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During the early 1960s, a surge of young Congolese musicians sought to speed up the slow tempo of Congolese rumba, which precipitated the emergence of soukous. Artists began incorporating faster rhythms, and prominent guitar improvisation, often characterized by high-pitched, fast-paced lines imbued with more heightened African motif .
In addition, the term Congo music can refer to at least two styles In English-speaking West African countries (e.g. Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia), Congo music refers to the genre more commonly known as soukous , which is widely performed in both Congos, though is more closely associated with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The EP's breakout track "Aye", featuring Koffi Olomide, garnered over one million views within five days of its release and became one of the top trending Congolese videos on YouTube of that year. [26] [27] [28] The ndombolo- and rap-infused single "Salaire" also yielded his furthest commercial success and amassed significant viewership on YouTube.
Andy Cowan of Mojo rated Congo Funk! 4/5 stars, writing that "global groovers will find this seamless mix of the known and the obscure frequently revelatory." [ 11 ] Writing in the Observer , Neil Spencer described the album as "precisely played and delightfully sung examples of Congolese rumba", and rated it 4/5 stars. [ 4 ]
The Rough Guide to Congo Gold is a world music compilation album originally released in 2008. Part of the World Music Network Rough Guides series, the release focuses on the soukous genre of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with tracks from the 1960s to 90s. The compilation was produced by Phil Stanton, co-founder of the World Music Network.
In 1953, the Congolese music scene began to differentiate itself with the formation of African Jazz (led by Joseph "Le Grand Kallé" Kabasele), the first full-time orchestra to record and perform, and the debut of fifteen-year-old guitarist François Luambo Makiadi (aka Franco). Both would go on to be some of the earliest Congolese music stars.
OK Jazz, later renamed TPOK Jazz (short for Tout Puissant Orchestre Kinois de Jazz), was a Congolese rumba band from the Democratic Republic of the Congo established in 1956 and fronted by Franco. The group disbanded in 1993, but reformed in 1996.
However, the fiscal insolvency that befell Congolese record labels such as Parions-Congo, Parions Mondenge, International Don-Dass, and Molende Kwi Kwi following the collapse of the Mazadis, Sophinza S.P.R.L., and Izason recording labels, coupled with the transition from vinyl to compact discs, led to national phonographic production sinking ...