That rare individual, a poet, activist and songwriter, Malik Al Nasir is a self-invented radical hero. In his first release, the unique two-for-one collection "Rhythms of the Diaspora Vol’s 1 & 2, Al Nasir presents two aspects of his creativity, on a collection of his challenging songs set to music and his own spoken word set, with rhythms from the whole black Diaspora.
On Volume 1, Al Nasir's group, the reggae-inflected, pan-African O.G’s, appear with guest artists including rapper LL Cool J, who bigs-up Al Nasir's roots quest on the intro, the legendary Gil Scott-Heron, who appears on "Black & Blue," Ras Tesfa, as well as O.G’s friends, like singers J.D Smoothe, Chamaine Radcliffe, VeslemØy Holseter and Marie Labropoulos, rapper Illyas Napalm and percussionist Marivaldo Dos Santos.
Veteran bass player Stanley Clarke introduces Vol. 2 which features the “Grandfather of Rap” Jalal Nuriddin and Kenyatte Abdur-Rahman of The Last Poets. A staple of both albums, master percussionist Larry McDonald appears on almost all recordings by Al Nasir. On Vol. 1 (The Songs) he’s joined by drummer Rod Youngs of Gil Scott-Herons’ Amnesia Express and on Vol. 2, (The Poems), McDonald joins drummer Swiss Chris, the former musical director of Grammy winner John Legend.
Al Nasir talks of this music and verse as being "My way of reconciling feelings within myself - the pain and intensity that comes from inheriting generations of warped racist and colonial policies. I call it a quiet revolution" he explains, “I want to bring change without bringing harm to people; to raise consciousness and provoke thought in a constructive, not a destructive manner."
On his album "Rhythms of the Diaspora" Al Nasir introduces the meaning of an inspirational life, with stirring music to inform and delight with songs and poems mostly adapted from his book “Ordinary Guy”.
Al Nasir is also a visionary who conceived the "Drum Fusion" concept, focusing exclusively on drum, percussion and the voice. "Lots of today's music is highly commercialised in a way that's very negative on children, who are the primary consumers" he explains. "We want to produce music that is equally enjoyable and relevant to kids today but is not derogatory or disrespectful of women or humanity. As a child I had very negative influences in street life; but music made my world a better place. Now there are others who feel hopeless and need the inspiration that can be brought to them through powerful, positive music. We hope to influence a lot of people."
By Vivien Goldman (Author - Bob Marley, Soul Rebel - Natural Mystic (1981).
