Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 ft Damian Marley 'Dey'

Featuring infectious horns, teasing melodies and echoing vocals, this powerhouse of a track brings together the rich sounds of Nigeria and Jamaica with arguably the most celebrated dynasties of the two nations fusing Afrobeat energy with the ambience of reggae. It is at once honouring the musical traditions of each while celebrating the possibilities of musical ingenuity. ‘Dey’'s message champions prioritising authenticity over material pursuits, and continues both artists' legacies of infusing activist messages into their music.

‘Dey’ is the first single from the anticipated new album by Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head) which will be released on October 6. This project has been produced by Lenny Kravitz and Fela Kuti’s original engineer Sodi Marciszewer, and, as the inclusion of Kravitz hints, will infuse new musical elements into Kuti’s traditional Afrobeat sound. If this track is any indication of what this kind of melding can do, we can’t wait to hear the rest.

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Amadou & Mariam 'Mogolu (Morris Beat Remix)'

Earlier in the spring, fans from all over the world were delighted to hear the newest track ‘Mogolu’ from renowned Malian husband-and-wife duo Amadou & Mariam. A taster from their upcoming compilation La Vie Est Belle, a retrospective of the pair's illustrious career. ‘Mogulu’ celebrates humanity's points of divergence and connectivity.

In addition to the original 'Mogolu' they have also released a remix which adds another layer of infectious dance rhythms to a track which was already beckoning listeners to the floor. Produced by Morris Beat, a beat maker currently residing in Marseille, the track has an accompanying music video featuring Akamz (a TikTok dance phenomenon with 24+ million followers) whose moves prove just how compelling this track is.

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The Cavemen & Show Dem Camp 'No Love in Lagos'

This is the titular song from the incredible rap-and-highlife hybrid album which has just been released from two of Lagos’ most talented duos: The Cavemen and Show Dem Camp. Over ten tracks, the album speaks to the dating scene in the nation’s largest city, forgoing the common sex-crazed narrative to focus on the realities of empty app-fuelled interactions and chasing love as though it's a drug.

This track showcases the best of The Cavemen’s vocal talents, using stunning falsetto to create an addictive hook, juxtaposed by Show Dem Camp’s slow-spoken lyrics which are heavy with gravitas and potential learnings. The track is pulled together by guitar riffs from David Nsikak, who features on all tracks on the record. Together, the song works as an effective snapshot into the inspired musical scene taking place in Lagos right now.

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YG Marley and Ms Lauryn Hill 'Survival (Version)'

A mother-son duo with serious clout. Following on from the success of ‘Praise Jah in the Moonlight’ – which included a sample from his grandfather Bob Marley's 1978 track with The Wailers, 'Crisis' – YG Marley is now releasing 'Survival (Version)' which features the fiery vocals of his mother Ms. Lauryn Hill.

It starts off by embracing the kind of message we’ve come to expect from roots reggae, such as staying true to yourself, before Hill’s verse tips the song into the overtly political, discussing the racist treatment Black youth are currently enduring across the globe.

While Hill’s vocals take a little time to settle, the result is impactful, and the track finishes with a harmonious scat-laden outro.

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LaÍz & The New Love Experience 'Jongo (feat zeyo mann)'

Laíz has an amazing story. This young Brazilian rapper found her love for music in Berlin – after fleeing her Jehovah’s Witness family in São Paulo at just 14. She’s now set to release her debut album Ela Partíu as Laiz & The New Love Experience on September 13. Produced by young.vishnu, it’s a complex 14-track work which features musicians and rappers from across the globe, like Ghanian percussionist and singer Eric Owusu and Sudanese trap-rapper Zeyo Mann.

‘Jongo’ is the latest attitude-driven release from the work. Featuring a bassy underbelly which pushes the track into dub territory, it develops into a confident and punchy number, with the addition of powerful horns balancing it perfectly.

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Stick in the Wheel 'A Thousand Pokes'

Stick in the Wheel are well-known for having a non-traditional approach to folk music, and their latest album A Thousand Pokes, out on October 11, is about as non-traditional as you can get. A collection of songs, which use source material from the 15th century and span subjects such as the mugging of merchants and bad food at lent, it manages to at once be a pastiche of the past while also reflecting on the political upheaval of the present.

The album’s titular song is based around a devotional treatise sung by a community of nuns on the bank of the Thames. While that might sound hard to get into, the lively stomping and spoken word which opens the track is immediately atmospheric enough to pull the listener in. As the song is pulled by eclectic guitar riffs into its sung chorus, you may also feel as though you’ve been whisked away.