Alkebulan II

Last updated
Alkebulan II
ALKEBULAN II album artwork.jpg
Studio album by
Matt B featuring Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
ReleasedAugust 23, 2024
Recorded2024
Studio Abbey Road Studios
Genre Afro-beat
Length26:26
Label Vitae Records
Producer Matt B, Angela V. Benson, Kitt Wakeley, Brent Fischer, MB Gordy
Matt B featuring Royal Philharmonic Orchestra chronology
ALKEBULAN
(2023)		Alkebulan II
(2024)

Alkebulan II (stylized in all caps) is a studio album by American singer, songwriter, and music producer Matt B featuring Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2025, the album won a Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album. [1]

Contents

History

Alkebulan II, recorded by Matt B (Matthew Benson) featuring Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in 2024. [2] During his Grammy acceptance speech Benson said, "And, to think that this journey started off from an ancestry DNA test and I found out that I was mostly Nigerian. This album was created as a way of shining a light on Africa and the beautiful culture that we from the diaspora came from." [3] In 2025, Alkebulan II received the GRAMMY Award for Best Global Music Album, marking the first GRAMMY win for artist Matt B. The album also featured the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, which earned its first GRAMMY Award since its founding in 1946. Additionally, two producers of Ugandan origin were recognized for their work on the album, becoming the first individuals from Uganda and the East African region to receive GRAMMY Awards. The Recording Academy highlighted the album’s recognition as a significant moment for African representation in global music. [4]

The album's single, "NO WAHALA," written by Benson and Buguma Mark, won a Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Song in a Short Film in 2024. [5]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Uhambo Olungaziwa" (feat. Nomfundo Khambule)Matthew Benson, Nomfundo Khambule1:18
2."Wambile"Matthew Benson, Matte "Tarley" Shahidu3:41
3."Midnight Train"Matthew Benson, Niwanyanya "Zigi" Johnbosco3:02
4."Renewal" (feat. Nomfundo Khambule)Matthew Benson, Nomfundo Khambule1:20
5."Kholwani" (feat. Amazwi8 and Wouter Kellerman)Matthew Benson, Monde Msutwana, Niwanyanya "Zigi" Johnbosco, James Frank,3:52
6."No Wahala"Matthew Benson, Buguma "Ghost" Mark4:02
7."Intuition" (feat. Nomfundo Khambule)Matthew Benson, Nomfundo Khambule1:59
8."Lost Drums" (feat. Sekou Andrews)Matthew Benson, Matte ‘Tarley’ Shahidu, Sekou Andrews3:36
9."Purpose" (feat. Nomfundo Khambule)Matthew Benson, Nomfundo Khambule1:03
10."The Creator"Matthew Benson, Buguma "Ghost" Mark, Kagembe "Rulz" Rajab2:29

Notes

Personnel

Source: [6] [7]

Production

Technical

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel
United StatesAugust 23, 2024CD, digital downloadVitae Records

References

  1. ↑ "Matt B Grammy". Grammy. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  2. ↑ "GRAMMY-Nominated Artist Matt B Unveils 'ALKEBULAN II' by Frank Bell". Fame Magazine. September 2, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Watch Matt B Win Best Global Music Album For ALKEBULAN II - 2025 GRAMMYs Acceptance Speech @00:11". Grammy. February 2, 2025. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Grammy - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra". Grammy. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  5. ↑ "2024 HMMA Winners and Nominations". HMMA. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Alkebulan II Matt B, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra". Apple Music. August 23, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Alkebulan II - Matt B, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra". Discogs. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
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