Bops to Sustain You This Winter
Music is magic- I don't think this is a debatable fact. Whether it's the sounds of your mom's voice telling you that they ordered your favourite take out (if you're lucky) or maybe it's the sound of your best friends voice on the phone in the UK (as is the case for me). Music matters, so do black lives in case you forgot. In any case, there's actually a great deal of music that's been released lately that is going to sustain my soul this Winter. The beast you feed is the one that grows, as of late the beast that I've been feeding has been searching for new music on youtube at 2:30AM (Uni has messed up my sleep schedule). I won't claim that the music is brand new, a lot of it is new to me. Nonetheless, I figured a lot of it was worth sharing. I won't claim that my blog get's half as many reads as I would hope, so to those of you who are supportive and spend time reading my blog- this is my gift to you. Below are a few of my favourite bops and the reasons as to why, also I think that up-coming creatives don't get nearly enough credit for their craft and this is me playing my part in giving some upcoming artists a very nessecary shout-out. The following is not arranged in order of importance :
1. SZA- CTRL.
It's okay if you don't know how to pronounce her name, no one does- what you need to be able to pronounce is the name of her debut studio album control.
And yes, I am recommending the whole album- shamelessly so. Get Deezer to listen to this if you don't live that Apple Music Life and I'll explain why. If I was bantering with my best friend in room 85 in res, I would scream "FOR THE CULTURE", but I figure I should give more of a substantiated reason as to why this album is imperative for pretty much every women on earth (especially if you're of colour). I'd been hooked to SZA's sound the first time I listened to Babylon on one of her self-titled releases, as well as Child's Play ft Chance the rapper. Since those singles she's grown immensely as an artist and a person - which I relate to. I also relate to the spirit of feminine liberation present in this smooth R&B meets trap house sound. The Jersey born songstress sings about one thing that everyone on Earth should know a little bit about- love. Well modern day love and the Skkrr Skkr trap boys who make you doubt whether it even exits or not. Fearless, and unconventionally feminine is how I would describe this album that pushes the envelope on feminine expectations, as well as the R&B genre in general. The album elaborates on the need for emotional intimacy in modern day relationships and the way in which this intersects with an emotionally transient pop-culture, self-love and sexual liberty ( as well as potential draw-backs thereof.) With passing references to a deeply personal relationship God this album really gripped me. I think what also had me feeling some type of way was carefree attitude that the honesty in her lyrics hold. Some of my favourites on this album would have to be The Weekend, Garden, Love Galore ft Travis Scott, Doves in the wind (got to love the metaphor) and 20 something. For the sake of this article I had to pick one and I chose Normal Girl. For the simple reason that I feel like at some point, every girl on Earth feels pressure to conform and be normal, but once you've outlived 13 years old, I think it's safe to say that you realize normalcy is a well maintained fallacy. Nonetheless, the pressure of this fallacy , can at times be all consuming. There's stability in normalcy as well as security but does it come at the cost of adventure, authenticity and originality? For girl's the cost is often higher. I almost fell off my chair when I logged onto Facebook yesterday and saw that someone I know got engaged. Is that the next milestone that will be expected of me? A debate I immediately dialed up my best friend to discuss- at length. The conversation had me wondering if the yearning for intimacy that I sometimes experience mine alone, or socially engineered- but don't get me wrong, engagement is a long LONG way off for me (I'm having too much fun). Am I a normal girl? somehow looking at the rings on my PC screen I felt far from it if that was what normal looked like. For the record I like to think that I'm extraordinary.... anyways I digress. In any case, the album is truly spectacular. Give it a listen with an open mind, and a full glass of wine - for the culture. An hour and a half is all it will take for you to be completely hooked.
2. Ray BLK.
Where did this musical magician even come from? Nigeria... but she grew up in London. In any case none of that will matter when you listen to her voice- a mixture of rap and R&B she feels somewhat like Erykah Badu but then again no comparison is fitting. There's something very empowering about her musical style as well as her style literal style- all of which is demonstrated in this music video. For those of you too scared to enter a POC saloon, (yes saloon not salon) this is pretty much what it's like - empowerment in the form of creative and skillful hands. Culturally, the atmosphere in salon's is one of affirmation as well as communication. The beauty of blackness is always affirmed as well as engineered in these spaces. Whether it's the conversations about failed relationships, Rihanna's latest bae (who is a snack by the way) or the saddening narrative of femicide in the country saloon's are the most open, accessible platforms for politically incorrect, opinionated conversations. The essence of which is demonstrated in this music video. The creativity of women of colour is always demonstrated in these spaces, and I'm not just talking about what happens on top of our heads. The familiarity of this scene as well as the fact that she's wearing a bandana as a shirt sold me within the first minute. She has other tracks, but this track is by far my favourite- patience. A virtue I consistently pray for, her level-headed reminder that progress is the result of patience was very necessary during this last exam period. Another truly lit performance of hers was her Alicia Keys Un-thinkable cover in Radio 1's piano session (youtube it). I'm impatiently awaiting an album.
3. IAMDBB- LEANED OUT
This is what rap has needed. A throwback to my parent's 90's rap, this song sold me. Classified as ambient, she's a whole entire (self-proclaimed) wave. Having performed for the President of Angola, the voalist is a force to be reackoned with. Relatively new to the hip-hop scene, the 20 year old producer and songwriter classifies her music as Urban Jazz- which I can't get enough of. Drawing inspiration from South African Jazz artist Jimmy Dludlu - it's doubtful that she's going to go wrong anytime soon. "Fulfilling enlightenment" is what she's quoted as striving for in her music and I certaintly felt fulfilled once I listened to this track.
4. ABRA- FRUIT
God bless the fact that my youtube autoplay wasn't paused last year during exams, because that is how I stumbled across ABRA. She's the bad bad that lives in every girl that escapes when the gin was poured with a heavy hand, or the epiphany that undoubtedly follows every break up - the moment when you realize you were too good for him in. Yeah, that feeling is how this song sounds- fresh, attention-grabbing as well as self-assured. Her voice feels like when you think you're hungry but then only manage to finish half of your plate - deceptively satisfactory. This track, is taken off of her fourth studio album Rose. ABRA is self-celebratory in a non-concieted way and I'm committed to the cause. The cause being an exhaustion with having the integrity of her blackness interrogated , according to an interview in a Fader article. The epitome of carefree but cautious a cloud of anonomity surrounds the age as well as real name of the singer. The self-proclaimed Darkwave Dutchess will continue to have me drowning in her self-love, elevated self-esteem as well as on-point lyricism.
5. DANIEL CEASAR- GET YOU FT KALI UCHIS
If you haven't heard this song, I'm going to assume that you actually hate yourself. As we all know, only good things come out of Canada and this singer is no exception. This song is the soundtrack to a deeply emotional, partially lust-filled and yet captivating summer romance. Think late night kisses stolen from lips impatient to hear the next hello- this man's voice will make you fall in love both with him and the idea of love itself. Raw, venerable and honest is how his lyrics could be described. Endearing as ever Ceasar will find his way into your playlists effortlessly. Other favourites from him are Japanese Denim, Violet as well as River Tiber (which he featured on).
6. CARDI B- YELLOW BODAK
If we are actually friends, there will have been a point where you will have heard me call money "shmoney"- and I have Cardi B to thank for that. Just a regular-degular-shmegular girl from the Bronx (her words not mine), the former Love and Hip-Hop Star is probably the only good thing to ever come out of that show. With a great sense of fashion, humor as well as laser focus on the come up- she's the rapper we have all been in desperate need of. Ex-stripper turned millionaire the most carefree black girl of 2017 award goes to Cardi B. I can't actually explain how much I love her, but I'll make a solid attempt. Cardi B is college educated.. kind of. A college dropout, to be exact, due to financial strain (#FMF) Cardi turned to dancing to make ends meet. The plight of the proletariat in her story is not lost on me. Moreover, her blind ambition. Cardi claims that God lead her to the strip club ( to escape domestic violence) and I'm inclined to agree. There aren't many people, who survive domestic abuse with their self-esteem and self-belief in tact but Cardi B did. She's accessible, not only through social media but through her lyrics. The former, being a tool utilized by Cardi to talk to her fans- which she speaks to about feminism, financial investment schemes as well as the art of finessing. The fact that Cardi B has so seamlessly navigated patriarchal spaces and made her voice heard is both commendable as well as award worthy. Cardi B is creating a much needed platform for non-academic feminist dialogue to occur- which I'm in supportive of, because feminism is often undermined by a suffocating and ever-present bourgeoisie academic narrative. Which is actually futile, because the people best positioned to benefit from feminism are robbed of participating in feminism because classiest concerns gate-keep the liberating ideology. Furthermore, Cardi B is a very necessary reminder that believers come in all shapes and sizes, all saved by Grace, in favour with God- receiving His covering. I enjoy that she's Christian because she pollutes the expectation of what a Christian girl should be like. Whether or not she's in right-standing with God is between HIm and her, but I can't help but love the fact that she believes in God despite the fact that her belief might bother those around her. What is also noteworthy about Cardi is that she's innovative both with her lyricism as well as her dress sense. She's a boss, she's a mogul for a simple reason that she's in the process of erecting an empire against all odds. Against the odds of the Bronx, surviving domestic violence as well as a highly patriarchal industry. Cardi B is much needed confirmation- that your dreams are valid irrespective of where they come from. Lyrically, she will get you through an entire gym set with ease. A combination of her flow, relationship with beats as well as her accent makes her talent undeniable. DISCLAIMER : Her music isn't for faux-femnists or those with delicate sensitivities towards blasphemy.
7. ON THE FENCE - LOTTO
Okay, I am obsessed with the youtube channel colours. If you don't trust my taste in music, this channel has something for everyone. So my next few choices are all from this specific channel, they have an astounding ability to find new and up-coming talent, and I'm all the way here for it. I love this specific song mainly because of how smooth the beat was, and the way he's singing over it had me hooked.
8. LEVEN KALI- JOY
Who doesn't need more of that?
9. JACOB BANKS-MERCY
Shock yourself and give this a listen, because this is truly exceptional.
10. DENNIS LLYOD- LEFTOVERS
The Kooks meets long warm summer days is what this man's voice sounds like.
11. JACKSON DYER- STEAL AWAY
If you've ever fallen in love it feels something how this song sounds.
15. TA_KU & WAFIA- MEET IN THE MIDDLE
The soundtrack to a teenage love affair that you didn't know you needed.
16. MOGLII & NOVAA - MOTHER
For the Alt-tech lovers, this song would play at the climax of the plot in your favourite anime.
17. SHAY LIA- LOSING HER
Another Canadian- that's all I have to say.
18. PARTYNEXTDOOR- CAN'T LET THE SUMMER PASS
Okay, so party isn't on the come up - but you've never heard him like this and I can't figure out why. I won't explain any further, just give it a listen.
19. MR. EAZI - LEG OVER
It would be both remiss, as well as ignorant for me to pretend as if African artists don't have the plug and Mr. Eazi certainly has it on lock with this club banger.
20. SABRINA CLAUDIO- ORION'S BELT
She's young and emotionally attentive with the voice of an angel. I fell in love with her last year and have't fallen out since. She is as venerable as she is poetic. Another favourite of hers is confidently lost.
That concludes it - insight into how wonderfully strong the beast that I've been feeding has begun to grow.
BONUS TRACKS :
- PRINCESS NOKIA - TOMBOY
Okay, Princess Nokia deserves an article of her own which may happen at a later date. For now? Think intellectual lyricism, meets wit, meets feminism, meets sexual liberation. That is all.
- LUNA GOD - BETTER CALL BECKY
Considering how technologically impaired I am, it's a miracle that this blog hasn't spontaneously imploded yet. With this in mind, I have struggled to try and add a link to one of my favourite DJ's maybe ever, but I was successful (click on the picture and his soundcloud profile will open). I stumbled across Luna God at some point in first year and haven't looked back since. The Seattle born king of Deep Space Twerk (yes that is a genre) is an electronic engineer and I don't say this lightly. My prediction is that this Deep Space Techno DJ is bound to be signed in the next 2 years. If Rap and Electro had a lovechild that was equal parts for the culture as it was white suburbia - it would sound something like this. It's like twerking on your favourite song unexpectedly in Tin Roof - those of us who live in Stellenbosch know what I'm talking about. I'm a fan of pretty much all his work but Better Call Becky, Why You Gotta fight with me at cheesecake, I need every bad Bitch up in Equinox and This is my part are undeniable favourites.
-THAMI-ANOMONLY
One of the most amazing musical minds I've ever had the privilege of meeting- in person at high school. Disgustingly underrated and underappreciated Thami is both rapper and singer. All two of his songs are what will definetly help anyone get through winter.
Again, click on the pic to open a link to sheer magic.
DAFRICAN - TOXIC FT CHRISTINA LOVE
Another soundcloud genius.
Trap music meets Britney Spears- and yes it's far better than you could ever anticipate. I found this song a year ago and I'm still hooked. This really is a must listen.