Studio 47

Mavins Presents Lifesize Teddy: Debut Eponymous EP Out Now!

The Nigerian emcee Lifesize Teddy is welcomed to Mavin Records’ illustrious roster.
The moment has arrived once again as Mavin Records continues its proven tradition of signing new artists, releasing debut EPs, and witnessing their rapid rise to stardom. In their customary fashion, they unveil an exceptionally gifted artist who has been nurtured under careful guidance and is now poised for a grand debut.

Allow us to introduce you to Lifesize Teddy, a rapper originating from the vibrant city of Port Harcourt. It’s worth highlighting that she shares her hometown with some of the industry’s most esteemed and exceptionally talented artists, such as Burna Boy, Omah Lay, and Dandizzy, adding to the rich creative tapestry of the city.

Lifesize Teddy is set to make a significant impact in an industry that lacks prominent female emcees. Standing out as a breath of fresh air, she is destined to become a revolutionary force in the music scene. Her exceptional versatility sets her apart; she effortlessly transitions between roles as a rapper, singer, songwriter, and poet, adapting to various artistic forms as the situation demands.

Delving deeper into Lifesize Teddy’s background, her birth name is Banigo Apiafi Treasure. Raised in the culturally diverse Bonny Island in Port Harcourt, her upbringing was influenced by a blend of local and foreign elements, which have shaped her unique persona. Her mother played a pivotal role in inspiring her musical and poetic journey, unknowingly molding her creative essence.

During her formative years, she immersed herself in her mother’s cassette collection, absorbing the sounds of iconic artists like Asa, Rex Lawson, Brenda Fassie, and Shania Twain. These influences laid the foundation for her music, leaving discernible traces in her compositions. Her initiation into music began at the tender age of 12, sparked by the impact of Kanye West’s legendary album “College Dropout.” Her emotionally rich delivery finds expression through her pen as a poet, resulting in captivating musical experiences for her listeners.

As part of her introduction, she has unveiled an EP consisting of five masterfully crafted tracks that showcase her versatility and prowess as both a singer and rapper. After graduating with a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Maritime Port Harcourt, she engaged with the university’s rap community, refining her skills and honing her craft.

Lifesize Teddy seamlessly blends contemporary relatability with the timeless essence of the artists who paved the way before her. Fearlessly weaving her emotions into her lyrics, she embodies a fusion of innate talent and honed skill. It is evident that she is a rising star destined to leave an indelible mark on the global music stage.

FEEL THE HEAT
Discover the Latest Afrobeats News, Interviews, and Trends on Our Dedicated Site

JUNE 22, 2023

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With over 13 billion streams on Spotify in 2022, Afrobeats remains one of the globe’s hottest sounds. While countries like the U.S., U.K., and Nigeria remain the biggest consumers of Afrobeats, the genre’s popularity has grown rapidly in countries like France, the Netherlands, and Mexico as fans can’t get enough of artists like Rema, Ayra Starr, and Burna Boy.

That’s why we’re launching Afrobeats: Journey of a Billion Streams, a dedicated website that will act as a repository of the latest news and developments in Afrobeats.

Whether looking at the genre’s origins in Ghana, its rise and evolution in Nigeria, or its fusion with other genres, we’re spotlighting how Afrobeats became one of Africa’s biggest cultural exports and are tracking its underreported narratives.

Afrobeats: Journey of a Billion Streams will consist of five key pillars:

Origins explores the genres that acted as precursors of Afrobeats as we know it.
Evolution dives deeper into which industry players contributed to the current Afrobeats sound that the whole world can’t seem to get enough of.
Fusion looks at how Afrobeats has emerged by melding itself with other genres, such as reggaeton, amapiano, and other hybrids.
Cultural exportation documents the influence of Afrobeats in music, food, language, and fashion lenses, especially in countries outside Africa.
The Women of Afrobeats sheds light on some of the key women in the industry whose contributions propelled the genre to its current status as a global sensation.
The site features regular interviews with leading experts, videos, quizzes, and the latest Spotify data and trends around Afrobeats listening.

“There is no doubt that Afrobeats as a genre is here to stay and will only continue to shatter more ceilings,” says Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Managing Director for Spotify in sub-Saharan Africa. “In 2023 alone, the genre has been played for more than 223 million hours, with streams exceeding 7.1 billion on Spotify. We created this site for both new and longtime fans of the genre who want to better understand how and where this explosive sound came to be.”

Over the next eight weeks, the site will be updated regularly and will continue to remain active with the latest happenings from the global Afrobeats community.

Once you’ve caught up with the latest Afrobeats news, check out the hottest hits on our playlist, African Heat.

Audiomack Launches ‘Black Music Executives Are The Future’ Internship & Mentorship Program
Click here to apply and learn more.

We’re proud to announce that Audiomack is partnering with the Black Music Action Coalition for the launch of the Black Music Executives Are The Future paid internship and mentorship program. This program is committed to developing the next generation of Black executives in the music industry, and is powered by Culture Fusion Agency.

As part of the program, Audiomack and Black Music Action Coalition will select five (5) Black undergraduates—or graduates who earned degrees as recently as April 2021—to participate in three-month internships at Audiomack across several departments, including marketing, creative design, editorial and content strategy, content operations, and tech development.

Additionally, the five recipients will be assigned at least two distinguished music industry executives to serve as their mentors over the course of the program. The list of award-winning executives includes:

Amina Diop — SVP, Republic Records; Artist Manager
Gordan Dillard — Artist Manager, Salxco: Doja Cat
Damien Smith — Full Stop MGMT; Artist Manager: Offset, Anderson. Paak
Tariq Cherif — Co-Founder/CEO, Rolling Loud
Andrew McInnes — CEO, TMWRK; Artist Manager: Diplo, A-Trak
Prophet — Co-Founder/Co-Chair of Black Music Action Coalition; Artist Manager
Cortez Bryant — CEO Blueprint; Past Clients Include: Lil Nas X, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne
Click here to apply and learn more.

“It’s disheartening to see that, of the 70 major and independent music companies, only 4.2% of high-level executives are Black,” Audiomack VP of Marketing & Brand Strategy Jason Johnson said. “As leaders in this industry, we must commit to hiring, developing and elevating Black talent to better reflect the communities that we serve. With this partnership with BMAC, our hope is to establish a strong pipeline of young, Black talent to enter the music industry and equip them with the resources to thrive.”

How to Apply

Create an Audiomack account on desktop or in-app.
Visit www.blackmusicexecs.com and click “Apply.”
Enter your Audiomack profile URL.
Upload your resume (PDF files only).
Select the department you are most interested in gaining experience in.
Submit a brief cover letter on what you hope to gain from this internship and mentorship program with Audiomack and Black Music Action Coalition.
Follow Audiomack, Black Music Action Coalition, and Culture Fusion Agency on Instagram and Twitter for updates.
Click here to apply and learn more.

Black Music Executives Are The Future Program Powered by Audiomack & Black Music Action Coalition

Durk Derrick Banks (born October 19, 1992), known professionally as Lil Durk, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter from Chicago, Illinois.[5] He is the lead member and founder of the collective and record label Only the Family (OTF).[6][7] Durk garnered a cult following with the release of his Signed to the Streets mixtape series (2013–2014), which led to a record deal with Def Jam Recordings. The company would release his debut studio albums, Remember My Name (2015) and Lil Durk 2X (2016) before parting ways with the label in 2018.

Lil Durk
Lil Durk in 2020
Lil Durk in 2020
Background information
Birth name
Durk Derrick Banks
Also known as
The Voice, Durkio
Born
October 19, 1992 (age 30)[1]
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.[2]
Genres
Hip hop drill[3] trap gangsta rap
Occupation(s)
Rapper singer songwriter[3]
Years active
2010–present
Labels
Only the Family Alamo Geffen Interscope Def Jam Coke Boys[4]
Member of
Only the Family
Protégé of
French Montana
Website
lildurk.com
Following the independent release of his Just Cause Y'all Waited mixtape in March 2018, Durk signed a deal with Alamo Records in July.[8] In April 2020, Durk made his first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist with the single "Viral Moment" off his fifth studio album, Just Cause Y'all Waited 2 (2020). Lil Durk's commercial resurgence continued with singles such as "3 Headed Goat" (featuring Polo G and Lil Baby), "Backdoor", and "The Voice"; his features on Drake's 2020 single, "Laugh Now Cry Later" and Pooh Shiesty's song, "Back in Blood"; as well as his LPs, The Voice (2020) and his joint album with Lil Baby, The Voice of the Heroes (2021)—which became his first release to debut atop the Billboard 200. His 2022 release 7220 became his second consecutive number-one album.

🟢Tiwa Savage ✂️

Pick Up 📞 sing🎧🎼

Grammy-Nominated Singer Tiwa savage have release a new song, 'Pick Up', which has a fusion of Afro-pop and Amapiano, the African b*d gal portrays her mastery and skills so far.

Song was produced by Blaisebeatz, one of the top Nigerian music producers, who created a wonderful instrumental to complements Tiwa Savage's vocals.