Today marks the global release of Blitz the Ambassador’s brilliant new album, ‘Native Sun’, which you can hear in its entirety here.
I’ve been talking about this album since before I almost snapped my neck bopping my head to it at the preview party Blitz hosted at Rockstone’s Office a couple of months back.
I was going to write a long review about it using words like:
“A conversation between Africa and America. Highlife and hip-hop. Ebo Taylor and Big Daddy Kane…”
and…
“If ‘Native Sun’ doesn’t work then – seriously – any Ghanaian aiming at the international market may need to rethink the idea.”
Scratch that though. Instead, let me share with you the thoughts of someone whose musical opinion I value more than almost anyone I know – Eli Tetteh – who just tweeted the following:
“I’d like to issue a formal apology to @kobbygraham. I’m sorry I EVER doubted. I was ignorant at the time. I knew not what I did…”
Fri 06 May 15:18
“When I touched down in Ghana in December, me & @kobbygraham hung out. And he praised @BlitzAmbassador’s Native Sun album superlatively.”
Fri 06 May 15:27
“At the time, Kobby had only heard snippets, courtesy of @MsNaa. But the little he’d heard, he said, eclipsed Blitz’s previous LP, Stereotype.”
Fri 06 May 15:33
“As an avowed fan of the utter brilliance that is/was Stereotype, I smiled politely & nodded. However, inside, I quietly laughed.”
Fri 06 May 15:38
“I just KNEW it was the gassed up hyperbole that often comes with new material. No way could @BlitzAmbassador’s Native Sun be THAT good.”
Fri 06 May 15:44
“And then I heard it. In its entirety. (On 2DopeBoyz no less) And I was utterly floored. This album is… sublime.”
Fri 06 May 15:48
“Richer & more layered than anything Stereotype served up, @BlitzAmbassador’s Native Sun raises the bar… and then splinters it.”
Fri 06 May 15:52
“And then stomps the pieces into sawdust. And then uses them to kindle a musical bonfire…. the heat of which hiphop can’t help but feel.”
Fri 06 May 15:56
“I’m humbled that my countrymen are making music this good. Blitz, I salute you… and @kobbygraham? I shoulda never doubted you.”
Fri 06 May 16:00
“Man, I love music.”
Fri 06 May 16:10
I couldn’t have said it better myself. No, really… I couldn’t: Eli kills it with the words.
Don’t forget to look out for the short film that accompanies the album, which I am told may be available right here in Accra at GAME in the Accra Mall (I’ll confirm that…)
Meanwhile, this post was:
a) In tribute to ‘Native Sun’, which I highly recommend. Amazing job well done, Blitz, and…
b) … payback on Eli for doubting me (and keeping it to himself). OooOh: shame!