Yusef Lateef aka Barocka | pt

Malik Yusef (Born April 4, 1971) is a well-known African-American spoken word poet based in Chicago, Illinois. He released his sophomore effort, Kanye West & Malik Yusef Present: Good Morning & Good Night (Winter 2008) which features guest musicians and producers Kanye West, Common, Raheem Devaughn, Pharrell Williams, Lupe Fiasco, KRS One, Twista, Carl Thomas and soul pianist John Legend. The concept of the reflective double CD displays Protagonist vs. Antagonist/Lower Self vs. Higher Self, exhibiting the poet’s struggle between his internal dualities. Both discs Good Morning & Good Night feature 12 tracks apiece, representing an hour of each day....

Lateef The Truth Speaker is from Oakland, California. Recently heard on a General Elektriks song, "Facing the Void" which became a hit on YouTube for its puppet animation. He's worked with Lyrics Born, Z-Trip and DJ Shadow. Check his stuff with SoleSides. Rap, spoken word, with electric drum bass backup and very lyrical, with a mellow rough vocal quality. .

Brother Yusef has been described as a master solo guitarist, as well as a uniquely passionate vocalist. He remembers first hearing the call of the Blues as a young a child attending church with this grandparents in Bakersfield, CA. The raw and intense emotions in church left a lasting impression which he carried with him into other music genres. At age 19 Brother Yusef picked up a guitar and began experimenting with reggae, r&b and jazz. He found himself at a musical crossroads in 1989 when he went to the Bakersfield church of his childhood, to pay this last respects...