Baraka Blue & Tyson:: Granada Rap

Baraka Blue on the video shoot for Granada Rap:
"I have shot quite a few music videos but this is the one that sticks out in my mind because of how natural it all came together.  It all began on the 5 hour bus ride from Istanbul to the capital of Turkey, Ankara. We were high off a really dope show with upwards of 10,000 people in the audience and television crews from all over the world.

As we drove away from Istanbul I kept replaying the time we had spent there in my head. The 2,000 year old buildings. The Haga Sofia, the biggest church in all of Christendom, to the Blue Mosque, one of the greatest mosques in the world, to the the sights and smells of the market and the cobblestone alleys of the old city. As everyone else faded to sleep I bumped some of Abdul Malik's beats and this track was born. I spit it for Anas and Ty when we arrived at the hotel and Ty wrote a 16 right on the spot. The freshness of it is that it really captures our time in Istanbul. Its like a verbal snapshot. We recorded the song in Konya, Rumi's hometown, and after our last show there we trekked back to Istanbul for our final day before we departed.

On that last day we decided to hit the streets and shoot a video. We went to the old neighborhood, (the "Naqshabandi hood") and started shooting. Immediately on every street we went to the kids came running when they heard us rapping to the beat. They all wanted to be in the video and listen to us rap. All through the video you see the kids running up and down the street and kicking it with us. Half of the time they were just laughing at us and we were laughing at them trying to understand what each other was saying. Aside from the kids we were able to capture a bit of the life of Istanbul from women walking home with groceries to shaykhs observing the skyline. It was just a dope vibe and we couldn't have made it that fresh if we planned it out. We got so much love from the people of Turkey that I want to give a shout-out to everybody there. Big up Turkey! I hope you all enjoy."

Yours Truly,
Baraka Blue

Come As You Are

Baraka Blue teamed up with Tyson and 114 from Germany for the video "Come As You Are" shot on location by DJ Anas Canon in Turkey during their tour in 2009, when the Turkish Government invited Remarkable Current to perform twice for their 4th Annual International Orphans' Get Together and tour the country as cultural ambassadors, representing the United States. Their multi-city tour of Turkey for the International Orphans’ Get Together was a smashing success at an oversold 4500 seat auditorium.  The performances aired live on over 145 TV channels and 53 radio stations across Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. The tour also included visits to Parliament and meetings with the Ministry of Culture.  In between the performances, RC artists were sent on outings with the orphans and visited schools for workshops in several cities.

Tyson, 114, Baraka Blue & DJ Anas Canon while on tour in Turkey

Congo Square New Release: Super Power

Poetic Pilgrimage & DJ Anas Canon = Congo Square

Congo Square - 'Super Power' by remarkablecurrent

Back Stage Pass Diaries:: Concert After Party

"Weld-Michel graced the Remarkable Current "After Party"
with a song in the lobby of the cultural center in Tunis. 
The crowd from Remarkable Current's concert hung out
in the lobby after the show . . . photos, t-shirt give-a-ways,
autographs, beat boxing and
spontaneous acoustic jams went on for hours."  -Tracy, Tour Manager





"A Young Man's Spark"
with Weld-Michel singing the Bridge: Here  


Dancers took over the stage during RC's encore at the Cultural Center in Tunis, home to Remarkable Current's
1st show on the tour.

Congo Square: From Funk to Hip Hop

     

Enjoy the DJ Anas Canon & Poetic Pilgrimage Congo Square
interview in this Elan Magazine Feature by Hyacinth Mascarenhas

VIEW ON YOUTUBE: "A Young Man's Spark"

This mural honoring Mohamed Bouazizi
was spotted in the
Mission District of San Francisco, California!

FREE DOWNLOAD: A Young Man's Spark by Anas Canon

Recording "A Young Man's Spark" in the studio in Tunisia.

Anas Canon-A Young Man's Spark(Bouzaizi)Ft. Nizar TMan,Creme De La Ultra,Weld-Michel,Empire & Kumasi by remarkablecurrent

Back Stage Pass Diaries:: Mark Ultra On The Road

"What I noticed about Azeem, aka Mark Ultra (of Creme De La Ultra), while on tour in Tunisia, was his uncanny ability to blend into any scene and appear to be a local.  Whether he was kicking it at one of the beach front resorts on the Mediterranean, chilling in the staff lounge at the Radio Mosaique, or having a cup of tea in one of many sidewalk cafés, he always looked like he belonged.  And somehow when rapping on stage in front of a zillion kids who were practically slam dancing as he whipped them into a frenzy, beneath the blaring rock-star stage lights . . . he belonged there too.  Where ever he goes, there he is.  I dig that about a person."  -Tracy Curry, Hip Hop Ambassador's Tour Manager (and often photographer & videographer - except when Logan Grime is on the scene)

"The Tunisian artists were like brothers from day one. So recording the song felt like any other day in the studio-really. It wasn't until I heard the finished song [A Young Man's Spark] a month later that I realized what a unique and powerful moment it actually was.  We made history..."    -Azeem 

Azeem, Empire, Kumasi, Michel-Weld, Nizr T-Man, Erik Rico, Tariq Snare,
Quanti Bomani, Abasi Bomani,  & Achref Aouadi
drinking way too much coffee and rapping about the
upcoming studio session in Tunis, to record
"A Young Man's Spark" with DJ Anas Canon.

Azeem with DJ Anas Canon and Erik Rico on bass  . . . everyone was
throwing it down that night and the James Brown 15 minute funkathon
created a dancing frenzy that blew onto the stage . . .
I witnessed both breakin' and salsa dancing whirl around the band
as they rocked the house - the audience literally took over the stage!

"A Young Man's Spark" will be released Monday, Sept. 19 &
will be available via Soundcloud as a FREE DOWNLOAD!

Photos by Logan Grime  www.LoganGrime.com

Press Release: A Young Man's Spark

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Remarkable Current Track Release:  "A Young Man’s Spark"

A new song by Anas Canon, featuring (in order of appearance) Nizar T-Man, Crème De La Ultra, Weld-Michel, Empire & Kumasi.  A Remarkable Current Presentation, recorded in Tunisia during Remarkable Current’s Hip Hop Ambassadors “2011 Tunisian Revolution Tour.”

This dynamic rap collaboration between American & Tunisian hip hop artists will be released on Monday, September 19 via Remarkable Current's SoundCloud page, YouTube Channel, & Facebook page.  The new hip hop song about Mohamed Bouazizi and the Tunisian Revolution will be made available on Monday FREE for fans to DOWNLOAD via Remarkable Current's SoundCloud page.

Remarkable Current’s Hip Hop Ambassadors toured Tunisia in June 2011 and partnered with Tunisian hip hop artists to “Rock the Tunisian Vote” as the newly independent country prepares for it’s first ever free and fair democratic election in the Fall.  RC’s friend Achref Aouadi, humanitarian activist and founder of iWatch, was crucial in connecting the band with local artists so that Tunisian rappers could not only perform with Remarkable Current on stage, but also collaborate in the studio where songs like “A Young Man’s Spark” were born.  



Here’s what Achref had to say about the song:

“The song “A Young Man’s Spark” represents, for me, the best tribute from the American people and its artists. When we were in the studio recording the song, in spite of all the stress, I felt really proud and honored that Remarkable Current was here among us showing solidarity with the Tunisian people. It is really absurd to say it, but I felt more recognition and friendliness in Anas Canon singing the Bouazizi song’s verse than the whole congress and President Obama applauding our revolution.  This the message that RAP should convey and people-to-people diplomacy is the key for an eternal friendship between the Tunisian and American people.”    -Achref Aouadi, iWatch Tunisia [NGO]

PRESS CONTACT: 
To interview Anas Canon or inquire about the release of “A Young Man’s Spark,” please contact:
Tracy Curry, Program Director & Manager
Remarkable Current
E: tracycurry@remarkablecurrent.com
Ph:  1-510-388-6051

NOTES FOR EDITORS: 

Pictures, interviews and samples are available to support this story on Remarkable Current’s Blog or by contacting Tracy Curry, manager.
The new song “A Young Man’s Spark” will be officially released Monday, Sept. 19, 2011 


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Remarkable Current at info@remarkablecurrent.com
Visit Remarkable Current & Hip Hop Ambassadors
Visit Remarkable Current’s Blog for the story behind the song.
Like Remarkable Current on Facebook

U STREAM Tonight! In the studio with Baraka Blue

From Mr. Baraka Blue . . . "In LA working on a new project with DJ Anas Canon &
Fred Nilsson (the team who brought you 'Myst' & 'Sweetest Fruit' from my last album Sound Heart).
We're gonna do a live stream of the studio session tonight.
Click here to join the live stream at 8:30 PST.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creating-with-remarkable-current

From the Vaults: Medan, Indonesia

"I was back stage and missed this one but luckily our Tour Manager, Tracy Curry (aka Ginger James) had the camera rolling. These lovely women performed a traditional Indonesian welcome dance for us before we performed our set. I hope you enjoy."   -DJ Anas Canon

Back Stage Pass Diaries:: Through Erik's Eyes

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Tour: 
http://www.hiphopambassadors.com/hiphopambassadors/tour_resume/Pages/Tunisia.html

"Erik Rico, who played bass for the Tunisian Revolution Tour, shared his insights with me about recording the upcoming song release "Bouazizi" and about hanging out with the Tunisian hip hop artists who opened Remarkable Current's shows & joined us in the studio."  -Tracy Curry, Hip Hop Ambassadors Tour Manager

Back Stage with fans after RC's final show in Tunis

     "After being made aware of the situation spreading across North Africa . . . aware through various news feeds and coverage, which started in Tunisia by the act of one courageous individual, it was more than an honor to not only work with the various Tunisian artists on this collaboration, but also to meet & spend time with the people of Tunisia. 
     This was TRULY a moment in history that I'll always remember! The youth of Tunisia were especially insightful and extremely inspiring.  You travel to territories such as these hoping to bring inspiration, ONLY to come back inspired by them! There is NO separation between the youth and the artists . . . it is the music, hip hop especially, that IS the voice of youth culture globally!
     I for one am looking very forward to continuing to build the global bridge that truly unites ALL people. POWER to the world's youth!!!"   --Erik Rico, Hip Hop Ambassador

NEW Track from Creme De La Ultra: Dear Dunya

'Dunya' = Arabic word for the material world

On Dear Dunya . . .

"I awoke from a dream about an Ex of mine that reminded me of how happy I was to no longer be in THAT relationship.  The emotion was intense and hard to shake so I sat at the piano to release some anxiety and these chords spilled out.  Moments later I was singing the words on the chorus so I figured I might as well record it all.  Some days later Mark Ultra, aka Azeem, asked me if I had anything new that he could write some verses to so I sent him this one with the disclaimer noting that it was fairly personal and that I didn't think he would find a way to make the subject matter "his own."
I was very, very wrong."     -DJ Anas Canon

"This song Dear Dunya has a lot of truth in it.  It's the first song I wrote after moving from Oakland to Harlem, NY.  It touches on a past relationship in a way I think most people can relate to . . . then touches on finding a bit of financial freedom in the Father of all Cities . . . New York . . . and how love, lust, money and music can sometimes call you to the darkside.  Yet somehow, if you're lucky, you can pull away before you Fall . . ."  - Mark Ultra aka Azeem

Back Stage Pass Diaries:: Hard Rock in Indonesia

"Here's a super special "back stage" moment from the Remarkable Current video archives.  This was captured on someone's iPhone, as the band gathered back stage after their standing-room only show at the Hard Rock Cafe in Jakarta in 2010.  I just live for spontaneous musical moments like these!"
-Tracy, Hip Hop Ambassador Tour Manager

This is a little impromptu freestyle session that happened back stage at the Hard Rock Cafe in Jakarta with some friends right after we smashed the stage into thousands of tiny little pieces.
Still Sweaty and Everythang. Enjoy!!!

Remarkable Current press conference at the Hard Rock Cafe, Jakarta before the big show

Back Stage Pass Diaries:: Weld Michel & the hook

"At RC's first show in Tunisia, this young singer/songwriter cat named Weld Michel hit me up in the lobby, guitar slung over his shoulder.  He was so excited to see the band play that night and asked if he could join in the tour.  He then dropped right down to the floor in the lobby and started playing his guitar & singing as a crowd immediately gathered around.  He had a beautiful angelic voice and I knew he'd be great to work with in the studio.  When we recorded "Bouazizi" song, Anas had Weld Michel sing the hook and it lifted the song to new heights . . . stay tuned, the song is gonna drop any day now"

-Tracy Curry, Tour Manager / Hip Hop Ambassadors

Azeem & Weld Michel backstage at RC's concert in Tunis

Weld Michel in the studio with
Remarkable Current

"Salam and peace from Tunisia . . . I am very pleased to have the chance to live this experience with Remarkable Current, I hope it will happen again & I hope that there will be an artistic exchange between us."    -Weld Michel