Now Things: Listen To The Best New Caribbean Sounds on Apple Music

Words by GabSoul

Run the riddims! We’re back this week with more fresh new Carnival tunes and sounds from some of the diaspora’s musical royalty.

The full Now Things playlist is always available to listen to here. Run tings below, and find all of our playlists over on our Apple Music channel here.

Spice – Black Hypocrisy

Spice caught her fans by complete surprise and inspired outrage when she posted photos of herself with bleached skin, only to reveal its deeper representation with her new single and video “Black Hypocrisy.” With colorism an ongoing plague throughout the Caribbean, Spice sheds light on the issue while making sure to pour love and positive affirmations into her fellow melanated queens with this empowering song.

Fay-Ann Lyons – Feel Good (Foli Riddim) prod. Bad John Republic

Fay-Ann has a message for all the millennials in the fete — get off your phone and feel the sweetness of the moment! She reminisces on the days of bare social behavior and less wines for social media. Also adding their flare to the Foli Riddim are Bunji Garlin, Salty, M1 and more. Regarding the riddim’s inspo, Bad John Republic shared on Instagram: “‘Foli’ is the word used for rhythm by the Malinke tribe in West Africa. Foli can be described as the natural riddim that we are all born with and tap into daily. In Malinke, West Africa, they say “Tous les choses, c’est du rythme.” (“Everything is rhythm.”) This Foli Riddim is a interpretation of this concept in a Caribbean form.”

Lil Kim, Hood Celebrityy, Stefflon Don, Kranium – Nasty One

Paying homage to her Brooklyn stomping grounds, home of the little Caribbean, Lil Kim rounded up some of dancehall’s dopest new voices to hop on the remix of her single “Nasty One.”

Voice – Alive & Well (Osaka Riddim)

Voice always seems to have the words when it comes to uplifting us at Carnival season, and he graces us yet again with his new single “Alive and Well,” calling on the lovely young voices of Trinidad’s own Bishop Anstey High School Choir to back him. Voice reminds us to dash way badmind and give thanks for each new breath of our blessed lives. Produced by Precision Productions, the Osaka Riddim also features tunes from 5 Star Akil (watch his video for “Personal,” which was shot in Japan, here), Preedy, Kerwin DuBois, and LFS Music.

Bambaata Marley – UFO

Though his reggae soul is evidently deep rooted, his music has no boundaries. Bambaata Marley’s new tune “UFO” feels so funky and free, and his band carries such a powerful groove.

Chopikal – When Ya Ready

Chopikal and super producer 1st Klase aka “The TrapiKal Gawd” make a mad duo when they link up! It’s not quite the typical soca vibe you’d hear during Carnival season, but Chopikal definitely offers a fresh sound and creative direction from Trinidad’s new music generation — and an authentic version of the very questionable genre “tropical house.”