Afroswing

{{Short description|British music genre derived from Afrobeats, dancehall, and hip hop}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Use British English|date=September 2022}} {{Distinguish||text=Afrobeat, a genre pioneered by Fela Kuti, or Afrobeats, of which afroswing is a derivative}} {{Infobox music genre | name = Afroswing | cultural_origins = Mid-2010s, London, England | other_names = {{hlist|AfroBashment|Afrobbean|Afrowave|Afro-trap}} | stylistic_origins = {{hlist|Afrobeats|R&B|dancehall|grime|British hip hop|road rap|trap|UK funky}} }} '''Afroswing''', also known as '''Afrobashment''', or less commonly '''Afrobbean''' or '''Afro-trap''' (not to be confused with the French genre),<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/40165/1/afroswing-african-and-caribbean-s-dominating-british-music|title=Why African and Caribbean sounds are dominating British music right now|last=Dazed|date=2018-05-26|website=Dazed|language=en|access-date=2019-07-21|archive-date=30 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730213446/https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/40165/1/afroswing-african-and-caribbean-s-dominating-british-music|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/xwddaq/why-this-is-such-an-exciting-time-for-the-afrobeats-scene-in-the-uk|title=why this is such an exciting time for the afrobeats scene in the uk|last=McQuaid|first=Ian|date=2017-03-24|website=I-D|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-21|archive-date=21 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721164205/https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/xwddaq/why-this-is-such-an-exciting-time-for-the-afrobeats-scene-in-the-uk|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="The best new Afro-Trap">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2017/10/25/new-afro-trap-playlist|title=The best new Afro-Trap|website=The FADER|date=22 September 2017 |language=en|access-date=2019-07-24|archive-date=24 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724193355/https://www.thefader.com/2017/10/25/new-afro-trap-playlist|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-08 |title=Meet Team Salut, the rising UK trio who are Afrobeats' hottest property |url=https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/team-salut-raise-the-bar-interview |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=Red Bull |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nattoo |first=Michael |date=2023-01-25 |title=Bob Marley & The Wailers 'Stir It Up' With Sarkodie, And 13 More New Songs |url=https://www.dancehallmag.com/2023/01/25/features/bob-marley-the-wailers-stir-it-up-with-sarkodie-and-13-more-new-songs.html |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=DancehallMag |language=en-US}}</ref> is a genre of music that developed in the UK during the mid-2010s, derivative of dancehall and afrobeats, with influences from trap, hip hop, R&B, and grime.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/03/sxsw-2018-british-takover-showcase-spotlights-afro-swing.html|title=Britain's New Guard in Hip-Hop Is Ready to Take Over|website=www.vulture.com|date=21 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721152937/https://www.vulture.com/2018/03/sxsw-2018-british-takover-showcase-spotlights-afro-swing.html|archive-date=2019-07-21|access-date=2019-07-21}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2017/04/25/j-hus-fader-cover-story-interview-afrobeats|title=J Hus Is The Sound Of Diaspora's Boomerang|website=The FADER|language=en|access-date=2019-07-21|archive-date=8 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108232841/https://www.thefader.com/2017/04/25/j-hus-fader-cover-story-interview-afrobeats|url-status=live}}</ref> Commercially, the genre has been very successful, with many afroswing artists making it into the British charts.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/qvq9yb/afroswing-afrobeats-essay-industry|title=Afroswing Is More Than a Trend|last1=Mokoena|first1=Tshepo|last2=Bernard|first2=Jesse|date=2019-01-04|website=Vice|language=en-UK|access-date=2019-07-22|archive-date=22 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722030037/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/qvq9yb/afroswing-afrobeats-essay-industry|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Characteristics == Afroswing is largely defined by its melody rather than a specific tempo.<ref name=":1" /> Producer Steel Banglez stated the key elements of afroswing were happy or dark chords that "make you feel a certain way", and that "drum pattern is the most important thing about this whole sound, it's the snare that comes on the third. In hip-hop it comes on the fourth. Coming off the third beat comes from afrobeats."<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2018/03/30/steel-banglez-beat-construction-interview-mist-mostack|title=Steel Banglez is the London producer bringing U.K. rap to the pop charts|website=The FADER|language=en|access-date=2019-07-24|archive-date=24 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724194503/https://www.thefader.com/2018/03/30/steel-banglez-beat-construction-interview-mist-mostack|url-status=live}}</ref>

Martin Connor, an expert in vocal melodies and rap analysis, described the characteristics of the genre as being "[…] technically in {{music|time|4|4}}, what you will hear over and over again is this recurring pattern made up of three notes that are still repeated in the framework of a {{music|time|4|4}} time signature […] You can hear the inspirations of Jamaican music in the rhythm except Jamaican music doesn’t have a bass kick and the snare – that’s hip hop, that’s traditional rap. So this is that translation of cultures happening subtly in the instrumentation. Yet it still has a hip hop sensibility in terms of lyrical focus and music videos: cars, money, authenticity, hardness".<ref name=":0" />

== Origins == The rise of afroswing is in large part a result of the slow acceptance of African-derived sounds in the UK. The first genre to really embrace African influenced music and push it into the mainstream was UK funky via artists such as Donae'o,<ref name=":11">{{Citation|last=GUAP|title=Where did Afroswing come from? {{!}} A GUAP Documentary|date=2017-11-16|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyrpS2rZK6Q|access-date=2019-07-25|archive-date=7 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107013820/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyrpS2rZK6Q&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jun/01/grime-afro-bashment-drill-how-black-british-music-became-more-fertile-than-ever|title=Grime, Afro Bashment, drill… how black British music became more fertile than ever|last=Adegoke|first=Yomi|date=2018-06-01|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-07-29|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=14 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714132706/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jun/01/grime-afro-bashment-drill-how-black-british-music-became-more-fertile-than-ever|url-status=live}}</ref> and in early-2010s, afrobeats, with artists such as Mista Silva, Kwamz, Fuse ODG, and Timbo gaining mainstream success through their afrobeats sound.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/53ndxk/j-hus-interview-2017-common-sense|title=No One Is Like J Hus|last1=Bassil|first1=Ryan|last2=Lewis|first2=Jake|date=2017-05-12|website=Vice|language=en-UK|access-date=2019-07-21|archive-date=22 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722030122/https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/53ndxk/j-hus-interview-2017-common-sense|url-status=live}}</ref> Around the same time, artists such as Sneakbo and Timbo were incorporating melodic rap and Caribbean influences into their music. These artists collectively set the foundation for what would later turn into afroswing,<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2018/01/a-brief-history-of-afro-tinged-british-rap|title=Saluting The Pioneers: A Brief History Of Afro-Tinged Rap In The UK|website=Complex|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22|archive-date=27 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527045035/https://www.complex.com/music/2018/01/a-brief-history-of-afro-tinged-british-rap|url-status=live}}</ref> and contributed to the rise of youth embracing their African heritage.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/rmjnjn/londons-new-afrobeat-trap-rap-sound|title=J Hus is Carving Out a New British Sound, Injecting UK Afrobeats with Rudeboy Flavour|last=Ben-Edigbe|first=Timi|date=2016-03-15|website=Vice|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-22|archive-date=28 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028205131/https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/rmjnjn/londons-new-afrobeat-trap-rap-sound|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/london-s-new-cool-how-uk-afrobeats-could-take-over-the-world-1.69520|title=London's new cool: how UK Afrobeats could take over the world|website=The National|date=6 June 2017 |language=en|access-date=2019-07-22|archive-date=18 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518085643/https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/london-s-new-cool-how-uk-afrobeats-could-take-over-the-world-1.69520|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2010, Sneakbo released "Touch Ah Button", an early example of the merger of dancehall and afrobeats influences. In February 2014, Timbo and Mover released "Ringtone", which DJ Kenny Allstar credited as opening "the door to the bridge of Afro-rap and the evolution of Afroswing, which was essentially someone laying a hook over a rap record".<ref name=":13" />

The rise of producers Jae5, Blairy Hendrix, Joshua Beatz, and rapper J Hus saw the sound begin to distinguish and cement itself.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2017/04/26/jae5-interview-j-hus-producer-did-you-see-common-sense|title=Meet Jae5, The East London Genre Blender Behind J Hus's Out Of This World Afrobeats Sound|website=The FADER|language=en|access-date=2019-07-21|archive-date=21 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721183247/https://www.thefader.com/2017/04/26/jae5-interview-j-hus-producer-did-you-see-common-sense|url-status=live}}</ref> Together they fused afrobeats, bashment, and trap, along with a melodic style of rapping with gritty, hood lyrical themes derivative of road rap.<ref name=":12">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/nov/02/everybody-is-looking-at-us-right-now-how-black-british-pop-reclaimed-the-charts|title='Everybody is looking at us right now': meet the young British pop stars reclaiming the charts|last=Adegoke|first=Yomi|date=2018-11-02|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-07-29|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=29 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729112710/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/nov/02/everybody-is-looking-at-us-right-now-how-black-british-pop-reclaimed-the-charts|url-status=live}}</ref> J Hus and Timbo have both received credit for pioneering the genre.<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.9bills.co.uk/new-sound-uk-afro-swing/|title=Afro-Swing: The New Sound of The UK?|date=2017-05-11|website=9bills Blog|language=en|access-date=2019-12-14|archive-date=14 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214004808/https://www.9bills.co.uk/new-sound-uk-afro-swing/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":13" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/mar/01/bon-iver-frank-ocean-and-shania-twain-here-are-the-most-influential-artists-in-music-today|title=Bon Iver, Frank Ocean and … Shania Twain? Here are the most influential artists in music today|last1=Adegoke|first1=Yomi|date=2018-03-01|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-12-14|last2=Aroesti|first2=Rachel|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|last3=Beaumont-Thomas|first3=Ben|last4=Gibsone|first4=Harriet|last5=Hann|first5=Michael|last6=Hutchinson|first6=Kate|last7=Macpherson|first7=Alex|last8=Petridis|first8=Alexis|last9=Simpson|first9=Dave|archive-date=14 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214004810/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/mar/01/bon-iver-frank-ocean-and-shania-twain-here-are-the-most-influential-artists-in-music-today|url-status=live}}</ref>

Due to being a new genre, there was some confusion on what to call it initially.<ref name=":1" /> This has led to many people calling the genre 'afrobeats', and whilst there are some similarities, the genre is not quite the same.<ref name=":0" /> Likewise, simply lumping it up with "UK rap" is misleading, because while it is accurate, it disregards the uniqueness of the genre that sets it apart from other strands of UK rap.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://watsonrose.co.uk/2018/04/22/afroswing-an-evolution-in-the-uk-rap-identity/|title=AFROSWING; AN EVOLUTION IN THE UK RAP IDENTITY?|last=Timi|date=2018-04-22|website=WATSON ROSE|language=en|access-date=2019-07-24|archive-date=24 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724195159/https://watsonrose.co.uk/2018/04/22/afroswing-an-evolution-in-the-uk-rap-identity/|url-status=live}}</ref> Kojo Funds has explicitly stated he is not trying to be defined as an afrobeats artist and to instead refer to his music as afroswing.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://crackmagazine.net/article/long-reads/kojo-funds-king-afroswing/|title=Kojo Funds is the King of Afroswing|website=Crack Magazine|access-date=2019-07-22|archive-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806203540/https://crackmagazine.net/article/long-reads/kojo-funds-king-afroswing/|url-status=live}}</ref> Blairy Hendrix and Joshua Beatz, producers for J Hus, were in 2014 initially calling their sound "Traprobeats", denoting the various influences of afrobeats and trap music.<ref name=":6" /> Around the same time, Jabz Daniels was making a similar sound and called his music "Trapfrobeat".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spotlightfirst.com/check-out-jabz-daniels-latest-releases/|title=Listen Here: Jabz Daniels returns with 'Fell Off' and 'Pattern it'|date=2015-07-24|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-24|archive-date=24 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724172805/http://www.spotlightfirst.com/check-out-jabz-daniels-latest-releases/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The name "Afroswing" was initially coined by rapper Kojo Funds, as well as being pushed by prominent producer Juls.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nationofbillions.com/juls-makes-the-leap-to-a-big-summer-17|title=Juls Makes A Big Leap To Summer '17|website=A Nation of Billions|access-date=2019-07-22|archive-date=20 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920005147/https://nationofbillions.com/juls-makes-the-leap-to-a-big-summer-17|url-status=live}}</ref> The name implies the fusion of "afro", from afrobeats, with the mixture drums derived from R&B and dancehall which the genre "swings" between using.<ref name=":0" /> Afroswing was eventually picked up by Apple Music as their official genre name for the sound.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://watsonrose.co.uk/2017/06/15/is-the-jury-in-on-afroswing-vlad-tv-kojo-funds-naming-the-sound/|title=IS THE JURY IN ON AFROSWING? VLAD TV, KOJO FUNDS & NAMING THE SOUND|last=Timi|date=2017-06-15|website=WATSON ROSE|language=en|access-date=2019-07-24|archive-date=24 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724175947/https://watsonrose.co.uk/2017/06/15/is-the-jury-in-on-afroswing-vlad-tv-kojo-funds-naming-the-sound/|url-status=live}}</ref> Spotify however, opted to go for "AfroBashment", a term coined by Austin Daboh who was hired by BBC 1Xtra, denoting its fusion of bashment and afrobeats styles.<ref name=":7" />

In 2014, J Hus did a popular freestyle on YouTube channel GRM Daily showcasing his distinctive style.<ref name=":8" /> The first notable song in the genre was released in 2015, titled "Dem Boy Paigon", quickly elevating J Hus' status and becoming a club hit, and soon after ushering in a new wave of artists making similar music.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":6" /> J Hus' sound was a unique blend of Ghanaian afro-pop, afrobeats, and British rap. J Hus was unique in that he would mix rapping with melodic singing, something uncommon in the scene at the time.<ref name=":8" /> 2014 also saw the emergence of MoStack, Tion Wayne, and Geko.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web|url=https://risingeast.co.uk/from-south-to-east-afro-swings-london-journey/|title=From South To East: Afro-Swing's London Journey {{!}} Rising East|last=Ekpe|first=Zach|date=12 November 2018 |language=en-GB|access-date=2019-12-14|archive-date=14 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214004810/https://risingeast.co.uk/from-south-to-east-afro-swings-london-journey/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Many new artists began to crop up from 2015 onwards, such as Kojo Funds, Not3s, Don EE, and ZieZie.<ref name=":14" /> Kojo Funds, who coined the name 'afroswing', made his break-out single "Dun Talkin'" alongside Abra Cadabra in 2016.<ref name=":5" /> Lotto Boyzz, a Birmingham-based group, also gained prominence and decided to call their sound 'afrobbean', denoting the fusion of African and Caribbean influences in the sound.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lotto Boyzz Chat Championing A New Genre and Touring with J Hus {{!}} MTV UK |url=https://www.mtv.co.uk/news/75ehe5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622153314/http://www.mtv.co.uk/brand-new-for-2018/news/lotto-boyzz-chat-creating-their-own-genre-and-touring-with-j-hus |archive-date=22 June 2019 |access-date=2019-07-22 |website=www.mtv.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.okayafrica.com/lotto-boyzz-afrobbean-sound-interview/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620100329/http://www.okayafrica.com/lotto-boyzz-afrobbean-sound-interview/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-06-20|title=Lotto Boyzz Are Pushing the 'Afrobbean' Sound Forward - OkayAfrica|date=2018-06-20|access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref>

== Success == The genre has been supported by YouTube channels such as GRM Daily, Link Up TV, and Mixtape Madness, which has allowed artists to easily release music videos to potentially millions of listeners and propagate the genre as a result.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":12" /> Many afroswing artists, such as J Hus, Not3s, EO, and Ramz, have all had very successful singles in the charts, becoming mainstream acts in their own right.<ref name=":9" /> Ramz' single "Barking" peaked at number 2 on the UK singles chart, and sold over 500,000 copies.<ref name=":0" /> EO's song "German" peaked at number 13,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/53335/eo/|title=EO {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|website=www.officialcharts.com|access-date=2019-07-21|archive-date=1 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401215256/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/53335/eo/|url-status=live}}</ref> and J Hus' single "Did You See" got to number 9 on the charts and became the most-streamed single of 2017.<ref name=":0" /> Another major artist in the genre, Kojo Funds, gained a "Best Song Award" at the MOBO Awards in 2017 for his song "Dun Talkin'" with Abra Cadabra. Mostack, Not3s, and Kojo Funds all enjoyed chart success in 2017.<ref name="The best new Afro-Trap"/>

In 2015, a three-member group called WSTRN gained international attention via Drake's OVO Sound Radio; the station had played their 2015 breakout single "In2" on Beats1.<ref name=":2" />

In 2017, J Hus released his album Common Sense. The album would gain critical acclaim, entering the British charts at number 10, eventually peaking at number 6 and staying on the charts for over 90 weeks.<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/48523/j-hus/|title=J Hus {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|website=www.officialcharts.com|access-date=2019-07-22|archive-date=31 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531120040/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/48523/j-hus/|url-status=live}}</ref>

B Young released "Jumanji" in 2018. The song became a hit, selling over 600,000 copies and garnering over 40 million streams, also peaking at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/52713/b-young/|title=B YOUNG {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|website=www.officialcharts.com|access-date=2019-07-25|archive-date=28 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328164719/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/52713/b-young/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/radar/read/on-the-radar-b-young/073716|title=On The Radar: B Young|website=www.musicweek.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-25|archive-date=25 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725033316/https://www.musicweek.com/radar/read/on-the-radar-b-young/073716|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2018, afroswing artists such as WSTRN, Yxng Bane, Not3s, and Hardy Caprio appeared at SXSW festival in Texas; this is the first time the genre had ever been represented at the festival.<ref name=":2" />

== See also == * UK drill * UK Afrobeats Singles Chart

== References ==  {{reflist}}

Category:2010s in music Category:Black British music Category:Music in London Category:Youth culture in the United Kingdom Category:British styles of music Category:Hip-hop genres

Afroswing

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