Stokley’s sophomore album Sankofa arrives after a three-year journey on Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis’s Perspective Records. The Mint Condition front man is in good company with H.E.R. Snoop Dogg, and more. Musically it is mostly a one-man affair as he does most of the playing on the album including the steel drum. The duet “Rush” with H.E.R. is one of the highlights and it brings to mind his Minneapolis brother Prince. Sankofa has a balance between love songs and party music embedded in R&B with African references. He explained in an interview that the word Sankofa “is a word that he has heard all his life” a Ghanaian word that references one’s roots. So far there’s been four videos from the album including “Woman” featuring KIDI last month. He is taking Sankofa on the road this month and tickets are on sale. 

 

 

 

 

[youtube id=”nCyCvKdjEZw”]Stokley steps out from his role as Mint Condition’s frontman to collaborate with Snoop Dogg on “Vibrant.” The party song is from Stokley’s upcoming Sankofa solo album. The video translates the upbeat energy of the song well with an all-woman crew of dancers and rollerskaters. The fun happens at a roller rink which is a place that has been disappearing around the country. Stokley even shows off his moves on wheels. The release date for Sankofa has not been revealed but the lightheartedness of “Vibrant” is ideal for surviving the summer during a pandemic. 

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Maysa and Stokley Williams of Mint Condition portray a couple who don’t see eye to eye and then go their separate ways in Maysa’s video for “Keep It Movin.'” Her 11th studio album, Back2Love is out now.

Maysa continues to be consistent in her output of music and this year she celebrates 20 years as a solo artist with the upcoming release of Back 2 Love. “Keep It Movin'” featuring Mint Condition front man Stokley Williams is the first single from the May 26th album. Back 2 Love will also have a guest appearance from soul singer Phil Perry. Maysa describes Back 2 Love as a reflection of her return to having a personal life now that her son is 16-years old. She says:

“BACK 2 LOVE represents the fact that I’m ready to get back to having a personal life with a very special man in my life. I have worked hard on my career so I could take care of us (my son and I). My son is almost 16 and I think he is old enough to have a mom who is going to be dating and possibly married. I am ready to meet Prince Charming. The music is exactly who I am. Being a Shanachie artist, I was always given the freedom to express who I am musically but this time I feel like spiritually we all went to a pure place to get this music. The music represents who I am as a woman and a human being who lives to love people. As a professional singer I should be able to sing anything and my records are just me trying to love everyone. And that’s why I am proud to be able to go from Jazz to R&B to Pop, etc.”