FR: SHAZILA MOHAMMED, MSO
‘FUNK 4 PEACE’ ON DEBUT FULL LENGTH ALBUM OF ORIGINAL MATERIAL
“RADIO FREE D.C.”
OUT OCTOBER 21 VIA FORT KNOX RECORDINGS
ALBUM MIXES LIVE INSTRUMENTATION WITH FUNKY ELECTRONIC BEATS
AND FEATURES WASHINGTON, D.C.’S TOP UNDERGROUND ARTISTS
IN HIP-HIP, REGGAE, HARDCORE AND MORE
On October 21, FORT KNOX FIVE will unleash their new campaign to shake the foundations of the establishment with 12 songs that inspire, incite and unite our generation to “Funk 4 Peace.” RADIO FREE D.C.–their debut full-length album of original material–looks to the band’s hometown’s rich musical heritage of funk, soul, punk and hip-hop for inspiration. The set–released via Fort Knox Recordings–will be the first electronic album distributed by legendary D.C. punk label Dischord Records’ Dischord Direct; it features D.C.’s top names in underground music including Asheru (Unspoken Heard), Mustafa Akbar, Rootz & Zeebo (See-I), Sleepy Wonder and Ian Svenonius (Nation of Ulysses/The Make Up).
Intercut by RFDC (“Radio Free D.C.”) interludes, the 12-track RADIO FREE D.C. opens with Asheru’s intelligent rhymes in the party jam “Insight.” The album’s unifying anthem “Funk 4 Peace” follows next, featuring longtime FK5 collaborator Mustafa Akbar, who also appears on the tracks “The Party Pushers,” “The Spirit Of ’75” and “Uptown Tricks.” The album goes on to showcase FK5’s indie rock roots with a heavy dose of funk and soul, as they proclaim step-by-step instructions on “How to Start a Band” featuring Ian Svenonius from DC Hardcore’s Nation of Ulysses and The Make Up. Rootz and Zeebo from See-I and mic-specialist Sleepy Wonder round out the album’s collaborators, appearing on “Killa Sound Boy,” “The Wonder Strikes Again” and “Not Gonna Take It,” helping FORT KNOX FIVE venture deep into the heart of DC’s Jamaican Underground.
FORT KNOX FIVE–SID BARCELONA, JON HORVATH, ROB MYERS and STEVE RASKIN–came together in 2003 to form Fort Knox Recordings. The label was established in 2003 to release genre-defying party-rocking music that crosses tempos, interweaving live instrumentation with funky electronic beats–what is now known as the “Fort Knox Sound.”
The release of RADIO FREE D.C. sees FORT KNOX FIVE break out from behind-the-scenes where they’ve established themselves as go-to remixers and producers, working with artists ranging from Afrika Bambaataa to Bittersweet, Kraak & Smaak to Tito Puente and most recently Bob Marley & the Wailers. They are also internationally renowned deejays, playing at top clubs all over the world, and were selected by multi-platinum recording artist Gwen Stefani to be the house deejays on her “Harajuku Lovers” tour with Black Eyed Peas.
FORT KNOX FIVE tracks have been featured in commercials and video games, including EA Sports Games “Tiger Woods 07” (3 tracks), “NBA Street” (1 Track), “Facebreaker” (1 Track) and “Tiger Woods 09” (2 tracks). The band also did a large portion of the soundtrack to EA Sports Games’ “Skate 2” and their songs have appeared on compilations including Hotel Costes Sept Compilation, Brazilectro 6, 7 and 8, and Music for Modern Living. FORT KNOX FIVE will also go out on their first full live tour this fall, featuring most of the collaborators on the album. Full details will be confirmed shortly, as well as details of DJ dates.
Visit www.fortknoxrecordings.com and www.myspace.com/fortknoxfive for up-to-date information on FORT KNOX FIVE and the tour, and vote “FK5 in ’08!”
RADIO FREE D.C. Track Listing:
1. RFDC: A PLACE CALLED FORT KNOX
2. INSIGHT featuring Asheru
3. FUNK 4 PEACE featuring Mustafa Akbar
4. HOW TO START A BAND featuring Ian Svenonius
5. SAO FUNKY (Parts 1 & 2) featuring Javier Miranda
6. THE FK STRUT
7. RFDC: CALLING ALL STATIONS
8. THE PARTY PUSHERS featuring Mustafa Akbar
9. KILLA SOUNDBOY featuring Sleepy Wonder & Zeebo
10. THE WONDER STRIKES AGAIN featuring Sleepy Wonder
11. THE SPIRIT OF ‘75 featuring Mustafa Akbar
12. RFDC: THE POWER OF FIVE
13. PAPA WAS STONED
14. UPTOWN TRICKS featuring Mustafa Akbar
15. NOT GONNA TAKE IT featuring Rootz
16. RFDC: SIGNING OFF
For press information on FORT KNOX FIVE, contact:
MSO 818.380.0400
Shazila Mohammed x238, shazila@msopr.com
http://