Wanlov the Kubulor and King Ayisoba released these two tracks in support of HIV/AIDS non-profit Humanitarian Notes. King Ayisoba tackles a common sanitation issue over finger-plucked strings in “Wash Your Hands. While Wanlov, as per usual, keeps things off-kilter and sings from an impregnating sperm cell’s perspective (for real) in “Mummy Please.” Stream both tracks below and buy them from HN’s Ghana Music Project.
Wanlov and M3NSA are on the heels of releasing the “world’s first pidgen musical” in its entirety, which we’re keeping a close eye on. ‘Til the full thing’s out, the FOKN Bois hold us over with a (free!) remix of The FOKN Dunaquest In Budapest LP. The 10-track album features remixes by an array Global Bass Scene producers including Flore, Hijo De La Cumbia, Vadim and Frikstailers. Stream and grab it below, it’s only free for a month!
The FOKN Dunaquest in Budapest Remix Album by Irie Maffia Production
Wanlov the Kubolor‘s squirrely new video for the track “Veverita ,” featuring King Ayisoba, on the Brown Card – African Gypsy album (available now) draws inspiration from a Romanian Lullaby that Wanlov’s mother used to sing to him at bedtime. Adorable? We think so. Spoiler alert: Vevi is a naughty squirrel that gets his a** left in the forest alone. Yo Vevi, “U b foolish squirrel.”
M3nsa and Wanlov‘s undeniable pidgin jam “Broken Language” is stripped of its syncopated future-synth beat in exchange for an upright bass and acoustic drum kit combo. Ghanaian DJ Juls achieves the near-impossible by crafting a sparse new rhythm to the FOKN Bois‘ acapella that doesn’t immediately make us want to throw on the original.
Grab DJ Juls’ free Blue Color Mixtape, which features this remake of the FOKN Bois’ joint and other interpolations of tracks by M.anifest, Yaa Pono, Nas, and Lil Wayne.
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(via Akwaaba)
Ghana born, London dwelling producer T-Roy is prepping Bush Meat, a project that fuses the foggy city’s electronic prowess with African percussion and vocals. The album’s lead single, “BoBo,” features Afrotech songstress Wunmi delivering a combination of Yoruba hooks and pidgin rhymes. Peep the track’s video clip above, shot on the streets of Accra.
Bush Meat boasts a laundry list of appearances by the likes of KUKU, Aero Manyelo, Wanlov the Kubolor, Voice, Heidi Vogel, and Bumi Thomas. But the best part about the project might be T-Roy’s story behind its title:
I was in Ghana visiting family, and my uncle was driving in his 4×4 like an insane taxi driver. I was working on my portable drum programming box when he suddenly hit something and stopped the car. When he returned he had a big smile on his face and small animal in his hand boasting about cooking ‘Bush Meat’ when we get home. I instantly had my title. (ARISE)
T-Roy’s Bush Meat will be available soon via Broadcite Productions.
Wanlov the Kubolor – activist, environmentalist, and all around musical genius – has just released “For the River,” a reimagining of New Zealand singer Hollie Smith’s Pop-Gospel (Pospel?) song “Bathe in the River.” While the new version retains the same humanist spirit as the original, Wanlov couples his distinctive Pidgin rapping style with a decidedly environmentalist twist. While he’d like to bathe in the rivers of his native Ghana, it would be hard to rejuvenate the spirit amidst sewage, oil, and garbage. Despite the morose nature of the lyrics, the song has an upbeat sound. It’s a juxtaposition that is representative of Wanlov himself, a barefoot socially-conscious rapper that isn’t above making a dance track or two.
The video was conceived as a segment for New Zealand DJ and TV personality Nick Dwyer’s traveling music show Making Tracks. In a recent episode Dwyer traveled to Ghana to meet the Wanlov aka The Prince of Pidgin, and have him rework Smith’s smash hit.
The song couldn’t have come at a better time. The Environmental Film Festival of Accra kicks off June 7 and runs through the 19th, and “For the River” has been named the official video of the festival. Wanlov is also set to embark on a European tour next month to promote the debut of his latest album, Brown Card – full tour dates after the jump.
Check out the first single from Wanlov’s new album, “African Gypsy.”
Wanlov The Kubolor – African Gypsy ft Keziah Jones by Wanlov
Originally, the FOKN Bois, made up of the duo of Wanlov the Kubolor (Ghana by way of Romania) and M3NSA (Ghana by way of England), wanted to put together a concept album about a day in the lives of two quirky boys growing up in Accra. Soon, however, they realized the theme was far too big to cover fully through music alone, so they opted instead to shoot a musical film. The product, Coz Ov Moni, is the first musical done entirely in the West African language of Pidgen (a mix of English and other languages), and stars the FOKN Bois.
It came out a few months ago, which was plenty of time for it to reach the eyes and ears of Kweku Ananse, a highlife and breakbeat DJ and producer living in Accra. Kweku took the soundtrack of the musical and laced it through much loved samples from the likes of Fela Kuti, Bilal and Thomas Mapfumo’s Hallelujah Chicken Run Band. The remixes are now available for free as the 8-track Coz Ov Moni – The Remix EP.
Download it here.
Going everywhere barefoot, Kubolor’s love and respect for nature is felt not only in his music, which is delivered in his melodic accent, but also in his hallmark sense of style which is organic at its core. This choice to be unique has resulted in him being embraced proudly by a new generation of people the world over for his authenticity and flair.
Video: FOKN Bois ‘Broken Language’
You already know how into “Broken Language” (apparent new title “Brkn Lngwjz”) we are. Wanlov and M3NSA finally release a clip for their undeniable pidgin rap stomper. In the Jay Hill-directed video, the FOKN Bois mug around Ghana streets to the backdrop of future-synths and rhymes that showcase why they’re the most unique mathafackas. Watch above.