TF Archives

Diafrix new EP released- 'In Tha House'

Author: newz@tranzfusion
Monday, November 13, 2006
"One love for hip hop/We love it so bad/We're gonna keep it real/Bless the mic right/With true technique and skills/And that's when you get the real deal"

Hip Hop is more than just a passing interest or even an art form, it's real life. You hear this time and time again, but for Melbourne five-piece collective Diafrix, this rings truer than most. The group, led by African-born MCs Azmarino and Momo - both political refugees - have found empowerment through hip hop, with the medium allowing them to express and celebrate their life experiences and heritage.

A melting point of cultural influences, Diafrix's MC Momo arrived as a political refugee from the Comoros Islands, whilst Eritrean-born Azmarino has been a refugee all his life, living in Europe and the Middle East, before finally settling in Australia. Together with Haitian vocalist Nadee, Ptero Stylus (beats & production) and Wax Vandal (turntablist), the group's debut EP 'In Tha Place' is a stunning fusion of their divergent influences and inspirations.

Over 6 tracks, the multilingual and proudly independent group skilfully traverse dancefloor-rocking hip hop, dancehall, soul and funk, dishing up raps in English and French, all the while utilising 100% original beats and stunning instrumentation.

In the bouncing title track In Tha Place, Diafrix dish up the perfect crowd-pleasing anthem, with MC Momo's head-nodding rhymes marrying perfectly with Stylus' floating accordion and Wax's cuts, whilst on One Love the crew express their affection for hip hop in a downbeat saxophone-led gem that shines with incredible soul. Stop @ This sees stunning vocalist Nadee in pure, funk-driven form and Shake your body lives up to its name, with hip-jiving drums and Empress's irresistible vocals as the driving force behind the four minute track. Kanakasi is the eclectic cross-cultural joint, featuring the breathtaking Jali Buba Kuyeteh on Kora, as he raps in his native Senegal tongue of Mandingo. Completing the package is a tightly remixed version of In Tha Place from Sydney beatmaker Chasm.

A group that stands to represent their African motherland and refugees from all corners of the globe, Diafrix's message is one of peace, not division and above all else good dancefloor-grooving harmony. It's a policy that's seen them receive acclaim across the country with the group being announced as a JJJ Next Crop act in 2005, as well as being finalists in the 2005 Noise SOYA music awards.

Diafrix has also impressively performed at the High Vibes festival Melbourne (2006), Big Day Out Melbourne (2006), Earthcore in the Park (2006), Falls Festival (2005), St Kilda Festival (2005), as well as supporting the likes of Daara J (Senegal), Black Seeds (NZ) Stereo MC's (UK), Tippa Ire (UK), Butterfingers, Tzu, Bomba, The Herd and more.

A group fiercely proud of being independent, with 'In Tha Place' distributed by MGM, Diafrix are here to break the hip hop mould and dish up soul-satisfying sonics to satisfy any race, gender, colour or creed.

To be Released on the 18th November via MGM Distribution

Tracklisting
1. In Tha Place feat. Mantra
2. One Love
3. Stop @ This feat. Nadee
4. Shake Ur Body feat. Empress
5. Kanakasi (Boy wipe your eyes) feat. Jali Buba Kuyateh
6. In Tha Place (Chasm Remix)
Tags