In 2016, the charts and radio stations were taken over by Jidenna’s track “Classic Man,” which eventually went on to win a Grammy and solidified the rapper, singer, and songwriter’s career. Now, Jidenna has officially crafted the follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2017 debut project ‘The Chief.’ The album, ’85 to Africa,’ released yesterday (8/23).
The album was, as suggested by the title, meant to be a tribute to Africa and its culture. The “85” in its title refers to Georgia’s Interstate 85, which leads to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport, from which travelers can take direct flights to Africa. In an interview with MTV, Jidenna shared:
“I wanted this album to be a highway that you could take to Africa. We’re living in a time where there’s a lot less borders between people. There’s some people to build borders and make walls but the rest of us know that we are in a time where global culture is it. This album is a mixture of all of that.”
’85 to Africa’ is, quite literally, a road between American popular music and African influences, which can be clearly identified in certain tracks on the album. The 11-track project includes features from GoldLink, St. Beauty, Mereba, Mr. Eazi, and Seaun Kuti.
Check out Jidenna’s latest album release, ’85 to Africa,’ here!
