Afropop Worldwide

Longtime west-coast rapper from the Bay Area, Del the Funkee Homosapien has started dropping a three-part series of free mixtapes titled West Coast Avengers. The second installment just dropped a couple days ago and boast of utilizing only Fela Kuti samples throughout its eleven tracks. Del has been active as early as 1991 when he dropped his classic LP, I Wish My Brother George Was Here. He is also known for his work with alt-rap supergroup Hieroglyphics and his futuristic collaboration Deltron 3030 with Dan the Automator back in 2000. Upon first listen, of West Coast Avengers [WCA LIMITED II FELA] , the samples are not necessarily immediately recognizable but still offers up some solid, soulful hip-hop along with Del's solid delivery and unique humor. It's great to see and hear some more cross-cultural exchange going on between American hip-hop and African styles of music like this. Last year, we covered Amerigo Gazaway, who mashed up classic De La Soul tracks with Fela on his Fela Soul mixtape. Up and coming rapper J-Cole also sampled "Paulette" from by Balla et ses Balladins from Guinea off his "Can't Get Enough" single late last year. Make sure to also check out our most recent program "Crate-Diggers and Remixers" to hear more music and DJs who travel to globe to find music for remixing in order to create a new and updated sound. Enjoy: - Saxon Baird