Sheer genius is demonstrated by the fascinating versatile music producer and songwriter manuel joachim alexis Mahé in his new single “Deportation.” The impeccable artist’s tracks are creatively entertaining and captivate the audience with an immersive and catchy vibe.
We’re lucky enough to have sneaked in for an interview with a talented artist. He was generous enough to lend some of his precious moments as we gleefully stumbled deep into his personal and professional life. Here are some excerpts from the interview:
Congratulations on your last title “Deportation”, what do you think of this new success?
“Deportation” was composed based on a true story of a member of my family who was deported during WWII and died on a death march since Flossenbürg. It’s great for me to understand this memory and work on it.
Who was the first influence that inspired you to take the leap into the music scene?
I think it was really Deep Purple.
What were the big more initial obstacles in pursuing your musical dreams and how did you overcome them?
At first, alcohol, drugs, and certainly women afterward. I had a problem with a tendon in my left hand… half cut! It is a problem for to play instruments properly.
But I love music and when I compose or perform, all the problems are elsewhere
What goals have you achieved? What goals are you still working towards?
My goal, now achieved, was an album and this with little means now. I actually work to keep producing singles who are a part of me. My music is part of me.
Do you have dream collaborations? Who are they ?
Yes, I think all musicians are friends and when you love music, you love all the music in the world.
It’s for this that we can dream about collaborations? Because I have no problems with my collaborators, as with my label Distrokid or certain musicians, composers and performers I met to work on the internet.
Can we expect any projects to come soon? Please enlighten us on this.
Yes, I’m actually working on a cover and a composition of myself. I would like more and more intensive work, but the deadlines are not the same.
Thanks for speaking with us! For our last question, is there anything else you would like to add?
Respect musicians, we live a bad period and a lot of people need to have other thins as the violence of our world.
Sometimes a song shows up like that friend who kicks open the door without knocking, grinning and saying, “get your shoes, we’re leaving.” “Tule Tule,” the new single from South Sudanese artist TR Craze featuring Jamaican-UK rapper Caine Marko, moves exactly like that. The track is bold and charged, carrying the weight of lived experience while stomping over a dark, menacing drill beat that feels built for the streets as much as the club.
TR Craze’s backstory reads like a movie script Hollywood studios would fight over. He was born in South Sudan, shaped by the trauma of civil war, and pushed into the harsh realities of refugee life. He literally survived the treacherous routes through Libya and across the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe. This man distills survival into rhythm. On “Tule Tule,” you can feel that heart, that urgency, and that fire in his delivery, channelled into a raw, assertive drill performance that cuts through even if you don’t understand a single word of the opening verse. At its core, “Tule Tule” is a raw, assertive drill track that isn’t afraid to bare its teeth.
The word “Tule” comes from Nuer. It refers to youth games and the electric thrill of chasing something, whether that’s victory, joy, or destiny. TR Craze uses that spirit like a drumbeat beneath his voice. The choruses hit with a communal, call-and-response warmth but here that playfulness is flipped into a gritty, chant-like hook – “Tule Tule” – that feels like the rallying cry of a crew on the move. Even without translating the lyrics, the tone tells you everything. This is about motion, pursuit, celebration, and refusing to stay stuck in the past, all wrapped in an unapologetic, high-adrenaline atmosphere. Lyrically, the track leans into street life, dominance and crew loyalty, matching the tension in the beat.
Behind them, producer Kyxxx builds a dark, tense soundscape, stitching drill drums with Brazilian bounce and Bhangra-flavoured rhythmic elements that keep the track constantly on edge. The result is a gritty, energetic and unapologetic atmosphere that pulls you straight into their world.
Then Caine Marko slides in for the second verse, and the whole energy pivots into a sharp, swagger-heavy bounce. His flow is clean but gritty, confident and confrontational, shifting between braggadocio and sly charm.
“She knows I’m a wolf and I run the pack,” he starts, classic alpha talk, but delivered with a laid-back grin. “She come first like running track,” he continues, flipping between affection and athletic metaphors like a man who’s too used to moving fast.
Then he opens up the verse more: “Doing dirt and getting with a bitty, I only pretty… then back to the city. Got me some liquor then it got me some weed.” It’s lifestyle rap, but the reckless, unapologetic kind. It’s the messy, outside-at-night, live-in-the-moment vibe that balances TR Craze’s more grounded narrative. When he ends with “you going to hang with the gang,” the energy snaps into a group-hyped finale, a reminder that music like this isn’t meant to be consumed alone, underlining the crew-first loyalty at the heart of the record.
“Tule Tule” works because it blends worlds without softening its raw, street-hardened edge. It merges East African emotion, Caribbean-UK swagger, drill and hip-hop grit, Brazilian and Bhangra textures in Kyxxx’s production, diaspora storytelling, and a spirit of joy that refuses to be dimmed by pain.
Let “Tule Tule” run while you’re walking, cooking, texting, or plotting big dreams – or getting ready to step out with your crew.
A complete artist isn’t born; they are shaped, layered, and refined by the places they’ve touched. Mannie Mims is practically a walking passport with a beat. Raised in Ghana, polished in Italy, and sharpened in the UK, he carries the Ashanti rhythm in his spirit while blending it with the swagger of global sonic cultures. His sound, drawing from Afrobeat to dancehall, grime to drill, has a genuine sense of travel.
With “Mene Woaa,” he taps directly into that Afrobeats heartspace. The first few seconds feel warm, bright, and intentional. Mannie said the inspiration behind the song is “Real Love,” and you can hear it immediately. This avoids the performative, Instagram filter kind of love. It’s a soft, grounded, “come sit closer” energy, all wrapped in a mid-tempo Afrobeats groove.
The production carries a mellow Ghanaian bounce with steady drums, soft percussive taps, and a breezy melody floating on top. Mannie rides it with a voice that feels like sunlight on skin. Smooth. Gentle. His delivery is playful enough to keep you smiling, but sincere enough to make your heart do that tiny backflip.
His lyrical approach is clean and direct. He pours affection into simple lines without complicated metaphors or over-polished tricks. The man basically sings like he’s talking to someone he actually cares about. There’s no pretense, no pressure, just pure, honest feeling. When he says “Mene Woaa,” it hits like a quiet promise, the kind that doesn’t need fireworks to feel real.
What stands out is how naturally everything fits together. The beat isn’t trying too hard. Mannie isn’t stretching his voice into unfamiliar shapes. It’s all effortless, like he found a pocket made exactly for him and just melted into it. That’s the secret sauce of “Mene Woaa.” The song is simple but not empty. It’s romantic without being cheesy, and catchy without being commercial fluff.
You can hear Ghana in the rhythm. You can hear Italy in the warmth. You can hear the UK in the polish. But more than anything, you can hear Mannie himself, confident, evolving, and intentional.
“Mene Woaa” feels like a new chapter. It’s a moment where he steps away from the rowdy swagger of his earlier tracks, like Licki Licki, and leans into something that feels grown. It’s grounded and emotionally mature. This is the kind of Afrobeats record you play on long evening walks, late-night calls, or those quiet moments when you’re scrolling through your gallery and accidentally land on someone’s selfie too long.
Martone isn’t one to tell his story quietly; he’d rather broadcast it until the walls shake. Known as “The Emperor of House Music,” the Detroit artist has built a career on putting himself on the line. For over a decade, Martone has been recognized as a dance-floor architect who is also a storyteller, a cultural activist, and a model of genuine authenticity. He has consistently pushed boundaries with tracks like “Chocolate” and his album The Evolution of Martone, blending club beats with emotional substance. His latest release with Intelligent Diva, “Too Bad, So Sad,” continues that work, proving a heartbreak anthem can be a weapon.
At its heart, “Too Bad, So Sad” is about a breakup, but it’s not the kind that hides in the shadows. Martone opens with lines that feel both personal and cinematic. “I gave my heart, you played it like a game. Thought we had forever, but you just brought the shame.” This is a blunt confession, the kind you make after the tears have dried, when all that’s left is the plain truth. The simplicity of his words makes them hit harder because they don’t rely on metaphor; they are the wound itself. The hook, “Too bad, so sad, it doesn’t mean that I didn’t love you,” feels like a sigh and a shrug at once. It honors the love that was real while firmly closing the door on someone who failed to value it. Martone finds strength in that raw clarity.
Then Intelligent Diva enters, and her verse is like a best friend storming into your room while you’re crying. Her flow is sharp and her tone is commanding, instantly changing the song’s direction. She raps, “Never let nobody treat you like a doormat. You’re a prize to be won, go boast, go brag.” Her words are a pep talk, delivered with the urgency of someone who won’t let you stay down. Martone voices the ache, and Intelligent Diva provides the antidote. Their collaboration creates a dynamic conversation, moving from grief to grit. Her verse transforms the track from a sad diary entry into a rallying cry.
What makes the song feel so immediate is its real-life backdrop. Martone released “Too Bad, So Sad” only days after his divorce was finalized. The timing wasn’t planned, but it feels poetic. You can hear the weight of lived experience in every note. This isn’t just a story crafted for a song; it’s a piece of a life pressed into rhythm and melody.
In a time when dance music can feel like pure escapism, Martone makes sure the beat carries something real. “Too Bad, So Sad” is fueled by emotional honesty, offering both catharsis and empowerment. It’s a reminder that even the deepest heartbreak can be the start of a rebirth. Intelligent Diva’s feature acts as a lifeline, a testament to the power of support when you feel alone.
If you’ve ever found yourself picking up the pieces, this song is for you. Put it on repeat, let it sting, let it heal, and let it remind you that heartbreak is temporary. Reclaiming your power is the real goal. So dance, cry, or scream along. Whatever you do, don’t skip this one.