Musical lead-in to beat

Answer:

AFRO-

Hint:

Think of a prefix that nods to a rich cultural music style often associated with drums and rhythms from the African diaspora.

Explanation:

The clue plays on the word "beat," which can mean a musical rhythm. Here, "musical lead-in" hints at a prefix related to music, and "AFRO-" fits because it refers to Afrobeat, a genre blending African rhythms with jazz and funk. The hyphen signals it's a prefix, not a standalone word.

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General solving tip

Short grid glue often mirrors map or address abbreviations (ENE, AVE, ST). If the clue looks abbreviated, the answer probably is too.

More tips → General Hints