Kolab
Kolab are a hip-hop group hailing from Auckland, New Zealand. They describe their sound as liquid Hip-Hop; A conscious jazz inspired sound, with a twist of funk.
The group’s musical influences include the likes of De La Soul, Common, A Tribe Called Quest, J Dilla, The Pharcyde, and Outkast.
The members of the group are J Brown, aka James Brown (producer/turntablist), Scottie B, aka Scott Bibby (producer/vocals) and MC Speak Easy, aka Tom Everett (Vocals).
Kolab have put in some serious hours on the grind and have toured Japan and Australia as well as playing a constant stream of live shows in New Zealand and scoring a spot at the 2009 Big Day Out.
Kolab have also achieved the number one spot on 95 bfm's Safari Lounge top 10. Their track So Deep held on to the number one spot for five weeks, while staying in the top 10 for over two months. Their release with Bfm, Inner Beat achieved number three on the top 10 and number seven on the New Zealand Alternative Charts. In total Kolab have released six tracks on 95 Bfm over the past two years, with five of the six achieving a top 10 ranking. Thats a pretty impressive achievement for any group.
Other releases include the single So deep on Remix Magazines Chill Out 06 compilation. Their EP Things To Come and their debut album What Comes Next.
The release of What Comes Next has seen the trio get picked up by iTunes in the USA and featured on the US iStore’s front page under What's Hot and the New Releases sections. This is a notable achievement by the group, as only a select few Kiwi bands have ever done this.
Kolab have also provided Sony Computer Entertainment with their track ‘So Deep’ as part of a PlayStation 3 educational video released with REMIX in Dec 2007.
The band has released two music videos to date, for their tracks Sideways & Inner Beat which have gained exposure on a number of significant music television channels.
Check out Side ways.
Check out Inner Beat.
If you dig these cats as much as I do you can buy Kolabs album 'What Comes Next' right here.
http://www.amplifier.co.nz/artist/17511/kolab.html
Go get some.
James Castady-Kristament is in the alternative rap group JCK, check out their music videos below. Including the new Single 'Spirit X' now playing on Juice TV and C4.
