Celebrating Black History Month by featuring four weeks of Tiny Desk (home) concerts and playlists by Black artists spanning different genres and generations each week, Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido delivered, from his estate in Lagos, an intimate four-song performance that took consumers on a mini-retrospective of his career on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk series.

Born David Adedeji Adeleke, the multi-award winning musician and the Alternate Sound band created a sultry vibe with a unique rendition of “Gobe,” his smash 2013 single, to open the set. He strips back “Aye,” a hit from 2014, with an unfettered rendition showcasing his natural voice devoid of any vocal effects.

Rounding out this Tiny Desk (home) concert, he concludes with “Jowo,” a single from the album that of conjures hope for better times ahead. Like all touring artistes, the pandemic forced Davido to spend extended time at his home instead of traveling the world. The last year allowed him to re-center himself in his motherland and inspired his 2020 release, A Better Time.

Davido has long expressed pride in his father’s success. He titled his 2012 debut album Omo Baba Olowo, meaning “son of a rich man” in the Yoruba language. In his (home) concert, Davido cites his father as his inspiration in a sweet and tender moment: “A Nigerian American like myself that studied in the States…I went to an HBCU, you know… My dad went to one as well and my dad used to work at Burger King. … To become what he’s become today as a Black man starting off in America has been very, very inspiring to me.”

National Public Radio – NPR’s Tiny Desk Series also includes both emerging and established artistes who will be performing a Tiny Desk concert for the first time. This celebration highlights the beautiful cornucopia of Black music and our special way of presenting it. We hope you enjoy.

“Forever”; a love oriented second single off Gyakie’s debut EP – SEED produced by Kros has been listed in this week’s updated Alté Cruise playlist by Apple Music. Since the release of the mini-album, the standout single has made a groundbreaking statement for the young Ghanaian female musician after it made series of chart appearances on some biggest music market in Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana, and other parts of the ecosystem.

In December 2020, the song debuted at 11 on Billboard Top Triller Global Charts. In February 2021, it became the first Ghanaian single to amass over 5million streams on Audiomack music discovery platform. Directed by Steven Asamoah, the video was premiered in August 2020 and currently has over 1million streams. It sees Gyakie and her love interest in different shots throughout the house, enjoying one another’s company. All in all, complimenting the theme of the song.

With a total of 11Million streams thus far across 5 major music stores, including Audiomack, Boomplay, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Soundcloud, Gyakie’s five (5) track EP is rife with different sounds that merely give you a taste of what she is capable of and what to expect on her journey, which has only just begun. Stream EP here: https://gyakie.fanlink.to/seed-ep/

While that comes off as intriguing, she’s also burdened with the thoughts of conforming to what is expected of her as her father’s ‘seed’ as well as deciding on choosing her own path and maintaining her integrity. The ”SEED” EP is a journey that explores diverse genres as a reflection of Gyakie’s musical quest of finding and staying true to herself while leaving lingering thoughts of what to expect from her in subsequent projects.

Dive into the new wave of alternative sound from the streets of Accra, Lagos, Khartoum, more through to the diaspora. Alte Wave covers some of the hottest and insanely talented emerging stars of the new generation currently making waves. They’re making their way up the charts by blending and bending genres to bring an immersive experience to listeners. Tunes that rock your boat should find their way to your own library.

Other Ghanaian Musicians on the playlist are Amaarae – “Fantasy” featuring Maesu & CKay and Tripcy – “Winnie Mandela”

Check out the playlist below;

Here comes another major project by Ghana’s biggest Reggae/Dancehall home, Irie Ites Studio. Officially launched in 2016, Irie Ites Studio has proven itself as the most visible and biggest Ghanaian Reggae/Dancehall recording studio with international appeal.

The Nima-based studio which launched its maiden project in 2016 with a 3-riddim CD called “Irie Jamz Compilation” returns with “Virtual Love Riddim”.

“Virtual Love Riddim” produced by the studio’s resident Producer, Tunz, features at least 15 artistes, namely Kamelyeon, Sean Taylor, Ric Spade, Addi Pyramid, Renner, Sober Blood, Future Conquerer, Kahpun, Euni Melo, Blazebwoy, Rizzlah Stylah, Stilgo, Rowan, Wanga Lee, X-Blankson, others.

“Virtual Love Riddim” is a crossover Dancehall fusion with pop, tipped to be the studio’s next biggest project. Spotlight for the riddim album throws attention on the current wave of buzzing and ‘next-to-blow’ Reggae/Dancehall artistes.

“Virtual Love Riddim”, an initiative by Irie Ites Studio is being coordinated by ace Ghanaian Publicist, Elorm Beenie. With his expertise in this field and network, Management, is very hopeful this will push not just the name of the studio but as well give more voice and market to the ‘new wave’ of beaming music talents. The CEO, a visible crooner of the culture has been on top of his game with at least 7 riddim album projects since the inception of his studio.

Stream Here: https://orcd.co/virtualloveriddim

(Source: Elorm Beenie)

Kamelyeon has become more vocal than he was before.

The versatile Ghanaian Reggae/Dancehall artiste who released his debut EP “Rainbow” 3 months ago laments bitterly about the less attention given to his other fellow Ghanaian Reggae and Dancehall Musicians.

In a latest interview he honoured on Atinka 104.7FM in Accra on Saturday, February 20, 2021, he says, “there are many very talented Artistes out there who are putting out great content on a regular and pushing across diverse corners. Many are organizing their own shows with no external support from anybody. But they are not getting the spotlight from the media. The media in Ghana only highlights feuding Artistes within our genre and forget the rest and blame us for not working hard. Not every artiste can do ‘beef’ songs or engage in clash. Me for example, I have been releasing songs nonstop but I wasn’t getting the buzz until I entered the ‘clash’ zone and dropped counteraction songs then the hype was in my corner. We don’t have to do it this way because it discourages a lot of other good Artistes out there who don’t beef.”

“Rainbow” his 6-track EP released on November 13, 2020 has a fine combination of Reggae, Dancehall and Afrobeats. With over 60,000 streams already he has shot 5 videos from the catalogue.

Kamelyeon got signed to an Accra-based record label, 16th August 85 Villa in 2020. The “Rainbow” EP was released under the label with Elorm Beenie as the frontline man pushing the works and running his PR for the project.

Listen to “Rainbow” EP by Kamelyeon here: https://mipromo.ffm.to/kamelyeon-rainbow

Watch his “Smile” Video here on YouTube:

(Source: BeenieWords.com)