The Jim Crow Jackson Experiment

Words are the verbal instruments we use to examine life. Without them, it’s difficult to express our needs, wants, desires and dreams. So when words fueled with emotions are put to music, one can’t help but to pay attention. Amp Truth Records’ latest project, “Dasan Ahanu and Picasso presents The Jim Crow Jackson Experiment”, is one such pairing. The project features Amp Truth Records’ spoken word artist, Dasan Ahanu, and music producer, Picasso. “The Jim Crow Jackson Experiment is somewhat of a preview to our upcoming solo projects,” says Dasan Ahanu. “It allows me to be edgier and reach a different audience and affords Picasso the opportunity to take more chances with his music”. You may be saying to yourself, I heard of these guys before. Maybe it’s because, Dasan is one of the most prolific spoken word artists to emerge out of North Carolina in recent years, or maybe it’s from his numerous appearances on News & Notes’ “Poetry Corner” segment on NPR. Picasso, on the other hand, is best known in the indie Hip-Hop scene for the standout track, Splash’s “Another Day” featuring Jean Grae, off the 2005 Amp Truth Records release, The Ripple Effect, or maybe it’s from his work with NC emcees Edgar Allan Floe and J. Bully.

The name, Jim Crow, has strong emotional ties not only to America’s turbulent history but also to the home state of Dasan Ahanu and Picasso, North Carolina. “We chose to name the project, The Jim Crow Experiment”, because we felt that the absurd divisions that existed between whites and blacks during the Jim Crow Era are somewhat similar to the absurd ones that exist between rappers and spoken word artists now,” says Picasso. We’re trying to breakdown those boundaries while still staying true to both sides.” But Picasso does admit that, “working with a spoken word artist was definitely an experience. It turned out to be more difficult than expected. I’m used to an on-cadence, on-beat type of flow from rappers. But I had to understand that, that’s not the norm with spoken word artists...and that’s what really made this project an experiment”. The historical and emotional importance of that era is not at all lost on Dasan and Picasso, “the legacy of Jim Crow is definitely touched on throughout the album,” states Dasan. “Growing up in North Carolina, you knew about The Wilmington Ten and The Greensboro Sit-ins, these events and others have made an indelible impression on my life and unconsciously comes out in my work.”

The Jim Crow Jackson Experiment offers the worlds of spoken word and rap something fresh and innovative. Though, Dasan and Picasso don’t claim to be Hip-Hop’s saviors, they both agree that this project shouldn’t be slept on. The first single, “It’s So Good” featuring L.E.G.A.C.Y., proves to be an impressive forecast of brilliance to come. Dasan Ahanu and Picasso presents The Jim Crow Jackson Experiment is a force to be reckoned with and it’s only the beginning.