Neva Bow Down

“Wickedest Sound” is another song that speaks volumes, featuring Ghanaian dancehall star Stonebwoy. The track combines elements of modern Afrobeats with Reggae music. With production paying homage to the organic recordings of classic Highlife music, it also combines a groove driven melodic approach with the traditional call and response style of singing.

“Wickedest Sound” video featuring Stonebwoy  https://youtu.be/DiDtpnlHVXk

"Wickedest Sound" featuring Stonebwoy

“Kyenkyen Bi Adi Mawu” features Ghanaian hip-hop star Sarkodie and is a sprawling remake of the Highlife classic originally recorded by Ghanaian maestro K. Frimpong which is all sung in Twi.

"Kyenkyen Bi Adi Mawu" featuring Sarkodie

The album was recorded in the span of almost 2 years in various studios in Ghana - Accra, Nairobi - and Los Angeles, California. In LA, Rocky was gifted studio time at the legendary Village Studios that has recorded the most influential artists including Bob Dylan, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, John Lennon, and Fleetwood Mac. Rocky ended up recording in the same room as Fleetwood Mac and created the magic of the title track “Beats of Zion” and “Wickedest Sound.” Rocky found out that Fleetwood Mac visited Ghana in the 1970s which made the experience more special and inspired the Ghanaian traditional highlife song “Kyenkyen Bi Adi Mawu” as a homage to his heritage. These 3 tracks recorded at Village Studios kicked off the entire album making process.

The title track and lead single “Beats of Zion” came out well from the Village Studios session, but was missing something on the drum tracking. Rocky states, “We travelled to Zanzibar for a concert shortly after the recording session. At the time, I was still wanting the full African tribal effect that I had imagined. On the eve of my concert at the amazing Sauti za Busara Festival, we saw Batimbo Percussion Magique of Burundi mount the stage and blow the minds of everyone in the audience. I turned to my manager; Cary Sullivan who was also watching and we thought the same – ‘these are the guys for Beats of Zion’ and so the story unfolded.” The lead single video debuted with PopMatters who stated, “Rocky Dawuni aims to re-energize the forces of love and hope.”   https://rockydawuni.lnk.to/beatsalbum

Rocky Dawuni “Beats of Zion” video https://youtu.be/gWNpphv-7rk (premiered on PopMatters)

"Beats of Zion"

"Elevation” and it is accompanying video shot on location in India which was is an inspirational groove filled with a message of hope and uses the traditional Rastafarian Nyabinghi sounds.

Rocky Dawuni “Elevation” video https://youtu.be/z3BZMzhnQ-Q

"Elevation"

Other tracks that show more dimensions to the album include the Reggae Cumbia track “Freedom Train” featuring Argentinian Dancehall queen Alika who joins Rocky with her powerful Spanish raps.

"Freedom Train" featuring Alika

Rocky Dawuni’s “Modern Man” from this new album “Beats of Zion” is a catchy yet poignant song of the times. This modern Reggae song weaves the beauty of classic dub elements, soulful rhythms and powerful lyricism to creating a track of bold and current relevance. The song is an indictment on the current state of the world where technology and social media obsession has captured the attention of society at a time when major world changing events and challenges require collective engagement. The advent of fake news, mass surveillance, loss of privacy, artificial intelligence and technological addiction has contributed to an amplified a state of confusion while climate change, dwindling forests, food scarcity, and social inequalities put human society at a generational cross road.

Rocky Dawuni "Modern Man" (Gaudi Remix) https://rockydawuni.lnk.to/modernmanremix

"Modern Man"

"Turn It Up" is a song that brings elements of 1970's funk and modern Reggae together.

"Turn It Up"

"Thank You Lord" is a personal song of gratitude and appreciation.

"Thank You Lord"

Rocky Dawuni's signature "Afro Roots" sound from his classic album "Book of Changes"

Book of Changes MP3

Afro Roots Vibration

Rocky Dawuni’s single “Wake the Town” from his record “Book of Changes” is a groundbreaking synthesis of Reggae, Afro beat, Dub, Hip-Hop turntablism and traditional African music into a signature sound he calls “Afro Roots.” “Wake The Town” received solid rotation from KCRW, BBC and Radio Nova in France amongst others. “Book of Changes” is based on the concept of new philosophical and musical changes going on in Accra, Ghana due to the movement of artists from war-torn countries like Cote D’Ivoire, Liberia, and Sierra Leone into the country. The recording involved musicians from Los Angeles, Jamaica and various West African countries with guests like Saul Williams, DJ Drez, Ronnie Mc Queen (Steel Pulse), Daniel Koranteng (Fela Kuti) and Manaz Itene (Spearhead.)

Wake the Town

Three-time GRAMMY nominated musician and activist, Rocky Dawuni, straddles the boundaries between Africa, the Caribbean and the U.S. to create his appealing Afro Roots sound that unites generations and cultures. A galvanizing performer, Dawuni has shared the stage with luminaries including Stevie Wonder, Ozomatli, Sauti Sol, Janelle Monae and John Legend, among many others. Named one of Africa's Top 10 global stars by CNN, he has showcased his talent at prestigious venues such as The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center and The Hollywood Bowl.  Rocky is a UN Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment for Africa, a UN Foundation Ambassador for the Clean Cooking Alliance and an Ambassador of Born Free USA. Rocky was just named the Global Ambassador for the World Day of African and Afrodescendant Culture which is a globally recognized by UNESCO. Through these and other designations he uses his music to shine a light on crucial issues facing humanity cross the globe through live concerts, speaking roles, panels, youth empowerment and more.  

Influenced by the soulful beats of Fela Kuti and the positive messages of Bob Marley  - Rocky Dawuni's infectious, sing-along sixth album, Branches of the Same Tree, (Cumbancha) was nominated for a GRAMMY for “Best Reggae Album” (2016) featuring the Afro Dancehall mashup video "African Thriller.”  Branches highlights Dawuni's ability to communicate a universal, uplifting message that crosses borders and reaches out to the hearts of millions. The influential “Songlines Magazine named the album one of the “Top 10 Most Essential Reggae Albums of All Time!”
Rocky released his 7th album entitled "Beats of Zion" in 2019 with its striking accompanying video shot in Jamestown, Accra (Ghana) through Six Degrees Distribution. Rocky also released videos for “Wickedest Sound” featuring Ghanaian dancehall star, Stonebwoy and the gorgeous “Elevation” shot in India.  Another track from the album “Let’s Go” is the theme song for Cadbury Canada’s Bicycle Factory Campaign and the beautiful 360 degree video from the song reached over 1 million views on You Tube.  “Burn One” and “Turn It Up” tracks were both been licensed by the TNT hit TV surf culture drama “Animal Kingdom.” The last video for the album is the upbeat positive Reggae track “Champion Arise” which deeply resonates across the globe during this difficult time. The song was named “Top Tune of the Day” on premier National Public Radio station KCRW where he also did a fabulous live recording from Accra with his full band for their “In Residence” series.  

Rocky released a Ghana focused EP “Voice of Bunbon, Vol. 1”  which was nominated for “Best Global Music Album” for the 2022 GRAMMY Awards. Three  beautiful videos were released for the EP including “Ghost Town” shot in Los Angeles, CA by photographer Casey Bridges (son of legendary actor Beau Bridges) which is a poignant tribute to 2020 as well as “Beautiful People” which was shot by rising Ghanaian cinematographer Slinghot in Rocky’s home village of Bunbon, Ghana which explores how “a deep sense of appreciation and gratitude can shift our gaze to recognizing our personal and communal power.” The most recent video for the classic Palmwine Highlife song “Woara” which means “you or it’s you” is sung in the local Akan dialect of Twi. It is a love song that uses its call and response style to express the beauty and triumph of being in love. In a time when divisive rhetoric on the rise and the political climate prefers to build walls over bridges, Rocky’s music is a refreshing message about global unity and a worldview of oneness. 

Rocky recently released a brand new single & video entitled “Neva Bow Down” featuring Blvk H3ro which was just 
nominated for a GRAMMY for “Best Global Music Performance.” This is the first single of an upcoming album he is working on that will drop in 2023!

Wake the Town

Rocky Dawuni

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