Boston, MA (Rap Newswire) - Multi-instrumental, multi-lingual, multi-racial
-- Afro DZ ak embodies the diversity of 21st century progressive hip-hop.
With a trumpet in his left hand and a microphone in his right, Afro DZ
ak presents his solo debut Elevation, to be released on September 23, 2008.
Based in Boston, Afro DZ ak is part of the next generation of jazz-influenced,
socially-conscious MCs. His new album Elevation (produced by Gnotes) showcase
his diverse talents as a thoughtful, incisive rapper and an experienced,
powerful musician. Though reminiscent of old-school Common, A Tribe Called
Quest or De La Soul, Elevation is about much more than looped jazz samples.
Layered with live trumpet, saxophone, flute, piano, guitar and bass,
Elevation's boom-bap rhythms and dynamic harmonies are a perfect match
for Afro DZ ak's politically-progressive lyricism.
Like Barack Obama, Afro DZ ak (real name Pete Shungu) was born to a
mother from the heartland of America (Kansas) and a father from the heart
of Africa (Dem. Rep. of Congo). As a result of his diverse background,
Afro DZ ak raps about real problems facing the local and global community
around him.
A former member of The Eclectic Collective, Afro DZ ak was classically
trained in trumpet and piano, and regularly performs in spoken-word poetry
slams. In the last year, he appeared on Gnotes' album Rhymes and Beats,
Elemental Zazen's The Glass Should Be Full, and his live band Soul Movement's
Universal. Winner of Worcester Magazine's Best MC in 2007 and
2008, Afro DZ ak also won the Lizard Lounge's 10th Anniversary Poetry Jam
Recently back a summer European tour with Gnotes and Elemental Zazen,
Afro DZ ak has returned to his job at the non-profit organization ACCESS
as a financial aid advisor in the Boston Public Schools.
"Soft-spoken but strong-minded, Afro DZ ak is not only a fantastic
trumpet player with a killer smile, but a socially conscious activist and
master of impromptu rhymes" -- Worcester Magazine
More info @ http://www.gnawledge.com and http://www.myspace.com/afrodzak
PRESS CONTACT
Canyon Cody
Gnawledge Records
(617) 645-7178
canyon@gnawledge.com
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