afropunk paris 2020 playlist: 5 bops for île seguin

Hope you all saw the Paris line-up we announced this morning. FKA twigs, Ms. Lauryn Hill, and Jill Scott atop the line-up at La Seine Musicale should be fire, on fire, on fire.  But we’re just as proud to present a world of talent from around the Diaspora, because, through the years, the Parisian AFROPUNK party has acquired a Black Atlantic family reunion, picnic vibe. So we’re also betting that a few other artists on the bill will make the city of lights shine even Blacker on July 11th and 12th. Here are five of them:

GoldLink (with Tyler the Creator & Jay Prince), “U Say”

The title of the great DMV rapper’s 2019 album (Diaspora) betrayed its purpose from the get-go. Among its grandest bops was this bit of club fire, which also featured Tyler and Jay, with a beat by the Ghanaian-British master Juls Baby (best-known for producing many of Mr. Eazi’s hits). This one encompasses the whole wide world.

Tierra Whack, “Unemployed” 

There’s few artists in the world right now whom we stan as hard as the oddball rapper from North Philly. We think she’s overdue for some new music — and sources say she may even have some for you, Paris — but for now, let’s bask in her 2019 joint. “Same shit, nothing new”? Nah, we disagree.  

Santi (with Shane Eagle, Tomi Agape & Amaarae), “Rapid Fire”

One of the princes of Nigeria’s alté scene, Santi returns to Paris for the first time since the ascendance of his 2019 album, Mandy and the Jungle, with its massive hit “Rapid Fire.” Mixing afrobeats and silky R&B, with a ragga dancehall vibe, this is that future Nigeria’s been pushing the last few years. 

Rema feat. Becky G, “Dumebi (remix)” 

2019 was a break-out year for Rema, a Nigerian rapper/singer whose crackling mix of afrobeats and trap is like a secret connection between Lagos and Atlanta. Barack Obama gave his “Iron Man” some Twitter love, taking the teenager global. But it’s the crackling “Dumebi” that caught our ear, and which is now basking in the dembow glow of this remix with Becky G. 

Larissa Luz, “Nana”

And to supply the Brazilian rhythmic fire, we’ve added Salvadoran Larissa Luz to the line-up. Luz has been a star for a minute now — she was nominated for a Latin pop Grammy in 2016 — but last year’s album, Trovão, produced with Rafa Dias, took her technologically astute reinterpretation of Black Brazilian beats to the next level. Larissa Luz is gonna tear it up.

Get Your Tickets Now For AFROPUNK Paris 2020.