it is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. - sherlock holmes
8. "^^ this dude is dropping gems ^^" In response to Reply # 3
at least 5 of the beats on the madlib joints sample songs from thr compilations he listed. if you start with the soundway or strut releases you'll get the afro-funk/afro-rock stuff that lib touched on a few joints.
however, the list that lonesome made is a good discovery primer to the diverse sounds of african music.
Again 'African music' is such an enormous umbrella term and even just limiting it to sub-saharan can mean anything from mbalax to mbqange, Mauritanian to Malagasy. Unless you're just looking for beatmaking fodder, try out a few of the genres and see what's up your alley.
I've heard a few. But they're held in very hgih regard, just for whatever reason I'd already more or less switched to buying used vinyl instead of new CDs when they started dropping. *shrug*
Coupla things I really dig you might enjoy checking out
My tastes in African music really stem from my folk fandom and exposure to the world music market of the late '8os and early '90s. So my tastes and the little that I do know is not going to be reflective of local scenes in African countries at all, but rather (mostly) music made for export. I didn't know just how different the two markets were at the time I was soaking all the sounds in.
Lots of okps = AFKAP, afrobongo, les_fleurs, sha_mecca, programmusic, ellipsis, the_whit - have exposed me to other quality stuff I had never come across on my own. All parts of what make this place great.
I remember a few years ago catching two bands from S. Africa. One was Sharon Katz & the Peace Train; they were followed by the Mahotella Queens (Mahlathini has long since passed on, though I did see him once before he died).
Funny thing about this is, the Katz band was poppy and (to me) bland and corny - sort of like a 21st c. version of Johnny Clegg & Savuka. The Queens on the other hand played music that *seemed* to pay no attention to Western pop expectations. But I was watching the show with a dude from Namibia, and his impressions were the complete opposite of mine. *shrug*
18. "i think "the frontline (liberation)" is still mine..." In response to Reply # 15
LOVE that shit...the way he uses the fresh prince and tradgedy (?) vocal samples and the guys voice talking about liberation is the icing on the dopeness cake
________________________________________________________________ whenever you did these things to the least of my brothers you did them to me
17. "the obvious answer would be FELA KUTI" In response to Reply # 0
but I'm assuming you knew that already. Those Nigeria '70 releases are really top notch. Stones Throw put out a pretty good release called Spiritual Jazz. Definitely check that out.
"Your current frequencies of understanding outweigh that which has been given for you to understand." Saul Williams
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