DJ, producer and Apple Music Radio host, DJ Cuppy has dropped her hotly anticipated debut album Original Copy. The 12-track album features an array of collaborations and sees Cuppy tap into a sound she describes as neo-Afrobeats, tackling themes ranging from independence to love lost and African pride.
Star-studded tracks include Grammy winner Wyclef Jean on the feelgood Wale, and Bob Marley’s son Julian linking up with Nigerian favourite Sir Shina Peters on the cross-continental anthem 54. The project also features UK breakout stars Ms Banks and Darkoo. Check it out here.
DJ Cuppy Jollof on the Jet
The Nigerian also released Jollof on the Jet, the lead single off Original Copy. The track features fellow African artists, Rema and Rayvanny.
“I love South Africa,” says DJ Cuppy. The pink-haired muso was named the official host for Africa Now Radio with Cuppy, a new show on Apple Music. “Every January for the past five years I’ve spent time in Cape Town and all the visuals for the album were captured there.”
The House of Cuppy
Cuppy, who was born Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola in 1992, grew up in Lagos and moved to London when she was 13. In 2014, she graduated with a degree in business and economics from King’s College London.
By then she had already built a reputation as one of the foremost DJs in Africa and was selected as a DJ at the MTV Africa Music Awards Durban 2014.
While Cuppy has produced and released other compilations since then, including The House of Cuppy and The House of Cuppy II, she views Original Copy as her debut album.
“I honestly haven’t had the courage to put out any music since my last single Gelato in 2019. Prior to that Cuppy released four other singles, including Green Light. “I’ve experimented, this album is literally going back to the basics,” she said.
Cuppy Original Copy tracklist
Epe ft Efya
Jollof on the Jet ft Rema & Ray Vanny
Wale ft Wyclef
Feel Good ft. Fireboy
Cold Heart Killer ft Darkoo
Original Copy *Interlude*
Karma ft Stonebwoy
Litty Lit ft Teni
54 ft Sir Shina Peters & Julian Marley
Guilty Pleasure ft Nonso Amadi
P.O.Y. ft Ycee & Ms Banks
Labalaba ft Seyi Shay
African heritage
The album sees Cuppy take the vocal reigns on themes that range from independence to love lost and African pride. In that vein, the track Jollof on the Jet symbolises the duality between being a jet-setting international artist and her African roots.
“I really wanted this to be something light-hearted to uplift people,” Cuppy explained of the single. “My personality is bubbly and I wanted that to come through and not hit them with too much depth,” she said.
“At the same time, I wanted this track to be a chance to really represent the continent.” Cuppy is highly proud of her African heritage and this is reflected in the unusual name of the track. “We connect through food in Africa and Jollof rice is such an important part of our culture in Nigeria,” she said.
“The name came to me one day while travelling and literally eating Jollof rice on an airplane. I may perform all over the world, but I still love my African food and what it represents,” she commented.
The track is available through Apple Music, Spotify and Deezer
Cuppy recently signed with Platoon, a UK-based music company and the album will be released through them later this year.
What: DJ Cuppy Original Copy Jollof on the Jet
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