Named after a beloved Nigerian funk album, the members of the Brooklyn-based septet Ikebe Shakedown features members of the touring bands for the likes of the incredible Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, the larger-than-life Charles Bradley, Lee Fields, and the Monophonics, among others. And since their formation back in 2008, the band has had their debut full-length effort, which was released in 2011, praised by Okayplayer as “an adventurous trip through time” and “one of the best releases of the year.” Additionally their music has been featured in a number of TV shows and commercials including HBO‘s Eastbound and Down, and ad campaigns for Mini Cooper and Vans. 

Stone by Stone, ikebe Shakedown’s sophomore effort is slated for an April 15 release through Ubiquity Records, and the first single off the album, “The Offering” is comprised of the deep grooves and horn lines of Expensive Shit/He Miss Road and Fela Ransome Kuti and the Afrika ’70 with Ginger Baker – Live-era Fela Kuti but with increasingly psychedelic textures that weave in, out and around the groove in a similar fashion to that of Washington, DC’s the Funk Ark. If anything, a track like this should constantly remind you of how momentous Fela’s influence has been on the music released in the past 15 years, and how universal Afrobeat can be – and is.