New Music: Crown City Rockers - 'Astroshocks'

Oakland, California group Crown City Rockers have been laying down a nice blend of grass roots hip hop for a few years now, releasing a bunch of solid material in the early to mid-noughties before taking a back seat on the release front over the last few years.

Now, the five piece band from the Golden State - led by MC Raashan Ahmad - are on the way back, inking a deal with Gold Dust Records to release their first album in five years, The Day After Forever.

The CCR crew began life recording under the name Mission, dropping a majorly slept but definitely dope album, One, in 2001 before changing their name to Crown City Rockers prior to releasing their last album, 2004's Earthtones.

Fans have had to make do with the odd single and remix since then, but this is all about to change with the release of The Day After Forever.

Weighing in at 13 tracks, TDAF manages to push things forward musically speaking, while tipping it's cap to good old block party-friendly hip hop at the same time.

New single, 'Astroshocks', gives you an idea of what to expect.

Frontman Ahmad indulges in a bit of verbal gymnastics, conjuring up comparisons with fellow Bay Area M.C. Gift Of The Gab (of Blackalicious fame) as he drops tongue-twisting rhymes by the dozen.

Ahmad's band mates come to the party too, providing him with solid backing in the form of a nice live-sounding track, underpinned by Max MacVeety's nimble drum work and some swirling 70s analog synth keyboard from Kat Ouano.

You can listen to and download 'Astroshocks' (guilt-free too, thanks to the good folk at Gold Dust) below:


If you like the sound of 'Astroshocks', visit the Crown City Rockers' website where you can download another tune from The Day After Forever (namely 'Soul', which you can also see the making of in the video below) by signing up to the CCR mailing list.



You can also listen to other tracks off The Day After Tomorrow, which is released in stores and online on September 29th.