A leader in the UK’s Afro-Latin scene, UK based Anansi recently released a mammoth 7-track project featuring mainstay rapper Jafro and other key members of his Leng Section crew; showcasing the sounds of the Afro and Latin diasporas within Europe, the Futuro EP is out now.
‘Futuro, future in Spanish, future in Portugese, this album signals a new genre of music and culture that people told me it was impossible to unite. But after a year of collaborating across Latin America, Spain and Portugal this album proves those people wrong.This isn’t about recognition – this is about reconciliating the Latin sound and leading the way in music; this album is part of that story’
Anansi
Anansi hails from Guyana, Suriname and Brazil, and resides between London, Portugal and Spain – he truly reps the sound of Latin America in Europe, bringing positivity and eclectic rhythms to the UK.
Describing himself as a minority within a minority in the UK, Anansi has striven to build his own scene for his Leng Section fam, being the only UK artist to have collaborated with the top ten Latin artists globally.
A feminist in a world full of narcotic toxic masculinity, Anansi was nick-named by his mother who would read him stories of the legendary Anansi the spider, a trickster and mythological character from Ghana, whose stories travelled to South American shores via slavery, which became a sign of revolution, rebellion and strength – an inspiration to his modern day namesake.
Anansi chooses some of his favourite recent tracks of the genre for Bonafide below:
One of the fastest growing genres in Europe and America right now is Afro-Latin; a genre that brings together music from the Afro diaspora and Latin diaspora.
Looking back at 2021 here are some of my favourites:
Pitt Kelson – Viver na Favela
My Afro-Latin song of the year from Angola with some great homage to Brazil, this song has that BOUNCE, which is what makes Afro-Latin music so different. It’s a party vibe with the same aggressive energetic vibe of hip hop; the chorus and verse of this song come together perfectly.
MANDELA DRILL – A’DRY x Roedor HM x CRYSTAL (Prod. $ujo Beats)
Shout out Bradrill who keep pushing the sound forward in Brazil. Firstly this beat is CRAZY, I believe that $ujo Beats and Bradrill have always been one of the best in mixing Afro/Europe diaspora music with Brazil. The flows on this song give me goosebumps and as usual, A’drymc kills it.
Also, this song got me into Crystal for the first time, I particularly like how many women have a say in the Afro-Latin genre and long may it continue.
Roedor’s flow on this is also crazy, he really managed to find the perfect blend of a new sound, i can’t wait to hear more from these guys.
Partywithrami – International
The two biggest Afro-Latin producers in the genre in the UK are Mango la Mambo and Ouartasi; on this song they collab with American Dominican PartywithRami – I love the way the English and Spanish mixes together whilst the beat sounds a lot like a reggaeton slow vibe.
There’s an English bounce to it that if you sped it up would have an almost Drill bounce. I love how different and futuristic Afro-Latin music can be and this is a great example.
Tokischa x ROSALÍA – Linda
This is probably controversial as the song is in the genre of Dembow, but what makes it Afro-Latin for me is the blend of culture that is in the video, instrumental and even how both artists flow on the song.
I’ve been watching Tokischa for a while now and you can’t really mention Afro-Latin without mentioning Dominican artists. This song is like a blend of Dembow and hip hop with Baile undertones.
I am a big fan of Tokischa or Toki songs like this, they really take Dembow and the culture to the next level, and Rosalia kills it on this song too.
Wet Bed Gang – Perseus (prod. Charlie Beats)
Wet Bed Gang go hard bringing hip hop, drill, Portugal vibes and Afro-Latin vibes together to a T.
This whole album goes crazy but I love this song; the flows and the way they attack the beat uniquely shows how many new flows Afro-Latin music can bring to the world.
