Dr MaVibes – Umlilo (feat. Brvdley, Snymaan, Manny Yack & Blaq Diamond)
Let’s start with the Gauteng province in South Africa. After giving birth to several emblematic genres such as kwaïto, baccardi house and more recently amapiano, this region offers us its own version of drill music. This sub-genre of rap, in vogue for a few months, is characterized by a fast tempo (140 bpm) as well as bass drums and exacerbated bass emphasizing an often dark melody. “Umlilo”, which means “fire” is the first single from Zulu rapper Dr MaVibes. The latter as well as his four guests from the Ambitiouz Entertainment label develop there flows and sung couplets that contrast with the many imitations of Pop Smoke, the American rapper who popularized this trend. Finally a breath of fresh air on this omnipresent music for a few months.
Mr Luck – MouMaMou (feat. Mosty)
In Ivory Coast too, rappers fell in love with drill music. By incorporating rhythmic elements from popular music and of course the Nouchi language, they invented the ivory drill. One of the best examples of this fusion is the track “MouMaMou” by Mr. Luck produced by Mr. Béhi. The moumamou which gives its title to the piece is a dance from the zouglou which consists of a swinging movement of the hips. For the occasion, Mr Luck invited Mosty, a young rapper who will absolutely have to follow in the coming months!
Lil Fyve – LIVE and COLORED from Kumerica (feat. Braa Benk & City Boy)
If there is one place in Africa where drill music has taken hold, it is in the city of Kumasi in Ghana. In recent months, the rappers there have developed an aesthetic that they called “Kumerica” and which ideally has the luxury lifestyle of American rappers. The music from this city is rapped in Twi and is called asakaa. After the resounding success on the networks of the title “Sore” by Yaw Tog, many are hoping to meet the same fate. This is the case of Lil Fyve, Braa Benk and City Boy who offer, in “Live and Colored from Kumerica”, a dive into this universe.
DAK – C’est Magnifique (feat. MC PISSCO)
There is not only drill in life, there is also the Algerian trap represented by Savage Plug, Didine Canon 16 or Prince Polo. The one that impressed us the most in October was DAK’s “C’est superbe” track featuring MC Pissco. In the clip, the young rapper pays tribute to his native Kabylia by wearing the red and white colors of the USM Annaba football team, and the yellow and green ones of the Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie.
Paulelson – Novo Messi 2
Finally, the last stage in Angola with Paulelson. He was the rap revelation of the country in 2019 thanks to his mixtape “Novo Messi”. This project will have a sequel which is scheduled for release on November 1. The eponymous track “Novo Messi 2” will be the introduction. On the program, trap with flutes and strings, and the sharp flow that makes its mark. In the clip, Paulelson wears a FC Barcelona shirt, Lionel Messi’s club, and is surrounded by clowns. A universe as dark as it is intriguing, surely in the image of the upcoming project.
Find the best of hip-hop from Africa and its diaspora in our Pan African Rap playlist on Spotify and Deezer .”