Rap

April, 1996

Any fans of funk or progressive R&B looking to expand their musical palates should try Salif Keita's Folon (Mango/Island). The Malian superstar has a light, plaintive voice that inspires empathy and emotion. His lyrics reflect a simple optimism---especially those of such songs as Tekere (about the pleasures of storytelling and music) and Sumun (a parable about a gathering of animals discussing the death of an elephant).Much more compelling for Western listeners will be the intricate layers of rh...