Sankofa by S7VEN
“Sankofa” is a word from the Twi language used by the Ashanti people in Ghana, West Africa. It translates to “it is not wrong to go back for what you have forgotten” & derives from the three twi words “San” (return) “Ko” (go) and “fa” (bring/seek/fetch) = “go back and get it”. It represents the idea that you may have to look to the past/your past self to plan for a better future. The underlying message of this EP is gratitude & is shown most strongly in the EP’s centrepiece tracks: ‘Start From Scratch’ & ‘Derelict’.
“Derrick” in Start From Scratch/Derelict placed all his value on all the external things society says you should place value on: (e.g. money/status etc.) and ended up losing himself via his drug habit, only to end up homeless and alone. In spite of all this, he fails to accept that he is ‘homeless’ and feels he is merely somewhere that is ‘a little less like home’.
Home = yourself ∴ Homelessness = losing yourself. In this sense I feel that modern society leads all of us to Derrick’s metaphorical homelessness because we aren’t taught to value internal things (e.g. family, health, gratitude.) over external things (money, people, status, sex etc.). Society creates the illusion that looking at everyone else is better than looking within - we don’t believe we are ‘homeless’ either.
Derrick neglected his internal values in the place of external ones and ended up derelict - like an abandoned house. But all that means is that Derrick needs to ‘go back’ and find value in the things that never left him - there’s no such thing as failure when you start from scratch.
Tracklist
| 1. | SANKOFA | 3:30 |
| 2. | Homies (Skit) | 0:48 |
| 3. | Nothing To Lose (featuring Anjelo Disons) | 3:59 |
| 4. | 28 Degrees | 2:55 |
| 5. | The Ends. | 2:43 |
| 6. | Derelict (featuring Rae Levine) | 2:45 |
| 7. | Start From Scratch (featuring Gidds Jerubbaal) | 3:38 |
Credits
-- CREDITS ---
All tracks produced by S7VEN.
Creative Direction - S7VEN
All tracks mixed & mastered by S7VEN
Album Art concept & design by S7VEN & Carlos Arbelaez
Photography by Carlos Arbelaez
“SANKOFA” was mostly recorded @ S7VEN’s studio. ’28 Degrees’ recorded at the 5AM Writing Camp.
All Saxophone by S7VEN
Radio Jingle on Track 2 by S7VEN
Electric Piano/Synth Bass & Lead & Saxophone on Track 1 by S7VEN
Skit vocals on Track 2 “Homies FM” by Bridie Asare & Gidds Jerubbaal
Additional production on Track 2’s instrumental by Jesse Owusu
Gidds = Radio Presenter
Bridie = ‘Laquisha’ (caller)
Lashawna Rose = Homies FM Jingle Vocals
Track 3 “Nothing To Lose” written by Anjelo Disons
Track 3 co-produced by Lorenz Okello & MRVN
Synth/Sound Design on Track 3 by Lorenz Okello
Backing vocals on Track 4 “28 Degrees” by Khai & Akinsoul
Electric Guitar, Keyboards & Synth Lead on Track 4 by S7VEN
"The Ends." contains a sample from '63 Grams' BY S7VEN (soundcloud.com/s7venldn/63-grams?in=s7venldn/sets/archives-trap)
Track 5 “Derelict” written by Rae Levine
Track 6 “Start From Scratch” written by Gidds Jerubbaal
© ℗ S7VEN via BEVE Records MMXIX (2019)
Released, Manufactured and Distributed independently via BEVE Records. Unauthorised copying is forbidden under the law. All Rights Reserved.
