The 420 subculture is taking over Tropicalia’s Sao Funky Saturday! Billed as a post-Record Store Day event, incidentally happening on April 20, the night will get some help from all-stars from Fort Knox Recordings. This Sao Funky Saturday won’t skip a beat.
Located at 14th and U Streets NW, Tropicalia—the little party hut located underneath the Subway—will begin with an early show from 7pm – 10:30pm. Nappy Riddem and Asheru will be the hosts. After dark, the musical arc will change with a DJ set from Fort Knox Five.
Nappy Riddem, led by Rex Riddem and Mustafa Akbar, works from a diverse curriculum of reggae, dub, hip hop, and R&B. They’re full-length album One World Sovereignty showcases a range of skank rhythms, new jack swing, and hot-buttered soul. Having performed across the nation, at local DMV venues, and at music festivals such as PEX Summerfest, Nappy Riddem is true evangelism for post-funk music.
Asheru received musical guidance from hip hop artists including Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, and N.W.A. While a student at the University of Virginia, he developed and cultivated his musical tastes with strong bend toward hip hop. After college, he worked with a colleague to establish Seven Heads Entertainment, an independent hip hop label. In 1996, Seven Heads signed its first group, Unspoken Heard, a collaborative featuring Asheru and producer Blue Black. Asheru gained wider exposure as the vocalist for The Boondocks animated TV series.
Fort Knox Five was formed in 2003 and received worldwide exposure with Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku Lovers North American Tour in 2005. The collective featuring Jon Horvath, Steve Raskin, Rob Myers, and Sid Barcelona elevates the production value of electronica music to an international scale. Their genre-busting style bears influences from such diverse talents as Tito Puente, Joe Bataan, Kraak and Smaak… and even Louis Armstrong. Fort Knox Five’s strong ties to DC-grown ESL Music empower them to influence other local artists.
You won’t want to miss this all-star revue, again featuring early show live sets with Nappy Riddem and Asheru and a late night DJ set from Fort Knox Five.
Tropicalia is located at 2001 14th Street, NW DC (the lower level at the corner of 14th & U Street, NW). Show at 7pm – 10:30pm. 21+ with a $5 cover.
