Born in the early ‘70s, Damon Riddick has grown up through eras of funk, soul, hip-hop, R&B, and electronic. Otherwise known as Dam-Funk, the seasoned DJ and producer includes elements from all of the above seamlessly into his latest craft Invite The Light. Signed to Los Angeles-based label Stones Throw Records, prestigious for releases from Madlib and J Dilla among others, Dam-Funk released his first full-length Toeachizown in 2009.
With feature appearances from Q-Tip, Flea, Ariel Pink and Snoop Dogg, Invite The Light transcends genres. The album starts and ends with “Junie’s Transmission” and “Junie’s Re-Transmission” featuring Junie Morrison. “I’m Just Tryna Survive [In The Big City]” converges hip-hop and funk with a special verse from A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip. Featuring Flea and Computer Jay, “Floating on Air” starts with Flea laying down a soulful groove and cascades into a SBTRKT-esque synth haven. One of the best album cuts is “The Hunt & The Murder of Lucifer,” showcasing Dam by his own damn self. His production embodies one part Flying Lotus and two parts Tobacco on this track.
Invite The Light then evolves into more mellow tracks like “It Didn’t Have To End This Way” and “Missing U” featuring Daft Punk-like vocoder sounds and unforgettable instrumentals. Dam’s brand of soul, funk, and hip-hop returns in his collaboration with Ariel Pink in “Acting.” Snoop finally bears his head in “Just Ease Your Mind From All Negativity” which additionally features Joi Gilliam. Snoop and Dam go back together, having released collaborative album 7 Days of Funk together in 2013.
Dubbed a “modern funk guru” by Pitchfork, Dam-Funk brings a refreshing take on hip-hop in weaving together sophisticated instrumentals and pulling from an eclectic musical background. Recording and releasing his own material only since 2006, Dam has decades of music running through his veins.
Recommended If You Like: THEESatisfaction, Flying Lotus, Erykah Badu, Madlib
Recommended Tracks: 6 (Floating On Air), 4 (I’m Just Tryna Survive [In The Big City]), 3 (Somewhere, Someday), 12 (O.B.E.), 9 (It Didn’t Have 2 End This Way)
Do Not Play: 5 (Surveillance Escape), 7 (HowUGonF***AroundAndChooseABusta), 14 (Just Ease Your Mind From All Negativity), 15 (Virtuous Progression)
Written by Harrison Hipp on 09/30/15