We Speak Music

Mdundo.com Champions Ghanaian Music, Boosts Artist Earnings in 2024 Payouts

Published

1 day ago

February 20, 2025

Mdundo, Africa’s premier music platform, is elevating Ghana’s music industry by ensuring artists receive timely royalties and global exposure. With 38.7 million Monthly Active Users and partnerships with MTN Ghana, Mdundo is a catalyst for Highlife, Hiplife, and Afrobeat talents in Accra, Kumasi, and beyond.

The 2025 royalty season is underway, benefiting Ghanaian artists. Over 200,000 African creators have earned through Mdundo since its launch, with Ghana’s vibrant scene seeing exponential growth.

This milestone reinforces Mdundo’s pledge to empower Africa’s creative minds. Martin Nielsen, Mdundo CEO, stated: “Our mission has always been to offer African artists a sustainable platform to thrive. By delivering consistent and substantial earnings, we are contributing to the growth of individual artists while supporting the long-term development of the African music industry as a whole.”

Mdundo’s catalog is enriched by ties with global labels like Warner Music and regional leaders like MicBurnerz Music. The platform spotlights Ghanaian genres like Highlife and hiplife, bridging local sounds with international audiences.

Phiona Nafuna, Head of Licensing, emphasized: “Our focus is fairness. By streamlining payouts, we’re helping Ghanaian artists build careers and grow the industry.”

By 2026, Mdundo plans to distribute $1.5–2 million in royalties, prioritizing Ghana’s rising stars. Through telco integrations, hyperlocal marketing, and seamless access, Mdundo is fueling Ghana’s music industry.

We Speak Hip-Hop

DJ Design drops “I Wanna Be Free” single ft. Gennessee

Published

52 minutes ago

February 21, 2025

Rob Ducketts

Bay Area beatmaker/visual artist DJ Design returns with new single “I Wanna Be Free” (Below System Records). Washes of synth collide with a dense horn arrangement and snappin’ drums. West-Coast emcee Gennessee guests on the track spitting a lyrical dissertation on the woes of a police state, racial profiling and surveillance.

Listen to “I Wanna Be Free” (Ft. Gennessee): https://bsr.ffm.to/iwannabefree

This is the 3^rd leak from the forthcoming Survival Web Vaults LP to drop in vinyl and digital formats later this year. Additional album guests include Fashawn, Phat Kat, Elzhi, Guilty Simpson, LMNO and more.

Listen to “No Less Than The Trees And The Stars” (Ft. Fashawn): https://bsr.ffm.to/nltttats

Listen to “The Blues” (Ft. Phat Kat & Elzhi): https://bsr.ffm.to/theblues

While more of a behind-the-scenes player DJ Design’s (aka Keith Griego) work has had a sizable imprint on the history of modern hip-hop. As a DJ/Beatmaker and visual artist he has contributed production and art since the late 90’s for notables including The Beastie Boys, Madlib, A.G., Foreign Legion, Rasco, Peanut Butter Wolf and Phat Kat.

As a visual artist, his high point of work with the label was his design of the 12” vinyl cover for Lootpack member Madlib’s side project Quasimoto. The cover for “Microphone Mathematics” featured Design/Griego’s visual representation of Lord Quas as a sort of alien aardvark, which was adopted by the artist and has since become one of the most iconic and enduring

characters in the game today.

More Info: https://www.belowsystem.com/

https://www.instagram.com/djdesign