DJ/producer Chief Boima just released Techno Rumba, his debut EP of original material on Dutty Artz. A regular blogger at Ghetto Bassquake & WMFU, Chief Boima is “a leading expert on all seven kajillion different types of African, Carribbean, and American dance jams,” known for his DJ residency at Baobab Village in San Francisco.
The official release also features 2 additional remixes by dj/Rupture & Matt Shadetek and Que Bajo/ZZK producer Uproot Andy. Currently based in the Bay, Boima connected with Gnawledge back in January (after our Granada Doaba concert at The Independent) and invited us to remix Techno Rumba.
Produced by Gnotes, our remix is part of a new gang of global bass music from Gnawledge (eg here and here), more of which DJ Canyon will be debuting at Beat Research on May 24th in Boston and Bembe in Brooklyn on May 31st.
Boima also released a great promo mix for “Techno Rumba” which explores the pan-African diaspora of “rumba” — an amorphous term that represents more of a feeling than a singular rhythm. Also, make sure to grab Chief Boima’s preview remix EP African by the Bay and his Descendents United mix.
Cumbia — mostly associated w/ Colombia nowadays — originally came from the funky isthmus of Panama. Our newest Gnawledge remix project Panama Doaba brings hip-hop back to 1970s panamanian cumbia, with production from Gnotes and Canyon Cody.
The original “Llororas” was written by Venezuelan singer Oscar D’León in 1975 and became a huge hit across Latin American. Our remix samples a Panamanian cover version by Beby Castor con Los Juvenilles, from the Sally Ruth 45 (SR161), later re-released by Soundway Records on Panama 3.
We’ll be playing a bunch of our new Gnawledge cumbia remixes @ Beat Researchin Boston w/ Wayne&Wax on May 24th, and then @ Bembe in Brooklyn w/ Cumba Mela on May 31st.
Akwaaba Music just released the new album Konteh Kunda by Gambian kora player Jali Bakary Konteh, along with audio stems for a remix competition. Download the Gnawledge remix below and check out Fairtrilizer for other great submissions.
Produced by Gnotes, the Gnawledge remix drops heavy drums&synth (@ 1 min 28 secs) over Jali Bakary Konteh’s funky vocals and masterful kora playing.
Jali Bakary Konteh comes from a griot family which includes some of the worlds most reknowned kora musicians. He runs the School of Music in Brikama, Gambia (pictured below), with lessons in kora, percussion, balafon, fula flute, and traditional Mandinka dancing.
Buy Jali Bakary Konteh’s new album Konteh Kunda atiTunes &Bandcamp.
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.
The good folks over at Nacional Records hooked us up with an exclusive acapella from the new album by New York band Pacha Massive. Originally from Colombia and the Dominican Republic, Pacha Massive brings together traditional Latin rhythms and downtempo electrónica for a breezy bilingual summer afternoon.
Gnawledge remix produced by Gnotes and Canyon Cody, featuring live instrumentation by Teddy Jack and Felix Penny.
Nacional Records is now giving away 21 free songs from 2009, with new music by Pacha Massiva, Manu Chau, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Aterciopelados, Mexican Institute of Sound, Uproot Andy, Bomba Estereo, Latin Bitman and [our personal favorite] King Coya.
We barely fit everybody on-stage last Friday night at The Mint in Los Angeles, where Granada Doaba opened for Rupa and the April Fishes. It was our first show with the new band, featuring singer Elexis Trinity with rappers Gnotes and Mandeep Sethi.
Granada Doaba’s live band features Daniel Eshoo on oud, Rod Martinez and Judy Piazza on drums, Raymond Powers on harmonium/flute, Sean Dwyer and Russ Baggerly on flamenco guitar, Teddy Jack on bass, Canyon Cody on turntables and live painting from Carmen Abelleira. [more photos @ Flickr]
The instrumental “Bohemia Al-Andalus” — and the video above — features Joaquín Sánchez Gil on clarinet, Uzman Almerabet on ‘ud, Richard Dudanski on drums, and Paul Brundtland on cajón.
Boston diva Noni Kai first collaborated with Gnawledge back in 2006, making a sultry guest appearance on Gnotes’ “We Can Roll” from Rhymes and Beats. Now she’s back with a funky remix of “Calabazar de Sagua” from Granada Doaba.
You can already hear Afro DZ ak’s mighty trumpet on “Senda del Abuelo” from Granada Doaba, but now he’s back with a new instrumental remix of “El Manisero de Potemkin.”
