The Offical Sound of Africa vol.1 Mixtape
A NOTE TO ALL: My deepest apologizes for being so quiet. My lack of Internet access coupled with the various projects I’m working on, as well the on-going hunt for records, have forced me to seriously neglect my humble blog.
But I assure you: it’s quality over quantity here at Digging 4 Gold and in the next few weeks I’ll be providing various goodies for your consumption, starting with my proclaimed love for GH and Naija pop.
FACT: It’s mostly old people who like Highlife.
And out of them, very few, if any, still listen to afrobeat. So, when it comes down to today’s sound in Ghana it’s up to the youth (and rightly so) to dictate, and for them it’s all about local pop. Hell, even those same old people get down to it, which is a sight to see: a granny and her four-year-old granddaughter both rocking out to the same tune.
For someone like myself, who often has his head buried in a dusty record crate, it’s easy to bypass the latest musical trends. The problem is, most of the current music is so localized and as a result, rarely sees any outside play. Therefore, I believe it’s my virtual civic duty to spread the good word (and knock out a mix or two in the process).
Fair warning: I’m not talking about your mother’s BBC version of African music, but rather the in-your-face club anthems that make you forget that it’s 4am on a Thursday i.e. the real sounds of Modern-day young Africa.
My first introduction to these styles came a few years back through the Bongo flavour sound of Tanzania and the Local music (as it’s referred to) of Kenya. You find elements of American rap and Jamaican dancehall as well as reggaeton-like drum patterns, all of which are layered with distinct Africanized pop melodies. For the Anglophone countries of East and West Africa, this is the type of music you’ll hear at any bar or club.
Now, even though each of these regions has its own set of local heroes, such as Bebe Cool in Uganda or Redsan and Wyre in Kenya, it seems West African artists, Nigerians in particular, transcend borders better than most. P-Square is a perfect example, with hits like “No One Like You” or “Do Me” still in heavy rotation all over Africa, including house-dominated South Africa, despite having been released years ago. Other Nigerian crossover artists include D’Banj, Bracket, and J. Martins, just to name a few.
Eventually, I began collecting some of the better songs I was hearing with the intention of putting a mix together. Unfortunately, my motivation never materialized, that is until I returned to Ghana and got a proper introduction to Hiplife and Niaja Rap. I quickly shifted focus from a general African pop mix to a strictly Ghana/Nigeria one, which we present to you today.
In collaboration with my man Kev from FXP, The Sound of Africa vol.1 should give you a clear idea of the current sound in Anglophone West africa. Some of these tunes will sound familiar to anyone who’s been to Ghana within the past year. Others songs are the latest hits that have people going into sporadic fits of uncontrollable gyrations in the middle of Oxford Street in Osu. Sing the body electric, I say!
Oh, and here a lil' aid (for those of you who might have a hard time visualizing this stuff). This is the end-all-be-all jam currently killing the dance floors (or chop bar, or corner kiosk, or taxi cab...etc.) The video reminds me of "Tell Me When To Go" by E-40. It's even equipped with cars doing donuts and that same energy Oakland had back then. Do it big GH.
Sound of Africa: An Introduction to GH hiplife & Niaja Rap, vol.1
01. King Ayisoba - Sister feat. treach
02. 4x4 - Makomah (Miss Doctor)
03 Sway - Sheperd's Pie feat. Gyedu-Blay Ambolley
04. Ruff n' Smooth - Sex Machine
05. Wande Coal - Bumper to Bumper
06. Mimi - Good Love feat. Sazzy
09. Dj Cndo - Amerido (South Africa)
10. 5 five - Move Back (Muje Baya)
11. Stay Jay - Shashee Wowo
13. Ruff n' Smooth - Boom Boom Back
14. Adezi - Wo Ma Me Twe b/w 'My Sweetie' African Party Break
15. Adani Best - jata Bi (Ga Version)
17. Nana Boro - Eha Ye de (Bebia Awo)
18. J. Martins - Jukpa feat. Bracket
19. Bracket - No Time feat. P-Square
20. J. Martins - Good or bad feat. Timaya
22. Eazzy - Bo Wonsem Ma Me
23. Flavour - Ashawo (Nwa Baby Remix)
25. D'banj - Ogbono feli feli
27. Kwaku T - Kwaku Tu Tu feat. Eazzy
28. D'banj & Mo Hits All Stars - Pere
30. Bradez - Freestyle (Party Hard Remix)
31. Akoo Nana - Mungu feat. Ruff n' Smooth
