The is dedicated to Global Fusionists World Wide because all around the word same song! This song speaks to the state of our world today. You can’t keep people hungary for too long & keep blaming the minum wage because “The whole world’s about to errupt.. I tell you revolution is a must…you no see sey people hungary & though some living in fear them still hungary.. ”

“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is in an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.” —Frederick Douglass

As President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil said “We either speak frankly about the situation we are facing or we continue creating these emergency policies like it did in Haiti“.

“The Mayor of Freetown City Council Herbert Williams at a press briefing held at the British Council hall on Monday 25th told a battery of journalists that the proceeds from the Morgan Heritage concert scheduled for December 28-29 will be used to purchase school buses in order to bring a durable solution to the problem of transportation for school going children in the municipality. In his concept overview, the city father said he was contacted by a group of people to partner with the Freetown City Council to host the sensational reggae ace band the Morgan Heritage Family….“After serious consideration by the council, the council consented to take the venture due to the findings about the Morgan Heritage”, Mayor charged and disclosed that “research fostered by the Freetown City Council revealed that the Morgan family traced their roots to Sierra Leone and because their songs are morally correct and upright, this is the more reason for the Council’s choice...” READ MORE

It seems everyday I am introduced to great young new global African artists who are bringing the world a new universal sound of Africa. The new sound of  Africa is rock, the new sound of Africa is funk, the new sound of Africa is blues, the new sound of Africa is pop, the new sound of Africa is soul, the new sound of Africa is house, the new sound of Africa is Afro Beat, the new sound of Africa is Jazz, the new sound of Africa is authentically African. A sound that represents the heart, soul, heritage & up bringing of the new faces of global African artists who will become the new era British invasion on the world music scene.

African artists from the UK like Seal, Sade , Yaaba Funk & Shingai Shoniwa of the Noisettes along with their equally taking over the global charts American counterparts like Somi,Wale & Mr. Mama Africa Akon have been setting the world music scene on fire & paving the way for the new global African sound that is erupting & will be sure to attain its full rise in 2011. Africa is the root of world music & these young Africans are bringing it back home. Check out Gamu Nhengu, Kobi Onyame,Tawiah & Asa.

“UK based Zimbabwean born singer, Gamu Nhengu has reportedly been signed by 50 Cent on his new recording label, G-Note Records. Gamu Nhengu was controversially dropped from the X-factor competition last year. Also, last year, her family also faced being deported to their native country after the UK home office refused their visa renewal application on administrative grounds…”READ MORE

“Born on the 3rd of July 1982 in Accra, Ghana, Kobi Onyame (born Kwame Barfour-Osei) moved to England at the tender age of 1. At the age of 7 he relocated with his family to Ghana. During his early years he drew musical inspiration from the likes of Lords of the Underground, Naughty by Nature, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Kris Kross. Till this day, he says these groups influenced him with their musical style, image, lyrical content and beats. His other musical influences include Jay-Z, Notorious BIG, Common, Kanye West, Panji Anoff, Kwaku T and Talib Kweli…” READ MORE

Born in Battersea to Ghanaian parents, Tawiah’s soulful rock melodies with gospel inflections compliment her quirky rainbow child punk rock fashion style that is very much her own. One can clearly hear & see the culmination in adaption of her personal influences which she touts as Kim Burrell, Björk, Radiohead, Erykah Badu & Ella Fitzgerald as her musical favorites & Vivenne Westwood as her fashion favorite. Tawiah comes to us from the Brit School peforming academy in London,which boasts recent success stories like Amy Winehouse, Adele & Leona Lewis. Tawiah’s short resume in music is impressive as she has rocked the stage singing backup for Corinne Bailey Rae & touring with uber producer Mark Ronson’s band. Taiwah recently inked a deal with Warner Music Group & is ready to take the world by storm as yet another child of the Black Star nation who will meet a meteoric rise to fame!

“This purveyor of ‘twisted soul’ is blessed with a voice bigger than God and the kind of self-confidence only three years at the Brit School can give you, says Paul Lester..She looks like a nu-rave Rasta libertine, talks like she received instruction at the Fagin School of Enunciation for Girls, sings like Gabriel’s trumpet carrying the Good News and walks like a woman who knows her time is now..” READ MORE

“THE STORY OF ASA (PRONOUNCED ASHA) BEGINS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA….where she found a home in her father’s extensive and eclectic collection of records from soul classics to traditional Nigerian music. Starting to sing at a young age, Asa was inspired by the sounds and messages of artists such as Marvin Gaye, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey who served as touchstones when she later began crafting her own songs. It wasn’t until she was studying in Paris that she truly formed her musical style, immersing herself in the songs of her musical contemporaries — Erika Badu, D’Angelo, Rafel Saadiq, Lauryn Hill and Angelique Kidjo. Asa fuses pop, r&b, world, funk, soul and reggae in a debut eponymous album where she sings in both English and Yoruba. Featuring impeccable percussion, a funky Hammond organ and reggae-infused bass, the album has two stand-out tracks: Jailer, a song about “the irony of oppression, the one that operates in everyday life” and Fire In The Mountain. Asa’s album met recognition worldwide and the artist engaged in an extended tour including Europe, North America, Africa and Japan. Asa gained global recognition as a charismatic songstress with a trademark husky voice, unafraid to tackle serious issues with intelligence and confidence. “This Nigerian singer-songwriter might actually be a twenty-first century Bob Marley” — BBC Music….”READ MORE

South Africa’s own DJ Black Coffee  AKA Nkosinathi Maphumulo is getting lovers of classic house music to dig deep into its African Roots. DJ Black Coffee has been burning up the airwaves & clubs in Europe & Africa while creeping his way into a north American takeover reminiscent of the genre’s hey day in Chicago & New York a la  Frankie Knuckles &  Larry Levane . DJ Black Coffee is smashing records & taking names as not only the only DJ to spin 60 hours straight, but he put that extra spin on it for the record books since he lost his left hand in an accident at the age of 13. Black Coffee is exactly the lift that the global house music scene needed to get back on that high -that lovely spiritual feel good Juju  that comes deeply roasted & flavorfully Black!

Pay close attention to the global sound of my Harlem sistren & a special African Lady who goes by one name -Somi.
“A true multicultural woman, Somi was born in Illinois to immigrants from Rwanda and Uganda, then spent her early childhood in Zambia. The African cultural legacy, always crucial to her sound, is as vital as ever in her current music, which Somi likes to call New African Soul. But so too is the music she heard upon relocating to New York, with American jazz singers like Nina Simone and Sarah Vaughan as essential to her artistic development as the legendary African female voices of Miriam Makeba, Cesaria Evora and Sade…”Read More

ALL HAIL AFRICA …AFRICA STAND UP- RISE!

This beautifully all intoxicating sugary sweet ginger spice of a song came on last night during yet another friday night wine down session. I quickly went to write it down to remember to find the video if one existed because I wanted to relive that feeling, that moment again & to share it with others. I am a big fan of  CéU & remember the fact that 3 different people in my life brought me to & more & more  into her music from Miami to Italy &  Harlem- that beautiful blend right there stopped me in my tracks to remember the beauty & the love experienced through all those places & how CéU & her music -”Mais um Lamento” in particular is now part of the  official soundtrack of those stories being told. I had to find out  the English translation of those unfamiliar yet familiar words that drew me into a loving type of easy beautiful freedom, which felt like her Portuguese lullaby to love.

Here’s the  rough translation from TheBossalover: with a handle like that I can trust he/she may know a thing or two about Portuguese lullabies to love-LOL!

“Lament (or regret) It will be hard, yes…To find a love like yours…How it hurts in my chest… Your taste is just the way I like, just the way …Regret… And its just one more regret between so many… felt Just to kill the longing, even wanting you not to hear my cry from afar. My pain, my lament….It will be hard, yes To find a love, like yours…Oh how it hurt in my chest… Your taste, is just the way that I like, just the way… Lament.. It goes somewhat along those lines…..“

My ipod is the best DJ or maybe just my love for music that has brought me to gather everything that suits me & often many others in my company at all times-hearing something new that we forgot about or never knew about & always reminiscing with songs intertwined with experiences of  past, present & future.  It seems to always gage my mood when I press shuffle . Taking me on a true global fusion of music, engaging me in memories, good times, bad times, moments, places, faces  & spaces I have been thru & shared in life, alone & with others. Thank You CéU, thank you I-pod, thank you my sexy pictures crew who came over last night with great conversations of our global world in its jokes & in its seriousness, over red wine,  hope, satiation & tears inducing laughter!

“As Céu herself explained, “I have a passion for Black culture, from Jazz divas to Afro beat. Everything comes from Africa. With Samba, I have a very strong connection to the old school that we call ‘Samba de raiz’ (Root Samba). I am a vinyl listener, so I tried to bring some of that to the CD, mixing it with modern things like rap or even ‘Brega’, which is the newest thing in Brazil.” In particular, she cites as influences the music of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Lauryn Hill, and Erykah Badu.…” READ MORE …A woman & global African after my own heart…

HERE’S 2 GLOBALLY EMBRACING & PROTECTING THE CULTURE!

This artist, Ian Rees is Brilliant-check him out HERE

“I may not be familiar with ur language, but I sure would like to cross over ur bridge.. Said I may not dress in a style as the men in your town do, but I sure do know how to say I love you..I want to love in the morning.. love u in the evening too.. even when ur lonley.. I’ll make u happy when ur feeling feeling blue..I am just a stranger in your town once in awhile I’ll pop around..” Until we meet again we will be friends that never end awaiting for you to pop around!

“Gregory Isaacs — one of the most popular and versatile reggae singers of the late-Seventies, and the smooth-voiced dancehall crooner behind the genre’s landmark 1982 LP Night Nurse — passed away this morning at his London home following a year-long battle with lung cancer, the BBC reports. Isaacs was 59. “Gregory was well loved by everyone, his fans and his family, and he worked really hard to make sure he delivered the music they loved and enjoyed,” Isaacs’ wife Linda said. “He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.”..Over the course of his prolific career — in which he release an estimated 500 albums within Jamaica, the UK and the U.S. — Isaacs collaborated with reggae, dub and dancehall icons like Lee “Scratch” Perry, King Tubby, Sugar Minott, Freddie McGregor, Dennis Brown and Errol Holt. After spending the Seventies building a reputation as both a top-notch roots reggae singer and a soulful “lovers rock”-style crooner, Isaacs recorded his masterpiece Night Nurse at Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong Studios in 1982, the year after Marley’s death….” READ MORE

“Nicknamed “The Cool Ruler”, Isaacs was a dapper-dressed performer who almost always sported a distinctive fedora and three-piece suit on stage. He co-founded his own African Museum label, on which he released much of his prodigious output. His commercial peak coincided with an addiction to crack cocaine and a spell in prison after being found guilty on a firearms charge, after which both his health and career faltered. Despite eventually losing many of his teeth, which affected the quality of his voice, he continued to tour until the last year of his life. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph in 2007 he declared: “Drugs are a debasing weapon. It was the greatest college ever, but the most expensive school fee ever paid – the Cocaine High School. I learnt everything, and now I’ve put it on the side…..”READ MORE

“what more can I say..sad 2 know that ur leaving but Jah will guide u out & coming in..after u made my day..hurts to know that ur going away..”RIP Gregory Isaacs (15 July 1951 – 25 October 2010)

‎”If u want 2 B my # 1..Let me know Ur future plans!” -Praises to 2 Legends!

Being a Ghanaian, you are raised from birth to honor your elders & to seek their wisdom. Somewhere  down the line of generations & forced & desired travels many of us have lost our way in seeking the wisdom of our elders & in honoring the fact that in order for us to know where we are going we have to know where we came from. Our elders hold that history & knowledge that we need to understand where we are , how we got here &  where we are going.

There has been so much talk and new reenactments of the historical March on Washington, but I learned more by listening to the words of the elders who were there in the flesh in speaking on what that moment was like & how far we  have come as a people from that moment by being able to step away from the new era fear mongering  & new voices saying they know best on how to move us forward as a people & as a nation when the answers in the mistakes made & how to proceed forward rests right with those who started the revolution, those whose opinions & wisdom we have somehow forgotten to seek in our brand newness of thinking that we are living in a time & space that has never been replicated before, as we try to replicate  moments in time like the March on Washington, life, human existence, hip-hop & other genres of music. Our human history is globally fused & intertwined from East to West, North to South. Honoring the teachings of our elders, holding our elders accountable to that history & telling our own stories by keeping this history alive to formulate the future is up to us as individuals & concerned global citizens, not solely for us to leave to the discretions & digressions of institutionalized education systems because there can never be enough textbooks to tell the behind the story stories that our elders are available to pass down & share with us for free, while they are still alive. These are the stories that must be told in order to represent as much of the totality of our global history as possible without too many breaks & lost generations in between.

As Bob Marley says “Every man thinks that his burden is the heaviest.. who feels it knows it  not..but you can’t run away from yourself” . Our elders are part of ourselves that we can never run away from because they hold the history to our future! Honor , Respect & Seek the Wisdom of Your Elders!

“The masses had lost faith in civilian democratic government.. the masses had lost faith in the military Government generals..they were also becoming as corrupt as whatever it is ..& now the situation was ready for the possibility of an explosion..it is not the medium of education, the medium of respect, of merit that is used to govern people, but they use the medium of fear to terrorize the people into a state of subjugation.. when you use fear it degenerates into hatred & HATRED CAN BLOW UP!“…HMMMMMM- is he saying that Ghanaians didn’t have the power & capacity  to be strong enough, to be defiant enough to be able to protect freedom & justice? Hindsight is 20/20 when will we ever learn that all around the world -same song!

Today, October 1st marks Nigeria’s 50th anniversary of Independence. What better song to celeberate the occassion than the great  lyrics of P Square’s hit song “E No Easy”. As we all know, Nigeria’s first 50 has not been easy for the majority of the nation, but we are all hopeful for the next 50 to be a lot better for Nigerians & all Africans around the world! As much as I love P Square’s song “Do Me”, songs like “Possibility” featuring 2face Idibia &”E No Easy” truly speak to me & serve as great welcomed sources of inspiration in a music industry filled with too many “Do Me” style songs.

P Square is one of Nigeria’s, if not Africa’s, most promising R&B acts who have truly come to change the game of African artists going global & being globally viable once again as great Hi-Life & Afro-Beat artists like Osibisa, Fela Kuti, Tony Allen, Bunny Mack, Rex Lawson & others before them who came & took over the world with their unique sounds. The lyrics of E No Easy are truly worth learning Pigen English for because when times get hard we all need a little reminder that we as global Africans are resilient & can always find a reason for celebration!

E NO EASY…Mek we all go chop 4 the next 50! Happy 50th Independence 2 my Nija people dem! 1 God, 1 People, 1 Continent , 1 Africa- United We Stand, Divided We Fall!

E NO EASY LYRICS
Baba God na your hand work hey.
No be lie iye, na your hand
work hey. I say, e no easy hey.
Oh oh, oh oh… To dey sing and
dey dance and the people dey rejoice
hey. My brother, my
sister no be today. If e good or
bad, make we dey thank God
hey. Baba God na your hand work
hey. No be lie hey. Haa! I
say no be lie hey.

[Verse 1]
No be everybody wey sleep for
night wake up see the light
hey. See the future is bright
hey. And e dey enter for eye
hey. Make you do your best hey.
Baba God go handle the rest
hey.

[Chorus 2]
Even if you no get money, dey jolly
dey shake body. No
need to dey tear body. If no be
God hey-hey. Na some be dead
body. Nobody be born baby. When
you fall, you go stand up
again. You go try am again, again
and again.

[Verse 2]
See, my people hey. On a good day,
nobody wey go for this
world to suffer hey. Na bad dey.
Na your own today. Another
man tomorrow. My brother which
kian life be this. Everybody
get him own way to follow. But
e no easy o.

[Verse 3]
See, the true story be say this
music no be today. The
thing been dey start like play-play
but now we don dey troway.
So make una, make una serious
hey. Chai! But na business
hey. Na make we dey try to rejoice
hey. Why? Cos e no easy
hey.
[ www.koralyrics.com ]

“P-Square are a Nigerian R&B duo composed of identical twin brothers Peter and Paul Okoye.The story of P-Square began in St. Murumba College, a small Catholic school in Jos, Nigeria. Identical twins Peter and Paul joined their school music and drama club where they began singing, dancing, and miming songs by MC Hammer, Bobby Brown and Michael Jackson. They later formed an a cappella quartet called “MMMPP” (M Clef a.k.a Itemoh, Michael, Melvin, Peter and Paul). Drawing inspiration from their music idol Michael Jackson, they began break dancing, formed the group called “Smooth Criminals” in 1997. They droped M Clef from the group “MMMPP” which later was changed to “MMPP”. Their artistic talent and precise dance routine soon made them household names in the city of Jos, where they performed at school functions and other occasions…n 2001, “P-Square” won the “Grab Da Mic” competition, and hence Benson & Hedges sponsored their debut album, titled Last Nite, which was released under Timbuk2 music label. P-Square was also nominated as “Most Promising African Group” in the Kora Awards three months after the release of their debut album. They eventually won the 2003 Amen Award for “Best R&B Group”….In 2005, P Square released their second album, Get Squared under their own label, Square Records. This album was marketed nationwide by TJoe Enterprises, although they were still managed by Howie T of Adrot Nigeria Limited. The video for the second album held the #1 position on the MTV Base chart for four straight weeks…” READ MORE

When Bob Marley sang “I’m a soul rebel”, he literally meant it in the fact that his early recordings with the Wailers leaned toward the sound of Soul, Jazz,Blues & Ska more reminiscent of the heyday of Motown or better yet the 1960’s heyday of UK’s Skinhead culture of music & style, more than the classic reggae sound & style that he popularized globally. From is low cut pre-dreadlocks hair to the staple black suit & tie uniform reminiscent of The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight & the Pips & Little Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley & the original Wailers band was Jamaica’s classic soul group.

Most people have no idea about Bob Marley’s early recordings which brought out the bluesy Al Green type of hot like fire gritty soul in his angelically powerful voice. Yes yall, Bob Marley was a blues & soul singer who introduced the world to Reggae music much like Fela Kuti was a Hi-Life musician who introduced the world to Afro-beat. If you don’t already know, get to know Bob Marley & The Wailers early soul recordings at Studio 1 because you will find yourself falling in love with the man named Robert Nester Marley in a whole new way. Bless Up!

“Skinhead is a member of a subculture that originated among working class youths in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, and then spread to other parts of the world. Named for their close-cropped or shaven heads, the first skinheads were greatly influenced by West Indian (specifically Jamaican) rude boys and British mods, in terms of fashion, music andlifestyle. Originally, the skinhead subculture was primarily based on those elements, not politics or race. Since then, however, attitudes toward race and politics have become factors by which some skinheads align themselves…” READ MORE

“I don’t have prejudice against meself. My father was a white and my mother was black. Them call me half-caste or whatever. Me don’t dip on nobody’s side. Me don’t dip on the black man’s side nor the white man’s side. Me dip on God’s side, the one who create me and cause me to come from black and white.…” READ MORE

This should have clearly been an official song for the first world cup on African soil because this is so authentically African in a modern day celebration of our continent & life. No one does it better than Angelique Kidjo, who always keeps it authentic while being able to find crossover appeal with great collaborations like this! Enjoy !
“Africa rising …Move on up towards your destination..”

“Makes me wonder..I wonder why the road turns.. it’s clear different meditations..difference of opinions..color & race..different ppl..different cultures yet thru the same thing we all can relate..where there is survival there will be man trying 2 gather as much as they can..with that said I see nothing wrong.. get up get up get up my brother man.. maybe I am just 2 concerned.. maybe these things make my heart burn…maybe I am a dreamer believing visions that will never b, or maybe I am just another optimistic soul.…

“life is one big road with lots of signs so when u riding thru the ruts don’t u complicate ur mind..wake up & live y’all -wake up & live now..rise oh rise mighty people ..wake up & live”