“Something don’t feel right… because we’ve seen this before…”

In January of 2019, news outlets such as St. Louis Today, St. Louis local FOX station KTVI and the Washington Post reported that medical examiners concluded that Danye Jones had indeed committed suicide.

Jones, a 24-old black man, was found hung from a tree in his mother’s backyard. His mother, Melissa McKinnies, immediately rejected the police’s direction of investigating this as a suicide, saying that there was foul play and that her son was lynched. Jones is one of six peculiar deaths that have some connection to the Ferguson activists of 2014. McKinnies, an original organizer of the Michael Brown protests, disagrees with the medical examiner’s report.

It is in this calling for justice and anger that Osunlade presents Racially Charged; Two new songs, one with a new voice, another with an old. Entirely produced by Osunlade and mastered by the one and only Martin Iveson, better known as Atjazz this single promises truth, a message warranted and some foot stompin’ all at once.

River city poet and writer Aturah starts things off with ‘They Say…’, speaking directly on the Danye Jones case. Reminiscent to some of his more overtly political work like ‘Black August’, this one of Osunlade’s sparser arrangements, letting Aturah take charge with her urgent message.

Up next, the legendary Philly DJ and spoken word artist Rich Medina takes over vocal duties for ‘The Sickness’. Speaking on the monster that is social media and its passionate, outspoken and mostly clueless users, Osunlade brings a more sinister and cynical production into play, featuring the keyboard work of Yoruba Soul favourite Jesse Gannon.

This is followed with a tech-house tinged remix of ‘They Say…’ from Yoruba newcomer and other half of po-lar-ity, Burlie Mac, as well as the instrumental version of the ‘The Sickness’.

Indeed, every night has its day, but we have to admit, its dark as fuck right now.

This ones not for the faint at heart, but we are making no excuses for our rage!


Osunlade presents Racially Charged

1. Aturah & Osunlade ‘They Say…’
2. Rich Medina & Osunlade ‘The Sickness’
3. Aturah & Osunlade ‘They Say…’ (Burlie Mac Remix)
4. Rich Medina & Osunlade ‘The Sickness’ (Instrumental)

‘They Say…’
Written & Produced by Osunlade
Knowledge by Aturah
All Instruments by Osunlade
Recorded & Mixed by Osunlade @ The I’lle’ Mobile, NYC & STL, USA and London & Derby, UK
Track 3 Remixed by Burlie Mac
Remixed & Mixed at Studio Buzz, Galway

‘The Sickness’
Written & Produced by Osunlade
Knowledge by Rich Medina
Piano by Jesse Gannon
All Other Instruments by Osunlade
Recorded & Mixed by Osunlade @ The I’lle’ Mobile, NYC & STL, USA and London & Derby, UK

All Tracks Mastered by Martin Iveson for ARCO Labs
Label Manager: Colin Boardway
Executive Producer: Osunlade
Published by Yoruba Peoples Music (ASCAP) / Sony ATV Music
P&C 2019 Yoruba Records