Mamadou aka Pathe ,
Diasse ,
Sana ,
Backa , Joe Sallins,
Matt, Greg,
Pape Bathie & Doug Deutsch (Managers, Producers)
Influences
"Ancient Meets Urban"TM
On "Rap-Tassu", GBS combines the rhythm of the bougarabou, djeme, and sabar drums, with the melodic ekonting infusing modern sounds of the western guitar, bass, vocals, and emceeing that distinctly expresses hip-hop grounded in tassu.
"Rap-Tassu will enlighten people about the origins of rap music. For centuries in Senegal, we've had a style of early hip-hop called Tassu which sounds like drumming and clapping against a chant", explains Mamadou. It's basically the music that stayed in the spirit of African-Americans that evolved into the rap music we hear today.
From the school of:
ANCIENT:
Islam, griot story telling (Yella & Tassu), Mbalax & traditional west african music
URBAN:
Breakdancing, graffiti, old school & modern hip-hop, funk, reggae, jazz, & rhythm & blues
In partnership with Waranka GR Association, a non-profit organization in Senegal, GBS and AMU Music will donate 100% of the proceeds from the sale of “Rap Tassu” to provide the band’s village Pikine Guinaw Rails, Dakar, Senegal with water pumps and other equipment to alleviate extreme flooding which occurs annually and causes unsafe living conditions, malaria and often death for the people of Pikine.
Since the song is not yet available on itunes, amazon and other leading digital download companies we are asking that you join our mailing list to receive an update when the track becomes available!
Childhood friends from the Dakar, Senegal hood of Pikine Guinaw Rail—literally “the other side of the tracks”— Gokh-Bi System (pronounced Go Bee) reunite rap with its ancient West African ancestors in a style dubbed “ancient meets urban”. GBS was formed in 1993 by three childhood friends: Mamadou Ndiaye (Emcee), Diasse Pouye (Emcee), and Pape Bathie Pouye (Music Director/Manager). The three boys were transfixed by the conscious lyrics and powerful messages found in hip hop and began creating their own lyrics against the beat. They started out imitating what they heard on the cassettes, combining English, French, Arabic, and several other Senegalese dialects including Wolof (the official language of Senegal), Serer, and Jola into their own flow. Soon freestyle turned into original compositions and the boys from the other side of the tracks added Backa Niang (percussionist/vocals) and Sana Ndiaye (ekonting/vocals) and christened themselves Gokh-Bi System which means neighborhood system. A distinctive component of GBS's authentic sound is the ekonting played by Sana. The ekonting — once used to calm social unrest — and Gokh-Bi’s positive message, inspired by rap greats from The Last Poets to Chuck D, transform the group’s sound into an uplifting yet hard-hitting African homecoming for hip hop that sounds like The Roots hanging with Baaba Maal. Drummer Matt Garstka, bassist/keyboardist Joe Sallins and Guitarist Greg Garstka add modern instrumentation while an African dancer adds energy and movement to the stage performance.
Since their arrival in America, GBS has opened for and shared the stage with: Kanye West, Last Poets, Damian Marley, Dead Prez, Tribe Called Quest, Youssou N’Dour, Angelique Kidjo, Femi Kuti, Culture, Toots and The Maytals, Michael Franti (Spearhead), Africando, Erykah Badu, and Grammy Award winning artist, Patti LaBelle, who hosted a special tribute concert in honor of legendary singer and songwriter, John Whitehead at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, PA. Joining GBS at this momentous evening were Gerald LeVert, Jaguar Wright, Floetry, Angela Bofill, and many more friends of John Whitehead. They have completed 11 North American tours through 35 states and Canada including major festival performances Bumbershoot (Seattle WA), Montreal Jazz Fest, Floydfest (Virginia), National Geographic's All Roads Film Festival (Washington, DC and Los Angeles), Festival International de Louisiane, Concert of Colors (Detroit), World Music Festival (Chicago), Lotus, Festival Nuits d'Afrique (Montreal) and Celebrate Brooklyn African Festival (New York).
JUNE 4, 11, 18 & 25, 2009: Boogie Down B-Boy/B-Girl Jams @ Behagen Park, Bronx
feat. DJs Jazzy Jay, DP One, Lean Rock, Tony Touch, Ignishun,
GrandWizzard Theodore, GrandMaster Caz, Forrest Getemgump, Tony Tone,
Johnny Juice Rosado +. 5-9pm. FREE! All Ages! Behagen Park E.
166th St. betw. Tinton and Union Aves. Bronx NY 10456. 2 or 5 to
Prospect. nycgovparks.org/parks/X166
JUNE 25: Boogie Down B-Boy/B-Girl Jams @ St. Mary's Park, Bronx
feat PopMaster Fabel, Kool DJ AJ Scratch & DJ Chuck City. 4-7pm
@ St. Mary's Park FREE! All Ages! 146th St. and St. Ann's Bronx NYC
10454. 2 or 5 to 149th & 3rd or 6 to Brook.
nycgovparks.org/parks/X045
JULY 9, 16, 23 & 30, 2009 Crotona Park Jams: Bronx
Held in assoc. with Council Member Joel Rivera and The Friends of
Crotona Park. feat. DJs: Lord Finesse, GrandMaster Caz, Cash Money,
Jazzy Joyce, Scratch, Afrika Bambaataa, Jazzy Jay, Kool DJ Red Alert,
PopMaster Fabel, GrandWizzard Theodore +. 5-9pm. FREE! All
Ages. Host: GrandMaster Caz. Enter at
Charlotte St & Crotona Park East, Bronx NYC 10457. 2 or 5 to 174th
St. itsmypark.org/brochures/crotona.swf
AUG 4, 11, 18 & 25, 2009: Digger's Delight: Harlem
feat. DJs: Miss Shing-a-ling, Rockin' Rob, Chuck City, Lean Rock,
Chairman Mao, JBX, Jazzy Jay, Danny Dan the Beat Mann, Forrest
Getemgump, Lord Finesse, and more tba. 4-8pm. FREE! All Ages. St.
Nicholas Park Plaza @ 135th & St. Nicholas Ave, Harlem NYC. B or C
to W. 135th. Held in assoc. with The Friends of St. Nicholas Park:
stnicholaspark.org. myspace.com/toolsofwar
Thanks a million GBS for joining our ministry of Blues. It's all about peace, love, understanding, and GROOVE. Hope to perform for you sometime. Wishing you the very best in Blues and life! -Big Daddy
Hey guys. I know the show starts at 10 on saturday, but is there any other bands playing first? i was hoping you would play a little later so i can make it. let me know!!
