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GALACTIC IN STUDIO RECORDING HIP-HOP CENTRIC RECORD
ALBUM TO FEATURE COLLABORATIONS WITH MR. LIF, CHALI 2NA
LYRICS BORN
BOOTS RILEY, LATEEF THE TRUTHSPEAKER
GIFT OF GAB, LADYBUG MECCA AND OTHERS
Galactic |
New Orleans funk band Galactic is working on the follow-up to their 2003 release, Ruckus. The band has been co-writing tracks with a variety of vocalists and MCs including Jurassic 5's Chali 2na, Gift of Gab from Blackalicious, Mr. Lif, Lyrics Born, The Coup's Boots Riley, Lateef the Truth Speaker, Ladybug of Digable Planets, and others. In addition, the record will include various New Orleans icons including Mardi Gras Indian Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews.
The hip-hop themed record will meld Galactic's own New Orleans street funk with some of today's most progressive MCs, something the band has experimented with in their live performances. Over the last several years, the group has appeared with the likes of Lyrics Born, Talib Kweli, The Roots, Jurassic 5, and Z-Trip. They also recently backed Juvenile on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
"Everyone in the band listens to a lot of hip-hop" says saxophonist Ben Ellman. "We have always felt there is a natural connection between the New Orleans funk and brass band music that has inspired our sound and the rhythmic aspects of hip-hop. We wanted to push ourselves on this record to do something really different. We felt it would be fun to make an album with some of our favorite MCs with us as a foundation since its always felt great when we've had the opportunity to do it live."
The band is currently considering whether to put the record out on their own imprint or through a label. They are targeting a late summer 2007 release.
About Galactic:
Galactic was formed in the mid-'90s after two Washington, DC, punks relocated to New Orleans and found themselves intoxicated by the scene that nurtured classic funk pioneers such as the Meters, the Neville Brothers and Dr. John. Armed with the rhythmic tradition of their adopted hometown, guitarist Jeff Raines, bassist Robert Mercurio, saxophonist Ben Ellman, keyboardist Rich Vogel, and drummer Stanton Moore have spent over a decade tearing through venues across the world, leaving hordes of die-hard Galactic junkies in their wake. Galactic has created a far-reaching canon—including six albums and countless live performances on their way to establishing themselves as one of the most popular live acts in the U.S.
At home and abroad, the band has appeared with an astonishing range of concert blockbusters including the Dave Matthews Band, The Roots, Jurassic 5, Jack Johnson, Talib Kweli, the Allman Brothers Band, Live, Widespread Panic, B.B. King, Counting Crows and James Brown. Galactic has appeared at many of the world's premier music festivals, including Fuji Rock, Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, Coachella and eight consecutive performances at the New Orleans Jazz Fest. On the road and in the studio, Galactic continue to reinvent themselves, inspiring their ever-growing fan base with ongoing artistic evolution, synthesizing the most thrilling elements of vintage and contemporary styles to keep the party rolling.
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