Blazing Afropop Star Sean Dampte Drops Track, ‘Pepe (Remix)’ With Rising Nigerian Star BUJU & Nizzy

On the verge of his third full length project and the third series in his ‘Awoodah’ EP series, which is set for release next month, UK-based afropop and afrofusion artist SEAN DAMPTE unveiled his massive new single titled ‘PEPE (REMIX)’ featuring fellow UK-based afrofusion artist NIZZY and Nigerian rising star BUJU, who recently featured on the deluxe version of Wizkid’s ground-breaking album Made In Lagos and collaborated with Mavin Records’ Ladipoe on one of the biggest songs of the year ‘Feelings’.

Speaking about the inspiration behind his new ‘Pepe (Remix)’ single, Sean Dampte says: “Sometimes I find it difficult to fully express myself without my mother tongue, which is Yoruba. ‘Pe’ is the Yoruba word for complete and ‘pepper’ is Nigerian street slang for money, so the song title ‘Pepe’ is short for expressing that ‘Pepper pe’. Essentially, the song is me letting my woman know that I’ve got whatever it takes to give her whatever she wants because my money is complete – of course with help from Buju and Nizzy”.

Championed by the likes of MTV Base, BET, TRACE and Apple Music, while also having shared the stage with afrobeats royalty such as D’Banj, Wizkid, Davido and Wande Coal, Sean Dampte has been foundational and a staple fixture in the rise of afrobeats music in the UK, and is revered for his stellar fusion sound of afrobeats, dancehall and pop music, which has birthed such hits as ‘Alignment’, ‘You Can Call Me’, ‘2Nite’ and ‘Energy’, to mention a few, and amassed over four million plays along the way…Check out Sean Dampte’a sizzling hot single below…

Song of the Day: Far Away – Ntantu (ft. Miriam Makeba)

Hailing from Leeds, NTANTU is a UK Rap and R&B artist fusing his sound with African Diaspora inspired music. His new single ‘Far Away’, a blissful and thoughtful track that draws from Afrobeats as well as being infused with Ntantu’s personality.

‘Far Away’ captures a moment of reflection for Ntantu as he touches base with his roots through the style change in the music, and also exploring topics such as love and loss over slick production.

‘Far Away’ follows Ntantu’s hugely successful ‘Pressure (Oh My Goodness)’, which picked up wide spread support across BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music and BBC 1Xtra, over 250,000 streams on Spotify (with no editorial playlisting) and went viral on TikTok. Ntantu also performed ‘Pressure’ at this years Creamfields Festival and was a finalist for the Radio 1 BBC Introducing Live lounge in March/April 2021

Going from strength to strength, ‘Far Away’ is part of a wider narrative to an album project that Ntantu is set to release titled ‘NOW’.

Here’s the video for ‘Far Away’, directed by Ntantu himself, who pays homage to Craig David, a huge influence on his upbringing.

Song of the Day: Cutie – Deniro5ive & Taifunds

TAIFUNDS‘ and DENIRO5IVE‘s track ‘Cutie’ exploded onto the scene, quickly gained traction on TikTok. The duo’s second release together was further brought to life with a bubbly video, providing roaring energy with friends.

Growing up as childhood friends on the same estate in Clapton, Hackney, with their musical passion commencing in school, Deniro began home recording tunes, with no intention to put them out. Around the second lockdown in November 2020, the teens who are still in school made this single ‘Cutie’. The teens uploaded a snippet and video onto TikTok which stars their mutual friend Araloyin Oshunremi (a main character from Top Boy). The video received 100k views and over 700 organic creations.

Previously putting out a track and music video called ‘Kings’ on Mixtape Madness, the visuals accumulated 27k views for their first ever track. Their follow up track ‘Cutie’ is oozing with energy, a rolling piano that surfs across the rhythm created by the quick percussion and 808’s. A catchy chorus “this track here gonna be a movie”, which explains the fast growth on social media. Both artists bring their own flair and style to the track with inventive flows and memorable one-liners.

This highly anticipated track has all the components to form a serious anthem and this year it is very likely we will observe a loud arrival on the scene from these boys.

Check out the video below…

OUT TODAY: Obsidian Cane Releases Nostalgic Single, ‘I’m Good’ Ft. Lyriqé

‘I’m Good’ is the follow up single from OBSIDIAN CANE who debuted in August 2020 with his EP titled ‘RESET’, a three-track set possessing a punch of 90’s UKG with a hint of soulful R&B which was met with critical acclaim by major tastemakers.

Although ‘Reset’ was his debut, Obsidian Cane is a seasoned music producer with a career spanning over 20 years. As well as composing music for TV shows on Channel 4, BBC1 and BBC2, he scored a club hit, ‘I Need A Rhythm’ as UK Garage act KP with music producer Paul Benjamin.

‘I’m Good’ is the first track that marks the beginning of Obsidian Cane’s burgeoning collaboration with upcoming Birmingham singer/songwriter Lyriqé – and their mission is to bring UK R&B to the forefront with a fierce makeover.

With a sensual spin of early noughties R&B accompanied by a rhythmic soulful bounce inspired from the eighties, ‘I’m Good’ has the perfect elements to generate crossover appeal beyond die-hard fans of R&B and soul. Lyriqé, who is often compared to noughties R&B favourites Ashanti and Aaliyah, creates a euphoric feeling of nostalgia through her silky vocal performance, bringing those summer vibes into the coming autumn and winter months.

Appearing in a school talent show at the tender age of four, ignited Lyriqé’s strong interest for music. Fast forward to 2015, she released her EP ‘What The Game Needs’ before taking a five year hiatus to garnish and reinvent her sound.

Lyriqé returned, armed with a fresh spin on soulful R&B in 2020 with her single ‘Mine’. Subsequent to the release, she has collaborated with fellow Birmingham artist ‘ChromeZ NeutroN’ on his ‘Silky’ EP (W.A.R.M, C.O.L.D) and has been working on a number of tracks with Obsidian Cane.

Speaking of their working relationship and single: “I met Obsidian Cane on Instagram in 2020 he asked me to sing & song write for R&B tracks he was developing. Initially I missed a message in 2018 so I’m so glad he reached back out! “I’m Good” came from us starting to work on a collection of tracks that bring together his amazing production and my nostalgic R&B vibe.”

‘I’m Good’ was released today (4th October) via Obsidian Cane’s label, Reset Records UK. Check it out below…

Obsidian Cane: https://www.instagram.com/obsidiancane/

Lyriqé: https://www.instagram.com/officiallyriqe/

FFSYTHO?! Drops Track ‘Keep On’, Featuring Jabru & Alice Russell

Premiering via Lauren Laverne at BBC Radio 6 Music FFSYTHO?! and Jabru is the perfect teaming up of mavericks to capture a uniquely British sensibility.

Hot off performing at this years BBC Introducing stage at Reading & Leeds Festival, she’s the 4’11” proudly gay MC from Northampton who smashed into the grime world in 2019 – winning props from the legend Terror Danjah with others quickly falling in line. She then proved that she could turn her hand to pretty much any rhyme style you choose to name. Jabru is Exeters “producer’s producer” who has a hand in collaborations with everyone from Zed Bias and Joel Culpepper to Optimo and Throne of Blood to Roots Manuva and the Radiophonic Workshop.

Jabru’s remix of FFSYTHO?!’s ‘Ask About Me’ smashed UK radio from Annie Mac and beyond. Now their first full collab, the single ‘Keep On’ – a Just Blaze style hip hop anthem with vocals from the one and only Alice Russell and an underground superstar cast of guest musicians including Space Dimension Controller, Mara Carlyle and the Gentlemen’s Dub Club horn section – is out now on Purple City with a full collaboration EP running the gamut of styles to follow very soon.

Check out ‘Keep On’ below…