@listenwithmaya: 📍EP RECOMMENDATIONS. 🎧🖤 Today’s recommendation is Maleda / ማለዳ by Kassmasse. Y’all, this EP is literally perfection. It was released in 2013 E.C. and has a total of 7 tracks (although some streaming services only list the 6 main songs and omit the intro). It’s genuinely one of the most refreshing and thoughtfully crafted Ethiopian hip-hop projects in recent years. Maleda wasn’t just Kassmasse’s debut;it also introduced his own musical approach, which he calls “Antsar.” Instead of choosing between traditional Ethiopian music and modern hip-hop, he builds a bridge between the two. He combines Ethiopian melodic modes, especially Ambassel and Tizita, with hip-hop, spoken word, soul, jazz-inspired production, and modern rhythms to create something that feels both deeply rooted and contemporary. I think the biggest reason this EP stands out is its production. Producer Uno (Yikunamlak) did an amazing job. The instrumentals are full of live textures, layered percussion, and carefully sampled sounds. The mixing and mastering by Kenny Allen ties everything together beautifully. The whole project feels incredibly intentional from beginning to end, and every track flows effortlessly into the next. Maleda introduced many listeners to Kassmasse and laid the foundation for everything that followed, including his later album Bahil/Weg. It showed that he was carving out a musical identity that was entirely his own. The EP has a warm, reflective atmosphere and explores themes of storytelling, identity, memory, beauty, hope, Ethiopian culture, and looking toward the future while honoring the past. If you’re looking for a project that’s beautifully produced and genuinely unique, I can’t recommend Maleda enough!!! (You can find all 7 tracks on YouTube. 🎧🖤) My favorite tracks are Tinantuan, Wubet, and Qena Lib. Comment yours!! 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽 follow my Instagram for more🙏🏽 @UNO ኡኖ #music #fyp #explore #ethiopian_tik_tok #hiphop

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Wednesday 29 July 2026 11:30:48 GMT