Vanilla (Vanny sings) — a gifted vocalist and versatile songwriter whose talent cuts across several music genres including Highlife and Afrobeats.

He aspires not to become just a global superstar and music great, but an ambassador to use his talent to help mitigate challenges faced
by minorities globally.

A Geomatic Engineering graduate of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Vanilla grew up listening to Ghanaian music legends, Kojo Antwi, Daddy Lumba and Ofori Amponsah to name a few and loved their compositions.

Vanilla derives his inspiration from circumstances and happenings around to create and deliver a unique melodic sound.

“Music helps me be myself, it’s my reality. Things I can’t do in real life I do through music. Things I find difficult to say in real life I say through music. Even things I’m not, or wish I were, I’m simply able to live and be”

A former contestant of Ghana’s premier music talent reality show, Mentor, he is currently finalizing his maiden studio album produced by Kwesi Gideon a.k.a Genius Selection with rich and refreshing sounds from the motherland. He’s signed to Bullhaus Entertainment

It promises to take off quiet well in Ghana and the rest of Africa.

Discography: https://mipromo.ffm.to/vanilla-sikilite

Emerging Ghanaian Afro-fusion act Khidcole is ready to take the year by storm with his debut 2021 release “Naughty Style”.

Born Andrews Asante, Khidcole is a gifted Ghanaian singer and songwriter. Spending most of his impressionable years in Lagos, having been born in the Nigerian capital, the young artist’s culturally fluid sound is characterized by heavy Ghanaian and Nigerian influences.

He terms his music as Afro-fusion, a blend of Afrobeat with any urban music genre you can think of, fingering the likes of Wizkid, Mr. Eazi, Kelvyn Boy, Kwesi Arthur, Stonebwoy, Rema, Fireboydml as his biggest influences.

Produced by Rayn4ll, Naughty Style is an uptempo afrobeat anthem, calibrated specifically for the dancefloor.

Listen to “Naughty Style” here:

This Week’s Episode Features a Conversation With New Apple Music Up Next Artist Tems, the 5 Hottest Tracks of the Week, Africa Rising and LootLove’s Favourite Track of the Week!

Tune in to Africa Now Radio With LootLove This Sunday, September 19th at 2p Lagos/London / 3p Johannesburg/Paris / 6a LA / 9a NYC on Apple Music 1 and broadcast on Cool FM in Nigeria every Sunday at 6pm.

Cover Star Interview
Apple Music’s latest global Up Next artist, Nigerian R&B singer-songwriter Tems, joins LootLove via FaceTime on Apple Music 1 to talk about her latest track, “Crazy Tings.” She also discusses her new EP, If Orange Was A Place (Apple Music Up Next Film Edition), staying humble despite her numerous career highlights, her most surprising new fan, and working with artists like Brent Faiyaz and Drake.

The Big 5
LootLove shares the 5 hottest new African tracks of the moment. This week’s selection includes new tracks from Wavy the Creator feat. CKay and Efya; Rayvanny; Kofi Jamar feat. Teni; DJ Lag & Lady Du; and a previously unreleased, posthumous track from South African hip-hop legend, HHP feat. Focalistic.

Africa Rising 
Nigerian Afrobeats singer-songwriter Oladapo is the latest artist featured from the Africa Rising playlist, a campaign which shines a light on the next generation of African superstars, and this week’s show features his two singles “Alone,” and “Priceless,” from his new EP, BLIND. Listen HERE.

Loot Loves
Each week, LootLove chooses her favourite track, taken from one of Apple Music’s African playlists. This week she features South African DJ and producer Black Coffee & Angelos, and their single, “Lost (feat. Jinadu),” from Apple Music’s Black Coffee Essentials playlist. Listen HERE, and find a roundup of all LootLove’s selections on Apple Music’s LootLoves playlist, HERE.

Tune in and listen to the full episode this Sunday, September 19th at 2p Lagos/London / 3p Johannesburg/Paris / 6a LA / 9a NYC on Apple Music 1 at apple.co/_AfricaNow or on Cool FM in Nigeria every Sunday at 6pm.
Tems on staying humble despite her success

I don’t really think everything is because of me. I know that I’m talented and I have a great music sound and I know that I do what I do. But honestly, it’s more than that, it’s more than just the music and there’s so many people involved and honestly God has been in control of everything and I just like to live my life. So I don’t even think of it, I just see it as such an exciting life that I’m just enjoying, rather than like trying to control it or take all the credit.

Tems on collaborating with Drake

Honestly, it’s unbelievable, literally. When I said I wanted to work with Drake, I just said it. I wasn’t thinking about it. I used to listen to Drake all the time when I was in high school and growing up and it was just the first thing that came to my mind. And for me to actually meet him, work with him, it’s just crazy. It’s crazy and that’s a full testament to God’s blessings, honestly. I can’t quantify how grateful I am, because it’s not anything I did, I’m just making music. And it just seems like I’m attracting all these people and I’m just so grateful honestly.

Tems on why she named her new project ‘If Orange Was A Place’

First of all, orange is my favourite fruit. And if you find a very sweet orange and you really dig into it, it’s just busting with brightness and like colours and this warmth and it’s just a blast of excitement and the word “orange” reminds me of sunset and sunrise, sunset to sunrise, dusk to dawn. And the EP is really the different shades of orange. And it’s really the different shades of me.

Tems on her favourite track on the new EP

I think my favourite might be “Vibe Out.” Because when I listened to it, I’m singing it in such a way that I never have before. And it’s like a ginger. It just makes you want to get up and go. It’s like a get ready song. Yeah. I love it. It takes you into another place. It’s like how sunset feels. It’s like the perfect song when the sun is setting and yeah, it’s vibes.

Tems on R&B legend Maxwell being her most surprising new fan

Recently? I did have Maxwell comment on one of my videos and also he put me on his story at some point. That was very surprising to me, for him to message me. That was crazy.

Tems on how she is feeling right now after the successes of the past year
I feel awesome, it’s been incredible. It’s been such an amazing year. It’s been such an amazing time and honestly, I’m so grateful. I am so excited most importantly, for everything that’s coming. Sometimes I can’t believe it, but I’m so grateful and I’m just taking everything in. I’m blessed, and we thank God. I’m just so excited.

Tems on working with Brent Faiyaz on the song “Found” from her new EP
Brent is such an amazing artist. “Found” is what’s going through my mind in the midst of opinions and in the midst of people trying to reflect their own insecurities on me and get into my business. It’s me just talking about that and how I found myself. So I don’t need to be confused by anything that anybody says and I’m ready for whatever. And Brent is really just saying, “Let’s take it slow and let’s not even think about them, let’s just be us. Just be me and you.”

Tems on where she hopes to be this time next year
Somewhere across the world, performing, recording, vibing, doing what I do best and even better.

Fast Rising Gospel Artiste KobbySalm has dropped the official video to “YOUR PRESENCE IS HEAVEN” a single off his debut album “IN THE MIDST OF COMFORT” featuring Edem Evangelist. (more…)

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy for they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom”, this adage explains and summarizes Rich Boogie’s*motivation to skewer together a beautiful record to appreciate successful, hardworking Ghanaian dancehall acts, whose consistency has placed Ghana on a deserved pedestal, musically.

Born Richard Yeboah, Rich Boogie is a German-based Ghanaian garnished dancehall act with unmatched experience within the Ghanaian music circles. He comes across as one of the very few refined musicians with accentuating records like y3 b3 Gro, Makoma Mu hemaa, Dance, Take a look amongst others.

His latest record, MADE IN GHANA will seemingly penetrate many hearts and camps as he appreciates the efforts of Samini, Shatta Wale, and Stonebwoy, The three frontline dancehall pioneers in Ghana.

Without a mince of a word, the singer, Rich Boogie gave an end-to-end recognition of the struggles these artists had to endure to draw world attention to the Ghanaian dancehall culture.

“I’m really into Dancehall music. I came across it when I was seven (7) years old. All my Dancehall heroes back then were Jamaicans. I could see how Jamaicans cherish their own. I did this song for Samini, Shatta Wale, and Stonebwoy because I want to make them know I appreciate them for their good music and for putting GH on the map. Surely I’m not alone”, Rich Boogie explained in an interview with the press.

The artiste has already won the hearts of the majority of fans from these musicians. To them, the song does not only unifies these three music icons but tells a unique story of their journey to stardom.

Made in Ghana was produced by APYA and is currently available on all digital stores. Have a listen!

Sensational rapper, Nautyca has served fans with some hot steaming raw sauce in his latest collaboration with none other than the queen herself, Michy and it’s simply titled; OK.

I guess it is truly ‘Ok’ to have two buzzing acts converge on one dope soundtrack to produce some musical magic in the fast-spreading genre of Amapiano.

Produced by Sky Beatz, the South African-inspired Amapiano sound that is the current vibe in town finds exclusive expression and customization to the Ghanaian ear via the creative lyrics of Nautyca and Michy.

Whether it’s that intensive gym workout or a night out with the guys, this certified banger will set the tone for an upbeat atmosphere.

Don’t delay the jam, get moving to the tune right away! OK is available on all streaming platforms worldwide here – https://fanlink.to/NautycaOK