I really liked the Kassa Overall I'd bought before, but the new album 'I Think I'm Good' is really fantastic:
https://kassaoverall.bandcamp.com/album/i-think-im-good
Rooted in jazz (or at least jazz drumming), but rarely does it sound like jazz-hip-hop or even jazz-sample-based hip-hop per se. It's more of a song suite, moderately experimental but also accessible, and habit-forming (I've found myself playing it three times running). Interpolates Outkast and Chopin. Give it 40 minutes and you'll be rewarded.
― Soundslike, Friday, 13 March 2020 01:47 (four years ago) link
Nice article on this artist making a wholly original artistic breakthrough at age 37, deep into a career when he could've been a gigging sideman:
https://daily.bandcamp.com/certified/certified-kassa-overall-i-think-im-good
― Soundslike, Friday, 13 March 2020 01:55 (four years ago) link
I'm sure it's bad form to bump a no-response thread. . .
But seriously, this album is really something special that I know a lot of ILXers would love--too good to be missed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JDgr739ZMk&list=OLAK5uy_n8PM6jDgGgY0kLQZ7iYU4khHUrBH_rcYs
― Soundslike, Saturday, 4 April 2020 15:33 (four years ago) link
I think voodoo chili had this on his rolling favorites list, iirc. I haven't gotten to it yet, but it's on my pile!
― rob, Saturday, 4 April 2020 15:52 (four years ago) link
I interviewed him at the beginning of the year.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Saturday, 4 April 2020 16:12 (four years ago) link
Very cool, thanks for linking, Unperson!
― Soundslike, Saturday, 4 April 2020 16:32 (four years ago) link
rob is correct, i do love this.
― fauci wally (voodoo chili), Saturday, 4 April 2020 19:24 (four years ago) link
finally listening to his previous album go get ice cream and listen to jazz. it's a bit lighter on its feet and more of a piece with contemporary hip-hop flavored jazz (and vice versa?) than i think i'm good, which feels more like it's own thing. but it is similarly excellent, and showcases his drumming chops a bit more.
i think i'm good is gonna land pretty high on my eventual year-end list, there's nothing like it.
― la table sur la table (voodoo chili), Friday, 13 November 2020 19:02 (three years ago) link
new live session with some i think i'm good material, sounds fantastic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nlxmdr2WVng
― roflrofl fight (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 19 January 2022 15:13 (two years ago) link
new album out today. guests are bigger (shabazz palaces, danny brown, nick hakim, laura mvula), but idk if the singles had the same spark as most of i think i'm good, which was my favorite album of 2020
― ludicrously capacious bag (voodoo chili), Friday, 26 May 2023 13:46 (eleven months ago) link
It's a bit scattered but cool I guess. He'll be here as part of a jazz fest next month, I should probably go see him huh.
― Random Restaurateur (Jordan), Friday, 26 May 2023 15:18 (eleven months ago) link
He’s coming my way too. Playing on a bill with dc go-go I think
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 28 May 2023 18:13 (ten months ago) link