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