Creme De La Ultra

Crème De La ULTRA . . .
the best of the beyond

Within the elusive world of independent music, the range of talent is infinite. There are indie artists who purposely shy away from the mainstream in order to fill the creative void and lack of honest expression in the corporate pop music of today. Yet there are those who manage to creep to the forefront while upholding the indie code of nonconformity.

“I don't care much about music. What I like are sounds.”
-Dizzy Gillespie

A musical pioneer and jazz innovator of the 1950's and America’s first Jazz Ambassador, Gillespie’s words remains relevant today, especially for those who choose the path of independent music. As Crème De La ULTRA maestro Anas Canon puts it, “we don't think of a target or specific genre when we write songs because you end up thinking in a box.” In a flooded music industry which seems to be stuck at a capitalistic and technological fork in the road, thinking outside of “the box” is the whole idea.

Producer Anas Canon, founder & artistic director of the indie hip hop label Remarkable Current, and Azeem, one of the SF Bay Area's celebrated wordsmiths (who prefers the terms songwriter or lyricist to describe his craft), have united forces to create the super group known as Crème De La ULTRA . . . the best of the beyond . . .

Azeem began his career writing songs for another Bay Area legend Michael Franti. Azeem was ranked 2nd in the Nation as a slam poet under the alias Invisible Man, and has a list of critically acclaimed releases known to the many connoisseurs of rare underground hip hop.

There are no contrived political manifestos here. In the true spirit of the independent movement, Crème De La ULTRA's only focus is creativity itself. When asked to describe the new collaboration Azeem jokingly opted to quote French poet and novelist Jean Cocteau-

"An artist cannot speak about his art anymore than a plant can discuss horticulture. Sometimes you don't have to think too much. Just imagine and take notes…”

“Exactly,” Says producer DJ Anas Canon, “The idea of alternative music is about creating an alternate reality or fictional universe then making it real..”