soul food: shad's 'flying colours'

no words to describe this dopeness, y'all. i don't know how shad keeps getting better with each album, but he truly does. this is all kinds of magic. and the collaborations are really smart, too. this is a perfect combination of brilliant storytelling and masterful technique.

it is thoughtful, intelligent, sharp, introspective, and it makes you think. it makes you stop everything to listen. and it consistently knocks you over with just how bloody good it is. it has also rendered me unable to review it properly because i keep jumping out of my seat yelling 'whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!! whaaaat!?' and startling everyone around me. i shall therefore leave that to the professionals and go back to my vigorous head-nodding.

soul food: shad's 'flying colours'

shad k: it ain't over

oh, shad. how i love you. this is awesome.

from the album 'melancholy and infinite shadness'

download.

shad k: it ain't over

the awesome: 'buffer slow' by shad k

bonus track 'buffer slow' from shad k's awesome birthday EP, melancholy and the infinite shadness. this is totally my favorite. the neneh cherry sample! so awesome.

the awesome: 'buffer slow' by shad k

k'naan on 'visions of visionaries'

k'naan on 'visions of visionaries'

soul food: 'the village' by ian kamau

beautiful brilliance from the brother, ian kamau. loving his album, one day soon, which is now available, here.

he is currently in south africa and moving up to kenya within the next week and i'm digging following his adventures on the continent via twitter.

soul food: 'the village' by ian kamau

soul food: leo37's 'gorgeous'

gorgeous: another dope single from leo37's fanfare EP! loooove this video!

download here.

soul food: leo37's 'gorgeous'

freshness: fanfare -- leo37

i posted the preview for leo37's fanfare a little while ago and, it's now finally been released

the EP  is a collaborative effort between the emcee/producer/turntablist leo37 and producer and toronto-based mult-instrumentalist, john poon. it features guest appearances by lilian chan [vocals] (you & the night) and tim shia [drums] (fire dance, footwork, & fanfare) and album art from award-winning animator/illustrator howie shia. the result of the collaboration is an effort that is both classic and fresh and that is musically, aesthetically, stylistically refreshing.  dopeness abounds, y'all.


fanfare is available now for free download at:  www.leo37.com

freshness: fanfare -- leo37

soul food: new music [soon come] from k'naan

um...you guys...?

*dance of glee*

soul food: new music [soon come] from k'naan

soul food: zaki ibrahim's 'something in the water'

canadian/south african afropolitan zaki ibrahim has released a new single from her forthcoming album every opposite. something in the water is a soulful house track and is the first release from her first full-length album, which was conceived and recorded entirely in south africa. i don't know about y'all, but this is the perfect track to lose myself in after a loooooong week.

 ZAKI IBRAHIM - SOMETHING IN THE WATER by motifrecords 

soul food: zaki ibrahim's 'something in the water'

soul food: 'fanfare' ~ leo37

one of those incredibly rare moments where you hear something and have to sit down to process it because it's that dope. check out this dope preview by PPFHouse for leo37's upcoming EP, 'fanfare'. brilliant.

soul food: 'fanfare' ~ leo37

illume sessions: shad k

trailer for shad k's illume sessions (via illume creative studio). a brief glimpse into the upcoming episode featuring performance and interview with shad k.

illume sessions: shad k

ian kamau: all i need

from the awesomeness of his three-volume mixtape, love and other struggles, here is 'all i need' by ian kamau. love the lovebirds.

ian kamau: all i need

afropolitana: kae sun

ghanian-canadian singer-songwriter kae sun is currently in my top 10 list of music-i-listen-to-too-damn-much. 

he released his debut album, lion on a leash, in 2010. his latest single from the album is 'black candles', a beautifully poignant track about childhood. 

'black candles'

he recently released an EP entitled outside the barcode upon his return from ghana and it is described as 'an authentic and reflective collection of songs that showcase kae’s growth as a songwriter, storyteller and guitarist.' 

he recorded the EP in ontario in april 2011 and the recording was captured in this beautiful video shot and directed by star p and armand kanjangwe (rwandan-canadian afropolitans).





download the EP here.  

afropolitana: kae sun

new music: ian kamau's 'choose you'

the brother ian kamau has released a new video for 'choose you' from his september nine vol 3: love and other struggles mixtape. love the track. love the concept. i have to say, despite the fact that i've been eagerly awaiting this album for a while now, kamau has more than made up for the wait with these brilliant mixtapes. he's just truth and light and general awesome. 

new music: ian kamau's 'choose you'