I’ve always loved listening to music that I might not have been exposed to in my usual circles. This is likely one of the reasons I got into diggin in the crates that nobody else was looking at. You can definitely credit this to my upbringing in hip-hop and learning how producers like Large Professor, Easy Mo Bee, RZA, Q-Tip, Prince Paul, DJ Premier, Lord Finesse, Pete Rock, Dilla, and so many others created my favourite beats by sampling songs from around the world.
Although I found several amazing records this year, I’ve selected two as my “Fave Finds” of 2024 because of how much they remind me of those older songs that were given new life through the creativity of hip-hop producers.
The first is พลิกล็อกค์ by เศรษฐา ศิระฉายา—or “Plik Lok” by Thai artist Setha Sirachaya1, former lead singer of the Thai pop-rock band The Impossibles. This track has all the right grooves and takes you on an interesting journey, blending 50s/60s-style bubblegum pop with 70s-style funk and rock.
My second pick is Mapunda by Kiko Kids Jazz2, a Tanzanian group named after—but not affiliated with—the original Kenyan band, Kiko Kids. This song captures the essence of the Afro-Cuban sound at the time of its release in 1975.
