In this week’s selection: brand new album from highlife legend Pat Thomas, the highly stylised EP by rising afropop sensation Rema, Danny’s first studio since 2016’s Atrocity Exhibition and much more to hear this week …
Bad Commando
Rema
Rising sensation Divine Ekubor, widely known by his stage name Rema shares new 4 track EP entitled Bad Commando. Considering as the future of afro-pop Rema blends Western influences with hip-hop, alté scenes or afrobeats and with his soft voice he manages to create a unique sound. Bad Commando follows the whirlwind success of his self-titled debut EP, with the massive hits ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Dumebi’.
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Danny Brown
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Obiaa!
Pat Thomas & Kwashibu Area Band
The 72-year-old “Golden Voice of Africa” Pat Thomas, Ghanaians producers Kwame Yeboah and Ben Abarbanel-Wolff drop their sophomore album on Strut, Obiaa!. Produced and recorded at Lovelite Studio’s analogue HQ in Berlin, Obiaa!, which means “Everybody!”, is described by his authors like a sweet highlife sound taken in a progressive new direction.
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My People
Jerico
Haitian-Canadian producer and MC Jerico is back with new EP, My People. It follows Run That released on March 8 via collective Moonshine’s record label. With My People Jerico continues to further narrow his production style from dancefloor beats combined with experimental club sounds and patterns of baile funk and dancehall riddims.
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For The Ones…
Yelfris Valdés
After the success of his first EP ‘The World of Eshu Dina’ last year, trumpeter Yelfris Valdés debuts his new project ‘For the Ones…’. For this record Yelfris employs an adventurous and experimental shift in his composition, drawing on his classical training and love of jazz whilst at the same time delving further into the world of electronica.
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Fuck Yo Feelings
Robert Glasper
Robert Glasper has released his new mixtape/album Fuck Yo Feelings with credits from a number of stars from the world of jazz, rap, and R&B. It features old Glasper collaborators like Yassin Bey (formerly Mos Def), Bilal and legend Herbie Hancock and rappers like Denzel Curry, Rapsody, YBN Cordae, Buddy, and Mick Jenkins.
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Calypso Rose & Friends
Calypso Rose
Trinidanian soca veteran invites her musician’s friends on her 6 tracks new EP. It contains collaborations from long time partner Manu Chao and newcomers over the soca-calypso scene as Nailah Blackman or Lao Ra. At the grand old age of 79, Calypso Rose continues to rejuvenate her music with all the grace we know.
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Zenith & Nadir
Dengue Dengue Dengue
Peruvian duo continues expanding their carefully created aesthetic on Zenit & Nadir, by diving into the deep and rich musical history of Afro-Peruvian music. The ongoing exploration of the vast and rich musical heritage of the descendants of the former African slaves in Peru is the main focus of their new album.
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Soul Jazz Records presents Congo Revolution – Revolutionary and Evolutionary Sounds
Various Artists
Soul Jazz Records releases a new double vinyl compilation shining a light on music from The two Congos during 1955-1962. Its 21-tracks showcase the sounds of Congolese rumba, a genre that fuses African, jazz and Latin influences. It showcases how music, politics and popular culture intersected at the point of independence from the two Congos’ European colonisers – Belgium and France.
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