Biography
OSHUN is an independent hip-hop and soul duo consisting of Niambi Sala and Thandiwe Sala, named after the Yoruba deity of love, beauty, and fertility, embodying the sonic manifestation of Afrofuturism. Originally from the DC/Maryland area, the duo met as students at New York University (NYU), where they were pursuing degrees in music and Africana Studies, and began collaborating creatively by the end of their first semester. They self-released their debut mixtape 'Asase Yaa' in 2015, featuring tracks like the floating ballad 'Sango' and the confident hip-hop soul cut 'The Next Day,' which garnered recognition from outlets such as Billboard, Rolling Stone, The FADER, NPR, and Essence.
Based in New York and later Brooklyn, OSHUN developed a distinctive style blending hip-hop, soul, R&B, neo-soul, and pop with heavy drums, bass, ambient harmonic textures, digital and acoustic sounds, and activist themes centered on the divine feminine, Black girl magic, peace, love, and resistance against negativity. Their music draws from Afrofuturism and natural immersive experiences, with influences evoking Erykah Badu, Floetry, and Les Nubians. They followed with releases like the 2014 EP 'Afahye' and the 2019 album 'Black Girl Magic,' while touring the US, Europe, Brazil, and East Africa, selling out shows and performing at major festivals including SXSW.
OSHUN's legacy lies in their empowered spiritualized self-love, communal expression, and use of the 'OSHUNiverse' as a platform for change, challenging themselves as producers, composers, and songwriters on later projects. Their work promotes healing (Iya-Sol: healer/teacher sun/source) and manifests a sweeter tomorrow through ancestral connections and critical awareness of ongoing struggles.
Fun Facts
- OSHUN met at NYU while studying music and Africana Studies, planning a joint creative course by the end of their first semester.
- They describe their sound as 'Iya-Sol' (Iya meaning healer/teacher, sol meaning sun/source), drawing on neo soul, pop, R&B, and hip hop.
- OSHUN has toured extensively, including the US, Europe, Brazil, and East Africa, selling out gigs and performing at festivals like SXSW.
- Their fans span diverse backgrounds, with media acclaim from Billboard, Rolling Stone, NPR, and Vogue.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Erykah Badu - Stylistic inspiration for fluid R&B and hip-hop blends with natural, immersive sounds (General influence on OSHUN's sound) [Ongoing since debut]
Key Collaborators
- Jorja Smith - Worked together on music projects (Unspecified tracks or performances) [Around 2019]
- Jaji Preme - Performed alongside at live shows (UCSB campus show)
- Jupiter Black - Performed alongside at live shows (UCSB campus show)
Connection Network
External Links
Tags: #alternative-r&b, #hip-hop, #neo-soul
References
Heard on WWOZ
Oshun has been played 2 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.