There’s a buzz about Baloji (Belgium/Congo).
Blitz the Ambassador went into the studio with him on his first trip to Europe and they instantly clicked, recording some songs and sharing music industry war stories. Now, with the help of Belgium’s government and Blitz’s label, Embassy MVMT, Baloji plays NYC twice in the next week:
- Tomorrow, 1/6 @ Joe’s Pub for Blitz Ambassador’s ‘The Embassy Ensemble presents…Baloji’
Wednesday, 1/12 @ SOB’s for the 2011 launch of Embassy MVMT w/ Blitz, Baloji and Les Nubians{CANCELED because of snow storm. Baloji plays TONIGHT (1.11.11) & FOR FREE at Harlem’s The Shrine & Blitz the Ambassador, Les Nubians and Rich Medina rock on Sunday at SOB’s 11/16!
Listening to his album – ‘Kinhasa Sucursale‘ which reached 75,000+ listeners in Europe when it was released for free by the Belgium magazine, Focus {the album before, Hotel Impala, was released in Europe only as well} – I can hear the excitement. There’s beat boxing, doowop, cinematic crescendo-ing harmonies, the funkiest of funk, amazing West African guitar work, vintage sound and thorough hip-hop flow set to a highly proficient band {playing live with world renowned guitarist Dizzy Mandjeku} – it’s all over without being out of focus. It’s an album that truly bridges. Perhaps that’s just one reason why Baloji was named “Best World Music Artist of 2010” by Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 1).
Check out this post that went up about him on MTV Iggy.
“He sings and raps in French, but also Swahili and other African languages. (Baloji means “sorcerer” in Swahili and Chiluba.) So, don’t worry if you don’t speak French. It would take a pretty multi-lingual ear to follow every word on his second album Kinshasa Succursale. Just listen to the spark and locomotion that moves his lyrics. He’s not just spitting, his words seem to travel across continents themselves as he tells his story. A sorcerer, indeed.”
You should be hearing more from Baloji in 2011, but in the meantime, if you’re in NYC, don’t miss these shows!
Joe’s Pub tomorrow {click on flyer for info}. Get Tickets:
FREE @ THE SHRINE IN HARLEM, 1/11/11:
http://liveweb.arte.tv/flash/player.swf?eventId=1620&admin=false&mode=prod&priority=one&embed=true
Finally, this video interview {english subtitles} is super fresh from Baloji’s first album, Hotel Impala. The imagery is beautiful, interview is informative and the intro music BUMPS: