Best of Bongo Fleva?

The view from Dhow Countries Music Academy.

I've just been wading through about 1000 mp3s from Zanzibar of Bongo and Zenj Flava........like I said before, I'm having a hard time finding much that is really all that interesting. Bearing that in mind, I'm gonna post a few things over the next few days just to get it out there. So, to start things off, here is my favorite hip hop track from that bunch.

This is a track by Fid Q (if you've been reading the whole thing you know he's the guy I'd been trying and trying and trying to hook up with and it never worked out. All the way down to trading text messages on my way to the airport. BTW, just got an email from him asking for a track.....so, it may happen still......). The track is called FidQ.com.

Here is another track I found interesting by Mr. II featuring Stara Thomas. I like the string samples and the female vox at the chorus. It's a little rough, a bit understated and unpretentious somehow. I like it. This is Kiburi.

Here's another track by Ray C, who is something of a star in the Bongo Fleva scene. From what I've heard, this track is a pretty severe departure from what she usually does. What makes this track "special" is that it is bossa nova hip hop. Yes, swahili bossa nova hip hop.....this is Ahadi.

All of these tracks were taken from different compilations bought on the street in Stone Town called "The Best of Bongo Fleva." I wonder, which is the REAL "Best of Bongo Fleva?" ;-)