Touch My Blood

Touch My Blood is the third studio album 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]

Touch My Blood
Studio album by
AKA
Released15 June 2018 (2018-06-15)
Recorded2016–2018
GenreHip hop
Length81:59
LabelBeam Group
Producer
AKA chronology
Be Careful What You Wish For
(2017)		 Touch My Blood
(2018)
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]

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 Major4:51
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)
Kiddominant5:28
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

  • "Amen" contains a sample of "This Is Goodbye", as performed by Hollis P Monroe.
  • "Sweet Fire" contains an interpolation of "Fire, Passion & Ecstasy", as performed by Ray Phiri & Stimela.
  • "Fela in Versace" contains an interpolation of "Shibobo", as performed by TKZEE from the album Guz Hits.
  • "The World Is Yours" contains a sample of "Løb Stop Stå" as performed by Boom Clap Bachelors from the EP MELLEM DINE LÆBER.
  • "Me and You" contains an interpolation of "Raf" as performed by ASAP Mob (featuring ASAP Rocky, Playboi Carti, Quavo, Lil Uzi Vert & Frank Ocean), as well as an interpolation of "Mr. Loverman" as performed by Shabba Ranks.

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes.

  • AKA – vocals; executive producer ("Sweet Fire", "Zone", "Daddy Issues ll")
  • Anatii – production ("Me and You", "Daddy Issues ll")
  • Buks – production ("Magriza")
  • DJ Maphorisa – production ("Touch My Blood")
  • Gemini Major – production ("Beyonce", "Reset", "StarSigns")
  • Julian McGuire – additional production ("Me and You")
  • Kiddominant — production ("Fela In Versace", "Jika")
  • Master A Flat – executive producer; production ("Sweet Fire", "Caiphus Song", "Zone", "The World Is Yours", "Daddy Issues ll")
  • Ningi Poro - mix assistant
  • Prince Costinyo – executive producer
  • Robin Kohl – mixing
  • Tazzy – production ("Sweet Fire", "Caiphus Song", "Zone")
  • The Homies – executive producer
  • Tweezy – production ("Touch My Blood", "Fully In", "Amen")

Release history
List of release dates, showing region, formats, label, editions and reference
Region Date Format(s) Label Edition(s)
South Africa 15 June 2018
Beam Group Standard edition

Certifications
Region Certification Certified units/Sales
South Africa (RiSA) 2x

Platinum

 30,000+
gollark: That reads vaguely like an actual SCP entry, but incoherent and without the normal overly precise numbers and more "probably"/"roughly".
gollark: I mean, the whole thing of crosslinking between interesting things doesn't really work as well when a lot of stuff is in some social media platform's silo.
gollark: You might, say, be able to sneak something into a software update (which you might load on from the future equivalent of a USB stick).
gollark: I guess so, but computery stuff tends to be more vulnerable in other ways.
gollark: Yes, but it can be attacked in other ways.

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.
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