Groovy kaleidoscope of Afrobeat and hip hop jams. This album is the debut from Shafiq Husayn, a MC/producer known for his work with Afrika Bambatta, Ice-T, and Erykah Badu. This album has stellar production, and weaves modern electronic elements with complex African rhythms, free jazz jams, and ancient Egyptian imagery, evoking a “state of mental and spiritual freedom.” Lots of repetitive call-and-response vocals. Over 30 musicians and vocalists were used in this tasty, intelligent collage of sound.
FCC: 9, 12 TRY: 2,7,3,5,10,16

1. 1 minute spiritual intro with soul samples and electronic drums.
*2. Hard-thumping, upbeat jazz/electronic song with lots of background female vocals, a steady MC, and lots of horns.
*3. Light keyboard notes accompanied by fast-paced drums. Breathy emotional rap/singing with lots of effects. Lost of jungle noises and sound effects. Long spacey instrumental at the end.
4. Staccato African drumbeats with hard bop jazz. Oh-so-smooth surreal vocals
*5. The lead single—syrupy vocals from Fatima, lots of freejazz piano elements, subtle rhythmic intricacies, and jangly beats.
6. Lyrical spiritual journey with light percussion.
*7. Light, bouncy song with crisp electronic elements. Smooth R&B vocals and just a touch of strings for extra silky effects. Sounds a bit like Flying Lotus.
8. Lots of orchestra elements, funky baseline, and soft vocals. Name-drops Christopher Columbus and elaborates on imperialism.
9. Dark electronic song with lots of cymbal crashes and minor piano scales. Chanting: “All dead, all dead, all dead.” FCC: “Fuck”
*10. Heavy horns introduction with sharp jazzy drumming. Vocal effects. Nice layering with deep bass vocals and wailing sopranos. Trippy lyrics. 30-second spoken word conclusion at the end of the song.
11. Frantic 8-bit electronic ground beats, reggae piano riffs, bongo drums, didgeridoos, mumbled-confused lyrics, damn son--it’s a surprise party in here!
12. Strange distorted beats, deep vocals, wispy orchestral arrangements. FCC: says “ass” repeatedly
13. Acoustic guitar intro into smooth flutes and jangly percussion instruments. Peppered with plucky jazzy guitar elements. Repeated chorus: “seasons blow away but the love is just the same.”
14. Layered accordion intro with French spoken-word poetry. Lots of romantic string elements and sensual female crooning juxtaposed with Shafiq’s deep bass vocals. “Just relax your mind.”
15. Hard percussion instruments. Dark moody horns and “snake charmer” arrangements. Spacey, wispy lyrics about Egypt. After 45 sec there is a short rap verse.
*16. 1 min spastic “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”-esque intro fades into Shafiq’s chanting.
17. Haunting, echoed instrumental-heavy track with heavily distorted call-and-response vocals. Nice string arrangement.