Durban producer Sketchy Bongo is probably one of the most versatile producers right now. While his most famous production may be “Back To The Beach”, the man has produced some heaters. We list some of his strongest, below.
Ryki ft Aewon Wolf “Please Try”
This is probably one of the man’s best productions so far. “Please Try” has a lot of potential – it could be as big as Major Lazer and DJ Snake’s “Lean On”. Ryki’s laidback vocals float naturally over breezy pads, and sinewy synths that give the song a laidback feel. The drums, however tell you to stand up and do the nae-nae, while Aewon Wolf’s verse gives the song a hip-hop appeal.
Sketchy Bongo & Shekhinah “Let You Know”
After the success of “Back To The Beach”, all eyes were on Shekhinah, Kyle Deutsch and Sketchy Bongo to deliver a song equally good. The two connected again, this time without Kyle, on “Let You Know”, and didn’t even try to make anything similar to their previous hit. The single has a higher tempo, and a club feel. Shekhinah’s voice is powerful and combined with the music Sketchy Bongo throws her way, comes another treat that will exclude Shekhinah out of the one-hit wonder conversation.
RELATED: Shekhinah feels no pressure from the success of “Back to the Beach”
Tribal and Aeon Wolf “A Week Ago”
Let’s admit “A Week Ago” is a corny song. I mean: “I know we hooked up a week ago, but ng’yalobola already”? But so are most love songs on radio. This track had all the makings of a radio hit, it’s extremely catchy, and the concept is easy to grasp. No wonder it became a permanent fixture on 5FM last year. Sketchy Bongo knows how to make pop beats, and Tribal and Aewon Wolf did a great job on the vocals.
Jimmy Nevis and Sketchy Bongo “All About It”
“All Night” wins with a catchy vocable on the hook. Jimmy Nevis sounds at home over the EDM beat. The music switches back and forth between loungey and vibey. The song is a proper pop hit – with a catchy hook and beat, and soothing vocals, as we have grown to expect from Jimmy Nevis.
Danny K “In My Head”
Danny K hopped onto the Sketchy Bongo bandwagon for his latest single. On “Inside My Head”, the producer gives Danny K an EDM instrumental. The beat is synth heavy, and woozy – it teleports you to a club with strobing disco lights, full of sweaty bodies on the dance floor.
Locnville “Cold Shoulder”
Another EDM production from the masked man, “Cold Shoulder” is also a dance floor heater, currently climbing up the 5FM charts. The Locnville twins lose the baritones they usually sing in for more melodic vocals. This could have been a great December hit, but it sadly came in winter. That doesn’t stop you from jamming to it, though.
Patty Monroe “Talk”
“Talk” is a bass-heavy trap track. Patty Monroe’s delivery is vicious, matching the high-pitched pads and synths Sketchy Bongo flexes with, on here. The producer makes it look easy, as the beat to “Talk” is simplistic, yet still doesn’t sound empty. It leaves enough space for Patty’s lively rhymes, and personality – which complete the song.
Aewon Wolf featuring Gemini Major and Khuli Chana “Walking and Dabbing”
Such is the strength of The Wolf Pack – Sketchy Bongo’s crew, that a veteran like Khuli Chana chose to get involved on a Sketchy Bongo song. “Walking and Dabbing” is a pure trap anthemic banger, with an addictive hook. The beat is multi-layered with pattering hi hats, and subtle sirens.
AKA x JR “Screams and Cries”
Two more hip-hop heavyweights caught onto the Sketchy Bongo hype. A cautionary tale of love gone wrong and casual hook-ups gets told by JR and AKA over sensual synths and pads by Sketchy Bongo. If you thought “Back To The Beach” was the smoothest production Sketchy Bongo can pull off, you might want to try “Screams and Cries”.
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what other great Sketchy Bongo-produced songs can you think of? Let us know in the comments section below, or on Facebook and Twitter.
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