Name: Dennis Real - Pelican Valley
Brand: 12 Drunkies / HHV
SKU: 1165026v1
Price: 19.99 EUR
Availability: InStock

Brownout

Fear Of A Brown Planet

LP | 2018 | US | Reissue (Fat Beats)

29,99 €*

Incl. VAT plus Shipping Costs

Release: 2018 / US – Reissue

Genre: Hip Hop, Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-11-15

Twenty-eight years ago, pissed-off twelve-year-olds around the universe discovered a new planet, a Black Planet. Public Enemy’s aggressive, Benihana beats and incendiary lyrics instilled fear among parents and teachers everywhere, even in the border town of Laredo, Texas, home of the future founders of the Latin-Funk-Soul-Breaks super group, Brownout. The band’s sixth full-length album (out May 25th) Fear of a Brown Planet is a musical manifesto inspired by Public Enemy’s music and revolutionary spirit.

Chuck D., the Bomb Squad, Flava Flav and the rest of the P.E. posse couldn’t possibly have expected that their golden-era hip hop albums would sow the seeds for countless Public Enemy sleeper cells, one that would emerge nearly three decades later in Austin, Texas. Greg Gonzalez (bass) remembers a kid back in junior high hipped him to the fact that Public Enemy’s “Bring the Noise” is built on James Brown samples, while a teenaged Beto Martinez (guitar) alternated between metal and hip-hop in his walk-man, and Adrian Quesada (guitar/keys) remembers falling in love with Public Enemy’s sound at an early age. “When I got into Hip hop, I was looking for this aggressive outlet . . . and I didn’t even understand what they were pissed off about, because I was twelve and lived in Laredo . . . but I loved it and I felt angry along with them.”

Joseph Abajian (Fat Beats’ owner) must have sensed the deep hip-hop well lying beneath the versatile band’s Latin-Funk veneer. “I thought their sound would work covering Public Enemy songs,” Abajian says, and, “it was good to know they were P.E. fans . . . We came up with a track listing and they went to work.” Despite the band’s eagerness to work on new original material (an album of original songs is slated for next year), they couldn’t pass up the opportunity to pay homage to this iconic and influential posse.

Translating sample-based music to a live band turned out to be more of a challenge than they anticipated. Adrian tried to get inside the Bomb Squad’s [Public Enemy’s producers/beat-making team] head in order to find the inspiration to reinterpret P.E.’s songs: “imagine the Bomb Squad going back in time and getting the J.B.s [James Brown’s funky backing band] in the studio and setting up a couple analog synths and then playing those songs.” While some songs closely follow the original musical blueprint, others use the source breakbeats as jumping-off points later sweetened by Trombonist Mark “Speedy” Gonzales’ horn arrangements, synth wizardry courtesy of friend-of-the-band Peter Stopschinski, and DJ Trackstar’s turntable scratches. But don’t listen expecting to hear paint-by-numbers recreations of classic Public Enemy jams. “Our approach is never in the tribute sense,” Adrian explains. “We’ve always taken it and made it our own, whether it’s the Brown Sabbath thing or this Public Enemy thing.”

Coming off numerous tours as Brown Sabbath and even a stint backing the late legend Prince, Brownout is arguably the tightest and funkiest band on the road today and they’re psyched to bring this revolutionary music to the people. For a band without an overt political agenda, they collectively couldn’t resist the opportunity to play this music live, especially now. “If there’s any way that we can use the already political and protest nature [of P.E.’s music], we would like to try,” Beto says. “The album’s title, Fear of Brown Planet is definitely a relevant idea today and we’re not afraid to put it out there, because we want to speak out.” By reinterpreting these hip hop classics in their unique style and channeling the spirit of Public Enemy that first echoed around the world and captured their imaginations all those years ago, Brownout is doing exactly that.

Go to Item

Hip Hop

Hip hop has long been more than simple scratches, looped breaks and MCs celebrating their DJs. Since Kool Herc’s block parties in the mid-1970s, the culture has grown and developed rapidly. Today, graffiti can be found on every corner. Breakdancing and b-boying have long since become a way of life for many. Hip hop music today is defined by an enormous variety. There is something for everyone. The Roots have been thrilling friends of virtuoso live bands for over 20 years. Old warhorses from the 1980s prove that there is no age limit for good rhymes. Exceptional artists like Pharoahe Monch or Homeboy Sandman connect generations thanks to intelligent content and clever wordplay. Many ambitious musicians also hold up the flag of German, French or British rap. There are no limits to the raps: from abstract lyricism to street prose to eloquent storytelling, everything is on offer. And more and more musical styles are influencing the world of hip hop today.

Hip Hop at HHV: the full range from A to Z

In order to do justice to Hip Hop with all its faces, we have put together a rich programme. This includes classics as well as novelties from young talents. Major productions are on the programme, but also underground releases produced in very small editions. US hip hop, German hip hop, UK hip hop and hip hop from France are represented. As well as spoken word from exotic countries. Of course, the range of our online shop also includes beats without rhymes. Exclusive releases and bundles give our offer that special spice. As long as it has to do with Hip Hop, Vinyl LPs, CDs or Tapes are always welcome. No matter if it’s an album, an EP or singles.

Hip hop, hip hop or hip hop? Anything that sounds funky is allowed.

Hip hop has never been as diverse as it is today. Labels like Mello Music Group or Redefinition evoke the spirit of the eighties and nineties. They see themselves in the tradition of self-determined record companies like Cold Chillin or Ruthless Records. Chopped Herring Records or Dope Folks have made it their business to dig up old recordings. Progressive styles of hip hop music find a home on independent labels like Stones Throw. German rap has grown up and shaken off the regional barrier. And instrumental hip hop has also played an increasingly important role in the last ten years. Not least thanks to our dear colleagues from Project: Mooncircle, who have pushed this direction massively. We have made it our task to do justice to all these facets of hip hop with our offer. From the classic to the absolute insider tip, we offer everything that has to do with eloquent rhymes or innovative beats. And with our HHV Label, we give established and up-and-coming artists the opportunity to present themselves.

Hip Hop 2663 Items

Hip Hop

Hip Hop at HHV: the full range from A to Z

Hip hop, hip hop or hip hop? Anything that sounds funky is allowed.