CHOPLIFE SOUNDSYSTEM is the exciting new dance project by global music superstar MR EAZI and UK-based afrobeats tastemaker and selector DJ EDU, and together, they are taking over the summer with their seminal new album titled CHOP LIFE, VOL. 1: MZANSI CHRONICLES, as featured in Okayafrica. Set for release on May 26, the Chop Life Vol. 1 album has already birthed massive hits including the viral sensation ‘Patek’ featuring DJ Tarico and Joey B, which has amassed over 20 million global streams, the amapiano jam ‘Werser’ that dropped at the start of the year to rave reviews from fans and critics alike, and the recently released soulful house cut ‘Wena’ featuring Ami Faku blowing up clubs across the world.
Recorded between Cape Town and Johannesburg over the past 12 months, Chop Life Vol. 1 is Mr Eazi and DJ Edu’s homage to South African dance music and all of its exciting facets, with the project aiming to give listeners a deep dive into the glorious club scene in South Africa that has been producing some of the best dance music in the world for the past few years. Collaborators on the 14-track album include award-winning amapiano crooner Focalistic, South African afro-punk star Moonchild Sanelly, legendary sibling duo Major League DJz, fast-rising Eastern Cape songstress Ami Faku, and one of South Africa’s most exciting and unique new voices Nkosazana Daughter, to mention a few.
With sounds that cut across the wide spectrum of South African dance music, from deep house to amapiano to tribal house to big room, Mr Eazi and DJ Edu have collaborated with Mozambican producer DJ Tárico to bring the project to life sonically, with additional production coming from some of South Africa’s best beatsmiths such as Mellow & Sleazy, Ghetto Boy, Milan Rendall, LuuDaDeejay, Soul Jam, and Mathondos, as well as burgeoning Nigerian producer Type A. Throughout the album, Mr Eazi weilds his magic wand on every song with his exceptional musicianship, clever songwriting, and infectious delivery, whether it is on the thumping ‘Oh Yes’ with Moonchild Sanelly, or the groovy ‘Ziwa La’ featuring Aymos, or the braggadocious album closer ‘Collect’ with Major League DJz.
The album’s lead single ‘Wena’ sees the intoxicating vocals of Ami Faku and DJ Tárico’s deep house soundscape combining to reveal a tragic love story that can only be resolved in the glow of the dancefloor, while Nkosazana Daughter adds her rich dulcet tones to the tropical house slow burner ‘Die For You’, and amapiano dance floor filler ‘Indaba’, giving these songs an almost ethereal club music sensation. Elsewhere, South African rappers 2woshort and Stompiiey bring their infectious quickfire flows to the forefront on the glorious ‘Big Boy’ and ‘No Condom’, while the Focalistic-assisted track ‘By Force’ and Mr Eazi’s only solo outing on the project ‘Tear Chain’ deliver big-room anthems that are ready to take over the biggest dance festival stages this summer.
Alongside the exceptional music on this new album, Mr Eazi and DJ Edu will also be taking Choplife Soundsystem on tour across Africa, UK, and Europe, for a series of Choplife parties this summer, starting with an exclusive release party in Johannesburg on May 25, before taking their ‘Chop Life’ ministry to Accra, Barcelona, Brussels, London, Kigali, and Paris. Named after the popular West African pidgin slang, which means “enjoy life”, Mr Eazi and DJ Edu’s Choplife Soundsystem is here to spark feelings of happiness, wellness, and enjoyment, and to promote positive carefree vibes through music and culture this summer, from their Chop Life Vol. 1 album to their upcoming Choplife summer parties.
ABOUT MR EAZI
MR EAZI is a musical innovator, business leader and philanthropist. As a recording artist, the Nigerian star is one of the most streamed African artists in the world, with over 4 billion streams, he is also the voice behind afropop hits ‘Pour Me Water’, ‘Skin Tight’, and ‘Leg Over’, as well as ground-breaking collaborations with the likes of Beyoncé and J Balvin. A serial entrepreneur, he founded emPawa Africa in 2018 as a talent incubator program designed to accelerate the careers of African artists. Hailed by CNN, Rolling Stone, Billboard and Forbes for his innovative approach to expanding African music’s global reach, he has grown emPawa Africa into one of Africa’s largest independent music companies, with a track record of breaking global stars like Joeboy and Major League DJz.
ABOUT DJ EDU
DJ Edu is internationally renowned as the boss of all things African music. As well as being a very in-demand club DJ worldwide, the afroboss, as he is commonly referred, has been heavily championing the sounds of young Africa on BBC Radio 1Xtra for over 15 years; his radio show ‘Destination Africa’ is the now the longest-running programme on the network. In that time, he has not only been evidently instrumental in breaking the careers of many artists from across the continent, but has also been a pivotal wheel in the exciting explosion of afrobeats and afropop music worldwide.
‘CHOP LIFE, VOL. 1: MZANSI CHRONICLES’ ALBUM TRACKLIST
1. Tear Chain
2. Wena (featuring Ami Faku)
3. Big Boy (featuring 2woshort, Stompiiey)
4. Oh Yes (featuring Moonchild Sanelly, Linda Kim)
5. Werser
6. Inside (featuring Joey B, Mellow & Sleazy, Major League DJz)
7. By Force (featuring Focalistic, Anatii)
8. Ziwa La (featuring Aymos)
9. Die For You (featuring Nkosazana Daughter)
10. Indaba (featuring Nkosazana Daughter)
11. No Condom (featuring 2woshort, Stompiiey, Bassie)
12. Umfaz Wephapha (featuring Boontie RSA, TMan Express, Chley)
13. Patek (featuring DJ Tárico, Joey B)
14. Collect (featuring Mellow & Sleazy, Mo-T, Major League DJz)
CONNECT WITH MR EAZI: Instagram – Twitter – Tiktok
CONNECT WITH DJ EDU: Instagram – Twitter – Tiktok
CONNECT WITH CHOPLIFE SOUNDSYSTEM: Instagram – Twitter
MEDIA & PRESS: Please direct all inquiries to Ayo Adepoju: [email protected]
