Mike Okri - Rhythmystical
Every once in a while at my local record store, I get a nice surprise… This time around it was while browsing through the African Music stacks. I came across a CD cover with a familiar face, but one that I couldn’t initially place. After closer inspection, I was stunned to read, “Mike Okri†on the cover! It made me think back and remember that I hadn’t really heard of Mike Okri for years and oft wondered what became of him while listening to tracks like, “Omoge†and “Time na Money.â€
After a little research, it turns out that Mike Okri left Nigeria for the United States some years ago - now based in California. The album, “Rhythmystical,†is his first album produced in the in the US and the influence shows. The music has distinctive infusions from US rhythm and blues (in the music, lingo and vocal stylings), but also shows its afro roots on a number of tracks.
While I’m not the biggest rhythm and blues buff, R&B fans will definitely enjoy the album. My favorite tracks were those with an afro-slant with the standout track being, Ibaba (sung in what sounds like Uhrobo.)
Rhythmystical is available for purchase on Amazon.com.
To warm things up, check out these videos from his New Years Eve - 2004 live performance.
Eugene
December 6th, 2005 at 4:14 am
Dude kinda looks weird without his hair. well i loved his old stuff.
may be marketing was poor…or maybe archiving cos i doubt if one can get a copy of his rhumba dance CD anywhere.
December 6th, 2005 at 10:53 am
I haven’t seen Rhumba Dance anywhere either.
December 6th, 2005 at 11:41 am
WHAT CAN I SAY …. THANK GOD FOR THE INTERNET; THIS IS DEFINATELY A TRAVEL DOWN MEMORY LANE; GOOD MEMORIES THOUGH! PITY THAT OUR ARCHIVING SYSTEM WAS SO BAD THEM I WOULD BE NICE TO HEAR THESE OLD MUSICS (SIC) ALL OVER AGIAN.
ANYBODY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO BLAKKY ( THAT GUY FROM UNILAG)
HAD A HIT CALLED ROSIE, BACK IN THE DAY WAS QUITE GOOD
December 7th, 2005 at 3:47 am
Blackky is very much alive. i think he’s working behind the scenes in the industry now (not really doing music as an artist per se). he had a hit some years back call “arrow”. yeah that should be the name. i loved that song.
December 7th, 2005 at 9:34 am
Trae, Blackky released an album this year… I wouldn’t necessarily call that working behind the scenes.
December 7th, 2005 at 2:00 pm
what was the name of dis album, do you have any mp3s, artwork or useful info ? abeg ?
December 7th, 2005 at 3:19 pm
Don’t mean to hijack this thread too much more, but you can read about it in this post:
http://www.naijajams.com/blackky-skank
December 29th, 2005 at 5:05 am
i have always been a fan of Mike Okri. His kind of music was different….his voice was unique. The track Oghenekevwo was my favorite. I wonder where he is right now. i wouldnt mind buying his old albums. Anybody knows where i can get them?
May 31st, 2006 at 8:38 am
Does anyone know where exactly Mike is?
May 31st, 2006 at 10:49 am
he is in l.a
July 26th, 2006 at 8:41 pm
does anybody know who sang that song “baby walam kolombo” some years back, and can anybody tell me where i can find it. will really appreciate it. duboyteffler@yahoo.com
1
October 4th, 2006 at 5:13 am
i just want ask after the health of the “omoge man” is he ok? i heard from the grapevine that he is not too well, even heard he is dead!!!!!!!!!!!! pls confirm.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
Mike Okri has released some very good jams. I haven’t heard the Rhythmystical album. No doubt that Rhumba Dance album was hot, but you’ll be hard pressed to find it on CD, tape, or record. If you have $80 to splurge, you can get the record from ebay via http://cgi.ebay.com/MIKE-OKRI-RHUMBA-DANCE-AFRO-FUNK-BOOGIE-NIGERIA-SEALED_W0QQitemZ320050069532QQihZ011QQcategoryZ306QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item320050069532
You can listen to a few songs from the Rhumba dance album @ http://www.agidi.com/music/mike_okri.html but this site doesn’t have Rhumba dance
The best collection of Mike Okri songs can be found from Mike Okri: Collection of Songs CD. This is a must have as it has major hits like TIME NA MONEY, OKPEKE, OGHENEKEVBE, RHUMBA DANCE, amongst others. I purchased it online a few years ago from http://www.panafricanallstars.com, but it’s no longer available and I can’t find anywhere online. I’d recommend devoting some time to search, because you never know what you may find
April 6th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
tried all them links..checked all over the internet for rhumba dance and his other songs…all futile..let mike put it up somewhere for sale…amazon ,apple store or anywhere…sure most people will pick it up whatever the price!!!
April 7th, 2007 at 9:21 am
i want you to blend me up as sauce kid i love is music, i want to be contacted with him please.
April 7th, 2007 at 9:24 am
this is my contact= donganjim4real@yahoo.com/2348054651790, daddy number is=2348028855270.
June 18th, 2007 at 3:21 am
pls I need a cd with ruhumba dance included. Anywhere I can get it in nigeria?
July 20th, 2007 at 1:57 am
Hi,
We just de talk about Mike Okri, anybody don see Alex O lately? We dey miss all those old school musicians. Alex O owns Digital Film Post production company and record label for South Africa http://www.digiaudiovisuals.com. It will be great to hear their voices again!!!
Seyi
July 20th, 2007 at 2:00 am
Hi,
We just de talk about Mike Okri, anybody don see
Alex O lately? We dey miss all those old school
musicians. Alex O now owns Digital Film Post production company
and record label for South Africa and go soon release album too
http://www.digiaudiovisuals.com.
It will be great to hear their voices again
Seyi
November 2nd, 2007 at 2:50 am
am a gospel artistes plz i need a record label who will market my music phone 08085401934
November 2nd, 2007 at 2:57 am
R & B HIP HOP GOSPEL ARTIST AM TIGHT if u can say thet again and again my album title is Oh God Abeg am not yet in the markat but the market wants me everthing about me, plz dont hasitate to grant me a record deal i will be so glad to be part of it. while i wait for a favourable reply i say thanks in advance.