Sa-Ra
Encyclopedia
Sa-Ra is a hip-hop group based in Los Angeles, California, also known by its full name, The Sa-Ra Creative Partners. The group is composed of Om'Mas Keith, Taz Arnold, and Shafiq Husayn. The name translates roughly to "the children of God." The group's name, style and creativity are allusions to the similarly named jazz composer and philosopher Sun Ra
.
and Pharoahe Monch
and have collectively and/or individually produced songs for artists like Heavy D, Bilal, Dr. Dre
, Jill Scott
, Erykah Badu
, Fonzworth Bentley
, Jay Z, John Legend
and Goapele
. The group had previously been signed to Kanye West's GOOD Music
label, where it planned to release their debut full-length LP. The label was dissolved by distributor Sony BMG, and the group signed a deal with independent label Babygrande.
, and Sound in Color and on various compilations, and include the cult hit "Glorious," and singles "Double Dutch" and "Second Time Around." Newer material was released on the promotional SetUps and Justifications album sampler in mid-2006,including songs such as "Big Fame," "StarWars," and "Hollywood." Their "Second Time Around" single was released in CD format and is generally available from major online retailers as well as iTunes. The group’s original vinyl singles ("Double Dutch" and "Glorious") were limited releases on Ubiquity Records
. A full length album, titled The Hollywood Recordings
, was released on Babygrande Records
on April 24, 2007.
The group has said that their sound is unlikely to gain any MTV attention. However, beginning in 2009, Om'Mas became a regular cast member on Diddy's MTV program Making His Band drawing more attention to Sa-Ra.
Sun Ra
Sun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
.
History
Sa-Ra formed in the late 1990s from a trio of industry producers, musicians, and executives. The group’s discography includes songs with artists such as Jurassic 5Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5 was an American alternative hip hop group formed in 1993 from members of two previous groups, Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee by rappers Charles Stewart , Dante Givens , Courtenay Henderson , Marc Stuart , and disc jockeys Mark Potsic and Lucas Macfadden...
and Pharoahe Monch
Pharoahe Monch
Pharoahe Monch is an American hip hop artist. He is known for his complex lyrics, complex delivery, and internal and multisyllabic rhyme schemes.-Biography:...
and have collectively and/or individually produced songs for artists like Heavy D, Bilal, Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
, Jill Scott
Jill Scott
Jill Scott is an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter, poet, and actress. In 2007, Scott made her cinematic debut in the films Hounddog and in Tyler Perry's feature film, Why Did I Get Married? That year, her third studio album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3, was released on...
, Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...
, Fonzworth Bentley
Fonzworth Bentley
Derrick Watkins, in Atlanta, Georgia and popularly known as Fonzworth Bentley or Farnsworth Bentley, is a musician and author. He is perhaps best known for being Sean Combs' former personal valet and assistant, as first seen in Making the Band 2, and is currently the host of MTV's From G's to Gents...
, Jay Z, John Legend
John Legend
John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
and Goapele
Goapele
-Early life:Goapele's South African father Douglas Mohlabane was an exiled political activist who struggled against the Apartheid System. Goapele's New York-born Israeli Jewish mother Noa had been attending protests since the age of 12. Noa attended Friends World College and was studying in...
. The group had previously been signed to Kanye West's GOOD Music
GOOD Music
GOOD Music is a record label and management firm founded by music producer and artist Kanye West. "GOOD" is an acronym for "Getting Out Our Dreams".-History:...
label, where it planned to release their debut full-length LP. The label was dissolved by distributor Sony BMG, and the group signed a deal with independent label Babygrande.
Releases and Recent Music
Several singles and recordings have been released under the group's own name, primarily on independent labels such as ABB Records, Ubiquity RecordsUbiquity Records
Ubiquity Records is an American music label that focuses on funk, rare groove, soul, and hip hop and other musical genres. It is located in Costa Mesa, California and has a satellite office based in San Francisco, California...
, and Sound in Color and on various compilations, and include the cult hit "Glorious," and singles "Double Dutch" and "Second Time Around." Newer material was released on the promotional SetUps and Justifications album sampler in mid-2006,including songs such as "Big Fame," "StarWars," and "Hollywood." Their "Second Time Around" single was released in CD format and is generally available from major online retailers as well as iTunes. The group’s original vinyl singles ("Double Dutch" and "Glorious") were limited releases on Ubiquity Records
Ubiquity Records
Ubiquity Records is an American music label that focuses on funk, rare groove, soul, and hip hop and other musical genres. It is located in Costa Mesa, California and has a satellite office based in San Francisco, California...
. A full length album, titled The Hollywood Recordings
The Hollywood Recordings
The Hollywood Recordings is the debut full-length album from hip hop Producers The Sa-Ra Creative Partners- Track listing :...
, was released on Babygrande Records
Babygrande Records
Babygrande Records is an independent record label based in New York City founded by Chuck Wilson. Babygrande is distributed by the The Orchard, and represented by the Creative Artists Agency in Hollywood.-Discography:...
on April 24, 2007.
The group has said that their sound is unlikely to gain any MTV attention. However, beginning in 2009, Om'Mas became a regular cast member on Diddy's MTV program Making His Band drawing more attention to Sa-Ra.
Albums
- The Hollywood RecordingsThe Hollywood RecordingsThe Hollywood Recordings is the debut full-length album from hip hop Producers The Sa-Ra Creative Partners- Track listing :...
(2007) - Nuclear Evolution: The Age of LoveNuclear Evolution: The Age of LoveNuclear Evolution: The Age of Love is the critically acclaimed first full-length album of brand new material from the hip hop collective Sa-Ra Creative Partners...
(2009)
Appearances
- 2004: "Turn It Up", "Certified" (from the Krumbsnatcha album Let The Truth Be ToldLet the Truth Be Told-Production notes:"Respect My Mind" samples, and lyrically melodizes from the Sade single "Cherish the Day".-Track listing:...
) - 2005: "A Helluva Town" (from Impulsive! Revolutionary Jazz ReworkedImpulsive! Revolutionary Jazz ReworkedImpulsive! Revolutionary Jazz Reworked is a compilation of music originally released on Impulse! Records, remixed by contemporary hip hop and electronic musicians and released in 2005 on CD and LP for the same label.-Tracklisting:...
) - 2005: "Deep Inside" (from the Platinum Pied PipersPlatinum Pied PipersPlatinum Pied Pipers is a Detroit-based hip hop and R&B group composed of producer Waajeed , and multi-instrumentalist Saadiq . Their music usually features a rotating and varied array of artists.- Background :The two met through rapper Baatin in 1992...
album Triple PTriple P (album)Triple P is the 2005 debut album by American hip hop and R&B group Platinum Pied Pipers.-Track listing:# "Shotgun Intro" # "Your Day Is Done" # "Deep Inside"...
) - 2007: "Space Fruit Interlude" (from the Talib KweliTalib KweliTalib Kweli Greene , better known as Talib Kweli, is an American hip-hop artist and poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" ; his in Swahili means "true"...
album EardrumEardrum (album)Eardrum is the fourth solo album from American hip hop artist Talib Kweli. The album was his Warner Bros. Records debut with his first album on his own label, Blacksmith Records. It was engineered by Joel Hamilton, Ryan Kennedy, Mike Houge and Dave Dar. Eardrum was released on August 21, 2007 on...
)