Afropop Worldwide

While Luaka Bop hasn't always been super prolific with their reissues, when they DO release a record, it's pretty safe to assume that it's going to be a doozy. Tom Ze? Shuggie Otis? Last year's Tim Maia? You can't argue with a track record like that. This time though, they may have brought the thing to a whole new level altogether. Because, after years of effort, Luaka Bop has announced that they will be releasing a compilation of William Onyeabor tracks. Now, that might not mean a lot to some people (not yet anyway), but for those who have heard tantalizing bits of Onyeabor's material, it's a serious cause for celebration. Why? Because William Onyeabor produced funked-up, keyboard-conquered, beat driven afro-funk like you've NEVER heard. An early adopter of drum machines and synthesizers, he turned his music towards the rising sun of repetition and never looked back, chanting positivity over the unwavering grooves of his often epically long songs. While a track or two has previously been made available on various compilations, this will mark the first time in decades that a substantial body of his music will be in print. And for that Luaka Bop (and Comb and Razor), we salute you! Don't believe us? Check out the heat on these tracks. http://soundcloud.com/minoterone/william-onyeabor-atomic-bomb or this one http://youtu.be/-kogPtqg9Iw