The legendary disco producer (and drummer) Cerrone has announced the release of his new Afro EP, that will be coming out on February 12th via Because Music/Big Beat Records. Pitchfork broke the news yesterday, along with premiering Cerrone’s music video for “Funk Makossa” (feat. Manu Dibango). “Funk Makossa” is a play on words from “Soul Makossa,” the song best known from Cameroonian saxophonist/vibraphone player Manu Dibango in 1972 (Dibango is also featured on Cerrone’s new single).

Based in France, Cerrone has been sampled over 170 times from the likes of the Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Nas, Run-DMC, Guru, Mark Morrison, and many more over the years, along with being covered 8 times and remixed 6 times during the last two decades.  He has sold over 30 million albums worldwide throughout his career, and won a GRAMMY Award for his first hit “Love in C Minor” (he also has four other GRAMMY nominations).

Personally signed to Atlantic Records by the legendary Ahmet Ertegun, Cerrone spent the 70’s hanging around Studio 54 with the likes of Andy Warhol, Basquiat, Goude, Gaultier and Grace Jones. Of Cerrone, the legendary Nile Rodgers says “One of the coolest things in my life was when I first heard Cerrone’s music.”

“I was always deeply influenced by Afro-Rock music. This is because of the great artistic fingerprint of my first band, Kongas, in which I spent four years before starting my solo career with Love In C Minor.

Soul Makossa by Manu Dibango has always been one of my favourite tracks. By a strange fluke, we met a year ago and we decided to marry two of our creations as our inspiration was very close, which is now done with Soul Makossa.  It's basically a blend with and older track I recorded live a couple of years ago with Little Louie Vega in one night that was called Love & Dance Ritual. We used some elements of this track combined with of Soul Makossa plus some additional production, and this how it became Funk Makossa” - Cerrone

Cerrone “Afro” EP (Because Music/Big Beat):

1. 2nd Chance (feat. Tony Allen)
2. Funk Makossa (feat. Manu Dibango)
3. Bodytalk
4. Funk Makossa (feat. Manu Dibango) [Todd Edwards Remix]
5. 2nd Chance (feat. Tony Allen) [Mind Enterprises Remix]
6. 2nd Chance (feat. Tony Allen) [Extended Club Mix]