Check out our selection of future and old classics for this week's Heavy Rotation!
→ Back after a little break! Sick new collab between Cordae and Anderson .Paak over a J. Cole beat! Another collab between Berlin based Jembaa Groove and UK/Ghana omnipresent K.O.G with the beatiful "Sweet My Ears". From Ghana to Togo with the new Roger Damawuzan LP hot from the Parisian press of Hot Casa Records! Looking back at obscure sax player Byron Morris and his Unity with the great jazz-funk number "Panamanian Aire" as well as the hauntingly beautiful classic "Canto Chorado" from Brazil's Os Originais Do Samba's first LP!
Slick and breezy bop with Cordae and Anderson .Paak on "Two Tens." This collaborative track between the Maryland-raised rapper and the prolific artist is one of many by the trio, with a full EP in the works. With a mellow soundscape by J. Cole and effortless rhymes, Cordae and .Paak trade verses to create a smooth hip-hop hit. "Two Tens" was released on January 25, 2023 by Atlantic Records. Can't wait for that EP!
Agogo Records comes up with the divine and soulful new track "Sweet My Ear" by Jembaa Groove, featuring the multi-talented and omnipresent K.O.G. This powerhouse song fuses highlife with soul-jazz, featuring the mesmerizing vocals of Eric Owusu from Jembaa Groove and K.O.G. The song is backed by a phat groove and dazzling horn section, culminating in a sensual and passionate ode to the beauty of spontaneous encounters. Based in Berlin, Jembaa Groove blends jazz with 70s Highlife and contemporary sounds from Ghana and its diaspora, while K.O.G, based in Sheffield, England, brings a mix of afro-futurism, hi-life, hip-hop and funk to the table.
Togo's very own funk master Roger Damawuzan's new LP "Seda" finally got hot from the press and available through Paris-based Hot Casa Records! Roger Damawuzan is an unstoppable force of nature and one of the pioneers of Afro-Funk. Soul-stirring "Need My Money" is a must-listen, showcasing Damawuzan's raw energy and relentless spirit as he takes the mic with the support of Peter Solo (Vaudoo Game) and Lomé's most talented musicians. The album, Seda, was captured at the legendary studio OTODI using analog equipment to bring Damawuzan's soul to life. With its powerful bass, brass, and guitar riffs, "Need My Money" is the epitome of Afro, Soul, Funk, and Vaudou. Just remember, "Seda" means "listen" - and that's an order!
Super catchy jazz-funk number by Byron Morris and Unity, "Panamanian Aire" is a standout track from their LP "Vibrations, Themes & Serenades." Byron Morris was an obscure jazz saxophonist who has been a staple of the Washington, D.C. jazz scene for decades and has led Unity since the 1970s. "Panamanian Aire" showcases Morris' spiritual and emotional style, drawing inspiration from legends like John Coltrane and Pharaoh Sanders. Great vocals as well!
Looking back at the first eponymous LP by Os Originais do Samba... And the incredibly touching and hauntingly beautiful "Canto Chorado" (crying song) out from in 1969 on RCA Victor. Such a classic with those unique vocals!
After his critically acclaimed previous LP "Navegar" back in 2021 (which features the Le Mellotron highly rotating "Se Você"), Carioca, Lyon-based João Selva is already back and about to release his anticipated new LP "Passarinhos" on Underdog Records, teaming up once again with hardest working French producer in the tropical funk music business, Bruno Patchworks! The album is packed with future Brazilian funk classics, including the super addictive "Sete Ventos" which we are super happy to premiere here!
Only a few weeks after the release of their beautiful EP "Sequences", French jazz/hip-hop quintet is already releasing their first mixtape tomorrow on French Menace label. A solid contribution to the genre and a confirmation of the band's virtuosity. We're proud to contribute today with the Premiere of "Quiet Storm", one of the many already future classics on the album.
Very happy to premiere the next diptych from Montreal based producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist FOXTROTT. Been a fan of her experimental pop production for years. Today we're premiering "Take it Back" from her new single "Take it Back / Go for Joy" out tomorrow!
Another hot Premiere today! Very happy to premiere "Playa Poco Sexy" by Sexo y Fantasia, an obscure 80's erotica soundtrack which will get released on Madrid based label Glossy Mistakes next Friday!