Best of the Month: August

The best new tracks of August 2023 by SGawD, Kaestyle & LeriQ, Chxf Barry, Stefflon Don and more.

August had a lot of fresh new sounds and big releases. From Burna Boy’s anticipated I told Them to Black Sherif’s Take care of Yourself, KK, music released across the continent and diaspora were insanely diverse and so so good! A few may have slipped through the cracks that our music curators caught and fell in love with. You should absolutely check out if you missed them.

21 / KAESTYLE, LERIQ
Nigerian musician Kaestyle, from the camp of Omah Lay, links up with Burna Boy’s producer LeriQ to create the R&B beauty that is 21. The track is one of 5 amazing singles that make up their joint tape Asylum, which explores the connection between Afropop and R&B. The lyrics float over melodies that will touch your heart.

 

DUMP ALL YOUR WORRIES ON THE DANCEFLOOR / SGAWD
Mix hip hop and drum & bass together and you get this head-bopping single from Nigerian musician and rapper SGawD. Dump all your worries on the dancefloor will have you doing exactly that.

 

WHATS POPPIN/ STEFFLON DON, BNXN
Jamaican singer Stfflon Don links up with Nigerian Afropop star BNXN on this groovy Afropop number. What’s poppin’ is an earworm that will slowly creep up on your playlist.

 

VOUS ALLEZ/ M.I.K, ARATHEJAY, GHANAIAN STALLION
This track needs no French lessons to rock to it, despite its title. However, it definitely requires your hype and energy. The future of hip hop in Ghana seems to be in safe hands. And rising artist AratheJay’s verse definitely puts him on our radar of rising stars.

 

WELCOME 2 MY STRIP/ UNKNOWN T, ODUMODUBVLCK
A UK and Naija collab we didn’t know we needed! UK rapper Unknown T connects with Odumublvk on this exciting drill-laced track, perfect for your gym sessions.

 

SWEAT / CHXF BARRY, MAUIMØØN, NICK SOUZA
If you need a bop for your pre-game or getting-ready playlist, Sweat from our East African faves is the one. This melodious tune will work its way into your favourites if you’re a fan of Kaytranada or Janelle Monae.

 

LOST CHAPTER/ MADD
Moroccan rapper Madd got us all hooked on his delivery for THE COLORS SHOW. Lost Chapter is a warm lyrical embrace you didn’t know you needed.

 

BIGGO/ 95ANTNY, ØBED
Ghanaian producers and musicians 95ANTNY and Øbed (from SuperJazzClub) sing about booty in a way that will make you fall in love. If you’re a fan of Masego’s pink polo era you’ll definitely love this one.

 

SUNDRESS/ CHOP DAILY, DEYON AGOI, JULY 7
Chop Daily’s musical releases are showing off some brilliant new talents and Deyon Agoi’s collab with July 7 is one of them. This Afropop record is so smooth you could spread it on agege bread.

 

ISSUES/ YIMEEKA
Nigerian producer and singer Yimeeka delivers a mellow Amapiano record that is an impressive take on the genre for a non-south African. Her smooth melodies combined with the resounding log drums will make you forget she’s complaining about a bad relationship. But amapiano songs always tend to distract us from the matter at hand so maybe she quite nailed it.

 

LEFT & RIGHT/ DUSTEN TRUCE, WASALU
Dusten Truce (fka D-Truce)’s return to the fore is one that is greatly welcomed with this single featuring Wasalu. The Nigerian rapper and musician delivered on this track and left no crumbs.

 

FOR DAYS/ INK BOY, SARKODIE
The amapiano-tinged afrobeats record blends dancehall melodies in an addicting way. Combined with Sarkodie’s signature lyrics this track is a winner. If you’re a fan of Stonebwoy and Darkovibes, you’ll enjoy For Days by Ink Boy.

 

90S BABY/ BIG SKEEZ, DATBREDDADOM
Amapiano blends are a favourite this month as Big Skeez and Datbreddadom’s 90s Baby enter the chat. This one blends Amapiano’s signature log drums with the UK’s distinct melodious rap style. If you enjoyed JHus’ recent hit with Drake you’ll like this single.

 

END OF THE LINE/ TOCHI BEDFORD, CRUEL SANTINO
If Jersey Music, Rage and Alté had a baby, it’d be End of the Line. Tochi Bedford and Cruel Santino make a great combo on this track that’s perfect for your alté playlists.

 

ALIVE/ RAYTHEBOFFIN, YIMEEKA

One-half of Riverray’s RaytheBoffin connects with Yimeeka on this groovy alté track. Alive is for fans for Amaarae and Juls from the Leap of Faith era.