The 5 Best Afrobeat/Afropop Albums Of March 2023

The noteworthy albums released in February included Lojay’s ‘Gangster Romantic’ album ”, Davido’s fourth long-length studio project “Timeless”, Rexxie’s sophomore album ‘Big Time’, and more. The frenzy that surrounded each of these albums was a clear indication that they were among the most anticipated musical releases of the year. The albums that we at DC Leakers selected for this month’s top five are only a handful of them. Lojay – Gangster Romantic Gangster Romantic is an introduction to the turbulent world of Lojay, marked by passionate affairs, in-depth reflection, acute fears, and romanticism. Lojay redefines himself on the 7– track follow-up to the well-received joint EP “LV N ATTN” with renowned producer Sarz. The artist known for slick, emotive vocals and sharp lyricism dives deeper into his craft, mining the edges of his darker emotions and expressing personal vulnerability in several melodic confessions. The creative result is a moodier world, brimming with bouncy direction and effortless energy as he bares himself, leaving nothing behind. Rexxie – Big Time Rexxie makes a comeback with a star-studded body of work, an album named “Big Time,” after producing hit songs including “No More Condition,” “Abracadabra,” and its Wizkid-assisted remix. The album has 12 excellent songs on it, including the one mentioned above. Rexxie’s second studio album, ‘Big Time,’ is a sequel to his highly regarded debut, ‘A Real Champion. The album has a long list of outstanding guest performers, including Wizkid, Runtown, Sarkodie, the Ajebo Hustlers, Alpha P, Teni, and Lojay, among many others. Davido – Timeless Nigerian superstar Davido has turned the pursuit of exhilaration into high art throughout his career. Much of the singer’s decade-plus reign at the top of Afropop has been spent in the construction of rapturous moments when the barrier between music, audience and performer explodes into white-hot moments of manic ecstasy. Every album release has felt like a furtherance of that quest. He announced his arrival on the scene with 2012’s Omo Baba Olowo, a swashbuckling cache of songs that presented him as an iconoclastic figure with a dream of reshaping the genre’s defined order. On his sophomore LP, A Good Time, Davido reflected on his rising global profile vis-à-vis Afropop’s western push, while album number three, A Better Time, stood out as a beacon of light from the lonesome, uncertain moodscape of 2020’s COVID-19 disruptions. As with all success stories, these moments of elation and escape have come with prickly instances of sorrow and pain. Timeless, Davido’s highly anticipated fourth album, follows a period of such intensely personal losses and an extended retreat from the public eye after the tragic passing of his son in 2022. Across Timeless’s 17 tracks, Davido responds with an elder’s acceptance, prioritising soothing self-preservation over blinding euphoria and returning with songs that are as measured as they are assured of his success over whatever forces might arise against him. The opening song, “OVER DEM,” takes a reference from the biblical story of David and Goliath to make a point about his inevitable rise, hinting at an introspective turn from Afropop’s premier party-starter. Other songs like “GODFATHER”, “AWAY” and “LCND” offer a glimpse into the singer’s id as he dissects pain, seeks healing and comes to terms with his titanic profile. However, Timeless is not only about drawing strength to go on; there are more of the romantic slappers that Davido has made a stock-in-trade (“NO COMPETITION” and “FOR THE ROAD”) as well a bouncy hip-hop-influenced collab with grime don Skepta (“U [JUJU]”) before things round up with the fiery “Champion Sound”. Overall, Timeless is an instructive look into the life of a phenom who has dealt with the darkest of times and come out raring to go again. Uncle Waffles – Asylum South African DJ and producer Uncle Waffles has unveiled his latest project, a seven-track album titled “Asylum.” The album features a range of collaborations with other artists, showcasing Uncle Waffles’ versatility and ability to work with different genres. “Asylum” is a must-listen for fans of South African dance and electronic music, as well as anyone who appreciates innovative and diverse sounds. With this album, Uncle Waffles cements her place as one of South Africa’s most exciting and talented music acts. Lyrical Joe – Photo Album Ghanaian rapper Lyrical Joe has finally released his much-anticipated debut album titled ‘Photo Album.’ The talented rapper who has been in the music industry for a while now has been teasing fans with singles leading up to the album’s release. The 15-track album features some of the industry’s finest, including Ghanaian music queen Efya, Medikal, E.L, A-Q, Darkovibes and Sefa. Lyrical Joe, who is known for his versatile style, showcases his lyrical prowess on this album, spitting bars and delivering punchlines over different beats and rhythms. Overall, ‘Photo Album’ is a solid debut from Lyrical Joe, and a testament to his artistry and lyrical ability. The album is a must-listen for fans of Ghanaian rap and anyone looking for quality music. Lyrical Joe has set the bar high with this debut, and it will be interesting to see what he has in store for fans in the future. The post The 5 Best Afrobeat/Afropop Albums Of March 2023 appeared first on DCLeakers.com.