New Sounds Of Africa: Ayriq Akam

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New Sounds Of Africa is a new weekly series where we introduce need-to-know artists from the continent and the diaspora. Our third installment features Ayriq Akam, a dope MC repping Cameroon to the fullest. His 2010 album Puzzles (released by Amer Evolution) is as enigmatic as his recent music happenings. Basically, he's dropped off the face of the internet. Maybe he's in a rebuilding stage of his career, transitioning to bigger and better things, or maybe he vanished. Who knows, but one thing we do know is the mysterious Cameroonian has some flavor. The feel good production is funky, imaginative, has traditional Cameroon elements, full in sound when necessary and candy to hip hop ears.  We're head nodding to "I Got Soul" (stream here) as he spits what sounds like a poem being recited.  "We Back" (video below) is hard bodied, laced melodies, cultured swag, and french vocals with some sweet back production. Akam definitely understands how to flow with the music, which makes him a name to watch.

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