Cheikh Lo

The 2000 release of Bambay Gueej confirmed Cheikh Lo's status as one of Senegal's most important musicians, alongside legends like Baaba Maal and Youssou N'Dour. Why? It's not hard to hear: "M'Beddemi"'s Cuban-influenced swing exudes the kind of confidence and sex appeal that has gotten many lesser musicians laid. Lo's effortless pop neither falls for Afro-pop cliches nor tries to be too unusual or western: simply put, it's at home with itself, and that makes us dig it.