NSG: My life in music

To celebrate the release of their new video for "Lupita" later today the viral London collective run us through the tracks that made them.

Music

July 23, 2020

Charismatic, savvy, and with a back catalogue of life of the party-anthems, NSG are the genre-flitting collective currently defining the sound of Summer 2020.

Initially coming onto our radar with singles “Options” and “OT Bop” — which first blew up online, then went on to reach the Top 20 in 2018 and 2019, respectively — their success, in part, is down to their intelligent use of social media. Well before it became a go-to marketing tactic, the group were already encouraging fans to post videos of themselves dancing to NSG tracks.

But that’s not to say they get the Internet, but not the music. Beyond the online hype, they’re genuine musicians, as underscored with the release of their Roots mixtape last month. Showcasing their melting pot, Afro Swing sound and also sampling from a far-reaching palette of sounds like reggae and RnB, it’s a resounding reminder that NSG is here to stay.

Later today, the group will be releasing a new video for “Lupita” a mixtape-standout sampling Foxy Brown’s “Get Me Home” and celebrating the beauty of darker-skinned Black women. To celebrate, band members Papii Abz, Dope, Kruddz, Mojo, OGD and Mxjib talk us through the tracks that have made them who they are today.

PAPII ABZ

First musical memory: The2Face Idibia album, Face 2 Face. I got a hold of the CD in my house and just had the album on repeat.

Song for a rainy day: Shola Allyson – “Eji Owuro”.

Best music video of all time: Michael Jackson – “Thriller”. My GCSE dance exam was on that song, so it has to be that.

Song that sounds like summer: OMI – “Cheerleader”, that was a banger.

Favourite track: NSG – “dRuNk gUiTaR”.

Up and comer to watch: Keeya Keys, A-MVN and Alista Marq.

DOPE

First musical memory: Lunchtime in school, with my boys OGD, Keys and Madrid making music during school, that will always stick with me.

Song for a rainy day: Rema – “Woman”.

Best music video of all time: Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. That video always gets me man, sick video.

Song that sounds like summer: NSG – “Lupita”. It just brightens up your day.

Favourite rack: NSG – “Lupita”!

Up and comer to watch: Darkoo, she’s got more coming, she’s hard.

KRUDDZ

First musical memory: When my brother bought the Missy Elliot album, Under Construction. Big up CP!

Song for a rainy day: Burna Boy – “Dangote” or Wizkid – “Ojuelegba”.

Best music video of all time: NSG – “Lupita”…you’ll see!

Song that sounds like summer: Any afrobeats song really, but stand out would be, Rema – “Dumebi” or NSG – “Options”.

Favourite track: NSG – “Lupita”.

Up and comer to watch: Keeya Keys, MBC and Alista Marq.

MOJO

First musical memory: Probably, at my yard with my mum on a Sunday morning listening to Yinka Ayefele, old school Nigerian artist, OG in this thing!

Song for a rainy day: Anything afrobeats really, but Burna Boy x Zlatan – “Killin ‘Em” is a go-to.

Best music video of all time: Missy Elliot – “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)”.

Song that sounds like summer: Rema – “Dumebi”.

Favourite track: My favourite song right now is Rema – “Woman”, but my verse on “Grandad”!

Up and comer to watch: Showdem Camp.

OGD

First musical memory: That’s a tough one, probably Sean Kingston’s “Beautiful Girls”. It came out while I was in Ghana and I used to have to sing that song in front of my class. That’s probably why I’m an artist right now because we performed a lot when I was younger.

Song for a rainy day: Wizkid – “Ojuelegba”.

Best music video of all time: Michael Jackson – “Smooth Criminal”. Back in the day, I was trying to do the dances.

Song that sounds like summer: NSG – “Lupita”.

Favourite track: NSG – “Lupita”.

Up and comer to watch: Keeya Keys!