KOKOLO’s explosive fourth Album, Heavy Hustling, finds the New York City group meshing Fela Kuti poly-rhythms, Fania All-Star cadence and Dancehall swagger into James Brown classics, bringing to life one of the most original releases in years and re-affirming their place as one of the brightest stars on the current global underground scene.
Ray Lugo, KOKOLO’s charismatic leader, expands: “I thought it would be interesting to make explicit the implicit connection that exists between Nigerian Afrobeat and American Funk and explore the musical dialogue that took place across the Atlantic during that golden era, a dialogue that also included the New York Latin sound, which was also highly regarded and influential in Africa at the time“... Heavy Hustling is the result of this exploration.”
Since forming in the Big Apple’s Lower East Side District in 2001, KOKOLO has evolved into a prolific recording machine, with over 50 releases on their discography and features in scores of notable international compilations, alongside stars such as Femi Kuti, Ska Cubano, Tony Allen, U-Roy, Caetano Veloso, Masters At Work, Quantic, Salif Keita, Gerardo Frisina, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Baaba Mal, Jazztronik, Zero 7, Afro Celt Sound System, Joe Bataan, Common, The Orb, Eric B. & Rakim and many more.
Their recent participation on the popular Rough Guide To Afrobeat Revival compilation, which showcases their entire second album, “More Consideration”, confirms KOKOLO‘s status among connoisseurs of the genre and acknowledges their role in the early New York Afrobeat scene that inspired the current international Afrobeat revival movement. Lugo reflects on the group’s significant output: “The fact that our music has been embraced by so many different people energizes us to continue to aim higher and to create better songs, better live shows”. Indeed, while many of their peers have slowed down on productivity, KOKOLO‘s creative momentum shows no signs of diminishing.
On stage, few would disagree that KOKOLO delivers one the most dynamic shows today, often playing for 3 hours non-stop in a frenzied punky Afro party. “The stage is our bridge to the world” states Lugo, “it is the primary reason this band exists, to spread soulful music around the globe”. Their well-known reputation for electrifying concerts has seen them perform on some of the world’s most prestigious stages in dozens of countries around the globe, such as The Montreal Jazz Festival, Glastonbury and scores of others, where they have shared the spotlight with acts ranging from Roots Manuva, Manu DiBango, Nickodemus, Taj Mahal, Issac Hayes, Zap Mama and Gilles Peterson to Chic, Pete Rock, The Itals, BloodHound Gang, Roy Ayers and Seun Kuti & Egypt 80.
Originally formed as a traditional Afrobeat ensemble, KOKOLO took their name from a Spanish Harlem term used to describe devout followers of Afro music and over the years developed a far more energetic and spikier sound than many of their contemporaries, proving adept at broadening their scope by incorporating influences from other genres, ultimately transforming their sound into what The New York Times described as “The sound of Fela Kuti meeting The Clash at a late-70’s Hip Hop Jam in Spanish Harlem”.
Yet behind KOKOLO's punky Afro party one also finds a group deeply committed to the improvement of the human condition. On songs like “Mind Power”, Lugo reminds us of the possibilities we’ve yet to discover if we focused our intellect away from materialism, a concept encapsulated by the maxim found on their album jackets: “Live more, consume less…with more joy and less stress”.
KOKOLO are notable as supporters of the modern Humanism movement, as well as of the writings of J. Krishnamurti and Noam Chomsky. They have donated songs, performed and raised funds on behalf of scores of projects ranging from Youth empowerment organizations to AIDS relief groups and environmental causes.
More than just another band, KOKOLO is a sign of the times; a group that creates music not just for some, but for all. So come as you are... and enjoy them while you can.
--Andrew Kingsley
DISCOGRAPHY:
Albums:
KOKOLO: Heavy Hustling (Record Kicks – 2009)
KOKOLO: Love International (Freestyle - 2007)
KOKOLO: More Consideration (Freestyle - 2004)
KOKOLO AFROBEAT ORCHESTRA: Fuss And Fight (Afrokings - 2002)
12" Singles | E.P.'s:
KOKOLO: The Magnificent Seven/Uptown Felaz EP (Shiftin Gears - 2009)
KOKOLO: Nueva York (Malena's Nuyorican Mix) (Freestyle - 2008)
KOKOLO: Balkan Beat Box Split EP (Sol Selectas - 2008)
KOKOLO: Sabroso (Freestyle - 2005)
KOKOLO: Roy Davis Jr. Split EP (Jamayka - 2005)
KOKOLO: More Consideration EP (Freestyle - 2005)
KOKOLO: Mister Sinister (Jamayka - 2004)
KOKOLO: Root To The Fruit (Freestyle - 2004)
7" Singles:
KOKOLO: Afrika Man (Record Kicks – 2009)
KOKOLO: Soul Power (Record Kicks – 2008)
KOKOLO AFROBEAT ORCHESTRA: Girls On Film (Record Kicks - 2008)
KOKOLO: The Magnificent Seven (VampiSoul - 2008)
KOKOLO: The Way Up (Tramp - 2007)
KOKOLO: Our Own Thing (Freestyle - 2007)
KOKOLO: Heaven (AfroKats - 2007)
KOKOLO: Each One Teach One (AfroKats - 2006)
KOKOLO AFROBEAT ORCHESTRA: Donkey (Afrokings - 2002)
Remixes:
Afrika Man (Diesler Remix) (Record Kicks - 2009)
Soul Power (Lack Of Afro Remix) (Record Kicks - 2008)
Our Own Thing (Diesler Remix) (Freestyle - 2008)
Sabroso (Sabo Remix) (Sol Selectas - 2007)
Heaven (Ando Kal Remix) (AfroKats – 2007)
Each One Teach One (White Mike Remix) (AfroKats – 2006)
Mister Sinister (Word Of Mouth Remix) (Jamayka - 2005)
Mama Don’t Want No Gun (BeatFanatic Remix) (Freestyle - 2005)
Late Night Closed Eyes (White Mike Remix) (Freestyle - 2004)
Candela (Ritchie Pitch Remix) (Freestyle - 2004)
Mister Sinister (Faze Action Remix) (Jamayka - 2004)
Compilations:
V.A. Soul Shaker Vol. 6 (Record Kicks – 2009)
V.A. Power Up The Planet (Planetwize - 2009)
V.A. Funk Aid For Africa (Dubspot - 2009)
V.A. Republica Afrobeat 3 (Love Monk - 2009)
V.A. Balearic Beach Sessions (Cool Pool - 2009)
V.A. Afrobeat Club (Union Square - 2009)
V.A. Rough Guide To Afrobeat Revival (WMN - 2009)
V.A. Soul Shaker Vol. 5 (Record Kicks – 2008)
V.A. Funkanova (Prominence – 2008)
V.A. Collected Singles Vol. 5 (Freestyle – 2008)
V.A. Collected Singles Vol. 2 (Freestyle – 2008)
V.A. Collected Singles Vol. 1 (Freestyle – 2008)
V.A. Nu Afro (Wagram – 2007)
V.A. Soul Shaker Vol. 4 (Record Kicks – 2007)
V.A. The Afro Sound Of House (Traxsource – 2007)
V.A. Timeless Anthems (Jetstar – 2006)
V.A. Feel The Beat: Afrofunk (Big Sur – 2006)
V.A. Freestyle Remixed (Freestyle – 2006)
V.A. Loft Party (Kinky Sweet – 2006)
V.A. Beginners Guide To Afro Lounge (Nascente – 2006)
V.A. Afrique C’est Chic Box Set (Kinky Sweet – 2005)
V.A. Even Nice Girls (Public Release – 2005)
V.A. Frequent Flyer Mile High (Kinky Sweet – 2005)
V.A. Afrique C’est Chic 3 (Slip ‘N Slide - 2005)
V.A. Future World Funk…On The Run (Ether - 2005)
V.A. House Afrika (House Afrika - 2004)
V.A. Afrobeat Sudan Aid Project (Modiba - 2004)
V.A. One Love Vol. 1 (Pure Hemp - 2004)
V.A. African Xpress (Shakti/Virgin - 2003)
V.A. Big Daddy Volume 3: The Showstopper (Big Daddy - 2002)
V.A. Live From WFMU (WFMU - 2002)
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