This week saw Azealia Banks speak some truths about Black culture appropriation in her interview on Hot 97’s Ebro In The Morning, calling out Iggy Azalea and T.I in the process, while raising some very important points in the rather emotional interview. D’Angelo also released his first album in fourteen weeks to critical acclaim, and J. Cole reached the top of the Billboard Albums Chart with little to no promotion whatsoever, selling over 370,000 copies in its first week. In the UK, X Factor winner Ben Haenow secured the country’s Christmas number 1 song with “Something I Need”, while Madonna’s forthcoming album was leaked online, months before its scheduled release, with the legendary singer labelling the leak as theft and ‘artistic rape’. More pertinent to us though, here are our favourite releases of the week, ending December 21. Enjoy them below.
Debrah Rose – “Roses”
UK based Afro Soul artist Debrah Rose returns to the scene with the release of her new single “Roses”, and its accompanying video. The new record comes on the back of her debut single “Superwoman” which received over 10,000 downloads in under 12 weeks of its release, and was used as the theme song for Nigeria’s Ndani TV series, Gidi Up. Teaming up with talented UK producer Dele Christie, the single is a sassy feel good song, with the key message of loving and valuing one’s self first being the ultimate key to happiness.
Fuse ODG – “Letter To TINA”
“Letter To TINA” is easily one of my favourite songs on Fuse ODG’s debut album T.I.N.A, from the rousing choir vocals to the ‘TINA’ chants to even the sample from his 2013 MOBO Awards speech, and now Fuse ODG has unveiled the music video for the track directed by Vertex, and hopefully this will be the album’s next single. Check it out below, read our review of his T.I.N.A album here and purchase the album here.
Seyi Shay + Wizkid – “Crazy”
Directed by Meji Alabi for JM Films, here is the brand new video from Seyi Shay for her latest single “Crazy” featuring Wizkid. Initial thoughts about the video? Artsy as you might come to expect from the JM stable – from the styling to the scenery, and Seyi Shay is really staking her claims to be the next female Nigerian artist to blow, and she seems to be having fun with it, I like it. Check it out below.
Nicole Scherzinger – “Bang”
The multi talented Nicole Scherzinger has just released the video to “Bang”, the fourth single to be taken from her latest album Big Fat Lie after the previous releases of “Your Love”, “On The Rocks” and “Run”. The pop star has currently moved from the concert stage to the theatre stage, where she is receiving rave reviews from critics and fans alike for her starring role as Grizabella in Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s musical rendition of Cats at the London Palladium.
Panda Bear – “Boys Latin”
Portuguese producer and Animal Collective band member Noah Lennox AKA Panda Bear has shared another new song “Boys Latin” from his fifth solo album. Coming from an album titled Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper, it is no surprise that the animated video for the new track is a colourful, trippy and somewhat strange affair. Directed by Isaiah Saxon and Sean Hellfritsch, the video follows a young boy and his encounter with a pulsating circular marsh creature/plant and the psychedelic consequences. Intrigued? then watch the video below.
Molia – “Does It Matter”
“Nothing can go wrong with a little R&B, Pop and Soul. Here is Molia’s brand new single titled ‘Does It Matter’, which will also be added to her upcoming EP album (Date coming soon). Containing a message that a few can relate to. Listen up“. Introducing San Jose singer and songwriter Molia with her new single “Does It Matter“, listen to it below, and look out for her upcoming debut EP which will be released in January 2015.
Words by Ayo Adepoju, Jake Garrett and Bizu Yaregal
