Rastafarian emcees committed to 'conscious' lyricism, working out of D&D Studios with DJ Premier as executive producer aren't exactly ten-a-penny and since Jeru The Damaga hasn't been riding Primo beats lately we can only be dealing with one man.
Afu-Ra started out as Jeru's protege accompanying the 'prophet' on some of his early releases and generally hanging with the Gang Starr Foundation, memorably impressing a packed Astoria crowd when Guru and Primo last played in London. His debut, 'Body Of The Life Force', has been around on import for a while but finally makes a very welcome appearance in the UK on Koch Records paired up with a single release featuring Wu-Tang elder statesman, the GZA.
I could tell you that, in addition to Premier blessing the album with a whole four - count 'em - productions, the Wu-Tang's True Master, Da Beatminerz and DJ Muggs all put in some beat work. I could add that microphone guests number GZA, Cocoa Brovas (remember Smif N Wesson?), Masta Killa and the currently massive MOP. But then there would really be no reason for me to take this review any further….
Of course it's good. And, despite the dream-team detailed above, Afu remains the star throughout. His bizarre blend of cultural influences - numbering an interest in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, meditation and Kung-Fu computer game imagery - tap a rich imaginative vein.
What glues this whole project together though is D&D Studios, the famed New York studio synonymous with the work of the prolific DJ Premier who has produced classic after classic from the base, including Nas' 'New York State Of Mind' and Notorious BIG's 'Ten Crack Commandments'. The album was originally released on the studio's own label and all tracks were turned out on D&D's classic-sounding equipment, giving 'Body Of The Life Force' that unmistakable neck-snapping vibe.
For Primo the project seems to have offered the chance for a slight return to the experimentalism that was at the core of all his work with Jeru The Damaga. Having recently turned out a string of straightforward club bangers, Eastern rhythms and reggae vocals are here melded to his usual elastic production style on tracks like 'Mic Stance' and 'Equality'. Da Beatminerz excel on 'D&D Soundclash' putting together a dreadlock party anthem from a Barrington Levy sample and only Premier proteges Mike Rhone and DJ Roach turn in anything less than gold.
Those looking for a current single album statement on the all-pervasive sound of every hip-hop purist's favourite producer couldn't do better. Those after a fresh, challenging new emcee capable of sidestepping all the nonsense should be pleasantly surprised.
