Black Diamond - Buraka Som Sistema

Black Diamond by Buraka Som Sistema (2008)

This group is from Angola so they speak Portugese. The girl's voice kinda gets on my nerves after a while, kind of the way that the girl from Bonde do Role's voice gets on my nerves. They both kill it, but it's just too high pitched to listen to a whole album worth of songs from them one after another. Fortunately the girl from Buraka doesn't rap on every song.

I do like that this album is sequenced to run like a mixtape with the songs blending seemlessly from one to the next.

Fans of M.I.A. and Bonde Do Role will like them. They have the same high energy to the beats and lyrics.

Favorite: "Kalemba (Wegue Wegue)" ft. Pongo Love "IC19" "Sound of Kuduro" (ft M.I.A., DJ Znobia, Saborosa, Puto Prata)

One Day Everything Changed - Wale Oyejide

One Day Everything Changed by Wale Oyejide (2004)

Nigerian rapper Wale Oyejide (not to be confused with Wale from D.C. who's blowing up right now).
The musicality and vibe reminds me of Mos Def's "Black on Both Sides", especially because Wale likes to sing.

Favorite: "There's A War Going On" (ft. Jaydee) ("We don't support no war. We ain't down for no war." I couldn't have said it better myself.) "Ibadan Sunrise" "This Is Dedicated To" (ft. MF Doom) - well, the shout outs he gives at the beginning & Doom's verse. RIP to Subroc. Wale's singing is not the best on this one.

Least Favorite: "Riot & Revolt" - if only because the hook is too repetitive

"This Is Dedicated To" (ft. MF Doom)