RedRed's 'Ghetto' and R2Bees' 'Makoma' make waves in UK

Newly released songs by RedRed, Ghanaian M3nsa and Hungarian Elo's African Electronic Dance Music band and also R2Bees, Ghana's Afropop and Hiplife group have made The Guardian's African Pop Playlist for the month.

RedRed, a new band which includes a member of the controversial FOKN Bois, M3nsa, released their first single 'Ghetto' in April featuring Sarkodie. The song isn't receiving enough airplay in Ghana speculatively because of the Electronic Dance genre it is associated with.

Nevertheless, 'Ghetto' is doing well online as it has recorded close to 50,000 views on Youtube in just 2-weeks. Its surprise inclusion and second out of five songs in The Guardian's African playlist for April confirms its international appeal.

The Guardian introduced RedRed with a vivid recollection of FOKN Bois which is made up of M3nsa and Wanlov.

"If you’re familiar with FOKN Bois, the irreverent Ghanaians who delight in trolling Nigerians, Muslims, Christians – in fact any population group they fancy on any given day – then you already know M3nsa, half of the Ghanaian rapping and producing duo. They’ve formerly collaborated with Hungarian band Irie Maffia on the dance-driven EP The FOKN Dunaquest in Budapest. M3nsa has relocated to Budapest from his London base to forge a new musical union with Irie Maffia’s ELO..."

"...To help serve up their first helping of African-influenced techno rap, Ghana’s prolific MC Sarkodie is on hand to make sure it all goes down a treat," The Guardian said before displaying the video of 'Ghetto' below.

R2Bees on the other hand, came back from a short absence and released their Highlife song 'Makoma' which is making rounds on the airwaves of Ghana. Ghanaians are endeared by highlife especially from the soothing voice of Mugeez, the singer of the duo. They were fifth on the list.

They were introduced by The Guardian as; "Ghana’s multi-award-winning R2Bees end a long silence with this song sung in Akan that tells the story of a man heartbroken by an unfaithful lover. Sticking to the highlife template for which they are known and loved, in the era of Azonto and Alkayida, the duo continue to breathe new life into the longstanding genre".

If you haven't heard 'Makoma' yet, watch the video below.


The three other songs that made the five-song playlist are; Things We Do on the Weekend by South Africa's Nonku Phiri as number one, Oringo by Nigeria's Phyno as number three, and then Tiefaly by Malian SSCK as number four.