Afrobeta's Under the Streets Is Gonna Cause an Epidemic of Miami Dance Fever

Photo by Daniel Sannwald

​Go party with Afrobeta's Cuci and Tony tomorrow night before they hit the Identity Festival tour! See the cut for full details.

Afrobeta's first full-length album Under the Streets is distinctively Miami. It forces you to dance and makes you want to party. This shit will stick in your head just like rice and beans sticks to your ribs. The sounds, the lyrics, and the energy all stay true to the 305.

Set to be released by the Do IT Music Group in September of this year, we here at Crossfade got a sneak preview of the album. With nods to freestyle, dubstep, and drum and bass, this is a slab for pop lovers, Miami addicts, and old ravers.

You've definitely heard a few of these songs if you ever tune in to WVUM or boogie at the Vagabond. Some of the songs were re-recorded and remastered. But no doubt, it's nice to find both something familiar and something new when you pick up an album. It's like dating your ex again.

On "Do You Party," Amador declares, "Miami's where the party's at!" And it's like, Hell, yes, it is! This catchy club song will get you with its hilarious name and spunky beat. "Nighttime" is a superpop song with a quirky rap and synthy breakdown. It's a little Deee-Lite. But it's also like Madonna does Hot Wheels.

You might think "Play House" would be a house song, right? Not really. Amador raps like an electroclash goddess. It's a sexy party song ready to be remixed. "Land of Lost Lovers" is one of the highlights of the album with its New Wave drama and amped-up sonic sentiment.

"Pistol Whip" is an insanely busy song. Listening to it is like, you might say, being pistol whipped. Don't listen to it before you go to bed. You'll wake up with bruises. And then there's "Jealousy," which features a rap by Suenalo's MC Amin de Jesus. Fun fact: Afrobeta's Tony Smurphio has played with the local Afro-Latin jam band for years.

There is a beautiful nostalgic moment on the album's lone romantic acoustic song, "Love Is Magic," when Amador sings the magical line of Jambi the Genie from Pee-Wee's Playhouse. That's right, Pee-Wee! The perfect chilled-out ending to a hyperactive party album.

Under the Streets is full of energy, both electronic and organic. It won't help you nod off. But it will get you pumped to go out. In between applying mascara and sipping vodka, you will sing, "Miami's where the party's at!"

Afrobeta's Summer Tour Kickoff Show with Mike Sike, Will Renuart, Brad Strickland, Joshua IZ, and Juan Mejia. Saturday, July 30. The Electric Pickle, 2826 N. Miami Ave., Miami. The party starts at 10 p.m. Call 305-456-5613 or visit electricpicklemiami.com.

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