In my continuation of the Mixtapes/Mixes series this is the second Mix I wanted to highlight thats a MUST HAVE. I threw a challenge at Kaydee a while back. I told Kaydee folks need something different from DJ’s today. The whole Genge/Kapuka and pop mixes has been done – there is an over saturation of so many Similar mixes floating around the internet in one form or the other. So whats going to be your differentiator? I have told the same thing to a couple of out DJs I like out there, I keep telling them its too cloudy out there you need to clear things out by being one of the few DJs who can stand out.

And for months Kaydee never really responded with what he would do. He still hasnt responded, but when he sent this I emailed him back and told him welcome/ now you are talking my language. Kay dee has been working on a frequent Web series of the STREET LETHAL Mixes (btw he is very consistent on delivering these mixes). Each week or two he sends a mix of different genre – to me everything else he sent was just okay and good until he put this together. Unfortunately I dont have the tracklist nor the artwork to this particular session but I think its a must have. It may be annoying the same music I grew up listening to and hating is the same music I am drawn to and enjoy because I get to dance to it. It may also be that the popular Urban tracks are stealing small bits and pieces of that Benga and Congolese sound here and there that its beginning to closely resemble each other. Needless to say this is a MUST HAVE – Kaydee mix.

On the flip side – Side note: There are two different, VERY Different Kay Dees. Many folks in the US know of DJ Kay Dee from Denver (old school cat – very very very humble cool dude, I love this dude sana one of my good friends). And then there is DJ Kay Dee from Kenya (KayDeethal) .. I’ve also know Kay Dee – Kenya for a long time. Kay Dee is the king of JAM SESSION at F2. He has been the long standing DJ at F2 for years and probably responsible for so many talented guys who are discovered at F2. He currently is part of TOD (Take Over DJs) and has been to the US several times before.

Either way this is fire.

listen to AFROBEAT here:

Download audio file (STREET_LETHAL_VIRUS-AFROBEAT.mp3)

download the mix here:

[Right Click and hit save target as]

If you’ve lived in the Bay Area (Northern California normally just San Francisco/Oakland area) for a while, then you’ve probably heard or seen DJ Lenoir. I really cant say much about Lenoir as a DJ because I moved to Oakland just when he was kind of winding down his DJ career to focus on other businesses he had. However I can talk about being in the Bay about 5 years ago and going to all these Dancehall parties that he sorta had pioneered around the community with another DJ called TOKS. The first time I met Lenoir I told him, dude you need to make these African Mixtapes, no one was taking advantage of the fact that all these Junguz were loving these Congolese, Angolan, Cote Dvoire songs. Lenoir slept on this for over 4 years to come up with this Street attack that I find not only unique but a massive statement to the potential of African music in the local US communities.

One thing most people don’t know is Oakland/San Francisco is probably one of the most diverse cities to live in. Honestly on any Friday or Saturday night you can go to a club called BAOBAB in San Francisco and the club will be packed with Junguz jumping and puffing to Lingala and Coupe de Cale. Anyway not to bore you with how cool my city is, the reality really is that I strongly believe African Urban and alternative music will take the US scene by storm in the not so near future. Its just a matter of time. African artists and African entertainment industry insiders are slowly but surely getting their shit together – and soon you will be going to a DELA concert in NYC, a SAUTI SOL, a KAYSHA concert… It happens in San Francisco and NYC right now more frequently than not.

So When Lenoir came knocking (a native of Congo DRC) I had to open up the door and open it up wide. Mostly because I respect the work he has put into the community in the past with my boy Louis, and also mostly coz I think he understands African sound slightly better than many other DJs I hang out with. This mix is not about the skill and or versatility. A lot of Kenyan DJs compile mixtapes to showcase their DJ-capabilities. I think there comes a point in time where the Mix should be about the music and about the sound or flow. Lenoir could definitely have done with a little less of the the sound effects (too much dancehall DJying can throw you off Len) but overall I think maybe its just a new style – and possibly a new way to get people here to appreciate all these new eclectic sounds.

And for that I designed his CD cover for fun I started with the version on top and ended up with this one here:

Enjoy the mix below:

ps. If you have sent us a mix in the last few months please send a track list our new policy insists that you furnish a tracklist to make it easy on our users to find tracks through the site. We eventually will link tracks with your tracklist for people who want to download the singles.

Track List:

1.FERRE’S INTRO
2.DROIT CHEMIN – FALLY IPUPA
3.SHAYO BIGIANO – OLU MAINTAIN
4.SUDDENLY – D.BANJ
5.YAHOO.ZE – OLU MAINTAIN
6.G’BONO FELI FELI – D’BANJ & MASTER
7.DO ME – P.SQUARE
8.FALL IN LOVE – D’BANJ
9.NO ONE LIKE YOU-P.SQUARE
10.ZUENA – RADIO & WEASLE
11.BREAD & BUTTER-RADIO
12.YORI YORI-BRACKET
13.NO EASY-P.SQUARE & J MARTIN
14.PUSH IT-BRICK & LACE
15.POLE-SWAHILI NATION
16.UP INNA DANCEHALL-ROCK CITY
17.ZOUK ZOUK-MAGIC SYSTEM & JOCELYN
18.FIONA-KAYSHA
19.JE SAIS QUI ELLE EST- KAYSHA
20.ASSOCIE’-FALLY-IPUPA

listen to International Mix Vol 1 here:

Download audio file (DJ_Lenoir-International_African_Mix_vol1.mp3)

download the mix here:

[Right Click here and hit save TARGET AS]

For a while there i thought the whole coupe decale phenomenon was dying slowly, or being taken over by some new variations of it – that was until this kids came along and decided to step it up a notch with this joint. check out the video below and download at the bottom:

Some music from ivory coast

It seems we are going to have a MIXTAPE week so let me go ahead and bless GetMziki with someone rarely spoken, critically unacclaimed talented Kenyan DJ. His name is rarely mentioned in the Kenyan (East African) Circles yet he commands the respect and attention many lose DJs get within the community. DJ Mpenzi who also happens to be a good friend and business partner is a soft spoken dude whose politeness can be mistaken for inexperience. But I tell Mkonu all the time, you don’t need to play for Kenyans or East Africans to be respected – something he has learned to adopt and blend into his day to day career which flourishes just well without the Kenyan market at large.

DJ Mpenzi has been holding down the Bay area for years, even before I got here – funny enough I am yet to see him hold a Kenyan gig in the region despite his experience. Young cats like DJ Slim and DJ Johnny run things in the Bay from a Kenyan perspective – but no one comes close to commanding the Jungu/Black Market like DJ Mpenzi. Which is funny coz his whole brand and image speaks Kenya – his logo has the Kenyan Flag so its always fascinating to see his name and logo on club flyers and then come to realize that there will be no Genge playing just adds to the mystique behind Mpenzi.

Either way dont get it twisted! the man knows his roots (NOT GENGE though) he he he. Trust me, that will be the day. I love Mkonu coz he understands where Africa needs to be and plays these tunes for the Jungu market stone face. The reaction of the crowd speaks for itself whenever the Coupe decale drops and the Soukous, I respect any DJ who can kick dancehall and then flip it to Africa – because you are not only entertaining the crowd but you are educating them on the roots of their music. To me thats mission accomplished. Thats why I couldnt hold back but yank this mix that he made for some Charity organization he helps out – I felt the mix needed a home elsewhere including the Nuru International events.

But before I over talk his skill or expertise – please be blessed with this African Express, this is the type of mix I keep asking all these other Kenyan DJs to pull off but none has come close to. The only other guy who has impressed me in African mixes is DJXP – to date I am yet to hear someone else.

listen to the mix here:

Download audio file (Zouk-Nuru_International_Fundraiser_Mix.mp3)

download the mix here:

Please right click here and hit save target as

Track list:

Intro
Ambiance – Tina Spencer
Mets Lui – Discounty Dj
Frottez Frottez – Tina Spencer & Dj Arafat
La Medaille Du Merite – Tina Spencer & Dj Arafat
Let Me Love You – Bunny Mack
Medley B – Sokous Stars
A Nous a Victoire – Atti
Guantanamo – Dj Zidane
Zouke En Decalant – Tv 5 Feat. Claudy Star
Famille Dj – Dj Kitoko
Femmes – Dj Arafat
Mastiboulance – Lino Versace & Boro Sanguy
Bouger Bouger – Magic System
C Cho Ca Brule – Magic System Feat. Cheb Bilal
Moyibi – Pepe Kalle & Nyboma
Nairobi Night – Sokous Stars
Sai – Kanda Bongoman
Grippe Ariaire – Dj Lewis
Lagos Night/Sweet Mother – Sokous Stars
Outro

We got Africa covered on this, Video below, and download after the video.

Download track here: