Following the success of “Water,” Tyla confirms she’s here to stay with her new debut album, released on Friday, March 22. Tyla is a captivating exploration of love and relationships set against sultry melodies and infectious beats.
From start to finish, Tyla employs undertones of pop and Afrobeats to deliver a unique sound fitting for 2024. One of the standout tracks, “Butterflies,” transports listeners to a heavenly realm with its ethereal melodies and delicate instrumentation.
The album’s star-studded lineup of featured artists displays not only Tyla’s cred in the music industry but also her acute attention to versatility. From Tems to Becky G to Gunna, the album offers familiarity for listeners before Tyla’s voice takes us to new landscapes.
Throughout the album, Tyla is Amapiano’s angel, infusing each track with the genre’s signature rhythms and vibes. Tyla is continuing her press run this week, having released the video for “ART” and interviewing with Kai Cenat. We’ll continue to watch as Tyla forges her path to pop crossover.
With Reviews ranging from ‘Incredible’ to ‘Informative’, to ‘the best music conference I’ve ever attended’, IMC 2024 is being hailed as successful, impactful and the best of its kind in the region and beyond. The Island Music Conference’s key objectives of being a facilitator, and gathering point to engage with artistes & Global industry practitioners, address pivotal questions that can significantly influence their careers, and ultimately propel Jamaica and the Caribbean’s entertainment sector forward as a cohesive unit, continued to be met in its sophomore staging.
The recently concluded conference, held in Kingston, Jamaica from February 21st thru 25th, featured an impressive line-up of influential figures, including WyClef Jean, Kes, StoneBwoy, Shaggy, Sean Paul, Spice, Teejay, Masicka and Jesse Royal.
Sirius Xm’s Alex Tear, Audiomack’s Brian Zisook, Meta’s Brittany Johnson, Youtube’s Tuma Basa, S-Curve’s Steve Greenburg, Warner Records’ Steve Carless, United Masters’ David Melhado, Amazon’s Madeline Nelson, Grammy’s Len Brown and Ranch Entertainment’s Costi were just a few of the prominent music executives and practitioners who unravelled and provided insights into a slew of crucial global music topics, among them, the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the music industry, the nuances of publicity, branding strategies, artiste management, digital music marketing and effective money management.
The five-day event was attended by over a dozen countries to include Guadeloupe, Trinidad, Grenada, Guyana, Dom Rep, SVG, St. Lucia, Costa Rica and Barbados. Zimbabwe and Ghana were represented from the Continent. Canada was represented as well as 13 states of the U.S.
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In addition to the powerhouse convergence of top-tier artistes and key stakeholders, IMC this year looked at “Defining your Style” with Caribbean Lifestyle Doyenne Novia McDonald Whyte, Ayana Riviere, Keneea Linton-George, Carla Gittens, Neko “Bootleg Rocstar” Kelly and Paris Cole.
There was an immersive two-day song writing workshop on February 22nd and 23rd, centered on the art of crafting impactful punch lines and clever rhymes. The workshop was lead by songwriter/Producer Mikey Bennett who says in all his years of doing workshops and camps “This was the best one and the most fun”.
The final day saw the Premiere of the DocuFilm BAD LIKE BROOKLYN DANCEHALL – a riveting exploration of the rise of Dancehall in Brooklyn. It detailed the immigration, the soundsystem culture and those that set and fed the genre in the cold. A perfect end to a week of culture.
IMC Chairman and Co-Founders Orville ‘Shaggy’ Burrell, Judith Bodley and Sharon Burke are pleased with the turnout and the outcomes of 2024, though they still want to see more of the new and rising artistes attend. They’ve promised that just like this year, 2025 will be even better than the year before.
The 2024 edition of the conference was endorsed by the Ministry of Culture and supported by the Jamaica Tourist Board. Onboard with the project in a big way were Tastee Jamaica Limited, YOUTUBE, the CDB, Pepsi, IRIE FM, ZIP FM, SUNCITY FM, CVM Television and The Jamaica Observer Ltd. Other sponsors included IPrint, KFC, Kendel, KitKat and Hertz.
Heineken, the global purveyor of good times, marked its 150th anniversary in Africa with a spectacular three-day extravaganza, Hey Neighbour, captivating over 65,000 music lovers at Pretoria’s Legends Adventure Farm. The festival, held from December 8th to 10th, served as the apex of Heineken’s year-long celebration across the continent.
Headlined by an illustrious lineup featuring Kendrick Lamar, The Chainsmokers, Tyler, Nasty C, H.E.R, Sauti Sol, Khalid, and Focalistic, Heineken orchestrated an unforgettable convergence, uniting fans from across Africa in a celebration of 150 years of shared and unforgettable moments.
“The Hey Neighbour Festival was a remarkable showcase of Heineken’s commitment to delivering good times with every sip,” said Nabil Nasser, Global Head of the Heineken Brand. “Hosting attendees from across Africa at the festival solidifies our dedication to fostering connections and creating platforms that transcend barriers and bring the continent together.”
Warren Le Grange, Creative Director, Khoi Kreative, the festival organizers, added, “Hey Neighbour transcends entertainment; it symbolises a collective celebration of music, culture and the beautiful tapestry of diversity. The festival embodies an immersive journey, uniting neighbours as friends through the power of music and we’re glad to have been able to provide the perfect platform for the culmination of Heineken’s 150th anniversary celebration in Africa.”
Notably, the festival achieved a remarkable milestone as over 65,000 music lovers participated in Africa’s largest cheers, toasting and celebrating Heineken’s monumental anniversary. The event exemplified Heineken’s commitment to fostering joyous experiences and creating lasting memories for its diverse and widespread community of enthusiasts.
“Witnessing everyone come together to toast and commemorate Heineken’s 150-year anniversary was incredible,” said Valdemiro Jose, a music artist from Mozambique. “Seeing individuals from all corners of the continent gather at a festival sponsored by a beer brand was impressive. It truly marked a significant milestone worth celebrating!”
On Nov. 30th, 21 Savage, Grammy award-winning artist and humanitarian, concluded his inaugural European tour with a monumental performance in his native London at the iconic O2 Arena. Wearing custom outfits by Mowalola and CRTZ, Savage celebrated his first trip back to London since childhood and the success of his recent It’s All a Blur Tour with Drake.
The historic night featured opening acts Baby Drill and 21 Lil Harold, with surprise appearances by Central Cee, J Hus, and Popcaan joining Savage on stage. The artist showcased various custom looks, including a Mowalola Passport shirt symbolizing his newfound ability to travel internationally.
Following the performance, Savage hosted an after-party at The Club O2, creating a strip club atmosphere sponsored by Volcan Tequila, concluding his groundbreaking tour with family, friends, and VIP guests.
This tour marks a significant milestone in 21 Savage’s journey, overcoming immigration challenges since 2019. The artist’s return to Europe showcases his peak performance, evident in his five nominations for the upcoming 2024 Grammy Awards, spanning multiple categories and collaborations. As 21 Savage continues to make waves globally, this tour solidifies his status as a resilient and influential artist in the music industry.
Grammy award-winning artist and humanitarian, 21 Savage, set the stage ablaze with his inaugural European show in Paris on Wednesday night. The iconic Zenith venue was sold out for the event, attracting a star-studded audience that included notable figures like Hugo Ekitiké, Layvin Kurzawa, Koba La D, Axel Julien, Freeze Corleone, and more.
The electrifying performance featured opening acts by Baby Drill and 21 Lil Harold, creating an unforgettable experience for fans. Following the show’s success, 21 Savage hosted an afterparty to celebrate the milestone night with VIP guests.
Fresh from the triumph of the “It’s All a Blur Tour” alongside Drake, 21 Savage embarks on his European tour, commemorating his recent immigration status victory. This tour carries special significance as it marks his return to Europe, a continent he left as a child.
21 Savage’s journey has been marked by immigration challenges since 2019, making this tour a poignant moment in his career. The artist, who secured five nominations for the upcoming 2024 Grammy Awards, continues to make waves globally. His nominations include Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Spin Bout You” with Drake and “Sittin on Top of the World” with Burna Boy. Additionally, he is recognized for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for the collaboration with Drake on “Rich Flex” and their joint album “Her Loss,” nominated for Best Rap Album. As 21 Savage asserts his presence in the music industry, the European tour underscores his resilience and influence on a global scale.
The world’s largest Afrobeats festival, Afro Nation Portugal, is set to triumphantly return to The Algarve’s sun-soaked coast from June 26th to 28th, 2024. Today, the festival announced the first 20 names headlining the event, featuring a stellar lineup of global Afrobeats sensations.
Leading the charge is breakout star Asake, whose electrifying presence stole the show at Afro Nation Portugal 2023, setting records and selling out the O2 Arena. Nigerian sensation Rema, British Afroswing artist J Hus, French star Ninho, and Amapiano sensation Tyla are joining him.
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The festival promises an exhilarating experience with additional performances from Major League DJz, Uncle Waffles, Focalistic, The Compozers, Omah Lay, Flavour, Diamond Platnumz, Odumodublvck, Seyi Vibez, and more. The Piano People stage will feature Amapiano superstars Major League DJz, Uncle Waffles, Focalistic, and a special set with Tumelo.za and Tyler ICU.
Afro Nation Portugal has become a global celebration of African music and culture, transcending borders and uniting the diaspora. The 2024 edition builds on the success of previous years, featuring a diverse lineup that reflects the festival’s commitment to showcasing the best in Afrobeats and beyond.
Tickets for Afro Nation Portugal 2024 go on sale Thursday, November 23rd, with a limited pre-sale at 10 am GMT, followed by a general sale at 1 pm GMT. Don’t miss out on the ultimate summer festival experience – sign up for priority access to tickets at afronation.com.
International advocacy organization Global Citizen and creative imprint pgLang have unveiled Move Afrika: A Global Citizen Experience, a groundbreaking initiative to establish an unprecedented international music touring circuit across the African continent. This long-term endeavor aims to create job and entrepreneurship opportunities for Africa’s emerging generations through a series of world-class live events.
The inaugural event, Move Afrika: Rwanda, is scheduled for December 6, 2023, at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. Grammy Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning artist Kendrick Lamar, a co-founder of pgLang, will headline the event. pgLang will serve as the curator of Move Afrika from 2023 until 2028.
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Move Afrika addresses global inequities by driving transformative investments within local communities, engaging local talent, vendors, agencies, and crews, and providing opportunities for on-the-job skill development. It will set a new gold standard for entertainment touring events, increasing demand from both international and regional artists to perform in Africa.
In partnership with the Rwanda Development Board, Kigali will host Move Afrika‘ annually for the next five years, with plans to expand the tour to five countries by 2025.
Move Afrika: Rwanda, taking place on December 6, will feature Kendrick Lamar as the headliner, with more regional artists to be announced. The event will also launch a citizen-led advocacy campaign addressing critical issues across the continent, including health funding, climate change, economic opportunities, and civic participation. To take action on these issues, text +250 790 008 555 on WhatsApp.
With Afrobeats taking over the music space in the most beautiful way, it’s only right we pay homage to the ones who are paving the way. Insert Khaid, the 18-year-old superstar in the making who prides himself in creating Afrobeats and trap music.
Hailing from Nigeria, Khaid began his musical career at the young age of 12, dropping standout freestyles and performing on the streets of Ojo in Lagos. Growing up in a family of 10, with two parents and eight kids, Khaid’s past jobs include being a mechanic, a barber, and a painter. Soon, he’d be discovered by one of Nigeria’s most popular content creators, Sydney Talker, who went on to sign him to his imprint Neville Records.
Fast forward to 2023, Khaid unveils his highly-anticipated new EP titled Emotions. The six-track project is spearheaded by lead singles “Anabella” and Jolie.” One thing that does not go unnoticed is Khaid’s soulful melodies over Afrobeat rhythms, and his ability to freestyle timeless anthems for audiences all the world to listen and dance to.
Plus, Khaid was recently sighted spending some time with Lil Durk, with fans only hoping the two would collaborate on a record.
The Source spoke with Khaid via Zoom to discuss his background, love for music, linking with Lil Durk, roots in Lagos, dream collabs, and more!
What was the moment you fell in love with music?
I fell in love with music at a very young age, due to the influence from my parents. They liked playing songs a lot, and I fell in love with listening to songs at first.
Which artists made you fall in love with Hip-Hop?
Our mom, she liked playing Michael Jackson a lot. And Celine Dion. From there, I wanted it to be like Michael Jackson, and following the steps of Michael Jackson’s style. When I was growing older, I started knowing more people, like Meek Mill, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne. From there, I got to know Polo G, XXXTentatcion, etc. That’s how my Hip-Hop journey started.
The link up with Lil Durk, me and Durk have been talking online and video calls. When I was in the United States, I was in Atlanta and he called me. He FaceTimed me because I was with his producer DJ Bandz. He called me and he asked me when I was going to come to California. From there, we had a couple meetings with some record labels in California. We had to go to California. When we were in California, he called me again. We spoke again. From there, we went to his house two days after. He called me like “yo, we should come through when we are less busy.” That’s how we ended up going to his house.
Did you guys record?
[laugh] It’s funny you ask. Nah, we didn’t. We just vibed. After then, we’d met a couple of times. So definitely, we gon’ do something.
Were you a huge fan of Lil Durk?
Yeah, I’m a huge fan. I love Durk. I’ve been listening to Lil Durk since when I was not signed.
You just dropped your new EP, Emotions. Favorite song off the project?
The one that the fans are really listening to right now is “Jara,” because it got that emotional feel. So they’re a lot of songs I’ve dropped but none is as “JARA,” speaking on the emotional aspect. “JARA” is just a song that speaks to the heart of people and it’s easy to cling on to
right now,
Who or what inspired “Anabella”?
I didn’t get no major inspiration from “Anabella.” It was that moment in the studio where you just vibe. You just want to happy, you want to make something so creative. I wasn’t inspired by nothing. I think the song’s good, I was just recording. I didn’t even write lyrics or anything. We just made the beat and I started freestyling. That’s it.
It has over 8 million views on YouTube, did you think it would go up like this?
The first release, I didn’t even know it was going to be this big. Or I didn’t know people were going to like it. When we dropped it, everybody was so skeptical about what we dropped. They asked, does he do it? Do we react to this one? Obviously, they really like it. I’m grateful.
Best memory from the video shoot?
I was supposed to drop the snippet that day of the video shoot. We kept going back and forth about this snippet because we got a couple of snippets. I ended up dropping it anyway. My head clicked because we’re like okay, we’re going to try something right now. We have this little game that we do in Nigeria, which we select by closing your eyes. I just picked any one and dropped it like that.
What does it mean to be from Lagos, Nigeria? Afrobeat has a huge wave right now.
Lagos, Nigeria is one of the major cities that support me and show me love. It’s great to see how far I’ve come. I’m from the streets of Lagos. I’ve experienced that life of the streets and everything. Coming from where I came from, it’s hard because it’s the deep part of Lagos. You wouldn’t expect or you wouldn’t imagine somebody will get to see your video, or listen to your song. One day they’ll give you a call and say, “Yo, I want to sign you.” So it’s hard. But if you’re consistent and if what you’re doing is real, definitely you’re going to prosper.
Any goals for yourself at this point in your career?
Right now, my major goal is to work on how people see me. My image, the way people see me. It’s one thing to deliver when you’re making your music, and it’s something else to shape how people see you. It’s something else to keep yourself branded in a certain way in people’s eyes. Right now, one of my major goals is to project how people see me.
How do you want people to see you?
Everybody got the image that they want people to see. For me, I want to be seen as this normal person, but spiritual and sees the world more than what it is. There’s more to the world than what is going on right now. There’s more to the world. Aside from music, there’s a lot of things going on with people. You see people get depressed. You see people going through some battles. They don’t need to physically have scars on their faces for you to know they’re going through something. I want to shed light on that part of the world too. It all starts from the image. What type of image are you trying to go put out there? Once people see “oh, you’re really creative and you’re really came up on this stuff, they tend to share more light and help people in that situation.
Is there an artist you want to collaborate with, that you haven’t yet?
I got a lot. I do want to welcome everybody as much as possible. I’d like to work with Burna Boy, Wizkid, Lil Durk. I’d like to work with Polo G. I’d like to work with Ed Sheeran, Billie Eilish. A lot of people, I cannot stop mentioning.
Rolling Loud, the world’s premier hip-hop festival, has kicked off its 2024 World Tour in style with the announcement of Rolling Loud Australia. The festival, slated for January 2024, is returning to Sydney after a five-year hiatus, taking the party down under with a new debut in Melbourne and more cities yet to be unveiled.
On Australia Day, January 26th, the epic music celebration will ignite at GIANTS Stadium in Sydney, followed by a second performance at Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse on January 27th. This marks the first leg of Rolling Loud’s 2024 global itinerary, following the massive success of Rolling Loud Miami, the world’s largest rap festival.
“We are hyped to come back to Australia for the first time in years,” say Rolling Loud co-Founders Matt Zingler & Tariq Cherif. “The Sydney fans were so passionate in 2019, so we are eager to return Down Under, and bring Rolling Loud to more cities this time. The Aussie shows will be a unique Rolling Loud experience, and we’re excited for everyone to see what’s in store.”
Rolling Loud had an eventful 2023, expanding its reach worldwide with a successful venture into Asia, featuring marquee artists like Travis Scott and Cardi B. The summer saw the festival conquer Europe with Rolling Loud Germany in Munich, Rolling Loud Rotterdam in The Netherlands, and the return of Rolling Loud Portugal in Portimão. The World Tour for 2024 is set to continue with stops in Europe, Asia, and North America after the down-under debut in Australia.
In 2012, the Nigerian Afrobeats music sensation Davido released his debut album, Omo Baba Olowo (The Genesis) — ‘son of a rich man.’ Even though it was not a darling of the critics, the record marked the start of a career that has since followed a decisively upward trajectory. It’s been a successful decade for Davido, who has since become a world-famous star who collaborates with American artists such as Chris Brown and whose career path became symbolic of the success of the whole genre.
Sony Entertainment West Africa’s Oluwaseun Lloyd, known as Banko in the entertainment circles, has been there for all of it. He’s been more than just a passenger for the ride, too – he’s even been the president of a record label he co-owned with Davido for nearly six years. Their story shaped the course of West Africa’s hottest cultural export, and it started before Davido took up the microphone.
“I was figuring out what to do after graduation and got interested in talent management. My older brother was an artist then, and I started looking for producers for him,” Oluwaseun Lloyd recalls. “A friend connected me to an artist friend of his, and I liked the sound of the music that he was making. He connected me to his little cousin, who happened to be young Davido.”
The still-teenage Davido was a producer at the time, creating beats for different artists. Not long after he sent some to Oluwaseun Lloyd, he reached out again to let him know that he’d decided to become an artist in his own right. The two met up in London, where they produced Davido’s first single. From there, Davido returned to Nigeria to kick off his career, and Oluwaseun Lloyd returned to Canada, where he was studying, to finish his graduation.
The next time the two met, Davido’s career in Nigeria started, and he needed a road manager. Oluwaseun Lloyd signed up for the job. “We put out his debut album in 2012, and then the ride started,” he recalls. “I was Davido’s road manager from 2012 till about 2016.”
In 2016, amid talks of Davido signing for a major record label, the two decided to start an independent record label in Nigeria. That’s how Davido Music Worldwide was born. The success of DMW attracted attention to Oluwaseun Lloyd’s talents. Soon, he started getting job offers from the likes of Sony Music. After initially refusing, he eventually decided to take up the offer and become the general manager of Sony Music West Africa in 2019.
Oluwaseun Lloyd still consults with Davido’s management, but his new position also allows him to work with other talent from Nigeria who are signed to Sony. He’s worked with Wizkid, Tems, and Oxlade and has become instrumental in ensuring the local musical ecosystem gets the international attention it deserves. And it’s easier — thanks to the work he and Davido did.
“It was from the ground up, from discovery to the break, and then going global. We celebrated the 10th anniversary two years ago,” Oluwaseun Lloyd says. “With the growth of the music, there’s change coming. There’s a long list of new artists that have come out, thanks to the doors we were able to open, especially with Davido going
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