NYC-based independent label Duttz Artz — home of OKA favorites DJ/Rupture, Chief Boima, Old Money, Geko Jones and Lamin Fofana — is celebrating six years of existence as a forward-pushing, global music imprint. Marking the occasion is 6 Years Deep — a compilation of geographically-oriented EPs summarizing the Dutty Artz experience in 2013. The final edition in the series, L’Afrique Est Un Pays, delivers five offerings spanning the continent and the diaspora in the spirit of the Dutty Artz' revitalized mission statement: "a movement of global participation and belonging intertwined with the issues that globalization forces us to think about and deal with."
Keeping with the series' post-colonial literary theme, the EP kicks off with BK-based Sierra Leonean producer Lamin Fofana's homage to the late Chinua Achebe — featuring an appropriated edit of Binyavanga Wainaina’s reflection on meeting Achebe. On "Leave Me Alone," Queens-based Nigerian-American rapper Kev responds to the haters trying to deny his African identity, instead toasting to being a "westernized African" with help from Haz Ali, who sings in Wolof on the hook. For his contribution Boima serves up a Bubu Gang-inspired dub reworking. Next comes Africa Latina, the acoustic undertaking of Geko Jones, Uproot Andy, Chief Boima, Parfum Zola, and Issac Katalay. And, lastly, Fédéric Galliano brings kuduro madness with help from Luanda-based vocalist Monica. Listen to the full 6 Years Deep compilation below and take a look at the L'Afrique Est Un Pays EP tracklist.
L’Afrique Est Un Pays
1) Binyavanga Wainaina Remembers Chinua Achebe (Lamin Fofana Grace Edit)
2) Kev – Leave Me Alone feat. Haz Ali
3) Chief Boima – Lek U Culture (Bubu Crunk Dub)
4) Africa Latina – Elikia
5) Frédéric Galliano – Dj Bate no meu bumbum (feat. Monica)
