Some quick hits, Kanja has a new track with Kunzo from Nigeria. I have no real opininon on the track right now – since I am barely getting to listen to it, but maybe in a few days I will add on to the post what I think. Initial thoughts are that there is no real verse, too many hooks, too many piga makofis and bounce bounce bounce – not sure how to jam to this. And its okay I guess lol. I mean we cant be serious all the time, maybe sometimes we just need happy music.

I think I am also getting tired of Auto Tune in a sense… Sure T-Pain can do it and get away with it and so can Akon but for most part a lot of these cats have other songs without voice correction. After while folks will just need to hear your voice. I think maybe that’s why I liked that “Shorty say ahh”… Or Maybe I liked that Song coz of Naomi (Man naomi is CAKE waaaa lol).

Anyway listen to the track let us know what you think..

listen and download the track here:

Kanja & Kunzo – Bounce, Bounce, Bounce by getmziki

watch the video here:

Last weekend during Oktoberfest I met two lovely pretty Naija chics. Its funny how you see Africans in a crowded environment and you can quickly point out each other and get along relatively well. We immediately connected as I mentioned I was headed to San Jose for a Naija party. Surprisingly it was the Nigerian Independence day party to which I bet they were pleased I was headed there.

As I post this track and wish all my Nigerian friends and online visitors a happy Naija Independence day. I cant help but look back and picture the dancefloor when DJ SLIM, dropped this track. This infectious beat and D’banj vocal inspired track has been the genius of their labels viral campaign which started a while back.

Mo’Hits Records have been running a competition that would give a chance to people with talents in dancing, comedy or anything entertaining by recording a video clip of themselves or their group dancing to this Oliver song.

The videos can be uploaded to YouTube and link emailed to oliver@mohitsrecords.com, as I understand the videos will be judged based on how entertaining they are.

The 1st prize is $2500; 2nd prize is $2000; 3rd prize is $1500; 4th prize is $1000; 5th prize is $500. The Top 10 entries will be part of the Official Oliver video and the Top 50 gets a FREE Koko Mobile Handset (D’Banj owns this Network or Phone service).

Funniest thing though is how infectious the entire campaign or track is – I wish I had my camera to capture the Naijas who went buck wild last weekend. I love this .. enjoy.

listen and download the track here:

D’Banj – Oliver Twist by getmziki

Watch the viral video here:

Buy far I would vote for these young’ns

The album features MI, 2face, WizKid, Banky W and Flavour (of the Ashawo fame, which is currently the most over played song in African parties). I decided to showcase “Girl” which features WizKid, since it’s the current single Bracket is pushing and also to introduce WizKid to the music enthusiastics out there. Why lie, having Wizkid on the track made it sound way better than the other collabos on the album.

Enjoy!!!!

Listen to the track below:

Download audio file (BracketftWizKidGirl.mp3)

Click HERE to Download the track (RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE AS)

I want to share some Nigerian throwbacks that I listen to from time to time, this might be a little far fetched for what we call urban African music but to me this is still kinda fresh. So excuse me today while I make this personal post to make myself happy and possibly inspire some producers and artists who read the blog.

There are few artists with as many dimensions to them as Lagbaja – the flamboyant, masked character who emerged on the Nigerian scene in 1993. To start with, the name Lagbaja means ‘somebody’, ‘nobody’, ‘anybody’ in Yoruba. The mask and the name together represent the ‘facelessness’ of the ordinary people Lagbaja sings for and about.

They also reference the ancient tradition of Egungun, a Yoruba ancestral worship ritual in which the dancers or, masqueraders as they are called, wear elaborate masks and costumes. I have shared the video to this track called Sobooooo (Sobolation) which can help bring the essence of this man to life once you watch it and listen to it.

To me also a huge part of his music draws inspiration from FELA – essentially the trumpets and instrumentation is classic FELA completing my days each time I play this tune. PAP!

listen and download the song here:

Lagbaja – Sobolation by getmziki

watch the video here:

Finally a Kenyan has jumped on a crazy Naija track to bless the remix. There have been so many different remixes and covers for Oleku coming from Naija but I think for me personally this has to be the best execution to date.

Vikki Secret or better known as Victoria Kimani (looks like she is going through a rebranding effort to drop the vikki secret handle which to me is about time – I couldnt wrap my head around Vikki Secret.. so big ups to the PR and publicity folks steering this move). Anyway Victoria who happens to be Bamboo and Kimya’s sister was orginally born in LA and then sorta moved back and forth between the US, Nigeria and Kenya. So with the links am not surprised she would jump on the track or get the blessings to be on the remix.

I think Vikki will do big things once the branding gets sorted out – she has a killer jam that Bruce Odhiambo produced some years back – I posted it here (Tell Me). Listen to this bird chirp… and tell me this is not the best R&B singer Kenya has to offer right now. (sorry Mercy )// ps. Waithaka you need the vocals for Tell me ufanye mambo?

listen to Oleku remix here:

Download audio file (Victoria-Kimani-Oleku-Remix.mp3)

download the track here:

I’ll make a quick post here because all the hoopla being caused by this song in Kenya right now and am being asked why its not on GetMziki. Truthfully We’ve had it for a long time, but I personally never thought it was such a big song. But apparently in Kenya its being played every 67 minutes across all radio stations and night clubs. This particular version I am uploading is a remix which features Ghanaian heavy weight ASEM. Naija and Ghana Stand up.

listen and download the track here:

Flavour – Nwa Baby Ghanian Remix ft Asem Bradez Stone by getmziki

watch the video here:

Honestly right now the buzz on 2Face from my perspective is probably more warranted than the buzz on Dbanj. Sure Dbanj got signed to Good (Kanye’s label) but in my opinion 2Face was my first pick in terms of an artist that was to break into the international market. Either way I think when I listen to Only Me which is in 2Face’s upcoming album appropriately titled “The Unstoppable” I cant help but think this is why Naija music is running Africa right now.

A huge part of me thinks the producers have evolved and hence the music performance and writing has ultimately changed/matured. Overall listen to this cats vocal delivery and listen to the flow tell me you don’t think this dude needs to be on a Tower Records shelf or something.. Shit I forgot most record stores closed shop lol..

ps. The message in this song is deep, we are all one regardless of where we come from – when I went to school back in Kenya I recall conversations around Cushites, Nilotes and Bantus. When you think of Africa in those terms, what separates us is really what we eat (Fish, Cows or Grass)… the newness in our ethnic lines and color lines in my opinion was created during colonialism and it gets worse the more developed our countries get… LETS UNITE – AFRICA is one big COUNTRY

listen and download the track here:

2Face – Only me by getmziki

watch the video here:

Ice Prince from Nigeria has been enjoying a phenomenal year after winning the Hennessy Artistry Award in 2009. From my Naija sources I understand he is signed to a record label called Chocolate City in Nigeria. This particular track has to be one of the his biggest which dropped earlier this year but we slept on it for technical reasons. OLEKU is big, if your DJ doesn’t play this for you – fine him or just tell him he aint doing a good job or blessing your well diversified ears.

I wont talk much on this track – please enjoy OLEKU here..

listen and download the track here:

Ice Prince feat Brymo – Oleku by getmziki

watch the video here:

Since this is the first time I have heard of 5Mics and I am totally digging his flow, Ill do something I rarely do. Which is use content directly from his PRESS KIT. Mostly because I find people spice up their press kits so much with flavor and grease it removes for the element of knowing who the artist really is. But in summary 5Mics from Nigeria is described below from his label:

//
5Mics [real name, Stanley I. Ikegbulam] is an artist after a pattern. The average artist might use a brush to paint his pictures but this artist paints his pictures with words. The name ‘5Mics’ was bestowed on him by colleagues for his energetic, though provoking and soul stirring lyrics [a status earned by rappers with skills and given to rappers like Nas and Jay-Z]. His relationship with hip hop is a long standing one from his childhood days that saw him start writing lyrics and belting them out in his unique style in high school. With influences like Nas, EPMD, Biggie Smalls, 2Pac, Rakim, Eight Ball, Boot camp Click, Wu Tang, KRS One, LL cool J, Def squad and the Ruff Ryders; 5Mic’s art has always had a unique approach with a mind blowing mix of all these rapping styles.

Born to parents from the South-East of Nigeria, he was raised in Lagos where he was exposed to music at a young age. His parents were also a factor in his walk with hip hop as they were free-handed and allowed their son to experience in his words, ‘any and everything’ the environment had to offer. This broadened his view and is also the reason why his art resonates with practically every group of the society. His music is received well from international hip hop heads to the ‘boys’ in the local hoods. His education which began in Lagos brought him to Abuja where he bagged a BSc in Business Administration but this did not stop his heartbeat for his first love.

listen and download the track here:

5Mics – Five Blessings by getmziki

P-Square just released a couple of singles a few weeks ago in preparation for their new album. In the current music market, artists release a couple of singles to really see what fans out there cling to and then release the video to go along with the chosen single. I hav been listening to the new singles and the “forever” track has been one of the tracks that I have been listening to on a regular basis.

P-Square are riding on the strength of giving the fans what they enjoy most. The catchy chorus and quality production create the sound many have come to expect from P-Square.You cannot really fail to see that this amazing duo is here to stay and “Forever” is one of those tracks that people wil be bumping to heavy in the next couple of months.

Enjoy!!!!!

Listen to the track below:

Download audio file (P_square_forever.mp3)

Click HERE to Download the track (RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE AS)

I have to make this post real quick because I think this track is fire and my Naija connects are acting all secretive and protective over the mp3 … blaaargh. Cmon VECTOR sort us out with the track this shit is FIRE. Vector just came correct with the pidgin rap and ofcourse I cant say enough of 2 Face Idibia. Naija is on a whole new level right now the quality of the video is ridiculous as it is regardless of the fact that every African video is now using this After Effects color correction plug in – for now its okay I will swallow that as just cool shit. The video is hot, the TRACK production is SICK. Vectors new album is called STATE OF SURPRISE and if this track is anything to go by his upcoming project. Then I am completely sold.

watch the massive video here:

I slowed down on posting Naija Music coz I was a little jealous I will be honest. One country cant have all that heat coming from their ovens like that… like real talk NAIJA Music last year just took OVER man. These cats reinvent themselves, rebrand themselves and just sound so fresh. Look they took over the Movie industry in Africa slowly making Nollywood a force – so I was mad I wasn’t going to let them make Naija Sound a norm. TOO LATE . I think they already accomplished this goal. F&*k I love these Naija beats and I cant help but post this banger today man.

Wizkid had his debut earlier this year and is currently signed to EME a huge Nigerian record label. At 21yrs old I think this cat will change and redefine part of the Naija club scene if his bangers are going to come this strong. Tease me is a killer track – I first heard it on DJ Bonsu’s Mix below and then later stumbled upon the video on Serengeti Record Pool – So I had to get it I had to cap this track and for your listening pleasure here it is…

Be blessed –

ps. What’s up with Naija men and no pimples LOL reminds me of BLACK JEZOZ the bomb diggity rendition dude on youtube. “Fine gyal no pimples” is the first line on this track … LOL

pss. As much as I like this track you will realize he doesn’t really sing much – its a hook oriented track with ho humms and some auto tune but damn it its fresh…

listen to Tease me here:

Download audio file (Wizkid-Tease_Me.mp3)

download the track here:

watch the video here:

We are back to regular programing, Howee’s death was tragic and untimely but its time to try and move on regardless of how hard it will be. One of the few things we will try to do is consolidate some of the songs on our homepage and some of the songs that are on the blog that are big. This track we posted in August last year but its still big today. I just noticed they did an animated music video for it too. Its nothing to write home about but I still bump this song to date.

Enjoy.

listen to I don’t give a shot here:

Download audio file (Duncan_Mighty-I_Dont_give_a_shot.mp3)

download the track here:

watch the video here:

ZAMBIA STAND UP!

To be honest unless Ive missed have the hundreds of songs posted on GetMziki I honestly cant think of us posting a ZAMBIAN track. But it feels naturally okay today considering JK is all over the news, press, tv, cable, internet(s) and so forth after his ONE 8 selection. Its amazing that over the last few weeks as I was getting more acquainted with Zambian sounds and music I realized that there is a whole movement of music in Zambia that I personally have slept on for months.

It kinda pisses me off though when I think of what the One 8 has become or is doing. I know some folks who read GetMziki wont agree and I wont bore you with my gory details. However I find it sad that they took some of Africa’s greatest talents including people like JK who normally sing in their native Bemba, took them to the US, branded some initiative 8 wonderful artists under one continent and then made all these cats sing in ENGLISH!!!!.

To me personally as a music enthusiast and as an advocate of local music and local talent I felt like Rockstar and Sony kinda just slapped us in the face. I was excited with the initial project coz I thought they would make all these cats create some phenomenal African sounds that could cross borders. But the whole “we are the world feel” added with a grain of R.Kelly frankly irked me or bored me. I don’t even like the DAMN song…

You cant compare that with this banger am about to upload KAPIRIPIRI. No disrespect to anyone at Rockstar and Sony Records but real talk – African music is unique because its not flavored by any western influence as such. Even if we do hiphop – we tend to flourish on local flavored hiphop – the Genge, the Bemba, the Zouks, the Bongo Flava, the Kwaito…. The Coupe de Cale… Soukous.. lets make our own sound. I know there is a way to create what we used to have back in the 80′s with akina Franco and TP OK Jazz Band and so forth. We just need to dig deeper and understand what Africa has to offer. We cant reinvent what is in the US in Africa, we need to create our own business models, our own music our own sound…. For me thats what makes us different and unique. Man They put Ali Kiba on a track and had him singing English… dudes never sang a word in English his entire music career. I mean really!!!

Anyway let me stop ranting. Am killing this post – the objective here was to showcase what DJ Dulo TOLD Me is FIYAAAH. Big shout to DJ Dulo for holding it down and also for putting me up on game. Much love – here is JK doing what he does best.

Haters fall back! Zambians have for a long time held the view that the wonder boy from Ndola (JK) should stick to singing in his native Bemba to avoid embarrassing the Zed people by using the Queens language in his musical exploits. But guess what, he recently as part of One8 teamed up with r Kelly (yes the R Kelly) for the smash hit hands across the world which the legendary R Kelly calls ‘one of the greatest things he has ever done!’ Zambians look out for the pied piper of R n’B at a Zed location near you in December 2010.

listen to Kapiri piri here:

Download audio file (JK_Feat_Salma-Kapiripiri.mp3)

download the track here :

[Right click and hit save target as]

watch the video here:

He’s currently promoting his sophomore album “Super C Season” and  has released a couple of singles on the album including “Kinda like a big deal” which we featured On GetMiki before.  “10 over 10″ is the track I’ve been bumping too heavy in the last few weeks., where Naeto C flips his flow to perfectly resonate with the beat creating a record that will be driving the streets, radio and clubs crazy in the next few months. Its perfectly summarizes the song title “10 Over 10″.

As an added bonus, I decided to throw in his street anthem for “Successful” (The P Mix Video), featuring behind the scenes views of the Channel O Awards ,when he got his award for “best video of the year”. The video also captures tons of African artists who were att he awards like 2Face, Amani, Sasha and many more. Enjoy!!!

Listen to the track “10 Over 10″ below:

Download audio file (Naeto_C_Ten_over-_Ten.mp3)

Click HERE to Download the track (RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE AS)

Watch the video for Successful The P-Mix below:

Most Naija blogs jumped on this a few months back and we slept on the track until recently when DJ Dona brought back the video, so we figured we might as well put the track on spin…

From what our Naija sources say, his new album “The W Experience” is probably on the streets as we post this today. He apparently mixed and mastered the entire thing in NYC collaborating with some interesting producers based in NYC. From the list of images I could see online the kid has spent some time building his image and brand really well online and on features – something I wish many East African artists would do more often.

Again thanks DJ Dona for bringing this back coz it was just dying away in my folders – but it needs a few spins.

listen to Strong ting here:

Download audio file (Banky_W-Strong_Thing.mp3)

download the track here:

watch the video here:

I love this Naija music (insert insanely jango sound ~ yawa ~) our Nigerian connects is awake now and responding so expect a lot more Naija tunes moving forward. This track by E-Gnyte (pronounced Ignite) featuring seasoned musician J-Martins who we’ve featured here over and over again is a sure shot collabo. Although I hear them mention De Cale Coupe dance! through out the track I find it hard to trace this sound with Coupe De Cale.

Eko Beats produced this banger and they have their strong outfit called Eko Beats Records which seems to have a line of stars slated for the Winter release 2010. We will keep a keen eye on this stable, but for now enjoy this banger. This kind of party!! I love the video too.

listen to This Kind of Party here:

Download audio file (Egnyte-This_Kind_Party.mp3)

Download the track here:

Watch the video here:

Its obvious its been busy here – we’ve been trying to push out a new blog look and theme which is still unfinished. Please feel free to give us your comments and constructive criticism if you can. Some things will definitely change and some will stay its the nature of progression.

I think through our my GetMziki Journey one thing has become apparent to me – the Naija music engine is a well oiled mechanism. These cats understand the business and they know how to put shit together. The quality of the videos in Naija has improved so much since 4 years ago its amazing each time I watch a Naija video I start comparing that with any work that is coming out of Kenya and East Africa today. This is not to say that East Africa is not putting out any real good material – all I am saying is sheer volume of relevance in Naija is overwhelming in comparison to East Africa (yes I said it all 3 countries).

I am particularly moved and inspired by folks over at 360 Storm Records (Entertainment). It doesn’t take a genius to figure out this is a movement that comes with marketing geniuses, creative folks and to top it off they have a roaster of artists they serve that they look after so well. I don’t even know the cats but I want to meet them soon – I know that much.

I have been an avid follower of Naeto C and it took DJ Edu to revive my taste buds. (Thats why I like that DJ Edu – DNA show – you never know what to expect). Sadly I enjoy a lot of his older shows – so I am always playing catch up to his exclusives. As it is this is a track that was played or debuted sometimes last year but I still feel as though its relevant because its not hit the US streets HAAARD.

Anyway the quality of this track may not be all that but I still thought it was relevant… KINI BIG DEAL. I understand it won some MTV awards in Africa…

listen to Kini Big Deal here:

Download audio file (Naeto_C- Kini_Big_deal.mp3)

download the track here:

watch the video here:

I have been MIA for a while now taking care of some business, but we are back now. Thanks to Leo, Alvin and Louis for taking care of all the updates.

I got this track like 3 weeks ago and although we showcased it on the “Homepage“, many people go directly to the blog and most likely might have missed the song.

I showcased the original Bracket “Yori Yori” way before it became a hit and people everywhere have been going wild when this song comes on. I’m really glad they came out with the remix which features Naija heavyweight 2face who did a couple of tour spots in the US a few months ago, since although the original is a banger, after so many spins and after every other Dj playing this track 2-3 times a night, the song has really been “overplayed”. This remix has been out for like 3 weeks now and its already on the charts in major Naija radio stations.

My sources tell me that Bracket is actually gearing up for the release of thier second album and the ” Yori Yori” remix is the first single off the album. This song was produced and recorded at Giant Beats Studios, Abuja by hit producer Dekumzy. The remix is a different song altogether and features a new beat plus 2Face on the track. I wanna see if djs jump on this track just like they did the other one.

Enjoy!!!!!

Listen to the track below:

Download audio file (Bracket_-_Yori_Yori__Remix__ft.mp3)

Click HERE to Download the track (RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE AS)

We have featured Justina from Naija in the site before with the club banger “Omo Too Sexy“. The song enjoyed massive airplay and rotation both locally and abroad during its drop and remains people’s  favourite as a heavy club banger even till this date.

With her astonishingly powerful and variable voice, Justina combines different elements from Jazz, R&B, Soul, Hip Hop and Afrobeat to her very own style. In her songs which she composes largely herself she evokes her relentless love for life but also touches on pressing social issues such as poverty, corruption, struggling kids and the treatment of women in Africa.

On this track she talks about her love for a radio dj. The question is which one ????

I’m really feeling this track and I wanna know what people out there think.

Listen to the track below:

Download audio file (Justina_Radio_DJ.mp3)

Click Here to download this Song (RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE AS)