Quotes

“Sly always comes correct with his own take on covers but also pushed new boundaries on his original work. Don’t sleep on Sly!” - Anthony Valadez (KCRW)
“All y’all need the check this cat when you can” - Huey Morgan (BBC 6Music)
“Sly5thAve keeps on delivering” - The Fader
“Sly5thAve on point” - Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM)

Blurb

‘Liberation’ is the new album from producer, composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist Sly5thAve. Overcoming creative struggles and focusing on being true to himself, Sly5thAve felt liberated upon completing the title track “Liberation”, a sentiment that shaped the album's title. Born from a demo created five years ago during Sly5thAve's initial attempt to conceive the album, “Liberation” draws inspiration from beloved blaxploitation film soundtracks and iconic artists like Curtis Mayfield, Willie Hutch, Herbie Hancock, Gordon Parks & J. J Johnson.

Known for his sophisticated compositions, Grammy award-winning Sylvester Uzoma Onyejiaka II aka Sly5thAve’s sound is shaped by his faith in hip-hop and deep understanding of soul, R&B and Jazz. With a core underground following, he has been backed by famed tastemakers including Jarobi White (A Tribe Called Quest), Dr. Dre, Questlove and The Roots and actor Martin Freeman.

He has attained much respect from his work with a host of highly-fêted musicians, including Prince (as a member of the New Power Generation Band), Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Taylor Swift, Janelle Monae, Freddie Gibbs and Quantic. Sly5thAve has toured as a member of Ghost Note, Quantic and with his own side project, IGBO, and has supported Alfa Mist on his North American tour.

Notably, his orchestral tribute to Dr. Dre, ‘The Invisible Man,’ garnered widespread praise and attention, even earning the admiration of Dr. Dre himself.