Afrobeat all sounds the same to me?

[The Fade]

I think the issue has to do with West African and Caribbean drumming patterns. Drumming patterns are the rhythmic root of a song. And many West African and Caribbean drumming patterns can be interchangeable, which speaks of their close cultural connection.

But to African American ears, the drumming patterns don't really come natural to us. Our rhythms are informed moreso by the boom bap hi hat that is the rhythmic root of a lot of hip hop music. And rhythmically there is a difference in the boom bap hi hat and afro-caribbean drumming.

It's one of the reasons why I couldn't get into reggae because the rhythms we're repetitive, boring, and not complex enough for my ears and I think for many African Americans, Afrobeats is the same way. We zero in on the drumming pattern (because it's noticeably different from the boom bap hi hat that we're accustomed to), without really noticing the other instruments and how they contribute to the sound.

I think on both sides, because we're so used to our respective percussion rhythms, we don't really pay attention to them in our music because they make up so much of our musical sound. But when confronted with others, we tend to notice and zero in on the others more. It's more pronounced.

I'm pretty sure the boom bap hi hat, central to most hip hop songs, makes hip hop sound repetitive and the same to Afro-Caribbean ears.

South African rhythms are a bit different however. The drumming is a bit more complex and add to that the incorporation of Afro-American derived House, their music comes easier to our ears.

I personally love Afrobeats so I don't have a problem with it. I tend to focus on the melody, singing, lyrics. Couldn't stand reggae growing up with a few exceptions. So I'm only speaking on what I perceive to be the same issues that I had with reggae, that other Aframs may be having with Afrobeats.

And I'm very aware Afro-beat rhythms are diverse and complex. But those who only hear the mainstream songs may not be aware.

We are used to the 4/4 backbeat. 3/4 and 6/8 as well

Baile Funk has the swaggiest beat pattern nowadays imo. Dancehall and Afrobeats is too tropical sounding to me.

 

[DreadBrown]

It all sounds the same because a certain style is popular in the west right now but like @GrindtooFilthy said there are more specific genres like fuji and ampiano

 

[MarrieGotBandzzz]

Afrobeat one of the best thing happend in a long time now I dont have to listen to opps getting shot all the time

 

[DapMeUp!]

It def all sounds similar. Not the same tho. Reggaeton>>>

When the mamis moving they hips to bad bunny or anuel

This is 100% the genre that sounds the same more than Afrobeats or Dancehall.

Especially if we are talking about repetitive drum patterns

 

[Uchiha God]

nikkas saying afrobeats sounds the same then in the very same sentence say reggaeton is superior

I don’t agree with the premise of the thread, at all. In fact, I’ve discovered so many afrobeats songs that I like and they sound wildly different to me, but these “all sounds the same” accusations can be levied at almost any genre if the scope you listened to is limited enough. I mean, for example, drill all sounds the same to me, but that’s because I never cared to explore it

 

[ReasonableMatic]

nikkas exposing how wildly undeveloped their ears are with takes like these

 

[3rdWorld]

Amapiano/South African music >>

I love how its morphed and keeps changing..them dudes are creative

 

[StretfordRed]

This thread is terrible lol. If you can’t tell the difference between Burna, Wiz and any other afrobeat artist then that’s on you guys; some artists are literally singing in different languages lol. If you can’t hear the nuances between different types of afrobeat then that’s just hating.

 

[TQbrit]

NOT GONNA LIE, i agree

but i say the same for most genres today, esp that mumble rap nonsense

 

[GrindtooFilthy]

Nah
them songs you post kinda wack too none stand out

You just have bad taste a few of those did real numbers

 

[GrindtooFilthy]

We are used to the 4/4 backbeat. 3/4 and 6/8 as well

Baile Funk has the swaggiest beat pattern nowadays imo. Dancehall and Afrobeats is too tropical sounding to me.

nikkas saying afrobeats sounds the same then in the very same sentence say reggaeton is superior

I don’t agree with the premise of the thread, at all. In fact, I’ve discovered so many afrobeats songs that I like and they sound wildly different to me, but these “all sounds the same” accusations can be levied at almost any genre if the scope you listened to is limited enough. I mean, for example, drill all sounds the same to me, but that’s because I never cared to explore it

Check out afro-drill or funk drill.

Man they doing something crazy with that sound

 

[69 others]

I agree, alot of it sounds similar but i still rather listen to it than the black trauma porn from hip hop and dancehall.

I do hope afrobeat artists don't start jumping on the same bandwagon

 

[Kasgoinjail]

I agree with most posts

Although it does sound samey samey it's no different to when we used to get 20 different cuts on 1 riddim instrumental.

Afro beats bought back the fun loving dancing vibes, old skool Dancehall and House music combined.

South African Dance music is so lit

 

[tuckgod]

Oh baby oh. Oh baby oh. I want your body. Jesus loves you oh.

Afrobeat is just boring.

They not killing enough nikkas for you?

All music genres have distinguishing features.

That’s what makes them an identifiable genre of music.

Hip Hop used the same 4-5 drum samples for every song for 20 years.

There’s really only 2 genres.

Soul and Gospel.

Secular and Spiritual.

You either singing for the Lord or the devil.

 

[Buddy]

MOST mainstream music has a typical sound depending on the genre. If you heard one Tik Tok rapper challenge you pretty much heard em all I haven't turned on the radio in nearly a decade.

AfroBeats isn’t something I've listened to a ton and haven't really gotten "into" but thats mostly out of disinterest with autotune-- can't stand that shyt idc who's using it. I think that's what helped that Ayo (?)/Tems "you don't need no other body" joint such a crossover success. Ol girl KILLED that shyt and we miss people just SINGING


That being said, we're still very much in the early years and sound should evolve/expand like any other genre. I have to check out the examples listed later.