Words By: Soul Bedford
Integrity. That’s a word you don’t hear too often theses days; especially coming from the music industry. However, that was the one- word response given by J.R., i.e., John Robinson, a.k.a. Lil’ Sci, artist and President of Shaman Work Recordings when asked what characteristics define his label. “There is a certain integrity that just doesn’t easily exist in Hip-hop today. We feel that it’s important to speak about it and show younger people.” And since the label’s inception, that has been the impetus behind the magic that exemplifies Shaman Work.
Officially debuting in 2003, Shaman Work’s history actually extends further back to the late-90’s when founders Chris Craft and Lamar Gilliam met at Morehouse College in Atlanta. At the time, both were attending school through a scholarship program offered by N.A.S.A. for engineering and science. Sharing a passion for music as well as the ambition to run a reputable company, Chris and Lamar clicked right off the bat. They learned production, recorded demos in their dorm rooms, and formed a crew of MC’s on campus called Divine Mind. Using some of their scholarship money to achieve those means, today the two joke about how N.A.S.A. not only paid for their education but vicariously funded some of their first equipment as well.
Conversely, while searching for production for his unique sound and wordplay, J.R. met Chris via the internet around 1996. Amidst their on-line conversations, the two discovered they shared similar musical interests and stayed in touch. A few years later while still in school, Chris traveled to New York and linked with J.R. for the first time in person. That initial meeting forged a relationship that led to the production of a song on J.R.’s debut Scienz of Life album “Coming Forth by Day.” The following year, J.R. moved down to the ATL where Chris and Lamar had already laid the foundation for things yet to come.
Upon graduation, Lamar moved back to his native L.A. to procure a job in the Space industry to help fund their endeavors, while Chris stayed behind to found the label and secure distribution.
What started out as a hobby had now evolved into a business; Chris vividly remembers the emotion during that transitional period and summed it up in two words; “No fear…we were never scared to take chances because we had no one to answer to.”
It was also during this metamorphosis that the label gained it’s spiritual moniker. As an avid enthusiast of Native American culture, Chris was enamored with the concept of the Shaman, the tribal doctor or ‘medicine- man,’ who provided the community with wisdom and healing. He appropriated the title for J.R., Lamar, and himself in that through their music, they viewed themselves as ‘healers’ or Shamans of an ailing industry that “needed work.” Thus, Chris’ deft combination of those two terms bore the name Shaman Work; a title he felt exemplified a record label whose foundation consists of musical and spiritual virtue with the power to heal through sound.
In 2003 Shaman Work Recordings’ 1st official full- length release was an album entitled “Sol Uprising,” a group effort between J.R. and vocalist Stacy Epps that encapsulated their vibe and validated the fledgling label. After “Sol Uprising’s” release, J.R. moved from the ATL to L.A., regaining proximity with Lamar and solidifying the label’s bi- coastal presence. There he would continue to promote the album and meet some of the label’s future acts and associates like Emanon (Aloe Blacc and Exile), promoter/ producer Carlos Niño, and jazz ensemble Build an Ark.
Describing Shaman Work’s inner workings and artist roster as being more family oriented than business, J.R. states, “It’s all affiliations and networks.” “Build an Ark is a… collective that Carlos did…of early O.G. Los Angeles area jazz legends who’ve traveled the world playing with various notable musicians.” While living in L.A., J.R. performed with some of the group’s members in a number of clubs that Carlos promoted. At the time, Carlos had just finished a production deal for J.R.’s “What’s the Science?” record, while simultaneously working on Build an Ark’s 2nd album. However, because he could not foresee any viable U.S. option for their sophomore release, J.R. stepped in and presented the idea to Chris and Lamar. In tune to jazz and how it aligns with hip-hop, the duo became enthralled with the idea and felt that that was a brilliant way to diversify their roster and make good on a commitment to put out quality music with culture and substance.
Building on the idea that genre should not impede intent, Shaman Work has evolved far beyond the constraints of any ordinary indy hip-hop label. In addition to the L.A. jazz avant-garde of Build an Ark, Shaman Work’s current line-up also includes, afrobeat proponent Wale Oyejide and DJ 2Tone Jones, both from D.C., Tiffany Paige, a soul songstress native to Virginia, and new comer Sene from L.A. who’s debut album is entirely produced by Blue (Blue &Exile).
Whereas other indy labels might view such an artistic diaspora as an impediment, Shaman Work embraces the dispersion as a means of maintaining their brand in various markets whether they’re physically there or not. Simply put, J.R. states, “(we just enjoy) working with people we feel are brilliant in a sense of their creativity.”
One of Shaman Work’s main foci, besides releasing quality music, is the cultivation of talent. To date, the label boasts debut releases from Emanon and Wale Oyejide, DJ 2-Tone Jones’ “Black Gold” (an eclectic hip-hop/ afrobeat mash-up with Oyejide), and DJ K.O.’s “Picture This” compilation. To add an even greater notch on the belt, they were also tapped to release the solo resurgence album of hip-hop legend C.L. Smooth.
Adding validity to their ‘friends and family’ vibe, Shaman Work cites Egon and Peanutbutter Wolf as early record industry references and also mention the late beat genius and sound architect J.Dilla’s contribution on Oyejide’s freshman album as a testament to their motto, “ideas manifested.”
It is that same motto that has been the impetus behind Shaman Work’s six years of operation. “It didn’t take a million dollars to make it happen,” quotes C.E.O. Chris Craft. “As long as we have a brain we feel we can do anything because our ideas are so fresh.” Interestingly enough, some of those ‘fresh’ ideas also include future plans of establishing after-school & summer scholarship programs for underprivileged youth geared towards the business side of the music industry. The concept is to help teens develop skills through a strong hands-on approach via music, video, and art. As J.R. would explain it, the goal is to take “what we’re doing and expand it on the grown man level. We wanna’ keep growing even more so we can teach people the ropes and eventually they can expand and …bring others under their own umbrellas.
He goes on to further clarify, “We’re at a time now where independent music is realer than it’s ever been in a sense of it’s not a label’s game anymore. It’s more of an artist’s game; it’s the PEOPLE’s music again… I don’t need to be signed to a label to give the rights to my music away for a lifetime, to get 12% of my royalties and become famous but die broke.”
In short, Shaman Work believes that music should promote life. It should be accessible and honest, and hold its listener’s best interests in mind. Anything less would fall short of the divine gift of universal vibration bestowed upon us by the Great Spirit. In their commitment to offering quality music, it is that outlook coupled with the sincere effort to present acts of substance, integrity, and soundness that exemplifies the indomitable spirit of the Shaman’s Work. Let the healing begin…
Shaman Work 2009 Major Releases…
J.R. & J. Rawls
Sene & Blu-”A Day Late and a Dollar Short”
Kaze-”Rebel Yell”
For more Shaman Work please visit:
www.shamanwork.com | www.kickscience.com | www.djkopresents.com
