Word Around the Sound is… the Afrobeats Party presented by the Global Bounce Presents team is celebrating their 2-year anniversary. For the momentous occasion, the team will be taking over both Seattle and Portland to bring the Afrobeats sound to a dance floor near you.
Since 2014, DJ Nayiram has been curating Afrobeats events all around the city. During the lockdown when social gatherings were banned, he turned to streaming weekly afrocentric DJ sets. These livestreams built up such a following that viewers demanded an in-person event take place once the ban was lifted. That’s when the light bulb illuminated over Nayiram’s head.
“I wanted the creative freedom to play 100 percent African Dance music all night; to give people an outlet to let loose and experience what it is like to party on the African continent, especially my birthplace Accra, Ghana,” Nayiram told me. “This was the birth of The Afrobeats Party.”
Photos from the Afrobeats Party provided by Global Bounce Presents.
For two years now, the ever-evolving Global Bounce Presents team has produced events that leave people with a sense of cultural enrichment. Attendees should feel connected to others through music and dance. Overall, the party should create a lasting memory of the joyous and vibrant atmosphere that Afrobeats music and culture can create.
Looking towards the future, Nayiram and the team envision a nationwide reach with their stretching from coast to coast to provide an authentic African music and dance experience. For now, though, on Saturday, September 30, the Afrobeats Party is taking over the Crocodile! Portland will see the party come to town the following Saturday. Come out and experience this unique event that focuses solely on Afrobeats from the moment the doors open, until the lights come up on the dance floor.
LIVt “I Just Want My Bitches To Fly” ft. Daizha
“I Just Want My Bitches To Fly,” LIVt says in her latest release. Daizha helps LIVt serenade the listeners with a languid and heartfelt ode to seeing your friends break free from those who lied to them. This is just a small peek into her next project which will be a sonic expansion of her critically acclaimed EP, Pink and Orange. P.S… if you watch to the end of the music video, you get a special treat- wink, nudge, nudge.
Ellis Prescott Until They See EP
There is a vulnerability and romance to Ellis Prescott’s music that has had me hooked since I was first introduced to his music. On his newest EP, Until They See, El opens up and speaks about how life has changed since becoming a father, touching on his relationships and lifestyle. Along with many of the releases featured in this edition of WATS, this new EP is the perfect vibe for this time of the year where the sun starts to set earlier, the nights get longer, and the rain drizzles on and off for months on end.
Bocha EVERYTHING MUST GO
You want to talk about coming out the gate swinging? Bocha is throwing caution to the wind on his latest album EVERYTHING MUST GO. I’ve always loved the ferocity with which Bocha delivers his bars but in this project, in particular, he really struck a chord. Dropping this album on the equinox is so perfect because overall I get a crisp air, crunchy leaves on the ground type energy that fits into the darker seasons perfectly.
Bvmmer and Samurai Del “Bad Habits”
Bvmmer and Samurai Del have released a few songs together now and it’s obvious that the duo make a natural pairing. Their most recent release, “Bad Habits” showcases the crossover in influences that both artists have. Between Samurai Del’s inspiring cinematic production and Bvmmer’s catchy lyrics and bright vocal tones, they capture the essence of the “finding yourself” era where you may sabotage yourself and relationships with your bad habits.
B-Boy Fidget “Paid” ft. DGTL
B-Boy Fidget is hip-hop through and through. He’s shown us with many releases over the years that he’s that b-boy and rapper, continuing to give us hit after hit. His latest single, “Paid” is actually the first single off of an upcoming collaboration project with production specialist theDGTL, who not only produced the track, but goes bar for bar with B-Boy Fidget too!
All Star Opera “200proof”
All Star Opera been bout it, bout it, bout it, that ain’t nothing new. You’ll only need one sip of their new track, “200proof” to be so intoxicated that you’ll be recklessly pressing repeat, running the song back so many times that your neighbors will get drunk off the vibes alone. It seems with this new release, ASO stepped out in their raincoats made of Gore-Tex and got lost in the vortex while exploring a new sound. A lil’ birdy told me that they have lots of bangers in the pan and if this is the direction that they’re heading in, I’m excited to follow them down this new path.
Sus “Tai Chi”
One of the smoothest, funkiest, hip-hop infused bands in the Pacific Northwest, Sus, just released a new soul-aligning track called “Tai Chi.” The lowkey track packs more impact than your usual kind of Tai Chi flow, with an infectious groove that creates the perfect little pocket for Jesse to nestle his lyrics into. Take a few minutes out of your day to get your mind, body, and soul right with Sus’ “Tai Chi.”
Milc “Original Pirate Material” ft. AJ Suede and Sleep Sinatra (prod. Televangel)
Usually, pirates are drinking rum or torrenting digital files by the gigabyte, but this time they’re drinking Milc by the gallon. “Original Pirate Material” is the most recent single from the Portland emcee, who linked up with AJ Suede and Sleep Sinatra to round out the track. Frequent collaborator, Televangel, can be found behind the beat this time providing the perfect bounce for the rappers to spit to. This is one of two new singles that are out now leading up to the release of Milc’s next project, The Fish That Saved Portland.
