Soulfége: Do Harvard and Oprah Know Solid Hip-Hop?

What do you get when you take hip-hop and a Ghana-born, Oprah-endorsed Harvard graduate?  You end up with thoughtful, bright hip-hop; certainly not the stuff of “bitches and hoes.”

Soulfège is lead by Derrick Ashong, a.k.a. DNA, who hosts “The Derrick Ashong Experience” on Oprah radio, found on Sirius 195/XM 156.  His music is wholesome and fun; a breathe of fresh air in an industry saturated with the quest for the next big thing.  This is not poised to be buzzed about one day and forgotten the next.  Soulfège is simply an alternative to the “all-style-and-no-substance” found in some modern hip-hop.  I’d recommend this to those who enjoy the genre but feel guilt at misogyny.

With hip-hop at the core, the band also takes on the flavors of funk, reggae and a kind of world beat that you know isn’t being made by a bunch of suburban white kids.  It is party music, but the kind of party music that, when listening to the lyrics in between your party-time, you start feeling guilty that you aren’t doing more to advance mankind.

The stand-outs on their most recent release, “Take Back The Mic” include “Damoshi (Stand Up),” the album opener.  It is the perfect thesis introduction to the core of Soulfège, sung in multiple languages, pumping beats, multiple instruments, multiple vocalists.  “Do Right” sounds like it may be more at home on Soul Train, upbeat, fun, horn section; a win!  “To Be Free” is a “let’s-make-mojitos-and-sit-on-a-Caribbean-beach-during-the-summer” jam. 

Their live show was one of the more uplifting experiences I’ve had recently at a music venue.  You can’t help but smile and groove at what they throw down.  It’s just….wholesome.  Sometimes you can’t beat wholesome.  Keep your ears open for Soulfège and click here to visit their official site!

Recommended downloads:  “Damoshi (Stand Up),” “Do Right,” “Beans N Rice.”