King Britt on Sun Ra - Noise from the 18th Floor

Cosmic Culture: A Sonic Journey into Afrofuturism

2007 Pew Fellow King Britt has had numerous influences during his international career as a DJ, performer, and composer.  For this program of African-American music inspired by science fiction, the Grammy Award-nominated artist has selected performances by those who seem to have a spiritual connection with a greater force. In part one, titled “Yesterday,” Britt’s mix of 10 compositions includes the mystical Sun Ra in a live performance of “Space Is the Place” with an overlay of an interview with Britt’s mother Pearl and “Feel” by George Duke, which, according to King, “just takes you there.” The journey continues with “Today,” a mega-mix of over two-dozen pieces. From Los Angeles-based band Build an Ark, which has kept Sun Ra’s spiritual message alive with songs such as “The Stars Are Singing Too,” to Afrika Bambaataa’s “Planet Rock,” which Britt describes as an “anthem of our generation,” this collection is a reflection of his artistic vision. Cosmic Culture also features the music of jazz greats Dee Dee Bridgewater, Herbie Hancock, and many more, and closes with a third installment, “Tomorrow,” which features a new composition, “Beyond the Sun,” written by Britt especially for this program under his pseudonym Fhloston Paradigm. The program is produced and hosted by Tracey Tanenbaum with Rodney Whittenberg of Melodyvision as sound engineer. Photo by Donna Burch.

Jump to site.

 The Pew Fellowship site offers a pdf of the below playlist and a free download of the Fhloston Paradigm track!

Current Schedule (all times listed in EST):

Cosmic Culture: A Sonic Journey Into Afrofuturism with King Britt: 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, 10 p.m., midnight, 2 a.m.

King Britt Playlist:

Cosmic Culture: A Sonic Journey into Afrofuturism

Part 1: Yesterday



“Kawaida”

Kawaida



“Gamla Stan”

Don Cherry

plus: an interview with Alondra Nelson



“Ostinato”

Herbie Hancock (as Mwandishi)



“John McLaughlin”

Miles Davis



"Space Is the Place (Live)"

Sun Ra

plus: an interview with Pearl Britt



“Feel”

George Duke



“Rien Neva Plus”

Funk Factory



“Cabral”

Mtume feat. Dee Dee Bridgewater



“Radhe Shyam”

Alice Coltrane

plus: an interview with Sun Ra

Part 2: Today (Megamix)



“African Roots”

King Tubby



“Eyjafjallajokul”

Mad Professor



“Zodiac Shit”

Flying Lotus



“Ahoulaghuine Akaline (King Britt Remix)”

Bombino



“Teleport”

Headless Headhunters



“Nights Over Nantes”

Jneiro Jarel



“Castles”

HouseShoes feat. Jimetta Rose



“Brgundy”

MndDsgn



“Connect”

Some Other Ship



“All in Forms (Leatherette Remix)”

Bonobo



“Light Odyssey”

Union



“Planetary Analysis”

King Britt feat. Rich Media



“Discipline 3”

Ras G

plus: an interview with Sun Ra

“Heritage Ship”

Madlib



“Emotional Quotient Deringer of Chiek Anta Diop”

King Britt feat. Rilners Jouegck



“New Wave”

Common feat. Stereolab



“The Stars Are Singing Too”

Build an Ark



“Bug in the Bassbin”

Innerzone Orchestra



“Raven”

Actress



“Voodoo Ray”

A Guy Called Gerald



“Dem Young Scones”

Moodymann



“Flower (King Britt’s Underwater Garden Dub Remix)”

Soul Dhamma



“Planet Rock”

Afrika Bambaataa



“Mozaik”

Zomby



“Endgame”

Antipop Consortium



“Loveless”

4Hero feat. Ursula Rucker

Part 3: Tomorrow



“Beyond the Sun (Live)”

Fhloston Paradigm



“Endeavors for Never

(The Last Time We Spoke You Said You Were Not Here. I Saw You Though.)”

Shabazz Palaces

Noise from the 18th Floor: Behind the scenes with King Britt from Pew Center for Arts & Heritage on Vimeo.