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.
Late last year reports of Ghana’s Azonto craze began popping up all over. Articles were drafted, hiplife rappers embraced it, high schoolers threw down the dance moves (video above), even Amber Rose tested it out.
Azonto’s origins are uncertain, claims are the dance was birthed in Accra’s Bukom under the name “Apaa” (which means work) — hence its movements would mimic everyday tasks like driving, washing, ironing, etc.
The dance rose to global consciousness when Ghanaian footballer Asamoah Gyan used it as a celebration after his 2010 Africa Cup of Nations final-qualifying goal against Nigeria (above), as well as in a number of English Premiere League matches with Sunderland. Gyan doubles as a rapper in a couple of hiplife artist Castro‘s music videos.
Azonto has since morphed into a cultural phenomenon. An article in This Is Africa traced the etymology of the word, delivering a succinct re-cap of the dance music’s rise:
Starting off as a slang to describe a “loose”, cheap or ghetto person, Azonto soon became a popular word when rappers like Sarkodie started using it in their songs. Azonto then became a genre of music based on the rhythm that was used by these popular musicians. People needed a way to dance to dance to the “new” rhythm, so they started to borrow from Asamoah Gyan’s hugely popular moves, and from there the Azonto dance was birthed. (TIA)
Azonto’s banner anthem so far has been 2010 Ghanaian rapper of the year Sarkodie‘s infectious “U Go Kill Me.” Watch the track’s music video above, hear his companion E.L.‘s brand new joint “Obuu Mo” below and try an’ tell us these beats don’t grab you!
-killakam
London/Ghanaian rapper Donae’o, of “Party Hard” fame, is giving away his Move To Da Gyal Dem EP. The collection includes the original percussion-tinged title track, instrumental cuts, plus remixes from Mensah (below), David Heartbreak, Eddie K and — best of all — Ghana’s Azonto prince Sarkodie‘s reworking (video above). Grab the free Move To Da Gyal Dem EP.
Donae’o “Move To Da Gyal Dem (Mensah RMX)
(via TB)
Awesome Tapes From Africa, now a label, is prepping its second release: a reprint of northern Ghanaian singer/multi-instrumentalist Bola‘s casette Volume 7. The tracks feature soul vocals and kologo plucks from Bola backed by drum machines and synthesizers. Stream “Abayetidu Ma” below and look out for Volume 7 out 4/3 on LP/CD/Cassette via ATFA.
Ghanaian pidgin rapper Kay-Ara honed his skills with influences from hiplife pioneer Reggie Rockstone as well as across the ocean icons Tupac and Biggie. You might remember “Me Dough” — his stomper track featuring Yaa Pono and Lil Shaker we featured a minute ago. In The Reality Show mixtape, Kay spits about “the jigsaw puzzle of his life” tackling both light and heavy subjects of love, karma, and the mental weight surrounding a lover’s abortion. He also rhymes over past and current joints from the likes of Drake, Jeezy and Yeezy. Stream some samples and grab the entire mixtape for free below, featuring apperances by Twi Teacher and Jae Ghost.
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Stream: Kay-Ara “Junior’s Lullaby”
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Stream: Kay-Ara “Karma (Out To Get Me)”
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Stream: Kay-Ara “Headlines”
This month Okayafrica co-hosted a special screening of An African Election as part of the African Diaspora International Film Festival in NYC. The film is an incredibly solid look at the internal diplomacy that kept Ghana from plummeting into post-vote civil conflict in 2008. After the screening, OKA interviewed director Jarreth Merz cell phone-style about how he was able to gain such amazing access to both political camps – including many private moments with former president J.J. Rawlings. Merz shares that his film was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary, and also tips us to his upcoming “Political Safari” project – the sequel to An African Election. Watch the interview with Merz above and peep the film trailer below.
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.
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.
DJ Abrantee recently compiled the expansive 32-track Afrobeats Mix Vol. 1 — which plays less like the Fela-pioneered genre and more like a collection of current West African dancefloor jams. The mix features tracks from Nigerian superstars Wiz Kid, Ice Prince, and Mo’ Hits family Dr. Sid, D’Prince, and the Kanye-tapped D’Banj. Angolan and Ghanaian contributions are held down by Cabo Snoop and R2bees. Stream it here and download below! (via TIA)
>>>Download: DJ Abrantee’s Afrobeats Mix Vol. 1
Video: M.anifest ‘Makaa Maka’
M.anifest returns with this Madina-shot clip for “Makaa Maka.” The track’s title translates to “I said it, because I said it,” a saying first popularized by hiplife godfather Reggie Rockstone (who makes a cameo in the video). In the song, M.anifest takes on all kinds of haters — internet thugs, facebook a** critics — in his combination English/Twi/Pidgen rhymes while big uppin’ those that spit it right. Isaac Offei Awuah, who did 2face’s “Raindrops” video, directed the clip.