Vibrant young Afrobeat MC Afrikan Boy is bringing his unique urban sound to the Rich Mix Arts Centre in Shoreditch for a FREE showcase as part of the vinspired Lake of Stars residency. The second in the series of Priceless Live events at Rich Mix, the night will also feature a live acoustic set from hotly tipped songstress Valentina and DJ sets from Sinden (KISS) and Ross Allen (ministryofsound.com, The Meltdown), who graced the Lake of Stars stage in Malawi in 2009.
Originally from Nigeria, Afrikan Boy, aka 20-year-old Shola Ajose, grew up in south London, and has been carving a name for himself on the grime/Afrobeat scene as a fusion MC from the age of 16.
His influences range from British-based performers such as Kano, Wiley and Dizzee Rascal to Nigerian artists including Sir Shina Peters, Fela and King Sunny Ade, and Shola prefers not to pigeon-hole his style. Under the moniker Afrikan Boy, he concentrates on using his music to elevate his fellow African people. His funny, yet critical, approach to thorny political topics such as immigration and visa problems has won him a rapidly-growing international fan base.
Afrikan Boy released his first official music video for Lagos Town in January to huge acclaim. He is currently in the studio recording a hotly anticipated debut album, 1444 Musik, building on the success of tracks from his mixtape, Can of Whoopass, Vol. 1: The Rise of Captain Africa.
Shola believes in ploughing his own furrow, using his own and his family’s experience to inspire his music. His offbeat lyrical stylings capture the essence of real life behind the violence stereotypically associated with the London grime scene, and his confident wordplay and assured stage presence make him one to watch in 2010.
While studying for a Psychology degree at Brunel University, Shola has also found time to open for Prince’s back-to-back shows at London’s O2 in 2007, and tour with the likes of M.I.A. Afrikan Boy also appears on a remix of M.IA.’s hit single Paper Planes, and collaborated on her 2007 album Kala.
The vinspired Lake of Stars monthly residency at the Rich Mix Arts Centre in Shoreditch was launched in February by Andreya Triana (Ninja Tune) and Nick Mulvey (Portico Quartet). Festival founder Will Jameson says:
“Our residency is an exciting opportunity for us to stage free quality live events in the heart of Shoreditch, giving people a small glimpse of what our festival is all about. We are going to be booking some of the brightest talent of 2010 - and obviously in these cash-strapped times the price is right too!”
Event details: vinspired Lake of Stars presents: Afrikan Boy
With support from Valentina (live acoustic set), Sinden (KISS) and Ross Allen (ministryofsound.com, The Meltdown)
Wednesday 3rd March FREE ENTRY @ Rich Mix Arts Centre 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA.
