Sound Colour Vibration (Music | Art | Film)

Ras_G "Spacebase is the Place" 2x10" Poo-Bah Records

Ras_G, one of a handful of very influential producers and a Southern California mystic enigma, has been very active in the last 6 years of his music output. Over 20 releases in a little over 10 years, he is following in the foot steps of the musical icons he has come to realize he shares a lot of ideologies with. While some mimic and copy the past innovators, Ras_G has naturally become what all those teachers once were. Sound masters such as Sun Ra, Lee “Scratch” Perry and J-Dilla are just a few who share the principles and emotional wave length that instantly grabs you that Ras_G has been tapping into for years. Ras_G has released a very special piece of art this year with a double 10″ called Spacebase is the Place. Performed under his The Alkebulan Space Program moniker, this record shines in the most experimentally exuberant ways with philosophical samples, the bottomless rhythmic pulse found in the best dub and reggae songs and bass tones to shatter the best of speaker systems. Pressed on high grade vinyl and a heavy duty gatefold, the photography of Ras_G from the very talented Theo Jemison adds the perfect touch.

Cosmic and ancient in tone with shading of modern production and dj techniques, Spacebase is the Place gives the best of both worlds. Music with a strong identity in philosophical ideologies is one that is never taken lightly by the artist making it and Spacebase is the Place proves to be no different. The Bruce Lee quote used perfectly places the modern and mystic aura the albums music evokes into this philosophical identity. Space tones, 90′s era RZA production, gritty break beats, modern dub and dungeon like melodies with the heaviest dose of exploration in 21st century cosmic tones. Ras_G is a heavy record collector and his use of samples falls in the ranks with the best producers. There is no denying his abilities when you hear some of the first stuff he was putting out around 2005 up until Spacebase is the Place. It’s all quality. Spacebase is the Place is split over 4 sides on a rare double 10″ set up wth every side providing a window into the vehicle that has become his center for creation: Spacebase. Dedicated and created in thanks to the peers and environments around him, Spacebase is the Place shows Ras_G becoming a stronger musician, producer and dj, all of which have coalesced in a way on Spacebase is the Place that is unseen on his previous releases.

Ras_G "Ghetto Sci-Fi" on Poh-Bah Records 2008

His very own Poo-Bah Records had launched the first thing I had grabbed my ears onto from Ras_G, 2008′s Ghetto Sci-Fi. Steeped in a heavy array of samples and self production that slips in and out of an unknown sea of sounds, I felt saturated in a deep meditative aura that was inflicted by the overtones of dub, jazz, abstract instrumental hip-hop and bass heavy tones. Soft is something that like the Greek influence in culture, is nowhere found in the music of Ras_G. This is a celebration of something very different, the celebration of a living myth and the doors that open from this reality. Every Ras_G album feels like a time capsule of the past, present and future. His collection of thousands of records has given him an advantage that people like DJ Shadow, Madlib, DJ Premier and other heavy crate diggers have over most. There is a euphoric super natural feeling when the bass tones rumble through my speakers. When bass wobbles and pushes its way around the mix like it does in Ras_G’s songs, you know the best of systems are required to really feel where this guys music is going. “Ras, Ras, Ras, Ras…” echoes out of the mix over time lapsed futuristic and cosmic anthems for the space age with air horn blasts that are a time capsule  of the present. The modification Ras_G has done on the notorious NASA symbol is one reflection of his principle ideas and aesthetics that outline his message. It’s chaos and serenity for me, all wrapped up under beats that sound like an elevator dropping 20 stories.

In 2009 his presence grew even stronger in the psyche of the world when his emergence into the Brainfeeder family brought forth the full length Brotha From Another Planet. This album pulls heavier into the origins of Ras_G and blasts further into the future than anything he has released. The ancient pulse and drum of his African roots, the philosophical principles and musical identity he shares with Sun Ra, John Coltrane, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and other prominent black musicians over the last 40 years and his working relationship and connection to the best producers in the game have merged as one field of light. If you have never heard Ras_G, imagine if Madlib and Lee “Scratch” Perry were given multi-track master tapes to Sun Ra’s fusion pieces of the late 70′s and given free territory to do whatever they wanted with it. You can imagine the landscapes that would come to life. 2009 also saw Ras_G moving his connectivity power into the heart of the United Kingdom with the Destination There EP on Ramp Recordings and released as a 12″. With mixes contributed to different organizations, sets at large festivals like Coachella, and constant releases with various labels, his stature and tentacles are constantly reaching to more places in this world as each year passes.

Ras_G "Spacebase is the Place"

In 2010, Ras_G combined forces with Matthewdavid’s imprint Leaving Records for an extremely limited edition cassette tape release called El-Aylien (part 1). Modeling the Discipline series that Sun Ra equated into his musical hemisphere, Ras_G shows the future disciplines of electronic devices, unique sample methods, advanced compositional techniques and analog collage work that originated from the Discipline series laid out 40+ years ago from Sun Ra. 2011 has been a year of high activity for Ras_G with the release of 2 brand new records. UK based label Ramp Recordings was first in line for these two releases with Down 2 Earth. 21 tracks and a little over 30 minutes, the cover art is easily one of my favorite of the year. ODB verbal assault samples to the wobbly beats and earthquake level bass that sucks me in every time, this album is heavy on all levels. If you ever want a study in bass tones, sample methods and melodies for miles, put a Ras_G record on.

2011 would bring Poo-Bah Records back into the fold with what is easily my favorite Ras_G album, Space is the Place. Recorded at his Spacebase 2031 and Spacebase 2912 between 2008 and 2010, the material on this record is personally some of the most original and inspiring works of his for me. Drenched in so many sounds, it’s been a record that hasn’t left the side of my record player since my copied arrived in the mail. Ras_G submitted an extremely detailed write up on each piece for the double 10″. Below is this full break down, track by track, from Ras_G himself. Sourced from his Poo-Bah Records site, this is an extremely comprehensive look into the album. Don’t miss out on owning a copy.

-Erik Otis

Ras_G & The Alkebulan Space Program
Spacebase is the Place
Poo-Bah Records

Track Listing

1. REQUIEM 4 MR. YANCEY
2. STICK EM UP
3. HOLLYHOOD/WHERE DEM TREES
4. ONE 4 STEVE EL
5. ANCESTRIAL ECHOES
6. ASCENSION FROM NIGGA 2 NEGUS (Interlude)
7. SILLY EARTHLINGS
8. IF U FEEL (NO EGO)
9. STAR MESSENGERS
10. Disco 4000
11. MushMouth…………
12. Love Something……..
13. Psilocybin Music

Buy the 2×10″ HERE

As a bonus to our review of the latest Ras_G album, we wanted to present an exclusive photo set of Ras G performing at Heavy. All photos were shot by Oliver Walker.

Ras_G

FROM RAS_G:

1. REQUIEM 4 MR. YANCEY was a tune i made for James Yancey (J-DILLA)whose musical works impacted and inspired many including myself as a youth but i realized after he passed it added fuel in alot of people some positive some negative (as everything is will and shall be) and there begin 2 be this whole slew of upcoming cats with this sorta attitude like “yea i make beats” It reminded me of when i would read about how cats in the be-bop days would try and play like Charlie Parker and since he was the man wit DIzzy (respect due) U had people like “Bird shoots up and plays crazy..So im gonna shoot up and try play crazy” trying 2 tune into his frequency 2 project there music which is pretty insane though alot of people on this planet are pretty insane haha it just got crazy then with all these junkie musicians some able 2 move on in this creative world and find themselves musically and so forth and some having 2 move off this planet due 2 there ignorence in trying 2 deal with this music thru someone elses spirit without having there own spiritual/creative basis intact …. i feel like certain people still are loss in those ideals and they find it difficult to find themselves in the music partly because they do not KNOW themselves so they say NO 2 themselves creatively….So u say NO 2 What u already KNOW Creativity just says NO…….
2. STICK EM UP represents that coming into the A.D.(After Dilla) era of Beat Music where its Boom Bap but more free less restraint in the sound in the timing its just hanging in mid air….On the blunted adventurous
3. HOLLYHOOD/WHERE DEM TREES came together in Dec 08. I was just in SPACEBASE like “Im playing outside LOW END THEORY on NEW YEARS EVE with my fellow BRAINFEEDER comrades in sound SAMIYAM and GASLAMP KILLER(Remember that?) and I knew we was playing outside on my favorite soundsystem THE”PURE FILTH SOUNDSYSTEM” (AIRHORN!!!!!) I needed something that would make the ceiling rumble and shake! That night so thats what inpired that production had 2 bring a heavy tune on such a heavy system!!(I still feel the stage moving in my mind from that night)
4. ONE 4 STEVE EL: This is my dedication 2 Steve Ellison aka FLYING LOTUS done in a classic Steve Ellison Style (its a thin line between biting and inspiration where do u stand?) i remember when i was`nt such a fan of cpu based music cause well it sounded like shit 2 me everything i heard thats HARD was coming out of MPC`s,SP 1200`s ASR 10`s SP 303`s etc…. Then this kid from Winnetka rolls up in ford focus 2 Sketchbook(Whudup KUTMAH,TAKE and RENEAU) with THE FORCE coming out his trunk! Most of us was kinda skeptical or could`nt fully comprehend what it was that he was bringing in terms of using the cpu to make music so the process of how he was creating made convo kinda difficult but the music was always beyond the expectations of what i thought was possible with a laptop cause @ that point it was all records,kids toys, a mic and a MPC with 21 seconds 4 me..But Steve demonstrated alot of impossibles in this beat music i always tell him he kicked in the door and snapped the bouncers neck and started blasting people with this music that we was just outside playing i express gratitude(some of yall got 2 much pride and ego ) 2 my fellow alien and musical comrade Steve EL…htp
5. ANCESTRIAL ECHOES: This was a outerbody experience i just blasted off in my mind with this one my krst took over i just did what it said i just felt it this was a a begging process of letting go of the planet during the process of creating music I remember this process it was made in 06-07 in the Lions Den on the Sp 303 then i sampled what i did in there into the MPC and here u have it on a sun ra day i remember i just kept listening 2 it over and over i could`nt stop listening 2 it cause did`nt know what i did what or could fully understood Ancestors took over………….There voices echo thru the music can u hear it?
6. ASCENSION FROM NIGGA 2 NEGUS(Interlude) is something i made after watching Malcom X the movie and the scenes in the movie when he comes from being “Detroit Red” con man theif etc 2 becoming the man some u KNOW as Malcom X mad me cry every time i watched it like wow look @ the fruits of bettering yourself only a fool could`nt feel that. I read the book when i was 10-11yrs old(Thanks 2 my cousin MARZ DYNAMIC 4 leaving that @ grams house) opened my mind and helped in shaping my being as it did 4 many before and after me (4 whomever has read that book haha “u read any?”) but in those times it was cool 2 KNOW Something have knowledge of your past 2 broaden your ideals of your future as respectable being man/woman in america and abroad and as i grew up with that ideal i saw how that idea was really powerful 2 celebrate,respect and honor your culture and history as well as others but it seems that that ideal is not as accepted or popular as it once was anymore its took a backseat 2 those of a lesser thinking seems the people who had the power 2 build pyramids and created the foundation 4 all u see now(Civilization) use those powers 4 personal self empowerment thru self-degradation i see people going thru the shit-uation and fuckery they don`t have 2 go thru if they just tune into there greatness and trust there being only then will they ascend from there Nigg-norence…. Ig-Snorence….and Paul Mooney said everybody wanna be a Nigga but nobody wanna be a nigga i say render unto the owner and follower of there rightful name and title back unto them then u can regain your ancient title that they could`nt pronounce before NEGUS (meaning king)
7. SILLY EARTHLINGS SHROOMS…… wow……………..if man/woman could indulge in this special fungi of this planet…… this place could have endless possibilities……. come into yourself…….. be still……..close your eyes……here that voice…… Let goooooooooooooooooo……………………….. of this carnal world……. welcome 2 where it all starts and ends is it heaven?……………………………………is it hell?…………………………….
8. IF U FEEL(NO EGO) (READ ABOVE) DO U FEEL? Don`t Think!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Feeeeeeel!!!!!! Its Like a Finger Pointing Away 2 the MOON!!!!_ BRUCE LEE
9. STAR MESSENGERS Shout 2 Elvin(DJ NOBODY)Estrellia 4 handing me this record as a challenge one day @ Poo-bah Record Shop he played it and said “i wanna here what u do with it” (how secondhand sure shots does this shit sound 2u haha) so i took it home and smoked a few and this is the results wanted 2 do more 2 the beat but i was having a outerbody experience when making it and did`nt remember 2 save it on a zip disk but i did record it in my _G-band! so it lived Bless!
10. Disco 4000 30 min beat found the break cut it up in the MPC, grabbed one of my circuit bent toys,grabbed a random dub record sampled it all in the MPC and here have a early morning de-seeded weeded shit rolled in a backwood wit some green tea haha Dr. Yosef Ben Yochannan once said “I Had 2 Learn the words MUTHAFUCKA 2 grab the Attention of the MUTHAFUCKA who needs my Attention haha(GLK is GREAT @ THIS!!! Whudup Willie!)
11. MushMouth………… MORE SHROOMS!!!!!!!!!!!!! ate alot of these things @ SPACEBASE 2031 my door closed red lights on…. cloudy from hella blunts……. records everywhere…. bag of mushies…..and some green tea arizona this is another outer body adventure i don`t remember the loops the records none of that important follow the rules shit all i really remember is wanting 2 do it all live on the MPC like im just gonna hit record on this sequence and whatever happens happens fuck it it became my soundtrack for my off the planet adventure the rest of that night i arised next light back on the planet and this shit was just looping in my MPC for like 15 hrs haha
12. Love Something…….. Wow my first time recording a live drummer and he`s 10(he`s 12 now) haha in my old kitchen AHMIR WARNER im smoking blunts and i hear him practicing downstairs i heard him playing this beat and i had 2 just record it live straight into the garageband he was killing it! He was actually playing it way crazier and faster but got a bit shy and mellow as i came down 2 check him out but the FEEL of what he was playing was still there so while he continued 2 practice i went upstairs 2 Spacebase and got the mpc loaded up with his drums added everything else u hear and i made this tune within a hr or 2 of him being there 2 see the shy withdrawn excitement coming from that kid listening 2 himself was worth more than anything this planet could provide! nurture the seeds enlighten there inner creativity and they will create like Sun Ra said “Beta 4 a Beta WORLD” no greek haha get it?
13. Psilocybin Music yea more mushies………….this is the second beat made on em everything was just like that bass sound bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz and that clap was me coming out of that buzz sound it was a crazy one but i get flashbacks when i listen 2 this track funtimes @spacebase 2031

Ras_G "Spacebase is the Place" 2x10" Poo-Bah Records