MEAWW's Basement Tapes: OSHUN channel Afrofuturistic hip-hop in Dr Martens' new mini-documentary
Footwear and clothing brand Dr Martens has premiered a mini-documentary featuring the DC-based neo-soul, hip-hop duo OSHUN as part of their 'Music & Film' series. The duo has also announced the launch of their OSHUN 100k Tour set to kick off on April 21 in collaboration with legendary hip-hop artiste Lauryn Hill.
Subverting the norm
With the 'Music & Film' series, Dr Martens is bringing attention to some extremely talented artistes who are sharing their inspiring stories of resilience and determination.
The series is helmed by filmmakers Vincent Martell and Erik Rojas who have curated a lineup of performers sharing their personal stories, including their journey to becoming musicians and realizing their artistic visions, giving viewers an intimate look into the daily lives of working musicians.
'Dr Martens Presents: OSHUN' dropped on March 12. Other artistes confirmed for the series include Junglepussy, Moaning, De'Wayne Jackson, L.A. Witch, Paranoyds, Sad Girl, Combo Chimbita, Phony Ppl, Death Valley Girls, Samia, and PJ.
With this series, Dr Martens is hoping to highlight unique voices that aren't heard in the mainstream. And it doesn't get a whole lot more unique than OSHUN.
Afrofuturism meets hip-hop
Comprised of Washington DC natives Niambi Sala and Thandiwe, the idea behind OSHUN manifested when the duo met and instantly bonded while attending their freshman orientation at New York University on the Martin Luther King Jr. scholarship. They decided very early on that they wanted to maintain creative control over their sound and elected to remain independent. That is respectable enough given how difficult it can be to make it on your own in the entertainment business, but it is a decision that packs even more of a punch when you experience the new-wave hip-hop sound and Afrofuturistic aesthetic OSHUN chose to protect.
Coined by Mark Dery in his 1993 essay 'Black to the Future', Afrofuturism is the cultural, social, and philosophical exploration of the intersection of the African Diaspora with technology. Put more simply, it is "the reimagining of a future filled with arts, science, and technology seen through a black lens." Marvel's 'Black Panther' is one of the most popular representations of Afrofuturism, depicting the technologically-advanced Wakandans as a people unaffected by colonization, thereby retaining a significant amount of their own culture.
But long before Black Panther, artistes like Janet Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Erykah Badu, Janelle Monáe, Kendrick Lamar, Missy Elliott, Outkast, FKA twigs, Willow Smith, SZA, and Solange Knowles among many others were including Afrofuturistic elements in their artistry and music. And while hip-hop and R&B artistes do not always lean towards the aesthetic of Afrofuturism in their work, many -- such as Lauryn Hill and Chloe x Halle -- write music and choose projects that embody what the philosophy represents.
And OSHUN appears to draw on all these legendary artistes in their work while still maintaining a sound and aesthetic that is extremely unique. The duo has performed live with Lauryn Hill before and will share the stage again with her for their upcoming tour.
But OSHUN's influences go beyond artistes -- the duo's sound is so authentic it makes listeners feel like they're channeling the spirit of their ancestors as they manifest the core of Afrofuturistic ideals into their very being.
Their 2015 debut mixtape, 'ASASE YAA,' garnered worldwide attention and a new fanbase that calls themselves the 'Sunflower Squad', and the duo has already performed at major American festivals and has been featured in multiple major media publications -- all while they were full-time students at NYU.
In the mini-documentary, the duo talks about the difficulty of remaining independent artistes while also being students. But despite the hardships, the two were determined to stick to their goals. The duo also talks a little about their unique approach to songwriting, including finding their musical tribe in the vastness of NYC.
The mini-documentary also features outtakes from OSHUN's recent sold-out performance at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU.
And now that the duo has graduated college and moved out on their own, they're ready to take on the next phase of their life - and to create more music.
OSHUN will have additional releases of its album series bittersweet Vol. 2 and will go on a world tour including stops in the U.S., Canada, and Africa in 2020. Their Spring/Summer tour called the OSHUN 100k Your will have stops in over 30 US cities, kicks off on April 21 from Philadelphia, PA and wraps up in Brooklyn on June 19. The Spring run will include several dates as direct support for Lauryn Hill along the way.
Watch the new OSHUN documentary from Dr Martens HERE. Find more information on the Dr Martens 'Music & Film' series, including a full schedule of upcoming concerts HERE.
Find out more about OSHUN, including tour dates and how to join the 'Sunflower Squad' HERE.
MEAWW's Basement Tapes is a weekly column that shines a spotlight on undiscovered/underrated musical gems.