At the end of last year, alternative hip-hop group Show Dem Camp, released the third volume of their Clone Wars to make a wholesome trilogy since the first Clone Wars dropped in 2011. SDC’s refusal to politic with industry square pegs may have cast them into the underbelly of the industry where underground acts are forever soon-to-blow. The group’s sustenance, however, has been hinged on critical reverence deeply trenched in eloquent lyricism and appreciation for the grounded feel of Afro-inspired hip-hop.

Palmwine Music Vol. 1 is SDC’s latest attempt at shuffling a mix of the old and new into your playlist with a slew of tracks intended for the purpose it was conceptualised. As the name implies, nothing says feel good music like an ambience where it is accompanied by local brew. The idea trickles into jazz, highlife, Afrojuju, and other Afro-Caribbean influences all sprawled across the tape.

It has not yet been revealed if Palmwine Music Vol. 1 is the first of a new trilogy, but guest features, Funbi, BOJ, Tomi Thomas, Odunsi and others are among a progressive line-up of artists known for inherently laid-back delivery and grime. The concept here is pretty straight forward and one could easily assume, this is done so ease of replication is ensured on a different wavelength that retains the mood. After all, neither of the SDC duo, are power-vocalists and therefore also have the job of curation by tapping the right artist to take on hooks and supply melody.

This is perhaps why Palmwine Music Vol. 1 is not anymore an experiment than it is a reinvention of a formula SDC has used over time to stay cutting-edge and authentic at the same time. Some artists have tried this in the past, but you’ll need less fingers than you have on both hands for a head count.

Listen to SDC’s Palmwine Music Vol .1 here.

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