Afrocritik Weekly Music Spotlight: Soul & Groove
By Yinoluwa Olowofoyeku
Hello again, musical explorers.
We hope you’re doing well and that the new month has started on a good note for you. Whether your week has been smooth sailing or full of twists and turns, we’re here with a handpicked collection of the finest new tracks to keep both your ears and soul satisfied.
This week, our spotlight orbits around records that lean into soul and groove — the kind of music that doesn’t just play in the background but fills the room and moves the spirit. And while this may be the second weekend in August, it’s technically our first proper August spotlight, as the previous edition still featured songs from July’s final wave.
Before we dive in, here’s a quick reminder to follow us on our socials so you never miss a playlist, post, or spotlight drop. And if you haven’t already, July’s Monthly Spotlight is up and ready for you to enjoy — the perfect way to catch up on last month’s best releases in case you missed anything special.
Artists, as always, feel free to send in your new releases for playlist consideration. We love hearing from you, so don’t hesitate to email them to yinoluu@afrocritik.com. We’re eager to spotlight your work too!
Without further ado, we begin this week’s stellar line-up — a celebration of rhythm, feel, and texture that comes to you in the form of:
SOUL & GROOVE: The stars of this week’s spotlight; soulful and groovy records to bop to. South African singer, Cici, leads this section with Busisiwe 2.0, a stunning collection that spans emotional registers and stylistic textures. On “Buya”, “Falling For You”, “Love Me Loud”, and “Impumelelo”, her voice soars, grounded in sincerity and soul, across Amapiano, Afro-House, and Afro-Soul.
A major highlight this week is Emadlelweni Aluhlaza by Blue Pappi of The Qwellers, an album that stood out as our favourite of the week. Across five selected standout tracks:“Bulo”, “Oledi”, “Udalo”, “G-Wagon”, and “Umkhuleko Kaguluva”, he serves impeccable rap performances over imaginative and versatile production. His tight flow and sharp lyricism make this one a full-bodied listen that never lags. “Love” by Nana Fofie and Warren Saada is a smooth romantic duet.
Ghanaian rapper, $pacely, offers something more left-field with The Nyamsheon Tape: 4 Girls. Songs like “Maame Water” and “Mpena” show him exploring unusual rhythms and hazy production with unique delivery styles, pushing the envelope of Afro-rap with his own signature.
Kenyan diasporan rapper, Mau from nowhere, brings the soulful grit of old-school hip-hop into the now with Pressure, a project defined by soul-tinged beats and introspective lyricism. On “a_m_h”, “here we go again”, “E6”, and “let it pass”, he paints scenes of quiet conflict and internal resolve, flowing like a seasoned storyteller over layered sonic canvases.
Adding colour to the groove are singles like the playful and funky “In2U” by Kofee Bean, the collaborative bounce of “TSD” by Keziah Mallam and GJTheCaesar, and the slick soul stylings of “History” by Efue. Each one brings a distinct flair, connecting old-school emotion with new-school feel.
PARTY STARTERS: Fun Afro-Pop and Afrobeats to get the party going. Cubana Chief Priest calls in BoyPee and Zoro Swagbag for the vibrant “Summer Adina”, a jam that drips with celebratory energy. FirstKlaz contributes “Soyaiya”, a midtempo groove in his signature melodic style, weaving tenderness into a song that still moves.
Idyl’s “Precaution” is a bouncy number made for movement, with tightly arranged production and a charming vocal bounce. Nigerian riser Fido delivers four tracks from his new project Olayemi—“Money Moves”, “Dollarpor”, “I Miss You Die”, and “Lungu”—each song showing a different side of his range and charisma. It’s a confident and energetic offering from a young artist finding his stride.
Midas The Jagaban drops “No Shakin”, a firecracker of a song made for the dancefloor, while T.I Blaze and Ayo Maff bring the high-octane chemistry on “My Brother 2.0”, a fast-paced and catchy Afrobeats joint that keeps the tempo high. Skales, riding the wave of renewed virality, delivers “B.T.S”, a propulsive and thumping dance tune that underscores his enduring knack for party anthems.
SOUTH AFRICAN SIGN-OFF: We end our detour with a signature return to the sounds of South Africa. South African Amapiano legend Busta 929 returns with Undisputed IV, an album loaded with groove. Tracks like “Yimpilo Noma Yimpi”, “Kwanele”, “Umswarelo”, and “Malunde” offer the quintessential Busta blend of haunting melodies and deep basslines, with a bit more room this time for emotive vocal textures.
From the We Are NXT Colour Series: Brown 01 compilation curated by Producer’s Day, we get instrumental and genre-bending cuts like “La Musica”, “A Rhythm To Jazz”, “InDeep1”, and “Sghubu Sa Tech”. These tracks lean into experimental territory, merging jazz and house into the ever-evolving structure of Amapiano.
Closing us out is DJ Zinhle with selections from Zee Nation Vol 1. On “Hlala Nami”, “Mphakamise”, “Woza”, and “Ekhaya”, she steers AfroHouse into sweeping cinematic terrain, pairing emotive chord progressions with pulsing percussion and lush vocal layers.
And that’s just a taste. As always, these songs are only a glimpse into the full playlist which holds even more gems waiting for you to discover.
At Afrocritik, we aren’t chasing the biggest names. We’re here to highlight the songs that matter, the ones that might slip under the radar but deserve your time, your ears, and your heart. Send us your favourite finds from this coming week’s flurry of new releases and go enjoy the freshly updated July Monthly Spotlight if you haven’t already. It’s packed full of treasures worth your attention.
We wish you a fantastic week ahead and the very best for this new month. May it be filled with good energy, fresh discoveries, and plenty of soul and groove.
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.
MONTHLY PLAYLIST:
https://music.apple.com/ng/playlist/afrocritik-music-monthly-editorial/pl.u-BNA6rgXseNDopJy
WEEKLY PLAYLIST: