The "manicero" rhythm is probably one of the most prolific rhythms in all of popular music. from Cuba to the congo, west africa to the US, it has been redone, replayed, and re-imagined countless times. As a humble tribute to this massive melody, we decided to boast up the bass on the Alegre All-Stars' 1976 descarga verison featuring salsa heavyweights - Charlie Palmieri & Johnny Pacheco. Enjoy!

I wanted to share a small tribute mix to Ghana's fallen hiplife soldier - Castro the Destroyer - who reportedly drown on July 6th while on a boat trip in the Volta Region.

Unlike some of his other contemporaries, Castro managed to remain consistent throughout his 11+ year career, often straddling between hiplife, Azonto, and hip hop all while producing hit after hit.

Even as Ghana's musical trends changed, his love for Ghana's heritage remained as part of his repretoire, and is evident in his early songs like "Toffee," and "Sradenam." His unmistakable falsetto voice was reminiscent of his highlife forefathers, and added an endearing and long-lasting quality to his music.

In 2009, while I was living in Accra, Castro had his breakout hit - "African Girls" - featuring the recently denied blackstar footballer, Asamoah Gyah. The song not only became the soundtrack to Ghana's summer, but it reached audiences far outside of its borders - ushering in attention on the rising Ghanaian hiplife scene the was evolving into Azonto.

This mix is not comprehensive by any means, but rather a small collection of some of my favorite songs by - and featuring - Castro. I hope you enjoy as we send our love to this mighty musical talent. Rest in Power, champion.

Track List:

Dome Na Mendowo

Ohemaa - Wutah Kobby (feat. Castro)

Olofofo (feat. Godwin Dash)

Toffee

Sradenam

African girls (feat Asamoah Gyan)

Meko Me Shody - Batman aka Samini(Feat. Castro)

She Dey do Me

Do The Dance feat. Asamoah Gyan

Azonto 320

Wu Nti ft Bisa Kdei

Ayooo - Cash Unit (feat. Castro & Screwface)

As promised, here's the follow-up to our Reggae Nice Again revival mix, with a focus on extended dub versions, dubbed out one-offs, and dub-heavy riddims.

Big tunes from current revivalists Addis Pablo, Chronixx, Jah 9, and Kabaka Pyramid, as well as elder statesmen like Linval Thompson, Third World & Capleton, Big Youth and Johnny Osbourne.

01 Things ah Dub – Tailsman

02 Tings ah Get Tough – Tailsman

03 Bun Dem Riddim Version

04 Fyah Pon Dem – Raphael

05 Make it Bun Dem (Dreadsquad Remix) – Skrillex & Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley

06 Them Free the Seas Abroad (Dub Mix) – The Mighty Diamonds

07 Rockers International Version – Addis Pablo

08 Thanks and Praise feat. Chezidek – Addis Pablo

09 Weeping and Mourning – Marlon Asher

10 Chant Rastafari – Vivian Jones

11 Belly Full – Linval Thompson

12 His Majesty – Addis Pablo

13 Have U Ever Riddim (Dubwise)

14 Have U Ever (Guitar Version)

15 To The Foundation – Robert Dallas

16 No Lose No War - Eccleton Jarrett

17 Warrior – Robert Dallas

18 Live Right – Big Youth

19 Alpha & Omega (Dub version) – Chronixx

20 Alpha & Omega – Chronixx

21 Rude Bwoy – Micahel Rose

22 Warfare - Chuck Fenda & Junior Reid

23 A Murdah - Jah Cure & Bounty Killer

24 Inna Rub A Dub Style Riddim (Instrumental)

25 Lurking – Ziggi Recado

26 New Name – Jah 9

27 No Love (Plead My Cause) – Bitty Mclean

28 Modern Day Slavery (Extended Dub Mix) – Busy Signal

29 Modern Day Slavery – Busy Signal

30 Soldiers – Mavado

31 Ghetto Blues – Kabaka Pyramid feat. Chronixx

32 Deliverance Dub - Luciano

33 Deliverance – Luciano

34 Juicy Black – Earl Sixteen

35 Juicy Dub – Earl Sixteen

36 Cultivator Riddim Version

37 Perfect Tree – Chronixx

38 Herb Defenda – Kabaka Pyramid

39 Good Hearted People feat. Capleton (Dub Architect Remix) – Third World

40 Love is Universal Riddim Version

41 Forty Days & Forty Nights – Johnny Osbourne

42 Free My Chains - Gappy Ranks

43 Wicked Evil Man – Busy Signal Exco Levy

The good folks at Zambombazo asked me to put together a mix for their readers. So, in the spirit of the previous ¡Pa'lante! mixes, we present to you a brand new set of nu cumbia, cumbiaton, and other bangin' tunes to get you up and dancing.

Track List:

01 Los Reyes De La Milanga - Plas Plas

02 Maga Bo - No Balanço da Canoa feat. Rosângela Macedo and Marcelo Yuka

03 Piper St. Sound meets Dialect Trio - La Verdolaga feat. Petardo (CumbiaDubCLub Remix)

04 Totó La Momposina - La Verdolaga feat. Petardo (CumbiaDubCLub Remix)

05 Systema Solar - Ya Veras

06 Rafael Aragon - Cumbiamba

07 Los Mirlos - La Danza Del Petroleo (Dmatth 'Cumbia Amazonica Edit)

08 G-Flux - Meneito feat Afrodita & J. Luis Caballo

09 Chancha Via Circuito - Bosques via Temperley (Duo Calhambre Remix)

10 Grupo Jalado - Baila Negra (Mix W Ron Y Velas)

11 Sonora x Dany F - India Matea x Coral (remix by Nopalero Phunq)

12 Sonora Palacio - Llega la Cigüña (Manduka Remix)

13 Los Cojolites - Luna Negra (Uproot Andy RMX)

14 Banda Westfalica - Carimbo (Chong X Remix)

15 Thornato - Gaita Gaita

16 Atropolis - Una Mezcla Costeña (feat. Darwin Escorcia)

17 Rene Armesz - Balanceo (DJ Melo Edit)

18 Grupo Socavon - Homenaje a Justino (Uproot Andy RMX)

19 Celia Cruz - La Vida Es Un Carnaval (Doc & Jes Moombahton Remix)

20 Sazon Booya - Ode To Hector

21 Kingman Fire El Canto

22 Santos - El Infierno

23 Los Ribereños - Silbando (GRC Remix)

24 Fruko - A La Memoria Del Muerto (Meistro Sol Power Remix)

25 Frente Cumbiero - Pitchito

26 Martina Camargo - El Mohan (2melo & Atropolis)

27 Cabo Blanco - Santo Diablo

28 Balla et ses balladins x J. Cole (Juan G. live Mash Up)

It's been a while since the last Sound of Africa mix. This time around we showcase a bunch of big tunes coming out of Nigeria - including brand spanking new music from P-Square, J. Martins, and Dr. Sid, among others.

We also decided to expand our focus to include some of the amazing african dancehall bubbling up from artists like Kenya's Redsan, Uganda's Bebe cool and Selekta Kraze, Nigeria's Burna Boy, and last but not least - Ghana's favorite new artist - Shatta Wale.

Push play and enjoy the workout.

TRACK LIST:

Roses (Na So E Suppose Be) - Burna Boy

Butter Was Here - Ajebutter22

Oyari ft. Tiwa Savage - Dr. Sid

Yawa Dey (Extended Intro) - Burna Boy

Zeee - Selekta Kraze

Badder Than Most (Remix feat. Demarco) - Redsan

Tonemesa - Bebe Cool

Angella - Sizza Man

Riddim - Timron

Shatta City - Shatta Wale

Nobody Move - Bebe Cool

Surulere ft Don Jazzy - Dr. Sid

Tonga ft Sarkodie - Joey B

Omo Pastor feat. BOJ - Ajebutter22

Fever feat. Shatta Wale - D2 Fever

Odo - R2Bee's

My # 1 (Numero Uno) feat. Kay Switch & May D - DJ Neptune

Taste The Money (Testimony) - P-Square

On Top Your Matter - Wizkid

Oshe (feat. Awilo Longomba) - Praiz Oshe

Eminado feat. Don Jazzy - Tiwa Savage

Skelewu - Davido Skelewu

Baby Tornado - Dr. Sid

Dancehall King - Shatta Wale

Ekoloma Demba - Timaya

Emmah feat. D'Banj - Kcee

Oputakumo - Terry G

Gallardo Feat. Davido - Runtown

Malo Nogedi feat. Terry G - Timaya

Pull Over feat. Wizkid - Kcee

Fo Ma Pele (Le retour du Ziguéhi) [feat. Toofan] - Charly Watta

Paper - Sheyman

Away - Iyanya

Nous les Meilleurs feat. Fally Ipupa (Juan G. DJ Tool Re-Edit) - D'Banj

Fine Fine Love - J. Martins

Chop Ogbono - Dr Sid

Gentleman (feat. Davido & Don Jazzy) - D'Prince

Chinko - Wizboy

Faro (feat. DJ Arafat & Fally Ipupa) - J. Martins

Some of the best tunes and riddims from the whole revival movement featuring Chronixx, Protoje, Kabaka Pyramid, Jesse Royal, alongside veterans such as Luciano, Anthony B, Errol Dunkley, Carlton Livingston and more.

Part 2 coming soon.

Track List:

01 Soul Fyah Intro

Carpenter Riddim

02 Carpenter - Gappy Ranks

03 Stand for Something - Keida

04 Wadada - Jesse Royal*

You’ve Been Bad Riddim

05 Wonderous - Idren Natural

06 Total Control - Million Styles

07 Move & Galong - Marga

08 You’ve Been Bad - Errol Dunkley feat. Daddy Freddy

09 I Know - Wayne Marshall*

10 Back Weh - Bitty Mclean*

Reggae Jam Riddim

11 Doing jah Will - Luciano

12 Leaders Talk - Yami Bolo

13 Know Jah - Pad Anthony

14 “Jesse Royal Speaks”

Rootsman (Overstand) Riddim

15 Here Comes Trouble - Chronixx

16 Modern Day Judas - Jesse Royal

17 Kingston Be Wise - Protoje*

Game Theory Riddim

18 Start a Fyah - Chronixx

19 Pon Di Wings - Kabaka Pyramid

Militancy Riddim

20 Uptown Downtown - Dre Island

21 Territory - Jah Cure

22 Preying on The Weak - Jesse Royal

23 Resist Not Evil - Protoje

24 “Chronixx Speaks”

25 Selassie Souljahz - Chronixx feat. Kabaka Pyramid, Protoje & Addis Pablo*

You Don’t Care Riddim

26 Every Way - Courtney John

27 School Days - Gappy Ranks

28 Soon Come - Shy FX feat. Liam Bailey*

Freedom Fighters Riddim

29 High Horse - Carlton Livingston

30 Flick Flick - General Levy

31 Hail Ras Tafari - Protoje*

Jungle Skunk Riddim

32 Defend My Own - Anthony B

33 Call The Police - Konshens & Delus

34 It’s Running Over - Bitty Mclean*

35 False Alarm - Ray Darwin*

In My Arms Riddim

36 In My Arms - Beres Hammond

Fight This Feeling Riddim

37 Let Me Take You There - Red Foxx & Jimmy Cozier

38 Fight This Feeling - Shaggy Feat. Beres Hammond

FOR ALL MY EAST BAY FAM!

I put together this second volume of Nu Cumbia & Cumbiaton in preparation for our upcoming party - https://www.facebook.com/events/174355809433654/.

An hour of bass-thumping goodness featuring music by fellow pa'lantista - El Kool Kyle - as well as Boogat, Uproot Andy, Sonido Guay Neñë, Dengue Dengue Dengue!, Thornato, yours truly & more...

Peep it, enjoy, and look out for future events at https://www.facebook.com/PalanteBayArea

01 Sonido Guay Neñë - Al Compaz Del Sonajero (Original Mix)

02 Sonido Desconocido II - La Villa rica (Grita Dub Remix feat. El Meditador)

03 Boogat - Cumbia de las Luchas (ft. Karim de Syncop) PROD. by El Kool Kyle

04 Freak Castro - Bicho Bolita (Original Mix)

05 Sonikgroove - Better Dan Dem ft. Prince Osito

06 Villa Victoria Sound System - Silvestre Partis

07 Los Mirlos - Tiro al Blanco (Sonidos Profundos Remix)

08 Jimmy Cliff - Guns of Brixton (Kinky Electric Noise Remix)

09 Anthony B - Dem Can't Stop We from Talk (Bleepolar's Bogota Cumbia remix)

10 Los Mirlos - Chinito en Onda (Dengue Dengue Dengue! Remix)

11 Petrona Martinez - Sepiterna (Thornato Remix)

12 Galileo y Su Banda - El Forastero (Uproot Andy RMX)

13 Busy Signal - Bedroom Bully (Cumbia Drum Refix)

14 Dos Melo - Fuego De Cumbia

15 Andrés Landero y su Conjunto - La Pava Congona (Señor Sabor Remix)

16 Frente Cumbiero - Pitchito (Sonora Remix)

17 Petrona Martinez - La Petronita Martinez ft Martina Camargo (Atropolis Remix)

18 Rafael Aragon - Cumbia Piu-Più (Pa Kongal RMX)

19 Lizandro Meza - Tu Sera Mi Cumbia (Afro Kumbe REMIX)

20 Novalima - Macaco (Novalima Remix)

21 Billy The Gent - La Mania (Sabo's Corto Edit)

22 Umalali - Mérua (Juan G & Dj Alarm Edit)

The first of several edits we have in store for you.

This one takes you to the coast of Belize where the Garifuna people - descendants of shipwrecked African slaves who spread as far south as my homeland of Nicaragua - have been mixing up their ancestral african rhythms with latin and caribbean influences for centuries. The track - off the 2008 release by the Garifuna's Women's Project - is a monster in and of itself, and was the last to be recorded for the album. Now, with some rearrangement and increased low-end, it's ready to rock a party. Enjoy and share!

Part of my set from the July edition of The People Party in Oakland, Ca. A mix of afro-house from South Africa and Angola, Angolan Kuduro, Ghanaian Azonto, Nigerian afrobeat, and a lil tropical bass for good measure.

I'm definitely honored to have been a guest at this event. By far, one of the best parties our town has going on. A must-attend if you're ever in the bay area. Enjoy the tunes...

It's been too long since I first wanted to make this mix, but its finally done. These tracks were incredibly hard to find, but with the help of some amazing South African friends I was able to gather an awesome collection of classic old school kwaito. Peep the blog write-up on the mix:

http://digging4gold.tumblr.com/post/49903909062/pantsula-4-life-kwaitos-golden-era-mix

Kwaito's rise parallelled the end of Apartheid and the beginning of democracy in South Africa. The music of that time exuded the collective sign of relief that black south Africans were experiencing. This mix is old school kwaito at its best. Golden era business!

Tracked out zip folder download here: http://www19.zippyshare.com/v/86817986/file.html

01 Trybe - Madau

02 Thebe - Philly

03 Mapaputsi - I Really Like It

04 Alaska - Accuse

05 Alaska - Hosherr

06 Copper Head - Copper Head

07 Kabelo - Pantsula 4 Life

08 Mandoza - 50/50 feat. M'du

09 Arthur - Oyi Oyi

10 TKZee & Benni - Guz

11 Chiskop - Ziphiphani Lapho

12 Spikiri - Vat en Sit

13 M'du - Mazolo

14 MaWillies - Gagu

15 TKZee - Delela

16 Aba Shante - Girls

17 MaWillies - Intwejani

18 Mapaputsi - Expect

19 Chiskop - Klaimar

20 Trompies - magasman

21 TKZee - Palafala feat. S'bu

22 M'du - O Suna Mang (Ke Le Teng)

23 Jakarumba - Zong'thola Kahle

24 Jakarumba - Tussen

25 Mshoza - Kortes (Kasi Luv) feat. Mzambiya

26 Tokollo - Ndlovu Yangena

27 M'du - Siya Jola (Pk'Salayo)