Rating: NNN
Angola-born, Brazil-raised and based in our nation’s capital. Can’t get more Canadian than that, really.
And to our cultural mosaic, Ottawa’s Nilton De Menezes (aka NDMA) contributes a hip-hop/electronic hybrid five-song EP that draws influences from both his former countries.
There are definite elements of kuduro, the Luandan music phenomenon that combines house, rap, Afrobeat, techno and zouk into a frenetic, danceable stew. But the rapper/singer (who produced all songs but one) mellows this aggressive style with more typical hip-hop production and Portuguese rhythms.
Clearly a student of Kanye, Menezes includes lyrical nods to the just-married mogul, plus some 808s & Heartbreak-style singing on opener Bring Us Down.
His flow is intriguing and bounces along with the help of pinging, stuttery bass lines. Unfortunately, the lyrics often lack depth, and a real banger fails to emerge from the bunch. That said, NDMA is unique among his alt-hip-hop peers. A promising debut.
Top track: What You Want
NDMA plays Weldon Park Saturday (May 31).
