Free Download: The Very Best Album at Green Owl

In a recent interview with Brother Ali, he stated to SFCritic that as hip hop continues to expand we can expect to hear it become a world music with contributions from Africa, Asia and Europe. This statement seems applicable to all genres of music, particularly African. With the success of Vampire Weekend's debut album, African music became re-popularized in Western culture in a way unseen since Paul Simon's, Graceland. Along these lines comes The Very Best, a group formed with Esau Mwamwaya born in Mzuzu in Malawi, East Africa, and Radioclit. Their recent mixtape, Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit are The Very Best was rated by Pitchfork Magazine as one of the top albums in 2008 at #40. The mixtape is available for download here for a limited time.

Their debut album is now out in the US, featuring artists M.I.A., Vampire Weekend, Architecture in Helsinki, BLK JKS, Santigold and the Ruby Suns. The songs are sung in Chichewa, the national language of Malawi. Take a listen, and definitely download the mixtape while it still available for free.

The Very Best: "Kamaphopo"


The Very Best ft. M.I.A.: "Rain Dance"