The resurgence of the Afrobeats genre has spurred the growth and popularity of African music to a global audience, with the genre now earning recognition as the most popular genre in the world.
The popularization of Afrobeats is largely premised on its unique beat, which is a distinct fusion of indigenous African high-life and modern musical trends. However, to some persons of African descent, Afrobeats means more than music.
To them, Afrobeats is a celebration of black excellence and a chance for the world, particularly black people in the diaspora, to connect to home.
One artist who has recognized this huge opportunity offered by Afrobeats and is leveraging it to trace his African roots is Los Angeles-based rapper, PayPah.
PayPah firmly holds that Afrobeats is a platform for him to re-establish his connection with Africa and is infusing that African vibe into his music, with his recent productions being dominated by the Afrobeats sound.
His latest project, dubbed “414 Da Motherland,” is fully dedicated to Afrobeats, with the majority of the tracks on the album having this lovely Afrocentric vibe.
Tracks such as “Like This,” which features Mkmabstar, and “No Sleep,” which features Master Kennedy, are archetypal Afrobeats songs that exhibit PayPah’s versatility and commitment to incorporating Afrobeats as a means of connecting to the motherland.
It is believed and expected in the coming months, particularly, December when Ghana has earned a reputation as the destination for Africans in the diaspora, PayPah will hold some concerts and link up with some Ghanaian musicians.
Gardena, Los Angeles native PayPah is a jazz-inspired West Coast rapper with a Southern twist.
PayPah received his name by being known for finding ways to make money growing up, leading him down the path of entrepreneurship early.
PayPah became interested in making music as a youngster, being surrounded by musicians in his family, including his grandfather who sings jazz, his uncles who play the guitar and conga drums, and his cousin Laps, who is a well-known South Central rapper.
Experiencing many styles of music growing up gave PayPah a wide variety of musical influences, from the great legends Sam Cooke, Al Green, and Marvin Gaye to the modern moguls Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, and Meek Mill.
Interested in having a hands-on approach to his artistry, PayPah attended film school to learn how to shoot and edit his music videos, which he did at the beginning of his career.
After honing his craft in videography, PayPah established his own company, PayPah Productions, in 2011.
PayPah’s playful and charismatic nature leads him to create feel-good music anthems based on everyday experiences, moments, and memories.
By capturing you with his smooth melodies first and then complementing them with his groovy yet gritty bars, PayPah creates and sets a vibe that gets people dancing on their feet when listening to it.
Since expanding his fan base by touring over 20+ cities in the U.S., PayPah has developed an undeniable stage presence, conquering crowds of all sizes.
His latest single, “Bottle Girls,” featuring Zach T, is out on all streaming platforms and can be heard on nationally syndicated radio shows like Power 105.1 FM and spun by DJ Will, DJ Swanzy, DJ Brees, and DJ Fresco.
PayPah’s music has currently accomplished 230K streams, reached 49K listeners, and 51 countries.
