Montreal Gazette

 Daara J

Boomerang
Wrasse Records

* * * * 1/2

Catching blasts of this at the market in Dakar was exhilarating.  Eighteen months later, thousands of miles from the source and finally available in North America, it remains every bit as exciting and edgy. There are several thouand rap groups in Senegal and those in the know rate Daara J as the best.  Judging from Boomerang, there’s little reason to quibble.  For rap fans, this CD is simply awesome. And it’s not Africans copying the American way.  This is a determined and gifted trio telling the world that rap is African, that this is modern African roots music.  The Latino element underscores that concept and the best track, Esperanza, hammers it home with the contributions of Parisian salsamuffin Sergent Garcia.  Other standout track feature Malian wundergal Roka Traoré.

--- Daniel Feist