Video: Angola’s Transgender Kuduro Queen

Angola’s kudurista queen (in both senses of the word) Titica is vibrant in her bridal best for”Olha o Boneco”. Breaking barriers, especially for the LGBT community in the diaspora, the transgendered star is stomping a rare and brave path, previously explored by the likes of Area Scatter and Nastio Mosquito. Head to Africa Is A Country, where Boima goes in on Titica’s role vs. traditional values. Brooklyn: if you’re looking for a great dance party, check out Titica Monday night (4/9) at Bembe in Williamsburg!

Kuduro Dance Queen Titica

Video: Nas Speaks On Concert Promoter Kidnapping In Angola

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You might remember when we wrote about an American concert promoter and his son are being held hostage due to Nas‘ failure to appear at a heavily promoted New Year’s Eve concert in Luanda, Angola. Basically, a local promoter wired around $300K to Nas’ camp, but the rapper never even made it on a plane citing “miscommunication”. The middleman American promoter and his son were then allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint and were held until Nas returned all the $300,000.

Nas denies any wrongdoing stating, ”basically he was a promoter that I never worked with, and he wanted me to come to Africa for New Year’s, which, for me, I thought, would be the best way to spend New Year’s. The business wasn’t handled. There was nothing sent to me, and there were no flights. By the time he did send money — he did eventually send money to me — but it was too late to go. I didn’t even have a visa to get in the country. So that’s canceled, the show’s canceled.”

Nas claims innocence. The promoter claims all plans were set and is looking to sue Nas for “not showing up and put[ting him and his son] at physical harm and at risk by his inaction to fly to Angola.” Who you believe.

(via)

Video: Sacerdote ‘Falaste O Que’

You might remember Sacerdote as one of the Angolan MCs featured on last year’s top track from Batida. In his latest solo video, the MC and his Circiuto Feixado crew shut down a crossroad in  Sambizanga, Luanda stomping kuduro moves on water tanks, moving vehicles and everything in between. “Falaste O Que” roughly translates to what ‘you say — the tune couples abrasive Portuguese rhymes from Sacerdote with an out of this world, lightning-speed beat. Video directed by Benjamin Taft & Teddy Goitom

Audio/Video: Brey “Bengela” + Brasil EP

Angolan bred, London based producer Brey couples stems of tribal percussion and carnival horns with UK garage and live guitar/violin instrumentation. Watch the wildly cut, Belgrade flea market video for his new single “Bengela” and stream Brey’s upcoming Brasil EP, out March 19 from Svetlana Industries, below.

(spotted at Fader, XLR8R)

Audio: Batida ‘Tirei O Chapéu’

DJ Mpula aka Batida‘s upcoming eponymous LP is quickly becoming one of our most anticipated record releases of the year — the Angolan/Portuguese producer’s kuduro-meets-semba stew and vintage Angola samples just hit a vital celebratory wavelength in our inner ears.

“Tirei O Chapé” (“Take Off My Hat”) is no different, coupling a fuzzed-out, bouncy bassline with a lyrical homage to young kuduro artists from Angolan MC Ikonoklasta. Stream and download the track for free. Pre-order Batida LP from Soundway.

The Side Eye: Nas Promoter Held Hostage In Angola

Reports state that an American concert promoter and his son are being held “hostage” due to Nas‘ failure to appear at a heavily promoted New Year’s Eve concert in Luanda. Patrick Allocco, a NJ-based promoter, had worked with Angolan promoter Henrique “Riquhino” Miguel to bring Nas to the southern African country.

Miguel wired around $300K to Nas’ camp, but the rapper never even made it on a plane citing “miscommunication” (he did make it to LeBron James’ party in Miami though). Allocco and his son were then allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint and are being held until Nas returns all the $300,000 owed plus an additional $50K for expenses.

There’s a whole lot of details about this story that still remain unclear so we’re side-eyeing the whole episode. Hope everyone stays safe though.

UPDATE: Patrick Allocco explains the Nas/concert/money situation via phone from Angola where he is still being held hostage via VLAD TV, stream below.

Ironic clip of Nas on the lack of American artists performing in Africa below.

Audio: Professor ‘Jezebel (X-Trio Afro-Flavour Remix)’

DJ X-Trio puts a heavy-drum Angolan touch on a South African house classic. He deemed Professor‘s original track “too soft” for the streets of Luanda, so decided to add some intricate percussion and kuduro flavor to the mix. Stream and download X-Trio’s “Jezebel” remix below.

>>Stream/Download:Professor ‘Jezebel (X-Trio Afro-Flavour Remix)’ (via Fader)

Video: Throes & The Shine ‘Batida’

Portugal via Angolan duo The Shine get some distorted MIDI and guitar backing from Porto’s Throes in “Batida” (above) and the older “Wild Rainbows” (below). The two camps combine to create aptly/simply labeled “kuduro rock” music. During its best moments, we really feel the genre concoction. At its worst, our inner ears are left a bit confused. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. (via TB)

What’s Up Africa: AFRICAN REGGAE STAR!!!!

This week on What’s Up Africa, Ikenna highlights the irony of Portugal asking their former colony, Angola for economic assistance. He also caught on to a story OKA brought you earlier this week about the South Korean popstar, K.Will coming back from Africa with his hair braided. Lastly, don’t miss Ikenna swaying along to some East African gospel music called Malebo – nothing makes us happier on this Friday afternoon.

Grab Free Albums From Angolan Kuduro Producers Nirvanas & Beats

Nirvanas & Beats are a production team and label out of Luanda. They’ve crafted instrumentals for top Angolan kuduro groups Os Vagabandas, Os Nirvanas, and Braulio ZP. Some of their joints were also featured in that Bazzerk compilation that came out a minute ago. It seems dudes are pretty comfortable with the whole file-sharing thing, as they basically give away every one of the albums they’ve produced.

Grab Os Vagabanda’s debut Portas Abertas LP and Os Nirvana’s Tomada De Posse below. You can preview what you’ll get with the above clip for Vagabanda’s latest “Sele Ma Sele.” Plenty more free downloads over at Nirvanas & Beats. (via TB)

>>>Download: Os Vagabandas Portas Abertas

>>>Download: Os Nirvanas Tomada De Posse