For his upcoming album, Elemental Zazen worked with one of the greatest rappers of all time: CANIBUS. Produced by J. Ferra, “Hollow Heart” features dense, intelligent rhymes from two of the game’s most lyrically talented MCs.
“Hollow Heart” is the second song released from Elemental Zazen’s upcoming Gnawledge album Nothing to Lose but Change, which also features guest appearances from Jean Grae and Gnotes.
For the first single “Lockjaw”Elemental Zazen worked with Seattle producer Jake-One (G-Unit, Rhymesayers), a song which Zazen performed live at the recent Gnawledge hiphop show in Seattle.
Our 2010 Gnawledge tour visited Los Angeles, Boston, New York and Seattle from May 13th to June 5th. Betwixt official performances were curbside cyphers, neighborhood juergas and latenight house parties.
May 13th — Our first show (photo above) was a Granada Doaba improv experiment featuring 3 rappers, 3 flamenco guitarists, 2 hand percussionists and a dancer. Performing at Los Angeles’ historic flamenco venue El Cid, Granada Doaba featured acoustic freestlyles from Mandeep Sethi & Moses Soweto-Tsali, and a funky set by our good friends LoCura.
May 24th — We celebrated 6 years ofGnawledge in Bostonwith a party at Beat Research. The night began with an acoustic version of Buena Vista Social Club’s “Chan Chan” featuring Gnotes on guitar, Noni Kai on vocals and Afro DZ ak on trumpet (video above).
The show transitioned into a tropical bass DJ set from Canyon Cody, who debuted the newest Gnawledge album Panama Doaba. Read more about the Boston party at Wayne&Wax and check photos del amigo Zach Cole.
May 27th — TheGnawledge NYC Showcase featured 4 Gnawledge MCs and guest appearances from 3 New York locals. Hosted by Brooklyn veteran the1shanti [pictured above with Gnotes and Mighty Om], the crowd got rowdy for Nyle x Naysayers, a four-peice hip-hop band with a charismatic frontman (Nyle) and an amazing drummer (Isaac Teel).
Gnawledge performed a medley of new/old material from the last 6 years. Multi-instrumentalist rappers Gnotes and Afro DZ traded verses from their solo albums, and played flamenco guitar & trumpet in support of Boston soul singer Noni Kai, who showcased her beautiful voice during an acoustic Granada Doaba performance. Gnawledge was also joined on-stage by guest percussionist Duke Mushroom from Harlem’s Earthrise Soundsystem, an immensely talented musician who brought a goodie-bag of global drums and transformed the rap concert into a dance party.
May 28th — Our cumbia hip-hop remezclas Panama Doaba got heavy rotation in New York, where DJ Canyon Cody performed with Afro DZ ak and the1shanti at a Williamsburg house party (photo above). Produced by Gnotes, Panama Doaba explores the funky isthmus in the 1970s as a tropical bass follow-up to Granada Doaba. An unruly Brooklyn house party was the perfect way to unwind after our big concert, and it was our first chance to rock with Cumba Mela, an NYC global bass DJ trio that knows how to throw a damn fiesta.
May 29th – After playing with Gnawledge at Santos, Duke Mushroom invited Afro DZ ak to perform at the Globesonic show on the Hudson Pier (photos above). It was a beautiful summer evening for a free outdoor party, with more than 1,000 people dancing to 3 outstanding DJs (Derek Beres, Fabian Alsultany & Bill Braggin) accompanied by the impeccable percussion of Duke Mushroom and mighty trumpet ofAfro DZ ak (video below).
May 30th & 31st — DJ Canyon Cody got back on the decks at Love, a Greenwich club with an absolutely immense soundsystem, and then Bembe, a Brooklyn dance club with a reputation for hot&sweaty bootyshaking. Hosted by DJs Atropolis, Thornato and 2melo from Cumba Mela, the weekly cumbia convocation at Bembe is a superb scene, with passionate live drumming and a sensual dance crowd. Como un pez en agua, Canyon Cody kept the party jumping with help from the1shanti and Gnotes on the mic [photo below]
June 5th – After New York, Gnotes and Canyon Cody went back to Seattle for a Gnawledge rap show with Elemental Zazen and Irenic. Zazen — who recently leaked his new track featuring Canibus — performed his new song “Lockjaw” produced by Seattle-native Jake One (video below).
With the Spring 2010 tour done, Gnawledge will soon release Panama Doaba while finishing final touches on upcoming solo albums from Elemental Zazen and Gnotes.
Gnawledge rappers Gnotes and Elemental Zazen will perform together in Seattle on Saturday June 5th at the Lo-Fi Performance Gallery. Both artists will debut new material from their upcoming albums, which feature production from Jake One, Blockhead, Illmind, Kno, Eligh, JFerra and BSBD.
Since moving from Boston to Seattle, both Zazen and Gnotes have been working on their follow-ups to The Glass Should Be Full and Rhymes and Beats. Zazen’s album features collaborations with Jean Grae, Gnotes and Canibus — a track recently leaked at Potholes in my Blog.
Also performing will be Irenic, MC Premonition, DJ Chocolate Chuck and Canyon Cody. Tickets $5, show @9pm. Lo-Fi is located at 429 Eastlake Avenue East in Seattle WA.
The upcoming new album from Elemental ZazenNothing to Lose But Change features a few familiar collabs from his last record The Glass Should Be Full (including Kno, J.Ferra and Gnotes), but ever since Zazen moved from Boston to Seattle, he’s been working with some new producers, including Blue Sky Black Death, Eligh & Jake One.
Elemental Zazen’s first single “Lockjaw” is produced by Seattle native Jake One, a rare breed of hip-hop producer who works across both sides of the underground/mainstream divide. Jake One was formerly part of the G-Unit production team, where he crafted hits for 50 Cent and Young Buck, and he now works with Dr. Dre. As a solo artist, Jake One is affiliated with indie powerhouse Rhymesayers, who released his debut White Van Music featuring Brother Ali, MOP and MF Doom.
Nothing to Lose But Change — featuring guest appearances from Canibus, Jean Grae & Gnotes — will be released Summer 2010 on Gnawledge Records. More info @ Elemental Zazen’s MySpace, Facebook & Twitter.
