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AKA’s Touch My Blood Is Here – Album Review

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The Journey To Touch My Blood

The journey towards the release of AKA’s third solo studio album – Touch My Blood, is undoubtedly one of the most documented musical chronicles we’ve seen in contemporary South African Pop culture.

AKA Touch My Blood album review

Having been an adventure for fans who waited patiently as their idol wetted their appetites with promises, tweets, snippets, and finally promotional singles – and then a release date reschedule – the whole movement ended with the epic Beyonce, a track in which AKA appears to invite the public inside his once “private” – despite being highly publicised – relationship with Bonang.

But before the polarising, quasi-diss track surfaced, the long walk to this release also came with an interactive element that saw his fans take turns in coming with up potential album artwork designs.

A post shared by AKA (@akaworldwide) on

The whole campaign evolved into a movement showcasing hidden gems in our tightly contested creative industry. And of course,  it was refreshing to see there’s a whole minefield of insane talent that’s not even making bank right now.

More refreshing, however, was the campaign as an organic marketing move to promote awareness of LEVEL‘s highly anticipated sibling. Mind you, several phases of the journey were met with social media frenzy vs backlash, most notably after Beyonce came out. Though, there was no music video in sight.

Months later, the rewards of AKA’s dynamically interactive run to the album release, which at some point also came with a postponement, were not up for debate. Both Beyonce and Fully In occupied the top 2 spots on SA iTunes, just a week before the album would hit Gold 24 hours after release.

Touch My Blood – The Final Album

AKA loves expressing himself. At 16 tracks, Touch My Blood gives him space to tell the multiple stories he wants to tell, and then weaves them sonically as one cohesive project documenting the multilayered man that he is. In a world where Kanye is reducing the ideal length to just 7 tracks, Touch My Blood will delight fans who’ve waited over three years for a new solo studio album.

The album assembles and blends fresh bangers with older singles, such as 2016’s The World Is Yours, as well as more recent numbers Star Signs and Sweet Fire. The mid-tempo Beyoncè, indeed a poetic rave, as well as Fully In debuted shortly ahead of the album to pique interests.

And although the two latter singles achieved moderate success compared to his previous multiple platinum, award-winning smashes from Levels and beyond, Touch My Blood as a complete experience is some stunning.

The autotune from previous works sustains the modus operandi, but everything reflects a rapper who boasts the confidence that only one of the biggest selling SA Hip-Hop artists of all time can have. He’s allowed himself to be vulnerable here, revealing an authentic portrait of a man loved by millions, but perhaps only known by few.

 

 

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Netflix

Inside the Star-Studded Season 2 Teaser for Young, Famous & African

Look at the material!

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Young and Famous Netflix season 2

Today, Netflix released the official teaser for the second season of the hit unscripted reality series, Young, Famous & African.

This season sees the return of Africa’s most famous and fabulous, as they embrace life and love on the richest square mile on the continent. This time,  however, a few new faces promise to make their mark in Africa’s most elite group.

Enter Bonang Matheba, South Africa’s entertainment industry darling whose presence certainly ruffles a few feathers;  Fantana, Ghanaian-American rapper and all-round superstar who quickly makes her mark on the group and Luis Munana from Namibia, former Big Brother Africa contestant and entrepreneur extraordinaire who brings the heat from the onset. 

The all-star cast of season one returns to face a lot of unanswered questions like what happened between Diamond Platnumz, Andile Ncube and Zari Hassan after the chance encounters between the trio in Diamond’s home,  and what is the status of everyone’s friendships after many arguments, loads of drama, and a pot stir or two from Khanyi Mbau and Nadia Nakai.  

Also worth looking out for is the appearance of model and socialite Sebabatso Mothibi, as well as the supermodel and actress, Rosette Ncwana, both of whom share a relationship history with Andile.

Given the drama and tension from the previous season, how does this play into the existing dynamic on the show?

Season two of Young, Famous & African launches only on Netflix on 19 May 2023 worldwide. 

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Reality Shows

A First Look into The Real Housewives of Johannesburg S3!

Joburg, you are up! RHOJ is billed to make a splashy return 19 May.

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The Real Housewives of Johannesburg S3 has been revealed. Photo: M-Net.

After suffering a number of production delays that spanned years, and that one unfortunate canning of the lost season, the Real Housewives of Johannesburg will be making a comeback on 19 May, 20:30 on 1Magic.

As Quench previously reported, it looks like glam Queen Mpho Mops will be a no-show for the looming season. Hers was an explosive departure, which followed the damning allegations of infidelity she faced at the season 2 reunion.

Fans will, however, be delighted to hear that Lethabo ‘LeJoy’ Mathabo and Lebo ‘Jojo’ Mokoena will be returning as seasoned gold-carrying full-time cast members in season 3. The two look to continue where they left off in 2019.

Among other pressing charges, Lebo might have to explain the alleged giant plastic cake at her wedding to Johannesburg businessman Lebo Gunguluza, from whom she is now divorced. Viewers will likely get front-row seats into her new life.

LeJoy might have to spill on what happened on that one fateful night at the Durban July.

… Or not. Based on the cast reveal, the returning girlies might have to clock in.

There are fresh faces on the cast, which will likely shift the dynamics and overall direction of the popular franchise.

Mamus Koka, Marelli Bentley, Nicole Watson and Thobekile Mdlalose will all be making their debuts as the new line-up.

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Music

‘Asylum’ By Uncle Waffles certified GOLD in a Week

The viral sensation is running up the numbers with her autumn release.

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Within 7 business days of its splashy arrival, Uncle Waffles’ sophomore tape, ‘Asylum’, has reached gold status.

‘Asylum’ is Uncle Waffles’ sophomore tape.

The 7-track project, which contains the blockbuster viral sensation ‘yahyuppiyah, shipped over 12 500 units in its first week. The official single’s delayed landing is likely to have helped the EP to run up impressive numbers.

Ms. Zwane recruited over 17 collaborators for the project.

After all, the song has been the darling of Tik Tok challenges around the world, many of which relied on the audio snippet being circulated without an official release.

Spanning just over 38 minutes in duration, the EP plays up to the disc jockey’s reputation for banging out addictive hooks with massive social media appeal. Working with 17 collaborators, Waffles confidently delivers her own take on Amapiano’s increasingly fluid soundscape.

The project arrives as the 23-year-old takes her tour to the US, where she’s covering venues in several states. This past weekend, Uncle Waffles made her debut at Coachella.

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