New, Creative & Unique
With popular culture’s lens hyper fixed on African music, art, fashion and culture, it is time more than ever to celebrate the new generation of stars. Young African creatives across the landscape of art, music, media and culture have been making waves worldwide. So we here at iMullar will be profiling 4 emerging acts every month: from the fresh talent jumping headfirst into the music scene to the very best of rising hitmakers. New Music and quality content have become a much-needed escape from our current crazy reality, so enjoy this edition of iMullar’s #RATED picks for the acts to watch out for:
This time, we are getting to know 4 emerging acts: Reefer Tym, DJ Lambo, T’neeya, and Skillz8figure.
Starting us off is Reefer Tym the rapidly rising Ghanaian star who combines clever production choices with his raw, unbridled lyricism. In his own words, Reefer wants to take his unique style of afro RnB and rap to the world, and it seems like he is ready to do just that. Having released his debut self produced and self mastered EP ‘No Games’ in April, Reefer successfully places himself amongst the nu generation of artistes whose music and lyrics tell the story of the realities facing African youth trying to live authentically in conservative and traditional societies across the continent. The ‘No Games’ EP consists of 6 songs which see Reefer explore different popular styles of Afrofusion. His hit, the Afro-pop leaning Carry Go featuring Drew and Nani was a fan favourite to which the star released an accompanying video complete with late-night party vibes and playful choreography reflecting his youthful and fun-loving persona. Other songs like Booty Gang and Naked give off a cheeky vibe comparable to the works of Naira Marley and the like. Give Them is a ‘shake body’ record, the production hints at Ghana’s azonto dance era demonstrating Reefer’s abilities to reinvent his influences to add to his own unique sound. Having been one of the first Ghanaian acts to maintain a top position on the Ghana Top 100 Apple Music charts for one of the longest consecutive numbers of weeks, Reefer Tym’s rise seems inevitable. Sporting his youthful and playful demeanour in both his personality and in his music, Reefer is developing his own brand of artiste.
Intrigued by Reefer Tym? Listen to the No Games EP here.
Next up is DJ Lambo a Nigerian DJ, producer and a self-described Party Animal. Known for her creative mixes and sparse yet dope singles. Despite 2020 being a wild ride, 2020 was also the year that the eclectic disc jockey released her debut EP, ‘A Tale Of Two Cities’. Living between Lagos and Johannesburg, DJ Lambo found her self crafting an ode to both cities with her debut tape featuring acts ranging from Lady Donli, Ice Prince, Ckay to Zanda Zakuza and Toya Delazy. In her own words, DJ Lambo pursued the “unlikely-est” of collaborations in order to make a ‘different kind of magic’. By melding familiar Afrobeats blended with South African house, DJ Lambo created a surprising and uplifting melange of good music. Songs like Bella and Queen of the Dancefloor bridge the gap between the two cities making for a unique listening experience capturing and celebrating the best of each genre.
Need some more Afrofusion in your life? Get lost in DJ lambo’s Tale Of Two Cities.
The third act on our roster is the formidable T’nneya. T’neeya is Cameroonian artiste and songwriter based in Ghana. Know for her sweet and comforting vocals against seductive, emotive lyrics, T’neeya is truly a force to be reckoned with. The singer sings in both pidgin, English and French blending notes of her heritage into a unique, Haute sound. T’neeya’s music dances between soul, highlife and alt leaning RnB with the passionate subject matter concerning love, heartbreak or loss. However on the other side of her sound spectrum, songs like the recently released Free Your Mind and 2019 Joli showcase a more playful side to the Cameroonian songstress whilst providing fun and uplifting anthems for her growing fan base. Having collaborated with a plethora of West African stars like Sister Derby, Kobla Jnr, Odunsi The Engine and BlaqBonez, T’neeya’s reach and star power continues to grow. In fact, a feature from T’neeya marks any song with a certain measure of quality…a certain je ne sais quoi. Her latest single Hype Means Nothing offers a laid back yet soulful glance in the mirror allowing the young star to express her ideas about self-belief and confidence in oneself. In an interview to Unorthodox Reviews, T’neeya shares the vulnerable truth behind Hype Means Nothing which was written at a point where the starlet felt neglected and depressed demonstrating her willingness to let go and grow. Unafraid of her emotions, a student of music and influenced by greats such as Lauryn Hill, Bob Marley to name a few, T’neeya is embracing all that life has to throw at her and using music and love and God to do it.
Get in touch with your inner self by listening to T’neeya here.
After a warm reception to Skillz8Figure’s debut EP ‘Gangsta Luv’. Skillz continues to add to his momentum with his latest release titled Yakpa. Skillz makes self-titled ‘coastal music’ by bringing his unique blend of afro-fusion and pop into the ever-changing afrobeats genre. Growing up between Sierra Leone, Ghana and Nigeria, Skillz was able to pick up different musical ingredients from his patchwork background to make his own style of music. Having previously featured on tracks with names like Quamina MP and PrettyBoy DO, Skillz is well on his way to becoming a mainstay in any conversations about Afrofusion music. On songs like Gangsta, the young star demonstrates a knack for fun melodies and his ability to elevate simplistic lyrics, ‘she wanna hold me down, but man a gangsta, She looking for Mi love, but man a gangsta’ into a memorable banger. Earlier this year, in an interview with iMullar, Skillz describes himself as a messenger for good music, ‘everything is about the music…all I can do is remain consistent and keep creating music that represents the sound and culture’. Ending this year on a high note, we cannot wait to see what Skillz8Figure creates. Coupled with a Pan African gangster edge and a lover man interior, Skillz could potentially be on his way to superstar status.
Keep it Gangsta with Skillz8figure’s debut EP here.
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