My WorlD with U
WurlD
Lagos-born WurlD today unveils his much-anticipated debut album My WorlD With U. From sprawling, ethereal opener ‘THESE DAYS’ to the raw emotions of ‘NAKED RAIN’ and somber tones of ‘GUCCI’ the album takes listeners on a journey through the spectrum of love and relationships in the world of WurlD. The turquoise-haired trailblazer effortlessly blends genres on the album, moving between his unique spin on afrobeats, infectious dance rhythms and mellow, smooth vocal-driven rhymes.
Listen here.
Maliba
Fatoumata Diawara
The Malian singer has joined forces with the Google Arts and Culture project to set to music a presentation of manuscripts from Timbuktu, some of which are over 600 years old. During the 2012 armed rebellion, members of the Islamist group Ansar Dine took over the northern Mali town and began destroying ancient artifacts, including these manuscripts. After the departure of Ansar Dine in 2013, the reconstruction of the collection was undertaken. It is the story of this preservation that Google Arts and Culture highlights, accompanied by the music of Fatoumata Diawara, which celebrates the city, education, the role of women and national and global unity.
Listen here.
Mama Forgot Her Name Was Miracle
Melissa Laveaux
After exploring her Haitian roots with Radyo Siwèl released in 2018, Mélissa Laveaux is back with a fourth studio album: Mama Forgot Her Name Was Miracle. An intimate record in which the singer explores the lullaby by summoning powerful otherworldly voices.
Thirteen songs inspired by heroic figures that History has forgotten or deliberately sidelined, such as Harriet Tubman, a former Afro-American slave who helped hundreds of other oppressed people find their way to freedom.
Activist poetry carried by a rhythmic conversation between the Caribbean and West Africa, with Mama Forgot Her Name Was Miracle, Melissa creates a whole new mythology. Alternative. Modern. Subversive.
Listen here.
Nyamakala Beats
Blanc Manioc
The label Blanc Manioc, once again, brings together its extended global musical family – Cardozo, LaDame, Asna, Mc Waraba, Praktika, Aunty Razor, Sheitan Brothers and Pedro Bertho. Blanc Manioc also showcase new family members – Sly A10, Chabela, Pangar and AnyoneID. Rising starts of Abidjan, Oyoki Onanayo and Stelair, and South African heroes, Aero Manyelo, Shujaa Bora, Pulo N’Dj and Mc Swordman also jointhe family with contributions to the release.
Listen here.
Falsa
Hassan Abou Alam
After his latest EP on Lisbon’s naive label, rising artist Hassan Abou Alam steps up with a 4-track on Banoffee Pies Records.Fasla embodies precisely the sound of Hassan, elegant and chaotic carried out with an extreme finesse.
The vocal mantras on the tracks “Kesibt” is signed by the Egyptian rapper SHBL-LBSH. Hassan explains: “I was actively looking for anonymous Egyptian vocalists/rappers to work with as we looked to make the Fasla EP extra special and to represent my feelings at that time. I met SHBL-LBSH through mutual friends just as I started writing music for the release and we managed to collaborate and make it work.”
Listen here.
This week we also listen to:
- First Of All by Diamond Platnumz
- Non Perishable by Tobi Lou
- Forbidden Feelingz by Nia Archives
