Music / News

Apple Music announces Show Dem Camp as the featured artist for October’s Rap Life Africa

They chatted about the duo’s new album ‘Palmwine Music 3’, available to stream on Apple Music, the final chapter of an album trilogy that began in 2017.

Rap Life Africa radio also features brand new tracks from South African rapper AKA called ‘Lemons (Lemonade)’ feat. Nasty C and Ghanaian highlife rapper Black Sherif’s ‘SOJA’.

‘Palmwine Music 3′: Show Dem Camp’s latest album is an exhibition of flawless rap techniques and pristine storytelling bound together by their joie de vivre. Played out across 14 songs and three skits, the album features Oxlade, Bellah, and Mannywellz and showcases some of their catchiest and most radio-friendly

The album was released on 30th September is SDC’s 10th album. As Alternative artists, they have released the highly celebrated Palm Wine music series which has spanned three albums: ‘Palmwine Music (2017)’, ‘Palmwine Music 2 (2018), and ‘Palmwine Express (2019)’.

On the Hip Hop side, they have released 6 albums: ‘Clone Wars Vol.1 (2010), ‘The Dreamers Project (2011)’, ‘Clone Wars II (The Subsidy) 2012)‘, ‘Clone Wars III (The Recession) 2016′, ‘Clone Wars Vol. IV (These Buhari Times) 2019′ and ‘Clone Wars Vol. V (2021)’.

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Music / News / NFL / Sports

Rihanna returns to Headline 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show

It is the first scheduled return to the stage for the artist who last performed publicly at the Grammy Awards in early 2018. The music icon, 34, shared an image on Instagram on Sunday hinting that she will perform during the NFL event next year.

In the photo, what appears to be Rihanna’s hand holds up a football. The “Umbrella” singer captioned the post with a single period.

Roc Nation later posted the same image on its respective Instagram account, writing, “Let’s GO,” and tagging Rihanna and the NFL, “#SBLVII.”

“We’re excited to partner with Rihanna, Roc Nation, and the N.F.L. to bring music and sports fans a momentous show,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president for Apple Music and Beats.

There’s been an earlier announcement that the Super Bowl LVII halftime show has inked a sponsorship from Apple Music as part of a multi-year deal with the NFL, the league announced earlier this week. Pepsi had previously announced that it would no longer be returning as a sponsor, following its initial sponsorship at the 2007 show starring Prince and an eventual ten-year agreement that began in 2013.

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Music / News

Fireboy DML Tells Apple Music about collaborations with Ed Sheeran, Madonna, and Rema

  • Fireboy DML on the numerous remixes of “Peru,” and working with Ed Sheeran  “It was the Ed Sheeran version first, that’s the one that matters, that’s the first. That’s the one. Everything else was about strategic stuff and all that, but the collaboration was the Ed Sheeran one. My team reached out to me like, “Yo.” Jamal Edwards, rest his soul, very close to Ed Sheeran, played the song to him, sent it to him and he loved the song. He took his stance to write a verse, and then he sent me a DM, and sent me VM of his verse. I’m like, “Yo, Ed Sheeran in this record, this is it.” Ed Sheeran is someone I sonically connect to, I’ve looked up to this man for a long time, for as long as I can remember. He actually made me fall in love with the acoustic guitar, and it really meant a lot to me, not just for me, but for the culture as well, because I knew what it would mean for Afrobeats when the record came out. I’m glad to be at the forefront pushing the culture, pushing the genre, this is a record that will stand the test of time. Years later they’ll say, “Oh, Afrobeats opened up in the United States worldwide, internationally, and Peru by Fireboy is one of those records that made it happen.” I’m just really glad, that’s what we want, to open opportunities and build bridges.”
    • Fireboy DML on how the song “Peru” has nothing to do with the country, and what it’s actually about

    “[The word “peru” is] also an allusion to a friend of mine, also an artist, Peruzzi. He has uses this tagline in his songs, so I just use it as… it was like a pun, wordplay kind of thing…I was just really telling the story of a young boy who would find himself in a place that he’s never been before. I recorded that song because it was my first time in the United States

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Movies / News

Nigeria’s Asake makes Apple Music history

Ololade Asake has broken records pm Apple Music with the release of his debut album.

  • ‘Mr. Money With The Vibe’ has recorded the biggest opening day for an African album in Apple Music history.
  • Aside from breaking the record for the biggest opening day, Mr. Money With the Vibe also broke the record for the biggest opening three days for an African album in Apple Music history.
  • In a record-breaking trend, 9 songs off the album got into the Global Daily Top 100.
  • In an incredible never before accomplished feat by an African album,  ‘Mr. Money With The Vibe’ reached Number One on the Top Albums Chart in 31 countries worldwide, including Nigeria, the U.K., and Ireland.
  • Multiple songs off of Mr. Money With the Vibe reached the Daily Top 100 in 60 countries worldwide, including 26 where they reached the top 10.
  • The leading songs off the album also reached Number One in 14 countries worldwide.

‘Mr. Money With The Vibe’ is Asake’s debut album that follows an incredible run in 2022 that has seen him drop successive hits. The album is a sonic masterpiece that embraces every element of the artist who explores his Fuji background to offer different fragments of his reality.

The Magicsticks-produced album majestically explores the Amapiano soundscape while also embracing rich Nigerian mainstream and sonic elements. The album has been considered by critics to be one of the best debut albums in the history of Afrobeats and its record-breaking success on Apple Music is further proof of its quality and impact.

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Music / News

‘Made in Lagos’ cost me three years, knew it’ll be mega success – Wizkid

Wizkid was recently named Artist of The Year (Africa) by Apple Music at the Apple Music Awards. During his acceptance chat, he spoke about the success of Made In Lagos.

He says, “I felt it coming. I would say I’m lying if I didn’t feel it coming because it took me three years to work on that album. So I felt like there was going to be a shift, but I didn’t know how it would come. Because I knew that it was kind of like a different… it wasn’t a different sound, but it was a more matured sound from what I used to make.

“From when I was way young, man. I called my first album ‘Superstar.’ How confident can you be? So yeah. I was born to do this sh**, man.”

He also spoke about his admiration for Tems and the success of ‘Essence.’

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Music / News

‘Tems is in my top three,’ says Wizkid

On December 10, 2021, Grammy-winning Nigerian superstar, Wizkid had a conversation with Apple Music. This was meant to commemorate his Apple Music Award for Artist of the Year (Africa).

He reflects on the last 12 months, discusses the huge success of his album, Made In Lagos, explains how his life has changed since his 2011 debut and reveals his plans for 2022. As part of the show, he spoke about the success of ‘Essence’ and his admiration for Tems.

He says, “I don’t see it like that. I don’t think I’m the first through it. I don’t know what I did, but it just kicked the door open. I feel like everyone’s about to come through right now. There’s about to be loads of records from Africa. That feels good because the truth is, people are tired of listening to the same sh**. They want some real sh**.

“And during the pandemic, it kind of helped because we’re all in the house. So it helped everyone find, well for me, basically I would speak for myself. It made me understand the kind of music that I really loved to listen to more. So I feel like that just helped everyone get in touch with like, oh, yeah, man. I want to listen to some good music, what feels great?

“So when that record dropped, what it did for me was what it did for the people. It made me feel better every time I listen to the song. So it’s just a great record, man. Great record. And I love Tems to death. She’s a special, special talent. She’s like my top three.”

Wizkid also thanked Apple Music for the award.

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Awards / Music / News

Wizkid named artist of the year by Apple Music

On November 29, 2021, Apple Music announced winners from its annual Apple Music Award. Grammy-winning Nigerian superstar, Wizkid was named Artist of The Year (Africa), while The Weekend was named Artist of The Year globally.

Wizkid’s excerpt reads, “Singer-songwriter Wizkid is one of Africa’s biggest crossover acts, having worked with Drake, Skepta, and Chris Brown, among others. The Nigerian musician first found regional success in 2011 with the massively popular single “Holla at Your Boy,” which appeared on his debut album, “Superstar.” Wizkid went global in 2016 after his collaboration with Drake on “One Dance,” which soared to the top of the charts in 15 countries.

“Between 2019 and 2020, Wizkid was featured in Beyoncé’s projects “The Lion King: The Gift” and its companion piece, “Black Is King.” In October 2020, he released “Made in Lagos,” his critically acclaimed and most commercially successful album, which included his hit song “Essence,” a track that gained 125 million plays on Apple Music and over 2.8 million Shazams.

“This past year, he’s been the most streamed African artist on the continent on Apple Music and ranked on the Daily Top 100 charts in 60 countries, in addition to his monthly plays on Apple Music growing by more than 250 percent outside of Africa. He’s also been featured on Apple Music’s Today’s Hits and R&B Now playlists, and he’s a frequent guest on Apple Music Radio shows, including “Africa Now Radio,” “The Ebro Show,” “New Music Daily with Zane Lowe,” and “OVO SOUND RADIO.”

“Thank you to Apple Music for this award,” Wizkid speaks about winning the award. “It’s a blessing to get to do what I do, and I’m proud to be representing for Africa.”

Other winners at the awards are Aya Nakamura, who was Artist of The Year in France, and H.E.R, who was named Songwriter of The Year.

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Uncategorized

Adele talks about Amy Winehouse, almost not releasing her new album ’30,’ her divorce and more

On November 17, 2021, popular English singer-songwriter, Adele joined Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 to unpack her highly anticipated fourth studio album, 30. 

Adele Tells Apple Music About Initially Wanting To Release ’30’ Earlier…

I wanted it to come out last year, obviously. And, when I drunkedly announced it at my best friend’s wedding on the stage. Expect my album in September, to a room full of people I don’t f***ing know. But, I wouldn’t know I’d be announcing it to everyone that already pretty much knew anyway. Who the f**k did I think I was? It would’ve been done by then. I hadn’t done the orchestras yet.

And, I hadn’t finalized all of my BVs and stuff like that. But, it would have, had the world not shut down. And, it’s such an integral piece to my life story over the last few years, that I wanted it to come out. Because, when it does come out, it’s the final door closing on that chapter of my life. So, it feels like it’s dragged out for me a little bit.

Adele Tells Apple Music About Losing and Regaining Her Connection With Her Own Music…

I don’t think there’s any expectation of sincerity left in music from artists. And, I believe that artists are sincere. And, I think to be an artist, like an actual artist, it comes from deep within us.

And, it’s a necessity that we have to put it out. And, I don’t just mean being an artist as a singer or a writer. It could be a painter. It could be a photographer. It could be a chef, an architect. Someone that’s creating something. And, I just feel like it’s just a transaction now. And, that’s not why I got into music.

It’s just not my vibe. But, I’m not in it long enough at a time for it to really take me off of music at all. If I was doing this every year, I mean, I’d just be a zombie I think. But,

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