Shabaka, Of The Earth, Shabaka Records ***

Bit disappointed by this latest from Shabaka to be honest.

On the positive side it’s good it marks a return to what he does best, play the saxophone as part of the sprawling sound.

On the less positive side he’s not a brilliant rapper by any means and yet offers this side of his artistry up in tandem with everything else. It’s very much a one man band sort of record, “entirely written, produced, performed and mixed by Shabaka” issued on his own new label, there’s sax, flute, the rap, production. The tracks are mostly under 5 minutes long, the style mystical spiritual as is Shabaka’s preferred approach. It’s nowhere as compelling as solo work like the EP Afrikan Culture or his work with Sons of Kemet or Shabaka and the Ancestors. If you are new to the English reedist’s work start with his earlier work. This is for completists only.

Further reading

Afrikan Culture review (2022)

With Shabaka and the Ancestors We Are Sent Here By History (2020)

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