Los Angeles independent hip-hop icon Blu is releasing a joint album with producer Nottz this Friday. Afrika celebrates the history and culture of the continent and Blu’s connection to his ancestral home. “Marcus Garvey,” featuring Canadian and Detroit rappers Shad and Quelle Chris, is the first single to drop from the project. The reference to Garvey and his UNIA movement that advocated for Black Americans to migrate to Africa is the origin of their “Back To Africa” chant. The trio raps about the benefits of a mass motherland return over Nottz’s hard-slapping percussive beats embedded with samples of James Brown. Blu explains, 

“These are lyrics that I needed to express to those who support my music, so they can hold with them what I hold most important to who I am, African. I hope this project inspires many others to speak on the father and home of humanity, Afrika.” 

Blu and Nottz have previously collaborated on the Gods In The Spirits EP and the Titans In The Flesh EP. Afrika will be released Friday but CDs and limited edition colored vinyl can be pre-ordered now. Blu released another collaboration earlier this year, Bad News With Real Bad Man. 

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Shad’s video for “Progress (Part 1: American Pie, Part 2: The Future Is Here)” is a visual match to his critique of the rotting parts of Americana culture including; ADD inducing social media, inequality and overall nihilism. “Progress” is from his Flying Colors album released last year.

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“Fam Jam (Fe Sum Immigrins)” is the second single from Shad’s Flying Colors album due on October 15th.

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Shad enlists the collaborative assistance of fellow Canadian rapper Saukrates for “Stylin'” which is his first single from his forthcoming Flying Colours.