NYC Afrobeat Rhythms

Afrobeat music combines elements of West African musical styles such as fuji music and highlife with American funk and jazz influences. It typically has a focus on chanted vocals, complex intersecting rhythms, and percussion.

For this Splice Originals session, percussionist Charles Ferguson demonstrates the Afrobeat style of drumming with his own twist on it. This pack both celebrates the Nigerian originators of Afrobeat such as Tony Allen and Fela Kuti and tips a hat to third-wave Afrobeat bands that emerged in the such as Antibalas and Ferguson’s group, Zongo Junction.

In this pack, you’ll find organic drum loops left to their natural state as well as ones chopped, screwed, and sound designed. A range of BPMs is represented to add Afrobeat spice to slower R&B jams or mixes intended to get feet on the dancefloor. Also included are tons of rhythmic one-shots for flexibility when working your magic.