LA based Afrobeat artist Baba Kuboye has created a hybrid, genre bending boundary pushing experience in the form of his latest album release “Cultural Canvas”…a blast to explore, dance to, enjoy and learn from.
With a title like “Cultural Canvas” you know you’re in for an unprecedented experience, not just on the musical level…and let me tell you that you’d be right…
Baba Kuboye is like a musician magician, creating his ultimate musical potion, he’s standing there stirring the musical pot, adding dancehall, hip hop, UK rap drills, big band, saxophone and spoken word…with his ultimate ingredient being his musical charisma of course.
…what comes out is absolute magic.
“Cultural Canvas” is one of the most musical dance album experiences you’ll have in many years.
Baba Kuboye starts the album with the radio edit of “Soft Life”…a very melodic, musical, thematic and all in all such an iconic song to start the album with…the song is rich with melodies, whether musical of vocal…Baba’s performance is soothing and moving…it moves you, it makes you dance…and the backing choir like vocals add so much to the experience…then we can’t talk enough about how the brass section adds to the liveliness and movement…it’s amazingly put together.
“Cultural Canvas” kicks it off on a very high note with “Soft Life”…
The album surely takes the afrobeat essence and mixes in many elements from many genres as we’ve been saying…and that’s how the album is positioned, being created with this unique charisma and presence.
For example, “Chilling” and “Konko” also takes the same musical, dancey afrobeat approach but on a more low-key production…it’s not as in your face, it chooses to take a lean to the minimal approach, but still as musical and as powerful as anything that comes before or after it. The vocals here take a new light with a more musical singing approach here.
“Cultural Canvas” keeps exploring and mixing genres together…so with a song like “Dey for you”, you’ll start with a strong presence of soul music with an afrobeat twist…then we go into the more percussive and natural sounding musical elements with the rest of the song…and the artist also promotes this song as a feminist anthem, celebrating the many influences that have turned him into the artist he is today.
…and with “WA ZO BIA”…Baba introduces a musical surprise with a hip-hop/rap song that is also highly musical and one that incorporates the afrobeat culture in unique and interesting ways.
…and this is just a sample of what you’d expect from an album with so much love put into the making of it…”Cultural Canvas” has been released on Baba Kuboye’s own label, Down 4 Whateva, and has been submitted for GRAMMYⓇ consideration in Best Global Album and Best African Music Performance.
“Cultural Canvas” has 10 songs, 10 musical expressions, 10 journeys that are worth exploring every second of…an absolute milestone in both the afrobeat and dance music worlds.
With an absolute staggering number of stunning musical talents, “Cultural Canvas” has these awesome musicians lend their musical prowess to its creation…
Baba Kuboye (Saxophone Alto , Keys, percussion, Log drum, bass, Tenor Guitar, Saxophone Tenor)
Ogunniyi Babatunde Samson (saxophone alto)
Ik Asanga (Saxophone Alto)
Olanrewaju Ayodeji (keys)
Samuel Olaniran (percussion),
Adeyemi Olorunjuwonlo Ayomide (bass)
Akeju Owowonuola Sunday (trumpet)
Apara Timilehin Jeremiah (drums)
Akpasubi Miracle Ebosetale (drums)
Nwachukwu Jonathan Chimezie (solo guitar)
Bojoope Daniel Oluwafemi (Tenor Guitar)
Adelekan Emmanuel Oluwasegun (saxophone tenor) Morakinyo Paul Akinkunmi (Trombone)
Creative Design on the project included Casmir Ekechi (album cover) and Sweet Marc (photography).
“Cultural Canvas” is an album to check out right away…it’s not to be missed.
One of the musical highlights for me this year and is highly recommended.
Wishing all the best to Baba Kuboye and all the talented musicians that joined this musical journey…we can’t wait to see what you cook next.
Cheers!