New album 'The Phantom Five' out August 30.

Brother Ali has no reservations in saying that he’s “trying to be one of the greatest of all time” (on the Molemen track “Life Sentence”). Inspired by golden era legends like KRS-One and Rakim, this undisputed Master of Ceremony began rapping as a means of survival. 

Growing up albino (colorless hair, skin and eyes, poor vision, and extreme sensitivity to the sun) in a world of cruel kids made it strikingly obvious to Ali that he needed a high-powered way to earn some respect and prestige among his peers. As a result, ever since elementary school he hasn’t slowed down with his lyrical grind. In his rare moments of silence these days, if you catch his eyes, you’ll notice that this Minneapolis denizen is rapping in his head. For Ali, hip-hop doesn’t stop when he exits the studio or stage.

Around the turn of the millennium, Rhymesayers Entertainment couldn’t overlook Ali’s talent and drive when he submitted his self-produced demo, Rites of Passage. This rare, cassette-only effort features collections of rhymes, poems, and stories that he wove into his live sets. Its release help make him a welcome member of the RSE family alongside Atmosphere, Musab, and Eyedea and Abilities.


DJ / Record label 

CNPY015 Lontra - Money, Money  12" Out Now!

https://linktr.ee/canopyrecords

Out now..

CNPY001 General Ehi Duncan - Africa My No. 1
CNPY002 bosq ft Kaleta - Song For Ehi
CNPY003 Tomede Ehue - Bella Bello 
CNPY004 The Celebrant - Re-Calibrated
CNPY005 Alafia - Assanssan
CNPY006 Kiko Navarro ft Kaleta - Funky Man Dey Sleep
CNPY007 Alafia - The Sam Redmore Reworks
CNPY008-1 OPOLOPO X ALAFIA - AXXANXXAN/AXXIOVE
CNPY008-2 OPOLOPO - AXXANXXAN/AXXIOVE (Instros)
CNPY009 Kiko Navarro - Kéléjé
CNPY010 Poly-Rythmo Reworks
CNPY011 Poly-Rythmo Reworks
CNPY012-2 Joi N'Juno - Samemala
CNPYLP001 Myke Moul - Oppressor LP

CNPYLAP001 London Afrobeat Collective - Esengo LP 
CNPYLAPDIG1 London Afrobeat Collective-Topesa Esengo Na Motema 
CNPYLAPDIG2 London Afrobeat Collective - Freedom (Digital)
CNPYLAPDIG3 London Afrobeat Collective - My Way (Kiko Navarro Remixes) (Digital)

Events

13/10/23 Troyes, France
14/10/23 La Barge, Troyes, France
20/10/23 Strogi Centar, Belgrade, Serbia
21/10/23 Klub Feedback, Niš, Serbia
28/10/23 Malanga Café, Ibiza
15/12/23 Tropical Discoteque, Torino, Italy
29/03/24 Bird Vinyl Bar, Copenhagen
30/03/24 Jolene, Copenhagen
11/05/24 Fiasco, Porto, Portugal

Pitch Black are Michael Hodgson and Paddy Free. Having pumped their way through New Zealand’s electronic music scene since their inaugural performance at the annual Gathering New Year's eve festival in 1996, they have spent the subsequent years rousing dance floor punters, generating rave reviews, winning awards and gaining thousands of fans across the world. 

Hard to box into a single audio 'genre', Pitch Black is a combination of musical journeys. Their sound is distinctive; ranging from organic ambient beginnings and layered soundscapes to skanking keyboards, cutting acid riffs and thumping rhythmic grooves, with dub being the glue that holds their sound together. One critic has described them as like "Orbital meets King Tubby, or Rhythm and Sound in Technicolor". 

It is their live show that really makes Pitch Black stand out from the rest of the crowd, both sonically and visually. Their tracks take on an added dynamism and their performances reveal the dialectic behind the band - Paddy wants to do it for the crowd, Michael wants to do it to the crowd. Visually they are in another dimension thanks to Michael's cutting edge visuals.

They have toured the world relentlessly, playing everywhere from Amsterdam to Zagreb and the streets of Las Vegas to the Australian outback, supporting acts such as Coldcut, Skream, Easy Dub All Stars and System 7 along the way.

NZ Bookings: h (at) strikeagency.co.nz
RoW Bookings: info (at) dubmissionrecords.com

Shapeshifter's new LP "Rituals" is out now 
https://shapeshifter.lnk.to/DPO

for all show info and to stay up to date hit www.shapeshifter.co.nz

geemonkey is following