Music

afropunk’s top video playlist

July 24, 2021

As the month of July is coming to an end, we have taken some time to reflect on some of the videos and songs that caught our attention. With July having kicked off the 2nd half of the year, we’re anticipating artists to put out projects that will define this year, and this list has set the benchmark for music coming later this year. Here are our top five music videos for the month of July.

Fousheé ft Lil Yatchy: Clap For Him – With the release of her debut project, Fousheé has definitely made her mark and is on her way to worldwide stardom. The singer/songwriter has had an impressive year, bagging features from Lil Yatchy, Lil Wayne delivered one of his best verses to date on the song “Gold Fronts”, a performance on Jimmy Kimmel, and lending her voice to Vince Staples’ “Take Me Home” from his self-titled album. Clearly it was a no-brainer for us to have her as one of the acts at AFROPUNK ATLANTA in September.

 

The Steoples: In The Dance – The mix of sonic nostalgia and adventurousness that underpins the collaboration between Yeofi and GB sets a perfect stage for a dystopian tale of intimacy and technology. On their latest single, the stunning “In The Dance,” The Steoples interweave haunting melodies, lush strings, and dynamic percussion for a track that stands statuesque on the shoulders of the soul and indie luminaries who came before but with its gaze fixed firmly on the future. Yeofi tells us they wrote “In The Dance” “to pay homage to all the great luminaries who have tracked a path across modern history. Lovers of life whose art emboldens hearts and invigorates the spirit. Broadcasting freedom fighters disguised as dancers; writers, poets, painters, musicians, all magicians conjuring against the odds. Compelling attention, conveying more than their craft. Their voices have bailed out the human spirit where social circumstance has left it bankrupt, time and time again. Each generation has them, this song salutes them all.”

McClenney ft. St. Panther: Kerosene – At just 27, McClenney already has the Quincy Jones co-sign and is shaping the sound of modern Black alternative music. Outside of his solo music, McClenney is a mastermind behind the scenes producing for artists including Khalid, Mereba, H.E.R., Smino, Boogie, with upcoming music from Jamila Woods, Baby Rose, and Joey Bada$$. McClenney announced his new album On A Virgo Mind, out August 13th, and releases “Too much sun in LA” featuring CHIKA. On A Virgo Mind is a study in subtlety and subtext, exploring themes of existentialism and perspective in a post-2020 world with humility. 

Nizzy ft Esther Olé: Best Friend – Fast-rising UK afrofusion artist NIZZY is back with an exquisite new EP titled ‘Love N Rhythmz’ in time for the summer. The new EP comes on the back of last summer’s ‘Pillow Therapy’ EP, which has amassed over a million streams on Spotify alone and was championed by the likes of Clash Magazine, Notion and Mixtape Madness, building on recent support from BBC 1Xtra, Capital Xtra and MTV. The project comes with production from Kai The Producer, Ritzybeats and AJ Productions, who has also worked with Tion Wayne, Ms Banks, Darkoo, and KSI among others, with Nizzy executive producing the 7-track project with Afrisounds fka Fli5star (J Hus, NSG, Afro B, Kida Kudz).

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