“M3NSA is, for my money, the most original and exciting artist there is working in the field of where Hip-hop and African music meet.” – Stephen Budd (MAMA Group)
February 14th sees the release of No.1 Mango Street. The hotly anticipated album from 2010 MOBO nominee M3NSA conveys the many musical influences of Ghana’s number one beat maker of Soul, Hip-hop, Afro beat and High-Life.
Born in Ghana and raised in London M3NSA says, “I talk about going back to pick up from where I left things, and where everything started. It's about acknowledging exactly where I come from and bringing all those experiences with me."
The video for No One Knows' visual vibrance matches the Asa-sampled song - pragmatic and optimistic in tone - which he describes as follows: “The idea is to enjoy the present to the fullest and be prepared for what the future may bring."
The song Dream couldn't be better accompanied than with its atmospheric synths and a singing M3NSA musing on the wholesome values closest to his heart – friends, family, joy and love amongst them. A lone hypnotic horn creates a delightful contrast between live and electronic elements. The playful seduction of Kelewele Pimpin’, a song that uses a popular Ghanaian snack of fried plantain reminds us of his funny side. A side we came to know and love on the hilarious, internationally acclaimed short film known as the world’s first pidgin musical Coz Ov Moni. Which he did not only conceptualise and co-star in with fellow FOKN Bois (Wanlov the Kubolor), but also produced most of the soundtrack.
C.O.M partly inspired No. 1 Mango Street, the ode to his birth place, as well as his life in London where he enjoys the unique global positioning that cosmopolitan city allows. With snatches of Twi and Pidgen, the clever rhyme schemes and narratives are what make this album universally relatable. Says M3NSA, “You don't have to be into African Hip-hop to listen to the album, you just have to be into music.”
A decade long production history kick-started with songs he crafted for the legendary founder of Hip-Life, Reggie Rockstone, affords M3NSA veteran status. But that’s not enough for the MC who with his band The Light Offs (named after Ghana’s power cuts) is on a quest to at least equal his prowess live on stage. Sold-out shows recently with Nneka, collaborating with The Roots live at the Royal Festival Hall, playing alongside Little Brother, The Gorillaz, Tony Allen, Damon Albarn and Amadou and Mariam would indicate that triumph is near.
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