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Hip-life Artist Wanlov, Joins Tantrum Records as he Works on Debut Album
By LINDA A. ANNAN
Tantrum Records, the independent recording label that houses Tuface Idibia signed Afrobeat/hip-hop/hip-life artist, Wanlov onto its partnership of artists. His debut album set to drop in December, 2006, title not yet released, is currently undergoing reproducing and some fine-tuning.
After years of constantly harping about the continent he is most fond of, Africa, and the country that bred him, Ghana, Romanian native Wanlov finally gets his break in the music scene. He once collaborated with reggae artist Boya Dunn in creating a hip- life/hip-hop album, a record that only went as far as the underground market but might be re-released for nationwide distribution. He is also on compilations with the group Pure Africanz and several other up and coming Ghanaian artists.
His forthcoming album is a blend of hip-life, reggae, and hip-hop, a flow that demonstrat es his eclectic style. Wanlov's talking drum comparison rings true in this album where he raps in English, Pidgin (broken English), Twi and Romanian like the fast rhythms produced by this instrument.
Almost every track flashes you back to life and slangs used in Ghana; from addressing people who once doubted his success in Kokonsa to be doing “libbi-libbi labba-labba” (gossiping) about him to Chinese Kokonte , in which he asks if anyone has ever seen a Chinese man eating this food specialty from Ghana. Do no t allow Wanlov's topics and choice of words fool you because this conscious artist does divert to more grave topics on tracks like How in which Wanlov gives his fans a peek at the humanitarian in him. The song begins with a melancholic melody saying, “This one is for Ghana and Romania.” He paces himself when he tells the story of people living in the streets of Accra, Ghana, sympathizing with them and then say ing , “I just can't take it,” in that same melancholic tone.
In Kubolor , Wanlov lives up to his spitter image when he rhymes to personal life experiences in Twi, Pidgin, Ga and English. And then for the next track t hink Hip-hop incorporated into an old school Highlife rhythm by “The Ramblers Dance Band,” in Highlyfe where Wanlov describes his version of the high life or “African feeling,” as he termed it.
Then, like we can refuse him the pleasure of making a track about the motherland; Wanlov swanks about all the things that make Ghana what it is on the track In Ghana . He talks about stepping out of a plane at Kotoka International Airport to eating abele (corn) and groundnuts.
This imminent album deflects from most contemporary hip-hop music that may crow about “bling” and scoring girls; plus, it contains tracks that nudge you to move and even make you laugh.
Keep looking out for Wanlov's debut album in December.
Producers: Seven X, Bosco, Kweku Ananse, Mensa, and more.
Upcoming Show with Broken English band:
* Sat, Sept. 23rd – Afrobeat No Go Die! By AfrodiciaRadio.com & Templebarlive. com - Temple Bar – Los Angeles, CA.
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