Tag: Apple Music

  • selected to highlight Nairobi on Apple Music’s Sounds of Africa

    selected to highlight Nairobi on Apple Music’s Sounds of Africa

    Kenyan DJ and music curator, DJ Grauchi, has been selected by Apple Music to represent Nairobi in a new global initiative honouring African music and culture during Africa Month 2025.

    The campaign, titled The Sounds of Africa, is Apple Music’s tribute to five influential music capitals across the continent: Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Accra, Lagos, and Johannesburg.

    Each city is being highlighted through curated playlists and exclusive DJ mixes that reflect its unique sound and vibrant musical identity.

    Announcing the news, Grauchi shared a playlist curated for the campaign.

    “I’m excited to share my exclusive “ The Sounds of Nairobi DJ Mix “ that I produced for Apple Music for The Sounds of Africa campaign celebrating Africa Month 2025,” he said.

    DJ Grauchi joins a lineup of African tastemakers, including DJ Vasley (Dar es Salaam), AD DJ (Accra), Spaceship Billy (Lagos), and DJ PH (Johannesburg), in producing exclusive DJ sets for the initiative.

    Alongside the DJ mixes, The Sounds of Africa features five exclusive playlists curated by top artists, industry executives, and media personalities from each of the featured cities.

    Among the artists selected for the campaign is Kenyan RnB crooner, Xenia Manasseh who helped curate the playlists for Nairobi.

    “Excited to have helped curate The Sounds of Nairobi playlist along with the Apple music team for The Sounds of Africa campaign in celebration of Africa Month 2025…no place like Nairobi,” she shared.

    According to the music streaming giant, “The campaign aims to capture the diverse sonic landscapes that define African music today,” the company said in a release.

    Throughout May, all curators will be featured on Africa Now Radio with Nandi Madida, where five special episodes will highlight each city through interviews with cover stars representing their respective locales.

  • Khaligraph Jones blows up chart with new album

    Khaligraph Jones blows up chart with new album

    Award-winning rapper Khaligraph Jones is celebrating his new album becoming one of the top albums in Kenya.

    The album, The Book of Jones, is currently at number 3 on the iTunes Kenyan chart alongside Playboi Carti, Partynextdoor and Drake, Ariana Grande and Lil Durk.

    Celebrating the album being in the top 10, on Sunday, Jones thanked his fans for the support and urged them to continue streaming.

    The rapper also shared a video of himself performing one song from the album for his family at his newly built mansion.

    “Had a chance to perform “Family” for the 1st time from the Book of Jones Album ft Timmy Blanco and it was a blessing. Keep on streaming the album and thank you for the Support.” Jones shared.

    The album, which was released on Friday, features a number of Kenyan artists including Nyashinski, Timmy Blanco, Silverstone Barz, Abbas Kubaff and Dyana Cods.

    The album also features the popular track, “Khali Cartel 5”, the sixth single from the album, released in March.

    The almost 12-minute track showcases a diverse lineup of East African rap talents, including Jakk Quill, Ruyonga, Fresh like Uhh and Mex Cortez.

    Veteran Kenyan rapper Abbas Kubaff, renowned for his influential role in shaping Kenya’s rap scene in the early 2000s, features on this track, bringing a nostalgic yet fresh energy to the cypher.

    “Khali Cartel” is a series of cyphers initiated six years ago, which Jones has said previously, has been instrumental in spotlighting emerging rap talents from East Africa, not just Kenya.

  • Bronx rising rapper Ice Spice named Apple Music’s “Up Next” artist

    Bronx rising rapper Ice Spice named Apple Music’s “Up Next” artist

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV7OFVxD88U[/embedyt]

    Apple Music announces Bronx rapper Ice Spice as the latest addition to its Up Next program, Apple Music’s monthly artist initiative geared towards identifying, showcasing and elevating rising talent. 

    The 23-year-old rapper has had a meteoric rise since her drill anthem “Munch (Feelin’ U)” went viral on TikTok in 2022, which she soon followed with the six-track chart-topping debut EP Like..?. Since then, Ice’s inherently New York sound and her swaggering lyricism have opened the door to collaborations with some of the biggest names in the music industry: PinkPantheress, Nicki Minaj, and Taylor Swift. 

    To date, her music has reached Apple Music’s Daily Top 100 in 142 countries worldwide, including 55 where it has reached the Top 10. In the first six months of 2023, her streams grew 868% on Apple Music, and her streams on major Apple Music editorial playlists, like Rap Life and High Maintenance, grew over 1,300%. It’s no wonder she was included among Shazam’s Predictions 2023 playlist, a collaboration with Apple Music that predicts 50 artists that are poised to have a breakthrough year.  

    “Thank you to my fans for helping me get this far in my career,” said Ice Spice. “I’m excited to share pieces of my journey with you all on Apple Music!”

    In her exclusive Apple Music Up Next short film set to be released on Thursday, Ice shows off some of her favourite stomping grounds in the Bronx, talks about being a role model for young women, and is flooded by fans in her neighbourhood as they spot their hometown hero. In her sit-down with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, also out today, Ice talks candidly about having mentors in Minaj and Drake, being smart about her career following her rapid rise to fame, and her excitement for the upcoming Doja Cat tour.