The Very Best feat. Baloji-Super Mom

Picture of Baloji I took at Womad Caceres 2011

Even though I, like most of yall I'm sure, go to blogs to get my music, there is still something fun about getting an email "direct" from one of your favorite artists. There's definitely a personal touch element, even though I know I'm on a list of thousands of people.

The best part about getting an email from an artist is when it's attached to free music. The Very Best continue to be among the most generous artists out there, constantly brightening up the days of their fans with a new dope song here, great mixtape there. Two days ago they sent a banging remix to a song originally on a mixtape they gave for free in early May, but this time featuring Baloji, a young Congolese rapper who I saw live at the Womad Music Festival. Though I can't understand his verse, he attacks it with the ferocity of a 2007 era Lil' Wayne, giving the upbeat jam a little bit of edge in the meantime. But like that one kinda sketchy looking dude who actually turns out to be the homie, Baloji does nothing but add to this party of a track. Check it out below.

Click here to download


The Very Best Super Mom feat Baloji

Takeifa-Get Free

The lead singer of the Senegalese band Tafeifa said something about music that I won't soon forget. Near the end of their high-energy show, he thanked WOMAD for having the festival, then said that it's not a world music festival, it's an our music festival. And it's true. There seems to be a quasi-stigma over"world music;" of exotic sounds played by obscure bands. But each country, each region, does have their own sound, and sharing these sounds is what music is partially all about-being able to communicate and convey emotions in a medium that doesn't necessitate being able to speak the same language.

Takeifa is a band that really tries to make "our" music. Singing in their native Wolof, along with English, French, and also a little Spanish, and drawing from influences from Afropop to Jazz, reggae to more Hispanic flavors, Takeifa has a unique sound, one that is filtered through a very African prism. "Get Free" showcases their unique flavors. While it always comes back to its original groove, the song flirts with a little Andean flute here, a little rap there, all sounds of a young band finding their sound while pushing their own creativity. Takeifa was definitely a weekend favorite, and I for one am really looking forward to hearing more from them.

Download here