NOTTINGHAM’S Liam Bailey, who’s dropped some excellent singles throughout the summer ahead of the release of his forthcoming third album, Ekundayo, for New York’s cooler-than-you’ll-ever-be Big Crown, has shared a nicely dubby reversion of “Champion”, one of the album’s bangers. Take a listen below.
The remix features the lyrical flow of Black Thought, rapper and co-founder of the legendary The Roots, and follows the hard-edged digi-dancehall of “Angel Dust”, “Don’t Blame NY,” and the soulful “White Light” in our affections.
This new take on “Champion” reprises Liam’s first single for Big Crown last year, Black Thought gives it his easy and complex knowledge before passing the mic back to Liam, with warm, echoing organ space.
The forthcoming Ekundayo sees Leon Michels of labelmates El Michels Affair helming the faders, reuniting a partnership that first teamed up way back when on the 2012 7″, ‘When Will They Learn”/”I’m Gonna Miss You”.
On the strength of this quartet of single drops, be sure Ekundayo will be a set with vision, not afraid to marry the traditions of reggae with soul, hiphop, electronica and more – and push forward.
Liam Bailey’s Ekundayo will be released by Big Crown Records on November 13th on digital, CD, trad black and coloured vinyl, order your copy here; and follow Liam on Twitter and Instagram.
