As June draws to a close, Rwandan artistes are looking to wrap it up in style, releasing back-to-back tracks that are setting the tone for the long Independence and Liberation Day holidays. Over the past week, multi-awards winning musician Tom Close teamed up with Rwandan hip-hop stars Green P and P Fla on his new track Cana Itara, while Burundian vocalist Kiki Toure dropped a smooth Afro-fusion tune Just One Time, which features Kivumbi King. Several other artistes have also blessed fans with new music. The New Times rounds up some of the best new releases of the week Cana Itara – Tom Close ft Green P, P Fla R&B artiste Tom Close dropped a new single “Cana Itara” on June 26, and it’s already making waves across local radio and TV stations. This marks his first collaboration of the year, featuring former Tuff Gang crew members Green P and P Fla. The track was produced by Bob Pro and Knox on the Beat, racking up nearly 50,000 streams across various platforms within the first two days. Just One Time – Kiki Toure ft. Kivumbi King Burundian vocalist and live performer Kiki Toure makes a return to mainstream music with “Just One Time,” a smooth Afro-fusion track featuring Rwandan favorite Kivumbi King. Produced by bassist Arnaud Gasige and mastered by Bob Pro, the song is already resonating with fans in Kigali and beyond. Shoke – Davis D ft. Soso Davis D returns to the charts with his latest song “Shoke”, featuring Soso. The track has already amassed over 300,000 streams within a week of release. It was produced by Mamba at Country Records, with a music video directed by his long-time director Bagenzi Bernard. Bernard is the man behind the majority of Davos D’s videos. Bebenjo – Calvin Mbanda Calvin Mbanda brings the party vibes with “Bebenjo”, a high-energy Afrobeat track poised to dominate Kigali’s holiday playlists. Produced by longtime collaborator Element Eleeh and directed by Oskados, the song has surpassed 100,000 streams on streaming platforms in under a week. Ntaribi – Kenny Kshot ft. Pro Zed, Kivumbi King Renowned lyricist and rapper Kenny Kshot dropped the visuals for “Ntaribi” on Friday, June 27. The song features fellow rappers Pro Zed and Kivumbi King, and is among the standout tracks from Kenny’s latest album Intare 2. Produced by Ehl3rs, the song is a lyrical masterpiece that cements Kenny Kshot’s status as one of Rwanda’s top hip-hop voices. Amabuye – Wakera Rwandan artiste Mucyo Wakera continues to build his brand with the emotional single “Amabuye”, a heartfelt love song that explores the pain and beauty of loving someone rejected by society. The track was produced by Jimmy Pro at Level 9 Records and showcases Wakera’s storytelling and vocal depth.
