Thanks for the info, Burkina Faso did amazing solos on that album! That's too bad about Aimelia's fallout with JB Mpiana, what accident happened in Canada? I thought it was growing egos that made them part ways.
Wow, was there a fight Seguin ever walked away from? Lol!
Although I learned something new, I had no idea he played drums on Mohamed Kaniansy. The album credited Titina as the drummer and Seguin as the mbonda player.
Who played lead guitar on Pipina-Jeannpy? I want to say Matire Fi-Carré but I could be wrong. I've heard that they hired session guitarist to rework Mboka Liya's contributions and the rhumbas before release.
I'm actually surprised that Genta only got one song on TH, didn't he tour with the group most of 1999 and the album was in the process of recording much of that time.
CNN was a one man powerhouse on that album! He's definately hall of fame material in terms of atalakus. But I'll never forget that footage of Spino dancing, he was trying to mix ndombolo with Rhumba dancing???!
Good picks! Mine is 12 Balles, Moselekete, and Polémique Generale (this was one the first time I heard Roga Roga sing and he did a great job). Whomever was the arranger of Trop C'est Trop deserves much praise because the guitar work (solo, mi-solo, & rhythm) is all audible and sequenced nicely with the remaining instruments.
Yeah, I heard that the Zenith of 2001 was the point of no return. They couldn't secure a European tour after that which further compounded the already exisiting issue of money.
Poor Kila Mbongo, you think they'll ever be a true reunion of Extra Musica Zangul? I wouldn't hold my breath, either the remaining members are still angry with Roga Roga about the past or have become too distant to reignite that chemistry. They tried some years before, but Roga Roga's ego made the concert difficult...I'm doubtful if they'll want to take another chance.
As for Trop C'est Trop, there are a couple songs that have clips which never made the album. They should of kept Karen Amour, well composed, Arafat did amazing cries, and the sebene was fire! What were your favorite tracks from that album?
Is it really true that Roga Roga played lead guitar on Cameleon by Koffi? Wasn't the song recorded in South Africa? If I'm not mistaken, Extra Musica would have been in Europe recording Shalai. Unless their album came out before Koffi's...for some reason, the solo sounds like Felly Tyson.
I can definately see the connection though, the guitar tones Roga Roga was using for Shalai is similar to the sebene on Cameleon.
CNN did an amazing job on animations, by the way! Held it down, for the most part on his own...what happened with Ocean Ebele on that album? He was present for those promotional videos when QL was rehearsing songs from the album, but he's absent in the album and clips.
He's probably on my top five list of artisit who wasted their potential, he shouldn't of left QL so quickly for Europe. He did great on Force De Frappe! Same goes for Kaps Kapangala, Eric Tutsi and Adjani
In reference to PPU, I was actually surprised that group didn't last after Wanted. The generique alone was stellar, the last good animations from Bebe Kerozene before he went on auto-pilot. They had all the makings to be a great spin off band from BCBG; Bic Rouge's excellent solos and the members could all sing just as good as they could dance.
Considering the troubles they had to overcome from being disconnected from BCBG because of ngulu affair, the fact that they could muster to release quality without backing from JB Mpiana is worth commending.
In my opinion, Bebe Kero should have stayed with Les Pipiyus instead of joining JDT. He felt more energized in these songs compared to the others, especially when he starts rapping in wolof.
Clearly imitating his idol, Bill Clinton often threw West African languages in his animations during the era of Kibusia Mpimpia...Mr.Photocopie though both are talented
I have a few more questions regarding A La Queue Leu Leu, did Otis Lumumba play guitar alongside Japonais and Flamme Kapaya on the album? I know he toured with Wenge Musica Masion Mere, so it's possible he may have played on the album.
Lastly, whatever became of Guylian Mpungi? Was he a rhythm guitarist or mi-soloist? His run with Wenge Musica was very short, I suppose Werrason decided that he didn't need three guitarist.
I could be wrong, but most artist within these big group like QL, Wenge, and so on make their living from saving the payment recieved from touring, mabangas, and their membership salary.
If you're a leader of these groups like Koffi, Werrason, and Roga Roga then they make the real money from touring and endorsement deals like Primus and Skol.
They really ought to make royalties a thing in Congo because too many of these talented artist struggle financially since they have zero ownership of the songs they help create.
That's why it is better to be a musican like a drummer, bassist, or guitarist than a singer in Congolese music. If you don't like your band, then you can pick up your instrument and walk but someone will quickly hire you. Where as singers may have difficulty due to combatants and crazed fans obstructing progress.
I totally forgot about Coco Kiandia, I had no idea he settled in Canada! His run with the group was so short. What was the deal with Kilimanjaro? There was some hype about him joining Wenge BCBG but nothing came from it. And is he really related to Bill "Clinton" Kalonji?
@mvulusi96
Baby should have joined Les Marquis, his career would have likely went on better. Even though the band was short lived, all the main members got a career boost to pursue other things because their songs were very popular. Ferre Gola slowly became a Rhumba master (100 Kilos & Amour intérêt), Bill Clinton expanded his craft beyond just animation (Vous me reverrez), and JDT (Ecole & Eric Gwenye) really got to showcase his songwriting skills. I'm sure Baby would have been able to tease some of his potential as a solo artist just as well as the others. Can't forget about Serge, his song Mariage is among my favorite!
@Manzambi94
Kakol is definately a unique kind of bully, his insolence has almost no restraint. Probably the only person he didn't mess with directly was JDT, I've heard that he could fight very well.
JB Mpiana should have kept Burkina Faso Mboka Liya in BCBG, they were neck and neck with Masion Mere.
After Mboka Liya departed from the group, Ficarre and Alba had to step to the forefront as soloist but I don't think they were ready to match the success of TH.
Don't get me wrong, Internet was good. But the rhumbas definately were better composed then the sebenes, although they had Masion Mere beat in percussion. Titina and Seugin were an excellent duo.
I feel like JB Mpiana never quite recovered from Mpela and Burkina Faso leaving.
In yall's opinion, who do you think won the creative rivalry? Why did Abilisi leave Extra Musica? I've never heard from him since Shalai and what happened to Kila Mbongo's voice, I saw a video interview of him from a couple years back. His voice is frail and shaky, was he in drugs or damaged his vocal cords from years of shout animations?
I suppose the only person in Maison Mere who doesn't have a story of business or personal polemic is Papy Kakol and maybe Heriter! ?
Who do you think was better qualified to be leader of Les Marquis de Masion Mere? Such a promising offshoot band, but apparently all the founding members were vying for that leadership position.
In my opinion, JDT was always the best choice for leader. After all, wasn't the whole idea his when they first had problems with Werrason during the tour for Solola Bien?
It was tough watching those London concerts of Masion Mere in 2004, because you could tell that the whole group was on the verge of a split.
Sometimes I wonder if Werrason regretted those underhanded tricks that broke apart such a talented group. I gave him a pass the first time around with Wenge 4X4, but this split seemed a direct result of greed and reckles self-ambition.
Btw, whatever happened to Christian Mabanga and Michael Tshendu? I was surprised how that young boy got a song placed on the first Masion Mere album before Ferre Gola, Gola had been by Werrason's side since Pentagone.
I'm just surprised Michael Tshendu never went on to do more with the group, he was a promising vocalist, had style, and could dance but he just vanished.
I'm surprised Jipson survived in Quarter Latin for as long as he did, the quality of his vocals on recorded songs compared to live performances were generally inconsistent.
It's just too bad Depitsho Savanet and Mamale Tupac couldn't remain in the group, both had great vocals and charisma. I believe Mamale left over girl troubles with Koffi, but I don't know why Depitsho Savanet didn't last with them.
Do you know why Depitsho Savanet didn't remain in Quarter Latin? He wasn't even with them in Bercy or the clips for Attentat (his parts often interpreted by drummer Champion in the clips).
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