Afrobeats, the CIA & the Politics of Popular Music

<p>Is Afrobeats’ global rise a story of talent, label investment, political influence, or overlapping forces? AJ and Antonio debate the Chocolate City/CIA claim, what counts as evidence, and how soft power might operate through music. Plus: AI tributes to deceased artists and a BXKS discovery.</p><p><br></p><p>CHAPTERS<br>00:00 Cold open and introduction<br>01:00 The Spearhead video and its claims<br>02:00 Chocolate City: connections versus evidence<br>08:00 Can soft power work without political lyrics?<br>11:00 CKay, label promotion and “industry plants”<br>13:00 Tems and connecting the dots<br>15:00 Who is Afrobeats being made for?<br>17:00 Soft power wrap-up and AI tributes<br>19:00 Discovering BXKS<br>22:00 Final thoughts and music recommendations</p><p><br></p><p>Rhythm &amp; Rhymes is modern radio for global black sounds.</p>