Positive Black Soul – Salaam (1996) (Senegal)

As announced, I’m going to hit you with a bunch of African albums. Some of them are full albums by one crew, others are compilations made by well-meaning organizations in Europe who try to introduce the non-Africans among us to this vast continent full of music. I’ll have to admit that I don’t know too much about all of them, but I just figured I’d pass on what I’ve got my hands on so you can go and listen for yourself.

First off, there’s Positive Black Soul from Dakar, Senegal (West Africa). This duo consists of Doug E. Tee (Amadou Barry) and DJ Awadi (Didier J. Awadi) and they’re probably one of the very first African hip-hop crews who had international success beyond their continent. Active since the mid-80s as leaders of rivalling gangs, they used to compete with each other musically till they found out they were the perfect match and formed a crew in 1989. Their first release on cassette Boul Falé never really made it out of the country. With some help by French superstar rapper MC Solaar (himself a born Senegalese) and musical legend Baaba Maal, they eventually got a record deal with Mango Records and their second album Salaam enjoyed international success, followed by a tour through West Africa, America and Europe. They have since become the godfathers of Senegalese and West African hip-hop, making sure younger crews get some shine as well.

The album is made in Wolof (one of the languages spoken in Senegal), English and French – to make sure they are understood worldwide. This album must be seen as one of the biggest milestones in African hip-hop, as far as its international recognition is concerned.

Positive Black Soul – Salaam (1996)

More links:
Benn Loxo Du Taccu (African music blog)

Peace, 9@home

 

African Underground Vol. 1 (VA) – Senegal (2004)

Upon request, another album from the vibrant hip-hop spot they call Senegal. The beats are surprisingly choppy, boom-bap ones. Cats rapping over them sport English and Wolof styles (I think… well, how would I know…)

01 – Intro
02 – BMG 44 – 44
03 – Omzo – Missalu Aduna
04 – Shiffai – Shiffai
05 – Las MC – Africans Don’t Wanna Understand
06 – Shiffai – Never Forget
07 – Simon (Bis Bi Klan) – Chagga
08 – Sul Suli Klan – Mbedd Bama Woo
09 – Slam Revolution feat BMG 44 – Begguma
10 – Sen Kumpa – Deglu Xel
11 – Abass – Abass
12 – Slam Revolution – Wax Degg
13 – Real Fight – Ndax Sa Melo
14 – Yat Fu – Art Attendan

African Underground Vol. 1 (VA) – Senegal (2004)

Peace,  9@home

 

Algerian Hip-Hop: Algérap, MBS and Intik

While most of us are probably familiar with several French artists of Northern African origin, such as Freeman or Rim.K, their counterparts in the Maghreb itself are often ignored or, for lack of distribution or marketing, just overlooked. As far as Algerian Hip-Hop goes, two crews have played the role of dooropener for a bigger wave of artists that have come after them: MBS and Intik. Both represented on a compilation of Algerian hip-hop named Algérap as they were just about to become the very faces the rest of the world identified with the music of Algeria’s youth.

MBS are from Hussein Dey, a quarter of Algiers, the capital of the country. The four members are M’hand, Red One, Yacine and Rabah. MBS stands for Le Micro Brise le Silence (The mic shatters the silence) and the name itself hints at some of the problems the group struggles with, both as artists and as citizens of a country that has gone through waves of atrocious violence committed by the French colonists right through the struggle of indepencence, the post-independence dictators and self-proclaimed democratically elected governments as well as by various armed factions causing thousands of deaths in a struggle for political and economic power.
MBS published their debut, which was also the very first Algerian hip-hop album in 97 entitled Ouled el Bahdja (Children of the radiant one) and they sold over 60,000 tapes in just a few months. Following this huge success, they released their second album one year later called Aouama (Swimmers). At the same time, in November 98 they were invited to a show of Algerian music in the Zénith in Paris. After that, they’d become the face of Algerian hip-hop in Europe, touring several festivals and spreading their name. The albums I’ve got for you here are their third and fourth releases. After these, in 2005, their latest album came out, following a solo release by Rabah in 2004.

Now meet Intik. They formed amidst the civil war breaking out in the late 80s and their name, Intik, is highly ironic as it really means something like “it’s going fine.” It’s what you say if somebody asks you how you are. Obviously, things were not going fine at all. Their lyrics tell of the unofficial censorship that bans their music from TV and the radio, of the civil war horrors and the people’s frustration with the self-important political caste. Musically, they blend hip-hop, reggae and raï, which may deceive the listener to think that this is some easy chill-out music to switch off your mind and kick your feet up to.

Intik got their big break after IAM’s producer Imhotep somehow got hold of one of their quickly-recorded tapes that they would send to friends in France. Imhotep was just organising the Logic Hip-Hop festival in Marseille and invited them over, along with Algerian old schoolers Hamma. Soon thereafter, they got their first record deal and gave birth to their self-titled album in 2000. One year later, we are blessed with another album called La Victoire, which is the one I’ve upped for your listening experience. “Notre devoir” could easily be the world anthem for reconciliation and peace, as far as I’m concerned.

Algeria, here you come.

Algérap Compilation (2000)

MBS – Le Micro Brise Le Silence (2000)

MBS – Wellew (2001)

Intik – La Victoire (2001)

Links:
MBS bio
Excellent interview with Intik on UKHH

Peace, 9@home

 

The Rough Guide to African Rap: Rappers, Rebels and Ragamuffins (2004)

There’s not too much info I can give you about this amazing compilation of tracks from different crews from all over (sub-saharan) Africa including world famous Positive Black Soul (Senegal), Reggie Rockstone (Ghana) and Prophets of Da City (South Africa).
Instead, please follow the links to a press release and a review at the bottom of this post, as I haven’t had this album for very long so I can’t tell you much else than what it says there… Sorry about this cheap move, but I have a life to live outside blogland, too. :)

The Rough Guide to African Rap: Rappers, Rebels and Ragamuffins (2004)

worldmusic.net Press Release
NubianUnderground.com Review

Peace, 9@home

 

Bongo Flava – Swahili Rap from Tanzania (2004)

Tanzania has developed its own brand of hip-hop influenced music called Bongo Flava. The name goes back to the name of the country’s capital, Dar-es-Salaam, which is commonly called Bongo. The Swahili word ubongo means brain or mind. One could say the capital is the head of the country. Or it might also mean that you need a pretty good brain of your own to survive in the 3 million capital…
This compilation gives you an idea of the breadth of the Bongo Flava scene. The lyrics are all in Swahili. The subject matter ranges from humourus accounts of life in the ghetto to hard-ass gangsta type raps. Feel the vibe and enjoy.

Bongo Flava – Swahili Rap from Tanzania (2004)

More info in German and English:
Bongo Flava on Wikipedia.de (in German)
Birgit Englert: Bongo Flava (Still) Hidden „Underground”. Rap from Morogoro, Tanzania (academic paper in English)

Peace, 9@home