We Plug To You... Michael Kiwanuka - Home Again (Album Review)

It's a Friday night and I'm getting prepped for my radio show looking for new African acts delivering great music. It was while doing this a few weeks ago that I heard Michael Kiwanuka for the first time via Okay Africa. What I heard that day was "Home Again", the lead single and title track for his debut album which I have the pleasure of reviewing now. As such; without further ado, I plug to you the BBC Sound of 2012 winner, Michael Kiwanuka with his inspiring debut album Home Again.

We Plug to You... Lana Del Ray - Born To Die (Album Review)

The sensational 25-year old Lana Del Ray - aka the "gangsta Nancy Sinantra" - first hit the mainstream in the second half of last year with her vintage homemade video for the massive "Video Games" single and it quickly created a cult following for her hard to place sultry voice landing her plaudits from everyone who is anyone in music and a record deal with Interscope and Polydor! While speculations remain rife about her new identity and why she ditched her old name Lizzy Grant for the more stylish Lana Del Ray to boost her career to stardom and trust me, we could get into our own back and forth about that, fortunately for you that is not what we are about here! Whether she goes by the name Lizzy Grant or Del Ray, there is no disputing that she makes good music despite what name she answers to...

We Plug To You... Childish Gambino - CAMP

I’m disappointed I hadn’t heard of Donald Glover prior to receiving the link to his latest album CAMP and if you’ve heard of the rapper who goes by the stage name Childish Gambino, you’re one up on me.

Born September 25, 1983, Donald Glover is an actor, a comedian, a writer and - adding to his list of talents - a rapper and a producer. He has attended the Dekalb School of the Arts in Atlanta, Georgia and also graduated from NYU with a degree in Dramatic Writing in 2006. No surprises there as Donald was a writer for Tina Fey's NBC series 30 Rock for two years and won the Writer's Guild of America Award for his work on the show's third season. He also starred in the popular US TV show Community as Troy Barnes as well as writing for Jon Stewart's The Daily Show amongst other roles in TV and Film. With music, Donald started out in college dropping a few mixtapes here and there, and by few I mean many. His most famous project till date - the album Culdesac - was released last year and now we feature his brand new album titled CAMP. To be precise, CAMP is his fourth album but first commercial release which is scheduled for release on November 15 under Glassnote Records. Lest I forget, Donald also DJs under the moniker mcDJ and has released a number of mixes under this name. I ask is there anything this man can’t do? Let's get into some of the amazing music to expect on CAMP, shall we?

We Plug To You... Ben Howard - Every Kingdom

Last week (October 3, 2011), one of my favorite artists so far this year and - in my opinion - one of the best new artists of 2011 released his debut album via Island Records. Born and raised in Devon (United Kingdom) and with a certain penchant for classic 60s and 70s singer/songwriters like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Richie Havens which he picked up from his very musical parents, this 24-year old British "acoustic troubadour" and "keen surfer" dropped out of a Journalism course at Falmouth College (six months before graduation) in 2008 to pursue music full-time.

The outcome - three years down the line - is a recording contract with the label home of the likes of legends such as Nick Drake and John Martyn, a BBC Radio 1 playlisted single in the very excellent "Keep Your Head Up" which we will explore much later, an army of devoted followers that have led to numerous sold-out headline gigs in not only the UK but also in France, Germany and Holland and a fifty minutes long 10-track debut LP that is one of the BEST ALBUMS OF 2011... His name is Ben Howard and the album is called Every Kingdom.

We Plug To You... Show Dem Camp - The Dreamer Project

Hello everyone, it's the start of the best month ever. What, you didn't know October was special? Well it is, because it's my birth month and I'm awesome even if I do say so myself. But this is not why you are here and that's fair. The good news is that you are about to be introduced to another dope act from Nigeria. We seem to be churning great acts en mass out of the motherland and I must say I am really impressed as is obvious by the fact that my last couple reviews have been Nigerian Acts and the international recognition that a few of our artists have gotten in recent months only goes to show. Its definitely a good look and that is why I am proud and dare I say honored to introduce to you the duo Olumide 'Ghost' Ayeni and Wale 'Tec' Davis that make up the group Show Dem Camp (SDC) with the release of their debut album The Dreamer Project. 

We Plug To You... Alyxx Dione - September

Singer/Songwriter Alyxx Dione’s new album titled September dropped in my inbox on the first day of the month and being a September baby, I was very eager to listen. Known popularly for her YouTube uploaded covers to chart topping hits such as "Best I Ever Had" (Drake), "Russian Roulette" (Rihanna), "Run The World" (Beyonce) and "Do It Like a Dude" (Jessie J) to name a few, Alyxx has managed to gain quite a fan base for herself. Even more recently, after covering one of this year’s most re-made tracks - Drake's "Marvin’s Room" - her recognition grew even bigger. Her version ranks as one of the best I’ve heard, overshadowing top artists who also attempted the song. This newly found spotlight couldn’t have been a better time for Alyxx to drop her free debut album September.

We Plug To You... Benjamin Francis Leftwich - Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm

I’m almost livid at myself for not immediately recognizing the amazing talent oozing out of Benjamin Francis Leftwich until my 14 year-old sister pointed it out. But for what it’s worth, I’m glad I listened. I plug to you 21-year old singer/songwriter Benjamin Francis Leftwich a native from York, England.

I find it interesting that Leftwich has decided to be known by his full name in a case where most artists tend to shorten their legal names or more often than not, alternatively come up with a catchy stage name. Leftwich grew up listening to artists such as The Rolling Stones and Nina Simone and by the tender age of 10, unsurprisingly could play the guitar and piano. Fast-forward to more recent years and a drive to pursue his musical talent, Leftwich released his first EP A Million Miles Hit in October 2010. Another EP Pictures followed in early 2011 before the release of the the Ian Grimble-produced Last Smoke before the Snowstorm; his debut album in July 2011. The debut album and previous EPs were all released under the Dirty Hit label.

We Plug to You... Cris Cab - Foreword

So my editor sent this to me and I thought to myself, "what does this preppy looking kid from Miami know about Reggae music?". Still, I downloaded because the Boss knows me well enough to know what songs excite me. My thoughts after listening were exactly this…“He cannot be 18, who writes for him, OMG This boy is amazing, he will surely get it”.

You know what they say about not judging a book by its cover? Well it is the absolute truth - PLEASE do NOT do it guys and I should know this too. I confess I was one of those people who thought Adele was this black soulful singer from the Motor City somewhere and I promised myself once I found that to be the contrary, to never be so judgmental again, but “oops, I did it again”.  Without further ado, I have the ultimate pleasure of plugging to you Cris Cab - 18 year old Cuban singer/songwriter from Miami, Florida and his exceptional recently released debut EP – Foreword.

We Plug to You... Muhsinah - Gone EP

Independent singer, songwriter, composer and producer Muhsinah - pronounced Mu•see•na - is back after a long break away from the music scene with a brand new fourth EP titled GONE which she recently released on July 20 for her 28th birthday. The Washington DC native has already performed in front of President Obama at his homecoming inaugural ball in 2009 alongside veteran Chicago rapper Common and has also been nominated for a "Best Vocal Performance" Grammy Award for her work with Hip-Hop/Soul duo The Foreign Exchange. You simply cannot categorize Muhsinah into one genre or box as I found out when I listened to Gone. I found it difficult to place her but after listening to her a few time, I came to the following conclusion: her music and production are very much Electronica/Indie/Experimental but her vocals and lyrics are 100% Soul music and it's therefore no surprise that Muhsinah's dexterity and style have attracted many audiences and acknowledgments such as this one from Radiohead's front man, Thom Yorke.

We Plug To You... CocknBullKid - Adulthood

I plug to you East-London resident Anita Blay (by way of Hackney); Blay - also known as the unique yet intriguing stage name Cocknbullkid - is a 26-year old UK singer/songwriter of Ghanian heritage who has had a love for music ever since she can remember. Growing up with dreams of one day becoming a pop star, she started writing in her bedroom at age 10 and not before long, got immersed into the industry - writing with rapper-now-turned Soul singer Plan B by the age of 16. Blay went on to release her debut single "On My Own" produced by Joseph Mount (Metronomy) in July of 2008, which landed her a slot on seminal TV show Later With Jools Holland in the same year. With a stream of self-released singles under her belt, she later released an independent EP Querelle in 2009 under the moniker The Cocknbullkid and soon after went off the radar for a while. On her return from a 2-year hiatus, she dropped the pronoun from her name, got signed to major label Island Records and released a very stellar debut album titled Adulthood...

We Plug To You...FLO - The OverFLO

Now where do I start from on this one? From the very beginning I hear you say. OK, In the beginning was a lawyer who got restless with his musical talents and decided to put it to work - writing, arranging and producing songs for other artistes. He got quite excellent at his craft, and the big names kept rolling in, he produced for well known Gospel acts and even top mainstream artistes brought their work to him to engineer, mix and master. His popular sign off on his works 'F-L-O Baby or FloRocka' and his vocalisms on their tracks became a brand. As time went by, he "found" his singing voice and decided to step out into recording his own work, and history began. We plug to you gifted lawyer turned prolific producer turned unique and Inspirational Rock Singer/Songwriter - FLO.

We Plug To You... Ryan Hemsworth - No Plans

I wouldn’t consider producer Ryan Hemsworth new in the music industry, but it’s quite a surprise it has taken us this long to hear about his work. Ryan is a 21-year old producer hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada who has been producing and making beats for the past 7 years of his life.

"A couple of months ago, BBC Radio aired a Ryan Hemsworth track and beyond a little rambling about the naughty name of the compilation it appeared on (Dope Valley Fuck) they speculated about who he was, whether the vocals on the track were actually him or not, and surely were thinking to themselves how weird it was that his warm, funk, soul, and R&B infused jams were coming out of Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia. Little did they know, Nova Scotia's the second most densely populated province in Canada, and its capital Halifax is more populous than Pittsburgh. His debut reflects the same intersection of culture that occurs in any reasonably cosmopolitan locale, though we tend to think of Ryan's work as being particularly exemplary, giving nods to and sampling a menagerie of contemporary musicians, referencing internet memes (track 5, "Benny Lava," for example), synthesizing a distinctive, syncretic style and personal aesthetic." - [^]LAND

We Plug To You… DJ Klem - Afrofunkydiscosoul

Let me just start by telling you that this is a full on HYPE post. The difference however in this case is that this is a deserving kind of HYPE. I will not ever hype something that was not totally worth it - DJ Klem's Afrofunkydiscosoul is totally worth it - and the interesting part is, wait for it, wait for it…. It is totally FREE!!! Music this good should not be free, there should be a law against this BUT thankfully, I don't write the rules books.

This - Afrofunkydiscosoul - is the second release from award-winning Nigerian producer and Red Bull Music Academy alumni, DJ Klem (real name Clement Kponu) - his first record being the critically acclaimed Six8Ten EP from last year - and it features some of the best and most promising artists to come out of Nigeria this year. DJ Klem's Afrofunkydiscosoul draws together established acts such as Wizkid, Sound Sultan, Sauce Kid, Mo Cheddah, Zara and Kel and combines them with emerging artists like Iye, Teeklef, Funbi, Efa and Myst to make this album the best album, hands down, out of Nigeria so far in 2011.

WPGM Recommends: The Stow - The Covers EP

Have you ever wondered what a cross breed of Indie, Hip-Hop and Pop music would sound like? Well take that thought and pepper it with masses of attitude, palpible passion, boundless energy and an overdose of stage presence and you have... The Stow - their excellent fusion of genres, hard-hitting lyrics, humour and unapologetic rawness make this band worth getting stuck into. It will be worth your while, I tell ya!

We Plug To You... BLINK - The World Is Small

Hello world I have been gone for a minute but I'm back with a real jump off for you this time! Oh by the way, did I forget to ask you how your extended Easter holidays were? OK so how were you Easter holidays? Anyways enough of the chit chat, please walk closely with me on this one

When this particular album was sent to me, on first sight the thought in my head was and I quote, "wow Festac 77" but on a closer look at the album cover art, I could not help but admire the concept behind the design (shout out to Lloyd Cooper) - a really art inspired creation. Now my thoughts start to race as I hear murmerings of myself directed at no one in particular saying, "i hope this lives up to the expectation". I clicked play and can I just say that the rest is history.

21 year-old Blink - real name Nelson Agose - was born in Abia State (Eastern Nigeria) and raised in Lagos State until his teenage years. At age 16, he moved to America to pursue a degree in Economics, which in August 2010, he obtained from the University of Illinois Urbana champaign. The World Is Small is his debut album and this album tells a story of a traveling boy, interacting with the circumstances and situations he finds himself in life and how he uses those experiences to grow into a man. The experiences which are common to most people in the same circumstance include music, culture, race, religion, education, sex, and nationality but what makes Blink unique is his ability to fuse all of these into this interesting masterpiece, making good music for the ear.

The album kicks of with 'Dreams of A Winner' which serves as an apt beginning to the story on The World Is Small. On this record, Blink proclaims that he's ready for "blast off" as he speaks to his listener about his continued journey to achieving his dreams while remaining grateful for his present blessings as he seats somewhere "on coach" where he conjures up these "international dreams"… 'Dreams of A Winner' is a really chilled-out record which speaks volume about personal motivation and did I mention that the hook on this track is hella infectious plus the mellow drum-kicks infused production by Baron Boys is just straight fire. Listen below...

"Dreams of A Winner":

"I'm still dreaming like a winner/ but living like a sinner/ but my blessings are more so thank God for forgiveness"

The album moves further into a more conscious space with the song titled 'Pay Attention' and pay attention is exactly what you need to do on this drum and horns-led track produced once again by Baron Boys. On this one, Blink referring to himself as an "artist and thinker" goes in on everyone and everything from selling out in his music to fake rappers to ignorant listeners to the Church to Science to the media and even down to lack of electricity in his home country, Nigeria all in little over three and a half minutes. Check it out below but please make sure you 'Pay Attention'.

"Pay Attention":

"The truth is a blunt u got to take a hit/nowadays u make dollars u aint gatta to make no sense/so should i bring change or make sense?"

The 16-track album also features loads of exceptionally good Hip-Hop tracks such as the thumping and bass heavy "The Countdown", the incredibly catchy and infectious banger "Super" which sees Blink and The Baron Boys on 100% top form plus the braggadocious "Everywhere I Go", "Road to Riches" which features G.o.d jewels and the solemn, hard-hitting and very profound "Blanket of Dreams" which is backed by heavy keyboard arrangements and vocal from SLV. The song sheds an in-depth light on the problems and troubles facing his home country Nigeria and asks the poignant question of where the nation is going after 50 years of independence - a worthy listen by all accounts.

However, the final track I've decided to share (only because I've simply fallen in love with the tune) is the smooth and soulful key board-driven 'Jet To Lagos' backed by lush drum kicks and features Nigerian rapper Lynxx and singer Teeklef (can I hear you say "utunu") and in Blink's own words, 

"Even though I have experienced four winters in America, I'm still not used to the Illinois cold or the Chicago wind… Since the first time I came to America, I spent every Christmas break from school back in Lagos Nigeria. This song describes what my experience on the way back home is typically like and what life on the good side is like back home… Jet to Lagos"

I could relate to this song in every aspect of it as this reminds me so much of home and any one in diaspora will get this "catch a plane back home" feeling once you hear this record, especially if you are African... Still missing home? OK click play below and "Jet to Lagos"...

"Jet to Lagos":

The World is Small makes for a very good listen especially for a debut album and at a point where a lot of so-called "hip-hop" albums are laced with meaningless party songs, true Hip-Hop heads and aficionados will love this album as it addresses relevant individual, community and world issues while still keeping that braggadocio as Blink tells a good story that fuses culture, politics, sex, education and religion into one very G.O.O.D record. The young emcee sums up the album nicely in his own choice words and we will close out this piece with them:

"I am not a conscious rapper, I am a semi informed citizen of this world. It helps to THINK and ASK before you BELIEVE anything. Just a simple way to keep TABs on real life - The World is Small." - Blink

Purchase: Blink - The World Is Small (iTunes) // Bandcamp

Keeps Tabs on BLINK: Website // Twitter // Facebook

Until the Next Time... 


I am KingKC* and I love G.O.O.D Music 

We Plug to You... Naeto C - Super C Season

Ladies and Gentlemen, I had so much ear candy over the weekend and I have decided to purge it all out in todays article. Last week I was blessed with the opportunity to listen to this album and I am uber-ecstatic that I can "share my blessings" (hint hint) with you guys. This week's feature is on critically acclaimed Nigerian rapper Naeto C... Some of you may already know who he is but for those who have no idea let me give you a little bit of info on him.

Naeto C (real name: Naetochukwu Chikwe) is a Nigerian rapper, Afrobeat artist & record producer. Naeto grew up in a household heavily influenced by music which saw his penchant for music grow very fast and articulate into other creative art forms, most specifically poetry. This in turn took him to various talent showcases and earned him numerous accolades as a young poet - he states that his main inspiration is Jay-Z.

This next song you are about to listen to and also the first song on his latest 17-track album is titled "Super C Season" and this song is the perfect intro to the album of the same name. On this song, he doesn't really say much but just brags about his wealth and the fact that he's got no competition and I truly believe he's earned those bragging rights. This is really just a typical rap song, nothing serious but nevertheless it has got some witty lines you should look out for. Every rapper has a song like this on their album and this is one of my favourites.

 "You wanna know my P? Well here's an invite to find out"

 

This next Song "Ride with Me" features Britain's very own Sway and Jamaica's Lukie D, the record is mixture of Hip-Hop and R&B with Lukie D taking the hook with Sway and Naeto C taking turns on the verses.. This is one of them laid-back records with a chilled beat that you can just bob your head to or a song you can listen to while driving and thinking of that person/people that you know will ride it out with you. Naeto Talks about how he needs true love and how he needs a girl thats not all about the money but a girl that would "ride with him" till the end but just like a real rapper, still manages to talk about his swaggg...  

"I don't brag on the first night...I let the pounds show on the first night"..

 

The next song is titled "Share My Blessings". A refreshing addition to this track is Nigerian soul singer Asa who gives an amazing and emotional vocal performance. The brilliant use of 808s on the song also bring it to life but Asa's voice just leaves me speechless and I just can't imagine this song without Asa on it. Her vocals give the song the perfect balance it needs. This is one of the best songs on this album and one of the best collaborations in Nigerian music so far. "Share My Blessings" was produced by TY Mix and it sees Naeto C take you on an epiphany of losing a friend, the importance of family and friends and extending your blessings to your loved ones.

                     "Keep your loved ones close cos they don't live twice"

 

Naeto C should be commended for making an album that people in his position rarely make which is an album that conveys his personal feelings through his music. Artists of his status would rather hide behind the mask that is their celebrity, leaving us - the listeners - with music that lacks thought and honesty. Honesty, which can be found on Naeto C's SUPER C SEASON. Buy this album, listen and love it because this is some quality G.O.O.D music!

Purchase: Naeto C - Super C Season (iTunes) // (Amazon)

Until the Next Time...

It's Max 

We Plug 2 You... ASA - Beautiful Imperfection

This is a long over-due feature and after I am done, you will see why I still felt the need to share this with you, 3 months later. Some of you may already know this artist, dare I say you should and for some, she will be totally new, so let me give you a little bit of background info.

ASA is a Singer/Songwriter (Government name: Bukola Elemide) who was born in Paris, France and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. It was while in Nigeria, that she started singing and discovered music but it was not until she moved back to Paris during her adult life, that she found and formed her musical style. Her Musical influences include Marvin Gaye, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Rafel Saadiq as well as Angelique Kidjo and you can actually tell  from her songs that she does not just say this. So when we say ASA's music is a fusion of Pop, Soul, R&B, World, Funk & Reggae, it is exactly that, all beautifully sung in Yoruba and English. 

I must confess that I was not a fan of her début self-titled album 'Asa (Asha)', there was just something missing that I could not quite place my finger on, although I could not deny how beautiful and soulful her voice was. With her sophomore album 'Beautiful Imperfection' which came out last October in Europe & Africa and is soon to be released in the UK & US, I must say I am quite flawed. It's everything working well together; her sound, the music, the elements of live music, the well thought out lyrics, the story in every song and the emotions they evoke. This album is bright and happy while still remaining soulful. I give this album a 9/10 without question. But I'm rambling on, you listen for yourself.

  

This first song is titled 'Maybe' and I absolutely love it. I love the blend of Acoustic Pop and Soul music; the lush piano chords and the soft guitar riffs; the drums patterns and the perfectly arranged backing vocals. This song is simply beautiful and it gives you so much assurance and inner peace, well it gives me so much assurance and inner peace anyway. Add that amazing voice and what she is saying on the record into the mix and you can't help but fall in love with this song.

            "I'm gonna be myself, and nobody can, nobody can stop me. I'll finally be, who I'll be"

  

This second song is titled 'Dreamer Girl (Have You Ever Heard)' on which she encourages you to dream, because maybe someday, that elusive day we all hope for (like when I win the lottery and become a millionaire) will eventually come to pass. Asa's stripped-down acoustic sound really shines through on this and the melody of this song is without question the best on the album. This song is actually my personal favourite, primarily because I can relate. As with this one, quite a lot of songs on this album are very relatable and on songs like 'Bimpe' and 'Ore', you almost think this might be a personal story for her.

"You might think, that she is a bit naive when she says that someday she'll be queen. Is it impossible, is it a crime or is it a silly state of mind"

This next song is called 'Baby Gone' and it's four heavenly minutes of Blues-infused slow tempo guitar-driven soul music. I love this song especially because it's from the perspective of a woman who's lost her significant other and desperately wants him back, usually it's the other way round with the male character wanting the woman back so it's good to hear the contrast. This song is so raw, brutally honest and very sad, it's hard not to appreciate this. Asa's voice, the musical arrangements and harmonies evoke so much passion and the pain in this song resonates with me. Can I just say mention the violin solo from 2:30 minutes? Mentioned...

            "I wish I kissed you deeper, can we find a way? A way. My baby is gone, gone, gone"

  

  

Lastly and not in the least by any chance, I thought I ought to share a more upbeat song to end things just right.  A little less up-beat than the official lead single for the album 'Be Your Man' but equally as happy is the very catchy summery tune, 'Why Can't We'. This definitely makes you want to move your feet, the way only a good Pop song can make you do. I love the horns & drums combination on this one, they give the song so much energy just at the right moments and it reminds me of a Disney song and a Jack Johnson song all at the same time if that's even possible. Very enjoyable!

"What is life about? Did nobody tell you. The reason why I ask, I can see you are so confused. You worry much about the things you cannot see. You have it all with your money, you still complain"

  

This album is as perfect as they come. I did not skip a single track on this record and I suspect you wouldn't either. Even if you do not understand the songs in Yoruba, I am sure that the melodies, harmonies of the songs and the quality of music on 'Beautiful Imperfection' will keep you listening. ASA's voice is soooo beautiful and you'll find yourself in a very peaceful place when you listen to this album so I encourage you to definitely purchase this album at the jump.

Asa's Beautiful Imperfection is released in the UK on the 4th of April, 2011 and in America during the Fall.

Purchase: Asa - Beautiful Imperfection (iTunes France // Amazon Germany)

Keep Tabs on Asa: Facebook // Twitter // Website

Till Next Time

Peace, Love and Good Music

Neefemi 

We Plug to You... Izzi Dunn -- Cries & Smiles

"It's been a long time / I shouldn'tve left you / without some dope music to plug you..." 

Hey everyone. Depending on when you're reading this (and what side of the globe you're on lol), how's your day (or night)? The plan was for my grand return to these here internets to be filled with fireworks, kissed newborns & champagne, and it was also supposed to be like a month ago. But things happen, life happens, etc. I'm here now, and that's all that matters! A few weeks ago, Ayo sent me some jams in my inbox, and I have to say I'm definitely vibing to it. 

So here I am, plugging to you, Izzi Dunn. Now, I must admit that I must have been living under a rock when it comes to Ms. Dunn, for this was the first time I'd ever heard any of her music. What a big rock that was, let me tell you. Izzi Dunn is an acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and singer who has collaborated with the likes of Gorillaz, Roots Manuva and Mark Ronson. With her sophomore release Cries and Smiles, she brings another dose of beautiful fusion of R&B, jazz and soul for our ears.

My favorite song off of the album is Kill Me Slow.

First of all, the production on this track is complete & utter perfection. The orchestration gives me life. And can we talk about her lyrics? "Under my skin, the pain runs deep. your insidious poison seeps like blood stains in the snow. You kill me slow..." The imagery is so vivid, it's like you can close your eyes and just see all of this in front of you. The dark tone of the music definitely complements the subject matter. My heart is kinda breaking FOR her, that's how much pain there is in these lyrics. You as the listener FEEL all of it.

The title track, "Cries and Smiles," is one of those songs that kind of makes you want to evaluate your life, with lyrics such as "...are we just slaves to the rhythm or...just as free as we wanna be?" Once again, the production is on point with this song. Multiple head nods during this song, and the breakdown near the end before the third verse is amazing. I think it could be used as a manifesto of sorts, actually. With so many people living their lives with jobs they hate, or maybe wanting to do more with what they've been given, this song can definitely give you that extra push to want to become the person you want to be.

"...Tits and ass make the world go 'round..."

This song is charging. The bass is awesome, but more than that, the song is basically about how the daily use of T&A is used to sell everything. She speaks about the nature of how sexuality is used to sell product -- the more "artsy" it is, the more we're willing to accept it, but when it's blatant, we reject & denounce it. There seems to be no even ground.

If you're still iffy on whether to check this out (which I hope you're not!), sample the song "When It Comes to Love." It's whimsical and very orchestral, and it reminds me of a beautiful spring day. Sonically, "Cries and Smiles" is a joy to ears, and lyrically, it's a treat for minds & hearts alike. As this was my first foray into hearing any material by Izzi Dunn, I must say that I was thoroughly impressed. Any great meshing of jazz, R&B and soul will get an automatic listen from me, and this album has definitely made me a fan.

Purchase: Izzi Dunn - Cries & Smiles

'til next time,

doJo.

We Plug 2 Y.O.U... Kae Sun - Lion on a Leash

Hello Guys. TGIF!!!! No seriously, Thank God it’s Friday. I feel like a drink and its 2am in the morning but moving on. This week the boss gave me an assignment that I just was not feeling. Not because the album wasn’t great, but I just wasn’t in the space of mind for that genre of music. Does that ever happen to you? I go entire weeks not wanting to listen to a certain genre of music; you know blues, or country or anything soulful. Sometimes it’s my cherished hip-hop/rap at which point I think the end is near btw.  But the boss was not trying to give me a week off, he quickly sent me something else cos he knew my ass was happy about the whole situation and I’m so glad he did. You see this email has been in my inbox since July. What is it now? September!  Like seriously, I’m a bad employee. But, better late than never right? Right! Let me introduce you then to Kae Sun.

Toronto-based & Ghana-born Kae Sun is a soulful folk musician who draws on modern hip-hop, classic rock, and traditional African music genres to create a distinct, dynamic sound of his own. I believe this is the first African that is Non Nigerian on our blog. #teamAfrica. He is blessed with a gift, Kae Sun is. I have repeated his album Lion on a Leash three times and I just got it a couple hours ago. Every song is done with perfection; it was very hard for me to pick just three for this post. So guess what I did? I picked four. Yes we can.

In a world filled with music by the likes of Soulja boy and the rest it’s great to see artists with a message in their song like Kae Sun in his song 'Too Young, Too Soon'.  In this song he reminds us that the world is watching and we have too much to lose for us to keep fighting.  “But we can’t keep reaching for love from a distance”. Plus is it just me or is the sound Fela or Femi Kuti reminiscent? For the first half his album you could hear that indigenous African sound and I loved that.

  

This next song, 'Going the Distance' is “it” for me. So sweet and so powerful because you can just hear the honesty in it. Plus is it just me again or is this song so John Mayer ish? I love John Mayer and dare I say Kae Sun went one up over him with this song. I love the simplicity in the lyrics of this song as well. It’s a very beautiful thing to hear a man speak of a woman and of love in this way. “It’s a sure bet that nothings gonna change, you got my respect you can lay all doubts to rest and it’s a sure sign that heavens on our side this way, come what may I’m going the distance with you, all the way”. Great song.

 

Have I said this yet? This guy is GOOD.  If he is the one playing the guitar in this song below, 'Blow at the Stars' as well, then he deserves a standing ovation or a round of applause at the very least. I hate to do the comparison to John Mayer again, really I do and it’s not in the voice it’s in the music and the lyrics. If I could request any song for him to perform, it would definitely be this one. This is so soulful to me and still great enough for people who are not fans of this genre. Your loss btw.  “A man without a shadow is a man without a conscience”.

 

Just when you think you are done and still trying to appreciate how versatile an artist Kae Sun is, you hear 'On the Lookout'. After you listen to this song, I think you should go over to youtube to peep the video.  The creativity of the video is so telling of this guy’s work. Due props to the producer, director and all those behind the scenes of course. I just love how he was able to bring it back to the sounds of today. “Why everybody got that mask on? Try hard to be anonymous, too many ways to be discovered”

 

I really loved this album. Death to the skip button on it as well. You definitely need to support Kae Sun and have this album in your library if you are a lover of good music. If you live in Canada, i'm so envious because he is performing all over in the next couple months. Get dates to his perfomance here. So tell me guys what do you think? Will love to hear your feedback.

Purchase: Kae Sun - Lion on a Leash

And i'm out till next week

Peace, Love and Good Music

Neefemi