PitchBlak Brass Band Video Premiere – “Like Us”

“Like Us” is an energetic, soulful experience that personifies PitchBlak Brass Band’s exciting genre-bending musicality

Hip hop music has always been unafraid to push boundaries. Perhaps because it simultaneously came from nothing yet came from everything, the genre stands alone in how creatively outside influences can be incorporated into its musical mix.

In 2015, some of the genre’s most diverse talents are those who are finding ways to smack, flip and rub down traditional music, creating a gumbo of progressive hip hop styles. We’ve recently seen this from successful mainstream artists like Kendrick Lamar, but those in the know have been experiencing this for years within hip hop’s progressive underground.

PitchBlak Brass Band uses the epic sounds of tubas, trombones, saxophones and other typically non-hip hop instruments in the spirit of The Roots and some of rap’s iconic live bands, to deliver an energy that samples, loops and breakbeats can’t always capture. Their blend of soundscapes and lyrical exuberance creates a grand adventure in listening, one that can hold the attention of music fans from across a fairly wide spectrum.

Of course, the danger is that these kinds of hybrid acts can lean more toward novelty than mutual respect for the genres they are attempting to bridge, however, PitchBlak Brass Band has always seemed conscious of this, and fends off such criticisms with a thoughtful, clearly reverent approach to their work, demonstrated in depth on their 2013 release You See Us.

Back with their new video for “Like Us,” the crew continues to personify a vibe that few ensembles could reproduce. While their strength is still felt best when watching them live, surrounded by the power that bursts from their collective artistry, the Ray Rodriguez-directed video provides an excellent window into PitchBlak’s distinctive flow – musical, fun, energetic and forceful. Credit due to editor Caity Arthur and lighting by Dan Barbee, for capturing the proud energy the group projects, collectively as well as individually.

“When people think of brass bands, it reminds them of New Orleans and the rich history there. ‘Like Us’ is really just saying ‘do you and love yourself,’ having that confidence and that pride is a beautiful thing. We have so much respect for the tradition and for the history, and that love for the music has led us to finding our voice. For the video, we really wanted to keep it simple so we shot it in straight up black and white…It has a real classic vibe to it.” – Chanell Crichlow

The PitchBlak crew often appears in and around New York City, so there are opportunities to check them live and direct. For now, you can also catch them at their monthly event at The Shrine in Harlem, “The PitchBlak Playlist,” a collaborative jam session bound to deliver unexpected and memorable musical combinations.

The next PitchBlak Playlist is April 29th and features songstress JusMoni.

Check the world premiere for the “Like Us” video below, and swing on over to iTunes to purchase the single.

For all things PitchBlak Brass Band, visit www.pitchblakbrassband.com