Funk is what makes music from Detroit special. Waajeed is a musician with a better understanding of the funk than most, as can be evidenced from his recently published solo debut “From the Dirt”. Consisting of 10 irresistibly funky bangers the record reflects and celebrates the city’s dance music past, from techno-futurism, to acid house, to classic-house grooves. It’s a career defining collection, that comes on the heels of equally impressive Shango, Strength and Mother, and brings him to Sónar for the first time at the top of his game.

Waajeed’s beginnings as an artist are tied to perhaps the most influential hip hop crew to have come out of tha D; Slum Village; Slum Village. Since the untimely passing of his bandmate, the late, great beatmaker J Dilla, Waajeed has produced artists such as Dwele, has founded the platform Bling 45 (equally inspired by the production ethic of Motown and the social activism of Underground Resistance), and, as if this wasn’t enough, was part of another influential hip hop group Platinum Pied Pipers. In short, there’s something in the dirt.

soundcloud.com/waajeed