SPEED GARAGE IS BACK! Ripped from the Butterz show on Rinse FM 19/01/2014
Out Friday 19th October 2018 on Project Allout Records with remixes from Deadbeat, J.G and Hamdi.

Bad Boy [Out NOW]

STEPPADDICT DUBPLATE - Hibakusha (Melodica version)

Riddim : I Axe
Melodica : Natural Dread

Hibakusha (Melodica version)

The Azontomentary Mixtape -32- Afrobeats - Ruff n Smooth with Skit appearance by Barima Sidney

Official Soundtrack Mixtape to the forthcoming feature length documentary film: Azonto Ambassadors - The Azontomentary by AspecksGH. Mixed and Hosted by Selecta B. Brown

The Azontomentary Mixtape -56- Outro by Selecta B. Brown

Afro Beets is the hottest new musical genre on the planet.

Just kidding: Afro Beets is not a genre. And neither is Afro Beats, the rather silly name coined by some UK radio dj to hype his show that seems to have stuck. What we really have here is Electronic Pop and Dance music from West Africa, specifically modern Highlife from Ghana, and Naija Jams from Nigeria (with a touch of Coupe Decale from the Ivory Coast and South African House for good measure).

The term “Afro Beats” has the most tenuous of links to its reference – P-Square has not much to do, musically, thematically, anything-cally, with Fela Kuti. About the only link between “Afro Beats” and the Afro-Funk/Soul/Rock of the 1970s, what is known as Afro Beat, is the same place of origin. But the differences are many: 70s Afro Beat was of course Funk and Blues based, while these new styles use beats related to Afro-House and Reggaeton, bass-lines from Highlife and Rumba, vocals a mix of local styles,  Jamaican Dancehall and American R’n'B/Rap, with healthy doses of techno-rave energy. While 1970s Afrobeat often spread conscious political messages which passionately spoke of social realities and the struggle against oppression, these new forms of pop music deliver an entirely hedonistic message which passionately speak about glamour, escape, sex, and money.

Purist of both the musical and political variety, please let go of your seriousness and get with the serious boogie. To the "Drum Machines Have No Soul" type i say don't forget that the 70s musicians you worship all embraced the latest technologies and sounds of their day.  To people who take issue with the materialism this music espouses, from a dj thoroughly dedicated to anti-capitalism: dance music, with its anarchic celebration of pleasure and wanton disregard for the law, is always in essence, if not on the surface, anti-authoritarian; and partying, even in these bleak times, can still be an insurrectionary activity, disruptive of hum-drum consumerist routine.

But whatever. Love it or leave it. And whatever we call it, if it even is an “it”, the sweet grooves and irresistible hooks of this action packed music is not only the perfect summer party soundtrack, but simply the most uninhibited fun your money can buy, anywhere. 

Though of course this download is free :)

Track List:  http://ngomasound.com/2013/06/19/afro-beets/

P.S. Track 21, called Azonto Decale, is by the Focus Allstars, a pan-African musical force which grew out of the Focus Organization.  If you are in London they do proper events:  http://ymlp.com/ziZL7k

The Azontomentary Mixtape -32- Afrobeats - Ruff n Smooth with Skit appearance by Barima Sidney

AspecksGH Presents...

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