Smod

This Malian trio may have grown up on 2Pac and Wu-Tang Clan, but its self-described “Afro-rap” is decidedly more folky than anything the ’90s street-anthem purveyors ever conjured. Featuring the son of the legendary Amadou & Mariam (who grace the same stage next week), the members of SMOD began incorporating the sounds of their home country after honing their rap skills battling Bamako emcees. Taking cues from Mandingue music and griot traditions, the world rappers’ seductively lay political rhymes over acoustic guitars on their self-titled, Manu Chao-produced 2010 album. Wanaku opens. Michael Rietmulder