Hank Shocklee said the most unique thing about hip hop’s genesis is that it was the first time non-musicians were responsible for making records. Before that, everybody involved knew what music was supposed to be, musically. If you use that lens to reflect back on recorded music you can see/hear that what certain forms, probably all, or African-American music share and thusly why non-musical technologies were so approachable for Black folks, is that you could still use that tech creatively and intuitively. As DJ inspired music has become more and more menu based i.e. Logic, Ableton et al it also reduces and doesn’t respond to memory. Baltimore drummer Bashi Rose has created something that is so full of memory and intuition and musicality to not even be on a known map of what’s possible and what’s funky. This is impossibly funky. Ft. Brandee Younger, RA ELDER, King Solomon, Conal Bashiri Rose, Tracey, Beale, Jamal Moore, Michele Blu, Jeron White.

-Ben Hall

Ornette Coleman Fiend Club Label

Released July 19, 2024

Ocean Bridges

The album is our first "Jazz" project. It is called "Ocean Bridges" and is a full length collaboration with the legendary Archie Shepp. Raw Poetic is the sole vocalist over improv recording sessions of live musicians that he produced via having access to the masters and co-director of the recording date. It is very much an organic collaboration where we had contributors of different and overlapping musical sensibilities in one space. The results were documented live in the recordings. Damu the Fudgemunk says "It is an honor to work with Mr. Archie Shepp. We will cherish the memories for the rest of lives. I hope that these mixes translates the energy that took place in the studio to listeners of these works. The album has a "one of a kind" feel to it in my opinion. Hip Hop and Jazz have crossed paths for decades, but this album was created without any labels or direction therefore the finished product sounds like a very natural and unforced conversation of numerous ideas that transcend a genre. But, I'd say it's in the vein of Miles Davis' "electric period" meets Fela Kuti with a few "straight ahead jazz" concepts if I had to think of something similar".

credits

released May 22, 2020 Redefinition Records