Song of the Day: Control – Davido x Django23 x Big Narstie

Following on from becoming the first Nigerian Act to reach 100 Million views on Youtube for ‘Fall’, which is also the longest charting Nigerian pop song in Billboard history, DAVIDO teams up with rap sensation DJANGO23 and the biggest Rap personality in the UK, BIG NARSTIE for the bouncing summer slam ‘Control’.

Snappy clicks, punching bass and percussive shakes are layered with sirens and ad-libs as producer mastermind Rymez, responsible for chart hits including Wiley ‘Heatwave’ and a string of Stefflon Don smashes including – Hurtin’ Me, Senseless and Don Walk, delivers a masterful creation that lives for this three-strike rapper combo.

As the sounds and worlds of global rap, entertainment and genre gaps rise and merge, ‘Control’ is the perfect example of how music is crossing more boundaries than ever before. Having become Nigeria’s biggest rapper to gain success in the United States and subsequently be the leader of Afrobeats in the Billboard charts, DAVIDO has been key in spreading Afrobeats globally. Meanwhile former UK promoter and Rap star DJANGO23 has blown up to become one of the most hotly tipped entertainment acts in recent months following releases ‘Suggardaddie’ featuring Tekno and ‘Give them Django’. His experience in delivering sell-out concerts and parties with A-Listers including Kanye West, Nas, The Game, Madonna, Damian Marley and more has made his transition between the worlds of entertainment business and music a seemless one. Finally, needing no introduction, Entertainer, Bafta nominated TV presenter and rap star BIG NARSTIE seals together what the all-star cast for this certified smash.

Check out the summer banger ‘Control’ below:

Song of the Day: Passport – Shawn Archer

Sporting a relaxing summer vibe, SHAWN ARCHER‘s latest joint, ‘Passport’ is geared up for the ladies to get into the vacation mode and the guys to look forward to the swimsuit season.

Hailed as the ‘Official Summer Anthem of 2018, ‘Passport’ is now available on all major download/streaming sites.

Check it out below:

EP Review: Minute Hour – Gemini Chris

GEMINI CHRIS is back with another body of work, this time taking in the shape of ‘Minute Hour’ which is far cry from his nostalgic EP, ‘Je Ne Sais Quoi?….’

In this five-track set, the London-based DJ exchanges the full-on techno house, heavily influenced from the late eighties and early nineties, for something bang up to date. From the beginning, you’re introduced to the vibrant presence of the overtones of tropical pop, which take centre stage, with a semi-breezy electronic bassline serving as a perfect backdrop.

Perfect for those summer days in the party land of Ibiza, ‘Minute Hour’ displays Chris as an multi-talented DJ who refuses to be pigeonholed to particular style of house music.

Looking forward to his next move…check him out below:

Must Listens: Minute Hours, Faze Me?, Baby 

New Track: Vogue – J Kas

Following the release of the boom bap project ‘Dreamlife’ in February – which was named Album of the Month by NEW LEASE MUSIC – UK rapper J KAS bounces right back with something that’s guaranteed to shake up your summer…

His latest Mantra-produced track, ‘Vogue’ – the first release from his forthcoming project, ‘Dreamlife Summer Jamz’ – sees the Sheffield wordsmith’s delivery effortlessly vibing with the upbeat chords, fused with tropical house and splashes of Afrobeats.

J KAS will be touring across Portugal to engage with the natives for the production of his Summer Jamz project and will go on to headline at this year’s Elevate Young Minds Lisbon Festival and Tramlines Music Festival.

Along with his recent success with his ‘Dreamlife’ EP on this blog, J KAS has also received raving praises in the past from BBC Radio One/ BBC 1Xtra’s elite music tastemakers, Charlie Sloth, DJ Ace, Huw Stevens and Tony Robinson. His summer-charged track ‘Dem Gyal Deh’ featuring Franz-Von, peaked at number 12 in the BBC introducing Sheffield Top 50 Tracks of 2017.

Now it’s time to get your summer started right…check out the video for ‘Vogue.’

 

Song of the Day: Fuego – Manu Crooks (ft. Anfa Rose)

MANU CROOKS steals today’s hop spot for the second time this month with another sizzling hot number, ‘Fuego’.

The African-Australian’s latest gem made its UK radio premiere via DJ Target on BBC Radio 1Xtra. Immersed in an eclectic sound and seamlessly exploring musical territories, ‘Fuego’ is a hybrid of trap, saturated with Flamenco to its core. The track boasts a hypnotic vocal loop courtesy of Anfa Rose which delicately entwines through the acoustic guitar led instrumental whilst his “raw lyricism and seamless flow” (The Fader), remains firmly centerstage.

Having received an accolade of praise from tastemaker sites such as i-D, The Fader and Pigeons & Planes, as well as his contemporaries including Big Boi and ASAP Ferg who brought him on stage during a recent Sydney performance, MANU CROOKS is quickly becoming the face of urban music in Australia.

He released his debut EP last year and consequently toured his home country with both Stormzy and Tory Lanez before headlining his own Australian tour sponsored by Noisey. His global reach was extended upon the release of breakthrough single ‘Everyday’ which is closing in on 2 million views on YouTube and the video for ‘Day Ones’ also passing the 1.5 million mark, whilst Spotify streams for both records soar beyond 1.5 million each. MANU CROOKS then closed out 2017 by teaming up with close friend and collaborator Anfa Rose for the double drop of ‘Presence’ and ‘All I Need’, which have since amassed over 1.2 million streams respectively.

Currently embarking on his ‘Mood Forever’ World Tour taking in his opening dates in Canada, MANU CROOKS‘ enthralling versatility as an artist is one of his main attributes as he is able to draw upon, yet distinguish himself from, the hubs of US and UK hip-hop. His Australian upbringing has enabled him to draw on authenticities that the hip-hop scene thrives upon, whether that be through his non-conformist outlook to his experimental ear. With performing dates throughout April to June across Canada, the UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and France, MANU CROOKS is destined to break down borders.

Be sure to check out ‘Fuego’ before you check out…