Indigenous rap veteran CDQ links up with Lady Zamar, Moonchild Sanelly, and Islambo on a cross-border anthem titled “UYABALABALA.”
This is the kind of collaboration that looks wild on paper and makes you wonder how it even happened. CDQ – the Yoruba rap general who invented the “Woss Wobi” ad-lib and came up backing the late DaGrin – on the same record as two of South Africa’s boldest female artists. It shouldn’t make sense, but it does. And that’s exactly what makes “UYABALABALA” one of the most interesting drops this week.
The South African Connection
Lady Zamar and Moonchild Sanelly represent two very different sides of South African music. Lady Zamar brings deep house elegance and smooth Afro-soul vocals. Moonchild Sanelly brings chaos, colour, and unpredictable energy – the same spirit that landed her collaborations with Beyoncé and Gorillaz in the past. Putting both of them on a single record with CDQ creates a sonic clash that somehow works. Each artist occupies their own space on the song without stepping on anyone else’s toes.
Where Islambo Fits In
Islambo rounds out the feature list as the rising Nigerian name among three established acts. Being placed alongside CDQ, Lady Zamar, and Moonchild Sanelly is a significant look for any upcoming artist. It suggests the people behind this record see potential in him worth investing in. And on a track this stacked, holding your own is no small task. The fact that his name sits comfortably alongside heavyweights says something about where his career is headed.
CDQ’s Reinvention
CDQ has always been willing to experiment beyond the Yoruba rap lane that made him famous. From ‘Nowo E Soke’ with Wizkid to ‘Kogbede’ with Wande Coal, the NSNS boss has always been on the lookout for collaborations that take him into new territories. The title itself comes from South African musical vocabulary, signalling that CDQ is meeting these artists on their terms rather than asking them to adjust to his.
“UYABALABALA” is currently trending across major platforms and sitting in the top ten on Celebtunez.
Go stream it now and hear how four different worlds collide on one record.
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