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H<br />
Hasan Robinson<br />
Explores and unveils a new age in<br />
music<br />
Tania B.<br />
It is difficult to say if Hasan<br />
Robinson (aka Bil Basmala) had any<br />
idea about the revolutionary music<br />
he would be gifting to the world only<br />
a few years later. Or perhaps the<br />
visionary in him had always known<br />
that he would push the known<br />
boundaries of hip-hop and construct<br />
a bridge that would traverse the musical<br />
evolution of many years within<br />
the span of a few minutes, a single<br />
track or a passionate collection. That<br />
is exactly what this independent<br />
recording artist has been doing ever<br />
since his emergence in the westcoast<br />
underground hip-hop scene in<br />
1998 with an LA produced Record<br />
Usephasan- Chemistry Teraqueous<br />
(Pomo & Amani Smith).<br />
Producer-rapper Hasan Robinson is<br />
being hailed as the architect of neovisionary<br />
soul music. His creations<br />
speak volumes about his unique<br />
attitude towards his art, positioning<br />
him as the very embodiment of the<br />
spirit of breaking away, breaking<br />
free. For, not only does his metaphysical<br />
approach seek to redefine<br />
all known definitions and genres of<br />
music, he himself is the overreacher<br />
trying to reconceive the notion<br />
and the traditional functions of an<br />
emcee or producer. Like his music<br />
his is the unconventional genius, his<br />
vision teetering on the borders of<br />
the extraordinary and the novel. Bil<br />
Basmala and Eastern Department’s<br />
soulful ambiance is a layered combination<br />
of classic hip-hop drums with<br />
abstract and alternative rap lyrics.<br />
Quirky drums, deep baselines and<br />
intense thick atmospheric textures<br />
cover each track. The rhythm driven<br />
studio recordings are complemented<br />
by harmonious vocals and lyrics<br />
based on social commentary and<br />
individual enlightenment. Originally<br />
conceived or envisioned by Hasan<br />
as an eclectic blend, neo-visionary<br />
soul takes the electronic, chill-out<br />
or left field genre into a completely<br />
new sphere. Accompanied by complimentary<br />
visuals from Basmala,<br />
neo-visionary soul is a promising<br />
addition to the left field, electronic<br />
and hip-hop genre. To the listeners<br />
it promises a new, hitherto<br />
unknown bliss or an awakening<br />
of the soul.<br />
To quote the<br />
artist<br />
himself, “Since around 2009, I have<br />
been experimenting with this sound.<br />
I called it dubeclectric then. I wasn’t<br />
interested in reaching a wider audience<br />
at the time and it is not guaranteed<br />
now. Instead, I am content<br />
with putting out records in a classic<br />
format. It’s kind of difficult without<br />
that in your face, big label machine<br />
pumping out your music. Yet, there is<br />
something to say about personal expression.<br />
Bil Basmala offers that with<br />
a solid intention and focus on other<br />
things outside of the self. That universal<br />
and unseen force influences what<br />
I am able to re-create.”<br />
BIL BASMALA<br />
EASTERN DEPARTMENT<br />
&<br />
20<strong>13</strong><br />
http://bilbasmala.com
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