Dear Aipate Community, As we bid farewell to 2023, I have to share my profound gratitude to you, our cherished reader, and all the talented artists whom we’ve had the pleasure to listen to. Nothing gives me more joy that discovering and writing about a fantastic new artist, and this year, I have discovered very many.  Here’s to more melodies and discoveries! Let’s continue to immerse ourselves in the shared experiences and the beat that unites us all. I wish you a prosperous 2024. Asante Sana. ~ Phillip Nyalenda ..read more

Pop sensation GAYLE has just received her first Grammy nod courtesy of her viral hit, “abcdefu“. That record was nominated in the Song of the Year category. Well, it’s a great time to share her recently released sophomore EP, a study of the human experience volume two. Her debut EP was released earlier this year. This new EP was released together with the music video for “ALEX” which is one of the six tracks on the project. Watch “Alex” video, stream the whole EP and follow GAYLE on Instagram ..read more

The last couple of years has seen Alexa Cappelli evolve from a talented singer-songwriter to a princess in the pop scene. The 22-year-old recently signed to Sony Music’s Arista Records, the label on which her latest single was released. The song is called “Could’ve Just Left Me Alone”. It delves into toxic relationships, with the artist saying, “‘Could’ve Just Left Me Alone’ is a song about realizing how much energy was spent on the ways you were treated in a relationship, friendship, or anything like it, when that person really could’ve just not.” Despite the moody lyrics, the track sounds e ..read more

NGAIIRE has today released her third album which is aptly titled 3 via Majestic Casual Records. Ten tracks long, the LP arrives with “Moonshine”, an upbeat song which still still retains the album’s overall emotional feel. “I wrote this (‘Moonshine’) while I was high on Opioids. I just desperately wanted to feel like a whole human again. Most days I’d be writhing in pain on the floor screaming, or throwing whatever I could find near me at the walls because I was just so frustrated at how I felt. The neighbours must have worried. The painkillers helped sometimes but mostly never even touched t ..read more

Los Angeles emcee Born Allah enlisted German producer Zpu Zilla for a new EP, Analog Baby. Carrying 6 tracks of hardcore hip-hop, the project drops January 7. The first single “Jabril (Let the Horns Blow)” is already out (listen above). The boom-bap cut features fellow LA veteran Rakaa (of Dilated Peoples). It captures both rappers in their elements as the deliver heavy-hitting bars. Analog Baby will be released via The Church of Hip Hop & Financial Prosperity. You can pre-order the EP here. Find Born Allah on Instagram ..read more

New York hip-hop duo made up of emcee Darkim Be Allah and producer Endemic Emerald recently shared their new song “God of the Universe” featuring rapper Planet Asia. It was billed as the first single off of their planned new album titled Antediluvian King. The song is packed with raw, intelligent lyricism and delivered over a beat that Emerald made specially to activate Darkim and Planet Asia’s knack for storytelling. The rappers paint vivid pictures with their rhymes, easily complementing each other. Musically, “God of the Universe” is a boom-bap piece packed with samples and bluesy strings ..read more

Here’s “The 757”, a new single from Virginia rapper J.R.Clark. It’s characterized by a lovely blend of melodic rap and boombap hip-hop, with hard-hitting lyricism to boot. Featuring Budda, it’s the first third track on the artist’s 11-track, upcoming album, When Muzik Was Good (due January 15). J.R.Clark paired it with a nice black-and-white visuals directed by Tommy Trill. The clip captures the gritty streets of Tidewater region of Virginia. J.R.’s full names is Jerry Clark Juneau. He started out as a studio engineer. Connect with him on Instagram ..read more

Canadian pop artist Peter Katz is getting ready to unveil his new album City Of Our Lives on November 25. His two new singles “KMOTM” and “Everything Is Different” are, therefore, just hints of what to expect. Interestingly, City Of Our Lives has bits of misfortune to it; Peter’s accidental drop off a cliff got him tied to a hospital bed for six months. Against the odds, he survived but ended up losing his house and partner. The album therefore finds in an honest frame, putting things into perspective. “KMOTM”, for example, is a dark and moody expression of the desperation and solitude Katz e ..read more

Norwegian pop singer-songwriter Dagny has just announced the release date for her much-anticipated, two-part debut album, Strangers / Lovers. It will arrive on October 2 via her own label Little Daggers Records. Alongside the announcement, the artist has shared a new single, “It’s Only A Heartbreak”, which is the first single on the album’s Side-B (its Side-A arrived back in May, led by the singles “Somebody” and “Come Over”). About the dynamic, synth-driven pop song, Dagny says: “‘It’s Only A Heartbreak is actually partly inspired by the classic movie ‘Casablanca’ from 1942, and Humphrey Boga ..read more

Jamaican reggae primer mover Chronixx storms into 2020 with a raging new single “Dela Move”. The song which finds him professing his love for his hometown (De La Vega in Spanish Town) is accompanied by an equally cinematic clip directed by Nabil Elderkin. It’s the first single from the “Skankin’ Sweet” singer’s forthcoming second album Dela Splash. “Dela Move” takes Chronixx into new territory musically as it incorporates elements of trap. His delivery also edges closer to contemporary rap. The musician recently disclosed that he’ll be headlining a concert at London’s Eventim Apol ..read more