Music
Press
With AfroPhysics there's no box. No tracks. No train. They've taken hip hop and music as a whole back to its roots. Something the mainstream industry are so keen to dissolve. Music when it was more than something to float aimlessly around the room and occasionally brush against our minds and hearts but completely ignoring our souls.
AfroPhysics equal freedom. The Truthsayers EP provides a collection of tapestries, oil paintings, graffiti and sculptures; presenting art in its most versatile, free flowing hiphopalicious form. Altogether creating a magnum opus.
The mintest thing about AfroPhysics is that they create no separation between music and life. Between stage and floor. Performers and audience. Beats and bus stops. As heard in 'School Days Part 2', which has an addictively personal flow to it. Aiwan's meticulous deliverance will make many of today’s gangster rappers bow their heads in shame. For two reasons, one, because she is fully aware that what she says into the mike comes out of the speakers, and two, because she makes us feel the need to ask these other spengs - why the hell do you feel the need to shout for? Ain't you got a mike mate?! - www.britishhiphop.co.uk
With AfroPhysics there's no box. No tracks. No train. They've taken hip hop and music as a whole back to its roots. Something the mainstream industry are so keen to dissolve. Music when it was more than something to float aimlessly around the room and occasionally brush against our minds and hearts but completely ignoring our souls.
AfroPhysics equal freedom. The Truthsayers EP provides a collection of tapestries, oil paintings, graffiti and sculptures; presenting art in its most versatile, free flowing hiphopalicious form. Altogether creating a magnum opus.
The mintest thing about AfroPhysics is that they create no separation between music and life. Between stage and floor. Performers and audience. Beats and bus stops. As heard in 'School Days Part 2', which has an addictively personal flow to it. Aiwan's meticulous deliverance will make many of today’s gangster rappers bow their heads in shame. For two reasons, one, because she is fully aware that what she says into the mike comes out of the speakers, and two, because she makes us feel the need to ask these other spengs - why the hell do you feel the need to shout for? Ain't you got a mike mate?! - www.britishhiphop.co.uk
Conscious lyrics? A live band laying down funky Afro-beat sounds? That's right - it's hip-hop fusion time everyone! The Fela/ Femi Kuti influences are clear in Leeds' Afrophysics' sound and not in a bad way as they snatch the genre from the failing grasp of Ozomatli, adding a more 'street' edge and a sussed frontwoman along the way. Aiwan (that's 'I-Wan') both raps and sings and although a British accent sounds unusual over this kind of backing it works – especially the rapping which kind of made me think what Bahamadia might sound like if she were from the UK. Overall, The EP has a solid organic bass sound and nice melodic vocal hooks as a musical platform for songs that explore social issues. First track Destiny has a rocky edge to it's afro-funkiness though there's something a bit 'early-nineties' about it that I can't quite place my finger on. School Days sounds like upbeat acoustic ska played by Brazilians and finds Aiwan reflecting on how the formative nature of her – er - school days, while AP Freeform Afrobeat comes on like the light-hearted instrumental prelude to an evening of Santeria chicken-slaughtering. It's second track 1-2 & 3's rockier stop-startiness that really brings it though – grooving like an afro-centric Luscious Jackson with subdued rapped verses and soaring chorus. Oh and they generously bung on remixes of both Destiny and 1-2 & 3 too. Consequently - if you like to throw one out, AND going to WOMAD you'll be all over this - but even if you don't - you might quite like it anyway.
Out 30 June 2007. - Monkeyboxing
Conscious lyrics? A live band laying down funky Afro-beat sounds? That's right - it's hip-hop fusion time everyone! The Fela/ Femi Kuti influences are clear in Leeds' Afrophysics' sound and not in a bad way as they snatch the genre from the failing grasp of Ozomatli, adding a more 'street' edge and a sussed frontwoman along the way. Aiwan (that's 'I-Wan') both raps and sings and although a British accent sounds unusual over this kind of backing it works – especially the rapping which kind of made me think what Bahamadia might sound like if she were from the UK. Overall, The EP has a solid organic bass sound and nice melodic vocal hooks as a musical platform for songs that explore social issues. First track Destiny has a rocky edge to it's afro-funkiness though there's something a bit 'early-nineties' about it that I can't quite place my finger on. School Days sounds like upbeat acoustic ska played by Brazilians and finds Aiwan reflecting on how the formative nature of her – er - school days, while AP Freeform Afrobeat comes on like the light-hearted instrumental prelude to an evening of Santeria chicken-slaughtering. It's second track 1-2 & 3's rockier stop-startiness that really brings it though – grooving like an afro-centric Luscious Jackson with subdued rapped verses and soaring chorus. Oh and they generously bung on remixes of both Destiny and 1-2 & 3 too. Consequently - if you like to throw one out, AND going to WOMAD you'll be all over this - but even if you don't - you might quite like it anyway.
Out 30 June 2007. - Monkeyboxing
AfroPhysics deliver a fresh fusion of rap, rock and soul, that is unique to UK Hip-Hop today. Plus in MC Aiwan, they not only have a fine rapper but a true lyricist and street poet!
Lubi Jovanovic
(Straight No Chaser Magazine)
- Straight No Chaser
AfroPhysics deliver a fresh fusion of rap, rock and soul, that is unique to UK Hip-Hop today. Plus in MC Aiwan, they not only have a fine rapper but a true lyricist and street poet!
Lubi Jovanovic
(Straight No Chaser Magazine)
- Straight No Chaser
AfroPhysics drop live science and lyrical wisdom fo yo ass - dope shit yo!
Kid Kanevil
(First Word)
- First Word Records
AfroPhysics drop live science and lyrical wisdom fo yo ass - dope shit yo!
Kid Kanevil
(First Word)
- First Word Records
Discography
'Voodoo Remix' - The Manageable Chunks EP - C-Side Trax (2005).
'The AP EP : Truthsayers' - Daganorious Productions (2007) - being played on Radio 1 Xtra and HHBradio
'These Streets' - Stop the Violence Movement UK (2008) - currently on rotation on MTV Base, you can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b564KFMelI&feature=PlayList&p=3623B7340EDC352C&index=0
'Untitled Album' - Due for release (2008/2009) -Record Deal currently being negotiated.
Photos
Bio
AfroPhysics (aka AP, The Physics etc) formed in 2002 by two music lovers, one who loved the groove and the live elements and the other who loved the spoken word, good songwriting and Bounce.
It's safe to say that the resulting mix of intense layering and fusion, driving rhythms and intense lyrics have helped build a solid national and international fan base.
Influenced heavily by the rhythms and essence of the great Afrobeat gods; Fela Kuti, Femi and Seun Kuti (a very fine family). The lyricism of Talib Kweli, Common, KRS-One, Double D Dagger, Kano, Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill et al. The lively live nature of N*E*R*D*, The Roots, Dead Prez and Breaking the Illusion, Testament/Kid Kanevil. And finally the depth of such vocalists as, Saul Williams, Oscar Brown Jr., Erykah Badu, Eddie Veder, Jeff Buckley et al.
Fusion would be a nice little tag to put on the AP package, but we also layer our sounds; one track might start with a gentle vocal riff and build layer by layer until complete sonic fullness is achieved another track might truly fuse rock with rap and soul. It's all good and it's all in the spirit of the 21st century where 'to try is to know'.
There have been many Hip-Hop bands but AP differs in a few ways: First off AP is fronted by a female rapper/singer/songwriter, who writes, runs and produces for AfroPhysics! Second the line-up isn't your standard - it's purely guitar based, no samplers, no Rhodes etc. we get all our sounds with our instruments. Third it's the only Hip-Hop band that successfully combines genres without sounding like it's dominated by anyone genre in particular and finally all the songs work in the acoustic arena, AP represents Acoustic Hip-Hop like they were its ambassadors, the arrangements go further than just three 16 bar raps and a chorus - !
AfroPunk is good for me!
Links
