Daughters of Destiny
An Insignificant Man
The Love Commandos
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JkBx 0.032: Pompi // Suffix
Pompi – Kapena
I think gospel/gospel-leaning music is at its best when it is grounded in reality. It becomes much more relatable when it does not divorce itself from the flaws of its creator (ie. a human being, for the time being). In these conditions, there is less need to pegionhole such music as either secular or gospel. In this grey zone, some hella great love songs can be made.
Zambia’s Pompi checks into this zone with Kapena, about letting go of one’s fears and allowing themselves to experience the vulnerability that comes with falling in love. Malawi’s Suffix also comes through with Mkazi wa Kumwamba, about defying society’s expectations about marriage and tribe for a relationship that’s worth it.
Suffix – Mkazi wa Kumwamba ft. Faith Mussa
JkBx 0.012: Early Summer
Ryo Fukui – Early Summer
I chanced upon this last year after giving in to YouTube’s determined suggestion that I play it for weeks on end. Epic does not even come close to describing Ryo Fukui’s Early Summer, off his 1976 masterpiece debut Scenery. The album as a whole gets even more astonishing in its awesomeness once you learn that this was the product of someone who had only began teaching himself to play the piano six years earlier at the age of 22.
In the first half, Fukui plays with the joyfully frenetic energy and urgency of one experiencing his first proper artistic summer. The drum break in the middle acts as the bridge to a more laid back second half which puts the finishing touches to the scenery Fukui paints with his keys. RIP.
JkBx 0.011: Bunge // Hallo Hallo
Walanguzi x Nonini x Lord Shiree – Bunge
I understand why many folks are still stuck on early 2000s Kenyan hip hop. Things were much more raw, creative and, honestly, much less industrial that the stuff dominating media today. Take this track by Lord Shiree, Nonini and Walanguzi for example. Just a bunch of guys taking it outside and rapping. No more, no less.
Wakimbizi – Hallo Hallo
Wakimbizi had a knack for out-of-the-box guerilla-style music videos, which was probably the only thing that could work for their equally zany lyrics. On Hallo Hallo, a forced blind date turns out to a sort of catfish situation, or something… What the devil was this song really about?
JkBx: 0.010: Korean Trilogy
Work Hard.
Play Hard.
Die Hard.
JkBx 0.008: Random Mashups for the Masses
P-Unit vs. Linkin Park – In the KarEnd
I was really into mashups for a while, practically spending an hour or so on many a weekend checking out content on Mashstix and other more obscure forums. Combining that with the unbirdled enthusiasm of youth eventually led to some half-good stuff. Oh well.
GS Boyz vs. Beyoncé – Stanky Ego
JkBx 0.006: Sarz
Niniola – Sicker
To my ears, the strongest tracks from Niniola’s superb debut album (This Is Me) were mostly produced by Sarz, with the sole exception being Bale. The lead single Maradona just brings home the type of magic that Sarz can whip up: minimalist Afro-house beats spiced with a something-something that’s hard to put into actual words.
Sicker, the other Sarz banger on the album, sounds like he put some slowed down Mokassa, Tshala Muana and Oliver N’goma in a blender and sieved the mixture to remain with the best bits. Subtle awesomeness.
Sarz – Get Up ft. DJ Tunes x Flash
Sarz is just as nimble on his first solo release; choosing to keep his beats sparse but far from dull.
