Okayafrica’s Top 11 Tracks of 2011

December 28, 2011 1 Comment

It’s tough to sum up a year, let alone a year in music. For our top 11 tracks of 2011 we opted to stick to songs that had been featured on Okayafrica in the past 12 months. Love the choices? Hate ‘em? Let us know in the comments. Browse our top tracks of 2011 below, check out our top music videos and top side-eye moments of the year, and stay tuned for top 11 LPs!

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CHLLNGR ft. Spoek Mathambo, Mpumi of BLK JKS, and Mo Laudi “Ask For (Africa Remix)”

CHLLNGR‘s nighttime dubby jam gets Africa remixed by Spoek Mathambo, Mpumi Mcata of BLK JKS, and Mo Laudi.

Grab it
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Zakee “Dope Girl”

Philly-via-Dakar Zakee‘s ode to the ultimate squeeze.

Grab it

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Nneka ft. Black Thought “God Knows Why”

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Soulstress Nneka featuring The Roots‘ own Black Thought.

Grab it

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M.anifest “Suffer”

Chopped-up soul samples in M.anfest‘s tougher life anthem “Suffer.”

Grab it

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DJ Sbu ft. Zahara “Lengoma”

Kwaito-tinged South African house from DJ Sbu with vocals from budding singer Zahara.

Grab it

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Just A Band, Michel Ongaro, and Gebrüder Teichmann & Jahcoozi “Away”

Reverb-layered collaboration from Kenya’s Just A Band, Michel Ongaro and German producers Gebrüder Teichmann & Jahcoozi.

Grab it

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Jonti ft. Hodgy Beats “Nagoya”

SA producer Jonti cooks up a flawless electronic breeze for Odd Future’s Hodgy Beats.

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BIG FKN GUN “Pop Models”

Collage of Zulu rhymes spread over house beats from SA’s BIG FKN GUN.

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Batida “Yumbala”

Kuduro beats and 60s semba guitar samples by Batida with verses from Luandan MCs Sacerdote and Dama Ivone.

Grab it

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DJ Caise ft. Eldee, Jesse Jagz, & Grip-Boyz “Shake Bodi (Gidi House Mafia Remix)”

Naija-bred afro house banger from an all-star Chocolate City line up.

Grab it

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Zaki Ibrahim “Something In The Water”

SA/Canada’s Zaki Ibrahim delivers an undulating minimalist bass tune.

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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 Premiere: Just A Band ‘Huff + Puff’

December 5, 2011 Leave a comment

The concept behind Just A Band‘s new video came about from a challenge — two Norwegian filmmakers in Kenya dared the band to shoot a video “with a bunch of constraints, such as having to include a movie reference… starting with A Clockwork Orange.” In response, the boys suited up in an array of improvised costumes and filmed this minstrel-like, ’20s feel clip for “Huff + Puff” in the outskirts of Nairobi.

Watch Elsaphan Njora, Kevin (K2) Maina and all of JAB duke it out and throw down some serious moves in A Tale of Graceless Shuffling above. The video-challenge is a part of the upcoming documentary The Big C. Find “Huff + Puff” on Just A Band’s excellent 82 LP.

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AFRICA IN YOUR EARBUDS #5: JUST A BAND

October 31, 2011 3 Comments

We’ve been upping eclectic Nairobi trio Just A Band since day one — from the time their blaxploitation spoof became “Kenya’s first viral hit” to their recent BLNRB collaborations and Okaysummer Party throw-downs.

For Africa In Your Earbuds #5, JAB’s DJ Nairobi Dhobi (aka Dan) and DJ Bonyeza Kidude (aka Jim) hit us up with a 41-minute mix that plays in the vein of their group’s cross-pollinating style — an Afro-futurist blend of European house, hip-hop, and funk that’s almost impossible to pin down with genre specifics.

In crafting AIYE #5, the JAB boys mentioned wanting to integrate vinyls they listened to as kids in the 80s, showcase geographical diversity and, quite simply, make people dance. They succeed at all three, seamlessly weaving tracks by Ali Farka Touré, Black Coffee, Baaba Maal, Hugh Masekela, Sam Fan Thomas, Little Dragon, SBTRKT and plenty more.

Stream and download Africa In Your Earbuds #5: Just A Band below!

And check out our OKATV episode following Just A Band’s first New York visit.

AFRICA IN YOUR EARBUDS #5: JUST A BAND by okayafrica

TRACKLIST
1. Dela – “Ulivyo” (Kenya)
2. Vetkoek vs Mahoota – “Shukuma”
3. Psychedelic Nwomkro All-Stars (Kweku Ananse) – “Nwomkro Jam 2.0″
4. A Just A Band Mashup containing elements from of Little Dragon “Never Never (SBTRKT Remix)” and Yoko Kanno’s “Fantasie Sign” from the Cowboy Bebop OST.
5. DJ Cleo – “Katu Katu”
6. Just A Band – “Heat (Demo)”
7. Jali Bakary Konteh – “Combination (Hat and Hoodie Remix)”
8. Another Just A Band Mashup containing elements from Black Coffee + Hugh Masekela – “We Are One (Louie Vega Remix),” and a katitu song.
9. A snip-up of Hugh Masekela performing Fela Kuti’s “Lady”
10. Another snip-up of “Nanan” by Ali Farka Toure, Baaba Maal, Youssou N’Dour, Papa Wemba, Franco, Manu Dibango
11. A mild remix of Sam Fan Thomas’ “Neng Makassi”
12. A mashup of “Freedom Is Coming Tomorrow” from the Sarafina! film soundtrack and dialogue from Tolu Ogunmefun’s 7th episode of “Don’t Jealous Me” (“Pronounce My Name – Shett Men!”)
13. Sam Fan Thomas’ “Noa”

Previously on Africa In Your Earbuds: STIMULUS, QOOL DJ MARV, SINKANE, CHIEF BOIMA.

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Okayafrica TV: Just A Band – From Nairobi To New York

October 18, 2011 2 Comments

Just A Band made their (first ever) trip to New York in early September to exhibit their video-art project Kudishnyao! and play a few gigs around the way, including our very own OKAYSUMMER Pop-Up Party.

Commissioned by the Goethe Institute, Kudishnyao! is a video installation that depicts a single story on six, perspective-differing screens. Okayafrica TV posted-up at the exhibit’s opening night and watched as the crowd interacted with Just A Band’s stories of “fate, love, deceit, and escape.”

The art show proved to be an exciting juxtaposition of modern Kenyan music and the Western modern-art world, as the band explained: “we’ve been handed down a million definitions of what African music should sound like, what African art should be like… if you go anywhere, from South Africa to the top you’ll find different young people are… finding their own way and reinventing their African belief.”

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Video: Just A Band, Modeselektor & Maasai Mbili ‘Kichwateli’

October 11, 2011 2 Comments

Another clip from Nairobi-meets-Berlin collaborative project BLNRB. For ‘Kichwateli,’ Just A Band is joined by Kenyan art group Maasai Mbili and Thom Yorke-approved German producer Modeselektor for an “Afro-Scifi music-mentary” that follows a Nairobi child’s transformation into a near-Orwellian half-human, half-television entity. The video was written and directed by Bobb Muchiri as part of Studio Ang‘s contribution to BLNRB.

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What’s Up Africa: African Boy Bands

September 30, 2011 1 Comment

This week on What’s Up Africa Ikenna checks out some of Africa’s most influential people: Aliko Dangote, the richest man in Africa, Malangatana Ngwenya, one of Africa’s greatest painters, and OKA favorite Just A Band.

Watch previous WUA episodes here.

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Video: Just A Band “Away”

September 27, 2011 Leave a comment

Just A Band recently participated in BLNRB-NRBLN, a Goethe Institut project that flew Berlin artists down to Nairobi to collaborate with local musicians. For their part, Just A Band teamed up with German electronic producers Gebrüder Teichmann & Jahcoozi and Kenyan singer/guitarist Michel Ongaro for this stellar, reverb-layered track. If the colossal bass doesn’t grab you (wait for it), the Just A Band-directed “tale of obsession” video clip will. 18 tracks from this Berlin-Nairobi crossover project are now available as BLNRB – Welcome To The Madhouse LP via German in-the-know label Outhere. Watch Just A Band’s “Away” video above and a Welcome To The Madhouse preview clip below.

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NYC: Just A Band – All The Way From Kenya!

August 23, 2011 Leave a comment

All the way from Nairobi, our favorite new electro-synth-pop-afro-futurists, Just A Band, have arrived in New York City.  If you’re a native NYer, hopefully you’ve already checked out their art installation “Kudishnyao!” which debuted at RUSH gallery in Chelsea last week (it’s up until Sept. 3).  And then there was their epic performance at the OKAYSUMMER! pop-up party this past Saturday (check out the amazing photos HERE).  Next up?  A live performance this Thursday at Drom (85 Ave. A) in the East Villy.  Get your tix now for only 10 bones (15 at the door).  For more from Just A Band, check out their fresh video for “Ha-He” a.k.a “Makmende Returns” below, and then head to their website for more.  Shout out to BoldAsLove.us who are presenting this dope show.

“Ha-He” a.k.a “Makmende Returns”

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Photos: OKAYSUMMER! 2011 Party Blow Out Photo Re-Cap

August 22, 2011 Leave a comment

We hate to rub it in, but if you missed our OKAYSUMMER! Pop-Up Party this past Saturday (8/20) you slept on possibly the funnest event of the summer (and yes, I mean FUNNEST!).  With a sizzling hot cast of music makers, including Just A Band (Kenya) – with their FIRST U.S. performance (!!), Bajah + the Dry Eye Crew (Sierra Leone), DJ Gravy (Rice N Peas, LargeUp), DJ MoMa, Sinkane – pictured above (Yeasayer), Little Shalimar (Chin Chin, Reverend Vince, Big Mono), Saarid (Throne of Blood, VHS or Beta), and Jaleel Bunton (TV on the Radio) – and dumpster diving pools, girls in swimsuits, boys in Speedos, badminton, ping pong, Sangria, photo booths, fire spinning, fashion shows, and plenty of debauchery – let’s just say some of us (ahem…) are still hung over.  Two days later.  If you were there, relive the action with our stunning photo series, thanks to Lauren Silberman and The Self-Portrait Project, below – if you weren’t able to make it, these flicks will take you there.  Big up to our fam-a-lam Okayplayer and LargeUp, and our co-party-throwers The Danger and 3rd Ward.

OKAYSUMMER! photos by Lauren Silberman

 

OKAYSUMMER! photos by The Self-Portrait Project

 

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