The Bottom Line

Issue date: 4/5/06 Section: Music

Emcee Lancelot of the Astroknotics

For years, they waited patiently in the dark, taking note of the trends that have come and gone, watching each genre race to overtake the music industry, while taking the back seat to society's wants. They counted the days until their time was upon them, quietly gathering faithful followers until their numbers were able to contend with the rest. Now their time is here and all that will change.

Its been dubbed as the next "great movement" in the music industry; internationally it is known as Bristol sounds, but to those in the States its easier described as Trip Hop.

Trip Hop, coined by the British Press, is a musical trend that began in the mid-1990s that grew out of England's hip-hop and house scenes. The "trip" in the name refers to the "out of this world" feeling of a certain drug, while the "hop" is in reference to its strong roots with hip-hop.

Thanks to its down tempo, electronic music and heavy reliance on break beats and samples, Trip Hop has been on the constant rise. Artist like Portishead, Massive Attack, Thievery Corporation, Tricky and DJ Shadow have paved the way for this new genre. By using such influences as Ambience, R&B, Drum N' Bass, Acid Jazz and New Age, these artists have combined music from all walks of life to create a brand new sound.

However, the stage is set for up and coming artist, but who will raise the bar for the next generation? Some might say, "The future is Astroknotics."

Astroknotics is the next generation of Trip Hop that encompasses and incorporates a sound that gives a new meaning to the term "pushing the edge of the envelope."

With a wide range of influences, such as Wu-Tang Clan, Slayer, Rage Against the Machine, Common and even Louis Armstrong, Astroknotics has created a name for themselves. This native group from D.C. consists of MC Lancelot and DJ Uncle Eric who both graduated from American University.

MC Lancelot is not your typical emcee. Both of his parents were NASA employees, so space exploration is in his blood, which is reflected within his lyrics. DJ Uncle Eric is a master of recording, thanks to his techniques and sample manipulation he is able to construct and create this new sound.

As of now, Astroknotics is an unknown mane, but they have plans to take over the music industry. With an international marketing campaign in the future and a full-length album in the works, MC Lancelot and DJ Uncle Eric are staying busy with promotion and shows. Though they have dreams of doing shows worldwide, Astroknotics are staying in the D.C. region. DJ Uncle Eric regularly appears solo spinning in nightclubs in the DC area, while Lancelot is a trained pilot and plans to continue his training in the future. Keep an eye out for them within your nation's capital; it is a name you want to know.

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