Afrofreque

Afrofreque is a hip hop, soul, and funk band from Austin, Texas. Afrofreque starts with The Roots' live hip hop group template, but fashions a brighter sound with socially conscious lyrics and a heavy focus on 1970s soul grooves and ultra-funky, feel-good jams, supplemented with afrobeat, reggae, and electro. The group's debut album, Fresh Soul Frequencies, features ten tracks written collectively by the band members (who've all honed their chops with stints in other Austin groups): Tigre Liu (raps...

The group's debut album, Fresh Soul Frequencies, features ten tracks written collectively by the band members (who've all honed their chops with stints in other Austin groups): Tigre Liu (raps, vocals), DJ Resinthol (turntables), Michael Hale (drums, vocals), Claude 9 (keyboards, vocals), John Siebenthaler (bass), and Fumi-Hito Sugarawa (guitar).

MC Tigre Liu raps with a flow and delivery similar to Chali 2Na (Jurassic 5, Ozomatli). DJ Resinthol's scratches in a style not unlike that of DJ Logic, Rob Swift, and another Texas turntablist -- Dallas' DJ Zero, best known for his late 1980s and early 1990s work with MC 900 Ft. Jesus. In addition to p-funkesque synth lines, Claude 9 favors Fender Rhodes electric piano and, most frequently, Hammond B3 organ. Along with Resinthol's pastiche of samples, Claude 9's spectrum of keyboard sounds help craft the group's amalgamation of hip hop, soul, funk, and groove. The rhythm section often sounds like acid jazz funksters Brand New Heavies (without horns or N'Dea Davenport's vocals).