Behind The Scenes: BLITZ THE AMBASSADOR’S “Make You No Forget”

Story by NANA OSEI KWADWO | Photography by MANTSE ARYEEQUAYE 

Ghanaian-born Brooklyn-based rapper Blitz the Ambassador is out with a new banger, “Make You Know Forget” featuring Seun Kuti – son of Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti.

Blitz leads a pack with “Boys Abr3”

“Make You No Forget” blends old school hip-hop with energizing highlife guitar strings and amazing classic horns. Typical of Blitz, the lyrics fit perfectly in to the rhythmic beats and send a wild message to Africans, and everybody around the world not to forget where they come from.

Blitz rides with the ‘Visionary”

 

These guys are by far the fiercest bikers in Accra

FLAT LAND BOYS take it up

He releases this song ahead of his upcoming “Afropolitan Dreams” album, which drops on April 28. ACCRA [dot] ALT produced the video in association Embassy MVMT with all the scenes shot in James Town Accra.  A good amount was shot against mural backdrops from last year’s Chale Wote Street Art Festival inside the old Kingsway building in Ussher Town. We get to see some rising boxing heroes in the heart of Accra plus the crazy bike stunts by local BMX crew Flat Land Boys.

BLITZ THE AMBASSADOR FILMS IN JAMES TOWN

Filming “Make You No Forget” with Blitz in James Town- AkumaDje – photo Mantse Aryeequaye

Blitz rehearsing his act before the cameras roll inside the Chale Wote mural station- old Kingsway building, Ussher Town Accra. Photo- Mantse Aryeequaye

Blitz the Ambassador was in Accra to set off his world tour for his third studio album #AfropolitanDreams. During the trip, Blitz took time to scout locations and talent for his next film project #BUKOM. Bukom is located in James Town Accra, plus it the boxing capital of Africa, having produced world champs like Azumah Nelson, Ike Quartey, Joshua Clottey amongst many. Blitz also shot a music video with ACCRA DOT ALT for his song “Make You No Forget” which features Seun Kuti. Here are some photos from the first day of the shoot, more coming.

At the old Kingsway building in Ussher Town Accra- music video shoot for Blitz’s “Make You No Forget”- Photo: Abass Ismail

The bike lords from Circus Ghana turn it up on set. Photo- Abass Ismail

Hanging with bikers at the Light House in James Town, Blitz does his last scene. Photo- Abass Ismail

James Town Light House- Photo: Abass Ismail

Ready to roll, Blitz awaits playback for the first take- “Make You No Forget” video shoot. Photo- Mantse Aryeequaye

A few takes later- photo- Abass Ismail.

Hold Up! Afropolitan Dreamer- Blitz the Ambassador, Ussher Town Accra. Photo- Abass Ismail

Blitz in Akumadje-James Town Accra. – photo- Mantse Aryeequaye

Old Kingsway mural station- Photo Abass Ismail.

    

SPIRIT WOMAN: Sena Dagadu Gets Grown

by Sionne R. Neely  | photos by Mantse Aryeequaye

[Double-click on photos to enlarge]

SENA DAGADU – photo by Mantse Aryeequaye

It’s hard not to fall head over heels for SENA DAGADU‘s newest album, Lots of Trees. As the sole warrior princess in Hungary’s 11-member live fusion band, Irie Maffia, Sena’s had plenty of training ground to launch her second LP. Lots of Trees follows up 2003’s First One and comprises an anthology of Sena’s sonics over the last decade. The album features the electric production of Élő Márton [Irie Maffia] and collaborations with Nneka, M3NSA and Wanlov the Kubolor.

Sena’s bold, earth-rich vocals heat the heart and chill the bone. Her love for life shines through a kaleidoscope of vibrating webs that draw in the listener. With tracks like “Accra City People”, “Pass It On”, “Extra Large” and “Morning Light”, Sena whips up a thick, soulful brew and serves it up calabash-style. In fact, Mz. Dagadu launched Lots of Trees on March 15th with a sold-out concert bash in Budapest.

ACCRA [dot] ALT hooked up with the Ghanaian-Hungarian singer/songwriter recently while she visited Ghana. Sena raps with us about blending her own batch of rhythm science into a keen balance between music, family and the spiritual self.

Read Part 1 of the interview:

NNEKA and the WARM WOBBLY

AN ACCRA [dot] ALT FEATURE INTERVIEW

NNEKA AT HIGH VIBES FESTIVAL, ACCRA GHANA | photo by ACCRA dot ALT

If you’ve ever seen Nneka perform, you’d remember. Like tell-your-grand kiddies-one-day type remember. Her presence just sticks with you.

You get the impression that she’s just being herself. Onstage and off. Dressed down, hair pulled back, comfortable in her own skin. When Nneka performs, she gets free. She strips herself bare to the bone for strangers in crowded rooms to see across the world.

This is what keeps us glued. This self-reflection society music and her unique ability to cull out the good, the bad and the DAMN-you-ugly! parts of our selves. Nneka’s sound bends soul, folk, AfroBeat, hip hop and reggae together into spaceships of human possibility. Her voice is an amplifying swirl of thunder and lightning – a blue shadow draped across the front door, the delicate cool taste of coconut water, the rake of the comb through tightly coiled hair – that strides out making you wanna run and hide. Nneka’s music makes you uncomfortable enough to confront your secret hiding places, dig out those dungeons of doom and reckon with your lingering ghosts.

NNEKA AT HIGH VIBES | photo by ACCRA dot ALT