OKAY PLAYER's review of NOMADIC MASSIVE 2nd LP

Group:Nomadic Massive
Album title: Nomadic Massive
2009
74%
Posted on 12/21/2009 (www.okayplayer.com)

Hip-hop was global well before the arrival of DJ Khaled. In fact, with roots in the Jamaican dance hall and sound system culture, hip-hop music was global the moment it was birthed in the Bronx. Still, the rapid evolution of the genre has occurred almost entirely within U.S. borders. More recently, with the success of artists like Wyclef Jean,Michael Franti, K’Naan, and M.Anifest, internationally flavored hip-hop has started to carve a niche for itself, and it is within this tradition that we find Montreal-based Nomadic Massive. With their latest self-titled studio effort, Nomadic Massive sets out to produce a truly global hip-hop record, incorporating musical traditions from all over the planet. While clearly an ambitious goal, Nomadic Massive’s global aspiration serves as a double-edged sword, providing some exciting musical moments, but also spreading the final product a little thin.

Nomadic Massive is all over the place. All sorts of languages are spoken, a ton of instruments are played, and countless musical traditions make an appearance. From the acoustic guitar groove and Portuguese rapping of “Au 21ie Siecle,” to the electric blues of “Higher,” Nomadic Massive leaves no musical stone unturned. The lyrics address everything from the needs of developing nations to nothing (“Non-Sensical Bars” is a track of exactly that), and the 10-piece ensemble is made up of a diverse collection of instrumentalists that are clearly comfortable in a variety of settings. While there really isn’t much to complain about on Nomadic Massive, there isn’t a ton to praise either. Nomadic Massive manages to create a beautifully multicultural aesthetic, but fails to establish a musical identity outside of its expansive worldview.

On their own, many of the songs on Nomadic Massive are creative pieces of globally conscious hip-hop, but as a whole they suffer from musical schizophrenia. If Nomadic Massive could condense their multinational influences into a more cohesive vision, the results would be breathtaking. For now, Nomadic Massive serves as a collection of positive, thoughtful, and globally conscious songs that are a welcome addition to the burgeoning world of internationally informed hip-hop.

-Matt Scroggins

WE FUNK RADIO SHOW 586 DJ Static and Professor Groove

DECEMBER 4TH, 2009 TRACKLIST....Big Up to Stats and Groove for holding we funk radio for more than a decade.... BEST MUSIC ON THE NET.... trust me!!!!..
peace
Waahli


* intro
* metazon feat. kev brown - the man (incubator remix)
* talk (over moonstarr feat. l.a.l. - tiger funk)
* moonstarr feat. l.a.l. - tiger funk
* lotus & troy dunnit feat. fyba optyk - the big dirty
* diamond district - something for y'all
* waahli - mj50
* roy ayers - a wee bit
* free life - there's something better
* spam allstars - ochimini
* talk (over puccio roelens - northern lights)
* salsoul orchestra - ooh i love it (love break) (beginning of platurn's mix)
* soul searchers - ashley's roachclip (platurn rework)
* eric b & rakim - paid in full (platurn rework)
* ofra haza - im nin'alu (platurn rework)
* nu-mark vs. dennis edwards - imagine not looking any further (platurn blend)
* pleasure web - music man (platurn rework)
* fred wesley & the j.b.'s - more peas (platurn rework)
* grandmaster flash & the furious five - superrappin' (platurn rework)
* grand wizard theodore & the fantastic romantic 5 - can i get a soul clapp "fresh out the pack" (platurn rework)
* indeep - last night a d.j. saved my life (platurn blend)
* señor coconut - trans-europe express
* talk (over kraftwerk - musique non-stop)
* nina simone - sinnerman (platurn rework)
* a tribe called quest - electric relaxation (remix)
* madlib - mystic bounce (end of platurn's mix)
* donald byrd - night whistler
* brian bennett - prowler
* shuggie otis - inspiration information
* jackson 5 - buttercup
* norman feels - i'll show you the way
* donny hathaway - valdez in the country
* q-tip - breathe & stop (anthos flip)
* common - heat
* fly gypsy feat. lauryn hill & busta rhymes - block rockin'
* dynas feat. slick rick - family jewels
* d.j. format feat. abdominal - the hit song
* beastie boys - alive (evidence remix)
* afroskull - redemption
* talk (over ahmad jamal - the world is a ghetto)

This is NOT it...

"This is NOT it" COMING OUT SOON a compilation which pays hommage to one of my greatest inspiration of all time; Michael Jackson, the man, the artist, the humanitarian, the gifted, the lover and the father. A tribute to MJ featuring dope remixes from local producers compiled by Waahli. Thanks to Conn Shawnnery, Ken-lo, ButtaBeats, Dj Phatcat, Ilya and Elokan for their contribution. Also big up to Chopin for the crazy graphic design. Stay Tuned!!!
peace
Waahli

Nomadic Massive ''Moving Forward'' VIDEO TRAILER

Get a sneak preview of Nomadic Massive's new video "MOVING FORWARD"Coming out Soon...so stay tuned!...yeaah...Big Up to 16pads!!...Onward!!



www.myspace.com/nomadicmassive

Waahli's tribute to MJ over Jay electronica beat by Just Blaze

Free Download click here
http://www.zshare.net/audio/655741294b7f1b6e/

Scream Out Loud Nomadic Massive by Voting!!!!

Yeaaah!...Nomadic Massive has been nominated for HipHop Album of the Year 2009 at la Gamiq(Gala de l'Alternative Musicale Indépendante du Québec )....What would be amazing is to hear all of you scream out loud by VOTING..thanksss in advance...we love you!!!.
here's the link: www.gamiq2009.com...

Nomadic Massive Review - By Magee McIlvaine

An international hip hop head since…well…before it was cool — I have always been drawn to music that mirrors my own personal experience. Growing up between hectic Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania), gritty Nairobi (Kenya), sleepy Lusaka (Zambia), and the capitol of the Western world (aka Washington, DC), I have always been drawn to the urban sounds that reflect my own nomadic upbringing. But in those days, living in another country did not make it any easier to get away from American hip hop or music that imitated it. Naturally, American hip hop dominated my case-logic (remember those days?), as it did everywhere else (obvious highlight: Fugees, The Score).

So when I stumbled onto French super group Saian Supa Crew, the tables began to turn. Saian Supa Crew was the first hip hop crew to solidify my interest and appreciation for hip hop’s various and always unique manifestations around the world. It turned out to be a slippery slope. Instead of going to grad school or ‘growing up,’ I find myself completely and helplessly immersed in the world of international hip hop music and activism. Who woulda known?
Enter Nomadic Massive (www.nomadicmassive.ca). Several years ago, I booked a good friend of mine, an extremely talented Canadian/Iraqi emcee by the name of Narcy (or the Narcicyst) for a Festival I’d organized in Connecticut. Narcy, of course, murdered his set and solidified his place in my all-around top emcees list. He was affiliated with a crew back in Montreal called Nomadic Massive. Some internet research and a CD purchase later, I became the Nomadic Massive superfan (little known to them). I like to call the crew the greatest international hip hop concept group that I’ve ever heard. By that, I mean that the crew actually, physically, represents the global phenomenon that hip hop has become. Made up of 9 official members (and many affiliates), the crew includes musicians, singers, and emcees, who perform in English, Spanish, French, Haitian Creole, Arabic, and more. Their sound runs from the French Banlieue’s to the Pyramids and North African sand dunes, up into the Brazilian Favelas, through the surf of Haitian/DR/Carribean beaches, and finds itself half-frozen in Montreal’s frigid winters. Their first release “Nomad’s Land,” is an interesting piece (complete with the International Hip Hop Anthem “Nofy’s Peace”), albeit too short. Finally, the crew has released a full length album entitled Nomadic Massive.

What is there to say about this album other than I am really feelin’ it! There is a fine line to be drawn when hip hop groups use or incorporate live instrument sounds into their albums. The danger is in going too far and losing the hip hop sound that should be the album’s core. On the other hand, too many albums today lack any kind of musical sentiment. Nomadic Massive does a nice job of finding a balance. The album incorporates live music and instrumental sounds from all over the world without giving you that “oh no, not another world music album” feeling. Trust — the beats here are not only gonna have you head-nodding like a classic Primo album, but also moving your hips like your favorite salsa album and stamping your feet like the illest djembe percussion solo (it’s even got a bluesy banger with “Higher”). Lyrically, the emcees aren’t playing games. In fact, they aren’t playing games in not one, but up to three different languages. So, as far as I’m concerned, not many emcees out there are touchin’ em. Another refreshing aspect of the album is the strong presence of female singers, rappers, and dancehall emcees. Narcy comes correct on multiple tracks, especially murdering his verse on “Where I’m From”.

To recap, you better buy this album before it sells out, and you better watch out for when the crew tours your area so you can catch their live show which I have heard is extra dope. There are so few albums that, when listening to them, you feel like you are at a live show, and you start getting tired from the dancing you are doing in your head (or in your chair). Even better, each artist in the crew has solo projects which are extra dope. My particular favorite is Haitian emcee Vox Sambou’s solo project Lakay.

Buy their album here.

By Magee McIlvaine for Nomadic Wax

(For your records: Nomadic Massive is not affiliated in with Nomadic Wax. We just love the group, and the name!)