Photo Credit: Erik Bardin
Today, GRAMMY-nominated jazz visionary and Doris Duke Artist Award winner Kassa Overall unveils “C.R.E.A.M. (CASH RULES EVERYTHING AROUND ME),” a Coltrane-esque exploration of Wu-Tang Clan’s rap anthem that dissolves the boundary between spiritual jazz and golden age hip-hop. The track is the second single off of his eponymously titled forthcoming album CREAM, out digitally and on CD and vinyl September 12 via Warp Records.
The single follows Overall’s first release from the project, “REBIRTH OF SLICK (COOL LIKE DAT)” (Digable Planets), which has already received praise from outlets including NPR’s All Songs Considered, The New York Times, TIDAL (‘Playlisters’ A-Listers’), KEXP, BBC6, Stereogum, The Needle Drop, Nate Chinen’s ‘The Gig,’ and many more. Overall also recently appeared in DownBeat Magazine’s ‘Rising Star’ critic polls, ranking high in both ‘Drummer of the Year’ and ‘Producer of the Year’ categories.
In his version of “C.R.E.A.M.,” Overall treats the seminal 1990s Wu-Tang production as a minor blues, inspired by classic Coltrane songs in ¾ like “My Favorite Things.” Hypnotic and cinematic, the drummer and producer’s take on the song leaves you spinning in its powerful afterglow.
Of his affinity for Wu-Tang Clan, Overall explains: “Their whole energy was an alternative to the get-the-money-shiny-suit mentality. For me, the original ‘C.R.E.A.M.’ was a commentary on ‘Get Money.’ It was realism. It pointed out everyone’s scrambling and striving to get ahead, but it also nodded at something beyond that. You could transcend and even control the material world through a higher divine nature.”
Overall sees the transcendent message of Wu-Tang Clan, John Coltrane’s spiritual pursuit of music, and his own praxis as fundamentally connected. “I heard stories of Trane’s band playing in clubs with eight people and they would be playing like their life depended on it, driven by the spirit and purpose of the music,” said the Seattle-based drummer. “People see us as entertainers, trying to be seen, trying to get money, but we are also trying to get to some deeper work.”
Performed by Overall and his band with no overdubs or edits, the song features Emilio Modeste on soprano sax, Matt Wong on keys, Bendji Allonce on percussion, and Jeremiah Kal’ab on bass.
Overall also announces new additions to their huge, 30+ date world tour this fall, playing clubs and festivals all across the United States, Europe, and Asia with additional dates supporting Tune-Yards. For the full list of dates and tickets, visit his website here.
“C.R.E.A.M. (CASH RULES EVERYTHING AROUND ME)” : Watch / Listen
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