Alexandre Francisco Diaphra

Alexandre Francisco Diaphra is a Guinea-Bissauan songwriter and musician, blending jazz, West African rhythms, poetry, and hip-hop to create a subtle but powerful alchemy on his debut album, Diaphra's Blackbook of Beats. The lazy wobble of "O Bode Cuspia" might remind you of Madlib, but there is a little less laissez-faire attitude towards the finished product. The LP the song springs from is named after a visual artist's totem, an ongoing and growing piece of art that documents time and travel. Though this piece is instrumental, much of Diaphra's debut album features his poetry in Portuguese over music. There's even a deluxe 'Moleskin' version of the blackbook, the most immersive way to experience the record. Blackbook of Beats is available July 6th via Mental Groove Records.