Patoranking, a Nigerian music star, returns today with “Kolo Kolo,” a song featuring Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz. The joyful Afrobeats banger, produced by Yung Willis, is Patoranking’s first single from his upcoming fourth album, and his first new release since 2021’s “Celebrate Me.”
Dammy Twitch directed the music video, which was shot in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, and stars Nigerian actress Nancy Isime as Patoranking’s love interest, who makes him go “kolo kolo” — a Nigerian term for “mad” or “crazy.”
Patoranking and Diamond Platnumz, two of Africa’s most popular music stars, collaborate on “Kolo Kolo.” The two artists have over 23 million Instagram followers and over 2.4 billion YouTube views combined. Their previous collaboration, “Love You Die,” received over 60 million views on YouTube and 20 million streams on major DSPs.
“I always love to work with artists from different parts of Africa,” Patoranking says. “Reuniting with Diamond was a no-brainer. We’ve always had that chemistry musically. Anytime we link up, it’s pure vibes.”
The track opens with a seductive horn melody, setting the stage for Patoranking and Diamond Platnumz to serenade their love interests in Nigerian Pidgin and Swahili, respectively. “Kolo Kolo” reunites Patoranking with Yung Willis, who produced “Celebrate Me,” winner of the Best Recording of the Year award at the 15th Annual Headies Awards in Atlanta. Patoranking also won Best Reggae/Dancehall Album with 2020’s Three at this year’s Headies, the first edition of the prestigious African music awards show to be held in the U.S.
Patoranking, one of African music’s most multifaceted artists, is many things to many people. His collaborations with top African acts Tiwa Savage (“Girlie O”), Wande Coal (“My Woman, My Everything”), and Sauti Sol (“Melanin”) have made him an Afropop icon across the continent. He is an international reggae star whose dancehall anthems have resonated from Nigeria to Jamaica.
Diamond Platnumz is one of Africa’s most popular recording artists, best known for hits such as “Inama” and “African Beauty” — as well as popularizing the East African Bongo Flavor sound. He became the first Sub-Saharan African recording artist to have over 1 billion YouTube views in 2021. He joins Patoranking on “Kolo Kolo” after starring in Netflix’s hit series Young, Famous, and African, which was recently renewed for Season 2.
Patoranking is currently putting the touches on his as-yet-untitled fourth album, due for release early next year through a new partnership between his own Amari Musiq label and distributor The Orchard. As a brand ambassador for Hennessy, he was recently welcomed at the Château de Bagnolet in Cognac, the Hennessy family home, where he commenced recording for the album.
Listen to Kolo Kolo here.
