The playlist: African pop – Wizkid, R2Bees, Petite Noir and more

Fun minimalism … Yannick Ilunga, AKA Petite Noir

Kwamz and Flava – Go Mad ft Mista Silva

For a long time, the Azonto dance craze has been Afrobeats’ most visible cultural signifier. Alkayida, which also originates from Ghana, is following its nifty footsteps, slowly raising its profile, thanks in part to dynamic producer and recording artist duo Kwamz and Flava. They follow their breakout hit Wo Onane No with this, which features previous collaborator Mista Silva, and has summer banger written all over it.

Wizkid – Ojuelegba remix ft Drake and Skepta

Wizkid fans have been keeping a watchful eye out for the Naija (Nigerian) pop star who, since signing to Disturbing London (home of Jessie J, Tinie Tempah), will be expected to make moves towards international acclaim. They never anticipated what happened this past weekend, though. Grime’s man-of-the-moment Skepta allegedly put Drake on to Wizkid’s Ojuelegba, a heartfelt rags-to-riches song. Soon after hearing it, both Drizzy and Skepta put their own verses on to a new version, which Drake dropped on his debut OVO Sound Radio show for Apple Music, setting the internet alight and the hopes of Wizkids fans ever higher.

99K – Kasa ft Fimfim and Wanlov the Kubolor

Probably one of the most imaginative videos out of Africa right now comes from newcomer 99K, who takes on the current state of Ghana, casting Wanlov Kubolor as its suave satirical president. Seen fielding questions from the public in a television interview, you almost wish the outspoken rapper would run for office.

R2Bees – Gboza ft Davido

Here’s another surefire hit from Ghana’s most prolific producer, Killbeatz, who’s currently part of Fuse ODG’s production camp and is reunited here with long-time associates R2Bees. The video for Gboza was shot in Texas after their SXSW showcase earlier this year, and follows Davido’s recent collaboration with US rapper Meek Mill.

Petite Noir – Down

South Africa-raised Yannick Ilunga, aka Petite Noir, makes his way to Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo for this fun minimalist video, which accompanied the announcement of his forthcoming album La Vie Est Belle/Life Is Beautiful. The young Congolese/Angolan spoke to the Guardian in January this year. The interview touches on his inspirations, working with Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) and dealing with racism.

The playlist: African pop – Olamide, AKA, Youssoupha and more

Sarkodie – New Guy ft Acehood
Sarkodie is in the running to pick up the best male gong at the MTV Africa Music awards ceremony in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa in July, buoyed by his standing as arguably the most prolific current Ghanaian rapper. In 2012, he won the BET (Black Entertainment Television) award for the best international act from Africa, giving an unforgettable performance among of some of hip-hop’s most renowned lyricists. Twice nominated since, the rapid-fire MC is especially remarkable when rhyming in his native Twi dialect, as on this braggadocio cut featuring US rapper Ace Hood.
Following the success of his 2013 album Black Desire, certified platinum in France, there are signs that Negritude, Youssoupha’s latest, will follow suit. Negritude, often stylised as NGRTD, is the second instalment in his “black trilogy”. On the single Entourage, the French-speaking son of Congolese music legend Tabu Ley Rochereau raps about black life in France, symbolically identifying with the anti-police brutality movement in the US.
Olamide, up for best hip-hop artist, was also named second in a list of the top 10 Nigerian rappers of 2014 by Nigerian music tastemaker site NotjustOK. He has managed to find the happy medium between street grit and popular dance-ready Afrobeats rhythms and melodies. His 2010 debut, and that of his contemporary Phyno, signalled the arrival of a new generation of MCs rhyming in Yoruba (in his case) and other native languages, expanding the appeal of the genre to an Afropop-dominated market.
For a snapshot of modern Cameroonian music, one need look no further than the trap-inspired bass, snares, makossa guitar and bikutsi-flavoured styles blended into rapper Jovi’s March 2015 album, Kankwe Vol 2. His second album, Mboko God, released in May, is just as multi-layered and makes a strong case for the French/Pidgin-rapping contender for best hip-hop.
Be on the lookout for a forthcoming appearance by AKA on Tim Westwood’s YouTube series Crib Sessions. The South African artist is wrapping up a series of promo dates in the UK before he heads home, hopeful that he will collect one of two possible gongs – he’s up for best collaboration and best male.