OSHUN

Named after a Yoruban deity, progressive hip-hop/R&B duo Oshun are within the lineage of Afrofuturists immediately preceded by the likes of Georgia Anne Muldrow and THEESatisfaction. Vocalists and songwriters Niambi Sala and Thandiwe met at NYU and were plotting a shared creative course by the end of their first semester. They made their self-released debut in 2015 with Asase Yaa, a mixtape highlighted by the floating ballad “Sango” and the assured hip-hop soul cut “The Next Day.” The duo juggled their rapidly developing music career with academics, and returned in 2017 with the defiant “Not My President,” followed shortly thereafter by “Graduate,” which celebrated the near completion of their studies. After they finished, output continually flowed through the end of the year with the singles “Burn,” “Blessings,” and “Parts.” Those three tracks appeared on their first album, Bittersweet, Vol. 1, which arrived the following April. ~ Andy Kellman