Dancehall Artist MC Zulu Stands Against Gun Violence With "Electric Avenue" Remake
Art Laurent
"Electric Avenue". This remake of the monster classic from the 80's
has enjoyed early support from influential indie radio outlets, such
as Mister G's Green Arrow Radio (Madison, Wis.); and has reached as
far as Suzi Hutchings' Crossing Tracks Radio Show (Adelaide, AUS).
MC Zulu states that he sees the original song as a crucial part of the
"Electro-Reggae" lineage as Eddy Grant was obviously Caribbean in his
delivery, but broke the mold by not using traditional instrumentation
or production. The result became a runaway hit. MC Zulu’s track was
produced by Chicago Hip-Hop luminary Lional “Brotha El” Freeman, from
the DJ duo Makers Of Sense.
Zulu’s stated intentions are to pay tribute to Eddy Grant, while
placing his own “go-getter, yet anti-gun-violence” stamp on the track.
Reinterpreted: “Get your money, but stop the [stupidity]. This is just
a reboot of a classic the way I imagined it. You might have similar
starting points but it ends up as something completely different… same
thing they do in the movies.” Though resolute with the new direction
his track has taken, he remains humble, stating: “I wonder if Eddy
Grant would like it. Man, I’d be hugely honored.”
Behind the scenes MC Zulu is completing production on his next album
“Love Machine”, and a side project he calls 101VOiD; which emerged as
a challenge from Netherlands producer Process Rebel to make something
with “Little or NO REGGAE in it”. One of those tracks have already
become public as the single “Solid Gold”.
Website: http://www.mczulu.com/