Yumbs is no stranger to production credits on banger songs whether it be amapiano or any other genre. The guy’s range is endless and his EP is a testament to it as Yumbs takes a fluid take on Yanos.
“My House Rules” is a perfect intro to the journey that he is going to take us on. its smooth, refined and musically layered with all the makings of a modern private school soulful yano classic. “My House rules” is an apt title for it as it really sets the tone for the project, as it is a great greeting from the owner of the house as the guests have not arrived just yet.
Yumbs is joined by the likes of Candice, Langa Mavuso, Marichen, Una rams and other fire vocalists bring a lot of soul to the house. Songs like “Summer Loving”, “Awuboni” and “Wena” could serve as a score for upper echelon South African romcoms produced by Burnt Onion.
The are some really fun and motivational runs on the project too. The Scotts Maphuma assisted “Amaphupho” is a triumphant banger of note with fire lyrics to chant to.
Yummy’s house is a beautiful blend of vocals, log drums, musicality and soul. its refreshing, smooth and soothing. We are in for a treat if we are getting more volumes of this sort of flavour.
You’re in a dark room with bright flashing lights, filled with bodies as they dance energetically and passionately throughout the room, not a camera insight to make content out of this moment but everyone there sharing a lived experience.
You yourself can’t stop dancing as you feel the sweat dripping down your face as the base of the speakers enter into your body and replace your heartbeat with it’s own and you think to yourself, “This is paradise…or maybe it’s just something in the water?”, but either way, you’re happy to be here and finding yourself not wanting to leave and when you finally do leave this dark room you walk out to the morning sky as the sunrises.
You’re probably asking yourself what the hell is going on here, what’s this place and where is this place? Well, let me tell you about the Sonic Euphoria called Gqom Therapy.
Gqom is a South African genre of music that was birthed in Durban and came to popularity in South Africa around 2016, with Babes Wodumo being the standout superstar and face of it. Sonically the best way I could describe Gqom is that it sounds as if though someone was sitting down trying to score a movie scene of Zulu people practicing cultural dances but the person scoring it just came from an all-night raver, high out their mind and tripping serious, major balls and that’s how we were blessed with what the kids call Nguni EDM. For some reason the popularity didn’t last too long with it falling off the mainstream consumption radar around 2018/2019, the same year we started to see the rise of amapiano.
Fast forward years later to the present and we are seeing the resurgence of gqom and Gqom Therapy is the wonderland that everyone needs to visit. Taking place at AndClub [Newtown] where their unbreakable rule is no cameras allowed. If you’ve ever attended a Toy-Toy or Heavy Rotation, you’d know the same rule applies no matter the event and when entering security cover d know the same rule applies no matter the event and when entering security cover your phone cameras with stickers to enforce this policy. Upon entering Gqom Therapy, you’re greeted by smiles and friendly faces. You’ll also find glow sticks, Gqom Therapy shirts and Gqom Therapy towels (trust me, you’ll need it) available for purchase.
Once you make it past the entrance and step inside, you’re instantly teleported into a whole new world and realise everything you know about the world doesn’t apply here. Now, I want to make it clear gqom therapy is a spiritual experience in it’s own, allowing you to lose all thoughts and worries so you can just feel the music and feel it intensely as though your heart has been replaced with the subwoofers and the flashing lights (not recommended for those with epilepsy) feel like stars shooting throughout the night sky. Talking about the sky, I like to arrive a bit early around 10pm and that’s early because you usually find yourself and people leaving between the times of 4-7am with the sunrising.
After a crazy night, you get home, sleep it off and wake up feeling like you’ve just gone through a transformative experience where you were able to release and clean out some bad energies within. A truly therapeutic experience.
Afrobeats singer and songwriter Joe Boy, known for his infectious melodies and captivating lyrics, is about to end the first quarter of 2025 on a great note with his highly anticipated upcoming album Viva Lavida. Following the success of his debut EP, “Love & Light,” his album “Body and Soul” and hit singles like “Baby” and “Beginning,” Joe Boy has solidified his place as a leading figure in the Afrobeats genre. His partnership with Warner Music Group marks a significant milestone and new chapter in his career as an exec and artist.
Since Joe burst onto the music scene in 2019 he has gained recognition and admiration for his unique sound that blends Afrobeats with elements of R&B, pop and other eclectic sounds. His ability to create catchy hooks and relatable lyrics has resonated with fans both in Nigeria and around the world. As he prepares to release his upcoming album, expectations are high. The album is said to feature a mix of romantic ballads and upbeat tracks, showcasing Joe Boy’s versatility as an artist. The four singles that are out now are testament to his range as a writer and vocalist, from the hypnotic SMH, the vibey bounce on Adenuga and Osadebe as well as the existential subject matter on Taxi driver, Viva Lavida is sure to be a melting pot of different flavours.
Warner Music has played a pivotal role in the global rise of Afrobeats. With their expertise and Joe’s creativity and his fresh; evolving take on the genre, he is poised to introduce his sound to new audiences. This collaboration further signifies the growing recognition of Afrobeats as a dominant force in the global music landscape.
In a recent interview, Joe Boy expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating, that working with Warner Music feels like a dream come true as they understand his vision and are committed to helping him share his music with the world. He also stated how excited he is to share his new material. This enthusiasm reflects his passion for his craft and his desire to connect with listeners on a deeper level.
Viva Lavida is expected to feature collaborations from long term collaborator Tempoe as well Qing Madi, Olamide, Elan Dara and Wizard Chan. Joe Boy’s knack for blending different musical influences is likely to result in a project that not only appeals to his existing fanbase but also attracts new listeners.
As the release date for the album approaches this week, fans can expect to see more of Joe Boy as he also embarked on a tour and this will be the perfect time to debut some of his new music on the world stage. Since his last album was released in 2023 you can bet that the anticipation for the album is quite high.
Joe Boy’s upcoming album and partnership with between his label Young Legend and Warner Music represents a significant evolution in his career. With a unique sound and a growing fanbase Joe Boy is about to set a new standard with this release. As he continues to break barriers and push the boundaries of Afrobeats, fans can look forward to an exciting journey ahead.
Stilo Magolide went on The Sobering Podcast for a conversation and he touched on quite a few things in the interview. Love him or hate him, the guy has been a staple in South African street culture. Whether you are talking music, fashion or content in general. From reality shows, designing clothes, mentoring people and a bit of controversy here and there, Stilo has done and seen a lot. He is also kind enough to share these experiences with us while clearing some Shein carts in the process. Do yourself a favour and check it out on a podcast platform of your choice. STILOWAY
Albums and the perception of their purpose has shifted through the ages. What was once a coveted concept and a quintessential slider as to whether an artist is great or not has become an accessory to some.
This could be part of a bigger picture in this day and age in terms of artists and the listeners. Maybe its about compartmentalising everyone. But before the discussion is ended prematurely and chalked up to ‘there are different types of artists and listeners’ – let’s explore the album evolution.
From the side lines of the court of music it seemed like releasing an album was a goal for an artist. It almost seemed as though it was privilege to release an album. This notion is also supported by artists complaining about their albums being shelved on either interviews or some of their songs. It was akin to players wanting minutes in a game.
However; these days artists are singing a different tune. The itch or urgency to make an album isn’t as prevalent lately. Artists with big singles and large profiles seem to dragging their feet when it comes to album mode, it seems like a chore to them. This however is not just on the artists and labels. A question one can ask is whether the climate favours albums. The cool thing to say now is that we are in a playlist era which could lead to the calculated assumption that all an artist needs is a hot song or two to get on some popular playlists and they will be good for a season or two while they enjoy some virality through social media challenges if they are lucky.
Looking at the music digital business landscape it would seem all that’s needed is one hot viral song to maintain relevance and cash out. The influencer economy is still quite good and doesn’t seem to be dying down. Juxtapose that with the costs of making an album. Putting together an album and its experience may prove to be an expensive exercise from a time and a money perspective. Thus, logically you can justify not being an album artist.
However even with the quick music business math (that is not derived from any fact or education just quick curious observation) there are still people who value albums from a creator and fan point. Albums still rack up streams and the call for unofficial projects to be formalised and thrown on DSPs does speak volumes in terms of consuming full bodies of work. There are artists that put a lot of muscle in rollouts and full conceptual projects. It is just that one can step out and loudly say that they are not for albums as an artist and it will not be frowned upon by the general audience.
This brings us back to the compartmentalizing notion. Time will tell which compartment grows larger between the playlist artists and the album artists. Life in marvellous times.
Fratpacker world is a platform that celebrates culture and all of the art and expression pockets it holds, this from the lens of Fratpacker and some really cool associates. A lot of the posts will be categorised under the word “ways” which is an interchangeable acronym that can stand for a lot of things. ways can stand for the following:
What are you streaming
What are your sneakers
What are you saying
What are your specialties
What are your stories.
What are your sporting.
Where are your shows
As you can see from the above acronyms this platform aims to touch on a wide range of creative stories and fields from music, shows, style, art and creative conversations from the eyes of Kabelo Moremi aka Big Frat and my world. Lets share and explore.
FRATPACKER WORLD. 