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 Culture & identity, Humans, Music, New Music Finds. Bookmark the permalink. 19 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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