Today, UK artist Liam Bailey shares a remix of ‘Champion‘, one of the standout tracks from his forthcoming album Ekundayo, out November 13th via Big Crown Records.
The remix features Black Thought, rapper and co-founder of The Roots, and follows the previously-released singles “White Light“, “Don’t Blame NY“, the Digi-Dancehall inspired “Angel Dust“, and reimagines the original version of ‘Champion’, which announced Liam’s signing to Big Crown Records late last year.
Ekundayo was produced by Leon Michels of El Michels Affair, who first teamed up with Liam on their 2012 7″ ‘When Will They Learn/I’m Gonna Miss You‘, and finds Liam reconnecting with Michels to make the record they’ve always strived towards following their first meeting in 2005.
The album’s title translates to “sorrow becomes joy” in Yoruba, a language spoken mostly in Western Africa, which perfectly encapsulates the essence of the album and offers a true introduction to Liam’s artistry. There’s a through line of creative freedom and liberating honesty across Ekundayo that pairs old, textured Reggae riddims with the introspective storytelling of old soul records and modern R&B.
Beyond testing the boundaries of genre, Liam’s songwriting finds him tackling personal moments in his music free of any prior restraints and presents a full portrait of Liam’s identity as an artist and a man.