Paris and finish at La Super Planche des Belles-Filles. The historic race will see riders compete in eight stages and cover 1 029km.

It has been announced that 24 teams are set to go head to head in the eight-day race. Frenchwoman Aude Biannic is looking to impress at her debut Tour Femmes in her home country with home support. Boasting Annemiek van Vleuten on their roster, Movistar are setting out to achieve overall victory at the Tour de France Femmes – a race that holds extra significance for teammate Breton Biannic, who will be challenging at home.

Elisa Longo Borghini is fresh off a 34-kilometre win at Paris-Roubaix and the Italian will now be 100% focused on paddling to victory at Tour Femmes.

Showmax Pro subscribers across Africa excluding South Africa, Mauritius and Lesotho can follow all the racing action at this year’s Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes.

Why Showmax Pro?

Showmax Pro is a streaming service available for Showmax subscribers in Africa that bundles the existing Showmax entertainment offering with music channels, news and live sports streaming from SuperSport. You can tune in from any of your favourite gadgets, anywhere you are in the globe.

Subscribers can live stream the latest seasons of the English Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, UEFA Europa and UEFA Conference leagues, the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and more.

The platform also offers a wide range of other live sports events including athletics, professional boxing, and the world’s biggest marathons.

Stream on two devices at the same time when you subscribe to Showmax Pro.
To learn more and join the Pros, visit showmax.com to subscribe to Showmax Pro.

Join the conversation on social media

Twitter: @ShowmaxPro
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This Week’s Episode Features a Conversation With Falz, the 5 Hottest Tracks of the Week, Africa Rising and Dadaboy Ehiz’s Favourite Track of the Week!

Tune in to Africa Now Radio with Dadaboy Ehiz this Friday, June 24th at 9a Lagos/London / 10a Johannesburg/Paris / 1a LA / 4a NYC on Apple Music 1 and broadcast on Cool FM in Nigeria every Sunday at 6pm.

Cover Star Interview
Nigerian singer, rapper and actor Falz joins Dadaboy Ehiz via FaceTime on Apple Music 1 to talk about his latest track, “Knee Down (feat. Chike).” He also discusses his new album, ‘B A H D,’ what keeps him inspired, and how he spends his time in between projects.

Read Also: Samsney Recruits Black Sherif, Kelyvnboy And Darkovibes On His New Single, ‘Kuacha’

The Big 5
Dadaboy Ehiz shares the 5 hottest new African tracks of the moment. This week’s selection includes new tracks from Samthing Soweto, Ruger, Krizbeatz, Bella Shmurda & Ravyanny, Scorpion Kings, and KO-C feat. Innoss’B.

Africa Rising 
South African amapiano DJ-producer duo TxC is the latest artist featured from Apple Music’s Africa Rising playlist, a campaign which shines a light on the next generation of African superstars, and this week’s show features their single, “Too Deep (feat. Dinky Kunene & TNK MusiQ).” Listen HERE.

Dadaboy’s Song of the Week
Each week, Dadaboy Ehiz chooses his favourite track from one of Apple Music’s African playlists. This week he spotlights Tanzanian Afrobeats singer-songwriter Mimi Mars and her single, “La La (feat. Marioo),” from Apple Music’s EA Wave playlist, showcasing East Africa’s biggest hits. Listen HERE.

Tune in and listen to the full episode this Friday June 24th at 9a Lagos/London / 10a Johannesburg/Paris / 1a LA / 4a NYC on Apple Music 1 at apple.co/_AfricaNow or on Cool FM in Nigeria every Sunday at 6pm.

Falz on what to expect from ‘B A H D’

Expect something sexy, expect naughty Falz, expect emotional Falz, vulnerable Falz… it’s like a blend of all these different emotions.

A lot of people look at me like “Ok this guy is a responsible soul, he’s always fighting for our lives but he’s now coming on a sexy thing.” There are so many different sides to me already so I feel like people are already used to me being this guy with such multiplicity in his person.

Falz on staying inspired

I just consume other forms of art, I listen to other artists, try to pay attention to stuff I’m generally into, stuff that I like, trying to draw inspiration from that. If I listen to a completely different genre, I’m like “I need to challenge myself. I can do this. Why can’t I do this?” That’s how I stay inspired.

Falz on BAHD collaborators

I always wanted to work with all these guys that I have on the project, so this project just presented the perfect opportunity to make that happen. It was pretty simple thankfully and shout out to them, it was seamless. It was just like “Yo, I’m working on this project, let’s make one happen” and everyone came through. Every single collaboration has its own story but everything was pretty straight forward and beautiful to create.

“Music is the fuel that fires up our souls. It’s the oldest form of communication, predating language itself. African music is synonymous with the word Afrobeats.” So begins the first episode of Journey of the Beats, a new docu-series that follows the journey of Nigerian and black music through the years, and is now streaming exclusively on Showmax.

Told through the lens of music historians and some of Nigeria’s biggest artists, like 2Baba, P-Square, Onyeka Onwenu, Daddy Showkey, Flavour, and D’Banj, the 10-part documentary series traces the origins of Afrobeats that has taken the world by storm.

Journey of the Beats is produced by creative entrepreneur and the creator of Storm Records, Obi Asika.

Watch the trailer for Journey of the Beats:

Each episode of the series is complemented by a Spotify playlist. Episode One: Origins and the Switch Up is curated by Ed Keazor, co-director and producer on Journey of the Beats and a historian, lawyer and musician.

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This Spotify playlist of 103 songs straddles the grooves that made Nigeria dance from the dawn of time, with traditional drum and melodic tunes, through to the birth of modern popular music in the 1920s.

Find the Spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6zYlHpavDbsI8RpQJ5zbyC

The playlist covers the birth of highlife music, through to the influence of Latin and Caribbean genres like rhumba and calypso, US jazz, soul, RnB and funk, as well as the birth of a uniquely Nigerian sound, with juju, highlife, Fuji, and Afrobeat.

New episodes of the music documentary drop every Friday exclusively on Showmax. Afrobeats fans, documentary lovers and anyone who appreciates music can subscribe to watch the docuseries on www.showmax.com.