Bad Boys
Martin Lawrence is a serial collaborator, including alongside the likes of Eddie Murphy and John Travolta. And Will Smith could be included here for his role as an alien slayer alongside Tommy Lee Jones in the ‘Men in Black’ films. But ‘Bad Boys II’ has a body count of 63 and innumerable laughs. Smith is possibly the only star on the planet who could sell as many movie tickets as Tom Cruise, but he made himself infamous last year when he slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars after Rock joked about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
Maybe Will could have done with some guidance …
Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil
They tried. In his breakout role in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, street-smart Smith is sent from West Philadelphia by his mother to live with his aunt and uncle in an upscale Los Angeles suburb. Tension and life-lesson laughs followed for six seasons in one of the greatest sitcoms of all time. James Avery played lawyer Philip, while Janet Hubert and Daphne Maxwell Reid starred as Vivian, an English literature teacher. According to Screenrant, “Throughout every conflict that came their way, Uncle Phil and Aunt Viv faced them together and became an even stronger couple. This TV portrayal made an impact on generations of viewers looking for healthy, secure relationships.”
Those were the days:
Jayoncé
This relationship seems fairly secure – even after Beyoncé’s sister Solange attacked Jigga in a lift a decade ago. One would assume that there’d at least be some professional rivalry: They are two of the most decorated artists working in music today; Beyoncé has 28 Grammies, Jay-Z, 24. But they frequently collaborate and sing (or rap) one another’s praises. Under their watch, the modern music landscape has gone through (forgive the pun) a Renaissance.
Barack and Michelle Obama
The ultimate power couple. The first black president of the United States and one of the most gifted orators of all time, and an attorney, author and one of the greatest orators of all time. Barack Obama is a two-term president with immaculate taste (see his Best Music of 2022 list below); Michelle uses her platform to advocate for women’s rights, poverty awareness, education, nutrition and physical activity. Post-presidency they set up Higher Ground Productions and won an Oscar for their masterful documentary ‘American Factory’.
P-Square
Peter. Paul. Pure perfection. Long before D’banj, Wizkid and Burna Boy, at the turn of the millennium, the twins Okoye were Naija pop music writ large, its leading lights, the sound of a continent ready to burst onto the international stage. Emerging from Jos with a bagful of dance moves, debonair looks and a seemingly fully formed sound (one that you may know these days as Afrobeats), they were soon winning awards for killer cuts like ‘E No Easy’, ‘Chop My Money’ and ‘Personally’, along with the multi-million selling albums that accompanied them. The trophies included ones at ceremonies for Channel O, MTV Africa and the KORAs. In 2011 they received a nod from Akon, who signed them to his Konvikt Muzik label. Whilst a little quieter of late, they deeply deserve the adoration of Africa and beyond. Simply historic.
‘E No Easy’:
Scorpion Kings
If there’s one sound that’s dominated South Africa’s streets over the past few years, it’s amapiano. Now spreading its wings overseas, it’s characterised by slow rhythms, eerie chords and woodblock percussion – and more frequently of late, luscious vocals. It’s pop music, but not like you’ve ever heard it before. Kabza De Small is one of the originators, and he shaped the sound of things to come half a decade ago; meanwhile Maphorisa was collecting plaudits for his productions for Kwesta (‘Ngud’’), Drake (‘One Dance’), Busiswa (‘Lahla’) and many more. When they hooked up as the Scorpion Kings, few could have imagined how inspired it would be. And prolific: over the past five years they’ve unleashed myriad full-lengths and hits alongside Ami Faku, Vigro Deep, Samthing Soweto, TRESOR and many more.
Lawrence and Ebuka
The meeting of two presenting Titans. The collision of two giants of the continent. A match made in TV heaven.
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