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Making Connections in music, arts and education – Afro Roots Hop Notes.

[AUDIO]: Freedom Hour – Black History Show

Last modified on 2012-02-05 12:08:00 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

FREEDOM HOUR – FEBRUARY 2012
Podcast on February 4, 2012

In this episode:

For the first show of 2012, Freedom Hour presents a special series on Black History Month, its origins and significance for African-Americans in the past and today. As part of this series, kwe chronicles and reflects on the life of Nigerian drummer and educator Babatunde Olatunji, whose book “The Beat of My Drum” is our featured Drum Talk this week. Also in this hour, we remember some of the pioneering figures and historical events of Black History, as we celebrate the revolutionary spirit, poetry and songs of the African diaspora in America

Listen. Subscribe. Transcript.




Tribute – Babatunde Olatunji



Songs on the playlist include:

  • [Narofinkwe – Harmony of Souls (Vintage Mix - 7:08)]
  • [Sizzla – Black History (3:42)]
  • Dead Prez – They Schools (3:42)]
  • [Akwerius – Black (Ancient Days - 3:53)]
  • [Babatunde Olatunji – The Beat of My Drum ()]
  • [Akwerius – Chant (1:37)]

FEATURED: “Mr. Prezident” Video by Akwerius

Last modified on 2011-05-31 14:30:47 GMT. 0 comments. Top.


As a prelude to his upcoming album “Tell Dem”, kwe has just released a hot new video for “Mr. Prezident”. Produced by Cuzmosis and featured on kwe’s debut album “Sonrise”, the tune is being re-released as a digital download by Afro Roots Hop. “It’s a political rap that I felt was quite timely”, says kwe on the timing of this music video, which comes at a moment of great political upheavals throughout the world.

> buy track here

“Get Control” by Nap Nat

Last modified on 2011-05-27 22:50:07 GMT. 0 comments. Top.


Get Control by Nap Nat Check out the latest song from emcee Nap Nat, featuring irie production from K-Salaam & Beatnick, is called “Get Control”. The tune is a call to people living life on auto pilot to take control of their existence and be original. It is featured on the forthcoming EP The Wholistic, features contributions from: Chicago’s own Pugs Atomz, dope up and coming producer duo Nez & Rio as well as the prolific production team of K-Salaam & Beatick. The Wholistic is an audio companion to Jesse Childs’ (p.k.a. Nap Nat the Napi Natural) second novel entitled Kam Remembered- available June 16th on Amazon.com

Preview: “Tell Dem” Album

Last modified on 2011-05-28 02:22:27 GMT. 0 comments. Top.


This album is the fruit of a collaboration with Circadian Riddims. As a project, it illustrates some of the best capabilities of this Boston-based production crew. From entirely live acoustic tracks to studio productions, the sound is nu and fresh. When asked about his approach to making this record, kwe responds: “Lyrically, I want this album to demonstrate the range of my vocal talent. You got some straight-up hip hop tracks (which is my musical foundation), alongside more roots-type beats with chants and singing parts/verses. Finally, you got dub poetry.” Having recently published his first collection of poetry in 2010, this album is a reflection of kwe’s growth not only as an emcee/poet, but also as a musician and artist. In anticipation of this album, a podcast release last year (Astronomy Vol. I) served as a blueprint of sorts for “Tell Dem”.

> Preview & Pre-Order “Tell Dem”

Project: Circadian Riddims New Mixtape

Last modified on 2011-05-27 22:40:10 GMT. 0 comments. Top.


As some of you may know, Circadian Riddims is a Boston-based production camp out of Boston, MA. Since the release of our first mixtape “Four Directions” in December 2010, the crew has been spending a lot of time in the studio working on its next release, the upcoming new full length album Electric Food Vol. I. Our lead producer Felix Fantasia (who also doubles as the crew’s sound engineer) has had to take a leave of absence from his other projects in order to focus on this record, which will be a magical dub odyssey by the time we’re done tracking and mixing at the end of the summer. That’s where you come in! As independent artists, we know we are not alone (at least we hope we’re not). Still, the cost of recording, mixing, mastering, duplicating and promoting a record on a level that everyone out there can hear it, is a burden we are often tasked to bear on our own. As our families, friends and supporters, we thank you for all the support you have given and continue to give us as we keep aspiring to live out our dreams and in so-doing maybe even inspire others to do the same.

> Download free dubcast on iTunes

> Buy “Four Directions” Mixtape Here

> Fund our next mixtape project

Radio: Episode 1

Last modified on 2011-05-27 22:26:52 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

FREEDOM HOUR 1
Aired on January 27, 2011

In this episode:

The first show of 2011! Gabriel Bata (Houston, TX) explains how drums and music are used for healing in traditional ceremonies. Circadian Riddims drops its first compilation album – Four Directions. Cathy Cathodic, la rapera desde Boston reads a passage on sacred medicinal plants. And a poem by Pale Wryter, founder of the Drive-by Poetz. Subscribe.

Featured Artist: Gabriel Bata
The Angels Jazz Trio – Oakland, California



The music producers featured in this month’s show were Felix Fantasia and Derek Wood.

Songs on the playlist include:

  • Rohan Palomino & Akwerius – Song of Praise (3:28)
  • Gunsmoke Dub (8:16)
  • Ruff Life Dub (2:26)
  • Freestyle – Do What Mi Like (2:58)
  • Balistico Dub (4:07)
  • Akwerius, Freestyle & Higha Medz – Amen Ra Extended Vocal Mix (6:34)

All songs produced by Circadian Riddims.


Creative Commons License
Freedom Hour Radio Podcast by Afro Roots Hop is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.