Chimurenga Renaissance, the Zimbabwe-nodding side project of Tendai 'Baba' Maraire - one half of the Seattle art-rap duo Shabazz Palaces - seamlessly melds a variety of otherwise incongruous sounds together in the first single off an upcoming full-length release. "The B.A.D Is So Good" kicks off with Electric Feel-esque falsetto vocals on a sonic journey that ends up somewhere between Kendrick's idiosyncratic tone and the Zimbabwean eccentricity of Maraire's earlier Defenders of the Crusades EP. The mbira sound, mixed in with the rise and fall of synth power chords, points to the experimental production of Shabazz Palaces' Black Up. Attempting to pigeonhole Tendai Maraire's busy sound is entirely futile, so stream the impressive track below instead.
Watch out for Chimurenga Renaissance's upcoming full-length riZe vadZimu riZe, due out March 25th via Seattle's Brick Lane Records. The album is set to feature guest spots from Seattle hippie hip-hop duo THEESatisfaction, Dead Prez member and AIYE alum M1, and Mall Saint.
