Fresh Voices in Hip-hop: Baloji

Rapping in Swahili, French, and Tshiluba (an official tongue of his native Congo)—often in the same sentence—Baloji is not just one fresh voice but many. Declarative, punchy statements form the backbone of his verses as he seeks not to rhyme every syllable but rather mesh and meld his words into the pattern and percussion of his music.

Spot the video below for “Karibu Ya Bintou” ("Welcome to Life in Limbo") taken from his second album Kinshasa Succursale. Shot entirely on the streets of Kinshasa (the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo), it follows Baloji as he hitches rides in dusty downtown traffic flanked by three pals in skeleton get-up, rhythmically gesticulates to the camera in an empty boxing gym, and saunters around a bonfire in a suit jacket. (I have this same dream every other night.) The film climaxes in a wrestling spectacle (complete with WWE-esque fake foot-stomp-on-chest action at 4:31 and lots of throwing people out of the ring)—a possible homage to Muhammad Ali's famous “Rumble in the Jungle," which was held in Kinshasa in 1974.

What really gets my ears smiling on “Karibu Ya Bintou” is not just Baloji's confident Congolese flow (which is as much about his words as the spaces he leaves between them) but also the distinctive sound of the likembé, the electric finger piano from Central Africa. It's made of firm strips of metal or wood nailed to a wooden block that you twang with your fingers and thumbs. You've probably seen one before; if you haven't, there's a quick clip of one at 3:32. Here it's twanged by Konono N°1, the acclaimed Congolese group who since 1970 have played traditional “Bazombo trance” (my new favorite genre name) from the DRC combined with instruments made from salvaged junkyard items, who also provide percussion for this track. It's busy, lively, and calmly celebratory, whisking you forward and priming you for that hip-hop staple: a solid kick-drum, which never comes. It will still make you want to dance though.

There's more on Baloji's latest bounces here. And if it's fresh and unique hip-hop you're looking for this weekend at Bumbershoot, look no further than our City Arts picks for the festival! Rappers Astronautalis, Das Racist, and Big Boi all await your fandom.