I recently had the chance to sit down with Congolese-Belgian MC, Baloji during his visit to New York City. Here’s what transpired.
Interview: Baloji
May 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment
‘Very African and Very Modern’
February 1, 2012 By 2 Comments
Written by Wayne Marshall*
As if there weren’t already enough to tease out about Konono N°1 and Congotronics, a recent article in The Guardian points to a song and video called “Karibu Ya Bintou” by Baloji, a Congo-born rapper who cut his teeth on the Belgian hip-hop scene but who has worked over the last few years to return to “roots” — in part by incorporating “traditional” sounds of the Congo, from soukous guitars to Konono’s hallmark distorted likembé. The latter can be heard supporting the vivid video for “Karibu Ya Bintou”:
Hulk Hogan in Kinshasa
November 9, 2011 By 1 Comment
Kinshasa’s unique brand of professional wrestling culture has suddenly attracted a number of artists and photographers to the city. They include Colin Delfosse (above), Benedicte Kurzen, Gwenn Dubourthoumieu, Vincent Boisot, Pieter Hugo and Keith Harmon Snow. Like you, we also want to figure out why. It must be the costumes and the lively crowds or the references to “black magic.” Anyway, we went looking for these photographs when the music video for rapper Baloji and fellow Congolese Konono N°1′s collaboration “Karibu Ya Bintou” was posted on Youtube yesterday (watch from the 3.05 mark especially), this time with English subtitles:
Music Break / Mo Laudi
October 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
We’ve posted this video by Mo Laudi during our summer break on our Facebook page (why haven’t you joined us there yet?). We’ll do it again. You know Mo Laudi from his past projects — The Very Best being one of them. (Talking about The Very Best: you’ve heard the Super Mom remix they did with Baloji?)
Baloji on Tour
July 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Baloji is back in North America, and while we’re a little late on the draw, you can still catch him in a few cities this summer. Two dates in Quebec (tonight and tomorrow night) and the final show in Los Angeles on July 16th.
Here.
Rap Visionaries
February 21, 2011 By 1 Comment
Two AIAC favorites, Baloji and Blitz the Ambassador have been busy.
Baloji Live
October 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Last week, Baloji played at Les Nuits Zébrées (Montpellier, France). Arte was there too. Thank you, Arte.
Independence Cha Cha Cha
April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment
@Boima (at Ghetto Bassquake) posted a music video (via Sonja Uwimana) by the Congolese artist Baloji, “… the greatest music video maker in the world right now.” Baloji is doing an update of Grand Kalle et l’African Jazz’s independence rumba from 1960.
Remember Baloji’s last effort? He is killing it now.
UPDATE:
My man, Tom Devriendt–his day job is PhD student at the Catholic University in Leuven, Belgium–send me this note with some more information on Baloji’s exploits:
Kinshasa Branch
January 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Shot in the streets of Kinshasa, site of Muhammad Ali’s legendary ‘Rumble in the Jungle’, Karibu Ya Bintou (“Welcome to Life in Limbo”) is a short film with music from the 2010 album ‘Kinshasa Succursale’ by Baloji. Electric finger piano (likembé): played by Konono N°1, the legendary Congolese band who collaborated with Björk & count Vampire Weekend and Beck amongst their biggest fans.
