(FYI: This song is available on my website at: https://ahmedsirour.com/track/2996468/midnight-melanin-manhattan-a-score-for-ivy as well as Bandcamp at: https://ahmedsirour.bandcamp.com/track/midnight-melanin-manhattan-a-score-for-ivy)

I created this based on a scene from the 1968 film, #ForLoveofIvy, which was a story written by the recently departed, late/great #SidneyPoitier and featuring the also late/great #AbbeyLincoln. The music you hear is an original score I created, inspired by this scene (not one of Quincy Jones', who beautifully scored the rest of this movie, although his style was an influence I wanted to partially emulate). I was actually surprised he left so much room open in this bedroom scene you're watching now, because the original scene had no music at all until after Ivy (Abbey) joins Jack (Sidney) in bed for Round 2 of their lovemaking. 

Inspired by the great cinematography and sexiness of this moment, this is an all original arrangement of my own, and even chopping up and editing the royalty-free horns that I used for the trumpet and saxophone solos (which was very difficult to do because it's a combination of many different real horn player samples that I had to edit/pitch/re-arrange/EQ just for it to sound like two players to add to the grand piano, upright/double bass, and horn parts in the hook/chorus that I manually played and myself on keyboard (via Logic Pro instruments) to make it into a Jazz "quartet", then finally mixing and mastering the whole thing for it to come out finally as it did, which you can hear in full from the link at the top of this description.

Like many, I took a trip down memory lane, watching #SidneyPoitier films, since his recent passing at age 94. However, not many people know of/have seen this particular film called  "For Love of Ivy", which is kinda surprising since Sidney was THE biggest movie star in Hollywood at the time this film came out in 1968.

To put it in perspective, he started filming this movie (an original story he wrote, himself) in the Autumn of '67, but just a few months earlier that year, #ToSirWithLove dropped in the Spring, followed by #InTheHeatoftheNight that Summer, and #GuessWhosComingToDinner was up next in December to close out his undefeated year as the King of the Silver Screen. While each film in '67 was a blockbuster hit (and all dealt with #racism in some form), "Ivy" was very different as it was a rare mainstream film showcasing two Black romantic leads–Sidney, and the magnificent Jazz singer/activist Abbey Lincoln (who had a dope afro but they gave her a wig, instead 🙄 )–and it even featured the very first (though not explicit) Black lovemaking scene in a Hollywood movie. Perhaps that's why it didn't get much publicity over time as those others did, because more radical than a 1967 film with an interracial couple is a 1968 one with a Black couple being intimate on the big screen.

Ivy's character looked so serene, looking through the window, out over Manhattan late at night, in the afterglow of their tryst, before taking the throne and looking over her sleeping "conquest" 😉 It's a sexy scene without music, but I wanted to hear what it would sound like with some, and so I take this moment to celebrate the memory and legacy of Sidney Poitier, of Abbey, and this wonderful moment of #BlackLove on film with it!

This song will be included in my upcoming project I'm releasing on my bday, Tuesday, the 22nd of February, 2022 (or 22/02/2022). That's also the title of the project: 22022022 (the only palindrome b'earthday I'll have in my lifetime). I hope you enjoy and Happy #BlackHistoryMonth.

#AhmedSirour

Midnight, Melanin, & Manhattan (a score for Ivy)

"Midnight, Melanin, & Manhattan (a score for Ivy)"

The #lyricsvideo for my latest single #IWillMakeIt (https://youtu.be/h7jGVmoBdF0) from my recently released EP #22022022 (which dropped on that date and was my bday, for those who weren't aware). 

I created this song to give the listener a boost; a message of hope, and something to inspire/encourage overcoming any obstacles that may come your way when sometimes life is overwhelming you and you're already feeling low, and especially in the chaotic times we currently live in. Play this song when you need to believe again and remember that the Universe will come to your aid after you've done all you could on your part.

I hope you enjoy the song, and my semi-attempt at rhyming, though I'd more so call it #rhythmicspokenword before I'd call it rapping lol I was partly inspired by #bobbymcferrin since I did a vocal bassline, vocal rhythm guitar, and was my own background vocals, but the hats and kick drum I played on keys. And I was also inspired by #paulocoelho's #TheAlchemist, which connects to why I mentioned the "Universe aligning for you" in the song.

It's available both on https://ahmedsirour.com and Bandcamp.com. 

Always enjoy feedback if you're feeling it 😌🙏🏾

– #AhmedSirour

#positiveaffirmation #morningmeditation #youregoingtomakeit #believeinyourself #housemusic #dancemusic #inspirationalmusic #justbreathe #justfocus #justbelieve #dontgiveup #dontgivein

22022022

I Will Make It

I Will Make It!

Free download at: https://ahmedsirour.com/track/3118716...

So, later this year will mark the 30th anniversary of the release of what is, arguably, #Sade's best album of all time, #LoveDeluxe. I bought the CD at Tower Records when it came out, back in '92, when I was 15 years old (yes, I was ahead of my years with impeccable musical taste, if I do say so lol).

Track for track, it's a solid album and truly a masterpiece, and I couldn't have imagined that I would one day have the musical ability to be able to not only replay the arrangement, if I wanted to, but that I would have the skills to also add my own arrangements to possibly the best track on the album–#CherishTheDay"– and create this alternate universe version where I give it a more 21st century modern/Hip Hop-ish beat while maintaining the original synths & guitar, but adding new Rhodes piano and choir synth chord progressions in two breakdowns, instead of one, and removing the original drums and bass line, replacing it my own chill groove to maybe give it some more sensuality/sexiness (especially in the second half of the second 8-bar breakdown, at the 3:37 mark...smoky, sensual, hypnotic harmonies to stand apart from the original's, which was sexy as well).

I hope you enjoy my take on this classic and please do let me know if you're feeling it, and please share with others who you know would love it as much as I did making it...and please subscribe because I'm definitely gonna be adding more content, if you all want more? 🤷🏾‍♂️

I mean...I've remade 2 songs from this album already (first one was "I Couldn't Love You More", which many radio stations had been putting in steady rotation over the past couple of years), and there still a few months left in 2022, so I wonder if I can knock out a few more, if not the rest of the album?? 🤔😉

#AhmedSirour

Cherish the Day (Ahmed Sirour Rework)

Sade - Cherish The Day (Ahmed Sirour Rework)

Get your copy at: https://ahmedsirour.com/track/3489353/eu-vim-da-bahia-ahmed-sirour-s-bossamba-house-remix

It's crazy that I've done #Brasilian-type songs & remixes but never remixed an actual Brasilian song before! Well, it's apropos that my first time doing so is remixing a song dedicated to the geographical state that's been my South American home for the past few months.

On some background info, the original #EuVimdaBahia (or "I came from Bahia", in English) was written in 1965 by the living legend #AfroBrasilian artist, #GilbertoGil, and given to the then-named singer, Maria da Graça (who would later go by her more well-known stage name, Gal Costa). However, the version I've remixed that I was feeling the most, thus far, is the late/legendary #JoaoGilberto's 1973 version, where he only performed with his acoustic guitar arrangement, solo vocal, and his friend providing what sounds like a shaker making a #BossaNova beat for the percussion (no drums or anything else). Both Gilberto and João were born in Bahia, and I guess I'm slowly nearing honorary Baiano status, myself 😉 (you should hear the way the locals pronounce my name here 😂).

Track-wise, what I essentially did was add more traditional Brasilian percussive instruments, a rimshot snare drum with a Bossa beat, a house kick drum, a bass line arrangement, and some very minor effect/edits to turn the much slower, Summery, breezy-vibe-type original into a #Bossa/#Samba kinda #housemusic #dance vibe. It's honestly both Bossa and Samba (even though Bossa is actually a hybrid of Samba and Jazz), so I called it #Bossamba House" (deep, I know 😏 lol) because it's not that loungey type that falls under the usual "#BrazilianHouse", feel me?

That's basically it, and as usual it's only available on ahmedsirour.com (link it bio), so get your copy, and please spread the word and share the link! 🙏🏾

#brazil #brasil #brazilian #dancemusic #tropical #summervibes #ahmedsirourremix #ahmedsirour

Joao Gilberto - Eu Vim Da Bahia (Ahmed Sirour Bossamba House Remix)

This is an idea I was working on a few months that I composed & recorded starting with a layered #BossaNova beat, an upright bass part, a unison then harmonic background vocalese pad arrangement, grand piano, percussion, and a rhythm guitar part (all played on keys), but what I really needed was a REAL #Brasilian guitarist! When I met the amazing Ricardo Barros in #SaoPaulo, #Brazil at a private jam session, I knew we had to connect and there was definitely musical magic! He recorded some takes for my track and voila! An instant classic–at least for my repertoire! 😉


Released February 23, 2023 on ahmedsirour.com and March 1, 2023 on Bandcamp. More platforms to come.


And the film footage excerpts seen throughout this video is taken from the 1959 classic #MarcelCamus film, "Orfeu Negro" (or "Black Orpheus" as it's known in the U.S.). The featured stars shown are the beautiful #MarpessaDawn and the handsome #BrenoMello. #BlackLove 

CREDITS
Ahmed Sirour - original composition & arrangement, drum/percussion editing, upright bass, vocal pads, grand piano , acoustic rhythm guitar, mixing and mastering (all played on keyboard via Logic Pro).

Ricardo Barros - acoustic guitar solo (and that's all he needed cuz he DID that!)

#riodejaneiro #carnaval #blackhistory #histórianegra #afrobrazilian #samba #brooklyn #brasil

Brooklyn Bossa (feat. Ricardo Barros)

Ahmed Sirour - Brooklyn Bossa (feat Ricardo Barros)

Download a HQ copy here: https://ahmedsirour.com/track/3506997/fight-the-power-ahmed-sirour-s-sankofa-remix


#HipHop has officially reached its #50thbirthday/#50thanniversary (August 11, 2023)! 🥳🎊🎉

I actually wasn't planning on making anything for that day and honestly had forgotten it would be this Friday, but I actually had a dream on Monday night. It wasn't a visual one, but instead I was listening to #PublicEnemy's #FightthePower, except in my dream radio, it was being remixed into some kind of #Afrohouse or #Afrobeat kind of groove mixed with #Funk, so as soon as I woke up, I got right into recording mode to capture the idea in my head.

There's no available acapella for the song and extracting it was audibly difficult, but I used my production skills to create a DIY one as best as possible, and played a new layered bass line, added the afro drums and percussion, guitars, and used both the original horns from #HotPantsRoad by #TheJBs & #JamesBrown(which PE sampled for their 1989 classic) but then added my own original horn arrangements, and I finished it just in time for today!

I changed the original opening speech with one from #MalcolmX (from December 1964 in England) that was befitting of the vibe of this week because it definitely reflects what happened in that #MontgomeryBrawl last weekend, and then i ended the track with a quote from #FelaKuti that also fit the energy of it.

With all that's happening around the global #AfricanDiaspora with enough being way beyond enough from the Alabama to #Niger, and with Hip Hop being the outlet created out of struggle in the streets of The Bronx, then throughout all of NYC, and then the rest of the nation and the world, it feels like stars aligned to bring the message of resilience and cultural revolution from the streets and the ghettos (and the council estates, townships, and favelas) to the masses ✊🏾

Fight the Power - Public Enemy (Ahmed Sirour's Sankofa remix)

Fight The Power - Public Enemy (Ahmed Sirour's Sankofa Remix)

Download copy here: https://ahmedsirour.com/track/3546484/smells-like-treat-em-right-ahmed-sirour-mashup-remix

#Seattle meets #Brooklyn. #Grunge #Rock meets #Boombap #HipHop. #KurtCobain/#Nirvana meets #ChubbRock. #SmellsLikeTeenSpirit
meets #TreatEmRight.

I don't care if purists of either genre get mad, because this joint hits HARD! If I'm the only one dancing to it, then so be it, but I think music lovers with creative minds will dig this, too!

Show me a party where you play either one of these and the crowd doesn't go nuts! Don't worry, such moments do not exist 😏

These joints were the dawn of dopeness that kicked of a great era of music in the #90s, but who woulda thought to hear a #mashup of them together and produce it? 🤔

Yours truly 😏

Smells Like...Treat 'Em Right

Smells Like Treat Em Right (Ahmed Sirour Mashup Remix)

The last time around, I did a mashup remix of #LoveLikeThis with the Fatback Band's "Wicky Wacky" that worked well together, but I was still a production newbie so with better skills now, I felt it could have been better, though many really like it, still to this day.

This time I created all the music from scratch, no samples (minus the original version's acapella vocals), and gave it a #sensual, #afrohouse, #soulful kinda vibe; I'm actually proud of how this one turned out, but listen for yourself and see how it moves you 😌

For all the remixes that have been done of this song, good and bad, I wanted to make something that sounded like this was what it could have been, organically, with no samples used (even the original version sampled #Chic's "Chic Cheer" from 1974).

Hope y'all feel it. 😉🙏🏾 Available now for free at: ahmedsirour.com.

Love Like This (Ahmed Sirour remix) [snippet]

Free download available at: https://ahmedsirour.com/track/4314829/thank-god-it-s-funky-like-i-wish-ahmed-sirour-mashup-remix 

My 2017 single #TGIF (aka #ThankGodItsFunky)
+
#StevieWonder's 1976 classic single #IWish (from the iconic #SongsIntheKeyofLife)
=
#ThankGodItsFunkyasIWish (🤷🏾‍♂️ hey, it works for me 😁).

Another #mashup/#mashupremix that's just in time for the upcoming #summerbbq #familyreunion season and to continue celebrating Stevie's 75th bday with another to add to my remix collection of his legendary catalog!

#Funk #Soul #Blackbbq #cookout #funky #soul #blues

TGIF like I Wish (Ahmed Sirour mashup remix)

This was created shortly after the tragedy that was (and STILL is) the Trayvon Martin murder in 2012. Some Hollywood people wanted to remake Chaka Khan's re-make of the classic and tapped me to come up with a new arrangement literally overnight. My version was eventually not used, but I decided to still post it because hey...I did it in half a day and was proud of it. The original co-writer of the song (Ricky Rouse) came after me earlier this year thinking I was trying to get publicity for something I had up for over 3 years and wasn't even trying to push so *shrugs* whatever. No disrespect intended and definitely no infringement caused as this is simply my original take/rearrangement and nothing more, and was requested by reps for Chaka herself, even if it wasn't used.

Anyway, enjoy, for those who do :)
____________________

SUPER LIFE lyrics (Chaka Khan, Ricky Rouse)

A mama's cryin'
'Cause another young man has gone and died
He's not some statistic
He's another awesome destiny denied

So I've got to stand tall
I'm gonna live a super life
For the rest of my life
I'm gonna live a super life
Super life, super life, yeah

We take it all so lightly
How did we get so 'climatized
On the 9 o'clock news nightly
Genocide of babies
I can't believe my eyes

Right or wrong
I'm gonna live a super life
For the rest of my life
I'm gonna live a super life
Super life, super life, yeah

You know the wrath of a woman
Is gonna bring about hell to pay
Everyone together come on get with me
Or get on out my way

I'm gonna live a super life
I'm gonna live a super life
(For the babies)

I'm gonna live a super life
I'm gonna live a super life
(For the babies)

Super Life  - Chaka Khan (Ahmed's New Instrumental Arrangement)

The hidden bonus track in my debut album where I took the lead single and turned it into a Soulful House cut for the lovers who love to dance as well. A sensual/lounge-y type vibe for those who like to feel sexy but also don't mind to sweat a bit on the dancefloor ;)

FORePLAYING Sensual Remix (snippet)

The OFFICIAL remix that I was so honored and blessed to have done, as requested directly from Phonte of The Foreign Exchange, along with Nicolay's exclamation point as they both approved and placed me as Track #6/Disc 1 of their "Reworks" album (right before ?uestlove & James Poyser's track)! Was even more of a compliment considering that instead of sending me all the instrumental stems, they only sent me the acapella vocal tracks, meaning he was trusting me to come up with the music all on my own :) I did my best not to disappoint and was glad they loved it (let alone the fact I was essentially also collab'ing with 2/3 of the amazing KING, via Paris and Amber Strother's vocals).

This was released 4 days after my bday in 2013, so this was a late gift as it were ;)

+FE Music - All The Kisses (Ahmed Sirour Remix) feat. Amber & Paris Strother of KING

Track #4 from my protest album/EP entitled, The Mourning After, in tribute to the fallen men, women, and children of color who were murdered by a racist regime of evil police officers who never deserved to wear the badge, let alone handle a gun. It is not happenstance, not "fearing for their life", and certainly not justice when the vast majority of the murderers in blue are let off with little to no punishment at all.

I had to release my rage into the healing power of music, and it was this remake of Duke Pearson & Donald Byrd's "Cristo Redentor" that I felt was an appropriate song of mourning to express my deep sadness and anger at the systemic racism that was designed to bring about what few are calling (but is accurately) a genocide.

Anyway, I enlisted the talents of Jill Scott/Bootsy Collin tour trumpeter, Farnell Newton (@fnbeatsgalore), to cover Donald's iconic solo, but in his style and voicing, to express this sadness and melancholy through music. Yes, it comes out smooth and lounge jazzy, but it begins with a gunshot just to let you know that this is anything but relaxed and chill...more so a soulful way of saying goodbye while also preparing for the fight ahead for freedom, justice, and equality amongst ALL people...but if Black Lives Don't Matter in that equation...then ALL LIVES TRULY DON'T!

"Black Requiem (Cristo Redentor)" - feat Farnell Newton

The lead single for the album COLLABORATIONS VOL. 1, featuring the beautifully-voiced (and soul) Jae Franklin, that is very relaxing every time I hear it (even as I contributed to it, of course); her soprano is so sweet that she could be straight dissing you while singing and you could still be okay with it lol

Go check out the rest of the amazing artists on this compilation which is the first of my series of collaborations: 
https://ahmedsirour.com/album/1773066/collaborations-vol-1

"Beautiful Soul" feat Jae Franklin (from COLLABORATIONS VOL. 1)

One of those moments where you just create something from within, letting it take you wherever it may. This one goes out to her...whomever she is, wherever she may be. Thanks for sending me the inspiration and I hope this finds its way back to you, as a thank you ;)

Wherever You May Be

The lead single for the second volume in my series of compilations entitled COLLABORATIONS VOL. 2, and this time teaming up with the amazing Jessica Johnson on a track we recorded a while ago but somehow got misplaced until rediscovered again, but what I can only surmise as the perfect time :) Please check out the rest of her work, and definitely the other amazing artists featured on this album at: https://ahmedsirour.com/album/1770736/collaborations-vol-2

"Miserable Bliss" feat. Jessica Johnson (from COLLABORATIONS VOL. 2)

DOWNLOAD thEARapy TODAY...https://ahmedsirour.com/album/1775297/thearapy-the-ep

I began my album discography by releasing a slow-tempo, instrumental project called, The After 2am Sessions and that it was constructed to be a sort of mood-setting, stress-releasing, meditative project to create peaceful vibrations for the listeners. This new EP is no exception, although the added aspect to that formula was to include the sounds of the Earth/nature to give a fuller experience to my own sound and simply create therapy for your ears and soul...or "thEARapy", which is the name of the next EP and this, "After the Setting Sun", the lead single. 

What's additionally unique about it, as a production note, is that it was composed, recorded, and produced on the island of Bali, Indonesia...8 degrees below the Equator, so it was the perfect, peaceful setting to draw inspiration from, which is why you hear natural elements that reflected my surroundings, like the ocean surf crashing on the shore in this track. I hope you also feel the energy from it come through the music as well and transport into another place.

The hope is when you listen, it rejuvenates you, wherever you may be and whatever culture you might be from, using the universal energy of music to free, heal, and give them the needed boost they need to clear their minds and simply feel...better.

Those of you who pre-order will immediately receive an additional download link of 3 recorded songs from my live performances in Barcelona, Spain (2015), Sydney, Australia (2015), and Tokyo, Japan (2016).

Ahmed

P.S. - For the album cover for the EP's August 16th release, I want to make an OFFICIAL ALBUM COVER by incorporating YOU!! Send me a good quality headshot selfie of you with headphones or earphones on, with your eyes closed looking at peace, which I will use on the cover of the official album cover art on release day. Just send it as an attachment to a message to in my FB inbox (http://facebook.com/ahmedisthemusic). JPG or PNG files only, please.

Think like a more zen version of A Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders album cover ;)

thEARapy

After the Setting Sun

FREE download at: https://ahmedsirour.com/track/2537196/off-the-wall-michael-jackson-on-the-ball-remix

For however long this manages to stay up before it gets taken down, I figured I'd just put this up anyway, cuz I think I did a decent job remixing this iconic track from an iconic album, produced by an iconic producer, and performed by a...you get the point ;)

Many have remixed this classic, but I'm gonna be biased and say this is the best one yet lol I mean, if you don't love your own work, who will?? Hope you enjoy and if you wanna hear more of my work (and own a copy of some of it), please go to my Bandcamp page...hell, my latest album is an ALL HOUSE MUSIC album, so check it out: https://ahmedsirour.com/album/1775231/different-rooms-one-house

Oh, and yes, everything that is not MJ's voice was produced by me from scratch...and also, I did do the graphic design for this track's photo ;) Multiple skills (check me at http://Fiverr.com/ahmedsirour, too lol)

Michael Jackson - Off The Wall (Ahmed Sirour remix)

Vocals & lyrics: Cleveland P. Jones
Music & production: Ahmed Sirour

The first original song Cleveland P. Jones and I released back in 2011. We took a break from another song and while on that break, I came up with a melody (the hook) that I looped and played back for Cleveland, asking him if it inspired any ideas with him. He listened, hummed a bit, kept repeating the word "Sensitive", started writing, and 20 minutes later--viola! As for me, it took me the rest of the week to orchestrate the rest of what you heard (yes, I composed and played ALL the music you hear).

Later that year, Gilles Peterson would come across it, played it two weeks in a row, and later we get an email to have it licensed for his Brownswood Bubblers 7 compilation. 2011 introduced the larger world to a great talent in Mr. Jones, and what is probably my most consistent and best collaborator, who also is like my brother from another mother :) Proud of this dude and all that he's accomplished and still going to--honored to be a part of his musical journey.

Sensitive

The instrumental version of a spoken word track I did. I hope that it is as the name suggests and that it fills you with peace, or inspires you to write some beautiful poetry, or dream of running through meadows in the Spring and other aesthetically appealing, borderline corny $#!t ;) 

All love and hope you dig it :)

Beautiful Like Sleep (instrumental)

Just a remix of an iconic song mashed up with iconic hip hop samples of other classics. FREE download at: https://ahmedsirour.com/track/2537151/i-wish-stevie-wonder-ahmed-s-mega-mashup-remix

All production (main bass lines, extra percussion, editing, mixing, and mastering) by Ahmed Sirour

Here is the ingredients list of samples used:

Jimmy Castor - "Troglodytes"
Tom Scott & the California Dreamers - "Today"
Bob James - "Take Me To Mardi Gras"
James Brown - "The Big Payback"
Stevie Wonder - "I Wish" (naturally)
The Mighty Showstoppers version of Johnny Pate's - "Shaft in Africa theme"
David McCallum & David Axelrod - "The Edge"
Janet Jackson - "Nasty Boys"
Young-Holt Unlimited - "Queen of the Nile"
(audio of crowd after the rap battle between Kid N' Play) - scene from the movie "House Party"
Dee Felice Trio - "There Was a Time"

Stevie - I Wish (Ahmed's Mega Mashup Remix)

FREE download at: https://ahmedsirour.com/track/2537184/move-love-robert-glasper-king-ahmed-s-samba-house-remix

Not often that I remix myself, but this is a remix of a remix I already did (Inception? lol). In 2012 I remixed "Move Love" by Robert Glasper (feat KING) and made a Bossa Nova/Soul hybrid out of it for a contest for said song. I didn't win, but Okayplayer.com actually featured it, which was prize enough for me :)

Fast forward to this year when I decided to make another remix out of it to celebrate it's 5th anniversary and upgraded the tempo and additional percussion to Samba levels. Viva Brasilia! ;)

Ahmed Sirour's "Move Love (Samba House Remix)"

https://ahmedsirour.com/album/1770716/xl

Opening track from my most recent album release, 'XL', and entitled so as an opener to one's day; a way to get started on the right foot and be grateful to be alive and claim the day a success from the very beginning...a new day we are fortunate to see! Oh, and the album was released on my bday (22 FEB) so that was the other reason behind the song title, and the album title, in Roman numerals, for my milestone bday reached ;)

Purchase here: https://ahmedisthemusic.bandcamp.com/album/xl

This New Day (Gratitude)

https://ahmedsirour.com/album/1774401/black-sun

On Monday, August 21st, 2017, the United States of America, only, will witness its first total solar eclipse in nearly a century. On this same day, I am releasing my next album called Black Sun. It's a concept album based on the Past, Present, and Future of  people of African descent/the African Diaspora, and a call to action to humanity, in general. In this intro track, I'm calling out the history of the American empire, built on the backs, watered with the blood/sweat/tears, and made rich off the countless bodies of enslaved people whose descendants in the 21st century still live as second class citizens and now increasingly are facing what can only understood to be a racial genocide ethnic cleansing at the hands of police brutality killing Black people with impunity and getting away with it virtually every time (you see the news every day, so I don't need to cite the many names that have become hashtags), while politicians and civic leaders then call for peace right after when the community decides to react.

This particular story is obviously nothing new to many...hell, the James Baldwin speech I chose was from 52 years ago, in 1965, and it sounds as if he's speaking about today in 2017. But my contention is that the only way forward is sankofa...learn from the Past, ACT (not simply react) in the Present to bring about actual and positive changes in the immediate and distant Future. As for my album, I will be releasing a new snippet every Monday, starting from today, until the Monday of the album release/total eclipse. During that time each week, for those of you on this list, I will attempt to provide you with the full advance tracks (if/whenever available as I'm still in production as we speak).

This new moon eclipse marks a dramatic new beginning and revolution, I believe, and how appropriate that America will all stand still and stare up at the sky, in awe of the coming Black Sun.


Ahmed

Black Sun

"We Built This" (intro to BLACK SUN album)

The song featured in Episode 2 (Season 1) of the Netflix reboot of "She's Gotta Have It" (a Spike Lee Joint), debuting on U.S. Thanksgiving Day (23 November, 2017). https://www.netflix.com/title/80117554

This was originally a concept inspired by Bill Lee's "We Love Roll Call", which was featured as part of the score for Spike Lee's classic, "Do the Right Thing", where Senior Love Daddy (aka Samuel L. Jackson) was listing talented Black entertainers over this dope instrumental piece that Bill Lee composed.

I recreated the concept and took over the speaking duties, and wrote new original lyrics including listing a some of Brooklyn's best Black artists from various eras, as well as incorporating the help of talented vocalist, Michelle Thompson, who beautifully sang the hook and bridge to create..."We Rep Brooklyn"! Funny enough, this was a song I made on a whim to be included in the final project for my Masters course back in 2009.

As a Brooklyn native and long-time fan of Spike Lee films, you can imagine how surreal this is to me, let alone getting a phone call from the man himself letting me know that my song was officially chosen for this project!! :) You just never know what will become of the work that you create because everything seems to have a time and purpose that can extend beyond the moment you intended it for...obviously ;)

We Rep Brooklyn

We Rep Brooklyn - Ahmed Sirour (in Episode 2 of SHE'S GOTTA HAVE IT)

FREE download of this remix at: https://ahmedsirour.com/track/2537090/dreams-solange-ahmed-sirour-lucid-remix

So, Solange drops this surprise album, 'When I Get Home' (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/when-i-get-home/1454595364), and upon reaching track no.7, entitled "Dreams", I immediately knew I wanted to remix it. It had subtle movements in it so I decided to accentuate them and make more pronounced...Lucid 😉 (added keys, drums, bass, synth pads, percussion, lead synths, editing, mixing, and mastering). 

Intro - Duke Ellington explaining how he dreams

1st movement - jazz/swing

2nd movement - r&b/soul

3rd movement - deep house/soul house

Don't know how long IG will allow this to stay up (Youtube wouldn't even let it post) so enjoy it while it remains and @saintrecords, if do you take a listen, hopefully you'll enjoy a variation of your beautiful original 😊

Solange - Dreams (Ahmed Sirour Lucid Remix)

FREE download at: https://ahmedsirour.com/track/2537121/gettin-jiggy-wit-it-will-smith-ahmed-sirour-remix

Was in a bit of a creative rut. Decided to give myself random challenge. Searched my mind to find someone to test myself on. For some reason beyond my understanding I chose Will Smith's currently 22-year-old crossover Rap/Pop hit, "Gettin' Jiggy With It", wondered if I could make it sound more old school and underground, found the acapella of it posted on YouTube, and then just went to work and let my soul guide me with what to add to it.

Ingredients below...

*sped it up from 108 to 112 bpm
*sampled "It Takes Two" from Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock (who sampled from "Think About It" by Lynn Collins and James Brown
*sampled "Blues and Pants" by James Brown
*Added Bobby Byrd on the hook from "Get On Up/Into It/Involved" by James Brown
*added new percussion, kicks, and breaks
*edited, mixed, mastered

Et voila! Enjoy!

And if you hear this Will, I hope you like ;)

Will Smith - Gettin Jiggy With It (Ahmed Sirour Remix)

Please help yourself to a FREE copy at: https://ahmedsirour.com/track/2537590/a-beat-supreme-john-coltrane-flipped and just enter "$0" when checking out to download this track :)

I think I had as much fun redesigning this iconic album cover as I did flipping this classic–"A Love Supreme: the Acknowledgement Part1"–to make this beat. It's one of my all-time favorite jazz songs...period!

Hey, I don't take lightly what it seems like to dare touch this beautiful, spiritual, sacred song, but I hope this opens the ears of those, especially the younger generation, who wouldn't ordinarily listen to John Coltrane or discover his legacy and how he is essential to the DNA of Hip Hop, let alone modern music, period...especially when he created this masterpiece 55 years ago, from today, on December 9th, 1964 (FYI, the track is exactly 5min and 5sec to commemorate the 55th anniversary of this prolific recording...a little thing I sneaked in if y'all didn't notice ;)

I hope you enjoy my beatmaking/Hip Hop flip of one of the greatest [Jazz] songs ever created!

A Beat Supreme

"A Beat Supreme (John Coltrane flipped)" - Ahmed Sirour

FREE download of FULL track at: https://ahmedsirour.bandzoogle.com/track/2537089/don-t-stop-til-you-get-enough-ahmed-sirour-remix

The BEST REMIX OF THIS SONG EVER!!! Prove me wrong!! lol

Don't Stop Till You Get Enough (Ahmed Sirour Remix) snippet

FREE DOWNLOAD: https://ahmedsirour.bandzoogle.com/track/2537047/1960-what-ahmed-sirour-remix (enter "0" at checkout).

For those of you who don't know, the numbers in yellow signify the 155th anniversary of #Juneteenth. #AbrahamLincoln's famous #EmancipationProclamation that was meant to free the enslaved #Africans in #America, on January 1st, 1863, didn't fully become enforced for all enslaved people until June 19th, 1865 (over 2 and a half years later), when Union soldiers marched into Galveston, TX to enforce the law where there were still resistors/holdouts, and to announce to the enslaved that Slavery was officially abolished and they were now free, thus "Jubilee Day" or "Juneteenth" was born.

Fast forward 155 years later and not only are we in the middle of a global #pandemic but also a global protest against #inequality & #racist #policebrutality & murders of #Blackpeople...still. Ironically, US police are directly evolved from #SlavePatrols, who were the first police, so it's no surprise that not much has changed in their history except weaponry and tactics.

As for this song, #1960What?, I've been wanting to remix it since I first heard it in 2010 on #GregoryPorter's debut album; it's the perfect song that I feel reflects what is happening now, which is like a mirror reflecting movements of the past merging themselves into our own era...same as this #remix. I merged elements of the past including a clip of #ErnieChambers (a then barber, but currently a Nebraska state senator) laying down some hard truths from a 1966 documentary, then samples from the late/great #FelaKuti's 1976 classic, "Zombie", then a sample from a 2004 remix of that same Fela song by the legendary UK #Brokenbeat crew, #BugzIntheAttic (whose version had Wunmi singing Fela's parts), then using a DIY a cappella I made of Mr. Porter's vocals, and then adding my own 2020 updates with new percussion, synth bass, keys, breaks, and a soundclip of #protestors from a #BlackLivesMatter march in Seattle, WA that rhythmically fit perfectly.

I hope you not only vibe and dance to this, but that you take in the significance of what is being said and the time in which we live ✊🏾

#georgefloyd #breonnataylor #rayshardbrooks #atatianajefferson #ahmaudarbery #blackmusicmonth #soul #afrobeat  #africanmusic #ahmedsirour #ahmedsirourremix

Gregory Porter - 1960 What? (Ahmed Sirour Remix)

#AllWoman (#AhmedSirourRemix) feat #Nndi ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻 🙋🏿‍♀️🙋🏾‍♀️🙋🏽‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️

#AVAILABLENOW now at www.glow-music.com and all major music platforms (#streaming and #downloading)!

Although there were many great songs to choose from GLOW music's #TenofDiamonds album to #remix, I chose 'All Woman' not simply because I was enamored by Nndi's (pronounced nahn-dee) voice, but I knew I wanted to work with this song that uplifted #women. As the son of a single mother who sacrificed so much so that I could grow to be a good human being and man with purpose in this life, and as the benefactor of so many great women who have helped to shape my life to that end, I also chose this song for that reason. It's especially poignant to release this song as a woman now sits in the seat of power as #KamalaHarris is the first female vice president of the United States, and #PresidentBiden owes much of his election success to #Blackwomen, especially. And there are so many women, around the world, who've made so many contributions to the world...I just wanted to create a universal, uptempo version to what is already a well-written and performed song that can be another anthem for this social progression and movement.

#GLOWmusic #AhmedSirour #newmusic #housemusic #deephouse #Nndi #newanthem #imeverywoman #dancemusic #upliftwomen #2021 #blackhistorymonth #newmusicalert #ArchiveRecords #womanpower #womenempowerment

10 of Diamonds - The Remixes Vol. 2

All Woman (Ahmed Sirour remix) feat. Nndi

All Woman (Ahmed Sirour Remix) feat. Nndi [nahn-dee]

THE OFFICIAL SOUNDCLOUD ACCOUNT FOR AHMED SIROUR

Well, after having many tracks on Soundcloud, include various remixes that were up for years without any issue, SC started throwing strikes at me left and right, even with those I had proof I had permission to post, but they decided to take down my former page: (at)22music, inclusive of the thousands of wonderful followers who've joined me over the years.

So now I start back from the very beginning, the ground up, and hopefully many of you will find me again as well as newcomers who are hearing my work for the first time--and this time it will only be MY original work (or remixes that are verified)! lol Either way, I hope you take yet another journey again with me as I push the envelope with even more music, more positive vibrations, and more influences from around the world as I infuse my travels into my sounds...

Ahmed Sirour

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