There is a lot of good music out this week, some of the songs I will post have been out for a while. So what I Will do is evenly spread the hits that I would like to talk about here and some of the quick hits will be on our homepage. Look out for those updates coz a lot of them will be Bongo Flava.

This is some new heat from AY and Sauti Sol, I love the video more than I like the song. I mean the song is cool – its on point. But the video concept and shooting was classic. Loved every moment of it.

CREDITS:
Artists- AY Featuring Sauti Sol
Song- I DON’T WANNA BE ALONE (SHUKURU)
Produced By- Freddie (Homeboyz Production) & Hermy B ( B HITZ STUDIO)

listen and download the track here:

AY feat Sauti Sol – I dont want to be alone by getmziki

watch the video here:

Every once a year a DJ does something that completely impresses me. Truthfully this year there have been very few mixes that have impressed me (of course there is a mad mix I posted elsewhere that DJ Nyandat put together for all the old skool r&b lovers). It just didnt sit nice when I posted it here so i left it where it is (9mixtapes.com). However DJ DULO sends me his mixes every now and then, so the fact that I am posting this today shouldn’t necessarily be a shocker. However my rare rave review is a shocker so here goes:

I love African Music, I love love Urban African music meaning the Genge, Kapuka, Kwaito, Kuduro and all that new African sound with Western Infusions… I love it all. However there is something unique and untimely about some good ol’classic sounding Zouk or smooth Soukous music/Afropean Soul :-0/ When you listen to this mix, it’s one of those mixtapes you can give your dad or mom and be comfortable with the content and the feel good value. I wish I had a tracklist because there are some bangers on that mix that some DJs could use some schooling on. The set starts so relaxing with some more popular Zouk bangers and picks up pace by such a slight bpm that by the time he gets to the Bongo Flava and Naija music you almost don’t realize that the music tempo had changed.

DULO this mix is on fire and deserves every spin possible. Good stuff. To me its just the first time in a few years I’ve listened to a mix that wasn’t as predictable. Let me share the goodness here..

listen and download the mix here:

DULO|GASM VOL. 7 by DJDULO

So I got called out by one of our readers/users about not diversifying GetMziki enough to allow other genres to the site. I agree – I feel bad and I am ashamed of myself. But the last time I checked I think I was pretty clear about what GetMziki stands for “home for urban African music” in this case we are not so keen on pushing folk music or the Kayamba Africas. I think those songs will find other people who are passionate about them to promote them more than ever. The point is I have always felt that all these other music sources got their voices heard where the market demanded their music, but the new age music which needs to compete with so many new genres today needed a few new legs and rejuvenation.

However ill share the email and post the song the GetMziki fan wants to share (keeping her identity low key) coz I cant tell if she was joking or if she was serious. I mean this cant be compared to Muthoni Kifagio but its still a classic. For the sake of that kind email here is Beth Kanini

hi leo,

whats up with the usual “comercial music you feature on your blog?” why are you not focusing on other genre music like jazz or ‘kamba’ a few to mention. There are numerous African grown music genres which your blog doesn’t look into, you are utterly biased unrepresenting the real music lovers. Firstly please review nguuni lovers lovers they are a remerkable band from mlolongo and if you may for a minute please try to be open minded. What me and my friends are trying to imply is diversify youur music knowledge because from our angle your taste is blatantly blunt.
Thank you hope to get a positive response.

I love ur blog :}
mama

Nguuni Lovers Lovers – Beth Kathini by Dream Beach Records

This track just landed in my  inbox, and i’m not even hesitating to post it, give it a listen there is something of a freshness to it.I  met Lulu before since he works in a studio on the 2nd floor. The first tracks i had from him were interesting but missing something – but i guess the kid been perfecting he’s craft and this track might just be a big hit.

I grew up in the same Hood/Mtaa as Kabugi, actually we went to the same church in Buru phase v/phase iv. It was called Catho – or Catholic Church of Buru Buru. We probably fkuzad the same chics and shared the same rounda festivities and ball sessions. Although if I think long and hard Kabugi lived in phase iv which was okay but it just wasnt phase v. He he he phase iv had all the nice chiles, actually phase iv and phase iii or phase ii had all the chiles in Buru. Phase v had all the hot jamas (evidently).

Anyway I digress! My point here is that I’ve known this cat for a long time. Kabugi was one of my first Mlevi.com users and contributors when we were on version 1.3. Its amazing how time flies since 2001 to date thats almost 9 years ago when we were building our first Kenyan social network homie. But real talk am proud to know that the Internet has really lived up to its promise – ensuring people always stay in touch and in communication. Kabugi and I don’t talk much but when we do he will always drop a mix here and there – Personally I am never really fascinated by new school mixes… its the old stuff that he did that always has me locked in.

Hopefully when we finish 9mixtapes I will get the opportunity to share a lot of stuff he has done but today i am compelled to share this Touch of Africa mix that I have been playing in my car over and over and over again. Funny enough he did this in 2006 which is just amazing in itself. Thats why I feel like a lot of these African songs and sounds are so timeless. You cant listen to a 2006 Genge mix today and tell me it sounds as fresh today!

This mix has it all, it has your daily dose of Lingala, Magic System, Coupe De cale back in the day… Anyway real talk Kabugi this mix is official. Thanks for sharing/ Keep doing what you do!

listen to Touch of Africa here:

Download audio file (Kabugi_Tha_DJ-A_Touch_Of_Africa_2006.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]

This track fell on our laps sometime last month but we’ve been waiting for Clemo to furnish us with more information about Alindi and unfortunately we think he’s been too busy. This track is too to let it fry up on our servers especially because we think there is something special about Alindi that Kenya needs right now in the Genge/R&B scene.

What I am particularly excited about is this whole new production style that Clemo has been capturing lately. Putting the samples aside for a while, I think Clemo has opened a new book called African instruments. There is so much culture and sound in his new beats to me I think its just phenomenal. Take this track for example, it almost feels like a chakacha/taarab inspired track. I can almost hear the Kayamba playing a
Clemo churns out another interesting track here. It has the unmistakeable sound of chakacha/taarab infused into it to accompany the genge/kapuka beat.

Hopefully Calif Records will send us most of their new artists profiles soon but for now enjoy the goodness from Clemo’s camp.

listen to Natafuta chali here:

Download audio file (Linda_feat_Pro-Natafuta_Chali.mp3)

download the track here:

watch the video here:

On this track  Lizha James – who is one of the biggest up and coming stars in Africa alongside Mandoza who needs no introduction.

the Video and download follow.

Decided to post this video, considering that Kaysha just finished his US tour – though skipped the West Coast. Anyway this is one guy you need to pay attention to in terms of bridging the gaps between different types of African music.

The minute T-Pain came out with auto tune (vocoder) he should have realised that 110 other artists were going to cap his style and amplify it. This is not to say that the auto tune was never used before T-Pain, I think Pain just brought it to the lime light more than any other urban artist.

If you take into consideration what many African artists are doing now, its no wonder we are churning out more songs than ever before. Essentially technology has allowed us to mask our vocal capabilities and implore good beats but mediocre vocals and the people will still consume the music. Take for instance this Naija wonder called Duncan Daniels. He brings a unique style into the industry, a very diverse artiste offering a mix of pop,rock and R&B to suit the modern urban radio era.

Duncan also happens to be a producer and a song writer, who has been at the top of his game since he was 25 years old. Currently working on his sophomore album it appears Daniels may be onto something thanks to vocoders . I personally think Naija music is going places but the success is very short term, unless something extraordinary happens within the urban music space. But for now if your country has about 120 million people – why do you need to tour or go anywhere else coz your market is right at home

listen to show stoppa here:

Download audio file (Duncan_Daniels-Show_Stopper.mp3)

download the track here:

However this video from Reuters does enough justice to this music group that we have been featuring and bickering about that everyone check em out and buy yourself an album. Currently through Getmziki we have been able to push almost 30 request for the album. feel free to hit us up for a copy, whether you are in the US or in Kenya – Penya Records has services across the globe with various partnerships.

SAUTI SOL – WE SALUTE YOU AND WE EMBRACE AND WILL SUPPORT YOUR JOURNEY TO BREAK THE US MARKET.

Watch the Video here: (for Sauti Sol music use the search tool to find their features on the site)

Probably one of the more or most successful Naija artists right now (Nigerian Artists). 2 Face has a string of hits in the past, thats until P-Square came into the scene and just took the world by storm with their IFUNANYA tracks. However there is something about 2Face that if you pay close attention to you will be like – yeah I understand why he could possibly be the King Naija music.

This track is not very new, it was released last September (2008) but I cant help but put it on heavy rotation on my ipod. I cant lie right now I am loving this whole Naija movement and the music coming from Nigeria. All the stereo types to me have been wiped out. Considering the fact I never really got into the whole Nollywood movement (Nigerian Movies). It seems like they have gotten me hooked with their infectious accents and crazy beats – Ifunanya… This song is fire, swallow your pride, I am feeling IRIEEE!! Baby boo!! Why lie – I will say it again, Naija music is going to make the whole of Africa up their game – I mean KWAITO has gone cold after these guys started making urban hits… Enough said.

(ps. listen to the end when 2face acts a fool on the track hilarious… having fun with the track and still staying fresh)

Enjoy the track here

listen to swallow your pride here:

Download audio file (swallow_your_pride-2face_idibia.mp3)

download the track here:

There has been some backlash on the site for the last few days about some of the few posts on the site and general biases with regards to certain artists. I hope this post doesn’t seem to be one of those that you feel I am forcing down your throats The fact of the matter from my perspective is if anyone is sleeping on Sauti Sol then they are missing out on one of the MOST talented groups in kenya right now. I dont see how Sony signed the choir that sang at Obamas inauguration ceremony and didnt think to go back to Kenya to look for talents such as these?

A few months ago we helped promote Sauti Sol before their album dropped – we debuted their hit track Lazizi, which they just released the video to. I love it. I cant lie. Story finished. These cats make me love Kenya each day – and they almost make me want to be a Luhya… Lunje has never sounded so sexy… Papa Shirandula style. So as I post this video for you guys to enjoy, I am thugging another song off the album that I like also called Mushivala…. That Luhya jama really blows (sings his heart out). I only wish I could hear Luhya – there is some exotic shit about this track… Mushivala ndivonyene… or whatever he says.

So apparently the song is about how the jama is alone in this world or something.. can some real Luhyas translate?

listen to Mushivala here:

Download audio file (Sauti_Sol-Mushivala.mp3)

download the track here:

Watch the Video to Lazizi – (Excellent job Wawesh btw… very good video)

I am going to do a pair of quick posts today since there is a back log we need to process this week which also included the DJ sets. One of my all time favorite songs is this P-Square song called Ifunanya. I believe Ifunanya means love in some Ibo or Yoruba language. But out of all their tracks, this is probably the track that I keep playing over and over again.

listen to ifunanya here:

Download audio file (psquare-ifunanya.mp3)

download the track here:

Albert Mangwair aka Mangwea, Mangwair, Ngwea or Ngwair has been featured on Getmziki before (Click here), so I will just go straight to the songs “Speed 1-20 and “Nipe Deal” / “Nipe Dili”.  I’m sure all my Bongo fans will be happy with this post.

I had started writing the post for the “Nipe Deal” song when my Tanzanian contacts emailed me the “Speed 120″ song which I have been trying to find a good copy for a few weeks now. The song is currently a street anthem in TZ and slowly bubbling to the charts.  On “Speed 120″, he enlists the help of Chidi Benz (One of my favourite artists In TZ right now ) for a perfect blend and collabo. “Nipe deal” is a song that has been bubbling on the underground for a minute and its now spreading like world fire. Mangwair just recently wrapped up shooting the videos for the songs, which should take the songs to higher heights. I know I will be adding “speed 120″ on my serato and rocking it at my shows.

Enjoy the tracks!!!!!!!

Listen To The Tracks Here:

Mangwair Feat Chidi Benz- Speed I20

Download audio file (Mangwair%20feat%20Chidi%20Benzi%20-%20Speed%20120.mp3?)

Click Below To Download:

Mangwair – Nipe Deal

Download audio file (Mangwair%20-%20Nipe%20Deal.mp3)

Click Below To Download:

We are currently overwhelmed with the number of Mixtape submissions, so this week in order to try and push out all the back log we have, we will post a new mixtape if possible every day. Granted there are some mixes that are not worth posting because they are all repetitions and or just the same, so what I will do is pick sets that I think deserve a place on the web regardless of DJ skills and or technique.

The first being this one from DJ Mafiosso who took up the Obama Challenge we had a few months ago. He finished this one kinda late but I think it deserve a spot on this website simple for the fact that the track selection is sick. The quality is not up to my standards but I think the Mixtape sends a good message that a DJ should be ready to take up any challenge – no matter what.

Listen to Obamanation here:

Download audio file (Obama_Nation_Mixtape.mp3)

Download the mixtape here

Please right click the link and hit save target as: Obamanation Mixtape

Am a little conflicted about this song, mainly because I feel like Nameless has that signature feel and style on all his tracks. Nameless is inevitably going to be the Zouk, Kapuka or Classic AfroZouk – Rythmn and Zouk king of East Africa. My challenge is to completely accept that he will only be good in that box. My second challenge is to accept that he will make these kinds of songs and still be good at it because darn it this song has been growing on me and I dont understand why. Its like a bad Malaria flu. I remember I hated that Salari song, I sang it day in day out but I still hated it.. I still hate it today… but I can sing the whole hook.

Now this whole collabo with Habida threw me off initially, coz I know Habida personally and I thought she was still in Atlanta. It turns out shorty moved back home and has been working on boosting her musical career from digz. Habida tried to penetrate the US market relentlessly, I am not sure how far she got but you can tell from her vocal skills that she can handle her own. Plus the fact that she is a cake (supuuuu videdly). Either way why don’t I open this track to the floor and get some feedback… for now I am feeling the track, and a part of me doesn’t really want to like this song – I dont know why I am fighting it…

listen to Sunshine here:

Download audio file (Nameless_feat_Habida-Sunshine.mp3)

download the track here:

Enjoy this banger…

listen to Fursa here:

Download audio file (Sheena_feat_Zanto-Fursa.mp3)

download the track here:

Okay the last song in this new Music Tuesday will have to be something candid and uplifting. So how about this brand new Sanaa. Now normally people have said I am biased towards Sanaa coz I think she is a cake (trophy chile). Uwongo Mbaya – Sanaa sure enough is a cake but she can also sing, whats intriguing about her she has a tendancy to pick good songs and her swahili is up to my standards of expectations… wai wai..

Clemo blessed this track with some crazy Coastarian sounds and instruments, listen to the accordions and flutes. I spent a lot of my youth time listening to Taarab, and this song captures a few of those elements it almost feels like I am walking down Malindi. This is definitely not a song I would play at a club but you can bet I will be playing it over and over on my ipod. Awesome track – BEAT YA CLEMO!!! (Shorty can sing though, dame anaimba jo!! Anaimba kama Chiriku!! jamani lol)

Enjoy the track …

listen to Najuta here:

Download audio file (sanaa-najuta.mp3)

download the track here:

Africando is a group that brings together African and Caribbean cultures by allying Senegalese vocals with Cuban salsa tunes. On this track they did something different which just goes to show how easy it would be to blend the African cultures and communities if only we tried harder. They performed this track in Swahili building upon the growing Salsa culture in Kenya (think Pavement club). I thought it was very appropriate to include them in the Music excursions journey…

listen to Miye na we here:

Download audio file (Africando-Miye_na_ye.mp3)

download track here:

Bonus Material

Some extra bonus material from one of my greatest albums from 2008, Stan’s album is phenomenal… This is the second track off the album “Kenyan Debut” I cant help but spoon feed these tracks to the kind hearted.

listen to Stans She is here:

Download audio file (Stan-She_is.mp3)

download she is here: