Diaphra's Blackbook of the Beats

I may have no possessions, but here lies everything one needs. This is Alexandre Francisco Diaphra's motto as governor of his own life. A multifaceted artist from Guinea-Bissau, based in Lisbon; rapper, poet, edutainer, and beatmaker, creating music based on improvisation in which he blends his psychedelic, black music; afro-ancestral influences; and love for non-quantized beats with experimental jazz and contemporary and urban styles. In 2014, Diaphra won third place at the 1st International Poetry Slam in Rio de Janeiro. In 2012, Diaphra toured Europe as an MC and performer for Angolan/Portuguese project Batida, in support of Batida's eponymous debut album (could be the record that changes the African Electronic Music on XXI century -Songlines; NPR called their live show one of the best 10 acts from WOMEX. Diaphra's Blackbook of the Beats follows the idea of building instrumental bases on the outside environment, wherever Diaphra feels inspired. The result of a backpack, some vinyl records, a portable turntable, and a sampler for self-deconstruction/recreation, this (mainly) instrumental album delivers non-quantized beats over which enlightening poetry is spoken, rapped, and chanted in Portuguese, and compositions created through trial and error and enhanced by instruments played by invited musicians and Diaphra himself. For fans of Stones Throw Records, analog experimental sample-based music, psychedelic rock, afro ancestral.