Fally Ipupa – Jul, Kat

Congolese rumba icon Fally Ipupa comes through with “Jul, Kat (Katengoura).” It’s track nine on his enormous “XX: Délirium” project, an album constructed as a full-on rumba celebration honoring his twentieth year in the game.

Fally’s has framed the whole CD as a love note to the genre that reared him and “Jul, Kat (Katengoura)” fits well into that tracklisting with songs like “Miguel Tshis” and “JS.” Just months after the first “XX” installment already sold over 20,000 units, this second chapter reveals he’s still in celebration mode. The parenthetical title, “Katengoura,” signifies something special to Congolese language and tradition, keeping the record grounded in his roots.

The production remains faithful to rumba’s original base, careful and thorough like most of the tracks in this vast collection. Nothing here is reaching for outside trends or crossover polish. Instead, the arrangement remains faithful to the genre Fally has spent two decades perfecting.

Fally is in the lead with his recognizable, expressive, seasoned voice, treating this one with the same skill he has treated his whole career with. Given how essential this genre is to his entire musical character, it’s unsurprising that he sounds entirely at home here.

There’s real intent behind the title of an album called a hundred percent rumba, and “Jul, Kat (Katengoura)” embodies that dedication in a head-on way. Fally remains true to appreciating the music, not chasing anything trend-driven. It seems like a real piece of a much larger anniversary statement.

“Jul, Kat (Katengoura)” works because it doesn’t compromise on appreciating rumba’s roots. With such an ambitious tracklist here, there’s no filler. It feels like another sure element in Fally Ipupa’s huge tribute to rumba on its 20th anniversary.