Artists

Since 1997 Profetas has become one of the essential groups to understand the new urban music in Latin America. The fusion of Afro-Colombian music, reggae, rock and a strong basis of hip hop has helped the band to get a good number of followers in Latin America and some European countries such as Germany and Austria.

The duo composed of the African singer Antombo Langangui and the Colombian MC Pablo Fortaleza, has received outstanding comments by music critics: already in 2001, the Colombian newspaper EL TIEMPO  presented them as the revelation of Colombian hip hop, after the band's live presentation at Hip Hop al Parque (the most important hip hop festival in Latinoamerica with around 100.000 visitors).

PROFETAS, a multicultural band with members of different origins and with different musical backgrounds, have so far participated in festivals such as Hip Hop al Parque 2001 and 2005, Rastazo Bogota 2005, La Fete de la Musique in Medellin 2004 and 2005 and in Bogota 2006, Rock al Parque 2009, Reggaejam Germany 2008, European Summer University Germany 2008.

In addition they have shared the stage with Gondwana from Chile, Junior Reid, Michael Rose and Tanya Stephens from Jamaica, Culcha Candela from Germany, Alborosie from Italy, Los Cafres from Argentina, and Method Man (Wutang Clan) from the USA, among others.

In 2008, PROFETAS toured Europe twice, first in spring as opening act of Culcha Candela's “Hamma” tour and later in summer participating in recognized festivals like the Reggaejam in Germany, the Reggaebenefiz, the Afrolatin Day in Berlin, and the Summer University Convention organized by ATTAC in Saarland, Germany. During these tours PROFETAS played 25 concerts in more than 20 cities all over Europe.

In addition, PROFETAS won the German version of the European Reggae Contest, competing with more than 400 European bands. In 2009, PROFETAS supported the Latinamerica Tour of the famous American rappers METHOD MAN and RED MAN, and promoted their new single BAILA on radio stations and at live concerts around Colombia. After the success of their first record Amor y Fortaleza (Love and Strength), PROFETAS are preparing BAILA, their new groundbreaking album!

IN 2010 Profetas released "Caribbean Feeling" an EP advance of the album BAILA, in addition ithey began a world tour that he will visit more than 50 cities in Europe, North America and South America. The world tour includes countries as Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, and The United States and several of the most important Festivals of the world, including The Latin-American congress of culture of Medellin, TheLAMC in NYC and Arhus's Festival in Denmark.

In 2011 Profetas was  selected by SXSW Festival in Austin Texas  to macke 3 showcases in adition the band Released “Baila” The most anticipated album in the Colombian urban scene, the Album  will be abable in USA in April 2011.

For Eekwol, creation brings growth in all aspects of life. As a dedicated hip hop emcee, Eekwol astounds her listeners with honest and direct and revolutionary words that come from places both original and groundbreaking. With a lifelong background of Plains Cree Indigenous music, she gives the audience a balanced and healthy taste of experimental hip hop that comes from her land and place while respecting the history and place of original hip hop.

For 2010 Eekwol has released, Niso, a solo EP dedicated to showcasing different producers and styles of sound while keeping true to her bold words and message. This spring, Eekwol is looking forward to performing numerous shows. She continues to promote her new release and has just released a music video with Mils, producer/rapper/brother for the song, The Gauntlet.

For more information on Eekwol please contact eekwoll@hotmail.com and check her out at www.myspace.com/eekwol

His stage name is taken from a novel by one of Mali’s most noted authors - Amadou Hampaté Bâ – in order to pay homage to all African cultures.

Amkoullel was young when he discovered rap and in 1993 he organized his first rap concert before expanding his collaborations and creating the group Kouma Guerya – ‘guerilla of words’.

His first album, Infaculté, was released in 2002 and was loaded with texts against ignorance. In 2003, his second album, Surafin, meaning ‘bribe’, was released. But it was Waati Sera (‘It’s Time !’), self-produced under the label Woklo Barka Prod in 2007 that proved to be a militant opus against Africans’ disdainful self-image. Amkoullel creates musical collages from traditional African instruments, jazz and rock, arousing the attention of even the most refined audience.

Amkoullel has performed with icons such as Cheikh Tidiane Seck and appeared twice at the Nice Jazz Festival alongside Manu Dibango, Keziah Jones, Rokia Traoré and has presented alongside Alpha Blondy, Lobi Traoré and Tiken Jah Fakoly. Ne ka Mali ! is not only an invitation to discover Africa through the eyes of Amkoullel, but also a call into question the notions of ‘the other’. Rapping and flowing in French and Bambara, Amkoullel touches on vital social issues such as education and African unity. Accompanied by Didier Awadi, one of African Hip-hop’s fathers, and an illustrious compatriot Xuman, Amkoullel presents other regional performers such as The Tata Pound, Lassy King Massassy, Fanga Fing, Master Sumy ; and French spoken word artists RIM and CANDIIE.

Hip Hop without borders
Amkoullel founded the first Hip Hop school, the Farafina Club, and the Mali Hip Hop Association, AHM, which brings together artists, DJs, graffiti artists, and dancers. Amkoullel also is the host of Case Sanga, a heavily viewed Malian variety show, like America’s “American Idol”, which brings forth new talent and is presently gaining in popularity in francophone Africa.

In 2009, Amkoullel was honoured at the Mali Hip-Hop Awards three times, booked to headline at the Waga Hip Hop festival and to perform in one of the major Mexican festivals, and appearing on compilations by OIF and Afrolution. 2010 is the year of internationalization with a digital record label and the creation of the first Koterap musical BAMA SABA launched at the Avignon festival. The impact is such that various tours are now prepared for 2011…

Jean Grae (Tsidi Ibrahim) was originally from South Africa, but says that she will always be a New Yorker by heart. She is the daughter of two jazz musicians. Jean learned an appreciation for all genres of music at 9. She attended the High School of Performing Arts as a vocal major and was later accepted to New York University as a Music Business major. She was later given a good foundation on becoming a hip-hop writer and producer. After that she was recruited by a rapper named Ocean, who formed a group called Natural Resource in the mid-90s. In 1997, Natural Resource founded their own record label, Makin' Records, and released the 12" single, "Negro League Baseball", which became an underground hip-hop classic. They followed with several other 12"s including the song Love This World. In addition to writing and producing with Natural Resource, Jean also produced singles for Makin' Records artists Pumpkin Head, Don Scavone and The Bad Seed. She sometimes collaborates with Talib Kweli and Canabal Ox. She made two albums: The Attack of Attacking Things, This Week and The Bootleg of the Bootleg.