Afrocritik Weekly Music Spotlight: Fresh Sounds
By Yinoluwa Olowofoyeku
Hey there, audio adventurers.
Hope the week’s been kind to you. Did you enjoy last week’s Amapiano party as much as we did? We certainly danced our way into the weekend.
This time around, we’re switching things up a bit. As the month moves along, we’re staying ahead of the curve by bringing you something a little different: a mix of fresh new sounds, newly released gems, and a few rising acts you’ll definitely want to keep your eyes and ears on.
Don’t forget to hit follow if you haven’t already, and be sure to check out the May edition of our Monthly Spotlight. As always, if you’re an artist or producer making something you think the world needs to hear, we’d love to give it a spin. Send your submissions to yinoluu@afrocritik.com. We’re always listening, and the best gems will be spotlighted for all to see (and hear).
Without further ado, let’s get into this week’s selections, which come in the form of:
SOFT AND SOULFUL: This week’s gentler picks begin with the beautifully vulnerable Nobody’s Coming To Save You album by Toulouse, where “All Your Days”, “Keep”, and “Love Who I Came With” melt over minimal, velvety soundscapes with soul-stirring vocals and slick production. Dai Verse gives us a softness and soul of his own on Warrior’s Child, with songs like “Save Me” and “What If” threading emotion through mellow, carefully woven instrumentation.
CKay’s CKay The Second EP is a lush, guitar-laced project. Tracks like “again”, featuring Sabrina Claudio, “Say No More”, and “Forever” deepen his catalogue of ballad-ready Afro-Fusion. We also highlight the strong collaborative debut of Nigerian newcomer BlvckRue via the No Rain No Flower EP, with “Cycles” and “My Vibe” as standouts. Ric Hassani’s Lagos Lover Boy adds seasoned polish to the playlist, with romantic numbers like “Love & Romance II”, featuring Ne-Yo and Joeboy, “Best of Me”, and “Canopy” offering his usual rich, expressive delivery.
NOTABLE SINGLES: Some fresh singles made the cut this week, starting with the introspective and melodic “Time” by ShineTTW. Naeche is one to watch, delivering a well-written and ear-catching track in “Wall Breaker”. Kenyan singer, Njerae’s “Gone” brings bouncy dance floor energy with R&B inflexions, while Senté gives us a chill groove with slick bars on “Typo”.
Northern Nigeria continues to carve a unique lane in Afro-Fusion as FirstKlaz’s “Gen-Z Arewazobia” continues his interesting evolution. Spy Shitta’s “Early Momo” gives us an enjoyable earworm from a voice that’s steadily gaining traction. For a dose of East African polish, “The One” by Ugandan star, Ykee Benda, rounds out this batch of singles with solid vibes and sleek vocal work.
ENERGY INJECTORS: If you’ve been craving a jolt of rhythm, South African Rap icon K.O’s Phara City album is a lyrical joyride. “Thokoza”, “Supanova”, and “Phara Love” are immediate highlights, blending his signature cadence with slick beatwork. Maleek Berry’s long-awaited debut album If Only Love Was Enough gives us “Turning Up”, “Who Be This One”, and “4 My Body”, reaffirming his hold on bouncy, emotionally textured Afro-Pop.
Mbosso’s Room Number 3 project turns the tempo up with Tanzanian flair. Tracks like “Pawa”, “Nusus Saa”, and “Tena” deliver dancy energy and sweet melodies. The Majeek enlists Kojo Blak for a nice spin on “Cocoa Butter” (remix), and there’s vibrant uptempo goodness from BabyDaiz on “Allez Tobina”, Quamina MP on “Shut Up!”, and Major AJ on his banger, “Jolo”.
AMAPIANO SIGN-OFF: We couldn’t resist ending with a moment for amapiano. Tumza D’Kota’s Jaiva Series 3 is a deep, instrumental-heavy journey. Gems like “Area 51”, “Jaiva IX”, and “Barlard 1” shine with layered textures and late-night piano moods. Sam Deep and Stixx team up for Kings of Kwapi Vol: 1, a soulful piano-driven offering. Tracks like “24/7”, “Bhari”, and “Kumnandi” are guaranteed to catch your ears.
MDU, aka TRP, continues to churn out dense, thumping piano on The Vault. “Mvelinqangi”, “Slow Poizon”, and “Ngimtholile” make the cut this week with their thick grooves and underground swing. We round things out with some Afrohouse, including MaWhoo’s “Bengicela” and “Camagu” off Iphupho by Ze2, which bring grounding energy and hypnotic grooves.
These are just a handful of the fresh gems sitting on this week’s playlist. Head over to the full set to discover even more. Did you enjoy this slight detour from the norm? Got a few genre-blurring bangers or under-the-radar acts of your own we should know about? Send us your best recent finds. We’re always listening.
If you’re a budding artiste hoping to get featured, or if you’ve just stumbled across a sleeper hit that deserves more ears, don’t hesitate to drop me a line at yinoluu@afrocritik.com. Let’s keep the circle of discovery growing.
Wishing you strength, joy, and inspiration as you go into the new week. Keep your ears open and your spirit refreshed. The right song can change everything.
Warm regards,
Yinoluwa “Yinoluu” Olowofoyeku is a multi-disciplinary artist and creative who finds expression in various media. His music can be found across all platforms, and he welcomes interaction on his social media @Yinoluu.