Sleepless in Soweto

“Sleepless in Soweto” is more than just an album. It is a living, breathing document of solidarity between Africans & African Americans; tied together through the language of Hip Hop. It is also a culminating result of my recent travels to South Africa,where I have traveled 7 times over the last three years, and spent performing, recording, and building with a dynamic community of artists that have embraced Hip Hop culture which, much like jazz, blues, gospel, rock n roll and others that came before it, is a distinctly African American music tradition that has influenced the globe.

The album features guest appearances from three Washington DC – based Grammy nominees: Raheem Devaughn, Ethiopian-American artist Wayna, and Carolyn Malachi, as well as Funk Ark (of Thevery Corporation Records), and South African superstar Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP), who is a main collaborator on the album. Other contributors include South African artists, Pro'Verb, Tee Pee, KayGee, and Thasman, along with Kanjia (Sierra Leone). Album artwork was done by acclaimed Nigeria- born visual artist, Aniekan Udofia.

From Asheru: “This album is my love song to South Africa, a new home away from home… This album is also a direct challenge to the status quo, dominant media representation of Blackness both here and abroad. It is an example of where we can go with our artform and voice, and the endless possibilities of what it could be. The time is near; we are almost ready… I can’t wait for you to hear it.”