Walshy Fire Presents: ABENG

“I don't want to consume negative music anymore,” DJ/producer Walshy Fire tells Apple Music about the principles driving his debut solo album ABENG. Part of the Major Lazer triumvirate, the Kingston-born artist expresses a certain pride in having avoided the pitfalls of slackness in spearheading his passion project—one that seeks to bridge the dancehall reggae traditions of the Caribbean and the seemingly myriad urban music styles flourishing throughout Africa. Seeing far more similarity than difference across the geographic and musical diaspora, Walshy travelled the globe to unite big-name acts and notable up-and-comers for heretofore unrealised collaborations. “Kenya was really the spark, and when I got there it was just so similar to Jamaica,” he says. “Everybody on this album is a friend.” And when you count the likes of Afrobeats leader Mr Eazi, Trinidadian soca icon Bunji Garlin and Tanzanian superstar Vanessa Mdee among your friends, as he does, that makes for one incredibly epic soundclash. Here is a track-by-track guide to ABENG, in his own words. “Call Me” (feat. Mr Eazi and Kranium) “My partner in Major Lazer, Diplo, he's been working with Mr Eazi for a while. When we went to South Africa, we all hung out together and the chemistry was just amazing. One of the biggest parts of my inspiration is his want to be a part of this. He was doing the song three, four times to make sure it was right, because he knows the importance of this project. That's very rare in my experience with artists. Kranium, same thing.” “Round of Applause” (feat. Ice Prince and Demarco) “Ice Prince and Runtown are really the spark to the idea. Literally, he would be hitting me up all day long, all the time, like, 'Yo, you got to do this, man, this is a big important project and people are going to really begin to feel this energy that you're feeling.' Ice Prince was such a major participant—I have to give thanks to him and the great energy.” “No Negative Vibes” (feat. Alkaline and