Afropop Top Videos: August, 2024

<p><em>The songs of summer 2024 are flying by. We at Afropop Worldwide have our own takes, and here are a few to consider. This month’s seven picks lean heavily into Afrobeats, the genre taking the entire planet by storm, despite <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/aug/26/afrobeats-afropop-music-genre-nigeria-youth-burna-boy-tems-ayra-starr-rema?mc_cid=c891a44d7a&mc_eid=8b87d47cc6">ongoing worries that the genre has peaked</a>. </em></p> <p><em>Check out </em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdQpQFvdIp8&list=PLZkFL0SqZb8KAgMdbGHzIV-QhbXX-duR-"><em>the full Afropop Top Videos playlist</em></a><em> for all our recent selections. And remember, if you have suggestions of videos our fans would love, send them to </em><a href="mailto:info@afropop.org"><em>info@afropop.org</em></a><em> with the subject line “Top Videos 2024.” Enjoy!</em></p> <p><strong>Ibrahim Maalouf: “Love Anthem”</strong></p> <p>Hot on the heels of <a href="https://afropop.test.ejaedesign.com/articles/angelique-kidjo-and-ibrahim-maalouf-queen-of-sheba">Queen of Sheba</a>, Maalouf’s ambitious collaboration with Angelique Kidjo, the Lebanese trumpet maestro goes deep with Africa in this track. The video offers a sneak peak at his forthcoming album <em>Trumpets of Michel-Ange</em> (September 20), and it offers a whole new take on this maverick artist. Maalouf’s pure-toned trumpet rips through the track’s deft tempo changes—from zouk to reggaeton and much in between—and there’s no resisting kids dancing their asses off in their mud-walled village.</p> <figure><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HXr-1lBZun0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure> <p><br><strong>Yemi Alade, feat. Ziggy Marley: “Peace and Love” </strong></p> <p>The Afrobeats diva takes on reggae, and in fine company at that! This track from her new ablum, <em>Rebel Queen</em>, is a beautiful fusion of styles and sensibilities, and the cast-of-hundreds video is pure joy. </p> <figure><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/amLCEEax6lM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure> <p><br><br><strong>Mr Eazi: “Panadol” </strong></p> <p>Still developing tracks from his landmark 2023 album, <em>The Evil Genius</em>, <a href="https://afropop.test.ejaedesign.com/audio-programs/planet-afropop-mr-eazi-gets-evil">Mr Eazi</a> taps into malaise with a song about the extra-strength pain-reliever Panadol. Poker and pressure, but oh so smooth.</p> <figure><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/0-8MDRbgso0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure> <p><br></p> <p><strong>H-Money and Reekado Banks: “Tic Tik”</strong><br></p> <p>Harmony “H-Money” Samuels is an English record producer. <a href="https://afropop.test.ejaedesign.com/articles/reekado-banks-a-young-force-on-the-nigerian-pop-scene">Reekado Banks</a> is a rising star in Nigeria’s competitive Afrobeats scene. The video is minimalist, but the track is damn catchy. </p> <figure><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/38P0h39dmbk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Simi: “Borrow Me Your Baby, feat. Falz”</strong></p> <p>The Nigerian singer-songwriter-actress brings us a playful ensemble video set in a hair salon. Great hook, and love that funky rhythm guitar!</p> <figure><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Sie8FOH8wI8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Olamide, Fireboy DML, Asake: “Uptown Disco”</strong></p> <p>A trio of top Nigerian Afrobeats stars hit the streets (and skies) of Los Angeles for a surreal romp. <a href="https://afropop.test.ejaedesign.com/articles/olamide-seizes-the-day">Olamide</a> is, of course, the producer who launched Fireboy DML’s meteoric career, as well as Asake’s, on the YBNL label. Good fun and fine teamwork!</p> <figure><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/sg6HiPSREc8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Driss El Maloumi Trio + String Quartet: “Choukr”</strong></p> <p>Setting Afrobeats aside for the moment, fans may know this Moroccan oud virtuoso from his work with <a href="https://afropop.test.ejaedesign.com/articles/3ma-the-jewel-trio">3 Ma</a>, a trio of musicians from Mali (Ballake Sissoko), Madagascar (Razery) and Morocco. Here El Maloumi pairs his trio with a string quartet. Possibly a nice break from Afrobeats!</p> <figure><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Amkln2p-K8o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>