The Albums of the Week
Every week SOA highlights some of the best new Album / EP for your playlist out of Africa. From Ruggedman’ Situation’ EP highlighting the current issues affecting Nigeria to Omar Sosa and Seckou Keita’ Suba’ is a hymn to hope, to a new dawn of compassion and fundamental change in a post-pandemic world. Find out more –
1. Ruggedman – Situation
Rapper and activist, Ruggedman has always been at the forefront of campaigning for good governance and an end to police brutality. His new EP ‘Situation’ highlights the current issues affecting Nigeria, the most populous country and the largest economy in Africa.
The country is witnessing a weakening economy, rising insecurity, police brutality and violent conflicts that threaten progress made in its democratic development.
The EP consists of six tracks that deals with various social, political and economic issues in Nigeria features Praiz, YNK, DJ Cinch, Lopo, Specikinging, Ani D’Blessed, Bobbi Phillie, Uch’barz, Deemoe and Leena Martinz.
He said, “I am not about tribe, religion or political party. I am about what is right.” Click to Listen
2. Omar Sosa and Seckou Keita – Suba
Piano virtuoso Omar Sosa and kora maestro Seckou Keita both met in 2012, Seckou loved Omar for his musical spirituality, whilst Omar saw in Seckou a rare ability to collaborate but not lose his identity. Their debut album Transparent Water (2017) was hailed as ‘beautiful, rhapsodic… spiritual’ and ‘mesmerising, evocative and sophisticated. They started recording their second album, ‘SUBA’, during the lockdown.
SUBA is a hymn to hope, to a new dawn of compassion and fundamental change in a post-pandemic world, a visceral reiteration of humanity’s perennial prayer for peace and unity.
SUBA is a co-production between Omar Sosa, Seckou Keita, OTA Records, Theatr Mwldan, and ARC Music Productions International Ltd. Click to Listen
4. Young Stunna – Notumato
Amapiano is making waves in the UK; this summer, we have seen several amapiano concerts that push the genre to a new height. South Africa’s amapiano producer Young Stunna released a new body of work titled “Notumato”. “Notumato” album consists of 16 tracks in all. Surprisingly, all tracks featured Blxckie, Felo Le Tee, Daliwonga, Sizwe Alakine, Madumane, Kabza De Small, Mellow & Sleazy, and from house to amapiano to dance to hip hop. Click to Listen
5. CDQ – Vibes and Lifestyle
CDQ Continue his dedication to Indigenous raps on his fourth release; he infuses electronic production and rhythmic instrumentation with his signature relatable lyrics. With a spontaneous vibe, the rapper folds Yoruba rhymes into engaging storylines. He reunites with Masterkraft on “Bahamas” while adding cross-regional appeal with Tanzanian singer Ben Pol featuring on the melodic “Omoka”. It’s a 16 track album and features Wande Coal twice and other artists. Click to Listen
6. De Mthuda – The Landlord
He has been Producing amapiano since the mid-2010s; De Mthuda scored his breakout hit with 2019’s “Shesha”, a collaboration with Njelic, whose vocals have gone on to shape several of De Mthuda’s many hits. Tracks such as “John Wick”, “Wamuhle”, “uMsholozi”, and “LiYoshona” came at a fast pace, catapulting Mthuda to national stardom. On The Landlord, the producer from Vosloorus reached into his arsenal of influences to craft a dynamic amapiano full-length. Featuring Focalistic and Njelic, “Jaiva” recalls kwaito with sprinkles of bubblegum; “Inkomo Zam”, featuring Nomfundo Moh and Sipho Magudulela, is a contemporary take on Sophiatown-era jazz, while on “Emlanjeni”, singer Sir Trill longs for an overdue meet-up with his lover over shimmering Rhodes keys and the genre’s characteristic lush pads.
De Mthuda (Mthuthuzeli Khoza) teamed up with producer Da Muziqal Chef to create his sonic universe. “His role was to make the album more musical,” De Mthuda tells Apple Music. “Sometimes I have ideas that I cannot execute well, so he’s always there to assist.” Guitarist Sipho Magudulela also makes frequent appearances here (“Inkomo Zam”, “Roots”, “Mhlaba Wonke”, “Phithizela”)—“just to mix amapiano with other sounds we don’t normally use,” Mthuda explains. The Landlord features many more vocalists, such as Just Bheki, Sino Msolo and Murumba Pitch. The lone exception is “Roots”, an instrumental team-up between Magudulela and producer Sam Deep. “‘Piano was initially instrumental,” De Mthuda says. “Vocals are a new thing, so we are preserving the culture by including an instrumental song in the album.” Click to Listen
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