Alté Music

Introduction

Alté is a subgenre of the Afro family class of music that combines parts of several music styles, including both Afro and western influences, to create a distinctive sound, that despite sounding Afro, is distinct and different from popular Afro music. It has a very unique sound that incoporates elements of afrobeat, hiphop, alternative r&b, and other musical genres. Each record on the Alté landscape has a distinct sound that sets it apart from the others and from popular afrobeats.

Origins

The term Alté (pronouced as "uh-teh") was coined in the 2010s by the Nigerian music group DRB_LasGidi and since then, the movement has gotten traction in Nigeria, Ghana, the Uk and other African nations. Much of the time, the Alté scene is underground, but a handful of works have been commerically successful, thus elevating the notoriety of the Alté movement. If Orange Was a Place by Tems, rare. by Odunsi (The Engine) and The Palmwine Express by Show Dem Camp are a few famous examples of popular Alté works.

Alté Subculture

A developing movement in Nigeria known as the Alté subculture is led primarily by young, creative Nigerians who wish to develop and produce distinctive art and media that doesn't adhere to mainstream culture. The subculture offers unorthodox creatives a platform to display their abilities and push the boundaries of what is feasible. It acts as a counterculture movement to reject what is regarded as popular or mainstream art.