Afro Futurism & Ras G
‘Dub -verb, to make space – COLDCUT A-Z
Remember this track?
When I first heard and watched this video I knew I had come across something cosmic. Something bigger & more striking to any other the song or video I can recall watching at that time. I loved the colours & surreal animation.
This was my first introduction to Afro-Futurism music- the black man’s perspective of science in the future.
Listen up! Lose one sense to finely tune another sense. Time to rely on imagination & see what visuals come up. It’s strange how certain sounds can bring up emotions to identify. I find it harder to identify emotions without a visual. Another post for another time.
This was on my first introduction to Ras G & the Afrikan space program.
I was intrigued by Africa’s space program. Do they have one?
Yes, they do.
More than I thought
South Africa & Nigeria are the few countries who have an actual Afronaut. Yes, there are afronauts.
Edward Makuka Nkoloso Initiated a space program involving a lady and two cats travelling to the moon
Sadly, he did not raise the £7 million to achieve his dream.
I have a dream – Martin Luther King.
Not even Martin’s homies believed that they would ever have a civil right to be a black human being.
Dreams are only goals with no structure.
Knowledge and education and an open mind led to a group of thoughts to come together, united by challenging their beliefs about who they were & what they wanted. THINK TANK often turns into a WAR TANK
We don’t look agree with slavery, do we?
Slaves accepted that they couldn’t achieve what was not even a dream.
Add in a spark of hope and Edwards space program involving sending
two cats to Mars shows me- a man using the tools he has. Logistics are subject to change.
I definitely recommend checking out his Back on the planet album too. (2009)
Though to be honest, I didn’t warm to the entire album initially. I had to get in the zone ( haha!)
I had an invitation to textural soundscapes that put me out of my comfort zone. Change? Never!
Open your ears
open your mind philosophy
Let’s take a trip somewhere
You are not in control.
This thought-
Instructions: Just, let go
Led me to listen again & again.
I admire Ras G’s execution of pushing the boundaries of the sound of all his cultural roots.
The Cosmic vocal samples maintain the essence of Soul & Hip-hop. He creates extraterrestrial sounds revelling in traditional Dub & reggae.
I feel this album is a triumph in not defining itself anything than an exploration of the space between what we hear & what I believe
It is a musical philosophy. The core idea demonstrates the scattering soundscape of the global communities of Africa.
Ras G adapts the essence of ‘ never forgetting to understand our roots & to grow, breathe new life into old traditions.
Invent new traditions. Be playful.
I think to the know the future you need to know where you come from.
To have self-identity -exploration evolves from the seed of History.
Science creates miracles & monsters created by man. People over the history of our lifetime have done atrocious acts in the name of Acquisition of power & wealth. The cost is humanity.
The cost is a barren crop.
Nurture Life
Mother nature
This album is or dedication to the Afro-futurism genre.
“The womb is The Stargate of Humanity,” he says. “Stargate Music is a record that I livicated to the Womb-man … to the Vagina, The Stargate from which beings emanate life on this planet. I gathered these sound pieces and presented them as a reflection of the life cycle of beings on this planet.”
RAS G AND THE AFRIKAN SPACE PROGRAM – BACK ON THE PLANET (2017
Ras G is an abstract thinker. I’m closer to understanding what he is doing with music- genres & sub-genres. I’m surprised & impressed. I suggest listening to this album & getting a new perspective.
What’s the worst that can happen?
You don’t like it?
You find out something new about life?
Or yourself?
Los Angeles based music producer Ras G ( Gregory shorter Junior) & the African space program passed away on 06/08/2109. The is a cause of death is not fully know
He travelled in his mind & I had an invite. Stream of consciousness is my preferred style of travelling.
What is afro-futurism in music culture?
Afrofuturism: reimagining science and the future from a black perspective. … In the way that film noir functions as a genre, or jazz as a musical style, Afrofuturism are a philosophy that can be simultaneously obvious and vague in its identity, bounded and porous in its edges.
Once I started researching into Ras G & Afro-Futurism I’m immersed in researching it outside of music too.
An intriguing article to read is CULTURE: Afrofuturism reimagining science & the future from a black perspective
A few well-known Afrofuturism artists are
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Afrika Bambaataa
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Outkast
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Flying Lotus – Tribute –The last time I saw Ras G// Black Heaven ft. Ras_G
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I love this statement below because life is colourful -Black & White shades, not hues.
Music can make you engage & think.
Afro-futurism is evidently more than a style or genre of music it is an ideology. It has been noted that Afro-futurism dismissed and challenged the idea that all things futuristic are white or even black.
The album is abstract & challenging without being overly nostalgic.
There are often many moments when the soundscape or rhythm propels my emotions to flit between the past & the future. The journey is Marvel -esque.
Black Panther!
Posted on Aug 4, 2020, in MUSIC BLOG and tagged Afro Futurism, Emotions, MUSIC BLOG, music culture, philosophy, Ras G, science fiction genre. Bookmark the permalink. 18 Comments.
Hey, I remember this post and the comments we had.
How are you my friend?
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Busy! and how are you? Check out my Artist profile on Ghostown & my Feature on their new album. https://daisyinthewillows.com/2020/08/03/artist-profile-ghostown-part-one/. and https://daisyinthewillows.com/2020/08/03/bank-of-sounds-feature-ghostown/.
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I’m currently following the page. 🙂 I will check it out.
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I love Ras G, & Flying Lotus. I have both their CD’s. Intellectual musicians they are. 🙂
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Yeah, flying lotus are cool . Do you like Aphex twin?
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I love Aphex Twin. I listen to a lot of underground obscure Techno music/noise.
I have 5 albums from Aphex twin including their EP.
What about you?
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WOW! Yeah, I’m more of a fan of his ambient works. His Collapse T69 video blew my mind! I have a friend who is mad about APHEX & he’s slowly made me appreaciate more of his music.
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Yes. Aphex Twin is genius and he continues to push many boundaries in the music underground community.
I have many and I mean many electronic bands I’d like to introduce you to…but I’ll have to post this list someday on my blog post. 🙂 It’s super-duper long…
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Indeed. I have so many to introduce to you too! lol We will have to sort soemthing out – maybe on here lol I want to start doing feature interviews on poets ( I’ve started doing interviews with musicians of all kinds. You would be awesome to interview, if you don’t mind that sort of thing -ha ha!
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I don’t mind at all. Just let me know when. I’ll let you know of my schedule and try to fit the time. 🙂
How is everything treating you? How’s life love treating you?
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I’m doing life ha ha! No it’s all good & it is also a crazy life I live. We do what we have to do . Lol I’ve got your email. Cool Well, I’ll put something together soon. Busy trying to move house atm.groan… such a ball ache! And all is well with you ?
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Yep, life keeps at of us very busy.
Everything is well on my end. 🙂
Well, hope to hear from you soon. 🙂
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I’m up to my ears trying to get a podcast going. I will pay a visit to your blog soon
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Just so you know…my friend Jason and I, released an EP of electronic/spoken word. 🙂
You are creating a podcast? That’s awesome. Congratulations. 🙂
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I read it! Love it!
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Interesting music
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Glad you like it. Hope all is Well?
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