Hometown Sounds

DC rapper & educator Asheru‘s most recent album Sleepless In Soweto shifts most of its focus from his hometown to South Africa, working closely with artists there to craft lyrics and sound to represent both locales. While “Funky DC”, the last video of Ash’s we featured, celebrated the revitalization of U Street’s musical legacy, “Make Magic” takes us to the Soweto area of South Africa’s largest city Johannesburg. Directed by Asheru and Didier Ganza of So Afrika Entertainment, the video shows both traditional African Zulu scenes and pretty amazing contortions from street-level Pantsula dancers. Mark your calendar for Thursday September 11th when Asheru performs with dancehall band Explosion Negra from Columbia at Tropicalia.