Hello everyone! Hope you are all well and continuing to keep safe and healthy! I just wanted to make everyone aware that I have released an album review episode of the Music and Life Podcast. The album review is on US artist Rod Wave and his latest album “SoulFly”. The episode is exclusive to Spotify as it features some tracks from the album!
I really enjoyed listening and taking in this album. As mentioned on the episode, I talk about how Rod Wave is great at demonstrating his pain through his music. The album was emotional and raw but highlighted the beauty of expression in music.
Have a listen and let me know what you think! The episode is out now!
Hello everyone, in the latest podcast episode I talked about 4 tracks that I’m loving at the moment.
Drake Ft. Rick Ross – Lemon Pepper Freestyle
As mentioned in the podcast, Drake and Rick Ross always have incredible duets! This verse is one of the reasons why Rozay is one of the best rappers we have. For me Rick Ross glided on this song so smoothly. There’s no way you won’t want to replay his verse again!
Yaw Tog Ft. Stormzy & Kwesi Arthur – Sore Remix
Ghanaian artist Yaw Tog’s hit song has been in circulation since last year and this remix is even better. He recruits Kwesi Arthur and UK rapper of Ghanaian heritage Stormzy. It’s a great collaboration and will be the perfect song for the summer!
Big Sean Ft. Nipsey Hussle – Deep Reverence
Big Sean has been on fire recently. The deep meaning and passion that is portrayed through his music as of late has been amazing. This song features no other than the late great Nipsey Hussle. A great song with wonderful meaning. I love the video too!
Jessica Akin – Roots
I came across this song recently and what a pleasure! I really love the tone of Jessica’s voice! The song is a wonderful ode to culture and heritage. I hope this is the beginning of more music from here and potentially a project too.
Check out episode 4 of the Music and Life Podcast which is out now below.
I love hearing upcoming Nigerian artists so it was a pleasure to hear this project. The new EP is by Nigerian born British artist K4mo. This EP is a follow up from his 2020 project ‘Spider‘.
You may recognise his voice from the hit song by Mr Eazi and Major Lazer which also featured Nicki Minaj! The song ‘Oh My Gawd‘ feature K4mo’s vocals on the intro and the hook.
The EP starts off with the vibrant track “2 Slugs“. One thing you can always guarantee with afrobeat inspired projects is that the production and beats will always be top tier! You can usually feel the energy trying to be conveyed via the song and this EP is living proof of this argument.
One of my favourite tracks from the EP would be “Lamba” featuring SK. I love the fusion of K4mo’s different tones on the song. SK also adds a bit of spice with his input . This is the perfect track to zone out to.
Another solid track that stood out for me would have to be “Diana“. The song has a Carribean/Dancehall feel to it with a steel pan kind of mood.
‘Chain Reaction‘ is also a stand out track on the EP. With this song we are able to hear K4mo’s rapping ability. His flow on this song is very impressive while still maintaining his melodic sound.
The EP is a great glimpse of the talent of K4mo and possibly a hint at even more to come!
When you hear the word Ghetts in the UK, you automatically think of “Witty wordplays”, Grime Legend” or even “Storyteller”. All of these phrases are demonstrated to the highest degree on this third album.. If you are not a Grime lover or even aware of Ghetts’ music (Where have you been?) you can listen to this album and understand to a T who Ghetts is, what he stands for and how talented he is. Surprisingly despite his nearly 20-year career and with 3 studio albums, this is his first album released from a major label.
I am a Ghetts fan and have been for a while but I find with Ghetts, so much of his music and bars are overlooked due to the fact his talent is beyond many peoples understanding. In a recent interview, Ghetts stated that he had to learn how to make his music a bit more digestible to those who may not have understood before and it’s clear he put that into practice on this album. The evolution he has shown from a grime MC to a giant in the UK rap scene is incredible to witness.
When it comes to wordplay, Ghetts is without a doubt one of the best storytellers of our time. Every song he releases makes you think and want to know more. This album feels like an autobiography of his life as he reflects on his past, his present and his future. He reflects on his past via some mistakes, his successes and his growth. The maturity on this album is evident and is felt throughout. Here are some of the tracks that stood out to me;
‘Fine Wine’, the intro track of the album is the perfect startup and prep for the album. From the first line “Rudeboy, I’m the certiest“, you hear Ghetts making a mark and inserting his dominance. On this song, Ghetts speaks his truth and talks about the times he has struggled, where he came from and where he plans to be. He also admits that he is the best and a legend in the game. Quite rightly!
This leads perfectly into the next track ‘Mozambique’ featuring Jaykae and South African artist Moonchild Sanelly, where Ghetts samples himself with his previous song ‘Top 3 Selected’. I wasn’t a huge fan of the song when Ghetts released it before the album drop but the strings used on the album version of this song are sensational!!! The transition from the intro track to this song is also top tier. For me, Jaykae steals the show on this song, his verse is so smooth!
‘Fire and Brimstone‘ features a more mellow and calmed down Ghetts while maintaining his greaze. I liked the Dizzee Rascal samples featured too. The song touches on the realities of Ghetts’ life. Despite his success, he still faces regular troubles with the police and is constantly discriminated against due to the fact he is a black man.
If I was asked to play ONE song to explain Ghetts to someone that didn’t know him or his story, “Autobiography” would be the song from this album. Ghetts even slowed down his flow, still keeping it clear and precise. I recently listened in on a Ghetts interview about this album and he stated that with this song, he was trying to find different ways to say things about himself. After the decades Ghetts has been in the game, the fact it’s still interesting to hear someone’s life story is amazing. This is credit to Ghetts incredible storytelling ability.
‘Good Hearts‘ featuring Aida Lae is definitely one of my favourite tracks from the album. I was surprised at the change in pace for this track, being a Ghetts album but I loved how refreshing it felt. This song feels like an old school garage track, the kind of song you would have blazing from speakers in the blazing sun! This track also emphasises the versatility of Ghetts. His flow on this song is as flawless as the slowed paced song previously. I can’t wait for summer to really take advantage of this song! Nice to also point out there is a great message too “A good heart don’t come around often, if you’ve got one, then cherish that organ” FACTS!
The only word I can use to describe ‘Dead To Me‘ is POETIC. On this track Ghetts pours his heart out “Next time I see cupid cock back I’m shooting right back. Dat’s bang bang bang loves dead to me. Bang there’s no love left in me” indicating he’s been hurt in love (Something I’m sure we can all relate to). I love when rappers like Ghetts who are known for their greaze, power and fire provide us with songs that show their vulnerable side. In terms of storytelling, this is why Ghetts is one of the best. The imagery in this song is conveyed so well through Ghetts’ bars. This may be one of my favourite Ghetts songs in a while. I love how the beat also slows down during the verses when Ghetts gets deeper and picks up again for the chorus. It’s almost as if he uses the verses to reminisce and recount and the chorus to pick himself back up.
I was so surprised when I saw the tracklist for this album and saw that ‘10,000 Tears‘ featured Ed Sheeran. I know they have collaborated before on Ed’s No. 5 Collaborations Project but I wouldn’t have originally thought to put Ed on a Ghetts album. Unlike the last song, this track is more mellow and calm but I also want to note that Ghetts is actually singing on this song and it works!!! Yet again, another track on the album that demonstrates Ghetts’ versatility, loved his patois on this song. I really enjoyed Ed’s flow too, it was as if both of them switched up their usual styles and swapped it a bit. It’s also great to hear Ed on a song again! I can imagine this song being a chart hit and really hope they bring out visuals to this song!
‘Sonya’ featuring Emeli Sandé is another beautiful laid back song. The song samples Bone Thugs N-Harmony’s “Foe Tha Love of $” and Brian McKnight’s “Anytime”. On this track, Ghetts reflects on a lady named ‘Sonya’ with who he holds a strong bond as she held him down throughout his struggles. The story ends on a cliffhanger and Ghetts stated that there may possibly be a part 2 to follow the story. Emeli sounds sensational on this track unsurprisingly.
‘No Mercy‘ was already released and features Pa Salieu and Backroad Gee. I already was a fan of the song when it came out. Each featured artist carried their weight which is hard when you are on the song of a legend like Ghetts. The beat production is my favourite part of the song. It’s insanely catchy and a great greaze Ghetts song. Ghetts pointed out that this is one of the songs he created to provide a connection between his audience. The chorus would be great for him to perform at a live show.
‘Crud‘ featuring Giggs doesn’t even need too many words to describe it. All I will say is it is a blessing to hear two pioneers back to back on a track doing what they do best.
‘Little Bo Peep‘ featuring Dave, Hamzaa and Wretch 32 was the perfect track to round off the album. I liked the subdued sound of Ghetts, Hamzaa and Wretch leading into the lessons Dave starts to speak about. The song which is six minutes long serves as an overview of where Ghetts is now in terms of his life and career. The arrangement of the song is even more important as it seems like Dave’s verse is an answer to all of Ghetts’ questions in his verse and throughout the album as a whole. The song gives lullaby vibes while providing a strong ending to a journey of an album. Even with the ending of an album, he still maintains the high quality.
Overall, this album exhibits the growth and maturity of Ghetts. It almost feels like a rebirth of Ghetts and shows he has no desire to slow down anytime soon. For an artist to describe his life with nearly 20 years in music and still make it sound authentic and refreshing is a talent in itself. While some may argue that sometimes there may be a disconnect between his songs and people actually taking it in, this album eradicates all fears. In the words of Ghetts, he will convert all non-believers with this album. Ghetts always provides a new insight with his music and that’s what keeps it exciting and keeps him in the top tier of UK rap. This album is the perfect example of what an album should be.
I have personally had the album on repeat since its release and I truly believe it’s an album that will linger in our minds for a very very long time. The best albums always do.
Happy Friday everyone! We’ve made it through a new week! Firstly I want to thank you all recently for the constant support for this blog and the new podcast! I’ve been writing this blog for 3 years this month! Time really flies! I am aware I have cut back with the lyrical analysis on tracks/albums and I assure you all this will be back very soon!
There’s quite a lot of new music to take in this week/weekend but for now, I wanted you all to check out this artist/song I recently discovered!
The song is called “Swear Down” and is by 22-year-old South-East London singer Chace DeVibe. Not only is this guy a talented singer, he is also responsible for producing, shooting and editing his music videos! The song is a nice melodic vibe and the music video is very creative. I can see where the inspiration for his name came from. Music in the UK is shifting and I’m so glad there is finally space to provide recognition for British R&B.
I’m interested to see him develop even more and provide us with more wavy music. For now, have a listen to the song below:
Hey everyone! This week’s #TuneTuesday is from Jack Harlow’s recent debut album! “Same Guy” features Maroon 5’s Adam Levine and such an amazing choir! The song is quite comforting as Jack reflects on his past mistakes and all the lessons he’s learnt as a result of them. He accepts that the temptations he faces being a star are sometimes hard to resist and sometimes he has fallen for them.
This was by far one of my favourite songs from the album and I love mostly the orchestral feel you get from it. Chrck it out below!
Also! Don’t forget episode 3 of the Music and Life Podcast is OUT NOW. Make sure to tune in!
Hello All!! I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Years! Finally we are in 2021!! The first #TuneTuesday of the year is from Nigerian artists Olamide and Omah Lay.
The song was released along with Olamide’s recent album “Carpe Diem’ released in October 2020. I’ve recently gone back to the album and this song is one of my favourites from the project! I love the tone of both their voices on this track! It’s a catchy one!
If you haven’t already taken the album in, I recommend giving it a try! Olamide did an amazing job with this project!
Hello everyone!!! Firstly I just want to say I have some very exciting news that I will be announcing very soon! Stay tuned!!
Today’s post is long overdue! I have made a list of some of the music I’ve been loving and listening to the past week!! Please have a read below to see some of the songs that have made the list!!
Kojey Radical Ft. Mereba
After watching Kojey Radical live at a festival last year, I became very intrigued with his music style. He’s so energetic and passionate and you can hear it translate so well with his sound! I stumbled upon this song recently and I absolutely adore it! the content of the song is beautiful too. There are some great hidden lessons within the lyrics. On top of all this, Mereba’s voice is absolutely sensational. Her tone is so unique and adds to the sombre feeling of the track. Her verse even switches flow towards the end which was a pleasant surprise. Really beautiful song. Check it out below:
Jeezy Ft. Rick Ross – Almighty Black Dollar
Jeezy, fresh off the success of his Verzuz battle with Gucci Mane releases a new album! (The Recession 2). This was the track on the album that stood out for me! I love the message of the song! Jeezy tells everyone to understand how important it is to support Black businesses. He also touches on the image many prople feel they have to maintain: “Went broke just to wear it, you can even tell it Jesus piece, I ain’t prayed one time today”. I’ve always been a fan of Jeezy and of course Rick Ross is one of my favourite rappers so this combination was always going to be enjoyable. Have a listen below:
Shana – No Rainy Days (Jiffthegeneral Garage Mix)
Shana is back with a remix to her already great single! Personally I wouldn’t say I listen to a lot of Garage music however I really enjoyed this remix! Jiffthegeneral manages to maintain the afrobeats sound on this mix! I found myself having this song on repeat, the fast paced sound and Shana’s vocals mixed so well! It’s the type of song that I could imagine playing on radio and playing in clubs! You definitely feel like shaking a leg listening to this song!! Have a listen below!
Cuuhcraig Ft. Blxst – Keep it 100
Blxst is my new favourite artist as I’m sure you may have picked up with my previous review of his latest EP. He features on this track with a fairly new artist Cuuhcraig. The song is just a feel good track!
DaVido – Jowo
After ‘Holy Ground’, this was my second favourite song from DaVido’s new album. The song has such an authentic Afrobeats sound and feel. For me, this is the kind of sound DaVido does best!
SAINt JHN Ft. 6LACK & Kehlani – Randsom
Looking at the lineup of this song, you just know what kind of beautiful sound we were going to get! the track is very tender and for me 6LACK steals the show! Have a listen below:
Asya Ft. Leemz – Ride For Me/ FWU
Asya is an artist I’ve recently discovered. She is a British singer with an R&B sound who recently released an EP titled ‘Love Me till I’m Me Again’. The UK R&B scene is finally growing and it’s great to hear new artists coming up. From the project these 2 songs were my favourites.
Russ Ft. KXNG Crooked – Stockholm Syndrome
We all know I’m a big fan of Russ but for me the king of the song is KXNG Crooked! His fast, gritty glow blew me away! The song is taken from Russ’ latest EP ‘CHOMP’ which contains 5 songs with features with artists such as Busta Rhymes and Benny the Butcher that I recommend you have a listen to.
This week’s Music Monday entry is from UK rapper Loski featuring Nigerian artist Davido.
The song is taken from Loski’s new project: “Music, Trial & Trauma: A Drill Story” which was released last week Friday. The track was originally released on Loski’s 2017 mixtape “Call me Loose” and it originally featured Bis.
I really enjoyed the song and especially DaVido’s switch in flow which was really surprising. Check the song our below!
Happy Monday everyone!! Hope you all had a great weekend! Good news is that I should be coming out with a few more posts this week! Even better news is that I have something in the pipeline that I will be announcing soon!
For now! Today’s #MusicMonday pick is a song that I’ve been playing non stop!! DaVido dropped his latest album on Friday called “A Better Time“. As soon as I heard this track, I fell in love with it! This is one of my favourite Nicki Minaj features in a long time. One thing I do love about DaVido is that despite his many American collab, he never compromises his sound. If anything, the featured artists always somehow tune in to his sound more. I liked the singing Nicki in this track as well as the usual rapping. Both artists worked very well together, I would be down for hearing more music from the both of them.
In terms of lyrics though, I wouldn’t say this song would win content of the year. DaVido’s lyrics are hilarious but I guess with this song it’s more the feeling of the song you fall in love with!
Hello everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend! Today’s #MusicMonday entry is a new song from Giggs’ latest ‘Now or Never’ album. The song features Dave and is called “Straight Murder (Giggs & David)“.
This is the second track the two of them have released together. The first being ‘Peligro‘ from Giggs’ ‘Wamp 2 Dem‘ EP. Both tracks have something very noticeable in common as both allow Giggs and Dave to have their own minutes to share their bars separately. Instead of a rap battle/collab which usually happens with features, they both give each-other space and take it in turns to take the spotlight. ‘Straight Murder‘ is split into 2 with Dave taking the first section. Personally, this has to be Dave’s best featured verse. He completely dominated the track and held his own against a legend as big as Giggs!
I’ve always known that for artists, albums are their most prized possessions. The process of creating an album takes so much thought and precision, from the content, theme, all the way down to the track listing order. Sometimes I feel that some people forget the strength and courage it takes to release an album with songs that for the artists may be extremely personal and triggering.
This new Ariana album feels like we are sitting behind her during an intense therapy session. Throughout the album I felt like I could understand exactly how Ariana was feeling at the time of recording the songs featured. The whole album transitions perfectly into a body of work that she should certainly be proud of.
I wasn’t a huge fan of Ariana’s last album but this album really spoke to me. Here are some key tracks for me:
shut up:
This is the intro track on the album which explains the shortness in length. I really enjoyed the backing instruments on this song, it feels like a build up for something bigger. The song is really just a message to the people that spend their times worrying about other people’s lives.
34+35
Boy!!!!! Okay, so firstly when I heard this song and saw the title I didn’t put 2 and 2 together (not a pun). I fell in love with the beat and Ariana’s tone! As you get deeper into the song however, you slowly begin to realise the meaning of the song title and understand the link between that and the context of the song. This being the second song on the album, I got the impression Ariana was really not going to hold back on this album at all. She has always had songs that allude to sexual relationships or have sexual connotations however this is a very blatant reference. I do however love the fact she still manages to keep it classy. It’s hard to remember that Ariana is a grown 27 year old woman as some of us may still see her as a young teenage singer. I think the past few albums Ariana has put out, she has tried to prove to us that she is now a woman in her own right.
just like magic
WHAT IS IT WITH ARIANA AND THESE PERFECT BEATS!!!???? I almost want her to drop a 16 with some of these incredible beats she has! This song won me over from the first few seconds! This for me was such a positive song and you can tell that at this point in the album she was gaining her confidence again. The song alludes to the law of attraction with the idea that you get back what you put out.
Good karma, my aesthetic (Aesthetic), keep my conscience clear, that’s why I’m so magnetic. Just like magic (Yeah), I’m attractive (Oh yeah) I get everything I want ’cause I attract it (Oh)”
Law of Attraction.
This song is one of the reasons I feel like we were flies on the wall in her therapy sessions. This song feels like something you tell yourself when you are healing from a lot of trauma and heartbreak. It feels like this is faith talking and the hope that in future things will get better if you begin to think differently and approach life in a different way.
WOW. This song showcases Ariana’s vulnerability to another level. There are some songs that when you hear, even if you may not relate to what is going on, you somehow empathise with the artist and feel every emotion they are singing about. This song was one of those. The opening lines of the song; “Will I ever love the same way again?. Will I ever love somebody like the way I did you? are lines that every woman who has been badly heartbroken has said to themselves.
I’ve always wondered why people wish to find/chase the same feeling of love every time. I believe that love will always be relative to the person or circumstance. Sometimes I even think that is for the best. Ultimately chasing a previous kind of love is not giving your new situation the fresh chance it deserves. Love always evolves.
There is a theme of lack of faith in future happiness and lack of faith in love itself throughout the whole song. Ariana repeatedly sings throughout the song “Not yet healed already” emphasising the fact she is still raw from the heartbreak. The Weeknd sounds perfect on this song and his verse uses the role of a lover that is reassuring Ariana that he will wait until she is ready to let him in and trust in love again. The song for me is a representation of the whole theme of the album. Acknowledging where you are emotionally is part of the healing process. She understands there is long way to go but she has already made so much progress and is ready to get better.
safety net
It’s hard to believe that this is only the first collaboration between these two as the musical chemistry is beautiful. Ty’s harmonies with Ariana make this the kind of song you can close your eyes to and still feel everything and feel safe which coincides with the theme of the song. This song alludes to the idea that Ariana is willing to give love another go acknowledging her fears and hesitation to get hurt. Again, this is progress from her song ‘off the table” showing the growth.
nasty
Similar to the track ’34+35′, Ariana expresses exactly how she feels and articulates her sexual needs with her partner. I really like this sassy, confident side to Ariana.
obvious
This song towards the end of the album focusses on how Ariana is starting to believe in love again. In the first verse she sings “Nothin’ else, nothin’ more important, makes me wanna believe in love” and in the second she sings; “Never thought I’d believe in love again”. FINALLY she is beginning to believe again!!! *smiles*
pov
This was the song that actually managed to break me! Hands down my favourite from the album. Ariana was spot on for putting this as the climax to the album. Even now, I cannot listen to this song without tearing up. This may be my favourite song from her period! The song focuses on how her lover sees her and Ariana wishes she could see herself in the same beautiful light he sees her. I feel this song is the result of all the trauma, tribulations, hurt and anguish Ariana has experienced. Sometimes when someone has gone through so much it takes a long time to accept someone else to fully love them.
On the second verse Ariana sings; “I’m getting used to receiving” implying she maybe was the one in relationships that always gave, something that has evidently contributed to her hurt. She also sings; “I’ma love you even though I’m scared. Learnin’ to be grateful for myself“, implying that she is going through the process of self love too. For me, this song is Ariana singing that she wants to get better and wants to finally let go of the hurt so she can finally be happy like she deserves to be. She is realising she needs to forgive herself and begin to love herself again in order to experience everything she wants to experience. Ultimately no matter how much someone loves you, you won’t be able to understand or accept it fully if you don’t have the same amount of self love. Such a beautiful song.
I know I haven’t talked much about Ariana’s vocals but that is simply because she is consistently flawless on this album as she is on every single piece of work she puts out.
Overall for me this album is what I would call a SOLID piece of work. Ariana touches on life, love, heartbreak, sex, happiness, sadness and self love to name a few. You get the sense that the next album Ariana puts out will be a completely different energy, a new awakening so to speak. I look forward to the positive changes that will be coming to her from this therapeutic album and I really hope she has managed to heal/find peace.
