The 10 Songs You Need to Hear This Week
Featuring Rema, Adekunle Gold x Patoranking, Yaw Tog x Stormzy x Kwesi Arthur, Sun-El Musician x Msaki and more.
Every week, we highlight the top releases through our best music of the week column.
Here's our round up of the best tracks and music videos that came across our desks, which you can also check out in our Songs You Need to Hear This Week playlists on Spotify and Apple Music.
Follow our SONGS YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS WEEK playlist on Spotify here and Apple Music here.
Rema 'Bounce'
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9a29c2d46ffd8403da1c5ffa1c1bd0d0"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YMp_-r4zLks?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>Nigerian golden boy <strong><a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/tag/rema" target="_self">Rema</a> </strong>took his time on deciding how to start of 2021—and we're glad he did. The afropop hitmaker is out with his first project of the year, "Bounce", after stunning fans with word of an upcoming album, and the cooks in this kitchen have not disappointed. Keeping it in the <strong>Mavin Records </strong>family, legendary producer <strong>Don Jazzy </strong>sprinkles his magic on the track, while undoubtedly motivating the young singer-songwriter to be his best self. And with this track being like nothing we've heard from Rema before, one could say Jazzy succeeded. </p><p><a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/new-single-rema-bounce/" target="_blank">Find out more</a></p>Yaw Tog, Stormzy & Kwesi Arthur 'Sore (Remix)'
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f2a1d34b8221ca962688506651a2234b"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o_WlT8WA1No?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>Ghana drill standout <strong>Yaw Tog </strong>comes through with a fire remix of his massive hit "Sore" and he's joined by an all-star line-up of <strong>Stormzy </strong>and <strong>Kwesi Arthur</strong>. Yaw Tog told DJ Mag, ""I didn't even imagine I'd get someone like Stormzy on the remix. He's a big one out there! What's surprising is he came to my management, like<em> 'Yo, let's get this done'.</em> Wow. I think God is really working." Get into it above. </p><p><a href="https://music.empi.re/soreremix.oyd" target="_blank">Find out more</a></p>Sun-EL Musician Feat. Msaki 'Ubomi Abumanga'
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a0f7cdbf9dacae8ffd514bcb3c7384c0"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ecbcwjCzppc?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p><strong><a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/tag/sun-el-musician" target="_self">Sun-El Musician</a></strong> has dropped the new music video for his Xhosa number with <strong>Msaki</strong>, "Ubomi Abumanga" (translates to "life doesn't stop" from Xhosa). The track was released as a single in May of last year and now features on his sophomore album, <em><a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/sun-el-musician-to-the-world-and-beyond-stream/" target="_self">To the World & Beyond.</a> </em>The music video, which attempts to convey the hopeful message of the song, has already clocked close to 800 thousand views on YouTube and counting.</p><p><a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/sun-el-musician-new-video-ubomi-abumanga/" target="_blank">Find out more</a></p>Blinky Bill 'Terene' feat Kommanda Obbs
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c47b463ef26c8e6e979120ef437a75ae"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mYrsEeU_8-Y?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>Kenya's <strong>Blinky Bill</strong> comes through with his latest single "Terene" which sees him linking up with Lesotho's <strong>Kommanda Obbs </strong>for a head-nodding concoction. The new single comes from Blinky's upcoming album <em>We Cut Keys 2. "</em>This is a song I recorded on the road in South Africa a while back," Blinky mentions. "Met Kommanda Obbs from Lesotho who was playing one of the showcases that I was playing at as well and we worked on this track. It's generally about a borderless Africa, and the hook talks about a train (train) that moves from Lesotho to South Africa to Nairobi with us as artists representing our countries and starting the conversations that connect us." </p><p><a href="https://orcd.co/terene" target="_blank">Find out more</a></p>Slow Burn ft Kafayé
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="685948a2efec4535d3b140379c73e3db"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C_yd7zXnpps?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p><strong>Yungbakugo </strong>was one of the names featured in our <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/african-music-artists-toronto/?rebelltitem=5#rebelltitem5" target="_blank">10 Artists to Watch from Toronto</a> list. His musical influences are a crossbreed of the sounds he discovered growing up across places like Lagos, Accra, London and Maryland. Yungbakugo now comes through with the red-tinted music video for the aboslutely alluring track "Slow Burn." Make sure you check this one out.</p><p><a href="https://www.smarturl.com/burntslow/" target="_blank">Find out more</a></p>Adekunle Gold, Patoranking 'Pretty Girl'
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="87d37847971e610ab76c01f48071e350"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0LQLWUJGwRw?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p><strong><a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/tag/adekunle-gold" target="_self">Adekunle Gold</a></strong> has recently shared the visuals for his "Pretty Girl" collaboration with fellow Nigerian artist, <strong>Patoranking</strong>. The track features on his 10-track <em>Afro Pop, Vol.1</em> album which dropped last year. The new music video, which was directed by <strong>Olu The Wave</strong>, is a fun and vibrant conceptualisation of the song's energy and central message about a pretty girl who's admittedly put them under a spell.</p><p><a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/adekunle-gold-new-video-pretty-girl/" target="_blank">Find out more</a></p>Kae Sun 'Midnight and Other Endings'
<iframe src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/0O3pUPdPh6R79NA83dK041" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe><p>Ghanaian-born, Montreal-based singer-songwriter <strong>Kae Sun</strong>—a longtime OkayAfrica favorite—shares his latest 5-song EP <em>Midnight & Other Endings</em>. Speaking on lead single "404 Eros" he mentions "says, "(though it) sounds a bit simplistic to say this but I think love, which is the ultimate creative urge, will outlive every version of the world we dream up." Listen above.</p><p><a href="https://ffm.to/moe-00-00" target="_blank">Find out more</a></p>ETANA X STONEBWOY 'PROPPA'
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4657b381548ef3c8b042001ce4bebaea"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sr8CWviXgUc?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>Jamaica and Ghana connect in the new single and music video for "Proppa," the lead track from Jamaican singer <strong>Etana</strong>'s upcoming album. The addictive tune blends dancehall and afrobeats into a standout production. The track, produced by <strong>Freemind Music</strong>, features none-other-than Ghanaian star <strong>Stonebwoy</strong>. Check it out above.</p><p><a href="https://www.boomplay.com/share/album/21890057?srModel=COPYLINK&srList=ANDROID" target="_blank">Find out more</a></p>Lavaud & Reekado Banks 'Oh My'
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="56042f27e8771f1a27a584c5819d9533"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V8xMkCjMAIA?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>UK-born Mauritian artist <strong>Lavaud</strong><strong> </strong>connects with Nigerian star <strong>Reekado Banks</strong> for her latest single "Oh My," a captivating blend of afro-fusion and R&B that's sure to have you hitting replay. Check it out above.</p><p><a href="https://slinky.to/OhMyLavaud" target="_blank">Find out more</a></p>Valee Music 'Don't Want Your Love' feat. Ubuntu Brothers
<iframe allow="autoplay *; encrypted-media *; fullscreen *" frameborder="0" height="450" style="width:100%;max-width:660px;overflow:hidden;background:transparent;" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" src="https://embed.music.apple.com/us/album/dont-want-your-love-feat-ubuntu-brothers-single/1552398740"></iframe><p>UK afropop singer <strong>Valee Music</strong> shares her brand new single "Don't Want Your Love," a soulful amapiano song, fused with elements of afro-soul and house music. It was produced by South African production duo <strong>Ubuntu Brothers</strong>.</p><p><a href="https://valee-music.ffm.to/dontwantyourlove" target="_blank">Find out more</a></p>
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