Every week, the iMullar staff round up ten songs we cannot stop listening to, thus forming the weekly list of songs known as “On Rotation.” You heard these recommendations here first. From the UK to Nigeria, each track from this week’s selections is guaranteed to be a vibe.
1. Lady Donli – Thunderstorm In Surulere
Starting my ‘On Rotation’ selections with a COLORS performance that has had me in chokehold. Bringing her vibrant energy to the platform, the performance just oozes excellent vibes. You can tell Lady Donli enjoys every moment of delivering her stellar track live. Kicking off her sophomore album rollout, we can expect more greatness from the alte songstress.
2. Magixx featuring Ayra Starr – Love Don’t Cost A Dime (Re-Up)
In the tail-end of last year, the recent Mavin Records signee, gave us the beautiful single ‘Love Don’t Cost A Dime’. Through the use of sampling, we have this impeccable R&B vibe. Killing her feature game this year, Ayra Starr blesses the track with an addictive verse, giving the song a new fresh lease of life.
3. Emmanuel Best and Droxx – Outside
So we have the multi-talented Emmanuel best, I’m talking rapper, writer, producer and sound engineer. Then we have Doxx, who you may previously come across on popular street anthem ‘Officer’ during the #ENDSARS campaign. The collaboration between the rap fusion artists positions them both as upcoming talents to watch.
4. Big Boys Entertainment featuring Brella, Klayant – Island Girl
The first single from musical group ‘The Big Boys’, including Ghanaian singer, Brella and African American rapper, Klyant. This track has a heavy dancehall influence, both in rhythm and in the infectious refrain. Ushering in early vibes for summer, this cocktail of sounds will transport you somewhere tropical.
5. Kojey Radical featuring Cashh – Born
Off his album ‘Reason To Smile’ that debuted at #11 on the UK charts. After a string of excellent EPs, this project is an exceptional body of work. The entire album has been on repeat, and really I could select any track for this list. The Cashh feature was very well fitting. He brings his Jamaican flair to the richly-textured riddim.
6. Tim Lyre – Present
I am a big fan of this new wave of alte music emerging from Nigeria. Tim Lyre as both producer and artist has been pushing it forward. ‘Worry <’ as a project debut is simultaneously versatile and cohesive. ‘Present’ as a single, I love for it’s upbeat Afropop nature. A slight deviation from Tim Lyre’s usual melancholy but reflective flows.
7. July Drama – FOUR
After hearing July Drama on Tim Lyre’s recent project I took a deep dive into his personal discography. The track with enrapturing introspection, is honest reflection on the artist behind the mask. With whispery vocals, July Drama is able to intertwine candid thoughts over the languid tempo beat. Eerie police sirens in the distance, the production is minimalistic yet not without flavour.
8. SuperSmashBroz and Minz – Party Rider
The perfect addition to any party playlist, SuperSmashBroz and Minz have come together to set the vibes off right. SuperSmashBroz as a formidable DJ/producer duo, have constructed the correct instrumental combination to keep people on their feet. The track laced in his high tenor, I could not think of a more fitting vocalist for the song than Minz.
9. Pheelz and Buju – Finesse
Finally released after teasing on multiple viral clips, many of us may have realised we were singing the incorrect lyrics the whole time. Nevertheless “ahhh finesse, if I broke na my business” will be stuck in the public’s collective consciousness for some time. BNXN, formerly known as Buju, is quickly becoming known for delivering on a feature each and every time.
10. Otega – Laye Mi
The intro track to ‘Proclivity’, the esteemed Nigerian singer knows how to open a project. With Mr Tobss on production, the instrumentation in the last few seconds of this track is really the standout for me. Both the vocals and beat really go hand in hand and there is a very delicate artistry at work here.
