The 8 Songs You Need to Hear This Week
These are the best songs that we came across this week, featuring Khuli Chana, Cassper, Stormzy, M.anifest & more.
At the end of every week, we're highlighting the creme of the crop in music and rounding up the best tracks, videos, mixtapes and releases that came across our desks throughout the last few days.
<p>Check out this week’s selections below in our new <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-you-need-to-hear-this/idpl.96a0f6d531a54cbb959cbc4442d310d0" target="_blank">"Songs You Need to Hear This Week"</a> <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/featured/introducing-okayafrica-apple-music/" target="_blank"><strong>Apple Music</strong> curator playlist</a> and read about the individual selections ahead.</p><p></p><p></p><h2>"All Hail" Khuli Chana and Cassper Nyovest</h2><p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6e0119fa369a891272cc9312ea54b090"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rh4CTuPHkHo?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span></p><p>South African hip-hop heavyweights <a href="http://okayafrica.com/tag/khuli-chana" target="_blank"><strong>Khuli Chana</strong></a> and <strong><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/cassper-nyovest" target="_blank">Cassper Nyovest</a> </strong>connect with <strong>MDB</strong> on the new music video for "All Hail," one of the highlights from Khuli Chana's 2016 album <em>One Source</em>.</p><p>The new clip is filled with military imagery and war scenes, which are good accompaniments for the take-no-prisoners approach to the verses on this banger.</p><p><div class="preroll-video"></div><ora-player></ora-player></p><p></p><p></p><h2><strong>Stormzy's about to take over</strong></h2><p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="68c3f880eab595885ca5cc8c80daf63c"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dFOErVWlsxg?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span></p><p>U.K. grime MC<strong> <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/stormzy" target="_blank">Stormzy</a> </strong>just <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/in-brief/stromzy-debut-album-date/" target="_blank">announced</a> the February 24 release of his debut album, <em>Gang Signs & Prayer</em>. "Big For Your Boots" is the lead single off the highly-anticipated and buzzed-about album—and it doesn't disappoint.</p><p>It's music video is a celebration of London, featuring cameos from some of the coolest girls in the city's scene: <strong>Beats 1</strong> DJ (and <strong>Skepta</strong>'s sibling) <strong>Julie Adenuga</strong>, <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/ray-blk/" target="_blank">BBC's "Sound of 2017" <strong>Ray BLK</strong></a>, <strong>Sian Anderson</strong>, <strong>Amplify Dot</strong>, <strong>Raye</strong>, <strong>Maya Jama</strong>, <strong>Sophia Tassew</strong>, <strong>Gracie Francesca</strong>, and <strong>Vicky Grout</strong>.</p><p></p><p></p><h2>Check out the best songs of the week in our Apple Music playlist, updated every Friday:</h2><p><iframe frameborder="0" height="500px" src="//tools.applemusic.com/embed/v1/playlist/pl.96a0f6d531a54cbb959cbc4442d310d0?country=us&at=1001lph9" width="100%"></iframe></p><p></p><p></p><h2>M.anifest and Dex Kwasi unwind with "Palm Wine & Whisky"</h2><p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5d42972ae069bec35b9c835264bd4c64"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kdctf_qB0vI?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span></p><p>Ghana's <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/m-anifest/" target="_blank"><strong>M.anifest</strong></a> and 'Afro-trap' innovator <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/dex-kwasi" target="_blank"><strong>Dex Kwasi </strong></a>unwind (and maybe have one too many) in Berekuso, a town an hour out from Accra, in this new music video for "Palm Wine & Whisky."</p><p>"Palm Wine & Whisky" is featured on M.anifest's fourth studio album <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gh/album/nowhere-cool/id1148917606" target="_blank"><em>Nowhere Cool</em></a>, which is definitely worth checking out.</p><p><div class="dfp_atf-slot" data-not-loaded="true"></div><script type="text/javascript">
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</script></p><p></p><p></p><h2><strong>Clap! Clap! and OY's "Hope" </strong></h2><p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5cd8429510cf4cd40c496f26d42e767c"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3p5SdbNrFfM?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span></p><p><span class="dropcap">P</span>roducer and multi-instrumentalist <strong><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/clap-clap/" target="_blank">Clap!</a><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/clap-clap/" target="_blank"> Clap!</a></strong>'s<strong> </strong>tracks have been <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/audio/clap-clap-bongeziwe-mabandla-ngwue/" target="_blank">giving us the lift we need</a>. "Hope," a collaboration with Ghanaian/Swiss singer <strong><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/oy/" target="_blank">Oy</a>, </strong>continues that trend with its sparkling progression and hypnotizing beat.</p><p>The new music video for "Hope," off Clap! Clap!'s upcoming <a href="https://blackacre.databeats.com/group/clap-clap" target="_blank"><em>A Thousand Skies</em> album</a>, features animations by Simone Brillarelli.</p><p></p><p></p><h2>Mr Eazi's "Tilapia"</h2><p><iframe frameborder="0" height="110px" src="//tools.applemusic.com/embed/v1/song/1199494831?country=us&at=1001lph9" width="100%"></iframe></p><p><strong>Mr Eazi</strong>, the man who recently <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/controversial/mr-eazi-tweet-nigeria-ghana-rivalry/" target="_blank">added more coals to the fire</a> that is the Ghana vs Nigeria rivalry with a single tweet, is set to release his new mixtape <em>Life is Eazi Vol. 1 - From Accra to Lagos </em>on February 10.</p><p>"Tilapia" is a welcomed appetizer from that upcoming tape, which also features verses from <strong>Medikal. </strong></p><p></p><p></p><h2>Afro-Cuban singer Daymé Arocena's new single</h2><p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="161c11900a2f7d5983944d2111acb007"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ALOpAhh8F2s?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span></p><p>Afro-Cuban singer <strong>Daymé Arocena</strong> is readying her new album<em> Cubafonía.</em> "It's Not Gonna Be Forever," the second single from that album, sees her trying out some English refrains over tinkling pianos and a swaying upright bass.</p><p></p><p></p><h2>Shatta Wale x Burna Boy</h2><p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="18957edfc74228ff57182c832320cd3f"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FYAjz-RvtJE?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span></p><p>This new one from Ghanaian reggae/dancehall star <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/shatta-wale/" target="_blank"><strong>Shatta Wale</strong></a> and Nigeria's <strong><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/burna-boy/" target="_blank">Burna Boy</a> </strong>is straight <em>fuego. </em>The beat and hook are heavily-addictive—we've had this on constant repeat this afternoon—and the stars deliver some solid verses. "Hosanna" should be the soundtrack to your weekend.</p><p></p><p></p><h2><strong>Nukubi's "Bronze"</strong></h2><p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b9ae829ae91a28f61693917dcab09344"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BdBouDwiDR4?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span></p><p>There's something about this music video from newcomer <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/nvkvbi" target="_blank">Nukubi</a> </strong>that puts you in a trancelike state.</p><p>Maybe it's the 80s-influenced synth-bass, Nukubi's deadpan baritone vocal delivery, or the slow-panning shots of the Ikorodu area of Lagos, but his music video for "Bronze" just kind of sucks you in.</p><p>"Bronze" is the first single from the Lagos-based electro-pop act's forthcoming <em>Bronze</em> EP. Check it out above.</p>
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