Yes the poorest have cellophonres, but they can't watxh video's. Because it to expansive for them, since that they have to buy alot of mega's. Nobody in Kinshasa knows those internet journalists who are based in Kinshasa or the combattans who are making alot of noise on YouTube. If you go to Kinshasa you will diacover that they are bot informer about many things even about things who are gooing on in their own country.

Maybe so, but we can't negate the fact that these are real solid issues that aren't being addressed.  The point I'm making is that these issues are the reasons why the genre isn't as popular to the outside world as it once was.

I thought since we sort of know where members stand with which artists/groups and music time periods we like, it’d be interesting to know opinions you have that aren’t of popular opinion. I think alternative viewpoints can make for interesting discussions/debates.
- I think Evoloko Lay Lay was the worst leader/singer. I was a big fan of his dances like “Dallas” way back in the day, but his singing voice always seemed to be a cheap version of Wemba’s. In some songs his voice sounds like a whining child. He is good on chorus though.

I thought i was the only one who thought Evoloko's singing is difficult to digest.

My Unpopular Opinions:

1) Lita Bembo
I never understood why people liked him so much.  To me he was just too over-the-top and animated, the precursor to Adolphe Dominguez.  Franco produced a Stukas record for his record label, so maybe he saw something in him that I still cannot see.

2) Tabu Ley was a selfish bandleader
Meeting him and spending a whole entire day with him was probably one of the greatest moments of my childhood, but the way he compensated his people in Afrisa was deplorable.  You think Werra was bad, try shipping your whole band to the US, don't pay them and then abandon them, leaving them to fend for themselves.

3) Not Enough Sebenes
With the successes of Fabregas, Robinio, Heritier and others, it looks as if Congolese music is making a huge comeback, one we haven't seen since Fally & Ferre left Quartier Latin for solo careers.  But here again comes the age old debate:  Where are the Sebenes?  What was once popular and literally took the music all over the world, is still absent from a lot of today's rumbas and if there's one, it's cut too short.  Generiques aren't enough. Non-Lingala speakers, especially white people, don't understand rhumba music. They want to dance to the guitars and that was these guys' tickets to Europe. These artists just can't seem to grasp that.

4) Vulgarity/Sex Appeal
Nearly 20 years ago, my grandfather from Matete, watched a WWE show with me during the Attitude Era while he was here in the States.  While watching the divas in lingerie prancing around in the ring, he said, "If women did that in Congo, they'll be in jail."  Fast forward nearly 20 years later and we're seeing and hearing more sexual innuendos than before.  When I was in Kinshasa in 2010, Ferre's 3eme Droight and JB's Mpunda was blazing the airwaves and the night clubs.  Although still popular, a lot of church goers found those songs to be improper.  Now female dancers are twerking in videos and song-writers are finding more clever ways to sing about vagina.  The music is no longer for kids.

5) Mabanga
I've complained about this subject numerous times over the years and I'm tired of talking about it.

In regards to my last bullet points, maybe I'm just an old fashioned 35 year old.

That song along with Yandi Mosi and Examen are my favorite songs off that album.  I'd be ecstatic if they re-release that album without the mabanga overdubs and a fresh remix and remaster.  Someone should relay the message since I'm sure he still owns the rights to those songs.

Could this be the start of one of the reasons why Baby, Ferre, Bill, JDT and others were upset and quit the band because of the dedications on that album and not getting paid?

Anapipo had a few bangers, but I really enjoyed the Antidote side of Je Pense. As for Cursus, I like it but I don't consider it a Fabregas album.  I have stated before though, he releases way too much music that I can't sit and listen to them all of the way through unless I'm driving long distances or exercising.  Unless he's trying to be the Tupac of Congo, he needs to chill and focus on his artists before he gets stale.

This should be an exciting post.  Here in the US, April 20th is unofficially Weed Day.  Although illegal in many states in the country, Americans still find ways to indulge, I'm one of them, although I'm not subjected to just one day.  So I have to ask.  Do any of you partake? What do you listen to when you do, aside from Bob Marley... 

Here are my top 5:


The musical talents of OK Jazz always exacerbates my high.  The arranging in this song always does it for me.



I have always been a fan of this song, but it was one night while sitting on the couch and smoking a nice fat one with my girlfriend, she became entranced with it and for good reason!


ya Jossart and Dindo both looked quite stoned in this video, probably why I like it so much lol.


Anything Ferre sings is gold for me. This happens to be one of my fiancé favorite songs.


The bassline and rhythm can help mellow you out with the right type of bud.  I strongly believe Franco himself was an actual habitual smoker.  (I have my reasons why).

Happy Smoking Friends...

If you don't do it... don't pass judgement on the ones who do... 

Anyone know if they're legit or just trying to collect money by falsely stating they represent Congolese artist? Because they've been one of the key people ruining it for the rest of us wanting to view clips.

Eh eh eh, keba!!! Ba bato wana bapesaki nkisi pona ba forums.  Tolingaka kolobela bango te. 

I honestly can't think of any singer that has stood out to me, who I believe will be able to branch out on their own.  Now if you would've asked me 10 years ago would I have thought Deplick and Fabregas would've made it as solo band leaders, I would've told you no.  Fally was just scratching the surface with Droit Chemin at the time, and I thought Deplick was copy cat and I thought Fabregas was unimpressive.  Sometimes great artistry ages with time because Fabregas is flawlessly leading this new generation of band leaders and Robinio is at a close 2nd.  Le Roi de la Foret has to be very proud.