[INTRO] [Smoky Rhodes • clean jazz guitar • muted trumpet • vinyl crackle • deep bass] Berries: Don’t turn the lights up. DJBIGSHOT: Why? Berries: You might see what we’re doing. DJBIGSHOT: Then keep it dark. Clock it baby, yeah. [VERSE 1] She came dressed in a little bit of trouble No loud colors, but she still got subtle Old-school soul in the way she carries New-school bounce when the drumline marries Rhodes says, “Stay.” Bass says, “Move.” Trumpet got a little something to prove She hears that log drum underneath And suddenly the whole room’s on beat She don’t wine for attention She wine because she feels it That’s the difference right there That’s why everybody catches it [PRE-HOOK] Slow… Let the rhythm breathe… Don’t give the floor everything. One step… Little pause… Then catch that pocket Right underneath the beat. [HOOK] AFRO AFTER DARK When the city loses sleep AFRO AFTER DARK That’s when the rhythm gets deep Jazz in the melody Afro in the soul Amapiano underneath Making everybody lose control AFRO AFTER DARK Come closer, don’t be shy Give me that little shoulder Then let your waist reply [POST-HOOK] Ah-ah… She got that thing… Berries: What thing? DJBIGSHOT: That thing you can’t teach. Clock it. [VERSE 2] She said, “Don’t call me a dancer” I said, “Then what are you?” She said, “I’m just somebody Who knows what the rhythm can do.” That line stayed with me While the trumpet floated high Then the bass came sliding underneath And she gave me that side-eye No choreography No rehearsed routine Just instinct meeting instinct In the middle of the beat [BREAKDOWN] [Drums vanish • Rhodes + bass guitar + vocal harmonies] Berries: One thing about rhythm… It knows the truth. DJBIGSHOT: And the truth is? Berries: You can’t stand still When it finds you. [PRE-DROP] [Single kick] DJBIGSHOT: Ready? Berries: Not yet. [Rhodes chord] Berries: Now. [Silence] DROP! [HEAVY AMAPIANO × AFROBEATS DROP] BOOM! BOOM! AFRO AFTER DARK! WINE! AFRO AFTER DARK! TURN! AFRO AFTER DARK! LOW! Log drum rolling Bassline talking Jazz trumpet crying Whole floor walking AYYY! Don’t chase the rhythm… BECOME IT! DJBIGSHOT! BERRIES! CLOCK IT BABY YEAH! [BRIDGE] [Live percussion • jazz guitar lick • warm Rhodes] Berries: I like this side of you. DJBIGSHOT: Which side? Berries: The one that doesn’t need permission. DJBIGSHOT: That’s the only side tonight. [BUILD] Kick… Shaker… Clap… Bass… Log drum… Trumpet… Berries whispers: After dark… DJBIGSHOT: We don’t miss. [FINAL DROP] BOOOOOOM! AFRO AFTER DARK! Jazz in the blood! Afro in the drum! Piano in the pocket! LET IT COME! Wine left… Wine right… Catch the rhythm… ALL NIGHT! Cape Town! Lagos! Accra! Jozi! From the corner bar… To the biggest room… ONE RHYTHM! DJBIGSHOT X BERRIES! CLOCK IT BABY YEAH! [OUTRO] [Muted trumpet over Rhodes and deep rolling bass] Berries: Don’t turn the lights up yet. DJBIGSHOT: We haven’t finished the night. AFRO AFTER DARK.
