ALL SONGS PRODUCED BY:

THE PROCESS

The process featured multiple studio sessions including a 2-day retreat at Turtle Studios in Philadelphia (as seen in the BTS video). We recorded improvisational jams based off of production ideas I had create while on tour laying the ground work for months of editing these incredibly complex 10+min jams into shorter song arrangements. Engineer and co-producer, Johann Sebastian and I corresponded cross country to build the album and create a sonic impression that captured the essence of the live Philly hip hop sound.

THE ALBUM FEATURES

ALL LIVE / ORGANIC

INSTRUMENTATION & PRODUCTION (NO MIDI)

My goal was to blend the influence of east coast jazzy boom bap with west coast spacey funk. I began heavily studying how artists like The Coup used funk to promote the energy of their activism. I studied the dynamic of the drum snares and fills from bands like The Roots, A Tribe Called Quest, and more recently Oddisee. I also decided to really focus on the abstract song structures that would drive the message of the album in a similar fashion to Outkast's "Stankonia" and Q-Tip's "The Renaissance".  I felt using the automated computer vocal interludes would be a nice homage to Tribe's "Midnight Marauders". 

THE WORD "NINJA"

Lyrically, the album is about connecting generations. We use the word "Ninja" out of respect for the ancestors and to empower generational communication. I got the idea from speaking with elders in my community who expressed their issues with the language of modern hip hop and specifically the use of the word, "Nigga". In my Afronaut mission... I believe, whether we agree or not, we must learn to make respectful comprises in order to move the culture forward while honoring the past. I'm looking to use this project to promote conversations between generations as we gear up for movement in 2020.