On The Up

by Afro Cluster

supported by

azfrankie Another thrilling buster by Afro Cluster. Front man Skunkadelic happens to be one of my favorite rappers and this new track is a true gem in it own right, between great hip-hop and acid jazz funk. Very enjoyable!

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

£1 GBP or more
Full Digital Discography

11

releases

Get all 11 Afro Cluster releases available on Bandcamp and save 30%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of On The Up, The Reach, The Reach (Single), Young Shall Grow (Single), Back Into It Ft. Ty, 'We Don Land' EP, Basic Questions ft. Greg Blackman, They Don't Know ft. Helena-May, and 3 more. , and , .

Purchasable with gift card

£18.20 GBP or more (30% OFF)

about

On The Up celebrates 50 years of hip hop in 2023 and the profound influence the genre has had on the group.
It is both a love letter to the art form and a pep talk on the importance of mental health and family as working musicians (and as semi-functioning human beings).
The latter holding particular poignancy given how some members of the band have recently entered fatherhood.

lyrics

Chorus
We on the Up, right now, hold on you gotta believe
Things can get tough, strand proud, it well get better trust me
We on the up, right now, feel the buzz beneath your feet
Always choose love, we on the up.

Verse 1
They say fit in, nah you must be tripping
A fresh lemon and ginger tea is what I’m sipping
On the ball like Scottie Pippen
Think I’m not, listen closer
Impulse transmitting on a riddum, another dose of something different
Life a rollercoaster, so start winning
Sun settles and it’s over,
Arms are wide open, alive and hopeful
Struggles we go through can be shared
Not dealt with on your own two
Or compared with those fools on your socials
Don’t be so cruel to yourself,
Nobody knows you better so let’s settle on good health
Mind body and soul too
Success comes with grafting, not measured by wealth
Subjective, can’t change the cards we’ve been dealt
You gotta choose the path our hearts dwell to excel.

Verse 2
Never needed validation, doing our own thing like the JB’s
Shake up your stage with
That West African flavour mixed with a Celtic blend
My native tongue Yoruba, Cardiff be my ends
Over a decade of repping, next episode commence
Giving a hundred and twenty seven percent at every/your event
Is no accident but intension
Plus we need to pay the rent son
Keeping it real, family come first
I aint saying I’m clean, I done dirt
Come off worse, found my purpose and got hurt
Flipped the script, put the work in,
Now I’m earning p for certain
Raising my seed to be a Queen in this circus
An idea without a plan is just a wish, reverse the curse quick Dem man dem talking fish
There’s a line, cross it, you see me switch

credits

released November 24, 2023
Vocals – Skunkadelic
Turntables – Veto
Bass – Andrew Brown
Drums, Percussion – Django Lancaster Thomas
Guitar, Keys – Charlie Piercey
Trombone – Russell Evans
Trumpet – Joe Bentley
Trumpet – Laurence Collier
Tenor Saxophone – Sam Robertson

license

about

Afro Cluster Cardiff, UK

Cardiff based Afro Cluster are renowned for their unique and exciting blend of Afro funk and Hip- Hop.

Utilizing cuts, a full horn section and rhythm section as well the MC stylings of Skunkadelic, they’ve been frequently described as having a colossal sound and an explosive live show.

Debut album 'The Reach' arrives February 2021! ... more