RAPH BOOGIE has channelled all his talent and energy into a hip-hop CD to get revellers on the dancefloor and listeners nodding their heads. With an awesome array of talented contributors adding to the latest album, Le Bump is bound to raise Boogie’s profile.
The Nextmen are credited with production work on the album – the Cambridge natives having honed their hitmaking skills with acts including Blackalicious and Public Enemy. Not to overlook our own Aussie master crafters though, Raph Boogie has also worked with Danielsan from Canberra to create the opening manifesto Boogie Bump. Danielsan will be known to hip-hop fans from his work with Koolism. Other contributors include Plutonic Lab from Melbourne, Californian DJ Design, BVA from Mnemonic Ascent and Detroit’s Phat Kan. Tracks range from the heartfelt and personal I Know through to family baking on Tea Cake.
“One of my favourite songs is Tea Cake, which is a song about cake and also features my lil boy Tyke on the chorus,” he reveals. Along with releasing an album, as if that weren’t demanding enough, Raph Boogie has put his passion for photography and writing into producing the published ode to hip-hop culture, Behind the Beat. The book is a photographic ode to the home studios of some of the most high profile hip hop artists, including DJ Shadow, DJ Premier, The Nextmen and DJ Spinna.
“Everything that I do affects everything else,” says Raph, discussing the numerous endeavours he juggles daily. “Everything is related. My other projects help me think in different ways. Where I used to be only concerned about the way the song felt to me, I now think about the way other people might perceive my work.”
Raph Boogie continues to be a proud member of Crookneck Records, avid supporters of some of Australia’s finest: A-Love, DJ Ransom and J-Red to name a few.
Raph is bringing his party-starting bass sounds and MC antics to the Canberra dancefloor on May 2. Joining him at Transit Bar will be Danielsan to bring the big beats of Le Bump to the live arena.
“The response has been cool,” he says. “I took the songs out on the road last year with Muph and Plutonic and the feedback was really positive. I have never really been a touring artist, not because I didn’t want to be, but I was just too focussed on being in the studio. I really like doing shows and touring around, it’s important for me to deliver the songs live and also connect with the people.”
Along with the booty-shaking sounds, Raph Boogie brings a down-to-earth attitude with him to Canberra. “Hip-hop for me is about being an individual and retaining my integrity. Life is too short to be making music for a target audience.”
Transit Bar will be hosting Raph Boogie and Danielsan on Saturday May 2. Free entry, as usual!
