SOL POWER DC

What we have here is a double-header weekend. First, the Sol Power All-Stars are going to lay it down THICK out on the patio at our home base, the Eighteenth Street Lounge. I was out on the Patio this past Sunday night to check out the Master At Work, Kenny Dope Gonzalez and the vibe was right. Beefed up sound, great dance floor, shit was proper. So we will see you there, right?

Then on Sunday, we have Outside  at Yards Park with a whole bunch of DJs, food vendors, artists, and drank. The spot is beautiful, and the joint is 100% free AND all ages. So bring the likkle ones (2-legged and 4-legged varieties are welcome)

I must say, West Africa produces some amazing pop music. Really, some of the best in the world, in my opinion. For some reason, however, with a few exceptions, West African producers / artists don’t get too much attention outside of their home country. A lot, I’m sure, has to do with language. But that doesn’t explain why this joint out of Ghana didn’t explode globally. Sounds like an international pop smash to me. Warning: You’ll be playing on repeat and humming the melody for days…

Anyway. I digress. I’m about 1 year late on this, but it still sounds fresh to my ears. Akwaaba Music, whose whole shtick is to bring local African pop music* to an international audience* in celebration of Ghana’s 53rd year of independence, curated this mix of Ghanaian Hiplife. It bangs. I hope you dig it as much as I do.

*not to be confused with “World Music” which is often not marketed or popular in its home country