News & Updates
Long Live Afrobeat!
Modiba Publishing artists Sila and the Afrofunk Experience received the NAACP Image Award for their album "Black President!" Huge congratulations are due to the band, led by Kenyan frontman Victor Sila, who began writing material for the album even before President Obama was elected. The band draws its musical inspiration from Fela Kuti, James Brown, Sly Stone, Bob Marley and Parliament Funkadelic, as well as African genres zouk and soukous. Check out the award-winning album on their website.
Modiba inks deal with One Have Music to release Bajah + the Dry Eye Crew's debut album!
We are THRILLED to announce the freshly formed relationship between Modiba Productions and One Haven Music. Modiba and the new label--which is a partner of The Orchard--are now gearing up to drop the new album from Bajah + the Dry Eye Crew during Summer 2010. The yet-to-be-titled album--executive produced by Modiba--has been in the works for the last year, as Bajah, Dovy and A-Klazz have been building the buzz stateside with their undeniably energetic live show. ?uestlove, a featured producer on the upcoming album, calls Bajah + the Dry Eye Crew "a walking Tony award," complimenting their dynamic stage show which he says challenges his own idea of live performance. More of ?uesto's reflections on Bajah and the guys coming soon, so stay tuned for that and more news on the album release!
Vieux Farka Toure's debut named in Top 50 Albums of the Decade by Murphy's Law
Music writer Sean Murphy praised Vieux's Modiba-produced first album as one of his favorites of the last decade. He writes, "Toure’s debut is an almost indescribably buoyant, expansive affair. It is so full of life and so brimming with confidence and enthusiasm it is a small miracle of sorts." Read the full review here.
Modiba Publishing artist Jahdan Blakkamoore has iTunes "Best Reggae Album of 2009"
For the second year in a row, Jahdan Blakkamoore claims iTunes' favorite reggae release.
Village Voice calls Okayafrica "...what may have been the best show of CMJ 2009."
Thanks to everyone who came out and partied with us for Modiba and Okayplayer's CMJ Closing Party: OKAYAFRICA!!!! It was a HUGE success. The new Knitting Factory in Brooklyn was bursting at the seams with energy and good peoples. IyaDedE, Blitz the Ambassador, Jahdan and headliners Bajah + the Dry Eye Crew all rocked the stage. In fact, they rocked so much that The Village Voice and MSN Music both ranked the show with the Best of CMJ 2009! Read the full reviews of the night here from Village Voice and here from MSN. Looking forward to getting down with you all again. Stay tuned for what's next from Okayafrica!!
Modiba and Okayplayer present...
The OKAYAFRICA! CMJ Closing Party
Saturday, October 24, 11pm | The Knitting Factory, Brooklyn | $10 | Tickets
Welcome to CMJ09. It's about to get loud. New York's yearly musical gauntlet is kicking off, and we trust that you have a nice schedule of events ahead so we're making it easy and giving you the cherry on top. Saturday night is the CMJ09 show to end all CMJ09 shows... it's The OKAYAFRICA! CMJ Closing Party. Featuring the newness from Africa and the Diaspora, in a late night of Afro-Futurism.
Your Cherry-On-Top Lineup
+ Bajah + the Dry Eye Crew
+ Blitz the Ambassador
+ Jahdan Blakkamoore and Matt Shadetek
+ IyaDedE
+ DJ Zakee Kuduro
+ a late night Afro-dubstep /electro hip-hop set with secret special guests
+ a special performance by the spirit of the late, great Fela Kuti
+ a special appearance by the father of West African bubu music, Janka Nabay
+ and projections by VJs Ted Dancin and Cupcakes Love Supreme
Bajah hits Brooklyn Bowl as part of The Coolhunter 10 Dollar Bill Show with The Roots
Thursday, October 1st, it's The Coolhunter Jam!!! It
goes down at the new Brooklyn Bowl, and features The ROOTS, Bajah
+ The Dry Eye Crew, Mayer Hawthorne, Pattern Is Movement, Ursula
Rucker. ALL for only 10 bones! It's the best deal in town.
@ Brooklyn Bowl: 61 Wythe Ave.(bet. North 11th and North 12th)
Jahdan Blakkamoore drops Buzzrock Warrior
Modiba Publishing artist Jahdan Blakkamoore unleashes the mighty Buzzrock Warrior with
a show at Santos Party House in NYC on 9/17/09. Out on Gold Dust Media/!K7, Buzzrock is one of our favorite albums in
a very long while. Precious few albums have hit the speakers in the Modiba offices more than this right here, and
now it is time for the world to hear.
Often featured alongside Dead Prez, Smif n Wessun, Adam Deitch (Fyre
Dept), Matt Shadetek and dj/Rupture, Jahdan has been bubbling in the
underground for a minute now, but this year he's officially coming
up. Featured on the standout track 'Cash Flow' on Diplo's Major Lazer
album, and lending songwriting talents to Matisyahu's latest album,
Jahdan's hook-slaying has now become impossible to ignore. So if you
didn't know yet.... you're about to know. Grab the new album.
Freshly released Fela Installment of J.Period and K'Naan present The Messengers
Bajah lends a hand in paying tribute to the great Fela Kuti on K'Naan's mixtape, freshly released. Check out the track 'Gentleman' for Bajah's feature below. We love J.Period and K'Naan. And Fela. Download the Fela installment here.
Bajah featured on the new K'Naan mixtape by J.Period
K'Naan's new mixtape, J.Period and K'Naan present The Messengers, pays homage to quite the trifecta: Bob Marley, Fela Kuti, and Bob Dylan. And on this three-song release preceding the September 1st full mixtape drop, Bajah joins Kardinal Offishall and Steele on the Bob Marley cover, "Belly Full." Download this and two other tracks here.
Bajah + the Dry Eye Crew Light Up Lincoln Center
Last night rocked. Bajah + the Dry Eye Crew headlined
Hip
Hop Generation Next at Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center, on such
a beautiful August 6th. The whole evening's lineup was so energized
and culture-packed, with a variety of the hip-hop dance and martial
arts crews leading up to Bajah's set. Bajah + the Dry Eye Crew closed
the night with a 12 piece band, rotating dancers, and the high energy
3 main MCs-- Bajah, Dovy and A-Klazz. Special guests included dancehall
buzz man Jahdan Blakkamoore, drummer/producer Adam Deitch, and The
Retro Kidz. All of the evening's dance crews came back out for one
giant dance party: the best way to end an amazingly diverse night
of music and movement.
Make sure to check out the new mixtape and the rest of their story on www.planetbajah.com
Photo credit: TheWeblicist.com
Jimmy Fallon shouts out Bajah's upcoming panel at Lincoln Center, hosted by WSJ
On the 7/28/09 episode, Jimmy Fallon and ?uestlove discussed the August 4th Planet Hip-Hop panel on which Bajah will be featured, alongside Public Enemy's Chuck D, entrepreneur Steve Stoute, and ?uestlove himself. The evening will be moderated by Wall Street Journal's culture editor Christopher John Farley, as they discuss why hip-hop has gone global -- and where the music is heading next. Tickets are here, and the full Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is here (check about 9 minutes in for Bajah's lovely portrait.)
Come Celebrate the Arrival of Kings Of Salone: The DJ Gravy Mixtape!
Check more info on www.PlanetBajah.com
After rocking a packed house last night at The Roots' Jam at Highline Ballroom, Bajah + the Dry Eye Crew will be back for more on Monday night at Santos Party House, with mixtape producer DJ Gravy and the legendary ?uestlove on the decks all night. We can't wait for you to hear the new mixtape, so make sure to look for it on Monday when it is officially released. Sign up for the Modiba newsletter above to have it emailed direct on Monday morning!
Bajah + the Dry Eye Crew Remember Future Africa
Is America Part Of The World? Find out July 11th!
FARM AID PRESENTS NATION BEAT WITH WILLE NELSON & FRIENDS
Airing now on The 101 Network exclusively on DIRECTV
FARM AID PRESENTS NATION BEAT WITH WILLIE NELSON & FRIENDS showcases a magical set by the rich, rhythmic world fusion group Nation Beat, who are joined by Willie Nelson for a performance that presents a perfect mix of their songs and sounds. Also featured in this special are performances by Jamey Johnson and Jesse Lenat, both making their first Farm Aid appearances, as well as songs by Arlo Guthrie, Steve Earle, John, Neil, Willie, and Dave (with Tim). Each of the FARM AID PRESENTS specials is a non-stop hour of great music captured in high definition and presented in 5.1 Dolby Digital. Airing exclusively on "The 101 Network" (Channel 101) on DIRECTV. The FARM AID PRESENTS specials will be airing throughout the year. Check www.directv.com for broadcast dates.
BAJAH + THE DRY EYE CREW TO PERFORM AT THE ROOTS PICNIC 2009!!
Mark your calendars for June 6th... Bajah and the boys are making a special guest appearance at The Roots' Picnic in Philly. Check here for the rest of the day's killing lineup.
Drom on June 4, 2009
NEW VIDEO FROM NATION BEAT!
"A Onde Tem Cerveja Tem Mulher" Animation by David Perry
NATION BEAT REMIXED!
Click here to download the dancefloor crushing remix of Nation Beat's "Mare Cheia" by NYC producer/percussionist extraordinaire Amon. Beware, contents are hot.
Amon:Website / Myspace
