Apple Music’s latest Africa Rising recipient is Afrofusion singer, LOJAY

Apple Music announced the latest featured artist in its Africa Rising artist development program is Nigerian-born singer-songwriter LOJAY (real name Lekan Osifeso Junior). “Thank you Apple Music for putting a spotlight on my sound. It’s a huge honour I don’t take for granted especially with all the amazing artists the continent has on display. It’s amazing to see how far my music is able to travel and how well it’s been received,” he tells Apple Music.

Developing an affinity for music from an early age, which evolved into a form of escapism for him during his adolescent years, it was the release of his collaborative EP with renowned producer Sarz called LV N ATTN (2021) that allowed LOJAY’s creative mastery to shine, with the Afrobeats EP shooting to No. 1 on Nigeria’s Apple Music Album Chart. 

The EP was anchored by the hit single “Monalisa” which held its third highest position on Apple Music Charts in July 2021. The subsequent remix of “Monalisa” (2022) featuring Chris Brown allowed for LOJAY’s star to climb even higher, as he followed that up with downtempo Afrofusion single “Leader” (2022) and the Amapiano-rooted single “Canada” (2022) alongside Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa respectively. 

His new EP, Gangster Romance (2023), available to stream on Apple Music in Spatial Audio now, is a 7-track exploration of the highs and lows LOJAY experienced this past year, characterised by emotive vocals and biting lyricism. The latest music from LOJAY along with that of Africa’s hottest new artists is available now on the Apple Music Africa Rising Playlist.

Apple Music announces Spinall as the February Isgubhu cover star

Apple Music announced superstar Nigerian DJ and producer, Spinall (real name Sodamola Oluseye Desmond), as the February Isgubhu cover star. Carefully crafting tracks that merge Afrobeats, Afropop and EDM, Spinall has become one of the most sought-after DJs in the world. Fresh off opening for Bruno Mars in Sydney, Australia towards the end of 2022, Spinall has wasted no time getting this year off to a flying start with the release of his smooth single “Bunda” featuring Kemuel and Olamide (2023), in anticipation of the release of his sixth studio album Top Boy (2023) which will be available to stream on Apple Music in Spatial Audio. 

To celebrate his feature, Spinall has also created an exclusive Isgubhu playlist that is reflective of the songs from Africa that move and inspire him. “These are just a few of the songs that resonate with me at this particular moment in time. I am super proud of the music coming out of my beloved continent and I’m hoping you will also see how diverse our sound is,” he says. 

Isgubhu’s spotlight mix this month is from Nigerian selector,  DJ Obi, who has an event series in Lagos called “DJ Obi On A Monday” that has fast become a key event within the Lagos party scene. Obi releases a live mix from the event exclusively onto Apple Music through MAD Solutions and often teases the newest and hottest songs coming out of Nigeria during these mixes.

Apple Music announced J-Smash and K.Keed as the featured artists for Rap Life Africa in March

Apple Music’s Rap Life Radio, presented by the Global Editorial Head of Hip-Hop and R&B, Ebro Darden will feature J-Smash (real name Uhone Luvhengo) and K.Keed on this week’s episode. Ebro and Africa Now host Dadaboy Ehiz chat about their latest single “Ngeke”, off their upcoming collaborative EP IZANDLA, which will be available to stream on Apple Music.

Spotlight On
On their collaborative EP, IZANDLA, producer J-Smash and Cape Town rapper K.Keed bring out the best in each other, as Smash’s style compliments the Cape Town rapper’s solid flow and song structure, as she moves seamlessly between melodic and more hard-hitting tracks.

First To Know
“We are thrilled and grateful to be featured on the cover of RAP LIFE,” J-Smash and K.Keed tell Apple Music. “This is more than just a milestone for us – it’s a testament to the power of hard work, passion, and perseverance. We are grateful for this opportunity to share our music and story with the world and thrilled to be a part of such an incredible platform that celebrates the diversity and creativity of the hip-hop genre. The project IZANDLA is a symphony of faith and unity, this joint music project invites you on a journey of seeking support and guidance from our surroundings and from a higher power.”

The Last Word
“Never would I have thought a young kid from Gugs would end up being on the cover of one of the biggest streaming platforms in the world. I’m so honoured to be chosen to be a part of the Rap Life cover on Apple Music, this is a monumental opportunity for me because many spent a lifetime trying to reach this goal. Smash and I have been working on this project since 2022, so I hope everyone enjoys and experiences our world of IZANDLA.”

Playlist
Rap Life Africa serves as a companion to Apple Music’s flagship hip-hop playlist, Rap Life.

Apple Music announces Josiah De Disciple as the March Isgubhu cover star

Apple Music today announced South Africa Amapiano DJ and producer, Josiah De Disciple (real name Josiah Makoela), as the next Isgubhu cover star. Born in Alexandra, Josiah rose to prominence within the music scene as one-half of JazziDisciplies alongside Mr JazziQ, pushing the envelope when it came to the apparent rules of Amapiano before the duo parted ways in 2018. With a renewed focus on his solo material, he released “Mama” (2020) alongside Boohle which was quickly certified gold by RISA, and followed that up with his debut album, Spirits of Makoela – Vol. 2: The Reintroduction (2021), which incorporated live instrumentation into the normally synth-heavy genre. 

The second instalment of his “Sounds Of Gomora” album series is Sounds of Gomora Vol. 2: The Healers Avenue (2023), available to stream on Apple Music in Spatial Audio, is an 8-track offering that continues his exploration of the various shades of Amapiano, rooted in the singles “Amanga” featuring Maline Aura and “Vasco” featuring Senjay, ManKay & Choco Dynasty.

To celebrate his feature, Josiah De Disciple has also created an exclusive Isgubhu playlist which houses a plethora of African dance tracks that have made the biggest impact on his musical journey. “This playlist is a reflection of who I am and the type of music I make, love and listen to,” Josiah De Disciple tells Apple Music. “It includes some of my favourite work that I’ve produced and some other music which I feel have influenced my style of music. It’s a mixture of old African dance music classics that till today, are still relevant. A big shoutout to my fam at Apple Music for all the love and support!”

Apple Music launches eight new African Playlists

Apple Music has added eight new playlists to its already extensive collection, as part of Apple Music Africa’s vision to represent all regions, genres and scenes across Sub-Saharan Africa. The much-anticipated additions to the Apple Music African playlist ecosystem include Hits Afrique, Afro Folk, Bongo Flava, Africa’Jazznation, Afro-Fusion, Rap Ivoire, Afrikaans in Spatial Audio and Afrobeats in Spatial Audio. 

Hits Afrique brings together the biggest tracks from across Francophone Africa, while Afro-Folk combines elements of African storytelling with neo-soul and alternative sounds. Bongo Flava showcases tracks that fuse Western modes of R&B and hip-hop, dancehall, Afrobeats, traditional Taarab and Dansi sounds, while the new Rap Ivoire playlist highlights Côte d’Ivoire’s burgeoning hip-hop scene and reflects the new realities of urban life.

Afro-Fusion brings together the sonic traditions of styles like Soukous and Ndombolo with R&B, pop, jazz and hip-hop. In the same token, Africa Jazznation houses a cross-section of contemporary African Jazz, alongside notable collaborations that transcend the continent’s borders. 

And finally, Apple Music has also launched Afrobeats in Spatial Audio and Afrikaans in Spatial Audio playlists, creating an immersive listening experience and featuring premiere artists in each genre. 

Listen to the playlists below.
Hits Afrique: https://apple.co/40ajYKN
Afro Folk: https://apple.co/3lb7Z12
Bongo Flava: https://apple.co/3yLEaap
Africa’Jazznation: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/pl.6505623a06c44169b2f4b267be0dd41f
Afro Fusion: https://apple.co/3mYwaQN
Rap Ivoire: https://apple.co/3ZSBXpk
Afrobeats in Spatial Audio: https://apple.co/42eybs1
Afrikaans in Spatial Audio: https://apple.co/3ZXAdeD

Apple Music’s latest Africa Rising recipient is pop sensation, Lloyiso

Apple Music announced the latest featured artist in its Africa Rising artist development program is Port Elizabeth-born pop singer-songwriter Lloyiso (real name Lloyiso Gijana). “It’s an honour to be selected as the next Africa Rising artist on Apple Music,” Lloyiso says. “Apple has been a major supporter of mine from the very beginning and I’m so excited to continue working together via this program. This is just the start of what’s to come – I’m taking my music all the way from South Africa to the world!”

With a love for music grounded in his participation in the church choir growing up, Lloyiso caught the attention of the public after he entered SA Idols in 2015. After placing fifth, Lloyiso went on to perform wherever possible around the country, but it was his covers of popular songs from artists like Rihanna, Billie Eilish and Lewis Capaldi that gained him viral notoriety.

After making history as the first South African artist signed to Republic Records in America, Lloyiso made his mark with stunningly honest singles “Easy On Me” (2021) and “Speak” (2022), tapping into an emotional vulnerability far beyond his young years. His debut album Seasons (2023), available to stream on Apple Music in Spatial Audio now, is a 7-track culmination of his artistic growth spearheaded by the soulful track “Run” and the emotive ballad “What Would I Say”. The latest music from Lloyiso along with that of Africa’s hottest new artists is available now on the Apple Music Africa Rising Playlist.

Discover Africa Rising here: applemusic.com/africarising