Lotta Love (Get Up Thru da Night '99) - The Freshmaka, Young, Neil [1]
I Am the Freshmäka
White Shadow (Episode II: Salami Gets Funky Fresh)
Fyvush Finkel Flavas
Walkin' Along - The Freshmaka, Dearie, Blossom
Rise 'N' Shine
The Freshest F/Chubb Rock & Tarsha Vega
It's 3 A.M... Are You Thinkin 'Bout Mr. Softee, Baby?
Are U Happy
See the Sun
Startrackin' 76
Let's Get Together/Stephen's Bar Mitzvah
Recalling the sonic hilarity of De La Soul, I Am the Freshmäka is all hip beats, goofy '70s music samples, and spoken-word mischief. Some samples are obvious, such as Nicolette Larsen's '70s hit "Lotta Love" in the tr... more »ack "Lotta Love (Get Up Thru Da Night 99)," while the obscure piano melody to "Dancing in the Moonlight" seems to grace "La La La." But beyond sample trainspotting, the Freshmä'ka attempt to bring hip-hop back to the people with hands-up-in-the-air grooves and constant self-references. Actually a duo including one Duke Mushroom, the Freshamäka reportedly were a successful A&R team at Tommy Boy before turning artistic. They also penned the score for Whoopi Goldberg's film Eddie, MTV's The Real World: Seattle, and even composed the music for Billy Blanks's Tae-Bo videos. Perhaps that explains who paid for some of these brazen samples. Nonetheless, I Am the Freshmäka is a ball of fun, whoever made the music. The title track, with its funky bass lick and trumpet squeals recalls a hip Huggy Bear or perhaps Fat Albert. Gooey piano chords underpin a bulbous beat, rapid rapping, and protofusion keyboards in "Fyvush Finkel Flavas." Regardless of production or clever references, the Freshmäka succeed in making music that is oddly soulful, sonically inventive, and gleefully idiotic. --Ken Micallef« less
Recalling the sonic hilarity of De La Soul, I Am the Freshmäka is all hip beats, goofy '70s music samples, and spoken-word mischief. Some samples are obvious, such as Nicolette Larsen's '70s hit "Lotta Love" in the track "Lotta Love (Get Up Thru Da Night 99)," while the obscure piano melody to "Dancing in the Moonlight" seems to grace "La La La." But beyond sample trainspotting, the Freshmä'ka attempt to bring hip-hop back to the people with hands-up-in-the-air grooves and constant self-references. Actually a duo including one Duke Mushroom, the Freshamäka reportedly were a successful A&R team at Tommy Boy before turning artistic. They also penned the score for Whoopi Goldberg's film Eddie, MTV's The Real World: Seattle, and even composed the music for Billy Blanks's Tae-Bo videos. Perhaps that explains who paid for some of these brazen samples. Nonetheless, I Am the Freshmäka is a ball of fun, whoever made the music. The title track, with its funky bass lick and trumpet squeals recalls a hip Huggy Bear or perhaps Fat Albert. Gooey piano chords underpin a bulbous beat, rapid rapping, and protofusion keyboards in "Fyvush Finkel Flavas." Regardless of production or clever references, the Freshmäka succeed in making music that is oddly soulful, sonically inventive, and gleefully idiotic. --Ken Micallef
CD Reviews
Funky party album with a sense of humor
12/03/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This eclectic mix of funky disco is a great ride full of masterful samples with heavy solid beats. If you plug this album into yer head (via a discman for personal listening) you'll dig the sense of humor and odd references. if you play this disc at a party, the joint will jump. I highly recomend this album"
Baby Loves This One
E. Dominic Black | CA, United States | 09/14/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My three month-old baby absolutely loves this album, especially the first track, "La La La." She always stops crying when she hears the first few seconds of it. It'll put a smile on your face, too. It makes me nostalgic for the days of youth..."
Bangin' beats from bozo
E. Dominic Black | 04/13/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It can be cranked up for sure. The beats are very solid and super groovy - mostly electronic breaks with house or hiphop feel to them. There's cool soulful funky stuff beneath them, too - but it's good to have a few ridiculous clippets mixed in so not to take itself too seriously. I think you'll enjoy this album if you like dj music and can appreciate the humor in funk music."
I Am the Freshmaka Rocks!
John Thomas Hess | Sarasota, FL USA | 12/11/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Heard about this CD from a friend of mine who likes electronic music. He let me borrow the CD and after listening to the first track about 50 times I decided to go out and pick it up. I thought the rest of the CD was a little strange at first, like something out of a 1950's commercial, but it totally grew on me. The first track is a hook...you will be singing "la la la" for the rest of the day. All of the tracks are totally hip...Some of the tracks are very dancelike and others are more mellow like "lotta love". The CD wraps up with "Let's Get Together" which has a very nice beat that is great for dancing. The CD is very original...I can't think of anything else out there like it...at least not that I have heard. Good dance/party music and some very cool samples. Words don't describe this CD...you must hear it for yourself! Highly reccomended and five stars!"
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1