Weekend Burners: July's Best Tracks & Music Videos
Download and stream the best tracks and African music videos that came out in July in our monthly column "Weekend Burners."
<p><em>Image by <strong>Anoek Steketee</strong> and <strong>Eefje Blankevoort</strong> [via <a href="http://www.anotherafrica.net/news/exhibition/popcap-14-contemporary-photography-from-africa-prize-winners-announced" target="_blank">Yagazie</a>].</em></p><p>We're switching up <strong><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/weekend-burners/" target="_blank">Weekend Burners</a></strong> to a monthly column that'll highlight the ten best African music tracks, videos, or mixes that came across our desks in the last 30-odd days. Stream & download them below, straight from the Okayafrica bunker, and follow the links for more info:</p><p>__________________________________________________________________________________</p><p><strong>JR, Okmalumkoolkat & Spoek Mathambo's ‘Bob Mabena’</strong></p><p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c53e154ae05e342e48e556575e41bf12"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gAl2PbjaWJI?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>JHB rap titans Motswako vet <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/JRafrika" target="_blank">JR</a></strong>, reigning king of collaboration <strong><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/artists/spoek-mathambo/" target="_blank">Spoek Mathambo</a></strong> and Affine Records’ most recent signee <strong><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/okayafrica-artists/okmalumkoolkat/" target="_blank">Okmalumkoolkat</a></strong> come together to salute South African radio icon <strong>Bob Mabena</strong> on his 25th year in the industry. Yanga Ntshakaza, who was also behind AKA‘s “Kontrol” video, directs the partially slo-mo visuals. <strong><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/video/bob-mabena-video-jr-okmalumkoolkat-spoek-mathambo/" target="_blank">Read more.</a></strong></p><p><div class="preroll-video"></div><ora-player></ora-player></p><p>__________________________________________________________________________________</p><p><strong>The GTW’s Chigerian Summertime Serenade ‘Calling Cards’</strong></p><p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1e285cf71cdcb05a072caf4c48bb31d7"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hZsIuwedtmg?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>Chicago-based Nigerian <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/the-gtw/"><strong>The GTW</strong></a> is preparing the release of <em>Chigeria</em> later this year. “Calling Cards,” the self-produced lead single from that upcoming album, features an upbeat 90s tempo song and flattering falsetto from The GTW as he sings “I can’t spell my future with you” in a way one would serenade their high school crush.<strong> <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/video/the-gtw-calling-cards-video-chigeria/" target="_blank">Read more.</a></strong></p><p>__________________________________________________________________________________</p><p><strong>Clap! Clap!'s ‘The Rainstick Fable’ Off His ‘Tayi Bebba’ LP</strong></p><p><iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/156087988&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>Italian producer <strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/clakclakboomclak?fref=ts" target="_blank">Clap! Clap!</a></strong>, aka Cristiano Crisci, is gearing up for the release of his debut LP <em>Tayi Bebba</em>. The album's lead single “The Rainstick Fable” is a fast paced banger injected with flavors of house, juke and footwork that utilizes Crisci’s contemporary production alongside samples of traditional instruments like the titular rainstick and the mbira. <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/audio/clap-clap-previews-tayi-bebba-lp-rainstick-fable/" target="_blank"><strong>Read more.</strong></a></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><strong>Tony Allen & Damon Albarn Reunite On ‘Go Back’</strong></p><p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1ebea048075779a3a9de77176c3a5115"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AZ0xRiRLbbc?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><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/tony-allen/" target="_blank"><strong>Tony Allen</strong></a>, the father of afrobeat percussion, has a new solo album due out later this year (his first since 2009′s <em>Secret Agent</em>). The first single off <em>Film Of Life</em> reunites Allen with frequent collaborator <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/news/africa-express-maison-des-jeunes-soubor/" target="_blank"><strong>Damon Albarn</strong></a> on the supremely meditative horn-flanked ballad “Go Back.”<a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/audio/tony-allen-go-back-damon-albarn-film-of-life/" target="_blank"> <strong>Read more.</strong></a></p><p>__________________________________________________________________________________</p><p><strong>Sinkane’s Soulful ‘How We Be’ </strong></p><p><iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/158804692&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>Sudanese-born/BK based sonic-experimentalist <strong><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/?s=sinkane++" target="_blank">Sinkane</a></strong> returns with "How We Be," a soulful composition that builds off some funky keyboard action and stars Gallab’s crystalizing voice. The song is the second single off his upcoming <em>Mean Love</em> LP (<strong>DFA</strong>/<strong>City Slang</strong>). <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/news/sinkane-how-we-be-stream/" target="_blank"><strong>Read more.</strong></a></p><p>__________________________________________________________________________________</p><p><strong>Tshepang Ramoba’s 67-Minute ‘Mandela Day’ Mix</strong></p><p><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/nelson_mandela_valentines_Day-pro.jpg"><img class="rm-shortcode" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xMDM5MDU3Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNTY2MzQ4Nn0.PMkdkt0EyI9GahRYKAwV-dQMPhyzgHsYm3zrOK7uBRk/img.jpg?width=980" id="2cc43" data-rm-shortcode-id="2c71862949e9e1b4aa911d0766215388" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></a></p><p><strong><a href="https://soundcloud.com/postpost-production" target="_blank">Tshepang Ramoba</a></strong>'s (<strong><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/blk-jks/" target="_blank">BLK JKS</a> </strong>/ <strong><a href="https://soundcloud.com/postpost-production" target="_blank">RAMBO</a></strong>)<strong> </strong>commemorates <strong>Nelson Mandela Day</strong> with his <em>Mandela Day</em> mixtape, which is precisely 67-minutes long as a nod to Mandela’s 67 years spent fighting for social justice, as well as the global call to devote 67-minutes of today to “fight poverty and promote peace and reconciliation” through activism. <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/audio/nelson-mandela-day-mix-tshepang-ramoba-67-minute/" target="_blank"><strong>Read more + view the tracklist.</strong></a></p><p><iframe frameborder="0" height="144" scrolling="no" src="http://www.audiomack.com/embed3/okayafrica/tshepang-ramobas-mandela-day-mix?c1=%238E56E0&bg=f2f2f2&c2=222222" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>__________________________________________________________________________________</p><p><strong>Just A Band’s Phone-Recorded Visuals For ‘Probably For Lovers’</strong></p><p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="230a4d45e0b4527b4a2fd107841ea61b"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DtUCvSepH94?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>Kenya’s <strong><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/?s=just+a+band+" target="_blank">Just A Band</a></strong> recruited their friends to shoot themselves with their phones, singing and dancing along to “Probably For Lovers,” a standout track on their 2012 release <em>Sorry for the Delay</em>. <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/video/just-a-band-probably-for-lovers/" target="_blank"><strong>Read more.</strong></a></p><p>__________________________________________________________________________________</p><p><strong>Rich Medina’s ‘Afrobeat Since 1969: Created By Tony Allen’ Mix</strong></p><p><iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/157910088&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe></p><p><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/rich-medina/" target="_blank"><strong>Rich Medina</strong></a> drops <em>Afrobeat Since 1969: Created By Tony Allen</em> for clothing label <strong><a href="http://101-apparel.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">101 Apparel</a></strong>. The mix, an ode to afrobeat co-creator & percussion pioneer <strong><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/tony-allen/" target="_blank">Tony Allen</a></strong>, sees Medina navigating through a host of highly complex, horn-backed afrobeat drum patterns from the master himself. <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/news/afrobeat-rich-medina-tony-allen-mix/" target="_blank"><strong>Read more.</strong></a></p><p>__________________________________________________________________________________</p><p><strong>The Cape Flats-Filmed Visuals for Zaki Ibrahim’s ‘Draw The Line’</strong></p><p>
<iframe id="//player.vimeo.com/video/100882726" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/100882726"></iframe>
</p><p>Canadian/South African smoldering soulstress<a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/okayafrica-artists/zaki-ibrahim/" target="_blank"><strong> Zaki Ibrahim</strong></a> returns with the stunning visuals for “Draw The Line,” the opening track from her 2012 album <em><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/news/zaki-ibrahim-every-opposite-interview/" target="_blank">Every Opposite</a>. </em>Ibrahim’s earthy, soul-capturing voice floats above clean, starkly beautiful images of the Cape Flats.<a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/news/zaki-ibrahim-draw-the-line-every-opposite-video/" target="_blank"><strong> Read more.</strong></a></p><p>__________________________________________________________________________________</p><p><strong>Okmalumkoolkat ‘Holy Oxygen’</strong></p><p><iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/158801781&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe></p><p><strong><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/okayafrica-artists/okmalumkoolkat/" target="_blank">Okmalumkoolkat</a></strong> rides on the title track off his upcoming <em>Holy Oxygen I</em> with his signature nonlinear wordplay on a two-stepping futuristic bassline. It’s the official coming of a self-proclaimed “demigod.” <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/news/okmalumkoolkat-holy-oxygen/" target="_blank"><strong>Read more. </strong></a></p>
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