Ghanaian Reggae Artiste and Broadcaster, Blakk Rasta has released his new album dubbed ‘Timbuktu by Road’. This new album which is a collection of melodious Kuchoko tunes stands out for many reasons.
In an interview with Foster Romanus on the Late Nite Celebrity, the legendary Reggae artiste reveals distinctictive features of his new album, ‘Timbuktu by Road’.
First and foremost, Blakk Rasta shares that the title of the album was inspired by the fact that he is been travelling over the world. He compares his title to Bob Marley’s ‘Babylon By Bus’ when he says: “Bob Marley has a song titled ‘Babylon By Bus’. He is going to Babylon using the bus and he is going to conquer Babylon. I said I am going to the city of learning; Timbuktu by road. When you go to a place by road, you go slowly picking up the vibes; the positives and negatives”. He adds that the title of album alone shows that the album is a “potpourri of African music and creativity”.
Blakk Rasta’s album is a 32-track album with only four collaborations inclusive. He disclosed on the late Nite show: “The album is a 32-track album. I have four collaborations on the album;the rest are solo”.
Unlike other albums that are purchased on online stores, Blakk Rasta’s album, which is in a CD format, is available in all shell shops in the country. The album, according to him, is a 2-CD album that highlights Kuchoko music on one and Kuchoko dance on the other. “The album goes for GH₵50.00. I did this intentionally. This is the time when people don’t even buy CDs. But we are dealing with the ancient Timbuktu. So I have to go back and bring you things from the past and give to you and I am glad to say that thanks to Vivo. You can find it in all shell shops in Ghana. When was the last time you heard that an album was sold in a shell shop? The whole Ghana, any shell shop you get into, you will get this album”, he added.
With the release of this new album, Blakk Rasta has really proved beyond doubt that he is a dab hand at crafting pieces that influences our perception of African history. ‘Timbuktu by Road’ features songs such as ‘Jameela’, Sambisa Forest’, ‘Racists in Uniform’, among others.
By: Alberta Dorcas N D Armah