Mr. Eazi and Wizkid

Wow, it has been some time since my last post. It feels odd to not write for so long! But I'm back again today and have some really fun and interesting music for you. I know I have spent ample time discussing music from around the world, especially focusing on Indian, Korean, and Latin music. And a travesty for us all, I haven't spent a lot of time discussing music from Africa. Now, this seems such a shame since there is so much music today which has taken influence from African music. But this week, I wanted to talk specifically about artists who are from Africa and have gained their popularity there. And so, today I am starting with an artist out of Nigeria who goes by the name Mr. Eazi.

Now I really wanted to talk about African artists, because this group represents up and coming artist. African music has been the source of inspiration for so many musical movements, and most notably, the Afrobeat movement. The profile of African artists has started to skyrocket within the past few years, yet when I talk to people today, it seems as if the international acclaim of these African artists still hasn't broken through mainstream music in Ameria.

This track by Mr. Eazi is a nice, smooth moving one, but still reflects a soundscape which is identifiably African. A lot of modern Afrobeat music and African music is characterized by having a youthful and contagious energy. These songs have catchy anthems, dance-worthy beats, and electronically laced vocals. Mr. Eazi tends to reflect the cultural roots he has given his upbringing- spending time in both Nigeria and Ghana. Part of his sound is creating this African fusion where he brings his laidback and more chilled vocalization to the more the energetic and fast-paced instrumentation.

This track overall is more laidback, offering a vibe that is actually quite sensual. There is a softer edge to the song, and the way Mr. Eazi sings the lyrics creates a roundness in the song. The beats are softer and don't hit as hard, while still being a prominent sound in the track. This song also features a lot more synth work and electronic sounds. But the track is tastefully produced so that the entire song just feels like an African styled R&B jam.

One of the really cool things about this track is that Mr. Eazi sings in pidgin English. Nigerian pidgin English is a type of creole language, so it uses English as the base of the language and has evolved from there. A lot of times, it can be reflected in the way the vowels are used and pronounced. But I find it so interesting to hear the song being done in pidgin because it takes something I know very well and puts such a delicious twist on it.

Today's discussion is just the first in this week of African music and artists. I just want to highlight some of the global talents which we may not hear of or have exposure to. Mr. Eazi is making waves in the African music market, and it won't be long till he crosses over into the Western mainstream. This is an artist worth watching!

 Today's instrumental track comes from a popular African artist known as Wizkid. He has a lot of presence and influence within the African music industry, acting not only as an artist but as a label creator. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Kongos and Beastie Boys

Ima Robot and Tame Impala

Zayn Malik and Interstellar