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Video: Bez ‘That Supid Song’

February 27, 2012 2 Comments

Nigerian singer/songwriter Bez, whose smooth, soulful voice has graced Okyafrica before, became the first African artist to have a video premiere on BET Inernational when the network aired his video for “That Stupid Song” at the end of January. The track comes off Bez’s debut Super Sun LP and features another talented singer in X3M Music artiste Praiz — is it just me or do they both sound like John Legend? The video was shot and directed in Lagos by award winning director Clarence Peters of Capital Dreams Pictures. It’s a great pairing of two of Nigeria’s finest young talents in their respective fields. Check out more from Bez.

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Audio: Bez ‘Say’ + ‘That Stupid Song’

December 5, 2011 Leave a comment

We introduced you all to Bez a while back with a video for the first single off his debut Super Sun LP. The album (out now) features Bez chartering a musical style out of Nigeria that we’ve only seen from the likes of Asa and Nneka. Super Sun is actually produced by Cobhams Asuquo, a blind Nigerian musician who wrote ”Fire on the Mountain” and “Jailer,” the two biggest tracks off Asa’s debut album. Listen and grab Bez’ “Say” and “That Stupid Song” below. For more follow dude on Facebook. Super Sun is coppable now on iTunes.

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>>>Download: Bez “Say”

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>>>Download: Bez “That Stupid Song”

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Video: Pioneer Unit Records presents Sout African rap group Driemanskap

August 25, 2011 1 Comment

In 2001 the notorious KYD hood in the Cape Flats township of Gugulethu, South Africa gave birth to the hip-hop group Driemanskap. This 4-man crew, made up of members El Nino, Ma-B, Redondo and Dla, has put out two mixtapes, and their album Igqabhukil’ Inyongo saw them reach the number 1 spot in Hype Magazine’s Unsigned Hype charts. They are now one of the pioneers of the “Spaza” movement, representing Cape Town with a rhyme style that combines their mother tongue, isiXhosa, with English and Cape Flats slang. Get a sample of Driemanskap’s unique rapping style (these dudes can flow!) and their fresh fashion sensibility in the above video for “S’phum’eGugs (‘we’re from Gugs’)“. Check out more from the group and Pioneer Unit Records here.

Blurb: The 4-man crew are one of the pioneers of the “Spaza movement” combining their mother tongue, isiXhosa, with English and Cape Flats slang.

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Video: Mali’s Samba Touré Drops New Album “Crocodile Blues”

August 25, 2011 Leave a comment

Samba Touré is the Malian guitarist, vocalist and composer whose African blues style invokes the spirit of the legendary Ali Farka Touré. His new album Crocodile Blues (Riverboat, Aug 30th), recorded in Bamako, is Samba Touré’s second international release and a giant leap forward for the Malian bluesman. His carefully crafted compositions demonstrate his own style, through his use of a variety of colors, languages, rhythms and feelings. Many of the songs represent different ethnicities and regions, as Samba sings for peace and unity in Mali. Check out the psychedelic video for Touré’s song “Alabina” above, where he warns that no one really knows each other. One day your closest friend may betray you. On the next day, your deepest enemy may offer you a kind hand. Visit www.samba-toure.com for more.

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Audio: Swizz Beats remixes Seun Kuti’s “Rise”

July 27, 2011 1 Comment

Seun Kuti makes a statement with his newest album From Africa with Fury that he, and afrobeat are as hot as ever since 1997 when Fela passed. Now, one of hip-hop’s hottest producers, Swizz Beats, is supporting that claim as he remixes “Rise,” the title track off the album. The instrumentation on Swizzy’s version is certainly less interesting, but it’s cool hearing a different style behind Seun’s voice. Definitely makes me wonder what types of collaborations we could eventually hear Seun on. Listen to both versions below and let us know – who would you want to here Seun Kuti collaborate with?!!

Seun Kuti X Swizz Beatz “Rise (Remix”

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Seaun Kuti “Rise” (Original)

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Video: Tumi – POWA Mixtape, Kanye Remix

July 21, 2011 2 Comments

South African hip hop artist Tumi Molekane and his band The Volume recently released the POWA Mixtape, and it is indeed powaful. POWA is an acronym for People Against Women Abuse – and Tumi expresses this message with very impressive lyrics that are pleasant to listen too, but difficult to hear. In the mixtape’s title track “POWA remix,” which is a remix of the Kanye West hit “Power,” Tumi cuts to the chase addressing abuse toward women and it’s horrors. Check out the video for “POWA remix” above and download the mixtape here.

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NYC: “Africolor” Photography Exhibit now open at Danziger Projects

July 15, 2011 1 Comment

Africolor, a new exhibition at the Danziger Projects gallery looks at the connections in photography between Africa, color, and color photography. With the advent of color photography, and in particular with the acceptance of color photography into the mainstream of fine art in the 1980s, the vivid colors and bright light of the continent seemed to serve as inspiration for a wide range of photography from the indigenous to the imagined, and from documentary to staged. Celebrating the diversity of color photographic expression, Africolor presents groupings of work that are a compelling (but by no means comprehensive) sampling. The exhibit includes works from Malick Sidibe (our fave!), Daniele Tamagni, Ruud van Empel, Lolo Veleko, Martin Parr, Samuel Fosso, Mickalene Thomas, and JR (the street artist who has mounted his guerilla-style installations of photographs all over the world).

The Danziger Projects gallery is located at 527 West 23rd Street and its summer hours are Tuesday – Friday 11-6pm.

Find more info on the gallery and some photos from the exhibit here. More photos after the jump.

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NYC: Osekre performing at Joe’s Pub for Make Music New York 2011

June 20, 2011 Leave a comment

Make Music New York is a live, free musical celebration across the city that takes place each June 21st (tomorrow people!), the official longest day of the year. On that day, hundreds of public spaces throughout the five boroughs become impromptu concerts for over 1,000 different performances. This year one of the performances will be by Brooklyn based, and Ghanaian born singer/songwriter Osekre and his band the Lucky Bastards. They will take the stage at 1:00 PM at Joe’s Pub on Tuesday, June 21. Osekre has a unique blend of African melodies and rhythms with instrumentation that is highly influenced by his current home in Brooklyn. Find out more about Make Music New York 2011 here, and check Osekre and his music here.

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NYC: Lagos Disco Inferno Party at Zebulon (BK)

June 17, 2011 Leave a comment

This Saturday, June 18 Voodoo Funk brings you another bumpin party at Zebulon in Brooklyn playing only the most outrageous Nigerian disco, funk & boogie records. The party starts at 10pm and the cover charge is only $5. Zebulon is located on Wythe Avenue just a few steps North of Metropolitan. Click HERE for a sample mix of what you’ll be shakin too.

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Video: Banky W Headlines U.S. Empire World Order Tour + “Lagos Party” Vid

June 14, 2011 Leave a comment

The 2011 Empire World Order Tour will be headlined by the EME (Empire Mates Entertainment) All-Stars from Nigeria, which consists of award-winning songwriter, singer, producer and multi-platinum R&B superstar Banky W, WIZKID and rapper and wordsmith Skales. They will be accompanied by a live band, background singers, and full stage production at each show. In each city the EWO Tour, along with the “I AM CAPABLE Foundation” (EME’s charitable foundation), will present awards to individuals and/or organizations whose works have impacted the community. The video for Banky W’s major hit “Lagos Party” can be viewed above, along with the tour dates and locations after the jump.