Osunlade
Encyclopedia
Osunlade is an American-born musician and music producer.
during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Afterward, he moved to Los Angeles, California
, where he worked with artists such as Patti Labelle
and Freddie Jackson
. After a stint there, he moved to New York, where he founded Yoruba Records. To date he has worked with such artists as Roy Ayers
, Nkemdi, Salif Keita
, and Cesária Évora
. In 2006, he released an album titled Aquarian Moon, in 2007, he released an album titled Elements Beyond on the revived Strictly Rhythm Records, and, in 2009, he released the album Passage. He is a priest of the Yoruba
religion of Ifá
. Because of his beliefs, Osunlade's music has a deep spiritual root in Yoruba traditions that are also reflected in the name of his record label, album covers, and also the titles of some of the tracks he has remixed such as "Obatala
y Oduduwa
" and "Yemeya."
Biography
Osunlade was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He composed music for Sesame StreetSesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Afterward, he moved to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, where he worked with artists such as Patti Labelle
Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
and Freddie Jackson
Freddie Jackson
Frederick Anthony "Freddie" Jackson is an American soul singer. He was an important figure in R&B during the 1980s and early 1990s...
. After a stint there, he moved to New York, where he founded Yoruba Records. To date he has worked with such artists as Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers...
, Nkemdi, Salif Keita
Salif Keita
Salif Keïta is an internationally recognized afro-pop singer-songwriter from Mali. He is unique not only because of his reputation as the Golden Voice of Africa, but because he has albinism and is a direct descendant of the founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita...
, and Cesária Évora
Cesária Évora
Cesária Évora is a Cape Verdean popular singer. Nicknamed the "barefoot diva" for performing without shoes, Évora is perhaps the best internationally known practitioner of "morna."-Early life:...
. In 2006, he released an album titled Aquarian Moon, in 2007, he released an album titled Elements Beyond on the revived Strictly Rhythm Records, and, in 2009, he released the album Passage. He is a priest of the Yoruba
Yoruba mythology
The Yorùbá religion comprises the original religious beliefs and practices of the Yoruba people. Its homeland is in Southwestern Nigeria and the adjoining parts of Benin and Togo, a region that has come to be known as Yorubaland...
religion of Ifá
Ifá
Ifá refers to the system of divination and the verses of the literary corpus known as the Odú Ifá. Yoruba religion identifies Orunmila as the Grand Priest; as that which revealed Oracle divinity to the world...
. Because of his beliefs, Osunlade's music has a deep spiritual root in Yoruba traditions that are also reflected in the name of his record label, album covers, and also the titles of some of the tracks he has remixed such as "Obatala
Obatala
In the religion of the Yoruba people, Obàtálá is the creator of human bodies, which were supposedly brought to life by Olorun's breath.Obàtálá is also the owner of all ori or heads. Any orisha may lay claim to an individual, but until that individual is initiated into the priesthood of that orisha,...
y Oduduwa
Oduduwa
Oduduwa Omoluabi, Olofin Adimula, Emperor of the Yoruba, phonetically written by his people as Odùduwà and sometimes contracted as Odudua or Oòdua, is generally held among the Yoruba to be the reigning ancestor of the crowned Yoruba kings....
" and "Yemeya."
Singles
- 1999 "Native Tongue"
- 2000 "Beats de los Muertos Vol. 1"
- 2000 "Power to Conquer/Aldeia de Ogum", as Latina Café
- 2001 "Cantos a Ochun et Oya"
- 2001 "Diamant"
- 2001 "Rader Du/Blackman" (with WunmiWunmiWunmi, real name Ibiwunmi Omotayo Olufunke Olaiya, is a singer, dancer and fashion designer. She was born in the United Kingdom, to Nigerian parents, but spent much of her childhood in Lagos, Nigeria....
) - 2001 "The Deep"
- 2001 "Versatile Family Sampler"
- 2002 "Obatala Y Oduduwa"
- 2002 "Native Tongue Revisited" (with Jaffa)
- 2002 "Beloved"
- 2002 "Pride" (with Nadirah ShakoorNadirah ShakoorNadirah Shakoor is an American vocalist, best known for her work in Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band, which she joined in 1995, and is still touring with it as the featured female vocalist. "Nod to the Storyteller" is Nadirah's tribute to Jimmy Buffett, who for the last 13 years has featured her...
) - 2002 "New Day", as Atelewo
- 2003 "Chimes of Freedom", as Atelewo
- 2004 "The Year of the Monkey"
- 2004 "Pride (Remixes)" (with Nadirah Shakoor)
- 2004 "Same Thing" (with Maiya James)
- 2005 "The Fifth Dimension"
- 2005 "New Day/Macaco", as Atelewo
- 2006 "Flow/Sokinsikartep"
- 2006 "I Don't Know"
- 2006 "Everything in its Right Place" (with ErroEric RobersonEric Roberson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter from Rahway, New Jersey, United States. He is sometimes referred to simply as Erro....
) - 2007 "April"
- 2008 "Momma's Groove"
- 2008 "My Reflection" (with Divine Essence)
Appears on
- 2000 Ebbo - "The Way"
- 2001 Stephanie CookeStephanie CookeStephanie S. Cooke is a journalist who began her reporting career in 1977 at the Associated Press. In 1980 she moved to McGraw-Hill in New York as a reporter for Nucleonics Week, NuclearFuel and Inside N.R.C. In 1984 she transferred to London and two years later covered the aftermath of the...
- "Here with my Best Friend" - 2001 Masters at WorkMasters At WorkMasters at Work is the house/garage production and remix team of "Little" Louie Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez. They first worked together using the name, which had been given to them by mutual friend Todd Terry , in 1990...
feat. Lynae - "Life Is But a Dream" - 2003 Lonesome Echo Production - "Soul Galactic"
- 2003 Siji - "Feelslike"
- 2004 Sin Palabras - "Yemaya"
- 2004 Siji - "Sanctuary"
- 2005 KB - "El Musica"
- 2006 Isoul8 feat. Rasiyah - "Speak Your Word"
- 2007 Afefe Iku - "BodyDrummin"
Production for other artists
- 1999 Marie St. James - "Closer I Get"
- 2001 ErroEric RobersonEric Roberson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter from Rahway, New Jersey, United States. He is sometimes referred to simply as Erro....
- "Change for Me" - 2002 DJ Jazzy JeffDJ Jazzy JeffJeffrey Allen Townes , also known as DJ Jazzy Jeff or simply Jazz, is an American hip hop, R&B record producer, turntablist and actor. He is best known for his early career with Will Smith as DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince...
feat. Erro - "Rock Wit U" - 2003 Vivian GreenVivian GreenVivian Green is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter and pianist.-Early life:Green was born May 22, 1979 in the East Oak Lane neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and took an interest in singing, playing the piano, and songwriting at a very young age. At the age of thirteen, she...
- "Emotional Rollercoaster" - 2003 Larry Gold - "Just a Dream"
- 2004 Wei Chi - "Dream"
- 2005 Nadirah ShakoorNadirah ShakoorNadirah Shakoor is an American vocalist, best known for her work in Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band, which she joined in 1995, and is still touring with it as the featured female vocalist. "Nod to the Storyteller" is Nadirah's tribute to Jimmy Buffett, who for the last 13 years has featured her...
- "Just a Breath Away" - 2005 Frank-I - "Let the Record Play"
- 2006 Nadirah ShakoorNadirah ShakoorNadirah Shakoor is an American vocalist, best known for her work in Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band, which she joined in 1995, and is still touring with it as the featured female vocalist. "Nod to the Storyteller" is Nadirah's tribute to Jimmy Buffett, who for the last 13 years has featured her...
- "Love Song" - 2006 Malena Pérez - "Praise the Day"
- 2006 Bah Samba - "Tired Little One"
- 2007 The Piscean Group - The Piscean Group
- 2007 Mellow Madness - "Now Your Calling"
Albums
- 2000 Yoruba Records: El Primer Año
- 2001 Paradigm
- 2006 Aquarian Moon
- 2007 Elements Beyond
- 2010 Rebirth
- 2011 Pyrography
Mixed compilations
- 2002 Offering
- 2005 Re-Offering
- 2006 Soul Heaven (with DJ Spen)
- 2008 Passage
- 2009 Mix the Vibe: King Street Goes Yoruba