Ekundayo- Ekundayo! (2011)

Posted by HHB Admin on August 22, 2011 – 10:56 pm

Ekundayo is a New York transplant that has lived and cultivated his craft in the catacombs of Atlanta, Georgia. Alongside fellow members of his Freeport, Long Island bred Liuns Den crew, Ekundayo has continued creating culture rich hip hop that was harvested in their early years in New York while playing numerous events around Hofstra University, NYU, Baby Jupiter, Planet 28, Lyricist Lounge, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Chameleon Lounge, and more.

In 2010, Ekundayo began to get sprinkles of coverage within the blogosphere, but I just recently came across his music after randomly listening to a song he did over a jacked Oddisee beat. The self titled track immediately perked my ears not only due to the crisp production, but Ekundayo’s cloudless cadence as he twists vintage vaunts around Oddisee’s vaporous horns and drums. This solid first impression led me to Ekundayo’s latest collection of loosies featuring 20 tracks of some original music as well as production from “up and coming” producers around the world (Oddisee (D.C.), Onra (Paris, France), Full Crate and FS Green (Amsterdam), Brenk (Austria), Tokimonsta (Bay Area), Jansport J (LA), Illastrate (Atlanta), and Ekundayo himself).

Throughout this collection, Ekundayo proves he is a veteran worth listening to. In an over saturated blogosphere where youth, inexperience, and raw potential is manifested as top tier material, ‘Dayo stands as a skyscraper next to bodegas and, to me, is way more interesting and polished than most of the up and coming east coast conscious lyricists I’ve lauded in the past.

Here is a collection of Ekundayo work that I personally enjoyed (from what I’ve found so far). There are a lot of loose singles, Liuns Den videos/tracks, and other collabos that I’ve missed, but I’ll catch up one of these days. You can reach ‘Dayo on twitter here.

1. Intro- Love Me
2. Ekundayo! (Prod. Oddisee)
3. Band of Brothers ft. Jus Blak & Itchy Paw (Prod. Oddisee)
4. Ekundayo Means (skit)
5. D and Jello
6. Slow Sex (Prod. Onra)
7. Want It (Prod. FS Green)
8. Options (Prod. FS Green)
9. Gunz (skit)
10. Concrete Jungle (Prod. Brenk)
11. Life is a Stage ft. Lady Precious (Prod. Ekundayo)
12. We Dont Die (skit)
13. NVR NVR (Prod. Full Crate)
14. More Love Mantra (Prod. Tokimonsta)
15. Kevin (skit)
16. Heavy Handed Halogen (Prod. Oddisee)
17. Real Raw ft. El Sun (Prod. Jansport J)
18. Ekundayo! RMX (Prod. Illastra8)
19. Kunta Kente (Prod. Ekundayo)
20. Outside (skit)