Senegalese singer Meta Dia grew up in Dakar listening to Gregory Isaacs, Bob Marley, James Brown and Senegalese traditional music on the radio. At a very young age he discovered his desire to be a musician, and over the next several years he nurtured his love and true appreciation for all types of music. At 14, he began performing on the street and stages of Dakar, Senegal, and in 2000 Meta formed his first band Yalla Suuren (God Bless). They were nominated as the best hip hop/reggae group by the French Cultural Center in 2000. This led to Dia’s celebrity as a pioneer of the voice and culture of hip hop in West Africa. In 2002 he moved to the United States and immediately began collaborating with artists such as Sean Blackman, and hip hop pioneer Toni Blackman.
After living in Brooklyn, New York City for only a short time, Dia formed a new group, Meta and the Cornerstones. Singing in French, English, Wolof and Fulani, and combining Afropop, hip-hop, rock and soul, the group is composed of musicians from Africa, North America, Asia and the Middle East.
Meta and the Cornerstones have opened for and toured with Youssou N’Dour, Luciano and Steel Pulse.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aWh0DKrhrc[/youtube]
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[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/14842936[/vimeo]
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Website: www.metaandthecornerstones.com
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