Wale Oyejide’s sophomore effort, Africa Hot! - The Afrofuture Sessions, sees his sound drift farther from its Hip-Hop underpinnings to embrace a more diverse sound ranging from House, Electro, and Afro-Pop. In particular, the sounds of West Africa find the broadest use in expressing his message where at times his delivery approximates a raw more unpolished version of Youssou N’Dour with all the politics of Fela Kuti providing the momentum. The album, in itself, follows a path that has it move from Afrocentric Hip-Hop to tribal driven Electro, to sprawling Soul House numbers in seventy minutes making for a deeply engaging listen.

Tracks like “H.I.V.” best demonstrate Oyejide’s politics and concern for the problems that plague Africa and the world at large. He earnestly implores the listener to sit up and listen carefully that ignorance and carelessness carries the gravest of consequences and provides traction to the disease. He sings of simple mistakes leading to the deaths of children and lectures on the necessity that individuals must take control of their destiny and protect themselves in order to ensure the future. Writing about it gives the song all the appearance of being a five minute PSA and in some regards it is but Oyejide’s convictions are strong and his believe in the inherent goodness of mankind prevails making that “H.I.V.” more than a simple moment in health education.

Later in the album, as the tone begins to change, the listener is treated to some astounding dance fueled production as tracks like “Cooba” burn with a tribal drive anchored by a dirty bass line than growls and snaps. Here Oyejide stretches into many different genres mashing Cumbia rhythms with Tech House and elements of Breakbeat. “Cooba” is easily a mix ready track providing enough fire to get people moving. “Heaven” sees things slow down with some blissed out Soul House, smoldering and swaying gently as the listener is guided closer to the end of the album further proving that Oyejide is not composed of a single trick, that he possesses a deep love of music from all people. Africa Hot! easily makes My Best of 2006 list.

Free Track: Africahot! (+ Meczilla)

Website: Science Fiction Is Wale Oyejide

Myspace: Wale Oyejide