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These are the emerging artists to watch in 2023, according to Spotify

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Few things are quite as exciting as discovering new talent to listen to on repeat, add to your favourite playlists and lean on for emotional support over the course of the year.

 

For fans of African music on Spotify, 2023 promises another roll-call of amazing artists, ready to break through to fame and mainstream streaming success.

 

If anything, African music has consistently unfurled waves of new, fresh talent every year who have propelled the global interest in Afrobeats, Amapiano and its many other sub-genres. 2022 was a breakout year for artists like Buju, Costa Titch and Asake, whose success propelled them into Wrapped top lists at the end of 2022.

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And while those talents took their voices to the main stage, a slew of rising stars was also laying the groundwork for their own breakout year. Some of these musicians are primed to release their best music in the coming months. Others have enjoyed early success on Spotify, and show many indications of even greater success on the horizon. Others are relatively new elements, developing new takes on familiar sounds that harken towards major shifts in popular music.

 

Hailing from South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda with a wide array of styles, cultures and perspectives, these artists are, according to Spotify data, the ones to watch in 2023.

 

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REGGIE

As Asakaa drill music picked up in Ghana, Reggie’s banging anthem Geng Geng was leading the charge as a favourite among music lovers. Built on shared experiences and a collective sense of solidarity, Reggie’s music is usually built around brotherhood and growing in the second largest city in Ghana – Kumasi

MELLISSA

With a handful of guest verses and a 2021 release titled Limelight, Melissa is one of the most interesting newcomers in music. This Ghanian’s verses portray a gifted pen at work, and her silky voice has been employed navigating a range of sounds from jazz, reggaeton, R&B to Afropop influences. 2023 should give us more Mellissa music.

 

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SAMSNEY

This multi talented musician is one who has proven indeed audience sharing and collaboration is one of the best ways to break through in the music scene. He registered his first song Goldigga  by collaborating with Black Sherif. SAMSNEY used this song to showcase his musical prowess as an artist to look out for in 2023.

 

SNYPA

Snypa has a knack for identifying, and stringing together artists for the best collaborations. For instance, he assembled Kwesi Arthur, Ms Banks for the highly infectious Gbedu which became an instant hit when it was released.

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BEEZTRAP KOTM

Ghanian drill  rapper Beeztrap KOTM is fairly new on the scene but he proved his mettle with his hit track Radio, featuring Reggie which took 2022 by storm. The success of that track, and others like Cinderella and Distance Relationship will see him become a firm favourite on 2023 playlists.

 

Below is the list of other emerging artists on the continent.

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SOUTH AFRICAN  EMERGING ARTISTS

KENYAN, TANZANIAN & UGANDAN EMERGING ARTISTS

NIGERIAN EMERGING ARTISTS

PABI COOPER

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BOONTLE RSA

UNCLE WAFFLES

NKOSAZANA DAUGHTER

YOUNG STUNNA

JAY JODY

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BLUE TAPE

KHANYISA

LWAH NDLUNKULU

WILL LINLEY

DROOMSINDROOM

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OFFICIXL RSA

WANAVOKALI

KINOTI

MISEE BILLIONS

NJERI

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ANJELLA

KILLY

PHINA

V-BE

LIAM VOICE

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AXON

KHAID

TEMPOE

POCO LEE

BAYANNI

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BRUME

YKB

KAESTYLE

 

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Tems Tells Apple Music About What Fans Can Expect From Her Upcoming Album, And More…

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Tems joins Eddie Francis on Apple Music 1 to talk about her new song “Love Me JeJe” out now. Tems talks about how she came up with the new single, how it was a collaborative effort amongst her friends. She reveals that her mother loves the song and that it’s inspired by a Nigerian classic.

Also, Tems gives fans a glimpse into what they can expect from her upcoming album, “Born in the Wild”.

Key quotes below please feel free to credit Eddie Francis on Apple Music 1. Video to follow shortly.

Tems tells Apple Music about the love she gets from people…

Eddie Francis: There’s this certain reaction you get from people where like people love you. It’s not even just a like. Does that get weird? Because we feel like we know you and we don’t know you and you don’t know us.

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Tems: I think I’m used to it. I don’t know why though. Always I’m like, “Do you really feel this way? Why? Why do you like me?” I don’t know, but I think I’m used to it now.

Eddie Francis: Like when they see you, it’s like, “Oh my God, it’s Tems.” And I’ve talked to you before and I know you’re really on energy and spirituality and I know you got to feel it. When did you realize you have a different kind of relationship with people that are fans of your music?

Tems: I think it’s just the reaction and in real life, the amount of emotion, there’s just this energy that feels pure that I get all the time. And I was like, “Yo, this is not normal. This is not normal.” It is different if it’s like, “Oh yeah. I think you’re just so cool.” And that might be the case, but I don’t know. It’s so much love sometimes, I just, I don’t, it’s just wild.

Tems on the creation of her new song, “Love Me JeJe”…

So basically, I went out to dinner with my girls, with my friends, two of my friends. We’re just like, “Oh, let’s just do a cute dinner. It’s going to be cute.” And afterwards, my friends are always telling me, you never show us your Tems side. Everybody else, yeah, you’re Tems, but my friends don’t feel like I am when I’m there. It’s just like, I’m this girl. So they’re like, “Oh, you never take us to the studio. We don’t even know if you are like… Are you a doppelganger? Are you like, what is that?” So I said, “Okay, tonight we’re going to the studio and you people, you are going to sing?” So they were like, “Oh my god, crazy. What?” So we went to the studio and two of my producers, they made this beat, Spax and Guilty and they sent it to me as a challenge like, “Oh. Yeah, I’m sure you can’t do Nigerian. I am sure you can’t do this jam.”

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So I was like, I just had it in the back. So I played it and I told my friends, “Yeah, lets all freestyle, take turns. Oh yeah, you do freestyle, you…” So one of my friends did “Love Me Jeje, Love Me Tender.” And then my other friend was just screaming as well. And I was like, “Actually this is a mad vibe. I love this vibe. I’m going to keep this in the song.” And I did my own freestyle and it just was such a cute vibe and I wanted to pay tribute to the actual song ’cause I love that song. My mom loves that song. “Love Me Jeje.” The original song is from Seyi Sodimu. The original song is called “Love Me Jeje” as well and it’s a Nigerian classic and it just felt right.

Tems on the term “JeJe” and what it means…

Jeje is African and Jeje also just means the concept of the song Love Me Jeje, Love Me Tender, it just means love me softly, take your time with, love me unconditionally and show me good love. That’s what it means. So that’s the idea of “Love Me JeJe”.

Tems on “NEPA” and what that means when she uses it in the song…

NEPA is, so basically NEPA is the electricity company in Nigeria. And basically, we don’t always have 24 hours electricity. So when there’s lights or when the electricity comes back on, there’s this like, everybody, you just hear your neighbours shouting, “Hey, there’s electricity now.” So you turn me on like the electricity, I’m back on, you electrify me, basically.

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Tems on what fans can expect from her next album, Born in the Wild…

“Born in the Wild” is actually about my journey. It’s about my experience as me and about the experiences I’ve had so far. And it really felt like the life I lived before, the life I was accustomed to felt like a wilderness. And it’s not really more so, yes, I was raised in Lagos and that’s a part of me, but it’s not really about the place, it’s more about the state of being. It was a wilderness in the environment I lived in and there’s so many things that happened and so many lessons I learned to come and be this person now. It is basically coming out of the wilderness. So that’s basically what Born In the Wild is about.

I’ve had to step back a bit to make sure or to check in with myself that I’m being true and also just find healing from all the trauma. Everything I experienced before Tems, I think I had to unlearn a lot of things. And this album is just, it is just a new way of me expressing myself while still centering who I am in it.

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Larry Vibez transports us into his universe in “Diary of Vibez” EP

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Afropop Newcomer Larry Vibez is set to make his mark in the burgeoning Afrobeat music space as he unveils his highly anticipated EP “Diary of Vibez.” The project was released via Big Larry’s Record. (more…)

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CAKES DA KILLA releases ‘Black Sheep +’ album

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CAKES DA KILLA

Last month, New York rapper Cakes da Killa released “his most refined work to date” (DJ Mag), Black Sheep, and today, Cakes shares Black Sheep + out now via Young Art Records. With five new tracks and fresh album art, the deluxe version of Black Sheepexpands on his “most danceable album yet” (The FADER) and showcases more of Cakes’ “rapid-fire flows, clever punchlines and old-school ‘rapper’s rapper’ mentality” (RANGE).

 

Black Sheep is inspired by seeing the world, by embracing the nightlife and building community. Cakes’ critical and communal acclaim precede him: in the past two years, he’s played GlastonburyGovernors BallSonar, and Whole Festival. He’s worked with everyone from Honey Dijon to Injury Reserve to RyeRye. Whether holding court, going through customs, or crushing competition, Cakes stands firm as a seasoned vet who knows his role and knows the game.

 

Reuniting with long-time collaborator Sam Katz, the producer behind 2022’s SvengaliBlack Sheep finds the duo at their most comfortable and confident: Cakes wrote every bar, Katz did every beat. Over the course of the album, Cakes guides us through a spiritual trip from the clubs of Manhattan to the back blocks of Brooklyn. Black Sheep is a work of survival and sees the decorated emcee fully aware of his power, his place, and no longer settling for less than he deserves.

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Featuring his sharpest writing and most electrifying performances to date, Black Sheep is a coronation of his graduation to foremother: a figure who spent his 20s hustling alongside his peers, focusing on the work, and paving the way for the generation we see today. He’s a rapper’s rapper, a girl’s girl, and he’s ready to be a superstar.

 

Stream/Purchase Black Sheep +

 

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Listen to “Black Sheep”

 

Watch Video for “Mind Reader” (ft. Stout)

 

Listen to “Do Dat Baby” (ft. Dawn Richard)

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Listen to “Cakewalk” by Cakes da Killa

 

Watch Cakes da Killa perform “Cakewalk” on COLORS

 

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Black Sheep + Tracklist

1. It’s A Luv Thang (ft. Wuhryn Dumas)

2. Mind Reader (ft. Stout)

3. Make Me Ovah

4. FourPlay

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5. Do Dat Baby (ft. Dawn Richard)

6. Global Entry

7. Downtown J

8. Cakewalk

9. Crushin In Da Club

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10. Problem 4 Problems

11. Ain’t Sh*t Sweet

12. Black Sheep

13. Chain Gang Pimpin

14. Fly Trap

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15. Not Da One

16. Standing Ovation

 

Cakes da Killa Tour Dates:

Sat. June 29 – Brooklyn, NY @ Ladyland Festival

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Sat. July 6 – Roskilde, DK @ Roskilde Festival

Sun. July 21 – Ghent, BE @ Boomtown Gent Festival

Sun. July 28 – Amsterdam, NL @ Milkshake Festival

Fri. Aug. 2 – Amsterdam, NL @ Dekmantel Festival

 

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Praise for Cakes da Killa and Black Sheep

 

 

Cakes Da Killa is a rap icon…” – Mixmag

 

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Black Sheep stands as one of the emcee’s best works to date, continuing his genre-defying style with renewed panache — jazz, house, R&B and rap all meld into one sound throughout the project — while his writing game reaches yet another career-high.” — Billboard

 

“[Black Sheep] is a confident compendium of breathless performances, bombastic personality, and thrilling genre collages.”  — Pitchfork

 

“[Black Sheep is] an impressive display of pure rapping ability and irresistible grown and sexy grooves” — Bandcamp

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WOTOWEI! Quamina MP & Kofi Mole drops first single off their debut joint EP

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Ghanaian music sensations Quamina MP and Kofi Mole have sent waves of excitement through the music scene with the release of their debut joint single, “WOTOWEI” Produced by MPZ, the track is the first single off their upcoming collaborative EP, set to take the industry by storm. (more…)

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Kobby Carter and Big Jay of Bando Boyz Unleash “Bad Boy” – A UK Afrobeat Sensation

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The music scene is about to get a major shake-up with the latest single “Bad Boy” from the dynamic duo Kobby Carter and Big Jay, members of the renowned Bando Boyz. This new track is a tantalizing teaser off their highly anticipated upcoming EP, showcasing their unique blend of UK afrobeat rhythms and Ghanaian flair.

“Bad Boy” isn’t just a song; it’s an auditory journey. With its smooth, sweet vibes, the track promises to transport listeners straight to a world where the beats are rich and the melodies are lush. Kobby Carter’s signature style meshes seamlessly with Big Jay’s vibrant energy, creating a synergy that’s undeniably infectious.

The collaboration is a testament to the power of partnership. Kobby Carter and Big Jay, both hailing from Bando Boyz, have come together to create something that’s more than just a song – it’s a statement. A statement that they’re here to stay and they’re not playing by the rules.

Produced with a slick, polished finish, “Bad Boy” is set to be the anthem of the season. It’s that track you play when the sun is setting and you’re gearing up for a night out. It’s the song that you turn up when you need to feel like, well, a bad boy.

As fans eagerly await the full EP, “Bad Boy” serves as the perfect appetizer. It’s a glimpse into the future of UK afrobeat, a future that’s bright and bursting with talent. Kobby Carter and Big Jay are leading the charge, and if “Bad Boy” is any indication, we’re all in for an exhilarating ride.

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Stream “Bad Boy” now on all major platforms and follow Kobby Carter and Big Jay for the latest updates on their music and the upcoming EP. The Bando Boyz are not just making waves; they’re making a splash – and the world is ready to dive in.

links to the song

Audiomack: https://audiomack.com/kobbycarterr/song/bad-boy?share-user-id=8773134

other platforms : https://tiememusicdistro.lnk.to/218738BadBoy

Kobby Carter Socials

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Instagram : @Kobbycarterr

twitter: @KOBBYCARTERR

Big Jay Socials

instagram: @bigjay0_

twitter: @jayissbighttps://tiememusicdistro.lnk.to/218738BadBoy

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LEONARDODDJ X IYKE PARKER X KORSHI T AND NEL: PIECE OF ART

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LEONARDODDJ X IYKE PARKER X KORSHI T AND NEL: PIECE OF ART

Ghana’s new favorite music duo, LeonardoDDJ and Iyke Parker, kick off 2024, where they left off with their first song of the year. After two successive singles, the duo teamed up with vocalist Korshi T and Disk Jockey Nel on the song they call Piece of Art.

There are moments when your eyes fall on someone, and for a brief period you are lost for words because you are caught up in the amazement of the beauty before your eyes. Caught with his eyes on the prize, Korshi T takes his time as he serenades the “work of art” before him. He highlights not only her physical attributes but her entire being as what has caught his attention. 

Life is very short, so when you see someone who tickles your fancy, it is only right that you walk up to them and express yourself to them. The song also doubles as an appreciation of one’s self and body. 

Produced by Iyke Parker, the song is a mid-tempo blend of Afrobeats and Amapiano and embodies the mood of the song and the message it conveys. 

“Piece of Art” is available on all major streaming platforms :https://easternchild.fanlink.tv/PieceOfArt

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