Latest news with #amapiano
News24
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
How Zee Nxumalo defines casual chic in urban fashion
From chart-topping music to jaw-dropping fashion, amapiano sensation Zee Nxumalo has gotten Mzansi's stamp of approval. Dubbed 'inja ye game', the Sajola Kamnandi hitmaker is known for her eclectic street style and skin tight outfits that pair perfectly with her sultry lyrics and vocals. The 22-year-old singer and songwriter is no stranger to the fashion game since becoming the first local act to have a limited edition merchandise collection in The Fix stores, selling out in just weeks. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TRUELOVE Magazine (@truelovemagazine) When it comes to her personal style, Zee tells TRUELOVE that her fashion sense is just an extension of how she's feeling at the time. 'I've actually recently discovered that ngendlela ng'yagqoka ngakhona (the way I dress) will definitely be influenced by how I feel.' Right now, Zee is in her hot girl era and tells us, 'So, it's just an expression of how I am and the kind of space I'm in at that particular moment. Usually I like wearing things that are short, things that will make me feel confident ... I'm in my era of 'Yes, see me, I look hot!'' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zee Nxumalo (@zeenxumalo_) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zee Nxumalo (@zeenxumalo_) Zee has dubbed black as her colour for the season, a look she has also been experimenting with her hair choices. 'I love black, my skin pops when I'm wearing black,' she reveals. 'I love green as well. Also with hair, I love blonde hair. But I recently found out that actually black hair suits me more than blonde hair because, like I'm saying, black makes you pop. But I like super light colours, but it just so happens that black suits me.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zee Nxumalo (@zeenxumalo_) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zee Nxumalo (@zeenxumalo_) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zee Nxumalo (@zeenxumalo_) Touching on her fashion inspirations, Zee is hoping to explore the kind of casual chic aesthetic local personalities like Siyanda 'Siya Bunny' Bani and Pamela Mtanga embody. Zee says, 'I want to tap into the era of Siya Bunny. Ja yoh, she does it for me. Like a lady with casual. Who else does it? Siya Bunny and Pamela Mtanga. But Siya Bunny for sure, all day every day.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zee Nxumalo (@zeenxumalo_) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zee Nxumalo (@zeenxumalo_)
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Our Favorite Afropop Songs and Albums of 2025 So Far
I have the pleasure of living in the big, busy, diverse, and very diasporic city of Atlanta, where the summertime lituations are about to get very real. There are a ton of great DJs in town spinning all sorts of Afropop and adjacent genres all year long – Afrobeats, amapiano, African, Caribbean, and Brazilian dance music and more – but nationally, it feels like there's always been this idea that these sounds are especially suited for the summer. I've worried this can pigeonhole African artists, stereotype their music, and stifle the success of their crossover, but I've also had a few other thoughts. Over the past five years or so, we've seen stars like Wizkid, Tems, Rema, Burna Boy, Uncle Waffles and even more emerging acts find success on tour, on the radio, and/or on social media all year long. Plus, so much of African music does make you feel good, does perfectly soundtrack social situations, and frankly, is a vibe when it's nice out and you're shaking off stress. And lastly, artists of all genres often clamor to get their music out in time for summer, too. SZA had originally planned for her hit album SOS to drop in time for a 'SZA summer' in 2022, and lowkey panicked when she had to drop in December. In the West, the warmer months are naturally a time folks are freer, more active, and more open to new experiences More from Rolling Stone Karol G, Reneé Rapp, Burna Boy, and All the Songs You Need to Know This Week Excitement Turns to Terror in New Trailer for Astroworld Tragedy Doc Travis Scott's Cactus Jack Brand Unveils WWE Merch Collab for Wrestlemania 41: Shop Pieces Here So, in anticipation of what I hope will be a summer full of Afropop smashes and in celebration of nearly half a year gone by (insane), I'm naming some of my favorite songs and albums across Afropop and a few derivative scenes, in alphabetical order. Songs Black Sherif and Seyi Vibez, 'Sin City''Sin City,' was a true highlight of Ghanaian rapper-singer Black Sherif's sophomore album Iron Boy. Though last year, Sherif told me his follow up to 2022's The Villain I Never Was might not be so heavy, Iron Boy is in fact packed with serious themes and dense sounds. 'Sin City' was a much welcome moment of levity, even if he sounds like he's still balancing hard times and choices on it. Burna Boy and Travis Scott, 'TaTaTa'I, for one, am quite enjoying Travis Scott's pivot towards the continent. I've loved his Rema fandom, I thought he ate on Asake's 'Active,' and now he and Burna Boy make an excellent team on 'TaTaTa,' the latest single from his forthcoming album, No Sign of Weakness, set to drop in July (Burna is good for a summer drop – his last four albums have all been released between July and August). The high-octane Brazilian percussion, unabashed sexuality, and pops of humor ('The road I dey go dey front, but I was looking back/'Cause of nyash, all for the sake of nyash,' Burna reveals) make this song so fun. Darkoo, 'Like Dat'Another thing I've been liking is Afrobeats trending backwards, with artists like Rema and Darkoo tapping into the tambour and aesthetics of the genre circa the 2000s and early 2010s. Darkoo has also been tapping into dancehall of that era too, with the Brick-and-Lace-sampling hit 'Favorite Girl' and now the music video for 'Like Dat,' which channels the video for Sean Paul and Sasha's 'I'm Still in Love With You' from 2002. 'Like Dat' and its stark, stringy synths take me back to the hall parties of yesteryear. Joé Dwèt Filé & Burna Boy, '4 Kampé II'French Haitian singer Joé Dwèt Filé's '4 Kampé' was already a kompa smash before Burna Boy hopped on the track, replete with rolling drums, a rousing electric keyboard breakdown, and Filé's slick creole. With Burna Boy hopping on the track speaking creole too, paying homage to Haitian and Francophone African culture, and also offering his signature lyrical charm in English, it makes for a thrilling meet-up of diasporic relatives. Len, 'See Gbedu'There are a few tracks by UK rapper Len that keep my love of Alté – experimental pop often from Nigeria – alive, including this one, with dashes of Nigerian pidgin and video game synths. It's cool but urgent, with Len spitting in a hurried whisper all 86 seconds of this song that I could listen to for much longer. Last year, he told The Face how much a visit to Nigeria inspired his last solo album Cobalt: SoMuchMore. 'I always want to try and bring things back to Africa – the rhythm, the flex, all of it,' he said. Olamidé and Wizkid, 'Kai!'Olamidé is silky smooth on 'Kai!' Its the type of song that's his guest's, Wizkid's, usual bag but, this one suits the YBNL boss even better. 'Mr. Bombastic, Mr. Romantic,' he flexes, 'African boy wey dey do magic/Came in a Porsche, left in a Lambo.' The production is super decadent, dripping with saxophone and totally gives regality, luxury, and crisp, airy linen suits. Original Koffee, 'Koffee'Look, there's no denying that African and Caribbean cultures and music are biological siblings, so in the diasporan spirit I do have to shout my girl Koffee out for coming back on the scene after a roughly three-year hiatus with an absolute heater. Ghanaian producer GuiltyBeatz (incredible, multifaceted musician, collaborator to Tems, Beyoncé and many more) laced her with an impeccable background of simple percussion, groovy bass, and rich horns to float on. Koffee's always been a skilled sing-jay, evoking the flows of some of dancehall's best deejays and hip-hop's best rappers, but she's back with more bite here, owning the scale of her impact and accomplishments. Rema, 'Baby (Is It a Crime)''Baby (Is It a Crime)' is Rema's first solo single since the success of his sophomore album Heis, and it's uber-cool and nonchalant compared with the frenetic, brooding album. Before the song was released in February, his fans clamored for the Sade-sampling track since he teased a snippet in November. The full version finds Rema at his sensual best. 'I just had the biggest debut in my career,' he told me the day it dropped, while we talked for his Rolling Stone cover. It earned nearly 3 million streams on its first day, and had racked up 27.2 million streams as of March 2. Shallipopi, 'Laho'Shallipopi is one of the coolest street pop acts to emerge from Nigeria in recent years, making a splash with the hit 'Cast' featuring Odumodublvck and repping for his hometown of Benin City on Rema's 'Benin Boys.' He's created another moment with 'Laho,' the laid back anthem that's taken over African social media with the empowering bars, 'Minister of enjoyment/Intercontinental/Monumental/We go live forever.' Elsewhere, much of the song is performed in Bini, his local language. Solis4Evr feat. ytboutthataction, '4K'Solis4Evr and ytboutthataction channel gentle faith and confidence in '4K,' a dreamy, girly meetup where ytboutthataction promises, 'I go to church, I'll never chase you,' as she and Solis brush off disloyal friends and lovers. As an emerging artist from Lagos, Solis hit the streets of Cape Town to ask strangers to judge the song through headphones, and her politeness plus the participants' earnest responses has made it one of my favorite social videos from a musician this year. Tiwa Savage, 'You 4 Me'Tiwa Savage has always had strong R&B credentials, having written for Babyface, Fantasia, Monica, and Mýa, plus performing background vocals for Whitney Houston's final album, 2009's I Look to You. 'You 4 Me' is a charming showcase of that side of her, sampling Tamia's hit 'So Into You' and making it her own with Afrobeats drums and singing with the swagger of a rapper. Uncle Waffles feat. Royal MusiQ, Uncool MC, Xduppy, & CowBoii, 'Zenzele'As a DJ and producer, Uncle Waffles rarely misses. Here, she's curated a tip-top crew in Royal MusiQ, Uncool MC, Xduppy and CowBoii for one of her most playful songs yet – I love the fat, circusy horns on this one; it's like Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey went went amapiano. I also love the adorable, partnered dance that's popping up with it – my favorite video is of Tyla and her team hitting it. Albums Davido, 5iveI adore the love songs on 5ive, like the driven 'Don't Know' and sensual 'Offa Me,' with Victoria Monét. In fact, Davido comes out plainly as a 'Lover Boy,' with two of the Francophone Africa's finest, Tayc and Dadju. On 5ive, Davido celebrates the resilience of love, lilting to his partner that she's the most important thing that he could sing about on '10 Kilo.' Aptly, the album is at its best on songs like 'CFMF' and the single 'Funds,' where it trades the amapiano-indebted Afrobeats Davido has refined for refreshing romances with the warmth of previous hits of his like 'Assurance' (a clear ode to his wife, Chioma), 'Sweet in the Middle,' and 'La La.' Hevi, HeviTanzanian singer-songwriter Hevi's self-titled EP is another project full of romance, teeming with both devotion and disappointment. Though her sweet voice and classic production shine on all five songs, the breezy serenade 'My Rider' is one of my favorites. The way she coos 'I'm never never losing you/I choose you/Forever you're my family,' makes me melt. Hevi only emerged in 2023 and this marks her debut project, but her music exudes the grace and self-assurance of an old soul. Obongjayar, Paradise NowOn Paradise Now, Nigerian-British shape-shifter Obongjayar weaves together highlife, electro-pop, all kinds of rock, and a touch of rap into a tapestry on which he grieves broken relationships, builds new ones, and asserts himself. He intended to call the album Instant Animal, like the crashing, psychedelic jam session of a song of the same name on Paradise Now. He was thinking about what it means to really surrender to a moment. But instead, he named it after a series of parties where he tested the tracks, translating the thrill of a live performance to what actually ended up on wax. Zinoleesky, Gen ZThough 25 year-old Zinoleesky hasn't had the same inescapable crossover success as his Nigerian street-pop peer Asake, his cleverly titled sophomore effort Gen Z is a testament to the radiant taste in rich production, cool wit, and youthful zeal that has made him beloved at home. He's subtly a master of all moods, from the triumphant '2Baba Flex' where he name checks Afrobeats stars by their golden ages, to the sexy, electric 'Suit & Tie' with hip-hop crooner Toosii. The latter, plus link ups like 'Ayamase' with British rapper Ms Banks prove he's he's a malleable collaborator too. World domination might not be far off. Made in Africa is a monthly column by Rolling Stone staff writer Mankaprr Conteh that celebrates and interrogates the lives, concerns, and innovations of African musicians from their vantage point. Don't forget to check out the songs we covered this month and more in the Made In Africa playlist. 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The Herald
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald
'It's a win for all young women coming up': Amapiano duo TxC on BET award
TxC also used the moment to thank their supporters and team. 'To our fans: this [award] is for you,' said Hefke. 'Every stream, every show, every share — we see you. And to our label, thank you for believing in us.' Other South African nominees in the category included Dlala Thukzin and Maglera Doe Boy, highlighting the strong presence of local talent at this year's awards. The category also featured artists from Nigeria, UK, Tanzania, France and Brazil. TxC's win reflects the growing international interest in amapiano, a genre that has enjoyed rapid global expansion in the past three years. 'Consistency, vision and hard work got us here,' Reid said. 'If we can do it, others can too.' Now based between Joburg and international stages, TxC intend to continue to fly the flag for South African music abroad, with their BET win marking what many hope is just the beginning. TimesLIVE
News24
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Amapiano stars TxC makes BET history as the DJ duo claims major US award
South African amapiano duo TxC are the first DJ duo to win Best New International Act at the 2025 BET Awards. The award shared with Brazil's Ajuliacosta continues SA's strong presence at the long-standing awards ceremony following Makhadzi's 2024 win. Industry leaders highlight African music's growing global influence and commercial potential. South African amapiano duo TxC made history at the 2025 BET Awards, becoming the first DJ duo ever to be recognised in the Best New International Act category, jointly winning with Brazilian newcomer Ajuliacosta. Tarryn Reid and Clairise Hefke – collectively known as TxC – accepted their award at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, marking another milestone for South African music on the global stage. The win cements amapiano's growing international influence and follows South African singer Makhadzi's victory in the 2024 ceremony in the Viewer's Choice: Best New International Act category. The Best New International Act category featured impressive South African representation, with Dlala Thukzin and Maglera Doe Boy also receiving nominations alongside artists from Nigeria, the UK, Tanzania, France, and Brazil. Prior to departing for Los Angeles, TxC was honoured with a send-off celebration at which industry leaders praised their groundbreaking achievement. READ | SA's Tyla, Maglera Doe Boy and Dlala Thukzin strike a chord with 2025 BET nods Monde Twala, senior vice president and general manager at Paramount Africa and BET Lead, sees TxC's success as part of a larger movement of African musical excellence gaining global recognition. 'For me, it's about culture and storytelling. If you look at the continent, Africa has great talent. Music and the drumbeat are our anchor, rhythm, and vibe,' said Twala. We are the new frontier – it's Africa's time to shine on the global stage. Our music is from an Afrobeats perspective and an amapiano perspective. Hip hop did it, too – the AKAs have won international awards, and the Casspers have been nominated in the past. Twala highlighted a growing list of African artists making international waves, including Diamond Platnumz, Tiwa Savage, and many others, creating unprecedented opportunities for emerging talent. When asked about African music's global significance, Twala drew focus to the continent's cultural richness as its unique selling point. 'What African culture brings is gold right now. We are magic, but I think it comes from our diversity. If you look at how broad this continent is, all the countries and their vastness, and the dynamics in terms of tribes and languages, we are so dynamic, colourful, and exciting. That's the edge we bring to the world,' he explained. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BET Africa (@bet_africa) Reflecting on South Africa's growing BET Awards presence, he noted past successes from artists like Black Coffee, Babes Wodumo, AKA Nasty C, and Tyla's recent triumph. 'It's beautiful to see amazing talent male, female, young, old – being able to represent the continent,' he said. Young people today must focus on how they can build their brands beyond borders, collaborate with artists across the continent, create business in music outside South Africa, and earn in dollars. He highlighted strategic brand development for artists seeking international success as a key goal up-and-comers should strive for. 'It's about being well-packaged. Always think about how you can package your brand as an artist. Have the right people around you,' he advised. 'It's about exploring new markets. If you're popular in Jozi, think about how to be popular in Lagos and then build your brand in Kenya, New York, and London. Today, we have social media and the internet, making African content and artists accessible worldwide. You have to take advantage of new media. ' News24 reached out to the BET award winners, who were unavailable for comment owing to the time difference and booked public engagements in Los Angeles.
News24
27-05-2025
- Business
- News24
Ami Faku's music journey: From her sonic evolution to being business savvy
Ami Faku says the right team and separating logic from emotions is crucial in surviving the music business. She says the bond she creates collaborating with fellow artists is what shines through in her art. Ami is working on her next album and will be performing at the Sunset Music Series on 1 June. ________________________________________________________________________ From an Eastern Cape church girl to becoming the voice of amapiano's renaissance, Amandu 'Ami' Faku's creative talent speaks volumes. She has been a steady presence in South African music since being featured on chart-topping tracks like Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa's Abalele and Asibe Happy, whether she's songwriting or blending her melodic harmonies with the log beats and synths of arguably South Africa's most recognisable music export. Now with five years under her belt making hits and bagging awards, the 32-year-old artist is honing her craft, more intentional than ever about surrounding herself with the right people in her team and giving her audience what they want. Ami admittedly describes herself as 'very upfront' - whether it's putting her all in her music or making herself heard during our conversation over the rumbunctious personalities doing her hair at the salon. Learning the art of business and music The entertainment and subsequent music industry is no walk in the park, especially if one is surrounded by those who might not have your best interests at heart. It has been reported that Ami launched legal proceedings against her manager and his record label citing alleged lack of financial transparency and unpaid royalties. Steering clear from the subject, the musician instead gave TRUELOVE some insight into how she has grown regarding her approach to the technical and business side of music, while staying true to her passion and integrity. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ami Faku (@ami_faku) 'I've grown in terms of just knowing my weaknesses and strengths and not being afraid to ask questions. For instance, the business side of things is extremely important. And also knowing that being emotional is - when it comes to the business - it's not about that. So, separating the two, with the music you can be [emotional] but with business you have to use logic and sense.' Ami continues, 'So I've taken my part in every day trying to learn the business side of things. And knowing when to ask questions and what to ask. And also just having the right team is extremely important, especially for your business. So, understanding that has done a great number for me. Because I wasn't good at that, so I knew I wasn't, so I took my time to just work on that.' Trusting her instincts Ami's latest projects include soulful harmonies with artists like Nkosazana Daughter intertwined with expertly curated beats from producers like Black Coffee, MashBeatz and Karyendasoul. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ami Faku (@ami_faku) She is intentional about who she works with, explaining that building relationships, a connection and a bond with fellow creatives gives that art that much more meaning. Ami says, 'Connection is very important. Relationships are extremely important and that's what I prioritise. So, when you don't have that bond with people, it lacks in the art. So, for me, I've realised through just always working with people that, that's super important in just general, generally in everything you do in life.' Something new on the horizon Many are still waiting in the wings for another full album project from the musician since her 2019 release Imali, and Ami assures her supporters that it is well on the way. 'Because it's been too long,' she acknowledges. But for now, fans can look forward to seeing her at the Johannesburg edition of the Sunset Music Series, set to be held at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden on Sunday, 1 June 2025 alongside the Thugela Fairy, Sonini songstress Simmy. 'Mostly I'm looking forward to just performing with the full band,' Ami shares. 'That usually is not how I perform, so when I'm getting the opportunity to, that really makes me excited because then there's a connection that we all have, and we've played for over five years together, so it's gonna be a fun for us and as well for the audience.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sunset Music Series (@
