Afrocritik Music Spotlight: Rhythm & Pulse
By Yinoluwa Olowofoyeku
Hey everyone, and welcome back to another edition of the Afrocritik Music Spotlight!
We hope you’ve been keeping well and, more importantly, keeping the music playing. It’s hard to believe we’ve already reached the last day of July. We hope the month has treated you kindly and left you with plenty of memorable moments to look back on.
What a way to close out the month too. Whether you were celebrating, commiserating, or simply enjoying the spectacle, we’d love to know what you made of the FIFA World Cup final. We also got a brief reprieve from the relentless downpours, but the rains have wasted no time making their return, so please continue to stay safe, look out for one another, and take care while you’re out and about.
As always, if you’re an artiste, producer, DJ, or publicist with new music on the way, don’t forget to send your releases our way via [email protected]. We’d love to hear what you’ve been working on. And if you haven’t already, be sure to follow Afrocritik across all our social media platforms to keep up with the latest reviews, interviews, playlists, and everything happening across the African music landscape.
This week, we’ve found ourselves drawn to records powered by infectious grooves, irresistible rhythms, and songs that seem to move with a heartbeat of their own. Whether they’re built for the dancefloor, the late-night drive, or simply getting your feet tapping wherever you are, these are records full of energy, movement, and life.
So, without further ado, let’s get into it.
RHYTHM & MOOD
Sometimes the strongest rhythms are the ones that don’t shout the loudest. These records pair warm grooves with reflective songwriting, proving that music can keep your pulse moving while giving your mind plenty to sit with.
Taves balances infectious melodies with heartfelt lyricism on Popstar – Side A, where “Chaos”, “Isn’t It Beautiful”, “Deliver Me”, and “Space” showcase his polished Afro-Fusion sound. Nanette broadens the emotional palette of Painfully Happy (Deluxe) through “Ask For Nun (Freestyle)”, “Taking Me Places”, “Baggage”, and “Little Light”, balancing introspective songwriting with contemporary R&B influences. Osé eases listeners into Feels Like Home with “cease & desist”, “24HRS”, “gently”, and “STUPID!”, combining mellow Afro-R&B, understated production, and reflective songwriting. Greatman Takit presents “ALL THE PRAISE”, “OLUWATOSIN”, “HEAVENLY MAN”, and “BIGGI MAN” on Flames Of A Wildfire, offering an uplifting body of work rooted in faith, contemporary Gospel, and heartfelt worship.
Elsewhere, Manana delivers the understated “Calendar”, Cheque and Blaqbonez reconnect on “Zodiac II”, and Ayo Maff delivers another catchy street anthem on “Lifestyle (YA MAN)”.
PULSING FUSIONS
Some of the most exciting music emerges when artists refuse to be confined by genre. Drawing from different influences while keeping rhythm at the heart of every record, these releases find fresh ways to make familiar sounds feel new.
Oberz explores romance and melody on Love and Highnotes, pairing “Lucky” featuring Qing Madi, “Oh No” featuring FOLA, and “Shako” featuring Dai Verse and Ric Hassani across a smooth Afro-Pop offering. Thutmose embraces infectious Afro-Fusion on XOXO!, where “WHAT DO YOU DO?”, “PUZZLE PIECE”, “SIXTH SENSE” featuring AMANI, and “CHAMPAGNE ON ICE” blend playful songwriting with vibrant, feel-good production. TRK. continues his impressive run on 2026 Golden Run, delivering “Story”, “Le temps”, and “J’suis dans le truc”, a confident Francophone Hip-Hop project driven by sharp lyricism and slick production. On mo (u) rning pages, mau from nowhere delivers “choose what stays”, “right mind” featuring Mujuni, and “doing Better.” featuring hihi, crafting an intimate Alternative R&B project rooted in vulnerability and self-reflection.
Elsewhere, Solana delivers the vibrant “Dide”, M.anifest returns with “HANDKERCHIEF”, Kitay and Yarden link up on “Teqi”, and Tml Vibez keeps the momentum going with “SHON PE (Count Your Money)”.
ELECTROPULSE
Our Electronica corner returns with another selection of records built on hypnotic grooves, immersive textures, and rhythms that refuse to sit still. Whether rooted in Afro House, Amapiano, or electronic dance music, these releases are united by one thing: an irresistible pulse.
JAZZWRLD delivers another expansive Amapiano statement on Secrets of the WRLD, where “iMpilo Yam’”, “Lashona”, “Duh-Ban (Durban)”, and “Emihle” showcase rich log drums, layered production, and an impressive roster of collaborators. Ally Fresh expands Swakacha (Deluxe Edition) with “Baba”, “Samba”, “Heri Wewe”, and “Laiti”, bringing together vibrant East African melodies, Afro-Pop rhythms, and an impressive cast of collaborators. Jnr SA celebrates groove on Dance To My Afro, where “Umgido”, “Ipatshazi”, “D2MA 3”, and “Rider” fuse Afro House and Amapiano influences into a rhythm-driven listening experience.
Elsewhere, DJ Zinhle’s “Njengemali” keeps the dancefloor in mind, Chronical Deep and Sun-El Musician unite on “Bring Me More Bass”, and Lovince Mckenzie delivers the uplifting “On My Way”.
As always, the selections we’ve highlighted here are only part of the story. This week’s playlist is packed with even more incredible music waiting to be discovered, so don’t stop when you reach the end of these recommendations. Spend some time exploring, revisit the records that caught your attention, and you might just stumble upon an artist or song that earns a permanent place in your rotation.
That’s what Music Spotlight has always been about. Every edition is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible breadth of African music while shining a light on artists who deserve to be heard, regardless of where they are in their journey. Whether they’re household names or exciting new discoveries, we’re committed to bringing you the records you may have missed and helping you uncover your next favourite listen.
We’d also love to hear from you. Let us know which releases you’ve been enjoying, what you’ve had on repeat, and whether there are any standout tracks or projects you think deserve a place in a future edition. If you’re an artiste with new music to share, don’t forget you can send your work to [email protected] for a chance to be featured in an upcoming Music Spotlight. And, as always, keep up with Afrocritik across our social platforms for even more reviews, interviews, playlists, and cultural conversations.
As we turn the page to August, we hope the new month brings fresh opportunities, renewed inspiration, and plenty of moments worth celebrating. Be kind to yourself, look after the people around you, and may the weeks ahead be filled with good health, meaningful progress, and an even better soundtrack.
Until next time, keep your curiosity alive, keep supporting the artists shaping the future of African music, and keep your playlists open to something unexpected. We’ll be back in two weeks with another carefully curated selection of brilliant sounds from across the continent. Happy listening!
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.
https://audiomack.com/afrocritik-music/playlist/afrocritik-wms