OG LO’S ‘Chosan’ Album Depicts African Music

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By BAKARY CEESAY

OG LO, one of Gambia’s finest rapper has unveiled his latest album ‘Chosan’ to all digital platforms for public consumption as it is widely regarded by many to be full of culture and spirituality of African music.

The album released in 2018 comprise of tracks recorded and mixed by Minker, Dougie, Hakim and mastered by Triple J and produced by JayMills Studio.

Music pundits say it is an album that contains a lot of culture and spirituality of African music.

It featured prominent Gambian artistes including ST, Jalimadi, Gee, and Bai Babu.

Some of the hit songs Jalimadi featured on (JAAM)-(GISULOR ft Gee)-(Chosan ft Bai Babu) and (Dunya ft ST).

OG Lo, Serekunda based hip-hop cum rapper told The Monitor that the songs in the album talks about society and the day-to-day struggles and survival of people.

He explained that it took years to compile the methodology of the beats, the singing notes, topics, stories, to put them together for a perfect piece.

“I named the album Chosan, mainly to remind myself of my origin and the reality behind the past musicians or I can say legends, like late Musa Afia Ngum, and a lot more that had a great impact on the survival of Gambian music. To me it feels like they have passed on to us a very powerful gift, to realize one thing, that’s to never forget our roots and how rich our culture and music could be,” he said.

“So I chose to call the album Chosan and created the album with people I believe in. Instruments ranging from the Kora, the flute, beat making fused with the old melodies and words of wisdom that produce lyrics mature enough to feed the ears of each and every being. Being crafted years ago till date, this brings out the creation of today’s music.”

“The kora is a much respected instrument as we know from the legend Jaliba Kuyateh and so on. It’s called music of the soul, not soul music. It’s a fusion of Afromanding; and I believe it contains a very rich Jollof vibe which gives the feeling of real Africanism. It’s a project I believe needs listeners to listen carefully and wholeheartedly…because it’s one of its kind of experience for music loops and composition, time, and conscience put together,”

OG Lo expressed his delight about the hands put together towards creting the album, commending, Colley Faye who came up with very inspirational guitar chords, Ansumana for perfecting the kora and recordings.