Ithaka's Somewhere South of Somalia album review

Big Baer Magazine: The Urban Alternative Music Magazine

November 19th 2001

Let me start by telling you the ending” Run, don’t walk, and buy this CD! Don’t miss out on one of hip hop’s most original 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 4/0s, 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 adventurers 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 III (Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifa, Heavy D, etc.). Ithaka’s distinctive laid-back but powerful rap style is complimented 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 a true sense of discovery.

Rana Linda is a 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 business 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 and 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 album 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 with 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 e.p. 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 the 1998 SCYPE AWARD (European Radio Listener’s Choice Award). Note the song's original version appeared in the soundtrack of Columbia Films’s “The Replacement Killers starring Mira Sorvino and Chow Yun Fat directed by Antoine Fuqua.

Somewhere South of Somalia is a continuation of Ithaka’s philosophy: live it, write 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 Baer 

Lapis Lazuli & Mother of Pearl (official video)

Ithaka on the microphone

N.W.A - Backstage In Phoenix (1989) The Last Photographs of N.W.A. - Very Rare Photos by Ithaka Darin Pappas

BACKSTAGE IN PHOENIX - The Last Photographs of the Real N.W.A. (photographed and directed by: Ithaka Darin Pappas) The following images (all from a single roll of film) were taken early evening in Phoenix, Arizona about an hour before Eazy-E and N.W.A would perform one of the most powerful concerts on their 1989 U.S. tour. At the time, I was a regular freelance photographer for Priority Records and was flown out from Los Angeles that afternoon to document a private backstage ceremony. DJ Yella, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube and MC Ren were to be presented RIAA certified Platinum Records for their albums N.W.A."Straight Outta Compton" and Eazy-E "Eazy-Duz-It" which had been released almost simultaneously in August and September of 1988. Ironically, it was there in Phoenix later on this very same night, that Ice Cube essentially quit the project, ending The World's Most Dangerous Group as we knew it. These are the last photographs of N.W.A. together as a quintet. - Ithaka Darin Pappas 2019

________________________________________________ The good times couldn't last. Ice Cube was the first to discover all was not right with N.W.A. - at the height of the group's popularity in 1989 when the tour hit Phoenix, Cube stopped the show. Pat Charbonet, then publicist for Priority Records and Cube's future manager had been asking Cube some questions about his financing...How much money had Cube been making off the songs he had written for Straight Outta Compton? Where was the money...and when would Cube get it in his pockets? Cube didn't have any answers - so he stopped the group dead in its tracks. - Dr. Dre: A Biography (2007) page 48
___________________________________________________ At Eazy's request, N.W.A. manager Jerry Heller flew to Phoenix with new contracts in hand and $75,000 for those who signed. The rest of the group complied, but not Cube. He told Heller he wanted a lawyer to review the contract.The others in the group ridiculed him for turning down so much money. Cube in fact discovered he did have good reason to feel he was getting ripped off. According to Rolling Stone magazine, N.W.A. grossed $650,000 for their 1989 U.S. tour, but Cube only received $23,000. By the end of the year, Straight Outta Compton and Eazy-Duz-It had sold a combined three-million copies. Although Cube had written or co-written about half the songs on both albums, he earned a total of $32,000. - Sager 1990, page 166

_________________________________________________________ Royalties, which typically take months to work their way from shops to distributors to record labels and on to artists, weren't arriving fast enough to keep tempers from boiling over. At a gig in Phoenix, Arizona each member was given a check, but only if they signed a contract. I refused to take my check, because I felt I would be admitting that I agreed with what I was being' paid, Cube told me in 2006. They thought I was crazy!, saying, '$75,000 is more money than we've ever seen'. - NME August 25th 2015 Photography, edit and music: Ithaka Darin Pappas
Songs: "Afflicted", "Warm Budweiser", "Butterly Boogie" from the upcoming album, Ithaka Voiceless Blue Raven II Text sources: Sager (1999), Dr. Dre: A Biography (2007), NME Magazine (2015) Executive producer: craig raidor dahl Note: all images in this presentation under U.S. Federal and international copyrights. ©1989, ©2019 Thank you. https://nwafotosbyithakadarinpappas.b... https://www.instagram.com/nwa_photos_... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo97z... https://www.facebook.com/NWAandEAZYEp... #NWA #HIPHOP #IthakaDarinPappas

Keith Morris & Ithaka Darin Pappas talk shop and rare NWA photographs

Punk legend Keith Morris (Circle Jerks, Black Flag, OFF!) talks with artist/photographer Ithaka Darin Pappas about photographing Eazy E, NWA, Ice Cube work and how he began to begin working for the pioneering record label Priority Records in the late 1980's. Los Angeles 2018

Straight Outta Compton: Breakdown (Photographs: Ithaka Darin Pappas)

Straight Outta Compton: Breakdown

• L 202
• F 266

At this point, many are familiar with the tale of Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, DJ Yella, and MC Ren as NWA. The film Straight Outta Compton was a huge success and brought a lot of positive attention to the Hip Hop genre. The film gave people who haven’t invested time in Hip Hop a chance to learn about a different perspective in American History. Still, there is a lot that went into the certified platinum song from NWA’s most famous album that is easy to overlook just relying upon the movie.

This first line ominously prepares the listener for the most esteemed song in the Gangsta Rap subgenre. NWA rapped about only what they knew, which at the time was the streets. Knowledge of the streets meant not only surviving in southern Los Angeles but also thriving in the face of adversity.  An ethos of unquestionable authenticity captivated listeners across the country; few knew the tales of life in one of California’s poorest neighborhoods.

Straight outta Compton, crazy motherfucker named Ice Cube
From the gang called Niggas Wit Attitudes
When I’m called off, I got a sawed-off
Squeeze the trigger and bodies are hauled off
You too, boy, if you fuck with me
The police are gonna have to come and get me
Off your ass, that’s how I’m going out
For the punk motherfuckers that’s showing out
Niggas start to mumble, they wanna rumble
Mix ’em and cook ’em in a pot, like gumbo
Going off on the motherfucker like that
With a gat that’s pointed at your ass
So give it up smooth
Ain’t no telling when I’m down for a jack move
Here’s a murder rap to keep y’all dancin’
With a crime record like Charles Manson

Don’t make me act a motherfucking fool
Me you can go toe to toe, no maybe
I’m knocking niggas out the box, daily
Yo, weekly, monthly and yearly
Until them dumb motherfuckers see clearly
That I’m down with the capital C-P-T
Boy, you can’t fuck with me
So when I’m in your neighborhood, you better duck
‘Cause Ice Cube is crazy as fuck
As I leave, believe I’m stompin’
But when I come back boy, I’m coming straight outta Compton

Ice Cube’s first verse starts the album with two lines that Complex Magazine ranked in the top 25 best opening lines in rap history. The narrative is essential to NWA’s style of storytelling and Ice Cube is the heart and soul of this musical style. The violent and criminal tones of the song reflect everyday life growing up in Compton, California where youth like Ice Cube were forced to fight to survive.

Ice Cube had no issue with occasionally getting his hands dirty and, as shown in the film, did, in fact, smash up the offices of Priority Records with an aluminum baseball bat. This was done after not receiving the money owed to him for completing his first solo album; after his “convincing” he did eventually receive the advance.

Verse 2 is by MC Ren, the only other real emcee in NWA besides Ice Cube, as Eazy-E did not write his lyrics. On this track, another artist produced by Dr. Dre called The D.O.C. wrote the lines that Eazy recited.

Eazy E rapped verse 3 of the track and was revered as the front man for the group despite not actually writing the majority of the lyrics he recorded. As DJ Yella describes Eazy in an interview with VLADTV, “He wasn’t a rapper, he was just this short guy that made money on the streets.” In many ways, Eazy-E was a source of street knowledge in NWA and his charisma on the track as well as in person earned him the spotlight in much of NWA’s initial publicity.

Photo credit: Ithaka Darin Pappas (Tack Artist Group)

Critics of the song and album as a whole claim that the language NWA used in their music encouraged and glamorized violence, drug use, and sexism. As the group got bigger, having to explain the intended nature of their songs became a regular occurrence at interviews and live performances. The purpose was awareness; the purpose was exposing those who comfortably lived in nicer homes, unafraid to walk around their neighborhood that not everyone could be so fortunate. Crime was not something the members of NWA wished to glorify, but crime was a major factor in their upbringing and community.

Ice Cube and Dr. Dre have supported causes including HIV/AIDS prevention, inner-city poverty, at-risk/disadvantaged youth, and unemployment/career support. Ice Cube has played an active role supporting, Chrysalis, a non-profit dedicated to helping those in dire situations become economically self-sufficient. While Dr. Dre recently used the royalty proceeds from his third solo album titled Compton, to build a performing arts center in the city. Offering an opportunity for Compton’s youth to stay out of trouble and learn the essential art of self-expression.

Straight Outta Compton as a record has continued to excite audiences 28 years later. The film has succeeded first and foremost in opening up younger generations to the cultural impact and historical importance that NWA brought into American music. Today anyone would be hard pressed to find a list of best Hip Hop anything that did not include a shout-out to NWA or the track/album Straight Outta Compton.

WRITTEN BY AARON WALSH

Deep thinker with a Hip Hop Head. Art lover and history enthusiast. My Top 5 Golden Age Emcees: Rakim, KRS-One, 2Pac, Black Thought, and Notorious B.I.G.…

http://hiphopgoldenage.com/straight-outta-compton-breakdown/

Ithaka (Recording Artist) - Bio on Discogs

Source Discogs:

https://www.discogs.com/artist/468212-ITHAKA
Ithaka was born in Southern California. The half-Greek poet, vocalist and producer lived in Lisbon for a number of years in his late-twenties until early-thirties. There in Portugal (in 1993), he wrote and recorded a poem entitled So Get Up for a program on Radio Comercial, Lisbon. He later rerecorded it for a local progressive-house music project called Underground Of Lisbon (the finished song was also called, So Get Up). It was soon released internationally on a multitude of compilations.

Until today, almost 25 years later, the track is considered one of the most important musical exports in Portugal's history. Although in fact, the lyric-writer and voice of this iconic dance music anthem is a Californian of Greek descent.

So Get Up has since been remixed and re-released over a thousand times, with some versions by large scale EDM artists such as Armin Van Buurin, Cosmic Gate, Fatboy Slim and Miss Kittin. So Get Up is the current Guinness World Record holder for most re-mixed acapella.

Also in Portugal, Ithaka recorded two award winning hip-hop albums, Flowers And The Color Of Paint (1995) and Stellafly (1997). His song, Escape From The City Of Angels (featuring Marta Dias) from the album Flowers And The Color Of Paint was featured in Antoine Fuqua's first full-length feature film entitled, The Replacement Killers (1998) starring Chow Yun Fat and Mira Sorvino

Ithaka then returned to the U.S. for a number of years where he recorded Somewhere South Of Somalia (2001) with LA producer, Conley Abrams III.
The song, What U Gotta Do, from this album was featured in the soundtrack of the hit video game NBA2K7.

He later lived in Brazil (Rio and AkahtiLândia) for over ten years where he recorded three more albums, Recorded In Rio (2004), Saltwater Nomad (2007) and Voiceless Blue Raven (2013)...and also released a collection of career highlights called Fishdaddy Flashbacks (2011) with the Indy label Sweatlodge Records.

Although rarely returning to the dance music world since recording So Get Up,
in 2007, Ithaka wrote the lyrics and vocally recorded "You" with DJ Vibe, using his poem originally entitled, We Are The Players.

In early 2017, Ithaka released a collection of acapella poems including the original pre-Underground Sound Of Lisbon 1993 demo-version of So Get Up.
The album, entitled, So Get Up & The Lost Acapellas, was compiled using lost vocal poems from 1993 and new recordings made in Mexico City in 2016.

https://www.discogs.com/artist/468212-ITHAKA

Ithaka: Somewhere South Of Somalia

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.

ithaka: WHAT U GOTTA DO (NBA2K& Soundtrack)

ithaka "WHAT U GOTTA DO?"
as used in the hit x-box 360 game NBA2K7.

https://www.discogs.com/artist/468212-ITHAKA

TOLEDO, MUNIZ & Friends Surf In Hawaii (2011) Music by: Ithaka

Ithaka track featured
in segment from the Brazilian surfing video
Nobody Is A Kid Anymore
Directed by: Pablo Aguiar
Released in association with Hardcore Magazine

This part of the video features the talents of :
Alejo Muniz, Marco Giorgi, Felipe Toledo, Sidney Guimaraes.

Filmed on location in Hawaii - winter 2010/2011.

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

THE LIFE YOU WANNA LIVE ?
Lyrics: Íthaka



I only ask of y'all
what I ask of myself.............

ARE YOU DOIN' IN LIFE -- WHAT YOU WAS MEANT TO ?
ARE YOU DOIN' IN LIFE -- WHAT YOU WAS SENT TO ?
ARE YOU LEADIN' THE LIFE THAT YOU WANNA LIVE ?
ARE YOU LIVIN' YOUR LIFE IN A WAY TO WIN ?

ARE YOU DOIN' IN LIFE -- WHAT YOU WAS MEANT TO ?
ARE YOU DOIN' IN LIFE -- WHAT YOU WAS SENT TO ?
ARE YOU LEADIN' THE LIFE THAT YOU WANNA LIVE ?
ARE YOU LIVIN' YOUR LIFE IN A WAY TO WIN ?

Here and now -- limited hours on earth
Make the most of yours -- recognize time's worth
Formulate somethin' solid just for you...
BEFORE this crazy ball splits in two

ARE YOU DOIN' IN LIFE -- WHAT YOU WAS MEANT TO ?
ARE YOU DOIN' IN LIFE -- WHAT YOU WAS SENT TO ?
ARE YOU LEADIN' THE LIFE THAT YOU WANNA YOU LIVE ?
ARE YOU LIVIN' YOUR LIFE IN A WAY TO WIN ?

Do you accomplish the things you set out to do ?
Did you realize the dreams you had when you were twenty-two ?

Do you keep responsibility -- MINORITY ?
Do you keep freedom n liberty - PRIORITY ?

Do you get back on your feet when you take a fall ?
Do you stand up proud ? Do you stand up tall ?
Did ya end up with the girl you lost sleep over ?
Or did ya get out of bed with a deadly hangover ?

Searchin' affection in all the wrong places
Blowin' all your dough on store-bought embraces

Making the same mistake a million times forever
Loose ground daily - forgettin' your endeavors

Always tripping over yourself when you need to glide
Never seeming to find your stride in this lifetime

Never in the right place at the right time
Never finding yourself the slightest peace of mind

Falling into depths with no hope of recovery
Searching desperately for some kind of discovery

But gotta drag yourself up -- up out of bed
N gotta scrape out your skull -- clear out your head

And Gotta turn shit around - like you know you can
Only YOU got the power and the right to demand

A life of pride -- one to call your own
Where you're YOUR own ruler -- the Man on the throne

ARE YOU DOIN' IN LIFE -- WHAT YOU WAS MEANT TO ?
ARE YOU DOIN' IN LIFE -- WHAT YOU WAS SENT TO ?
ARE YOU LEADIN' THE LIFE THAT YOU WANNA LIVE ?
ARE YOU LIVIN' YOUR LIFE IN A WAY TO WIN ?

ARE YOU DOIN' IN LIFE -- WHAT YOU WAS MEANT TO ?
ARE YOU DOIN' IN LIFE -- WHAT YOU WAS SENT TO ?
ARE YOU LEADIN' THE LIFE THAT YOU WANNA LIVE ?
ARE YOU LIVIN' YOUR LIFE IN A WAY TO WIN ?

Here and now -- limited hours on earth
Make the most of yours -- recognize time's worth
Formulate somethin' solid just for you...
BEFORE this crazy ball splits in two

ARE YOU DOIN' IN LIFE -- WHAT YOU WAS MEANT TO ?
ARE YOU DOIN' IN LIFE -- WHAT YOU WAS SENT TO ?
ARE YOU LEADIN' THE LIFE THAT YOU WANNA LIVE ?
ARE YOU LIVIN' YOUR LIFE IN A WAY TO WIN ?

ARE YOU DOIN' IN LIFE -- WHAT YOU WAS MEANT TO ?
ARE YOU DOIN' IN LIFE -- WHAT YOU WAS SENT TO ?
ARE YOU LEADIN' THE LIFE THAT YOU WANNA LIVE ?
ARE YOU LIVIN' YOUR LIFE IN A WAY TO WIN ?

ARE YOU DOIN' IN LIFE -- WHAT YOU WAS MEANT TO ?
ARE YOU DOIN' IN LIFE -- WHAT YOU WAS SENT TO ?
ARE YOU LEADIN' THE LIFE THAT YOU WANNA LIVE ?
ARE YOU LIVIN' YOUR LIFE IN A WAY TO WIN ?

N.W.A - O GRUPO MAIS PERIGOSO DO MUNDO (foto: Ithaka Darin Pappas)

Nova Blitz traz CD de DJ Ride e 10 páginas sobre N.W.A.

• ReB
 
• Setembro 24, 2015
 
• Curtas
 

A nova edição da revista Blitz, que amanhã chega às bancas, tem múltiplos pontos de interesse para os leitores que seguem o universo explorado pelo Rimas e Batidas: a começar num CD de título Remixes & B Sides onde se reúne uma série de trabalhos dispersos de DJ Ride. São 17 faixas ao todo, incluindo trabalhos de remistura para artistas como Legendary Tigerman, Gentleman, Capicua, HMB ou Batida e colaborações com Beatbombers ou o irmão Holly e ainda inéditos ou versões alternativas de temas já conhecidos e editados em nome próprio. A acompanhar este CD há uma entrevista de Mário Rui Vieira e uma passagem do próprio DJ Ride por cada um dos 17 temas que se incluem neste disco.

Há mais pontos de interesse nesta edição: os míticos N.W.A. de Dr Dre, Eazy-E e Ice Cube, que inspiraram o blockbuster americano Straight Outta Compton que por sua vez inspirou Compton: A Soundtrack com que o produtor do mítico The Chronic quebrou um longo silêncio, merecem um longo artigo de 10 páginas da autoria de Rui Miguel Abreu (director desta vossa casa). Há ainda uma entrevista com Darin Pappas, o mentor do projecto Ithaka que deu cartas na cena hip hop nacional nos anos 90, que tem a particularidade de ter fotografado os N.W.A. na época em que vivia em Los Angeles, no final dos anos 80.

Para lá destes dois óbvios argumentos, a Blitz de Outubro inclui ainda uma entrevista de fôlego com Carlão e várias críticas a discos do universo hip hop/electrónico. Edição a não perder, portanto.

http://www.rimasebatidas.pt/nova-blitz-traz-cd-de-dj-ride-e-10-paginas-sobre-n-w-a/

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

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ithaka is a hip hop adventurer. Somewhere South Of Somalia is one of the most original hip hop releases ever." -- bigbaer.com 11/2001

"Run, don't walk, and buy this CD Don't miss one of the most original hiphop releases of the year" -- Jack Baer 11/19/2001

About the Artist

Although originally from the United States, Ithaka began his recording career in Lisbon, Portugal where he lived for several years. Regarded as one of the most influential 'Portuguese' artists of the 1990's*, his first two albums, FLOWERS AND THE COLOR OF PAINT(1995) and STELLAFLY(1997), were nominated for a total of nine BLITZ PREMIOS (Portuguese Grammy's) and received numerous other awards.

The offspring of a Greek father from the Bronx and a mix-blooded mother from Chattanooga, ITHAKA's life has been one of contrasts since day one. Spawned in the cultural crossbreeding grounds of Southern California, ITHAKA (aka: Ithaka Darin Pappas) grew up with one foot in the street and the other in the sea. Discovering both photography and surfing at the age of twelve, he spent his teen years ditching school to either surf or take photos, constantly listening to both rap and hard rock.

ITHAKA's curiosity of places and people (combined with early ability as a photographer) motivated him to begin traveling at a young age. After several visits to Europe and Africa and a major excursion to the South Pacific, Ithaka found himself in Lisbon, Portugal where a brief stint as a radio host led to a record deal on a local subsidiary of EMI. His original, 'nomadic wanderer' school of lyricism and laid-back narrative rap style soon brought him both praise from the critics and a solid fan base.

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' from the first album. The song earned Ithaka a SCYPE AWARD(European Radio Listeners Choice Award) and later appeared in the sound track of Columbia Film's THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS starring Mira Sorvino and Chow Yung Fat. Soon after the single's release, Ithaka assembled a high-spirited team of professionals and crusaded on an ambitious concert season, including the prestigious PRINTEMPS DE BOURGES FESTIVAL in France and the World's EXPO '98 in Lisbon. Shows consisted of a five-piece band, synthesized sequences, a female vocalist, a performance artist, slide and film projections and spoken-word interludes. Audiences ranged from 100 to 10,000 people.

http://www.amazon.com/Somewhere-South-Somalia-Ithaka/dp/B00005UDIK

Somewhere over the.......

By octavio brown on August 6, 2002

Format: Audio CD

This is unusual territory for a rap record. It's definitely hiphop but not restricted by trying just to work only within
those confines. The beats are phat. The lyrics meaningful.
Ithaka has a great voice and his use of female vocalists
add a nice melodic but not formula flavor. Highly recommended.

Ithaka's rap is touching!

By Ayako Matsuda on September 5, 2007

Format: Audio CD

This is a really good Album. His music has diffrent elements like rock, jazz and some ethnic sound.
That's why I like it. My all time favorite is Lapis Lazuli. It's a beautiful song.
Others like River Road have some serious stories.
I Like It!!

LAPIS LAZULI

By Andreia Pires on August 24, 2002

Format: Audio CD

Ithaka is a good story teller and has a really nice voice,
reminds me a little of Tupac. For this album he actually
went to deep Africa for inspiration.
I've never heard of anyone doing anything like that before.
This record will expand
your mind of what you think modern day Africa is all about.
This is a very full album, it's actually more like a movie.
Reoccuring charcters appear and the songs all line up like
chapters in an adventure novel. The song Lapis Lazuli is
a true classic, I can't believe it isn't all over MTV.

http://www.amazon.com/Somewhere-South-Somalia-Ithaka/dp/B00005UDIK