Nneka finally brings fresh sound to American ‘Jungle’

Nneka

Concrete Jungle

Yo Mama’s Recording Co./Sony Music… Nneka

Concrete Jungle

Yo Mama’s Recording Co./Sony Music Entertainment

Rocks Like: M.I.A. with an afrocentric twist

Grade: A-

Hailing from the continent where music was born is a small credential on the lengthy resume of thoughtful and talented singer-songwriter Nneka.

The Nigerian-German musician Nneka brings a long career’s worth of acclaim from Europe to the American music scene. Concrete Jungle is a compilation of some of the hits that have made her a household name in countries like England, Germany and Japan. As mix tapes go, Nneka hits a home run and provides an inviting introduction to her musical style and sensibilities.

Nneka manages to make music that simultaneously pays loving homage to her homeland  — that of the Igbo Nigerians — and communicates important messages about life. The track “Mind Vs. Heart” ponders the importance of conscious thought.

Her intrumentals in particular stand out; she uses guitars in several different songs to delve into different tones and genres. Still, there is something inherently approachable about every single one of her songs. Even “Africans,” which has a distinct reggae sound, blends in with the rest of the tracks to create a sort of musical world’s fair.

With Concrete Jungle as her jumping-off point, Nneka seems poised to conquer the American music scene. Now, it is only a matter of us  — the listening public — being ready for her.