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TLF PERFORMING AT THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN MEMORY OF THE SLAVE TRADE
On May 15th 2012, The Lo Frequency will be performing at a United Nations General Assembly. The gala is a fundraising event for Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade memorials and global awareness programs. TLF is sharing the stage with a host of other world class musicians. Tune in live online to catch the performance across the planet. This is historic indeed…
Related show
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The Language of Love
This Thursday Feb 16th is going to be a great night to show and spread love. We can’t wait to see you there. The night will be filled with live music, an art exhibition, trivia, dope giveaways and much more. The Secret Service will be in the building to provide the post show soundtrack.
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Battle of The Boroughs 2012: The Lo Frequency Makes the Top 5
It was just announced at 12pm EST that The Lo Frequency has has made it to the next round of WNYC’s Battle of the Boroughs. Now we need your help to get to the final round. Check the video and vote online at www.greenespace.org or text bk11 to 69866. Please share the performance and spread the word. Let’s keep this energy flowing.
Battle of The Boroughs 2012: The Lo Frequency from The Greene Space @ WNYC & WQXR on Vimeo.
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“Float Away” on MTV
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The Battle of the Boroughs Recap
Friday Feb 3rd, The Lo Frequency and twelve other bands showed New York City and the world what incredible talent is bubbling below the surface in Brooklyn. WNYC’s Battle of the Boroughs at The Greenspace was truly a magical night. Today we will know if we received one of the top five slots and move on the next round. However things go, we enjoyed the experience. It was another catalyst in our elevation. Stay tuned…
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TLF SPEAKS IN THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE FEB 16TH @DROM NYC
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Countdown to the Battle of the Boroughs!!
This Friday, Feb 3rd 2012 we need as many of our friends family and fans in the place! It’s time for another level!
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TLF BATTLES FOR BROOKLYN
The Lo Frequency was recently selected for an exclusive showcase and competition for some of New York’s best up and coming talent. It’s WNYC’s Battle of the Boroughs in The Greene Space. This is a major opportunity! We need your support, your presence and your votes. Check the link and we’ll keep you updated. PEACE!
BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS IN THE GREENE SPACE
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OKAYPLAYER REVIEWS “THE EXPORT”
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“The Export” Featured On The Wonderful World of Carminelitta
We appreciate all of the love and support we are receiving on “The Export.” Check out this write up from a growing music blog site in the UK.
READ “THE EXPORT” FEATURE HERE:
The Wonderful World of Carminelitta
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The Lo Frequency – Float Away [Official Video]
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Chen Lo’s Response to “Leveraging Hip Hop in US Foreign Policy”
Chen Lo’s Response to “Leveraging hip hop in US foreign policy”
Over the last several days there has been a lot said about the Al Jazeera opinion piece, “Leveraging hip hop in US foreign policy” by Hashaam Aidi that ran online over the weekend. The piece was posted with additional commentary on SOHH.com (“US Drops Hip Hop Envoys Not Bombs to Kill Overseas Tensions”), a prominent hip-hop news site. I think the information and the conversation the piece has produced are poignant and necessary, but given that both articles mention my band and me directly, The Lo Frequency (formerly Chen Lo and the Liberation Family) felt like we should add our voices and perspective to the conversation.
For the sake of clarity, The Lo Frequency was selected by Jazz at Lincoln Center, a prestigious music institution, to tour internationally as a part of their Rhythm Road Music Abroad Program in 2010. We were selected from hundreds of other bands based on our musical ability, performance, educational integrity and community service. Nine other bands from different musical genres were selected to be part of the same program. Jazz at Lincoln Center’s funding partner for the program is the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (a branch of the US State Department).
Let me be clear in saying that over time, the US’s agenda to use hip-hop to connect with youth and to repair its image in places we visited became evident. Quite frankly, more dimensions of that agenda very likely exist. Because of our own very strong political opinions, we struggled with the decision of whether or not to continue our participation in the project. But ultimately, we didn’t lend ourselves to that agenda and it didn’t stop us from pursuing our mission through this program.
It’s critical to examine the nature of the work we did while on tour and to dig into our collective track record of music and service. The consistency in the mission and vision is strong. In every country we visited, we conducted workshops on the history of black music as it relates the experience of black people in America and the birth of hip hop culture. We were able to share our genuine experiences as people of African descent living in a country that enslaved and subjugated our ancestors for centuries. We also conducted master classes where we taught the technical aesthetics of hip hop music and learned how to incorporate elements of the local music into our compositions. In addition, we were able to collaborate and create music with local artists.
Though we acknowledge the US’s attempted use of hip hop, and other forms of art and culture, as a tool to serve the interests of the US, that didn’t impact the music we performed on tour or the sincerity of our movement. Our intent was and still is to share our music and experiences with the world and to connect with real people in ways we can all relate to. We did that. Moreover, I can honestly say we’ve seen, done and experienced things that most artists, or people for that matter, will never have the chance to.
The Lo Frequency and I would love the opportunity to continue this conversation and offer more insight and perspective. This issue has a lot more dimension than I have time and space to get into here.
For more valid information on Chen Lo or the Lo Frequency visit the following:
www.lofrequencymusic.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/thelofrequency
www.reverbnation.com/thelofrequency
www.myspace.com/chenlo
http://www.youtube.com/user/chenlo77
A simple Google search will also yield a lot of good information.
Peace,
Chen Lo
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THE LO FREQUENCY-THE MAKING OF THE EXPORT (EPISODE 3)
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The Lo Frequency Live at THE EXPORT Release Party (POST SOUL) – “Think Of”
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The Lo Frequency “The Export” EP Listening Party @ Sutra
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The Lo Frequency Live at THE EXPORT Release Party (POST SOUL) – “Everything”
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The Lo Frequency – The Making of THE EXPORT EP (EPISODE 2)
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The Lo Frequency – The Making of THE EXPORT EP (EPISODE 1)
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The Lo Frequency – The Export EP AVAILABLE on iTunes NOW
The Lo Frequency
The Export EP
1. Getting Late
2. Peace
3. Float Away
4. Moon Rise
5. Think of
6. Look for the light
7. Export
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FLOAT AWAY – The First OFFICIAL SINGLE from The Export EP
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The Lo Frequency “The Export” EP Release Party FRIDAY OCT. 7th @ SouthPaw in BKNY
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The Lo Frequency Live w/ Freddie Gibbs & More @ Shadow Lounge in Pittsburgh, PA
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The Lo Frequency Live in La Ceiba, Honduras @ The World Summit of African Descendants [VIDEO]
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First leak off of The Export EP-’Think Of’
Cover design by Paul Dang
Check out the leak leak track off of our upcoming EP-The Export- entitled ‘Think Of.’
“Think Of is a nice interlude into the acquisition of real freedom.”- hiphopruckus.com
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‘Float Away’ Video Shoot
This past weekend we had a major all-day video shoot for one of the songs off our upcoming release The Export. We are really excited to be working with a great director named Chidiki Whitley of Akachi Pictures, who also directed the ‘Give It All Up’ video. Shouts to EyeSerene (The Oracle) for letting us use her beautiful home. Our new friend Jason Knobloch of Illusion Studios is also doing a great job with the camera work. We can’t wait to see how it turns out!
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The Lo Frequency @The World Summit of African Descendants in La Ceiba, Honduras [VIDEO]
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The Lo Frequency Live Performance and Workshops in Honduras
The main purpose of our trip to Honduras was to perform in the Music Festival on the opening day of the World Summit of African Descendants. The event took place in a football stadium and included fireworks and other music and dance performances by prominent groups from all over Latin America and the Caribbean.
Our workshops were actually the highlight of the trip. The energy of these 400+ groups of middle and high school students was truly inspiring. These interactive demonstrations included the history of hip hop music and culture, the tenets of the music and a performance.
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The World Summit of African Descendants-La Ceiba, Honduras
The Lo Frequency was honored to be a part of the first annual World Summit of African Descendants held in La Ceiba, Honduras in August. The Summit came as part of the commemoration of the International Year for People of African Descent proclaimed by the United Nations. Delegates from all over the world gathered to discuss socioeconomic conditions of Afro-descendant populations and establish a plan to ensure development with equity for these groups. The Lo Frequency was at the opening ceremony where we got an opportunity to talk to some of the participants about what the conference meant to them among other topics.
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TLF in Bahrain
The Lo Frequency traveled to Manama, Bahrain in July to perform in the Bahrain Summer Festival during a time of great turmoil in the nation. A major government crackdown on citizen protests calling for equal treatment and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy had been raging since February. The King called for a so called National Dialogue which much of the opposition did not take seriously and was beginning to fall apart (For an Al Jazeera feature on the situation in Bahrain, click here). This caused a lot of internal struggle for us. We did not want our participation in this event to be seen as condoning the actions of the government in any way. In the end, we were clear that the purpose in all of our travels is to connect with the people, no matter where we go, and we remained focused on that. The performances were great. We were blessed with a guest spot by Malikah, an incredibly talented emcee and a great friend of ours from our time in Beirut who flew in from Dubai to spend some time and rock with us. We also got the opportunity to work with some really excited and talented youth from ages 7-18 in two amazing workshops. Despite our initial misgivings, the trip turned out to be a very rewarding learning experience for us.
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Traditions
This song and video was a collaborative effort between all parties involved as part of the International Hip Hop Academy in Beirut, Lebanon sponsored by The Lo Frequency. It was a great honor to work with such a talented group of people. Hip hop is a culture that has become a global phenomenon. No matter where we go, no matter what culture we encounter, we find commonality with those who share in these common traditions.
Video Directed by Merass Sadek
The Lo Frequency
Chen Lo-MC
Shannon Grier-Vocals
Ken White-Drums
Hakhi Alakhun- Guitar
Baassik-Bass
DJ Scandales-DJ/ProducerFeaturing:
Malikah
Edd & Chyno of FareeQ El Atrash
MC ZeineDin
Ram 6Additional Instrumentation:
Aram Papazian-percussion
Mohamad Assaf-Nay
Dia-violinRecorded at:
Forward Music-music
Sami Gabriel-vocalsMixing/Mastering:
Grade A StudiosExecutive Producer:
The Lo FrequencyProduced by:
Merass SadekProduction Assistants:
Nada Addoum
Farah Pucca Makarem
Hisham Youness
Fatima QuraishiDirector of Photography:
Merass SadekCamera Assistant:
Maude GirardEquipment:
Media SquareAssistant Editor:
Leah MagoyeLettering by:
Special Thanks to:
Forward Music
Sami Gabriel
Mr. John I Nasr -
The Lo Frequency Kickstarter Campaign 2011
The Lo Frequency has embarked upon a major crowdfunding campaign through kickstarter.com. We are attempting to raise $7,800 in 30 days to pay for the costs of recording, mixing, mastering and packaging an EP of our music which will be called The Export. We have been given many opportunities in the past year and are in need of a professional, industry level recording to showcase our signature sound. For us, this is the beginning of the next level!
Click here for our official Kickstarter pageCheck here to keep up with our progress:
Promo Video
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Beirut Hip Hop Academy- Video Montage
During our residency in Beirut, Lebanon, The Lo Frequency conducted a workshop series with some extremely talented local artists. A major goal of this residency was community building. Lebanon has an incredibly talented hip hop scene with members who are very steeped in the culture and are elevating their craft to new levels. It was a time for us to bring this scene together to build, share, and create music together. We also discussed the foundational elements of the culture that we all find common ground including the history and the form, function and technique of the music. The whole process consisted of 4 days of auditions to get to know the scene, intense workshops, followed by weeks of rehearsals leading up to a major performance. Here is a little glimpse into the auditions and workshop portions.
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Interview on ReVolt Radio
This is a phone interview we had with our friend Big Hass from ReVolt Radio. Check him out. He’s a great voice for real hip hop in the Middle East and across the world.
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Live at Al Mandaloun-Beirut, Lebanon
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Interview on Shuhra.com
Shuhra.com is a multimedia platform created for the discovery and promotion of talents in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as covering entertainment news and trends in the region.
We at Shuhra.com are dedicated to providing anyone with a certain talent the opportunity to showcase their respective skill and share it with the mass public, which ultimately helps build up the fan base any artist dreams of.
We met the folks from Shuhra.com when they took the time to come by the theater to interview us and film our workshop.
Click here to view full interview and video
They also came to support the show we had at a jazz club called Mojo’s.
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New Journey in Beirut
For the next two months, Beirut, Lebanon will be home and we are in the middle of it all. Our neighborhood, Hamra, considered by some the Greenwich Village of Beirut is one of the most cosmopolitan places in the Middle East. It is the perfect environment for what is to come for us.
We have embarked on one of the most incredible developmental experiences that a band can have. Spending a solid two months together in a beautiful foreign land, honing our craft as musicians as well as educators even further, with a regular venue to perform at and a wealth of talented artists to collaborate with- these are the conditions that can elevate a group to the next level. As an entity, we will become more cohesive and more prepared for whatever opportunities come our way. We are hungry. We have direction and drive. We are building connections and resources. We are following our passions and excited about where they will take us. -
The LO Frequency on CBS Sunday Morning
This is a news feature about the experience of the Rhythm Road Tour on CBS Sunday Morning.
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Chen Lo and DJ Scandales Rock Hanoi, Vietnam
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Airport Politics
The airport has become a stage where the effects of world politics play out in interesting ways. On this trip, we have visited a region, with a few countries in particular, who have had and continue to have strained relations with the US. In Algeria, many of the people, as well as the government feel like they do not deserve to have their citizens subjected to extra scrutiny at US airports due to their country being placed on a terror watch list. We definitely felt their sentiment for this distinction during our 2 hour wait in customs.
Syria has particularly sticky relations with both US and Israel. As of late, Israel has accused Syria of supplying Scud missiles to Hezbollah in Lebanon. US has continued sanctions on Syria and is yet to confirm a new ambassador since G W Bush removed the previous one. (That’s just the news of the day. Never mind the entire history between these nations) So when the security officer at the airport leaving Syria found a Star of David shaped pendant in the wallet of a US citizen in our line, it seemed to strike a chord for that particular officer. That group was lucky to make it onto the plane. When the airport representative came to apologize for the delay and gave whatever excuse, I overheard a comment from him that put it all in perspective for me. He said something like, “The same happens to me when I come to your country.”
The people I encountered on this trip are no less human than the people I encounter everyday in the US. When I encounter frustrating situations in an airport, the best I can do is be aware of the reasons behind it, reserve judgment, try not to take it personal and recognize the humanity-the good and the bad. -
Damascus, Syria…Welcome to the Old World
Some say Damascus, Syria is the oldest city in the world of those that remain. Some people may argue that fact, but it’s definitely a relic of the old world. The Souq or market district is said to have been around for thousands of years. It’s surreal to walk the halls and tunnels of everything from baked good and traditional medicine, to traditional clothing and artifacts. The ruins of the Temple of Jupiter and the amazingly beautiful Umayyad Mosque are testaments to Damascus’ ancient grandeur and are positioned in the midst of the Souq.
We were briefed on the fact that Syria has not had a U.S. Ambassador present for the last 6 years or so and relations between the two countries have been strained, but are in a state of repair. We didn’t know what to expect with such a tumultuous history and mis-perceptions on both sides of the pond. Throw hip hop in the mix and it could all go haywire. But nothing happened except an amazing experience and exchange between people of two seemingly different worlds.
We over-ate some of the best food we had on tour, we loved the kids we met and worked with and we enjoyed the shopping…Oh man did we enjoy the shopping. Syria has some of the best handmade goods we encountered on tour and I for one had to share the love with my family and friends back home.
This is definitely a place in the world I never thought I would be, but I made it here doing what I love to do most, music. I was able to see it from a perspective of openness, compassion and connectedness. I don’t know what Syria thinks of me, but I have major love for Syria.
The only thing that really rubbed me the wrong way was our experince in the airport on our way back to the U.S. Check out Ken’s “Airport Politics” blog entry for details. It’s a disturbing, but true story that gives you a sense of the impact the hysteria and discrimination around the war on terror has had around the world. This is a great example of how foriegn policy translates from legislation in halls of congress to the realities and interactions of the international community. I guess I have to get used to it if this is the life I’m choosing to live.
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The Final Straightaway
Syria is a really beautiful country. The people are extremely proud of their history. Apparently, Damascus is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. On the inside cover of this one restaurant menu it read something like, Syria is where history began.
The food there is crazy! At the end of the Algeria trip transitioning to Jordan, I got really sick for a few days. I lost quite a bit of weight. It turned out to be a good thing in the end because if we were not so active and I hadn’t lost some weight, I probably would have ballooned up in Syria. Each meal included a full spread as the appetizer portion. it was a struggle to get through everything, but it was so good!
Walking through the souk (marketplace) in Syria you can tell that there is not much contact with American citizens. Out of all the countries we went to, we received the most blatant stares. It was funny to watch peoples’ eyes look at my face and then move up to my hair. A stare was often accompanied by giggling. I wasn’t always sure if I was being clowned, or it was just an uncomfortable reaction to something that is clearly foreign. Either way, it was interesting to watch.
Damascus turned out to be a great ending to the tour. Our last show at the Princess Palace Restaurant had a lot of energy surrounding it. We started the evening with the most intense media frenzy I have ever been a part of. About 5 TV station had us in the street outside of the venue as people were entering. I’m sure that funneled a lot of people off the street into the show. I used to run track as well as cross country in high school. For those long distance runs, my favorite part was always the sprint at the final straightaway where you gave everything that you had left and you could completely empty your reserves. We were exhausted from six weeks of traveling and working, but our last show in Damascus was that final straightaway for me. -
Workshops in Syria
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Beirut…?
The Lo Frequency backstage in Beirut with DJ Lethal Skillz-Photo-Tanya Traboulsi
Growing up on American soil automatically means I have a built in perception of what Beirut, Lebanon in like. When I told people I was headed there as part of our tour, I received a lot looks and comments of anxiety and surprise. My mother told me to go with an open mind and an open heart, so I did. What a blessing it turned out to be.
Don’t get it twisted, this is a war torn country with a lot of stories and brutal history. We heard our share of stories and perspectives on some of it. It gets deeeeep. It’s also home to a number of displaced Palestinians. Heavy military and police presence in the streets and the small concealed arsenal of our drivers lets us know that it can get real at any moment. Even as I’m writing, various news outlets are claim that tension is swelling between Lebanon and Israel. I say “enough with war!,” but that’s just me. I pray the day will soon come when we make war no more. Life is too short to be drunk on power at the expense of so many. Ok, I’m off my soap box…
The Mediterranean Sea is one the most beautiful locations on earth from so many of its points. Beirut has an especially amazing view. At least from what we saw, the city is building itself at a rapid pace and taking advantage of its location and designation as one of the crossroads of the world. Many people of many cultures pass through or remain there doing business, making a life, creating art or just vacationing.
Our time here has been exciting and productive. We have laid roots here in a sense. We were treated to the best local food and even ended up with all access to a dope rehearsal studio whenever we find ourselves in Beirut. Through various contacts on the road we were able to link with a legendary Lebanese DJ and beacon of Hip Hop culture in the East, DJ Lethal Skillz. He is a man of great talent with a humble and generous spirit. He made us honorary memebers of his crew (961) Underground. It was an honor. More than that, we had the opportunity to perform with him in his hometown for an amazing crowd. These are moments you don’t get everyday. Cherish them when they are here. That is a show and a city I wil never forget. We hit a stride an fell in love with Beirut.
I’ll say this much, you can’t judge a book by it’s cover or anyone else’s opinion of it. Always judge for yourself.
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Beirut-Whodathunkit?
What do you think of when someone mentions Beirut?
War torn landscape?
Hezbollah?How about one of the most developed hip hop scenes in the Middle East? Would you have expected a hopping nightlife? Seriously amazing food? Multicultural? One of the greatest aspects of international travel is finding out the richness of a country and a culture that is often hidden from common knowledge underneath political rhetoric and positioning. Never judge a book solely by it’s coverage on the news.
During our time in Beirut, we extended the Liberation Family with our new brother-from-another-mother, DJ Lethal Skillz. Truly a great soul and talented DJ putting Lebanese hip hop on the map. We did two collaborations with him at our show at the Monot Theatre. We are looking forward to continuing this partnership.
We hope to return to Lebanon. The connections we made are lasting and cannot end in a single trip. -
In Beirut with DJ Lethal Skillz
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Half Alive @ Monot Theatre in Beirut
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Jordan-Elevation
Our visit to Jordan was so much about elevation. We went to the Dead Sea where nothing can live because of the extraordinarily high salt deposits. The properties of science dictate that one would float on top of the water if one attempted to swim. This is truly the case. The buoyancy level prevents submersion. Natural Elevation. Ironically, the Dead Sea is at one the lowest places on earth below sea level. If you have ever heard the biblical story of the area around the Dead Sea, apparently God was trying to elevate his people from the debauchery of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which are located nearby. Being there was mystical.
Then, we were blessed to see the amazing wonder of the world that is Petra. This is the remnants of ancient city that existed before the Western calendar marker of the birth of Christ. It was truly surreal to see such ancient structures virtually intact in the detail of their construction. For me this was an example of the elevated potential of the human spirit in the way that we still contemplate the construction process of The Great Pyramids at Giza. This is something you have to encounter to understand, but it has inspired me to reach higher.
Finally, Jordan saw the elevation of our game as people, musicians and artistic spirits…literally. We were rocking a show in Kerak at Al-Mu’tah University. After pre-show drama that was out of our hands. We decided to dig in and prove ourselves to one another. The energy of the show ended with the crowd rushing the stage and elevating me…literally. Check the photo. ELEVATION!
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Jordan
Petra. It’s difficult for me to verbalize the way it feels to be in the midst of a city carved out of a mountain by hand over 2000 years ago. These aren’t just caves in the rock. There are elaborate edifices with ornate columns and decorations hued by the natural pinkish color of the rock. A people saw this mountain region and decided to not build a city around it, but turn the mountain into a city. That just blows my mind. I mean, can you imagine how long it must have taken them?! The amount of patience and ingenuity it must have taken is staggering. There is a reason why it is one of the 7 modern wonders of the world.
OK so you have this wonder of human ingenuity. Now add a star filled night sky candlelight and live traditional Bedouin music reverberating through the mountains. I don’t know. What do you say about that? All I can do is reflect and be.
And then you have the Dead Sea. You really just float effortlessly. In fact you couldn’t sink if you wanted to. You probably wouldn’t want to though. The salt content is out of control. It stings your eyes and is unbearable to the taste. But if you just float it’s really a worth while experience. You’re also 400+ ft below sea level (little fun fact for you).
We had some great concerts in Jordan. Mainly college performances which were a lot of fun. We were really able to connect to the students. The highlight of the Jordan performances was at a college in Kerak when the half the audience joined us on stage and lifted Chen in the air. It was all love.
Jordan stands out for it’s tourist attractions, but we also had some amazing collaborations with local artists, And not just emcees, but oud players and darbouka players expanding our sound. -
The Sights of Jordan
From Petra to the Dead Sea, our experience in Jordan on the Rhythm Road Tour was incredible. It was so humbling to be see the potential of human ingenuity along with the natural marvel of the Dead Sea.
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Lo Frequency World Cup Collaboration with Algerian Artists
On their recent tour stop in Algeria The Lo Frequency collaborated on this World Cup anthem with prominent Algerian group Djezma. Check out the video!
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Jordan is sooooo fly !
Here I am in this fly hotel, writing on the laptop with a harp in the background, a real fireplace to my left, and and air of tranquility, class and newness. No, I am not getting “the vapors” . I am just appreciating what is around me right now and the new view in life. I holed up in the hotel while the group did some site-seeing. ( My internal clock is all over the place, now.) So, I did some needed catch-up and still have things to do. (Remember, I don’t have “people” with me, helping me with business, clothes etc).
Maybe I will grab some din-din and go upstairs and keep doing stuff. We have quite a schedule here in Jordan: a master class, performances, interviews etc. But this is what is required to get the music out there.
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Behind the Scenes in Algeria
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Algeria-Culture in the Casbah
I remember being in and out of sleep the first time I was exposed to the movie “The Battle of Algiers.” I didn’t really have a context for it at first. Then I saw it again later in my college tenure. At that point it was another movie about the cruelties of colonization inflicted by the French on their lowly colonial Algerian subjects. But going to Algiers and walking through the Casbah made the picture ever so clear. After explaining the architecture and traditions of the people over generations, our guide showed us the places in the Casbah where the movie was actually filmed and more importantly where the actual events occurred that the movie depicted. He said the film was very true to life. Accompanied by plain a clothes officer (a protocol resulting from the robbery of European tourists in the Casbah) we walked the hills and steps of one of the oldest north African city sites overlooking the Bay of Algiers in all of it’s breath taking grandeur.
The wounds and impacts of French colonization are deep and apparent. This history has given the Algerian people a pride and power in the heritage of their struggle. It is expressed in the passion of Algerians in their everyday lives and interactions.
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Live in Algeria Part 2
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Live in Algiers Part 1
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Live in Algeria Part 3
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Algeria is very hype !
Let’s see, how can you spoil an artist ? Let’s ask the Algerian embassy; they know how to do this…well ! I am NOT saying that the other countries did not treat us well, all of the people treated and received us well. But Algeria, ( will be known as ‘The Motherland ‘A’ !), hooked us up ! I can see how heads can get ‘swoll’ and you catch an case of ego. (Until we see ‘the band pic’. Don’t ask !)
They opened their hearts and homes, (literally), and really helped us along through the issues that sometimes came up. A tour is never easy and will have have kinks every so often, but Algeria did their best to accommodate us. May I mention an escort to the bathroom for yours truly because I am not talented enough for the ‘African traditional bathrooms’ ? ( Hey, I am not embarrassed. But I don’t know how you guys and gals do it, but I can’t hang. Really. Maybe when I’m older….
The tradition of the vibe of Hip Hop is not lost in Algeria. Dig It !
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Rest day for BAASSIK-Algeria, Africa
Rest day today, (not performing/teaching), but still working. We have been on a “Whirled-wind-world-tour” travel schedule, driving and flying from one country to another. (Too bad I can’t frequent-flyer miles. I could get another bass guitar from it !) The pace is non-stop, but I would not trade it for the world.
Africa has treated us well. So far, we have been to Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. (Currently in Algeria). Algeria has treated us so well. ( They spoiled us.) The people from the Algerian Embassy are so nice and accommodating, as with the other countries. The views here are breathtaking ! The most advanced camera or video could not come close to capturing the feel of the mountains, plains, and other sites here. I am so geeked that I am not watching TV or video ! It is surreal !
We have had a press conference, radio and tv interviews and we will be doing some more before we leave Algeria. We met with some local dancers and band members for a show on Saturday at Salle El Atlas, which I am stoked about, actually !
I am a truly a city kind of girl. But Africa is one of the places that I want to visit again and again. I had to adjust to some cultural differences, as one would expect. I would definitely come back and bring family, if possible. I hope you (Algeria) will welcome me again.
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The Passion and History of the Algerian People
The history and passion of the Algerian people is palpable. We’ve played for some pretty rambunctious audiences on this tour. There was such love and appreciation from the audiences at all of our shows expressed in many different ways. But in Algeria, something about the energy of the audiences there was different.
Fatima is a great journalist and she did a lot of research on Algeria before we left, mainly because out of all the countries on our tour, the contemporary and historical landscape of the hip hop scene there is particularly interesting. Some of the hip hop groups out of Algeria are said to be the first in the region. Hip hop in Algeria was born out of a youth revolt on October 5, 1988 where people took to the streets to rise up against the vast injustices they were experiencing mainly the rising food prices and sub standard education system. The army’s response was violent and resulted in the deaths of a vast number of the youth. This was the event that many of the prominent Algerian artists like MBS (the Mic Breaks the Silence) and Intik site as the time when they started writing rhymes.
This is only part of a history that includes an extremely violent war of independence from the French that lasted 7 years and civil war between . One fact that was very interesting for me to realize is that many of the nations in this region have gained independence relatively recently from the various European colonial powers. Algeria became independent from over 100 years of French rule in 1962. That is within the lifetime of our generation’s parents and grandparents. Having such a close connection to a violent fight for independence that dominated the landscape of a country for 7 years will place the spirit of the struggle at a very prominent place in the psyche of a nation- something that we in the US do not have much of a frame of reference for.
At the same time, it is amazing to think of the commonalities that we do have. The situation that youth in Algeria were dealing with that sprung the beginnings of hip hop mirror that of the youth in the South Bronx when hip hop was first born. -
Behind the Scenes in Tunisia
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Tunisia
Tunisia…At first I didn’t realize I would be actually performing in Carthage, the home of the mighty Hannibal, a place that still has visible Roman ruins and an amazing confluence of culture. The weather is picture perfect, The Mediterranean Sea is a walk from the hotel. This is our second country and this whole thing is so surreal to me every time I wake up and realize where I am. We’re being driven in armored vehicles by psuedo secret service cats and rockin’ some pretty interesting venues.
So far I have to say rockin’ for the kids at the American School was one of my best performance experiences to date. We rocked for about 500 kids, from K-12 grade from all over the globe. They were one of the best and most fun crowds I’ve ever been with. They danced, laughed and listened. I’ll never forget a young boy about 6 who hopped on the stage at the opening of our set and just starting doing the kickworm like there was no tomorrow. That was priceless and is forever burned in my memory.
As the icing on the cake, our in country contact drove us through the country to our next show where a few surprises awaited us. We drove through the small, but busy town of El Kef on our way to sound check for our late night peformance. Out of nowhere we passed a huge sign saying CHEN LO with other Arabaic announcements. Then we were side tracked by a reception and awards ceremony we had no idea about with made men and other international artists. This the point where we threw our hands up and let things be what the are.
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El Kef Tunisia
Driven by a stoic, watchful man in large dark sunglasses speeding at 80 mph up a mountain to El Kef in Tunisia in a Chevy Surbaban, overtaking cars as if they weren’t there, sliding through police check points with privilege- amongst the most beautiful mix of mountainous, green plains, cacti, and farmland. Characteristic blues accent the white, blocked homes that sprinkle through out the greens. Leading up to our little villa hotel nestled in the mountain of El Kef we could not have expected the rowdy scene that we were going to encounter at our show that night at the 24 hour theatre festival.
If you told me when we walked up to the theatre that we’d be chopping it up with made men, honored at the governor’s reception among theatre and musical groups from Sudan, Egypt and Portugal and interviewed by a TV station, I would have made sure I was properly dressed. Or, had I known I’d have to take over for the “soundman” who had no idea what he was doing, I might have brushed up on my EQ skills before the show. But we’ve found ourselves in so many surreal, unanticipated situations this trip that it is almost the norm. We’re learning so much each day. -
New Fam in Tunisia
It is great to meet people along your travels that you can connect with, who will show you around and give you the inside perspective on a new place. In Tunisia we found family in DaSoul and WMD of the group Afrock and Haythem from Art Village. We had been in contact over email with Afrock through a mutual partner of Chen’s and we met Haythem at the workshop we conducted at Art Village which is a small music school and art collective kind of space with a great atmosphere in Tunis. All three of them took time out of their day to show us around Tunis. We went through the Medina and were introduced to some of the great Tunisian sweets and had the best couscous I’ve ever had. We had great conversations about our individual experiences in our respective music industries. It was a great opportunity to build and connect on a real level with like minded artists from another country through a common love of hip hop music.
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Middle School Visit in Safi
It was such a pleasant surprise deviation from our scheduled activities to visit a nearby school in the underserved area of Safi, Morocco. To feel the energy and excitement of young people can make your day. They ask the best questions. They are so attentive and engaged. I’m sure it has something to do with being a visitor to their classroom, a break from the norm, something out of the ordinary, but it makes you feel special too.
That leads me to reflect on the reception we’ve received so far. I have found it strange the way people are so engaged with our presence. We’re not famous. We definitely look different. I don’t know if there is some other perception tied with us being musicians from the US. If people knew what our hustle was like in New York would they be so interested? Each of us has worked so hard for the greater part of our lives to be able to connect with people on this level. I find it funny that it takes a trip to a foreign land to live that dream.
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Safi Show
Safi was a blast. Beautiful scenery off the ocean coast. Very Relaxing and fun. The coolest thing was speaking at an all-girls school on the role of hip-hop inthe united states. I cant lie I felt like a rock star for 3 secs as we walked the school grounds! lol. And then I snapped out of it and remembered that I am The Sandwich maker for the group!
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Hey World !
Peace all. This is BAASSIK. What up, all? We’re grinding & getting much love in the Motherland, (Africa, y’all). Its amazing; no matter where you go, life is basically the same.
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First Days
Hey. This is DJ Scan (Scandales aka Lucky Sandwich Maker) Part of the Lo Frequency. I am the Turntabilist(DJ) Producer for the group. The magnitude of this experience is without words. I can not being to say how elated I am to be going abroad seeing and meeting different people. We are only 4 days into the tour but my appreciation of people, life and culture has been raised to new heights that even my personal confidants have never seen. I am blessed
to be around talented musicians. Just wanted to acknowledge My other Brother Yee I am always with you in spirit not matter how far. YEE AND CAROLINE HOLD YA HEAD. -
I love B Boys and B Girls !
At the concert in Rabat, there were b-boys and b-girls breaking, locking and just going crazy. I am loving this !! It is amazing to see them dance like in Brooklyn, the Bronx…just the faces look a little different. The love for the culture and the music was there for all to see.
I danced on stage: that is how powerful the feeling was ! I put down my bass and just danced with crowd ! That is how strong the connection was there. It wasn’t ‘Artists’ and ‘Audience’…it was “FAMILY” !
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Sali
shouts to Casablanca and Sali . The Love was amazing . Ripped shop
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“Peace” live in Sala Al Jadida
The LO Frequency aka Chen Lo and the Liberation Family performing “Peace” live in Sala Al Jadida, Morocco. Plenty of peace signs and even a random child in the air.
“PEACE” live in Sala Al Jadida, Morocco from Liberation Music Group on Vimeo.
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Sala Al Jadida Highlights
One of the livest audiences we’ve ever played for!
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Sala Al Jadida: One of the best shows of my life
So we went to Sala Al Jadida, Morocco for a show and a jam session with one of their local hip hop group, Nores. I didn’t know what to expect. After a really interesting drive through part of the country, we arrived a community center venue. It was a small theater, but perfect for what was about to transpire. We were blown away to see what is probably the world’s largest video projector preparing to throw the image of our performance on the side of a building.
We had the opportunity to link with Nores and jam for a bit through language barriers and artistic agendas. We were able to create a dope finale for what would prove to be one of the illest shows I’ve ever been a part of.
It’s show time. We walked up to the venue to find police and an excited crowd of youth outside the venue. I didn’t know it was that serious. I mean, I don’t think they even knew who we are. Maybe that doesn’t matter. All I know is this show was an explosion. Nores took the stage and rocked the spot. I can honestly say I didn’t expect that, but it just made us want to bring it even more, “LO Frequency style.” We had to shut it down and connect with these people in a land you may think is so distant and different from where I reside. But the vibration of the music is universal and set this place on fire. Everything just worked. Song choices, sound, crowd love…there was even crowd surfing! That’s a first for me at a show. That would never happen at a New York Hip Hop Show these days. The universe was shining on us. The youth are the key to the culture and the key to all of our salvation. They still believe in magic. Hip Hop is not dead, it just moved to Morocco…;).
Check the clips for the evidence. Peace.
Chen
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Energy Boost
The audiences in Morocco are unlike any I have ever played for. I thought you would need to be on some Michael Jackson status to get energy like this (now people weren’t crying and passing out when we came on stage like they did for MJ, but it was great nonetheless). In New York, you have to ask audiences to move up to stage. This crowd needed security to hold them back. Everybody’s hands were in the air (as well as a whole body or two).
We played in this medium sized community center auditorium (shouts to the sound man. The sound was on point). A local group named Nores opened for us who seemed to have a decent following. We couldn’t asked for a better warm up act. Their energy was up the whole time. By the time we got on, the room was live. Scan opened the set with a flare of turntablism and just crushed it. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun with an audience. This more than made up for my disappointment in the previous evening’s performance. Check the video and you’ll see. In addition to the raw energy of the room, there were some really powerful moments. Check out the clips of Roots and Peace and you’ll see what I’m talking about. -
“Roots” live in Sala Al Jadida, Morocco
The crowd participation on this one is really fun. They may not all understand what they’re saying, but they’re all in it nonetheless.
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Wired & Tired
After performing with the Nores at Sala Al Jadida in Rabat, now I know how it feels to be on the other side of the stage of a powerful show. Performing with the Nores was crazy ! They are high energy ! And the positive energy from the crowd was so great ! So strong ! So real ! I was “wired and tired” for about two hours. This is such a great feeling! You can’t beat this!
I was at the end of the stage, touching our people, shaking hands and talking (well, yelling), to them. (Yes, they are “our” people-people who love hip hop.) And I believe that English was NOT their first language. But they understood our song “Peace“. (Paz, Paix). THIS is one of the reasons why I do this music thing; to communicate and reach people. The bonus from this show is that the message was somehow understood by the crowd. Completely. I am so digging this right now !
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Tremplin Festival in Casablanca
Ok…Where do I begin? Our First Show In Casablanca is at the Tremplin Festival. This is only the 2nd biggest festival in Casablanca with well over 2000 people in attendance…easy. (Not Bad right?) Lights, camera, action. We started the day with a workshop that any b-boy or b-girl would appreciate. Salutes to the all the crews who joined in and participated. (Phila Crew, Afr0). Our first show went OK. Knowing the performance level of my commorades we were not amped about our performace. Perfectionists…what can I tell you?
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A Good Start
There is a genuine enthusiasm around anything hip hop among the youth that we encountered in our Casablanca workshop at the Tremplin Festival. They heard beats and were down for whatever we had to bring. There was also an awareness about the power of expression that hip hop can wield and a little more appreciation for that power than we find in the United States nowadays. We made a strong connection with one young man who goes by Afro. In the discussions we had he pointed out that hip hop is about respect. Others talked about it as a way to express the injustices that they experience. I wish we had more time to really get into what life is like for them. These types of meetings are really important part of this tour for me. They can be very meaningful. I’m not as interested in teaching them what I know as engaging in a dialogue. I want a dialogue where we can enhance each other’s stories through listening and sharing. These meet and greet and workshop kind of situations are a great start, but I’m hoping to find opportunities to expand on them as the tour progresses.
For a first show on our tour it was a little overwhelming. We were headlining on a huge stage at this festival in front of over 2,000 people. The energy was crazy. I wish we played that venue at least a day or two further into our trip. We were probably still jet lagged (I remember waking up that morning thinking it was 2 hours later than it actually was). I was disappointed in myself. I felt like I let people down for the mistakes I made. A lot of it was technical issues, but I still feel the importance of making a good impression every time I step on stage or talk to an interviewer or conduct a workshop. Not just make a good impression but do the work that needs to be done to the best of my ability. Make connections, make people move and feel something special. The people we are encountering deserve nothing less.
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Tremplin Festival in Casablanca
Over two thousand people; one of the dopest venues in North Africa; The LO Frequency headlines. The set up was incredible…moving lights, smoke machines, banners and ambiance
The festival was designed to give international artists of all kinds with purposeful messages a platform. There were people/artists there from all over the world…Senegal, Holland, Togo, France.
Earlier in the day we conducted a workshop on the history of black music and the roots of hip hop for a group of emcees dj’s and b-boys. I saw some of the illest emcees and performers I’ve seen in some time, regardless of the language barrier. They get it in. This session was a good warm up for our show later that night.
We had a long wait before we performed which I think zapped some our energy and focus. We were still recovering from traveling and spent the whole day working. To rock a show for thousands after that is no small task, but it’s what we had to do.
The show starting slowly and it seemed we just couldn’t get things to click. It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t our best. I had an artist breakthrough in improvisation and crowd interaction. I actually ended up singing Bob Marley’s “Buffalo Soldier” on stage. I’m not saying I can’t sing, but I don’t and it felt good. We beat ourselves up after the show because of the perfectionists we are, but it wasn’t all bad. We had to take to good with the bad and prepare for the next night, which was one to remember. Big up to everyone at the Templin Festival and our host Abdelkrim Raddadi for making things happen for us in Casablanca.
peace
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Tremplin Festival
The First show was a little ruff but we pulled through.
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Tremplin Festival Highlights
More footage from the TREMPLIN Festival in Casablanca, Morocco.
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Casablanca
The LO Frequency aka Chen Lo and the Liberation Family on the Rhythm Road Tour in Casablanca, Morocco. Workshop and performance at the Tremplin Festival.
Chen Lo and the Liberation Family in Casablanca from Liberation Music Group on Vimeo.
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Home sick !
I am just bit home sick, being so far away from family & loved ones. But the family here in Morocco was there for us!
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We rocked the party in Sala Al Jadida !
We rocked out in Sala Al Jadida. It felt great to play in front of that crowd. Hip Hop is truly universal. Expressions from the people, by the people. Morocco, we love you as you love Hip Hop! I would have never guessed that people here in Africa would receive this music and us with so much emotion. None of us have egos, but it is nice for a fan to ask for an autograph and/or a photo. Sometimes we are busy working at sound-check, or we need to leave because we are on a schedule, but we appreciate our fans. Or should I say “Family”, since we have been treated as such. Peace !
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Travel To Morocco
Ladies and gentleman we made it! It was the most interesting experience ever! You should have witness the madness at the airport and premadness at the studio. In brief due to the travel restrictions for Air France we were well over weight with exscessive baggage(mind you all i have is my normal DJ set up and a pair of flip-flops packedd!) Needlees to say we had bags laid out on the floor switching things around. Emotion ran high and We narrowly made our flight. Several Hrs and a lucky sandwich later We landed in Paris and then to our Final Destination In Morocco. Smiles. Special Salute to My Lucky Veggie De-lite Remix Baguette. May your lettuce forever stay crispy. -
Travel: A Team Effort
WOOH! YO, WHAT?! That’s how I felt most of the day that we left to fly from New York to Paris to Casablanca, Morocco. I actually started my day at about 3:30 in the morning. The only reason why I slept at all because I accidentally fell asleep. My wife, Fatima was also leaving for Costa Rica that day and had a 6:15am flight. From the time I returned home from seeing her off at the airport to the time I sat down on the plane, I was making moves non-stop. And then to finish off the day with an airport check in experience unlike any other in my lifetime was just a real test.
One thing I noticed about the way as a group handled ourselves was that we can work as a team. The amount of luggage we had with our personal luggage-enough for a month long trip- as well as all the equipment we needed to perform the duties we set out to do created a flat out ridiculous situation that took us 3 and a half hours at the airport and $1450 to straighten out. Somehow we made it. It was definitely a team effort. -
We made it
The lengths we went through just to get on the plane with our equipment were ridiculous. It’s a testament to our team work and determination to make this happen. Check it out.
The LO Frequency aka Chen Lo & the Liberation Family Rhythm Road Tour: Travel to Morocco from Liberation Music Group on Vimeo.
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The Tour has begun!!
Peace to all of you that have supported us and helped us get to this point. We have arrived safely in Morocco after a few days of grueling travel and airport politics. We have some stories to tell already. We are downloading and editing video to post as we speak, so we’ll catch you up to all that has happened so far. The bottom line is it has been amazing. I don’t want to be anywhere else right now. I wish some of you were here with me, but this is the place to be…Morocco! It only gets better from here. I love you all peace.
Chen
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Travel to Morocco, or, Bye bass amp ! Check my mail while I’m gone.
I had to leave my bass amp, keyboard controller, pedal/equipment gig bag and transformer in NYC. (!!!) As you know, I play bass guitar, so that may be a slight problem. At least I have my Sans Amp bass DI box. (And all bassists love playing through DI boxes. [Insert sarcastic laugh track here ] My DI box is great, but I miss my Mark Bass Amp.)
Okay, let me backtrack…
I had to leave my keyboard controller & its soft case and my gear bag at the studio due to lack of space/no hard case before getting to JFK airport. Then, due to weight restrictions, I had to leave my bass amp and the transformer in NYC to help us make weight and reduce charges. ( Thanks, Scan- his family is holding “my baby” for me.)
So, I will be most likely playing direct instead of with a bass amp unless the venues can get a bass amp. And my repair tools were in the gear bag, too. I will being using gum and paperclips if anything goes wrong.
Talk about guerrilla bass guitar playing ! This ain’t beer and skittles, but I love it. All for the music.
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The Journey to Morocco
Getting to Morocco was tough…really tough! We had a handful of challenges that could have shut the whole process down. On the day we were scheduled to leave, we agreed to meet at the rehearsal studio at noon to finish packing a few things. I took a cab over with all of my luggage and everything was moving smoothly until I discovered I left my phone in a cab. I had just bought the phone the night before for global communication and it was gone like that. I actually had to call Verizon to get an emergency phone before we left for JFK. That triggered a whole chain of events to keep us off that plane. If that wasn’t enough, one of our largest road cases that was carrying some critical equipment was damaged. We actually had to go to Lowes to buy parts to repair it on the way to the airport. It didn’t stop there though. Once we arrived at the airport the major problems began. We knew we had too many bags, some were heavy and we were going to pay for it. What we didn’t know was that some of our bags were to heavy to fly period, based on Air France flight regulations. That was a problem for sure. That large road case we repaired on our way to the airport couldn’t even get on the plane. We spent the next three hours repacking and consolidating bags. In the end, we paid a pretty penny to get on the plane. On top of that we barely made it after going through security with what seemed like 50 electronic devices. Things went fairly well after that from New York to Paris and Paris to Casablanca. Two pieces of luggage were missing on the other end that we received the next morning. The bottom line is, WE MADE IT!
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Preparing the Music
We’ve spent hours upon hours in a tiny, cramped rehearsal space creating the music that will be played on this tour. At times it has been frustrating and very taxing, but overall very rewarding and necessary.The current configuration of The LO Frequency- drums, bass, DJ and emcee- has made the creative process very interesting. On one hand, Scan has gained a mastery of the MPC as a live instrument, and I have my trigger pads and sampler which allows me to add sounds to a song. On the other hand, we are very electronics heavy which creates a number of considerations that a band with traditional instrumentation don’t have to deal with. For example, we’ve run into situations where the sample we are using is too slow. Normally a DJ would use the pitch control to speed it up. Depending on how far you move it the bass might now be out of tune with the sample and it sounds bad. So now we have to find the tempo we want, adjust it so that it is in tune with a note on the bass, and then transpose the bass line accordingly. More often than not, a sample can be chopped on the MPC in a such a way that he can play the sequence a little faster or slower. But every so often we’ll run into a situation where the aforementioned process is necessary. The more we work together, the more proficient we become at our creative process. It’s to the point now where we can create full tracks live on stage.
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10% Talent, 90 is on the Grind: Tour Prep
Preparing for the Rhythm Road tour has changed my life. No really, it has. The way I think about and view what I’m doing with music has gone to another level. It’s one thing to talk about it, but to do it takes another mind, body and spiritual commitment. For the last five and half months we have been focused on nothing else but music, tour schedules, travel concerns, visas, paperwork and personal business. It was the journey before the journey. Imagine 14-15 hour days for weeks at at time, photos shoots, recording sessions and endless planning. Oh, and don’t forget working on top of all that and trying to have a life.All the struggle and all of the challenges have been well worth it. I have absolutely nothing to complain about. Things are unfolding in incredible ways. I’m just letting it happen. What more can I do?
I want to acknowledge those of you who have tried to connect with me or catch up with me in whatever capacity. All I can say is I’m hustling trying to make a living and I’m learning that it’s very easy to lose touch if you’re not on it. I love you just the same, even if we don’t speak. It’s just, my commitment level at the moment is on another level. I “gotta get it.” Check the footage and see the process for yourself. It’s not what a lot of you think it is. Most people couldn’t handle it and I’m not most people. It’s not arrogance about it, I just know I was born to do it.
peace
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Prepping for Tour
Prepping for the tour is a job in itself. Getting equipment, taking care of personal things, coordinating schedules.
Do you have any idea of what goes into a tour ? I thought I did, but that is what I get for thinking ! Running around getting supplies, trying to practice, making rehearsals,sending and returning emails and calls, lugging equipment around and trying to avoid having your family report you as “missing” because they haven’t seen you in days. (Hey, I left my shoes in the middle of the living room so you could trip on them and know I’m still alive…barely. What else can I do ?)
The stress can wear on you and make you lose track of what day it is, or when you last ate… but is it worth it…YUP. I can’t say I knew exactly what to expect, but I wanted to do this since I was a little girl, many, many moons ago. And here I am, doing what I wanted to do.
But next time, I’m gonna be like Oprah and hire some “people”.
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What It Takes: Pre Tour Preparation
From months of extensive rehearsals in a cramped rehearsal space to the photo shoot to the recording session, preparation for this tour was a massive undertaking. Check out the highlights.
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Brief Words
Peace everyone! This is DJ Scan the turntabilist and producer for the Lo Frequency. I have been djing for 17 years and producing for the last 10. Over the course of my musical career I have spun at numerous venues , held radio residencies, competed in DJ Battles and produced records for upcoming talent. In addition to the Lo Frequency and Larger Liberation Family I am also the dj for Mc Friction, Bless Roxwell, and Coole High which are other Dynamic artists Based out of the New york City area. The Lo frequency sound is a montage of live and sampled based grooves that brings the dynamic of the natural hip-hop sound to a new plateau. This has been an amazing musical experience Being able to expand creativity with Ken , Baassik and Chen lo -
Chen Lo: Progress
I’ve been doing music for 15 years of my life. It’s a journey that can be kind of a rabbit hole. You never know where it will lead or if will lead anywhere. As I’ve learned that I have a purpose for doing art and connecting with people around the world it’s become a serious passion of mine.
The Liberation Family was born about 8 years ago and has changed and blossomed in so many way since then. We gained and lost a lot, but the strength and purpose in the message has remained: uplift the people through the music. Now we’re based in Brooklyn and have a collective of amazing artists and musicians that embody the code. It usually consists of a nine piece band and 5 vocalists.
Recently a few of us were selected to do a tour with Jazz at Lincoln Center called The Rhythm Road and we created a configuration of the band called The Lo Frequency
It’s a quartet with a drums, bass, dj and an emcee. This is some of the most creative and fun work I’ve done in my career. We’re still growing and developing, but I think…I mean I know we’re on to something. As a result of all the hard work, we’re on the road. What a blessing. If only for a short time, I’m living a dream…traveling the world, doing music and connecting with people everywhere. There is so much more to come. Thanks to all those that have continued believing and supporting this process.
peace
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Ken White
Peace.
This is Ken White, Musical Director and drummer/percussionist for The LO Frequency. I have been into music for over 20 years dabbling in a number of musical forms from jazz to Cuban rhumba, but groove based music and hip hop in particular speaks directly to my soul. In addition to The LO Frequency, I am one half of the electro funk bass drums duo Comandante Zero. As musical director of The LO Frequency, I am involved, collaboratively with the other core band members- Chen Lo, DJ Scandales and Baassik- in translating a completely electronic, sampler and drum machine based format to a live band situation in such a way that maintains the core elements of that classic hip hop sound while incorporating the specific high-impact energy and feel of live instrumentation.
We decided that in order to keep that hip hop sound we wanted to continue the art of sampling that has been a quintessential element of hip hop music throughout it’s history. So we use the MPC (a sampler that has become a staple of hip hop production) as a live instrument. Scan will chop up a sample and use the trigger pads on the device to manipulate the small pieces of the sound files in real time. Scan is also an incredible turntablist. So he will use the turntables to create unique sounds and loops as well. When we add live bass and drums, we have a complete beat that maintains the convention of the sample but with a band creating each sound on stage as opposed to playback of a pre recorded backing track. My playing style is influenced to a large degree by Questlove of the Roots, but also by non-drummers like the late-great hip hop producer J Dilla. Whatever I am playing, my main objective is to move the crowd and make people feel the music. Being a part of this group, has been an incredible journey that I feel is only the beginning. I feel a creative kinship with all the members and I appreciate their energy and willingness to allow me to be part of the project.
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Basically speaking…I mean, BAASSIKly speaking….
“Now as the lady…” (Thanks, Monie Love; always wanted to say that !)
Peace all ! My name is BAASSIK, (pronounced “BAY-sick), and I play bass guitar for Chen Lo and the Liberation Family, aka Lo Frequency. My style is a “basic” ( ha !) mixture of R&B, Hip Hop, Rock with some other “oats and barleys” [styles] added, but it is not boring. I play for the song or groove, not to impress with crazy solo runs. (I can funk it up, though. Thank you, Mr. Larry Graham, George Clinton & Bootsy Collins, my Funk Forefathers.)
I am self-taught and I’ve been playing seriously for about six years. My musical influences include James Jamerson, Paul McCarthney, and Boosty Collins among others. My listening influences are rooted in many different types of music, especially Hip Hop, House, Rock, Jazz, Trance…you get the point. I may not listen to all types of music, but I respect musician’s right to create.
Shall I continue ? Yes, indeed !
Working with this collective is actually fun…but it is work for the love of music. We, (DJ Scan, Ken White, Chen and the rest of the Liberation family), want to make music that is positive, great, fun and popular and allows us to be able to feed our families and be comfortable so to continue this mission. These days, that can be a bit difficult to do without sacrificing so much of your soul. But you have to believe in yourself, your craft and your audience and just keep playing.
My goals include taking music back to when it felt good and not clichéd, when it was cool to dance at a concert, show or party until you sweat, when the performers and the audience were together as “family”, not separated and segregated, and the entire music scene was most important, not just what you are wearing or the type of car you drove or the name brand you wore. (Though I respect looking “cool” ; it is part of vibe/scene.) I also hope to inspire people, especially young people, to live your dream and create in whatever medium you choose. That can be music, art, dance, math ( yes, math, though math never liked me), cooking, public speaking, building….whatever ! That is what I call ‘ being BAASSIK’; you are creating from within you and it feels so true to you.
You only on this marble for a little, then its time to go !
Stay BAASSIK !
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Latest Photos
