Monami has been playing in loops for weeks now around here, so it’s exciting to share two additions to the Monami story: remixes by Los Carlos and Atropolis. Los Carlos is a regular on this site, most notably for his kuduro remix of Elegom Bounsa. Atropolis, of the Dutty Artz crew, also sent us his own take on Monami, better than words:
R2Bees – Agyeiii Remixes – Free For One More Week!
Based on the great feedback we’ve been collecting both inside Ghana and worldwide, we decided to extend the free download period for this EP til next week, August 28. Last chance to grab it for free!!! And if you feel so inclined, you can also buy it already from R2Bees‘ Bandcamp shop. Raaaaaaah!
Music, especially of the loud, danceable kind, is ubiquitous in most of Africa. Yet DJs, the artisans behind the walls of sound, often remain in the shadow. This is not how we roll: we want you to find out who is pushing the envelope throughout the continent. To start...
The late Ghanaian Dancehall diva Ebony Reigns is the first woman to be crowned Artist of the year at the Ghana Music Awards. Ebony's Konkonsa [gossip] Police was released after her demise. She ironically compares gossiping to Ghanaian police: the assumption in Ghana...
Wanlov the Kubolor - "Dis Be Ghana" is pidgin English, it means this is Ghana. Kubolor is a Ga word which means wanderer, vagabond. Kubolor, whose style is fiercely independent, is one of the most visionary artists in Ghana, he has developed a unique sound and employs...
R2Bees – Agyeiii Remixes – Free For One More Week!
Based on the great feedback we’ve been collecting both inside Ghana and worldwide, we decided to extend the free download period for this EP til next week, August 28. Last chance to grab it for free!!! And if you feel so inclined, you can also buy it already from R2Bees‘ Bandcamp shop. Raaaaaaah!
Music, especially of the loud, danceable kind, is ubiquitous in most of Africa. Yet DJs, the artisans behind the walls of sound, often remain in the shadow. This is not how we roll: we want you to find out who is pushing the envelope throughout the continent. To start...
The late Ghanaian Dancehall diva Ebony Reigns is the first woman to be crowned Artist of the year at the Ghana Music Awards. Ebony's Konkonsa [gossip] Police was released after her demise. She ironically compares gossiping to Ghanaian police: the assumption in Ghana...
Wanlov the Kubolor - "Dis Be Ghana" is pidgin English, it means this is Ghana. Kubolor is a Ga word which means wanderer, vagabond. Kubolor, whose style is fiercely independent, is one of the most visionary artists in Ghana, he has developed a unique sound and employs...
R2Bees is one of the most popular bands in Ghana today. Not just Ghana: as one of the most significant groups pushing the new afrobeats sound worldwide, their music is already on rotation all over the UK, and the group can be heard live regularly across Europe.
Their first major hit was Kiss Ur Hand with Nigerian star Wande Coal in 2009, followed by Agyeiii last fall, which impersonates the new Ghanaian sound, with a featuring from number one rapper Sarkodie, Nana Boroo, and a beat by the now-ubiquitous Killbeatz.
In Ghana agyeiii means ouch. The sound you make when you are hurt, or when someone is hurting you – which can be in a *good* way, as suggested by this song. R2Bees showed incredible interest in the remixes we received, this EP contains the ones which made our heads bob the most. We are giving it away for free until the end of the month. After that it will go on sale everywhere, but you an already grab it from Bandcamp if you wish to support R2Bees and the great remixers involved in this project. Without further adue:
01 – Agyeiii feat. Sarkodie & Nana Boroo (Mad Mation’s Bedroom Dub) Germany’s Mad Mation is one third of party crew the Crowd Krushers. This Jamaican music expert is finally letting his ideas flow into production.
02 – Agyeiii feat. Sarkodie & Nana Boroo (HVK Remix) HVK is a young Argentinian producer, who hits us with a dembow heavy version.
03 – Agyeiii feat. Sarkodie & Nana Boroo (Captain Planet Remix) Captain Planet aka Chuck Wild is no stranger to Akwaaba. Here he goes crazy again with his xylophone samples… it simply never gets old.
04 – Agyeiii feat. Sarkodie & Nana Boroo (Pushking Noize & Tillup Remix) Pushking Noize & Tillup are a Swiss duo with a soft spot for urban African sounds. They’ve produced for top Mozambican artist Dama do Bling, and have already remixed for Akwaaba artist Ruff-N-Smooth.
05 – Agyeiii feat. Sarkodie & Nana Boroo (One Man Army Remix) Making beats since he was 10 (!), David may become an architect, unless his productions take over, which is what he is aiming for. Seems on track, no?
Music, especially of the loud, danceable kind, is ubiquitous in most of Africa. Yet DJs, the artisans behind the walls of sound, often remain in the shadow. This is not how we roll: we want you to find out who is pushing the envelope throughout the continent. To start...
The late Ghanaian Dancehall diva Ebony Reigns is the first woman to be crowned Artist of the year at the Ghana Music Awards. Ebony's Konkonsa [gossip] Police was released after her demise. She ironically compares gossiping to Ghanaian police: the assumption in Ghana...
Wanlov the Kubolor - "Dis Be Ghana" is pidgin English, it means this is Ghana. Kubolor is a Ga word which means wanderer, vagabond. Kubolor, whose style is fiercely independent, is one of the most visionary artists in Ghana, he has developed a unique sound and employs...
R2Bees “Agyeiii” Remixes – Free til August 21!
R2Bees is one of the most popular bands in Ghana today. Not just Ghana: as one of the most significant groups pushing the new afrobeats sound worldwide, their music is already on rotation all over the UK, and the group can be heard live regularly across Europe.
Their first major hit was Kiss Ur Hand with Nigerian star Wande Coal in 2009, followed by Agyeiii last fall, which impersonates the new Ghanaian sound, with a featuring from number one rapper Sarkodie, Nana Boroo, and a beat by the now-ubiquitous Killbeatz.
In Ghana agyeiii means ouch. The sound you make when you are hurt, or when someone is hurting you – which can be in a *good* way, as suggested by this song. R2Bees showed incredible interest in the remixes we received, this EP contains the ones which made our heads bob the most. We are giving it away for free until the end of the month. After that it will go on sale everywhere, but you an already grab it from Bandcamp if you wish to support R2Bees and the great remixers involved in this project. Without further adue:
01 – Agyeiii feat. Sarkodie & Nana Boroo (Mad Mation’s Bedroom Dub)
Germany’s Mad Mation is one third of party crew the Crowd Krushers. This Jamaican music expert is finally letting his ideas flow into production.
02 – Agyeiii feat. Sarkodie & Nana Boroo (HVK Remix)
HVK is a young Argentinian producer, who hits us with a dembow heavy version.
03 – Agyeiii feat. Sarkodie & Nana Boroo (Captain Planet Remix)
Captain Planet aka Chuck Wild is no stranger to Akwaaba. Here he goes crazy again with his xylophone samples… it simply never gets old.
04 – Agyeiii feat. Sarkodie & Nana Boroo (Pushking Noize & Tillup Remix)
Pushking Noize & Tillup are a Swiss duo with a soft spot for urban African sounds. They’ve produced for top Mozambican artist Dama do Bling, and have already remixed for Akwaaba artist Ruff-N-Smooth.
05 – Agyeiii feat. Sarkodie & Nana Boroo (One Man Army Remix)
Making beats since he was 10 (!), David may become an architect, unless his productions take over, which is what he is aiming for. Seems on track, no?
Music, especially of the loud, danceable kind, is ubiquitous in most of Africa. Yet DJs, the artisans behind the walls of sound, often remain in the shadow. This is not how we roll: we want you to find out who is pushing the envelope throughout the continent. To start...
The late Ghanaian Dancehall diva Ebony Reigns is the first woman to be crowned Artist of the year at the Ghana Music Awards. Ebony's Konkonsa [gossip] Police was released after her demise. She ironically compares gossiping to Ghanaian police: the assumption in Ghana...
Wanlov the Kubolor - "Dis Be Ghana" is pidgin English, it means this is Ghana. Kubolor is a Ga word which means wanderer, vagabond. Kubolor, whose style is fiercely independent, is one of the most visionary artists in Ghana, he has developed a unique sound and employs...
Once upon a time, long before I started Akwaaba, I DJed a birthday party in Los Angeles for a group of groovy creative types. Turns out to be the birthday boy was filmmaker Jarreth Merz, who would later on piece together An African Election, a fantastic documentary about the 2008 elections in Ghana. The movie paints a compelling portrait of politics in Ghana, giving a much needed nuanced overview of the realities behind Ghana’s 2008 elections, which Western nations often consider Africa’s current democratic success story. I was lucky enough to see the movie last year, but unfortunately most Ghanaians have yet to watch it.
In an effort to spread knowledge about democracy in Ghana, and to ensure peaceful elections next December, Jarreth is going a step further with A Political Safari, by pushing for a grassroots campaign through Ghana’s different regions: his plan is to have the movie translated into the 5 most common languages in Ghana: Twi, Ga, Ewe, Dagbani and Hausa. Then to have a mobile truck bring the movie to the people, particularly in remote areas where the electoral process is most sensitive.
Of course, this fantastic project comes with a price tag, one that we strongly encourage you to chip into. This is a project with legs, this is a project that may actually make a difference next fall. Especially after president Atta Mills’ sudden death last Tuesday, which adds yet another odd twist to Ghana’s election campaign.
Ghana’s most irreverent musical duo comes back home for a quick tour and talent hunt: they will hit Takoradi, Tema, Kumasi and Accra, where they will share the stage with Efya and Yaa Pono, as well as the best talent they come across in each city.
Music, especially of the loud, danceable kind, is ubiquitous in most of Africa. Yet DJs, the artisans behind the walls of sound, often remain in the shadow. This is not how we roll: we want you to find out who is pushing the envelope throughout the continent. To start...
The late Ghanaian Dancehall diva Ebony Reigns is the first woman to be crowned Artist of the year at the Ghana Music Awards. Ebony's Konkonsa [gossip] Police was released after her demise. She ironically compares gossiping to Ghanaian police: the assumption in Ghana...
Wanlov the Kubolor - "Dis Be Ghana" is pidgin English, it means this is Ghana. Kubolor is a Ga word which means wanderer, vagabond. Kubolor, whose style is fiercely independent, is one of the most visionary artists in Ghana, he has developed a unique sound and employs...
Ghana’s most irreverent musical duo comes back home for a quick tour and talent hunt: they will hit Takoradi, Tema, Kumasi and Accra, where they will share the stage with Efya and Yaa Pono, as well as the best talent they come across in each city.
Music, especially of the loud, danceable kind, is ubiquitous in most of Africa. Yet DJs, the artisans behind the walls of sound, often remain in the shadow. This is not how we roll: we want you to find out who is pushing the envelope throughout the continent. To start...
The late Ghanaian Dancehall diva Ebony Reigns is the first woman to be crowned Artist of the year at the Ghana Music Awards. Ebony's Konkonsa [gossip] Police was released after her demise. She ironically compares gossiping to Ghanaian police: the assumption in Ghana...
Wanlov the Kubolor - "Dis Be Ghana" is pidgin English, it means this is Ghana. Kubolor is a Ga word which means wanderer, vagabond. Kubolor, whose style is fiercely independent, is one of the most visionary artists in Ghana, he has developed a unique sound and employs...
You may have checked out the Lungu Lungu column I write for Fader magazine: every two weeks I focus on a musical discovery, typically a brief outline of a country and a specific musical scene, anchored around one specific artist’s profile. And with every post, there’s a free song to download. Perhaps you have the luxury of having time to read all of these nice stories, but if you don’t, the playlist below is a nice shortcut to listen to this nice sample of new, eclectic, exciting flavors coming from all corners of Africa:
Music, especially of the loud, danceable kind, is ubiquitous in most of Africa. Yet DJs, the artisans behind the walls of sound, often remain in the shadow. This is not how we roll: we want you to find out who is pushing the envelope throughout the continent. To start...
The late Ghanaian Dancehall diva Ebony Reigns is the first woman to be crowned Artist of the year at the Ghana Music Awards. Ebony's Konkonsa [gossip] Police was released after her demise. She ironically compares gossiping to Ghanaian police: the assumption in Ghana...
Wanlov the Kubolor - "Dis Be Ghana" is pidgin English, it means this is Ghana. Kubolor is a Ga word which means wanderer, vagabond. Kubolor, whose style is fiercely independent, is one of the most visionary artists in Ghana, he has developed a unique sound and employs...
Shortcut to Lots of Great Free Tracks
You may have checked out the Lungu Lungu column I write for Fader magazine: every two weeks I focus on a musical discovery, typically a brief outline of a country and a specific musical scene, anchored around one specific artist’s profile. And with every post, there’s a free song to download. Perhaps you have the luxury of having time to read all of these nice stories, but if you don’t, the playlist below is a nice shortcut to listen to this nice sample of new, eclectic, exciting flavors coming from all corners of Africa:
Music, especially of the loud, danceable kind, is ubiquitous in most of Africa. Yet DJs, the artisans behind the walls of sound, often remain in the shadow. This is not how we roll: we want you to find out who is pushing the envelope throughout the continent. To start...
The late Ghanaian Dancehall diva Ebony Reigns is the first woman to be crowned Artist of the year at the Ghana Music Awards. Ebony's Konkonsa [gossip] Police was released after her demise. She ironically compares gossiping to Ghanaian police: the assumption in Ghana...
Wanlov the Kubolor - "Dis Be Ghana" is pidgin English, it means this is Ghana. Kubolor is a Ga word which means wanderer, vagabond. Kubolor, whose style is fiercely independent, is one of the most visionary artists in Ghana, he has developed a unique sound and employs...
