When we reviewed Seattle neo-soul duo THEESatisfaction’s album debut, awE naturalE, our eyes opened to the rich history of Afrofuturism in music and literature. With science-fiction writer, Octavia E. Butler and fellow hip hop producers Shabazz Palaces as inspiration, Cat Harris-White and Stasia Irons drew on a rich history of creative transcendence for an African diasporic experience that is both alien and alienated. That’s why we’re so excited about this mixtape by DJ producer and proponent of Afrofuturism King Britt, for the Noise From The 18th Floor series for the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage.
Not surprisingly, Britt cut his teeth performing with Grammy-award winning alt hip hop trio, Digable Planets in the 90s, whose Ishmael ‘Butterfly’ Butler is now of Shabazz Palaces. They feature on the mix, including Flying Lotus and Madlib, as well as their predecessors Sun Ra, Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. It’s a small universe after all.**
