1. Olamide, Fireboy DML, Asake – Uptown Disco
Source:Olamide
Just under a year after the release of his critically acclaimed Unruly album, which has amassed over 300 million global streams, and amidst rumours of his “retirement” swirling the zeitgeist, renowned African music icon and Nigerian rap legend OLAMIDE is back with a surprise new EP titled IKIGAI / 生き甲斐, VOL.1. The EP title, derived from the Japanese concept of ‘ikigai’, which means “a reason for living“, serves as a thematic foundation for the project, where Olamide explores the intersections of passion, profession, and purpose. Throughout the EP, Olamide reaffirms his position as a trailblazer in global music, delivering on innovation and deep resonance yet again.
The Ikigai / 生き甲斐, Vol. 1 EP showcases Olamide’s genre-defying artistic versatility, and puts his legendary status in global music in no doubt. Sonically, the EP is a glorious fusion of hip-hop, afrobeats, dancehall, amapiano, and pop music, which offers a rich tapestry of diverse eclectic sounds, as Olamide continues to push the boundaries of his sound. Diving into themes of life, love, and power, the 7-track project reflects a new chapter in Olamide’s career, marked by a renewed passion for music, and a deeper connection to his artistry, underscoring his continuous evolution on this journey towards his ‘ikigai’ – his true reason for living and fulfilment.
Each track on Ikigai / 生き甲斐, Vol. 1 offers a distinct musical experience, with the opener ‘Metaverse’ introducing listeners to the EP’s eclectic sonic landscape, followed by the high-energy ‘Uptown Disco’ featuring Olamide’s proteges Fireboy DML and Asake, while ‘Knockout’ with Moroccan Algerian songstress Sabri adds a soulful and sensual undertone to the project. ‘Hello Habibi’ sees Olamide exploring Arabic musical influences, demonstrating his global outlook, while the spiritual ‘Morowore’ reveals more of Olamide’s introspective side. The EP culminates with the nostalgic ‘Synchro System’, which reunites Olamide with YBNL alumni Pheelz, Young Jonn, and Lil Kesh.
2. Elmiene – Light Work
Source:Elmiene
Elmiene returns with his anticipated new single “Light Work”, co-written and produced by OzMoses Arketex (Busta Rhymes, Blxst, Yung Bleu, Skip Marley) via Polydor/Def Jam Recordings.
“Light Work” sees Elmiene celebrating the ease of a relationship when people find themselves on the same page. It’s a dedication to a love that materialized during a moment of hopelessness and redefined happiness – a love worth doing anything to hold onto.
Elmiene continues to establish his position at the forefront of contemporary soul with each new release. Following last year’s breakthrough Marking My Time EP the Oxford artist has remained prolific with a string of singles, covers and live recordings, and has collaborated with some of the most sought-after names in music including Syd, Sampha, Lil Silva, D’Mile and Dahi.
“Light Work” arrives shortly after the captivating ‘Live At 525’ EP, which captured a sun-soaked summer jam session recorded from an L.A. Airbnb – the set saw Elmiene performing stripped back interpretations of songs by Frank Ocean, Cleo Sol, Prince, D’Angelo and Dijon, as well as two of his own stand out singles ‘Sweetness’ and “Crystal Tears”.
Since his emergence, Elmiene has been known for his stunning live performances, and tickets remain in high demand. Having already announced a North American tour, and with European dates to follow – including another London headline show – Elmiene is on an unstoppable run of live dates this year.
3. Chuckyy – Tweak Till The End
Source:Chuckyy
Chuckyy – the buzzing 18-year-old Chicago native and protégé of hometown hero Lil Durk – releases his debut mixtape Tweak Til The End today via OTF/Santa Anna Label Group.
LISTEN TO TWEAK TIL THE END HERE
Chuckyy’s steady stream of singles and freestyles over the past year have garnered increasing buzz from fans and industry alike, as his breakout track “Me Vs Me” has racked nearly 4 million YouTube views in just a matter of weeks. Other standouts include “Turn My Snake Up,” and last week’s “Devil Hours,” which peaked at #27 trending on YouTube upon release.
Known for his over-the-top, boastful, often macabre punchlines over haunting, skeletal production, Chuckyy’s freestyles have been making noise as well. His hysterical, ‘Slow Jamz’-sampling “Veeze Flow” freestyle from On The Radar has amassed over 6 million views on TikTok, while the bizarre “Hear My Chains” freestyle from On The Ringg caught the eye of Pitchfork’s Alphonse Pierre, who noted the tracks “ominous church bells, stuttering Michigan-style drums, and the sound of rattling chains that feel like wind chimes on a stormy night,” and praised “Chuckyy’s congested voice and ahead-of-the-beat flow only make his macabre raps that much more sinister.”
Stay tuned for more on OTF/Santa Anna’s breakout young star, Chuckyy…
4. JEMS! – CREEPIN
Source:whatisjemsVEVO
Today JEMS!, the collaborative project between Oakland born singer, songwriter, and rapper Elujay and Baltimore-bred producer J.Robb, release their new single “CREEPIN” and companion visual from their new album, GEMS IN THE CORNERSTORE II, out September 20th via drink sum wtr (Secretly). “CREEPIN” showcases the street-soul shuffle of the record with smooth hooks, trailing harmonies, and a laid-back ‘90s pop bend. The track was recorded with Elujay’s live band in hometown of Oakland and was born from a collaboration with Bay-area producer Hokage Simon. Coupled with the duo’s kick off track, “FLIGHTS”, that’s brimming with an insatiable blend of R&B, dance, and reggae, “CREEPIN” thoroughly captures the sprawling, kaleidoscopic output that lines the multi-faceted new GEMS IN THE CORNERSTORE II. The album features collaborations with beloved artists including Amaria, Chase Shakur, Louis Culture, and Rae Khalil, bringing to life the dynamic nature of each artist for a project that feels pleasantly familiar yet completely unique and exhilarating.
The by-product of a profound friendship years in the making, GEMS IN THE CORNERSTORE II is an expansive body of work from two world-class artists understanding where their strengths meet and precisely what constitutes a desired vibe. Inspired by their shared immersion in UK nightlife, the album houses a collection of songs that encapsulate the African diaspora which has been beautifully fostered within the walls of the London club scene. Sonically, it pulls from the sounds, artists and eras that have long inspired the duo as well as their shared Caribbean heritage, ranging from old-school R&B and hip-hop to Lovers Rock and dancehall to contemporary indie, ambient, and the many innovative styles they’ve encountered in the UK.
They titled their debut project GEMS IN THE CORNERSTORE (released in 2020 on Soulection Records) because the phrase conjured “a kind of urban diamond in the rough,” says Elujay; the feeling of finding something unexpected in the melting pot of a city, an allegory that’s even more apt for its follow-up. This new body of work was recorded largely in person across sessions in Los Angeles, Oakland, London, and New York, infused with a vibrancy for life and a global sensibility. The result is an irresistible “feel-good record,” as J.Robb put it, by a duo whose shared love for music and deep admiration for each other remains at the core of their art. All artwork for this project was created by renowned visual artist Frank Dorrey who has produced striking imagery and artwork for Steve Lacy, Noname, Aminé, and brands like Mowalola to name a few.
FROM ELUJAY ON “CREEPIN”:
“One of my favorite songs I’ve made to date. ‘CREEPIN’ was me trying to write a pop song for a big artist . I realized that I should keep it when I showed J.Robb because he reacted so viscerally. We got together with some of my bandmates and put our spin on it. Later on I realized it was kind of like a sister track to my song ‘Ratrace’ with the UK street soul bounce .”
5. Diplo & Mau P ft. Gunna – Receipts
Source:Diplo
Today, Diplo and international house sensation Mau P unveil a collaborative new single, “Receipts,” featuring acclaimed rapper Gunna—listen HERE. The genre-defying track harnesses the essence of each artist’s individual style, delivering a new sound uniquely in a category of its own.
The result of several sessions preparing for their b2b set at Coachella’s new dance music stage Quasar in April of this year, “Receipts” signaled the onset of an authentic personal and creative partnership for Diplo and Mau P. The pair first unleashed the track during the four-hour performance, marking not only Mau P’s Coachella debut and the duo’s first b2b but also the first time the collaborators met in person. The track has since become a fixture in both artists’ individual sets around the world.
“‘Receipts’ came to life as Wes and I were preparing for our b2b Coachella set which was also my debut performance at the festival,” Mau P says. “We had been talking for hours about music and our various influences, after which Wes asked me the obvious question – ‘Should we try to create a song together that we can play at Coachella?’ He had recently done a session with Gunna and gave me an acapella to mess around with. One night during Miami Music Week, I came home from a show feeling pretty hyped up, opened my laptop and landed on the first version of this track. From there, Wes and I went back and forth to nail it, and eventually…
