ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2024
- Recorded Live by Independent Arts and Music of Asheville
Crew - Scott Reese, Josh Blake, Shane Peters, Guy Newton
Edit by Guy Newton
Fantastic Negrito is the incarnation of a musician who is reborn after going through a lot of awful shit. In fact, the name Fantastic Negrito represents his third rebirth, literally coming back from death this time. The narrative on this man is as important as the sound, because the narrative is the sound. Songs born from a long hard life channeled through black roots music. Slide guitar, drums, piano. Urgent, desperate, edgy. Fantastic Negrito is the story of a man who struggled to “make it”, who “got it”, and who lost it all. For anyone who ever felt like it was over yet hoped it wasn’t, this is your music; blues harnessed, forged in realness. For anyone who ever considered getting their old high-school band back together, this is your inspiration. These are singular songs by a true musician who writes and produces. They are his fuel as he embarks on the third comeback of his life.
The first life (‘who am I and where am I going?’). Fantastic Negrito was raised in an orthodox Muslim household. His father was a Somali-Caribbean immigrant who mostly played traditional African music. When, at the age of 12, Negrito’s family moved from Massachusetts to Oakland, he was hit with an intense culture shock. Oakland in 1980s was a million miles from Negrito’s conservative childhood. He went from Arab chants to Funkadelic in one day, living in the heart of one of the wildest, most infamous, most vibrant black communities in the nation. Shit was extra real in Oakland.
By the time he was 20, Negrito had taught himself to play every instrument he could get his hands on. He was recording music, but he was also caught up in street shit. This went on for several years until a near death encounter with masked gunmen. After that Negrito packed his bags and headed to LA, armed with a demo on cassette.
The second life (‘I want to be a star…I think’). It didn’t take long for Negrito to find himself entrenched in the ‘Hollywood’ lifestyle; “clubs and bitches and bullshit politics that have nothing to do with great music.” Negrito signed with a big time manager and soon after that, a million dollar deal at Interscope …and soon after that, creative death.
The record deal was a disaster. Gangsta rap was ruling the airwaves and Negrito was in the wrong place at the wrong era. Negrito came out of the deal with a failed album and his confidence gutted. He was infected by the constant emphasis on ‘what would sell’; which looks, hooks and gimmicks would attract an audience. He lost all sense of himself. The songs stopped coming to him, so he quit. He sold all of his shit and he quit.
In 2000, Negrito was in a near fatal car accident that put him in a coma. For four weeks it was touch and go. Because his muscles atrophied while bedridden, he had to go through months of frustrating physical therapy to regain use of his legs. Rods were placed throughout his body. And worst of all, his playing hand was mutilated. Though he rehabbed intensely for several years, the damage was permanent. In 2008, he returned home to Oakland.
The third life (the birth of Negrito). Back in Oakland, Negrito forgot about life as a musician. He settled down, planted vegetables, raised his own chickens, and made money growing weed. He also settled into being a man, on his own, clear of the distractions of wanting to be a star. This is when his specific POV of the world came into focus. His conservative Muslim values melded with the liberal, multi-cultural world of Oakland. The cynicism that comes from struggle made room for the hope that comes from cheating death. He truly knew who he was. He was confident about his place in the world because he understood it as much as any man can. And then his son was born.
With his son's entrance into the world, all the creative energy Negrito bottled for years came rushing out. His musical choices were sharp and without doubt. He began recording without the hindrances that come with chasing trends. “Fuck what’s hot now, what moves me?” Negrito turned to the original DNA of all American music, the Blues. The beating life had given him primed him to channel his literal and musical forefathers: the Blues musicians of the Delta.
For Fantastic Negrito, “derivative” is the devil so to ensure his sound is his own, every chord comes from a place of immediacy. Immediacy opens the door for instinct. Instinct is God’s tool that makes an artist into an individual. Negrito leaves the original sounds of Lead Belly and Skip Woods intact and builds bridges to modernity by looping and sampling his own live instruments.
When you listen to Negrito, you’re invited to hear the story of life after destruction. Your dream can die. You probably will give up. But from there, you can start everything over.
This dude is on another level. He brings it and leaves it all out there. I saw them one time live---had never heard of them before---and now come back every month to remember what is real in this world.
Alma gemela black
you know at one time this used to be nipsey hussle fake gangsta who killed off the other character right?
This dude is carrying the past, present and the future of music on his back while owning it like a f-king King.
And that band is smoking freaking tight!
Yes
Fantastic for real ❤
Seen there show at 2024 folk fest in edmonton and was so inspired.
I made so many ooh faces and skank faces listening to this.
This stuff is gold.
Somebody bring me some waffles ❤️
Wowwww Fantastic Negrito Fantastic artist... I love you so much 🙏🌺💋❤️
Old school it's back! Incredible soul-sound
Fantastic Negrito is featured in the AARP Feb/Mar issue and after reading his story I went on a search! I found this amazing live session. Wow. I am a new fan! Much appreciation.
They say funk is tonic for the soul! Here it is!
great set! as a guitar player I usually reserve my comments towards the guitar playing but that drummer is next level great. the guitarist is very good as well. thanks for sharing.
so cool - blues and soul is still alive
Super, saw the band last night live in Utrecht/ The Netherlands, impressive performance.
What a incredible performance , pure energy and bluesville , Pernell brought me here .
Love finding music and musicians I haven't yet heard and know I'll be looking out for in the future.
this guy is one in a million so real
Those Negrito's are fantastic!
Great blues guys!!!!! Love ya!
Blues isn‘t dead✊
genio total y pronto estarás en Argentina. brutal.
Awesome! I always wondered what happened to that keyboard kid from ‘School Of Rock’
Joe Bonamassa’s interview brought me here.
Badd Badd Man!!! Great High-Engery performance... Love It!!!
Great soulful voice
Negrito genio!!!!! en Cordoba (Argentina) pego un show tremendo.....solo queda cruzar los dedos para que vuelva otra vez...
Que buena actitud, voz y show. Encantado con su presentación
Seeing the tiny crowd plus the fact that he won a grammy that year is weird
Shows how difficult it has been to get good music on the airwaves and out to the public. It shows how dysfunctional the whole music business is.
Fantástico !!! Gracias !!!
fucking amazing man! you have a good group there...
Desde España en concreto Zaragoza que bueno eres negrito fantástico vente de concierto
the excellent movie Blindspotting brought me here
Fantastic! Please come to Japan again!
F.A.N.T.A.S.T.I.C !!!!!!!!
J - U - S - T P - E - R - F - E - C - T
sacred sound
Fantastic!
Que planeta eu estava que ainda não conhecia esse cara??? Ou melhor, de que planeta é esse cara?
Very new Old School. Yeah, awesome
He had to move to Stockton. Damn!
I feel his pain
Génial en live ! Il bouge bien, chante bien, les chansons sont bonnes et le son est gros ;)
Me gusta, me gusta.
Have Mercy, blues lives
🔥⭐🔥⭐🔥⭐🔥⭐🔥⭐
I have had many a special moments at the LEAF. Nice to see FG there, and watching the tent fill up. (: Seeing them tonight in Tucson! \m/
Love it!
Multi Racial Band playing good shit!
Damn.
41:38
Now I'm in love again
No this time it's not with my hand
Wandering, murdering
Every time that I get the chance
I'm a human but remember first I'm a man
You painted pictures for me
That I refuse to understand
Cause I want everything for no reason
Cause yesterday it felt so good
But today it feels so bad
These streets got me wandering
Looking for my fix again
I should have paid the Chinese girl
Now I'm losing everything I have
Yesterday if felt so good
But now today it feels so bad
Now I'm alone again
Empty black and very cynical
I can't get enough
My condition is critical
Deep dark lover momma
Sure got enough to eat
When I'm not alone cryin
Murdering
Wandering
I'll rip your heart out with my pretty smile
Help Me!
Girl I want everything you got for no reason
Yesterday it felt so good
But today it feels so bad
These streets got me wandering
Looking for my fix again
I should have paid the Chinese girl
Now I'm losing everything I have
Yesterday it felt so good
But now today it feels so bad
Losing
Mama I'm losing
Oh you know I'm losing my mind
I tell ya I want everything mama
For no, no, no, no reason
Cause yesterday it felt so good
But today it feels so bad
These streets got me wanderin'
Looking for my fix again
I should have paid the Chinese girl
Now I'm losing everything I have
Yesterday it felt so good
But now today it feels so bad
i want to know the bassist name! the one he gives i can't google and get the right guy. loved watching him, he's pretty darn good :)
Yes, same here.
What's the song at 14:10 called
where is the hero who put the name songs and the time in the comments? :(
Matias Di Stefano playing the guitar? Again @MatiasDiStefano
Jesus H Tap Dancing Christ. Have you seen the light?
Rant Rushmore - Deep.
Can anyone tell me the name of the drummer?
James Smalls.
Yeah! Son of a bitch
14:30
16:50 ffffuuuccckk
love casate conmigo
Whities up the front for Nigga Song oh yeah