[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUIIVmhK1ps&w=500&h=307&rel=0]

2.  A beautiful video for Rwandese-American “New African Soul” singer, Somi’s song “Prayer to the Saint.”  Nice beat. The video was filmed in and around two legendary Harlem venues, The Apollo and The Shrine.  Essence Magazine recently described Somi as “… at the forefront of a new roster of African artists grabbing attention here in America.”  (BTW, is that my man, Stone, clapping away at 0:56?)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A86uqiK9alU&w=500&h=307&rel=0]

3. The Nigerian Nigerians P-Square and J Martins with “E No Easy.”  I can dance to this. Now if Nigeria’s football team can play like their musicians perform.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMGd3mAfl-0&w=500&h=307&rel=0]

4. Nas and Damian Marley with “As We Enter.” The video–with its Wu Tang Clan feel, all grimy and dark hoodies–was online a few weeks ago right around the time Nas and Marley’s “Distant Relatives” album was released, but it was pulled from the ‘web. Now it is online again. (These two have been all over the internets promoting the new album and have lots of interesting things to say about Africa’s relation to the Americas. We plan to do a longer post about that in the next few days.)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSopUVEhG8Y&w=500&h=307&rel=0]

5. Finally, after all that exertion slow yourself down with Zap Mama’s “Drifting” (featuring G Love). You need to conserve that energy till Sunday. BTW, how long has she been at it and she still produces good music? Damn.

— Sean Jacobs