Maleek Berry and Black Panther
Today we are continuing with the African themed music. But today's artist is a British-born Nigerian artist by the name of Maleek Berry. One of the reasons I find his music so intriguing is because despite growing up in England, Maleek Berry has been able to grab hold of that contagious Afro-pop energy, and has harnessed it to create music which is so rooted in his Nigerian roots. There are a lot of artists out there who are able to do that, but for some reason, it really struck me with Maleek Berry's work. Not only is the instrumentation and soundscape reminiscent of African pop, but he even sings in that pidgin style of speaking which is found in Nigeria.
The first thing you tend to notice with Maleek Berry's music is the beat. He takes it straight from the world of Afrobeats, giving way to more traditional and African leaning percussion to set the tone of the song. He gets us prepared for the style and sound he is trying to accomplish, from those initial beats. And it kind of makes sense to me since Maleek Berry had his hand in production before he released his debut solo EP. It also explains why the production chops on all of his tracks are pretty incredible. Afrobeats music is defined by its energy, charisma, and rhythm. So naturally, we get all three of those elements in this track. African pop has this tantalizing kind of vibe to it. It is an invitation to dance and there is an unspoken sensuality found there. And how can we resist the call of those polyrhythmic beats?
But beats and rhythm aside, there is a gorgeous melodic element to the track as well. What is interesting to note, is that the melody is loud enough to be heard, but is soft enough that it doesn't end up being the main attraction of the song. With Maleek Berry, I have noticed that a lot more of the melodic focus lies with the vocals. The surround electronic work, synths, and instruments serve more as a harmony. Or rather, they even function as a filler! The melodic lines of these background instrumentals is meant to be a support which weaves itself around the vocal melody. That subtleness is what allows the percussion and rhythm to stand out a bit more. Now I will say, take this with a grain of salt. Not all songs are structured this way, and even Maleek Berry himself has songs which don't follow this conventional way of putting together Afro-pop. But in the same way that hip-hop prefers percussive melodies, Maleek Berry's work tends to follow that same pattern.
But speaking of melodies, I cannot forget to talk about the vocals of this song. As I mentioned earlier, Maleek Berry does make use of pidgin, and that is something I really appreciate. He brings an honest and earnest sincerity by using that language style. Somehow it makes the Nigerian and African connection, that much stronger. But Maleek Berry does tend to sing with that electric overlay which most African artists use in their own music. I am still not sure as to why this particular vocal method has become popular, but I will admit, it offers a lot of wiggle room with pitches. A lot of times with Afro-pop pop music, you can hear how the electronic cover is added to the voice. That sound is so distinctive, we could recognize it in an instant. And Maleek Berry lends his voice to the track. It is a bubbly one, and he brings a mellow and low pitched voice, which keeps the vibe at a very nice level. Maleek Berry is starting to break out of the England area, so I hope you check out his newer music! You might be surprised.
Today's instrumental track comes from Wakanda. Or rather, Black Panther. I would like to put a disclaimer out there right now, that I have not chosen this track because the first song is African and the second should be as well. I have honestly chosen this track because I just saw Avengers 3. But it also helps that the Black Panther score features a lot of African styled sounds. We have a modern film with a traditional soundtrack on one hand. On the other, we have a modern artist with a traditional taste. It seemed fitting! Anyway, I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!
The first thing you tend to notice with Maleek Berry's music is the beat. He takes it straight from the world of Afrobeats, giving way to more traditional and African leaning percussion to set the tone of the song. He gets us prepared for the style and sound he is trying to accomplish, from those initial beats. And it kind of makes sense to me since Maleek Berry had his hand in production before he released his debut solo EP. It also explains why the production chops on all of his tracks are pretty incredible. Afrobeats music is defined by its energy, charisma, and rhythm. So naturally, we get all three of those elements in this track. African pop has this tantalizing kind of vibe to it. It is an invitation to dance and there is an unspoken sensuality found there. And how can we resist the call of those polyrhythmic beats?
But beats and rhythm aside, there is a gorgeous melodic element to the track as well. What is interesting to note, is that the melody is loud enough to be heard, but is soft enough that it doesn't end up being the main attraction of the song. With Maleek Berry, I have noticed that a lot more of the melodic focus lies with the vocals. The surround electronic work, synths, and instruments serve more as a harmony. Or rather, they even function as a filler! The melodic lines of these background instrumentals is meant to be a support which weaves itself around the vocal melody. That subtleness is what allows the percussion and rhythm to stand out a bit more. Now I will say, take this with a grain of salt. Not all songs are structured this way, and even Maleek Berry himself has songs which don't follow this conventional way of putting together Afro-pop. But in the same way that hip-hop prefers percussive melodies, Maleek Berry's work tends to follow that same pattern.
But speaking of melodies, I cannot forget to talk about the vocals of this song. As I mentioned earlier, Maleek Berry does make use of pidgin, and that is something I really appreciate. He brings an honest and earnest sincerity by using that language style. Somehow it makes the Nigerian and African connection, that much stronger. But Maleek Berry does tend to sing with that electric overlay which most African artists use in their own music. I am still not sure as to why this particular vocal method has become popular, but I will admit, it offers a lot of wiggle room with pitches. A lot of times with Afro-pop pop music, you can hear how the electronic cover is added to the voice. That sound is so distinctive, we could recognize it in an instant. And Maleek Berry lends his voice to the track. It is a bubbly one, and he brings a mellow and low pitched voice, which keeps the vibe at a very nice level. Maleek Berry is starting to break out of the England area, so I hope you check out his newer music! You might be surprised.
Today's instrumental track comes from Wakanda. Or rather, Black Panther. I would like to put a disclaimer out there right now, that I have not chosen this track because the first song is African and the second should be as well. I have honestly chosen this track because I just saw Avengers 3. But it also helps that the Black Panther score features a lot of African styled sounds. We have a modern film with a traditional soundtrack on one hand. On the other, we have a modern artist with a traditional taste. It seemed fitting! Anyway, I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!
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