Following months of speculation, R&B and Pop sensation NE-YO is confirmed to be featured on Coca-Cola’s flagship African music show, Coke Studio Africa, for the new season.
NE-YO will be the guest star alongside Wangechi (Kenya), Alikiba (Tanzania), Maurice Kirya (Uganda), Dama Do Bling (Mozambique) and Ice Prince (Nigeria) for a mega mash up.
Ahead of his anticipated arrival in Kenya, in an official statement NE-YO said, “It’s a true honor to return to Africa and celebrate artists from all over the continent. By creating this musical fusion through Coke Studio Africa, people of all races, ethnicities and religion will come together through this remarkable opportunity. I’m so excited to build lasting moments with all of these incredibly talented artists and musicians.”
Last month he graced the MTV Africa Music Awards 2015, recently held in South Africa. While in Kenya, NE-YO will work on a special Coke Studio Africa song alongside five select stars from Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Mozambique who have already recorded mash-ups for the new season.
In the past 10 years, NE-YO has produced six albums. His debut album In My Own Words was a bona fide R&B game changer bearing classics: “Stay”, “So Sick”, “When You’re Mad” and “Sexy Love”. His latest album, Non–Fiction was released in January of 2015. The album reached number five on the US Billboard Top 200, making NE-YO the second male R&B artist to have six consecutive top 10 albums.
The masterful musician, who has collaborated with a host of award-winning musicians and songwriters, has under his wing several global hits including “Let me Love You”, “Beautiful Monster”, “Coming with You” and “She Knows” featuring Juicy J.
NE-YO has also garnered several global accolades and is also hailed as an incredible songwriter delivering worldwide hits including Rihanna’s “Unfaithful” and Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable”. Recently, its been announced that NE-YO has joined the most popular television series, Empire, as music writer. The second season of Empire is set to premiere in September.
Last year on Coke Studio Africa season 2, Wyclef Jean performed his hit song “Divine Sorrow” alongside other artists including Rabbit, Chidinma and Shaa.
The new season has so far seen the likes of Chameleone, Olamide, Jua Cali, Elani, Vanessa Mdee, 2 Face Idibia, Fid Q, Juliana Kanyamozi and Neyma, among others record in the exciting new mash-up arrangement.
Grammy Award nominee, musician and producer Zwai Bala, of groundbreaking South African Kwaito group TK Zee, have been working as the music director while Brett Lotriet, a renowned International TV director and producer will be the series producer.
In addition, the musicians along with the highly talented house band have also presented new tracks each week produced by both local and international producers. Some of the producers include JaazOdongo, Eric Musyoka and Kevin Provoke from Kenya, Cobhams Asuquo, Masterkraft and Chopstix from Nigeria, Owour Arunga from USA, Nahreel from Tanzania and Silvastone from the UK.
Coke Studio Africa purposes to celebrate and showcase the diversity of African musical talent by giving upcoming artists the opportunity to work with some of the best local and international music and production talent.