Anyone familiar with the tunes of Blitz the Ambassador expects a certain level of creative craftsmanship. The crispiness of fresh rhythms, energy and emotion he pours into his lyrics makes something of the listening experience. After two EPs (Soul Rebel and Double Consciousness) and one studio album, (Stereotype), The Ambassador brings it home full force in traditional style. Native Sun, his second studio album, contains some of the finest tunes and collaborations.
The first track, “En-trance,” immediately lures the listener into a world of traditional royal pulse with verbal libations being poured to Odomankoma (The Almighty), Yaa Asantewa, Tetteh Kwashie and Kwame Nkrumah. “Dear Africa,” the second track featuring R&B Grammy-nominated artists, Les Nubians, is a letter to the continent in which Blitz eulogizes Mother Africa and tells her that although he’s been away for more than 10 years he never stopped “repping” her in “every track, every show, every last interview.” Melodies of the female duo on this track are so fluid they fit right into the tone of the song. In “Akwaaba,” Blitz’s band, the Embassy Ensemble, shows off its musical dexterity as the instruments beautifully blast through the track.
“Best I Can,” “Instrumentalude” and “Accra City Blues,” although floating on slight tunes of High Life contain touches of Western Hip Hop influence but certainly not missing the beat of the entire record.
“Free Your Mind,” “Wahala” and “The Oracle” take us straight back to the Motherland, with part of the lyrics in “Free Your Mind” echoing the words “Colonial mentality,” as in Africans freeing their minds from colonial mentalism. Once again, the Embassy Ensemble display their skill in “Wahala,” a track undoubtedly Fela-inspired, you can’t help but dance to this one. “The Oracle,” an instrumental with the voice of American rapper and former leader of Public Enemy, Chuck D, repeatedly echoes “It’s not where you’re from but where you’re at.”
In “Victory” Blitz’s energy is up, building on the song with the same words of Chuck D from the previous track. “Native Sun,” the High Life-tuned title track, beginning with “Aye aye, aye aye, masan aba o” (translated as “I am back”) speaks of the struggles of immigrants living abroad. “Ex-trance,” the exit tune, is another verbal pouring of libation.
There’s no doubt Native Sun is Blitz the Ambassador’s best album thus far, truly exhibiting his musical maturity. Soul Rebel holds its place as the first experimental album. In Double Consciousness, a creative album, we see him growing into his voice and place in the world of music, and as the name suggests, growing into a state of consciousness. In Stereotype, he is arriving and unapologetic about who he is as an artist. Now, in Native Sun, his presence is unavoidable. He’s confident, more cultural than ever and definitely more advanced as an artist. There’s no doubt he’s here to stay.