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Joburg Event: Throwdown by AfriPOP! + Exclusive Mix by DJ Party Time (Dirty Paraffin)

Music acts who dare to break the mold are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Spoek Mathambo’s Father Creeper album released by Seattle based Sub-Pop Records and Sony Africa was a neon sign that the world is ready to hear what urban South Africa has to offer. It’s so rare to hear the electro-kwaito-can’t-box-it-it-so-awesome beats that are propelling the likes of Mathambo and Dirty Paraffin to global recognition. Well, it [...]

 

 
 
 

Watch Tabi Bonney's New Video 'Castle on A Cloud' featuring Terri Walker

‘The Endless Summer’, is out free to download on May 17th, until his for-real and for-sale album comes out later. Ski Beatz handles the production. This song features UK soul singer Terri Walker’s vocals.

 

 
 
 

Watch South African House Music Band Mi Casa's New Video 'La Vida'

South African house music darlings MiCasa charm their way through Brazil as lego characters in this brand new animated video.

 

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Young, Fresh and Noir: Iamwaves on Creating His Own Music Genre+New Video 'Till We Ghosts'

In a parallel life, Spoek Mathambo might have been the vocalist for Popskarr, an electro-pop outfit he conceptualised with Terrence Pearce. But he had no time to be a part of as he was leaving his then Cape Town home to take root in Johannesburg before taking over the world. Instead he roped in a then teenage Yannick Ilunga whom he’d met during his Sweat X days to fill in. [...]

 

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DJ Edu's Monday Mash-Up Mix (Listen+Download)

DJ Edu sits in for Trevor Nelson with an Afrobeats special on BBC 1Xtra, featuring D’Banj co-hosting the second hour and a session featuring Ice Prince and a host of UK MCs. It’s the kick-off for an all afrobeats day on the UK’s number one radio station for Black music. Consider this a taster. Tracklist: Chub Rock-Treat Me Right Vs Justin Timberlake-Lovestoned Vs K’naan-Abc’s  Childish Gambino-Heartbeat Vs Wande Coal-Kiss Your [...]

 

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Shabazz Palaces' Tendai Baba Maraire Presents a Chimurenga Renaissance Material: Interview + New Video 'rhodZi!' + New Single 'Boom!'

Before they formally came to be known as Sub Pop-signed enigmatic new lords of left-field Hip-hop Shabazz Palaces, Ishmael Butler and Tendai ‘Baba’ Maraire met in a club in Seattle 9 years ago. Butler is also ‘Butterfly’ from the Grammy-Award winning post-Daisy Age 90s Hip-hop trio Digable Planets. While Tendai is an heir to the late Dumisani Maraire, renowned Zimbabwean composer, producer and ethnomusicologist. He toured, performed and recorded with [...]

 

 
 
 

AfriPOP! Debut: Tehn Diamond's 'The Sweet Life' featuring Simba Tagz

Friends and long time collaborators, Simba Tagz produced The Sweet Life for Tehn Diamond’s current mixtape SOTG3: The Pursuit of Amazing. Shot in Harare, visuals are by Zambian director Mandiva Syananzu. Look for a follow-up interview with our favourite Zimbabwean star on the rise, exclusive to AfriPOP! Download #SOTG3: The Pursuit of Amazing Check out Tehn Diamond’s official site.

 

 
 
 

Watch M.I.'s New Video 'Loving Me' + Download His 'Illegal Music 2' Mixtape

On of the more pop-leaning tracks on M.I’s recently released mixtape Illegal Music is this one, Loving You. Download the entire mixtape here. (h/t Not Just Ok) Here’s what the tracklisting and production credits look like.  

 

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Watch Behind-the-Scenes Footage from South African Film 'Otelo Burning' + Download the Free Mixtape

We posted about this film when it premiered last year in London at the BFI Film Festival. Otelo Burning, directed by Sara Blecher (Surfing Soweto) finally opens in South AFrican cinemas on Friday 11 May 2012. Here are some behind-the-scenes clips including insight from Blecher: To go with it, there’s also a mix tape of music both from the film and inspired by its mood and themes, available for free [...]

 

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Watch Rwandan Electro Pop Singer Iyadede's New Video, 'Love Mantra'

Rwandan electro pop singer Iyadede returns with a new video from her EP, The Demo, titled Love Mantra. Written by Iyadede and produced by her longtime collaborator, Blessoill, it was inspired by meditation mantras used to reflect on love. “The song talks about finding your way back to love in the universal sense of that,” Iyadede tells AfriPOP! Related Photos: Iyadede The singer adds that she dedicates the song to [...]