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Video: Blitz The Ambassador Live at The Shrine

January 26, 2012 Leave a comment

After a fourth-quarter 2k11 spent touring Europe and playing shows in his native Ghana, Blitz The Ambassador is back on American soil. This black-and-white clip catches up with the native sun at Chicago’s The Shrine where he speaks on the spiritual vibe of the iconic venue. Chi-town: catch round two of Blitz at The Shrine 3/24. Video by Cam Be and Jamaar J.

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Okayafrica’s Top 11 Music Videos of 2011

December 26, 2011 Comments closed

It’s been a great freshman year for us at Okayafrica. To culminate it, we’re highlighting our choice content from the past 12 months. Browse our top 11 music videos of 2011 below and stay tuned for top 11 LPs, songs, and side-eyes lists!

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Art Melody “L’ébène Est Dans Le Noir”

Montage by Guib.

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Nneka “My Home”

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Just A Band “Kichwateli”

Directed by Bobb Muchiri for BLNRB.

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Tinariwen & TV On The Radio “Tenere Taqqim Tossam”

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Spoek Mathambo “Control”

Directed by Pieter Hugo & Michael Cleary.

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Blitz The Ambassador “Native Sun”

Directed by Blitz the Ambassador & Terence Nance.

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Lexxus Legal ft. Leslyman “Fauchés”

Directed by Ronnie Kabuika

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Buraka Som Sistema “Hangover (BaBaBa)”

Directed by João Pedro Moreira & Carlos Afonso.

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Mo Kolours “Biddies”

Directed by Stefan Asanovic.
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Die Antwoord “Fok Julle Naaiers”

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Ruffest “Siyabenzela”

Directed by Jasyn Howes.

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Video: Blitz the Ambassador ‘The Voice of the Native Son’ Interview

October 26, 2011 Leave a comment

Okayplayer points to this new interview clip from our boy Blitz the Ambassador, in which he ”reflects on his beginnings in hip-hop and its story-telling legacy based in West African tradition… and speak[s] about the relationship between African and American hip-hop.” You also get some live footage from a recent Chi-town show. Watch it above!

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Audio: Blitz The Ambassador ft. VIP ‘Akwaaba (Remix)’ + Live Concert In Accra

October 12, 2011 Leave a comment

Our boy Blitz The Ambassador has been traveling around Ghana on MoCADA‘s The Journey Home — a ten day tour of the West African nation’s historic arts and cultural sights. As part of the visit, Blitz will be playing a special concert in Accra on Oct. 15 at the Allianse Francaise with French/Cameroonian sister duo Les Nubians and VIP. Watch a clip of Blitz and the crew soaking in the vibes of Accra city above. And get acquainted with the local sounds of VIP on this hip-life toting “Akwaaba (Remix)” below. Ghanaians, don’t miss out on this show!

<a href="http://blitztheambassadorftvip.bandcamp.com/track/akwaaba-remix-ft-v-i-p">Akwaaba Remix Ft. V.I.P by Blitz The Ambassador</a>

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NYC: Afrotainment Museke Online African Music Awards

September 19, 2011 Leave a comment

This Saturday September 24th, the Afrotainment and Museke Inc. Online African Music Awards will take place at Afrotainment’s New York studios. Don’t sweat it if you’re not in New York City because the awards show will be broadcast live on the Afrotainment channels 751 and 667 on the Dish Network in the US and online Here and Here.

Musicians performing at the show inlclude: Rwandan-born Iyadede, Viviane Ndour of Senegal, Ghana’s own highly acclaimed wordsmith Blitz the Ambassador, Afropean sisters Les Nubians and the increasingly popular Congolese star Fally Ipupa.

African music superstar from Benin, Angelique Kidjo, will receive a Lifetime Achievement award for being a role model and inspiration for African musicians everywhere.

These live performances are sure to rock NYC.

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Blitz The Ambassador Kicks Off North American Tour

September 14, 2011 Leave a comment

Fresh off a major European tour and not long after a performance at Lincoln Center’s Live from the Continent concert with Spoek Mathambo and Iyadede, Ghanaian son Blitz the Ambassador is dusting off the suitcases again and embarking on a North American tour. The dates will see Blitz travel through most of the American Midwest, hitting spots like alma mater Kent State in promotion of his Native Sun LP. The trip will end with Blitz’ first show in his native Ghana as part of MoCADA’s Journey Home. Watch his Midwest tour preview video above and make sure to catch him at one of the dates below!

9/14 – Kent, OH
9/15 – Detroit, MI
9/16 – Madison, WI
9/17- Chicago, IL
9/18- Milwaukee, WI
9/19 – Ames, IA
9/20 – Minneapolis, MN
9/21 – Iowa City, IA
9/22 – St. Louis, MO
9/25 – Pittsburgh, PA
9/26- Lexington, KY
10/15- Accra, GHANA

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Sunday: Live From The Continent at Lincoln Center

August 5, 2011 Leave a comment

New Yorkers: this Sunday get a whole lotta’ new Africa at Lincoln Center Out of Doors (go Bill! go Bill! go Bill!) FREE with some of our personal faves Spoek Mathambo (South Africa) and DJ Boima (US/Sierra Leone) along with the ever-tastic Blitz the Ambassador (Ghana), Iyadede (Rwanda), and the Ahficionados (US).

Deets:
Live From the Continent
Sun, Aug 7 at 7:30
Damrosch Park Bandshell at Lincoln Center

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Audio: Red Light Radio’s “Africa Unsigned” Podcast ft. Blitz, Buraka Som Sistema + more.

July 18, 2011 Leave a comment

Red Light Radio, out of Amsterdam, hits us with it’s Africa Unsigned podcast hosted by DJ Dirty D.is.ko. This mix features some of the freshest tunes from Blitz The Ambassador, Buraka Som Sistema, Camp Mulla, and Africa Unsigned artists Rina and Neema, in addition to many more. You can listen and download the podcast below.

Africa Unsigned 15 @ Red Light Radio 07-13-2011 by Red Light Radio

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Video: Blitz the Ambassador’s Native Sun

May 20, 2011 2 Comments

Our boy STATS over at OKP just posted Blitz’s newest video – check it out above. So says STATS “The short film corresponding to Blitz the Ambassador‘s epic new LP Native Sun is now viewable online and no disrespect, Yeezy? But in the category of ‘Short Films Produced By Rappers’ I’m not sure all of your lights can compete with this African boy saga. All other rap video directors: you are so fired.”

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Video: Blitz the Ambassador feat. Corneille “Best I Can”

May 4, 2011 Leave a comment

Yesterday Blitz the Ambassador dropped his brand new album, Native Sun, which we’ve been talking about for a minute over here at OKA. To compliment his full album stream, Blitz has just offered up this new video for “Best I Can” featuring Corneille, a soul singer from Rwanda with a sticky-sweet voice.

As Eddie “STATS” said over on okayplayer – “Based on this and the Baloji joints, I don’t care if you are from Yonkers–from now on ALL rappers should shoot their videos in Africa. It makes sense though, cause this song seems like kind of a mission statement for the ambitious goals Blitz set for himself with Native Sun–doing the whole damn diaspora proud–and it does not disappoint. Musically speaking, it sounds like he heard all these “Sabali”-based tracks that Theophilus, Damian & Nas and everybody have been jumping on and said, Maaaaan, I don’t need to sample no Afropop. I am Afropop! Now where is this dude Corneille‘s number, na…”

Check after the jump for info on two Blitz shows, one TONIGHT in NYC @ S.O.B.s and the next Thursday night in D.C. @ Club Liv Read More »

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Blitz The Ambassador

The Ghanaian-born hip hop artist, Blitz the Ambassador, breaks all stereotypes of the typical rapper, infusing his musical style with inspirations from Fela Kuti, Hugh Masekela, KRS-1, and Rakim to create a contemporary sound similar to The Roots and Mos Def.