MySpace may seem like a place for emo adolescents and webcam girls, but it's actually an amazing resource for promoting (and discovering) music. In an effort to discover some really organic, conscious hip-hop, I checked out my favourite emcee's myspace - Toronto's k-os - and explored his "top friends." A few clicks and several over-produced beats later, I stumbled across South Africa's Tumi & The Volume.
Their website's sparse gray background was a welcome change from the flashy wallpaper of gangstas and hundred-dollar bills I'd seen before, and the simplicity of the band's friendly yellow logo (complete with cartoon goats) perked my interest. As soon as the funky vibes of "Signs" started playing, I knew I'd discovered something genuine.
Tumi & The Volume is a collaboration between Johannesburg, South Africa rapper/poet Tumi Molekane and members of African dub outfit 340ml. Together, the group manages to fuse funk, R&B, rock, and of course, hip-hop, to produce one of the most honest and musical rap albums to date. The bulk of Tumi's eloquent rhymes teach his listeners about the state of Africa, touching on ever-visceral topics of poverty, starvation, rape, and murder - but through it all, Tumi manages to spread positivity and optimism.
But don't let the subject matter bring you down - in fact, Tumi & The Volume won't let you. Their self-titled debut album moves so quickly from rhyme to hook that you can't help but stomp your feet and dance around.
"Tumi & The Volume" is on sale through Universal records at any record store and on iTunes. Though it's hard to pick favourites off this album, here are two tracks that absolutely can't be missed.
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