DJ AB’s “YNS Cypher 2025” has swaggered into existence. Not a gentle arrival, mind you, but more the auditory equivalent of a conquering legion setting up a very loud, very confident camp. This isn't background hum for a Tuesday afternoon; it’s a full-colour, high-decibel assertion from the Northern Nigerian hip-hop vanguard, a yearly planting of the YNS flag. DJ AB, the central current, is...

With The Vildes releasing "Manicure for the Strangers", I found myself instinctively checking my reflection in the black screen of my monitor, correcting a frown that absolutely no one was around to see. It’s an uncanny reaction, but then again, Ingvild Tafjord, Hilde Wahl, and Glenn Tvedt specialize in this specific breed of beautifully curated anxiety. They understand the weight of the mask. https://open.spotify.com/track/14FyhVuMhJ0bHGmlF08ztU?si=215d0df609044463 The track...