Touch My Blood

Last updated

Touch My Blood
Touch My Blood.jpg
Studio album by
AKA
Released15 June 2018 (2018-06-15)
Recorded2016–2018
Genre Hip hop
Length81:59
Label Beam Group
Producer
AKA chronology
Be Careful What You Wish For
(2017)		Touch My Blood
(2018)		Bhovamania
(2020)
Singles from Touch My Blood
  1. "The World Is Yours"
    Released: 2 December 2016
  2. "Caiphus Song"
    Released: 10 March 2017
  3. "Star Signs"
    Released: 23 January 2018
  4. "Sweet Fire"
    Released: 26 January 2018
  5. "Beyonce"
    Released: 1 June 2018
  6. "Fela in Versace"
    Released: 27 July 2018
  7. "Jika"
    Released: 21 January 2019 [1]

Touch My Blood is the third album released by South African rapper AKA. released on 15 June 2018 through Beam Group in partnership with NYCE Entertainment. It is his first independent release and is the follow-up to his sophomore album, Levels . [2] It features guest appearances from fellow South African artists including L-Tido, JR, Yanga Chief, Stogie T, Kwesta & Okmalumkoolkat, as well as a sole international appearance by Nigerian artist and producer Kiddominant. Production is handled by AKA, Master A Flat, Tweezy, Tazzy, Kiddominant, Anatii, Gemini Major, DJ Maphorisa, Makwa, Buks and additional production by Julian McGuire. [3] [4] Touch My Blood was certified Gold by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) on 25 June 2018, just one week into its release. [5] [6] On 9 November 2018, the album was certified platinum by RiSA four months after its release. [7] [8]

Contents

Artwork and title

On 20 April 2018, AKA announced a "Touch My Blood Challenge" for an internship opportunity at Beam Group. He invited members of the "Megacy", a name he has given his fanbase, to design the cover of the album which will be titled Touch My Blood. The winner of the challenge was promised a one-year internship at Beam Group. [9] [10]

He instructed:

Next week I will be uploading a link where designers/artists can download the open file from the shoot I'm doing for my artwork. I will also include a brief where I will include references for what I'm looking for. [11]

On 8 May 2018, the official artwork of the album and the winner of the challenge was announced. Beam Group's & AKA's Design Team (Nicky Heat & Johnny Malepa) won the challenge with their front cover, and Taonga, a visual artist from Rustenburg, North West was the runner-up of the challenge and received an internship at Beam Group. Furthermore, his artwork was featured as the back cover for the album. [12] [13] [14]

Release and promotion

Touch My Blood was originally set for release on 25 May 2018. AKA announced on social media that the new album would be pushed back for release until 15 June 2018, because he needed more time to shoot videos, release singles, drop merchandise and confirm tour dates. [15] [16] [17] [18]

Giant billboards were deployed around the city of Johannesburg to promote and build hype for the album release. He took to Twitter to share some of the images of the "Touch My Blood" billboards and also called on his followers to share those they come across with him. [19] [20] [21]

Singles

On 2 December 2016, AKA released the album's first single, "The World Is Yours". [22] [23] The music video for the song was later released on 2 February 2017 and was shot in Thailand while he was on vacation with then girlfriend, Bonang Matheba. [24] [25] The song topped the charts and has been certified triple Platinum by the Recording Industry of South Africa. [26] [27] [28]

Track listing

Credits were adapted from the album's liner notes.

Touch My Blood
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Touch My Blood"
4:54
2."Fully In"
  • K. Forbes
  • T. Mathebula
  • T. Bogopa
  • Y. Ntshakaza
Tweezy4:48
3."Beyonce"
  • K. Forbes
  • B. Kamoto
  • T. Bogopa
  • Y. Ntshakaza
  • D. Mafafo
 Gemini Major 4:51
4."Reset" (featuring JR and Okmalumkoolkat)
Gemini Major4:43
5."Amen" (featuring L-Tido)
  • K. Forbes
  • L. Madonsela
  • T. Mathebula
Tweezy6:04
6."Magriza" (featuring Kwesta)
Buks5:29
7."Sweet Fire"
  • K. Forbes
  • M. Shabangu
  • L. Lehutso
  • AKA
  • Master A Flat
  • Tazzy
4:15
8."Caiphus Song"
  • K. Forbes
  • M. Shabangu
  • L. Lehutso
  • Master A Flat
  • Tazzy
5:42
9."Fela in Versace" (featuring Kiddominant)
 Kiddominant 5:28
10."Zone"
  • K. Forbes
  • M. Shabangu
  • L. Lehutso
  • AKA
  • Master A Flat
  • Tazzy
3:46
11."Jika" (featuring Yanga Chief)
  • K. Forbes
  • Y. Ntshakaza
  • A. Agboola
Kiddominant5:04
12."The World Is Yours"
  • K. Forbes
  • M. Shabangu
  • Y. Ntshakaza
Master A Flat4:51
13."Me and You"
5:25
14."StarSigns" (featuring Stogie T)
Gemini Major5:48
15."Mame" (featuring JR)
  • K. Forbes
  • T. Bogopa
  • J. Makwa
  • Y. Ntshakaza
Makwa5:52
16."Daddy Issues ll"
  • K. Forbes
  • M. Shabangu
  • A. Mnyango
  • AKA
  • Master A Flat
  • Anatii
4:59
Total length:81:59

Notes

Sample credits

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes.

Release history

List of release dates, showing region, formats, label, editions and reference
RegionDateFormat(s)LabelEdition(s)
South Africa15 June 2018Beam GroupStandard edition

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
South Africa (RISA) [29] Platinum30,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

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References

  1. ↑ "Jika - Single by AKA". Apple Music. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  2. ↑ Thakurdin, Karishma; Zeeman, Kyle. "AKA confirms Touch My Blood will be his last album". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  3. ↑ "STREAM: AKA's New Album 'Touch My Blood'". YoMzansi. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  4. ↑ Mkhabela, Sabelo. "Listen to AKA's 'Touch My Blood' Album". OkayAfrika. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  5. ↑ Dlala, Zee. "AKA's Touch My blood goes gold". ZAlebs. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "AKA's 'Touch My Blood' goes GOLD a week after release". YoMzansi. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  7. ↑ "MUSIC AKA's 'Touch My Blood' goes Platinum". YoMzansi. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  8. ↑ Herbert, Claire. "AKA celebrates new milestone as Touch My Blood goes platinum". Briefly. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  9. ↑ Mkhabela, Sabelo. "AKA Wants His Fans to Design The Artwork For His Upcoming Album". OkayAfrika. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  10. ↑ "AKA Announces Touch My Blood Challenge For An Internship Opportunity At Beam Group". HipHopHits. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  11. ↑ Masemola, Mokgethwa. "AKA WANTS TO HIRE YOU". Daily Sun. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  12. ↑ "@AKAworldwide Announces #TouchMyBloodChallenge Winners With Official Album Covers". SlikourOnLife. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  13. ↑ "AKA reveals official artwork for upcoming album 'Touch My Blood'". Social SA. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  14. ↑ "AKA announces winner of Touch My Blood challenge, reveals album covers". Political Analysis South Africa. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  15. ↑ "AKA postpones Touch My Blood album release to 15 June 2018". Political Analysis South Africa. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  16. ↑ "AKA postpones the release date of his Album "Touch My Blood" to the 15th of June". Nordarciopro. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  17. ↑ "AKA POSTPONED 'TOUCH MY BLOOD' RELEASE DATE". TooMuchEnt. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  18. ↑ "AKA Disappoints Fans Again". Fakaza News. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  19. ↑ Venge, Tinashe. "AKA erects giant billboards in Johannesburg to promote new album". All4Women. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  20. ↑ "AKA'S 'TOUCH MY BLOOD' BILLBOARDS HITS TOWN". Hitvibes. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  21. ↑ "AKA Builds Up 'Touch My Blood' Drop With New Billboards Up In Jozi [Watch]". Hype Magazine. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  22. ↑ "Listen To AKA's New 'The World Is Yours' Song". Hype Magazine. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  23. ↑ Mphuthi, Pearl. "AKA's The World Is Yours". People magazine. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  24. ↑ "AKA - The World Is Yours Music Video". EastCoastRadio. East Coast Urban. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  25. ↑ "Fans React To AKA's 'The World Is Yours' Music Video". Youth Village. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  26. ↑ "AKA's 'The World Is Yours' Is Certified 3 Times Platinum". SA Hip Hop Mag. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  27. ↑ Makhudu, Tshegofatso. "AKA goes triple platinum amidst tax evasion allegations". channel24. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  28. ↑ "AKA goes triple platinum". SA Breaking News. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  29. ↑ "South Africa certifications". Recording Industry of South Africa . Retrieved 25 February 2023.
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