Nigerian music stays going global and for longtime readers of this blog, I called it about six years ago (on this blog, called it a decade ago via Ladybrille Magazine) when the terrain looked quiet and very still. Folks, it’s only a matter of time, Nigerian music will be an integral part of the western mainstream. You will drive in the U.S., Europe, switch on your radio and hear a Nigerian artist, as the main artist, performing and it really won’t be a big deal.
I think Mr. Eazi is the perfect candidate to trailblaze that path and it is no surprise he has been selected as Apple Music’s ‘Up Next Artist’ of the Month, Worldwide. His music is truly easy and seamlessly integrates into western culture.
What you should know about the ‘Apple Music Next Up’ series.
- It was launched in April 2017.
- Apple Music gives visibility to an emerging artist by placing the artist in front of over 20 million of its subscribers.
- As part of the program, selected artists appear on The Late Late Show With James Corden through Apple Music’s partnership with the show.
- Apple Music promotes the songs of the emerging artists on its playlists and on the iTunes store.
- Leading up to the feature on the television show, Apple Music does an introductory documentary shot on each artist, an audio EP from a live session which includes an interview and live performance on Beats 1 with Julie Adenuga.
- So far, 24-year-old rapper and singer from Atlanta, 6lack (“Prblms”) was the inaugural artist featured in April. The series followed up in May with Sigrid, a 20-year-old Norwegian singer-songwriter (“Don’t Kill My Vibe”), and in June with 19-year-old American R&B singer Khalid (“Location”).
Congratulations to #MrEazi as he keeps soaring and to Nigerian and African artists taking our music global.
“(Watch) James Corden and Zane Lowe introduce Mr. Eazi to The Late Late Show audience with a medley of “In the Morning” and “Leg Over” as part of the Apple Music Up Next series on Stage 56. Check out The Late Late Show’s Apple Music playlist: http://apple.co/JamesCorden…”
-Ms. Uduak
.@AppleMusic #UpNext
From Nigeria to the world.
Catch a vibe with @mreazi.
Hear his story:
11AM LA/2PM NY/7PM UKhttps://t.co/xi3vDKawLP pic.twitter.com/YiwhTTquGL— Beats 1 (@Beats1) July 26, 2017
I’m happy for Mr. Eazi, and it was great look for African music in general, but I’m not a fan of the songs he performed, or even the ‘Accra to Lagos’ EP as a whole. I truly hope Eazi and his team get with some writers who can give him songs with substance.
@Winston – I actually enjoy his songs but it never hurts to get even more quality writers. But what he has going is definitely working and I think it is because he really does tell stories that connect with many, through his songs.
BTW, did AML see this write-up of Eazi in Vogue? It’s a few months old, but new to me. http://www.vogue.com/article/mr-eazi-nigeria-ghana-style