Here’s An Ethiopian Cover of 'Controlla'

Ras Nebyu—a Washington, DC-based Ethiopian rapper—steps up to the plate to handle this freestyle remix of “Controlla.”

Here’s An Ethiopian Cover of 'Controlla'

We’ve seen the Kenyan oldies version, now it’s time for the Ethiopian take on Drake’s massive summer single.


This time it’s Ras Nebyu—a Washington, DC-based rapper originally from Adama—who steps up to the plate to handle this freestyle remix of “Controlla.”

Ras Nebyu’s cover, titled “Shikorina,” zooms in on a beautiful Ethiopian girl the MC at clubs and parties around DC’s K Street.

“Shikorina” means “beautiful, sweet like sugar [and is] used to describe a lover, daughter, or friend” in Tigrinya, the MC explains.

The Washington DC metropolitan area, as you might know, has the largest community of Ethiopians not living in Africa. So it's no surprise that this Ethiopian-American love story comes out of the capital city.

Stream Ras Nebyu’s “Shikorina (Controlla Riddim)” above and check out his Slizzatrism mixtape for more.

​Photo illustration by Kaushik Kalidindi, Okayplayer.
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