Afro-Step

Those around me remember about 4 or 5 years ago when i was sooooooo excited about this new sound called Dubstep. And now 90-99% of the derivative bullshit leaves me not only cold, but running for the door. What took almost a decade to happen to Jungle/Drum'n'Bass took only half as much time with Dubstep: meat-headification.

But i believe one fundamental formal difference might give Dubstep more longevity. A vast mutability in the genetic blueprint, i.e. the spaciousness of the half-time beats, allows the virus to virtually infect any other musical organism, forming hybrid entities, and thus giving the "genre" much more room to evolve. This might be a bad thing in many cases (does anyone need Dubstep remixes of Stairway to Heaven?!?!) but i believe, in other instances, can point to interesting aural possibilities.

So here is a percussive Afrocentric Dubstep mashup refix i was looking forward to playing in Berghain, where i was to open up for Konono next month. But the club booker changed his mind last minute and booked Burnt Friedman instead, and I uploaded this to Soundcloud within an hour of getting the bad news. Oh well can't win them all and on to the next one!

Royal Panamax Snook Shed by djzhao

Radio Ngoma 6

125bpm African and Afrocentric electronic music fit for both i-pods and dancefloors. includes more abstract tunes, refixes of tasty traditional sounds, a remix of Black Panthers poetry (preview of Fusion3), but mostly we are in deep and warm percussive house music territory. 2 hours is perfect for this journey, not 1 minute too short or too long.

to downloaded: just click the little downward arrow to the right side of the player.
Dj Zhao - Radio Ngoma 6 Afro-Futurism by reboot.fm

alternate link: MEGAUPLOAD

01 Africa Hitech - The Sound of Tomorrow
02 Doc Daneeka - Kushday Soundboy
03 Guem & Zaka - Danse
04 C.K. Mann - Funky Hilife VS. Yonurican - Lucha Machete
05 Basti Grub - Niccilied
06 Sarah Webster Fabio - Boss Soul VS. Osunlade  -  Natives Tongue
07 Burundi Traditional - Chant d'enfant accompagne d'un arc musical umuduri VS Spikiri feat. Hugh Masekela - Spiyanko Bonus Beats
08 Donga and Blake - Detroitus
09 Dj Sdunkero - Tops Of
10 Sheharzad - Yalla Yalla (Henrik Schwarz Remix)
11 Damian Schwartz - Salson
12 Mastiksoul & Dada - Tasty
13 Dr Duda and Dr M-Bee - Latin Soul
14 Angelo Agnell - Off the Wall (Tshwara Lebota)
15 Tira & Bubzin - Africa Part 2
16 Aero Manyelo - Mexican Girl
17 Digital Mystikz - Pathways (Doc Daneeka Remix)
18 Mulatu Astatke and the Heliocentrics - Esketa Dance VS. DJ Znobia - The Killer
19 Sean Paul - Bounce it Right There VS. DVA - Natty
20 Aidonia - I Like Her
21 Blackbone - Chalewote
22 Unknown - Yala (Zhao Refix)
23 4X4 - Miss Doctor (Dance Kill Move Remix).
24 Longombaz - Vuta Pumzi
25 Ishmael - Jinda
26 Dj Jesus - Long to Long
27 Dr Duda and Dr M-Bee - That Night Feat. Tantaswa
28 Rod Modell with Kevin Hanton - Untitled

Chop Chop Akwaaba Supermix!

The super awesome and diverse Akwaaba asked me to do a mix to represent the first 2 years of their existence, and it was a challenge. The releases cover a wide range of both classic and modern sounds -- how was i going to move from Malian roots to African Salsa to Kwaito, Hiplife, Afro-pop, Jazz, Funk, House and Kuduro? This is what i came up with. enjoy!

Djzhao - ChopChop Akwaaba Supermix by Akwaaba Music

download: click arrow on right side of player.
FLAC version: MEGAUPLOAD

01 Baro - Ahmed Fofana
(from AKW001 VA - Akwaaba Wo Africa)
02 Alou Sangare Buranke - Kana Mine Mogo Kan Man
(from AKW006 Alou Sangare Buranke)
03 Mamou Sidibe - Noumou
(from AKW004 Mamou Sidibe - Djougouya)
04 Just a Band - Tingiza Kichwa
(from AKW015 Just a Band - 82)
05 Skeat - Basimanyana mamela Meroapa
(from AKW018 Skeat - Basimanyana Mamela Meroapa)
06 Iba Diabate - Sow
(from AKW013 Iba Diabate - Mouna)
07 Appietus - Ma Alomo (featuring KK Fosu & Reggie Zippy)
(from AKW020 Appietus - The Revolution)
08 Killamu - Vai Con Calma
(from AKW014 Killamu - A Minha Face)
09 Killamu - Não aceito, não
(from AKW014 Killamu - A Minha Face
10 Michel Pinheiro - Femme
(from AKW007 Michel Pinheiro - Agoh)
11 Bradez - One gallon
(from AKW001 Akwaaba Wo Africa
12 Quabena Philip - Wadaade Me
(from AKW002 VA - Move It Chaleh!)
13 Appietus the Revolution - Essabel (featuring Old Sodja & Mike)
(from AKW020 Appietus - The Revolution)
14 Ruff n Smooth - Swagger (feat. Stay Jay)
(from AKW023 Ruff'n'Smooth - Life Is Rough and Smooth)
15 Iba Diabate - Iba Nana
(from AKW013 Iba Diabate - Mouna)
16 Jali Bakary - Combination
(from AKW016 Jali Bakary Konteh Konteh Kunda)
17 Rabbi - Wedding
(from AKW002 VA - Move It Chaleh!)
18 Skeat - Dumelang
(from AKW018 Skeat - Basimanyana Mamela Meroapa)
19 DJ Djeff feat Maskarado - Elegom Bounsa
(from AKW024 DJ Djeff feat Maskarado - Elegom Bounsa)
20 Ruff n Smooth - Azingele feat. S.K. Blinks
(from AKW023 Ruff'n'Smooth - Life Is Rough and Smooth)
21 Killamu - Melodia De Semba
(from AKW014 Killamu - A Minha Face)
22 Killamu - Flaminguinho
(from AKW014 Killamu - A Minha Face)
23 Killamu - Yuya
(from AKW014 Killamu - A Minha Face)24 Killamu - Tchilu
25 Noite e Dia - Tiramakossa
(from AKW010 VA - Akwaaba Sem Transporte)
26 Just a Band - Kaa Ridho
(from AKW015 Just a Band - 82)
27 Jali Bakary - Kelefa
(from AKW016 Jali Bakary Konteh Konteh Kunda)

the original Ngoma

More sweet, sweet Congolese Rumba and its roots: a pair of reissues from the original Ngoma, "one of the first record labels intended to provide local African music to the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The label was created circa 1948 by the Greek businessman Nicolas Jéronimidis, and was active until 1968. Its catalog included many known artists at that time including Camille Feruzi, who is said to have popularized rumba during the 1930s, Antoine Wendo Kolosoy, one of the biggest names of all-time in Congolese music, the Angolan Manuel d´Oliveira, Léon Bukasa, Antoine Mundanda and Albert Luampasi, the guitarist who is said to taught a certain François Luambo Makiadi (Franco) his first guitar chords. (!!!! - zhao)"

Ngoma: The Early Years, 1948-1960

Ngoma-souvenir ya l'indépendance

and if you want to read about the tragic turn of political events in 1961 which occured as the joyous sounds on the Souvenir collection were being recorded... the 1961 CIA murder of democratically elected Congo leader Patrice Lumumba, an assassination which had catastrophic consequences for the region which last until today.