DMC interview Buraka Som Sistema with band member and founder Joah Barbosa aka Lil’ Jon
Welcome to London town from Portugal, how are you finding The Ibis Hotel in West London?”
“Well we get all the adult features on the telly for ten pounds… a good deal yeah?”
Joah “You are renowned for being one of the best artists in Kuduro, a music born in Angola and then immediately exported to the migrant Angolian suburbs of Lisbon. A mix of House, Hip Hop, Ghetto-tech and Ragga grooves, some would say it is mirrored to how hip hop began, a real social and political style of music.. how would you describe it?
“Well I agree with most of what you said to be honest, our point of view. We have kind of have gone in a different direction, trying to re-create where it all began. How the Angolian scene started with their drum sequences, how the 4/4 sound made it all different…”
So does the word Kuduro really mean ‘hard ass’
“Sort of, it’s a big song back in the day with a sample picked out.”
Who were the musicians you influenced you when were growing up?
“A lot of Angolan and Portuguese artists, but the big two on the worldwide stage… The Prodigy and DJ Nova.”
Craziest place you’ve ever played?
“San Fransisco at The Elbow Rooms – all the girls in the audience got on stage, stripped and grooved with us…”
There’s a quote from y’all about the scene in some parts of Africa, Gangsta Kuduro, Religious Kuduro and hardcore, triple X stuff – have you been over there to see it?
“Yeah sure, we’ve been to Angola, the religion direction there and the MC element is so important, different teams battling it out.”
Some amazing guest vocalists on the album, M.I.A., Kano and Petty to name but a few, who were you most honoured to work with?
“We didn’t do requests, we just met people along the way, it was always the personal vibe, having fun, having fun after clubs in hotel rooms, pushing things forward and just meeting people…”
Best record ever made…
“Marvin Gaye’s ‘ What’s Going On’.
Who is the craziest out of you when you are out on tour?
Kalaf was arrested in Norway once for being drunk, with no Passport or Visa. Pretty scary and silly…”