Youssou N'dour

Youssou N'dour

A colossus of world music, Youssou N'dour's collaborations with Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel stamped him as one of Africa's most recognizable voices, and his 2002 album Egypt, melding Arabic music with that of his native Senegal, earned him a Grammy. On Rokku Mi Rokka (Give and Take), N'dour explores the northern Senegalese desert, often abandoning the subtle beauty of Egypt for more polished afro-pop anthems. Singing in his native Wolof, N'dour's at his understated best on tracks like "Sama Gàmmu" and "Pullo Àrdo," a song about preserving tradition in the face of modern times. Longtime fans won't be surprised by that topic, but who would guess that the spry vocals over crashing drums on "Sportif" are actually a plea for sports fans to simmer down after their favorite wrestler loses a match? Throughout Rokku, N'dour seamlessly incorporates native instruments like the xalam and ngoni, an African ancestor of the banjo, into the pop music lexicon. The missteps come when N'dour blatantly pines for a crossover pop hit. "Wake Up (It's Africa Calling)" marries traditional Senegalese sounds to a hip-hop backbeat, a tantalizing combo spoiled by an unfortunate English rap by Neneh Cherry, and "Xel" is an overproduced pop anthem complete with cheesy chorus and shiny finish. N'dour's silky voice is undeniable and the musicianship here top shelf. Ultimately, though, Give and Take compromises too much for its own good.