THE CUTS: EP 03 Vol. 14
THE CUTS bring to readers each week music or albums that the writer deem worth listening or having in your playlist. The music is not genre and/or regionally specific. Once it is good, it will be covered here.
M.anifest feat Bayku and Yaa Pono – Don’t Follow Me
The artwork for this single put not only the theme of the song in perspective, but also, M.anifest’s overall mindset and actions: riding against what is the accepted norm. Since emerging on the scene a couple of years back, his style and demeanour bores no resemblance to what a typical ‘hip hop’ artist embodies.
On his latest offering, M.anifest taps the vocal expertise of Bayku and the lyrical artistry of Yaa Pono on ‘Don’t Follow Me’. The song itself is laced with wise thoughts about how life is fleeting with people caught in trap-situations that aren’t what they had hoped for: ‘’My 9 to 5 really not my vibe e dey vex me/Living in the bottle cause akpeteshie gets me/Making noise with the boys we dey watch la liga/ But my empty soul dying slow it’s got a fever’’.
On the second verse, he recounts a story of a cheating husband whose cheating ways cost him his woman but chose to stick in his ways: ”Lost the woman of his dreams to a lesser man/ Instead of growing Chuks chose the route of peter pan/ Now e dey tell all ein paddies”. Yaa Pono’s 6 bar verse displays his sense of humor and perspective in life.
Raph Enze feat Ayat – Pioto
The video for this anthem is finally out and like the energy felt in the song, the video Wilkings Avono directed video drips of that as well. There are a lot of moving scenes in this video, starting first with Raph Enze standing next to a vintage red and black 1988 BMW M5 and a lady counting money; to a shirtless Ayat in a red room and the boys out in the open jamming in front of what looks like a huge warehouse.
‘Pioto’, a cautionary song against reckless spending on women and other frivolousness. Raph Enzee advice that, young folks must rather invest their monies in ventures that would reward them with profits. In simpler terms: secure the bag and your future.
EL: Yaa Wor, ‘Pump Pump’, Plug
EL’s trifecta release last week is a trip through the interesting phases of his career thus far, sonically speaking. Take for instance the PeeOnTheBeat produced Yaa Wor (Go and Sleep) with its azonto feel is reminiscent of EL’s ‘Kaalu’ and ‘One Ghana’ years.
On ‘Pump Pump’, produced by B2, a smitten EL declares his resolve to wait on a girl he loves, over minimal afro-pop beat. ‘Pump Pump’ sounds like 20012 Something Else era Lomi. The last song on this list is the TeePhlow featured, trap heavy Plug which has the two acts chest thumping all through the song like something you’d find either on BAR 3 or BAR 4. This three-song release may come as a surprise for many and the intention of EL for this ‘treat’ isn’t clear. Perhaps, these are to prepare fans for his upcoming WAVs album.
Sister Deborah and Wanlov –Refuse, Reuse, Recycle
‘Refuse, reuse, recycle/try and ride your bicycle’; so goes the hook of this acoustic driven tune. Sister Deborah and Wanlov are preaching about the dangers of human activities on the environment. These two siblings have been vocal on the plastic menace that has become an albatross around the country’s neck and its varied effects on both plant and animal lives and its contribution towards aggravating the effects of climate change. Refuse, Reuse, Recycle with its simply and educative lyrics is a call to action by all.
$pacely feat Kwesi Arthur –Digits
Digits is a song about grinding for the money; an important reminder about one of life’s most important necessities. $pacely and Kwesi Arthur, over a trap heavy, bouncy beat conveyed this message the best way they could. The video is interesting in many aspects: it’s low budget; makes use of Jean Basquait styled graphics; and the director’s cut scenes. The video brims with energy and fan and features cameo by members of the LaMeme Gang.
Kinpee – Oseikrom Abrantie
For years, we’ve watched a number of rappers tale-tell what makes up a regular day of a youngin’ in Kumasi. While some come awfully presented, others come in a set of well crafted bars with the default Oseikrom language, Twi. Kinpee however, redefines this perfectly on Oseikrom Abrantie with a full set of bars riding heavy on a Tubhani Beatz. The Kinsanity storytelling rapper paints this picture right in English – the type that’d easily score high on a Fletcher test. He undoubtedly tags in the group that presents the Kumasi life in a set of well crafted bars.
Akym Aremu – Erin, Bad Man
The soothing endearments of ‘’Erin’’ transports you into a place of blissfulness. And unsurprisingly, the lyrics of the song-largely performed in Yoruba- has Akym Aremu telling a friend abut happiness. ”Erin” carries a beautiful melody which is accompanied by soft drums and guitar riffs buried within the lead instruments. For anyone accustomed to Hausa songs would readily identify a few arcs on ”Erin”.
”Bad Man” steers away from the melancholic ”Erin”. It’s up-tempo, Caribbean Island music vibes, with Akym Aremu swinging his playboy resume in the face of the tatas. What these two songs reflect are the versatility of this Okoko-Lagosian native, who isn’t afraid to fuse various musical elements together to create a sound that augment the message he wants to deliver on a song.
