warning: this music may cause extreme sexual excitability. an eclectic mix of everything that is one part vernon, one part logic, two parts yohimbe, and 3 parts the future. do not try and dance under the influence unless you are influenced. do not complain that the record is hard to explain. unless you can explain it yourself.
yohimbe::: an african root used to enhance male sexual performance. it has been termed the natural viagra and can be found at health and natural food stores.
brothers::: both brothers were founding members of the black rock coalition as their respective black rock marched through the early 1990’s: vernon reid as the leader of living colour and dj logic with eye and i. the guitar-playing brother from brooklyn would often play hooky with the dj from the bronx as the two began to experiment with sound when nobody was looking. it soon became a secret that everybody knew about as the relationship was brought public in various formations, including the seminal nyc bands masque and my science project. front end lifter::: has been in the works for over a decade as psychedelic space-age mix tape bachelor music with a twist, spanning all musical genres to create some truly new shit. the record and tour drop september 14th. get ready.
vernon reid::: while most of the world knows him as the leader of the pioneering multi-platinum rock band living colour, mr. reid’s well runs much deeper: from his formative years on new york’s downtown scene with ronald shannon jackson’s decoding society, to his collaborations with creative spirits ranging from guitarist carlos santana to african singer salif keita - both nominated for grammys; choreography scores produced for bill t. jones and donald byrd, to his production work for james blood ulmer (memphis blood: the sun sessions, 2001), vernon is always burning the musical candle at both ends. while both of his solo projects (mistaken identity which released an album for sony/550 in 1996 and my science project) satisfied the urge of hardcore fans for more vernon, nothing will bring a smile to their faces faster than this: living colour released a new album in the fall of 2003 called collideoscope.
dj logic::: in 1974, jason kibler, a/k/a dj logic, was born in the bronx around the same time as hip-hop. he has been playing live turntables with working bands since 1990 when, at 16, he was signed to sony/550 as a member of the seminal funk band eye and i. a founding member of the black rock coalition, logic’s long resume includes tours and recordings with jazz, rock and experimental groups including medeski martin and wood, living colour, don byron, joshua redman, john scofield, teo macero, karl denson, ratdog, the dirty dozen brass band, christian mcbride, dj spooky, dj olive, string cheese incident, marc ribot, anti-pop consortium and countless others. logic was the first dj to perform at the prestigious jvc jazz festival and has done remixes for everyone from phish to government mule. his own band project logic has toured the world over and continues to be a powerhouse in the u.s. logic has two solo cds, both on the ropeadope/atlantic label: 1999’s presents project logic and 2001’s the anomaly.
Front End Lifter - Drawing on their many musical obsessions, Black Rock Coalition founders Vernon (Living Colour) Reid and DJ Logic have teamed up to present a very potent blend of hip-hop, electronica, circus music, blues and soul, dub reggae, and, as is to be expected, full-tilt rock & roll. Front End Lifter offers a fresh set of eclectic vibes that will especially please folks who long for a return to progressiveness on the dance floor. Songs such as the "Secret Agent Man"-like "Ponk" and the African-inflected "Tenemental" explore the trip-hop end of the spectrum, while "Bamalamb," driven by a gritty harmonica riff, mines the '70s blaxploitation era for inspiration. New York underground performer Latasha N. Diggs weaves her sexy vocals through the blistering "Psychopathia Mojosexualis," while the all-star cast of Prince Paul, Slick Rick, Corey Glover, and BRC stalwart Greg Tate add major flavor to the goofy "6996 (Club Yohimbe)," a tune that plays as a satisfying combination of both Digital Underground's "Doowutchyalike" and "Humpty Dance."
The Tao of Yo is the Yohimbe Brothers' second record together and their partnership has evolved into an assault of sounds and styles that defy genre. They have crafted a musical tour de force employing guitar and DJ work into a cohesive and monumental package of riffs and beats. Inherent in this package is a thought provoking collage of ideas and visions that engage the listener, and question the conventions of modern thought, as well as the conventions of music itself. This album also contains a very clear political undertone, so it's timely and fitting that this record should come during this supercharged election year. Added to the mix is an essential group of guest vocalists (Latasha Nevada Diggs, Taylor McFerren) and rappers (Traz, Bos Omega) who have contributed their own unique vision and sensibilities to bring this project to the next level. The end result is nothing short of explosive. The team at good and evil had no small part in this listening experience, incorporating a real sense of cohesion to this very thoughtful and diverse album.
The Remixes (click link for itunes) - This 12" is taken from the album “The Tao of Yo” the Yohimbe Brothers second record together. Clearly, the partnership of Vernon Reid and DJ Logic has evolved into an assault of sounds and styles that defy genre. They have crafted a musical tour de force, employing guitar and DJ work into a cohesive and monumental package of riffs and beats.
Combining the stellar production values of DJ Logic and GoodandEvil, “The Remixes” is a laser sharp retooling of this dancehall modern classic. Its sure to shake the dance floor with a sound and sensibility rarely heard. Changing gears Thirty Spokes features a laid back hip-hop groove complimented by the rarely heard acoustic guitar of Vernon Reid.
