Ithaka "Upendo"

Ithaka "Upendo" from the critically acclaimed album Somewhere South Of Somalia: Upendo is eight minutes and twenty-six seconds of superb and outrageously erotic, trip-hop. "Mr. Lapis Lazuli" receiving a language lesson from "Mother of Pearl" (50 ways to say I LOVE YOU in Swahili). For sheer mood enhancing power, Upendo stands tall in the company of Enigma's Principles of Lust (MCMXC a.D.) and Lonnie Liston Smith's Desert Nights from his hallmark Expansions album. I would buy Somewhere South of Somalia for this song alone. Review in BIG BAER-Urban Alternative Music Magazine (Nov.2001) http://www.bigbaer.com/ithaka.htm Somewhere South of Somalia Let me start by telling you the ending: "…run, don't walk, and buy this CD! Don't miss out on one of the most original hip hop releases of the year!" Somewhere South Of Somalia, the third album to be released from the artist ITHAKA, is the freshest compilation of hip hop beats, rap lyrics and spoken word that I have heard in a very long time. If you are feeling hip hop but are more than a little tired of hearing rappers spit about ho's and 4/Os; about twenty inch rims and all-nighters; if the thought of one more Jay-to-the-izzo causes you more pain than fingernails scratching mercilessly on the chalkboard, then Somewhere South of Somalia is for you. The timing of this review is impeccable. I recently sat on a panel at an Urban Music conference where I addressed the situation of originality, or rather, the lack of it in much of today's urban music. Somewhere South Of Somalia is as original as they come, written on location in Kenya and Tanzania, it is an adventurer's diary, a hip-hop recollection of one man's soul-searching escape to the east coast of Africa. Ithaka Darin Pappas is a visual artist and a writer. He is also a superb storyteller who explores the sometimes forgotten topic of escapism. The album plays out like a hip-hop adventure journal. Somewhere South Of Somalia brings us stories of tribal folklore, urban dangers, epidemics and voodoo. It recalls life threatening experiences and human tragedy. It is funny; it is serious and at times wildly erotic. There are nineteen tracks of songs and interludes on this very unique offering. Though written on location in East Africa, followed by a stay in Lisbon, Portugal, Somewhere South Of Somalia was recorded in Los Angeles with producer-engineer, Conley "Conman" Abrams (Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifa, Heavy D, etc.), ITHAKA's distinctive laid-back but powerful rap style is complemented by first class original beats and vocal arrangements. The overall production quality is first rate. It is obvious that a great deal of thought went into the production of each track. Almost as adventurous as the album's material itself, Somewhere South Of Somalia transports you from rap to spoken word, to trip-hop, all seamlessly done lending to a true sense of discovery. Rana Linda is the story of a foreign war correspondent originally from Colorado who had been covering events in Rwanda and now struggles with the realities of difficult choices. Ugly American tells of a wealthy businessman who moves to the Kenyan coast, destroys forests, sexually abuses his maid and kills endangered species for fun. Black Rock is a song based on Tanzanian tribal tradition of a black stone reported to save lives of those bitten by venomous snakes. The catchy chorus is sung by tribal children and backed by a thick base of tribal hip-hop rhythm. Lapis Lazuli / Mother of Pearl is a spoken word proclamation of love with a melodically sung hook-line by IZREAL (from the song Rana Linda) and woven throughout by a beautifully muted trumpet jazz-like beats. The song adds to the diversity and richness of the album. Very well done. Upendo is eight minutes and twenty-six seconds of superb and outrageously erotic, trip-hop. "Mr. Lapis Lazuli" receiving a language lesson from "Mother of Pearl" (50 ways to say I LOVE YOU in Swahili). For sheer mood enhancing power, Upendo stands tall in the company of Enigma's Principles of Lust (MCMXC a.D.) and Lonnie Liston Smith's Desert Nights from his hallmark Expansions album. I would buy Somewhere South of Somalia for this song alone. Exploring the outskirts of Nairobi's notorious River Road, ITHAKA relates a tale of adventure-turned nightmare involving pimps, drug dealers and knife wielding gangs. It ends with ITHAKA sprinting for his life. Mwajuma, tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a wandering nomad, ITHAKA, and a domestic servant to Nairobi's elite. The story unfolds from a light-hearted meeting to ITHAKA's discovery that his new friend has tested HIV positive. Her husband is already dead and she ponders about the future of her children while still showing great concern for ITHAKA's well being. Cynthia Denise Farmer sings the moving gospel chorus, building to a full choir ending. The song is a powerful reminder of the AIDS epidemic that is devastating much of Africa today. ITHAKA's curiosity of places and people is revealed wholeheartedly in Somewhere South Of Somalia. His travels have taken him to Europe, Africa and the South Pacific. While in Lisbon, Portugal, a brief stint as a radio host landed him a record deal with a local subsidiary of EMI. In 1998 he released the ep, ESCAPE (Nortesul EMI/Portugal) which featured a remake of his hip-hop dance track "Escape From The City Of Angels" off of his first album. The song earned ITHAKA a SCYPE AWARD (European Radio Listener's Choice Award) and later appeared in the soundtrack of Columbia Film's The Replacement Killers starring Mira Sorvino and Chow Yung Fat. Somewhere South Of Somalia is a continuation of ITHAKA's philosophy: live it, write about it, rap about it. It is an excellent hip-hop album as well as a true collector's offering. Now I can finish right where I began: run, don't walk, and buy this CD! Don't miss out on one of the most original hip hop releases of the year!" review by
jack "papa" baer
november 19, 2001 ©2001, 2002 BIGBAER.com - The Urban Alternative Music Magazine & Music Reviews | HOME | ITHAKA |

Ithaka - Somewhere South of Somalia review in Big Baer Magazine (2001)

Review in BIG BAER-Urban Alternative Music Magazine (Nov.2001)

http://www.bigbaer.com/ithaka.htm

Somewhere South of Somalia

Let me start by telling you the ending: "…run, don't walk, and buy this CD! Don't miss out on one of the most original hip hop releases of the year!"

Somewhere South Of Somalia, the third album to be released from the artist ITHAKA, is the freshest compilation of hip hop beats, rap lyrics and spoken word that I have heard in a very long time. If you are feeling hip hop but are more than a little tired of hearing rappers spit about ho's and 4/Os; about twenty inch rims and all-nighters; if the thought of one more Jay-to-the-izzo causes you more pain than fingernails scratching mercilessly on the chalkboard, then Somewhere South of Somalia is for you.

The timing of this review is impeccable. I recently sat on a panel at an Urban Music conference where I addressed the situation of originality, or rather, the lack of it in much of today's urban music. Somewhere South Of Somalia is as original as they come, written on location in Kenya and Tanzania, it is an adventurer's diary, a hip-hop recollection of one man's soul-searching escape to the east coast of Africa. ITHAKA Darin Pappas is a visual artist and a writer. He is also a superb storyteller who explores the sometimes forgotten topic of escapism.

The album plays out like a hip-hop adventure journal. Somewhere South Of Somalia brings us stories of tribal folklore, urban dangers, epidemics and voodoo. It recalls life threatening experiences and human tragedy. It is funny; it is serious and at times wildly erotic.

There are nineteen tracks of songs and interludes on this very unique offering. Though written on location in East Africa, followed by a stay in Lisbon, Portugal, Somewhere South Of Somalia was recorded in Los Angeles with producer-engineer, Conley "Conman" Abrams (Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifa, Heavy D, etc.), ITHAKA's distinctive laid-back but powerful rap style is complemented by first class original beats and vocal arrangements.

The overall production quality is first rate. It is obvious that a great deal of thought went into the production of each track. Almost as adventurous as the album's material itself, Somewhere South Of Somalia transports you from rap to spoken word, to trip-hop, all seamlessly done lending to a true sense of discovery.

Rana Linda is the story of a foreign war correspondent originally from Colorado who had been covering events in Rwanda and now struggles with the realities of difficult choices. Ugly American tells of a wealthy businessman who moves to the Kenyan coast, destroys forests, sexually abuses his maid and kills endangered species for fun.

Black Rock is a song based on Tanzanian tribal tradition of a black stone reported to save lives of those bitten by venomous snakes. The catchy chorus is sung by tribal children and backed by a thick base of tribal hip-hop rhythm.

Lapis Lazuli / Mother of Pearl is a spoken word proclamation of love with a melodically sung hook-line by IZREAL (from the song Rana Linda) and woven throughout by a beautifully muted trumpet jazz-like beats. The song adds to the diversity and richness of the album. Very well done.

Upendo is eight minutes and twenty-six seconds of superb and outrageously erotic, trip-hop. "Mr. Lapis Lazuli" receiving a language lesson from "Mother of Pearl" (50 ways to say I LOVE YOU in Swahili). For sheer mood enhancing power, Upendo stands tall in the company of Enigma's Principles of Lust (MCMXC a.D.) and Lonnie Liston Smith's Desert Nights from his hallmark Expansions album. I would buy Somewhere South of Somalia for this song alone.

Exploring the outskirts of Nairobi's notorious River Road, ITHAKA relates a tale of adventure-turned nightmare involving pimps, drug dealers and knife wielding gangs. It ends with ITHAKA sprinting for his life.

Mwajuma, tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a wandering nomad, ITHAKA, and a domestic servant to Nairobi's elite. The story unfolds from a light-hearted meeting to ITHAKA's discovery that his new friend has tested HIV positive. Her husband is already dead and she ponders about the future of her children while still showing great concern for ITHAKA's well being. Cynthia Denise Farmer sings the moving gospel chorus, building to a full choir ending. The song is a powerful reminder of the AIDS epidemic that is devastating much of Africa today.

ITHAKA's curiosity of places and people is revealed wholeheartedly in Somewhere South Of Somalia. His travels have taken him to Europe, Africa and the South Pacific. While in Lisbon, Portugal, a brief stint as a radio host landed him a record deal with a local subsidiary of EMI. In 1998 he released the ep, ESCAPE (Nortesul EMI/Portugal) which featured a remake of his hip-hop dance track "Escape From The City Of Angels" off of his first album. The song earned ITHAKA a SCYPE AWARD (European Radio Listener's Choice Award) and later appeared in the soundtrack of Columbia Film's The Replacement Killers starring Mira Sorvino and Chow Yung Fat.

Somewhere South Of Somalia is a continuation of ITHAKA's philosophy: live it, write about it, rap about it. It is an excellent hip-hop album as well as a true collector's offering. Now I can finish right where I began: run, don't walk, and buy this CD! Don't miss out on one of the most original hip hop releases of the year!"

review by
 jack "papa" baer 
november 19, 2001

©2001, 2002 BIGBAER.com - The Urban Alternative Music Magazine & Music Reviews | HOME | ITHAKA |

https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/ithaka/69363540

https://store.cdbaby.com/artist/Ithaka2

https://www.instagram.com/_ithaka_/?hl=en

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5225987/

https://thehundreds.com/blogs/content/ithaka-interview

https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ithaka

http://upmagazine-tap.com/en/pt_artigos/ithaka-2/

(album Review) Ithaka's Somewhere South of Somalia (Ithaka Darin Pappas)

Review in BIG BAER-Urban Alternative Music Magazine (Nov.2001)

http://www.bigbaer.com/ithaka.htm

Somewhere South of Somalia

Let me start by telling you the ending: "…run, don't walk, and buy this CD! Don't miss out on one of the most original hip hop releases of the year!"

Somewhere South Of Somalia, the third album to be released from the artist ITHAKA, is the freshest compilation of hip hop beats, rap lyrics and spoken word that I have heard in a very long time. If you are feeling hip hop but are more than a little tired of hearing rappers spit about ho's and 4/Os; about twenty inch rims and all-nighters; if the thought of one more Jay-to-the-izzo causes you more pain than fingernails scratching mercilessly on the chalkboard, then Somewhere South of Somalia is for you.

The timing of this review is impeccable. I recently sat on a panel at an Urban Music conference where I addressed the situation of originality, or rather, the lack of it in much of today's urban music. Somewhere South Of Somalia is as original as they come, written on location in Kenya and Tanzania, it is an adventurer's diary, a hip-hop recollection of one man's soul-searching escape to the east coast of Africa. ITHAKA Darin Pappas is a visual artist and a writer. He is also a superb storyteller who explores the sometimes forgotten topic of escapism.

The album plays out like a hip-hop adventure journal. Somewhere South Of Somalia brings us stories of tribal folklore, urban dangers, epidemics and voodoo. It recalls life threatening experiences and human tragedy. It is funny; it is serious and at times wildly erotic.

There are nineteen tracks of songs and interludes on this very unique offering. Though written on location in East Africa, followed by a stay in Lisbon, Portugal, Somewhere South Of Somalia was recorded in Los Angeles with producer-engineer, Conley "Conman" Abrams (Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifa, Heavy D, etc.), ITHAKA's distinctive laid-back but powerful rap style is complemented by first class original beats and vocal arrangements.

The overall production quality is first rate. It is obvious that a great deal of thought went into the production of each track. Almost as adventurous as the album's material itself, Somewhere South Of Somalia transports you from rap to spoken word, to trip-hop, all seamlessly done lending to a true sense of discovery.

Rana Linda is the story of a foreign war correspondent originally from Colorado who had been covering events in Rwanda and now struggles with the realities of difficult choices. Ugly American tells of a wealthy businessman who moves to the Kenyan coast, destroys forests, sexually abuses his maid and kills endangered species for fun.

Black Rock is a song based on Tanzanian tribal tradition of a black stone reported to save lives of those bitten by venomous snakes. The catchy chorus is sung by tribal children and backed by a thick base of tribal hip-hop rhythm.

Lapis Lazuli / Mother of Pearl is a spoken word proclamation of love with a melodically sung hook-line by IZREAL (from the song Rana Linda) and woven throughout by a beautifully muted trumpet jazz-like beats. The song adds to the diversity and richness of the album. Very well done.

Upendo is eight minutes and twenty-six seconds of superb and outrageously erotic, trip-hop. "Mr. Lapis Lazuli" receiving a language lesson from "Mother of Pearl" (50 ways to say I LOVE YOU in Swahili). For sheer mood enhancing power, Upendo stands tall in the company of Enigma's Principles of Lust (MCMXC a.D.) and Lonnie Liston Smith's Desert Nights from his hallmark Expansions album. I would buy Somewhere South of Somalia for this song alone.

Exploring the outskirts of Nairobi's notorious River Road, ITHAKA relates a tale of adventure-turned nightmare involving pimps, drug dealers and knife wielding gangs. It ends with ITHAKA sprinting for his life.

Mwajuma, tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a wandering nomad, ITHAKA, and a domestic servant to Nairobi's elite. The story unfolds from a light-hearted meeting to ITHAKA's discovery that his new friend has tested HIV positive. Her husband is already dead and she ponders about the future of her children while still showing great concern for ITHAKA's well being. Cynthia Denise Farmer sings the moving gospel chorus, building to a full choir ending. The song is a powerful reminder of the AIDS epidemic that is devastating much of Africa today.

ITHAKA's curiosity of places and people is revealed wholeheartedly in Somewhere South Of Somalia. His travels have taken him to Europe, Africa and the South Pacific. While in Lisbon, Portugal, a brief stint as a radio host landed him a record deal with a local subsidiary of EMI. In 1998 he released the ep, ESCAPE (Nortesul EMI/Portugal) which featured a remake of his hip-hop dance track "Escape From The City Of Angels" off of his first album. The song earned ITHAKA a SCYPE AWARD (European Radio Listener's Choice Award) and later appeared in the soundtrack of Columbia Film's The Replacement Killers starring Mira Sorvino and Chow Yung Fat.

Somewhere South Of Somalia is a continuation of ITHAKA's philosophy: live it, write about it, rap about it. It is an excellent hip-hop album as well as a true collector's offering. Now I can finish right where I began: run, don't walk, and buy this CD! Don't miss out on one of the most original hip hop releases of the year!"

review by
jack "papa" baer
november 19, 2001

©2001, 2002 BIGBAER.com - The Urban Alternative Music Magazine & Music Reviews | HOME | ITHAKA | 

Ithaka's New Album, "SOMEWHERE SOUTH OF SOMALIA" (2001)

Somewhere South Of Somalia

There are many things one could criticize about hip hop. And what to one is worth of criticism is what the other actually appreciates. So when we write here, that hip hop is lacking concepts that run through the whole album, that are keeping an album together and make it distinguishable as such, then others will disagree and say, they just want a couple of tracks that keep their head nodding. And when we state that hip hop has the potential to reach a lot of people on deep and important levels, then other people will go, that hip hop is coming from the streets and should be made for the streets, and a deeper meaning would neatly fit somewhere dark, and somewhere where we usually sit on.

Whatever the case, Ithaka was not content with just putting a couple of tracks together, put 'em on a disc, call it an album and call it a day. When he was travelling Kenya and Tanzania, it inspired him. Inspired him to write about escapism, write about what he saw in those place, with his eyes, but also what his soul saw in the presence of other people's experiences, lives and struggles. Or how he calls it: "live it, write about it, rap about it". Hence this is one of the cases where a rap record is using its potential; talking to people and to bring a story across, easier and better, than any other genre of music is able to. And hence "Somewhere South Of Somalia" is deserving our props, as the courageous record it is, that's dwelling into the depth of something, that comes as close to travel journal as it can get.

And for this project, Ithaka teamed up with producer Conley 'Conman' Abrams, who's responsible for all the beats that back Ithaka up, who in his travels takes us into the trapped lands of tribal folklore, elitists foreigners or epidemics, collecting them in a musical ethnographic report. That starts out with Ithaka going into areas where the question is a unbelieving "So You're Going There?" commenting his plans. The reason why it is necessary to step out the regular shackles of society is expressed on"What U Gotta Do", before the physical travel to Africa is just as much a mental and psychical adaptation, what is dizzyingly shown by "My Mind & My Body". With "Snakes In The Rafter" the finish line of the first leg is reached, with us then meeting up with "Rana Linda (I Can Make A Difference)" who is a war photographer. This track features Izrael, of Cell-mob, who's handling the sung chorus. "Ugly American" is the next meeting with someone, this track portraying one of the still imperialistic thinking people, taking away all what's still good, untouched an innocent in this area. However, things catch up to him, what you can hear on "Dear Hillary". More anthropological topics are discussed on "Black Rock", before"Lapis Lazuli" is kept spoken word, with Izrael returning for the chorus.

Moving on to the tribal religions, "Visit With Nagawa" is once more having us meet a native, this time a suspect person that knows about spells. Entering a language course, "Upendo" is having us listen to Swahili, with Cassande Luchembe whispering the words in our excited ears. Then the streets are explored on "River Road", as we hear that some of the unwanted adventures can be rather similar there to here. Keeping the story progressing, "Nawaga's Revenge" is talking about the symptoms of Malaria. The last person we then meet is "Nwajuma", before our mind is again drifting off into "My Mind & My Body Reprise", as it's trying to take in, process and understand all what was experienced on this album.

With us now knowing what travel we are accompanying, it's interesting what kind of beats are coming along too. They are often on some unlocated style, that is keeping things in vibes of years ago. That can then sound 'heard before' like on "Dugout Canoe", or rather progressive like "Visit With Nagawa". It's also having some elements, that remind us of world music, of reggae, of Caribbean sounds, of African styles. Hence we are needing a decent amount of tolerance to get with it.

What then makes it necessary to talk about the album in a more regular kind of way: this album is on the beat tip not the strongest, and lyrically, the nomadic wanderer Ithaka (aka visual artist and writer Ithaka Darin Pappas) is not the most skilled as well, as much of his eloquence is getting lost, with the story being forced into rhyming patterns. But that's merely unfortunate, as the goal of this record can never be to reach an audience that just wants a good time pumping something to bob the head, or keeping the music low like in an elevator. That'd be unfair to the record, and that needs to taken into consideration. Hence what makes this record good is the patience and respect for a misunderstood continent, that's telling the story, and that is making this album a narrated book. Hence this gets a lot of respect from our side, a lot of props for the willingness to do something hard and exhausting, that will never get as much acclaim as it actually deserves.

http://www.urbansmarts.com/reviews/albums/ithaka.htm

Ithaka - Somewhere South Of Somalia

Contemporary artist, poet and hip hop vocalist 

Ithaka in East Africa during inspirational trip

 for his third album, Somewhere South Of Somaila

 (released 2001).

--------------------------------------------

In 1998, after over six years in Portugal, Ithaka returned back to California where he recorded his third album called Somewhere South Of Somalia with producer Conley Abrams III. The lyrics from this album were written on a two month journey into East Africa.^[3]