Culture

Rema, Ayra Starr, Tems make Rolling Stone’s Top 100 albums of 2024

Published

5 days ago

December 6, 2024

Nigerian music stars, Rema, Tems and Ayra Starr, have been named in Rolling Stone’s Top 100 best albums released in 2024.

A citation on Rolling Stone’s website states that Rema’s second studio album, ‘Heis‘, which secured the 11th spot, was a “unique, buzzy and visceral” project.

“Rema’s sophomore album ‘HEIS’ is the highest-ranked Nigerian album with a number 11 entry after enjoying commercial success that was recently capped by a Grammy nomination for Best Global Album Performance,” the citation said.v

Describing the album, Rolling Stone stated:

“Rema has taken to calling his own style of Afrobeats “Afro-rave,” in the tradition of Burna Boy and the like who have fought to differentiate themselves from what became a catchall for African music in general.

“Yet, there was no real sonic signifier for Rema’s Afro-wave — he seamlessly traverses hip-hop, house, R&B, and dancehall. Heis sounds more like a rave than almost anything Rema has made prior (excluding the excellent loosey “Bounce,” for example, raging while everything else simmers. The result is the buzzy, visceral, sweat-it-out music that no one else in the mainstream is making.”

On Tems, the platform said:

“Tems’ highly anticipated debut album ‘Born In The Wild’ was placed at number 37 following a successful tour and record-breaking Grammy nominations for Best R&B song and Best Global Album.”

Rolling Stone describes thealbum as so rich its listening experience offers both emotional and physical comfort.

“Tems has already remade Nigerian pop in her own image. Her debut album measures the soul work it’s taken to get here. All of it has paid off on an album so rich that the listening experience is a physical one as much as it is emotional.

“Wickedest” is primed for the dance floor, while the single “Love Me Jeje” is a masterpiece, soaked in the sun and major-key dopamine. Her vision is made timeless via a seamless blend of stripped-down ballads, the cool of 1990s R&B with flecks of SWV and Sade, joyous high life, Afro-dance music like amapiano, and rugged hip-hop.”

Writing on Ayra Starr, Rolling Stone said:

“Ayra Starr’s sophomore album ‘The Year I Turned 21’ was praised for being one of the finest Afrobeats projects of 2024 as it comprehensively displays her abilities and ambitions as a global popstar.

“With the follow-up to her 2021 debut, Ayra Starr asserts a musical maturity that could be considered far beyond her years, but perhaps more aptly serves as a reminder of the emotional depth, logical prowess, and enviable passion young people often possess. Across it, Starr refreshes tried-and-true.”

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Culture

Zambian music star Yo Maps cries out over cyberbullying targeting wife, daughter

Published

3 days ago

December 8, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Foremost Zambian music star, Elton Mulenga, popularly known as Yo Maps, has cried out over cyberbullying targeting his wife and young daughter.

Yo Maps who filed a case at the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court, accused a Facebook blogger, Elias Musyani, of orchestrating the cyberbullying and hate speech.

The singer who testified before the court, recounted how Musyani targeted his wife, Kidist Kifle, with derogatory names, referring to her as a “prostitute” and a “witch” in multiple social media posts.

He said the online attack also extended to his infant daughter, whom he said Musyani mockingly called “gumugumu”, a local Zambian word for a monitor lizard.

Yo Maps testified that Musyani’s harassment spanned several months, citing an incident on April 20, 2024, where Musyani allegedly posted threats of abduction and rape, claiming he knew the locations of Kidist’s gym and their child’s daycare.

“He said he could come and rape my wife in front of me,” he told the court.

He noted that despite an earlier attempt to resolve the issue amicably, Musyani allegedly continued his attacks, even posting recordings of phone conversations with him.

“In that conversation, he called my wife a prostitute and threatened to send thugs to kidnap my child,” he said, adding that he had preserved evidence of the posts and conversations on his phone and a flash drive.

Zambia Monitor reports that
Musyani faces charges under Zambia’s Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act No. 2 of 2021, which seeks to curb online abuse and protect victims of cyberbullying.

Though he pleaded not guilty, the court denied his plea bargain request, setting the stage for a full trial, as hearing has been adjourned to January 10, 2025, due to technical challenges in accessing audio evidence submitted by Mulenga.

Culture

Spotify places Nigerian music consumption at 146% in 2024

Published

6 days ago

December 5, 2024

Isaac Dachen

International streaming platform, Spotify, has placed Nigerian music consumption for 2024 at a massive 146 per cent, with Nigerian musicians topping the list of 10 most-streamed songs globally.

In a report by Spotify Wrapped 2024 on Wednesday, Nigerian music made a significant impact on the global stage, with Afrobeats leading the way for the fourth consecutive year.

“Spotify Wrapped 2024 once again highlighted the influence of Nigerian artists in the global music scene. The appreciation for homegrown talent is evident with local music consumption soaring by 146% in the past year,” it said.

“The albums, tracks and even podcasts have not only dominated local charts but also made substantial inroads internationally, reflecting the country’s rich musical heritage and its growing influence worldwide.

“This year on Spotify Wrapped, several Nigerian artists achieved remarkable streaming numbers, as Nigeria ranks 25th globally in terms of daily streams.

“Asake takes the crown as the most streamed musician in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Nigeria, Gambia and Benin. His appeal transcends generations captivating audiences aged 13 to 55 and securing a spot among the top 10 artists for these age groups.

‘Emerging talents like Ayo Maff and Muyeez made waves on the most-streamed tracklists in Nigeria with hits like Dealer and Instagram; while Young John’s Jiggy Forever claimed the top spot as the most streamed album.

“On the global stage, Burna Boy continues to be Nigeria’s most prominent export and the sole Nigerian artist in the UK Top 100 while Nigerian Female singer, Ayra Starr, has solidified her presence in Latin America as the most streamed artist and remains the top Nigerian artist in Europe. She also sets a new record on the Spotify Global Chart, surpassing Rema and Burna Boy in longevity.

“Spotify is always honoured to showcase the depth of Nigerian music and its incredible talents through Wrapped each year. The seamless blend of generations and genres showcases the unique power of Nigerian music to resonate both locally and globally.

“It’s inspiring to see how our artists are not just shaping culture at home but also making waves internationally,” the report issued by Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music in Sub-Saharan Africa, said.