Nappy Riddem

Nappy Riddem are the Original Rastars. Rex Riddem, Mustafa Akbar, and Ashish “Hash” Vyas formed this ragga-soul electro-funk super group. The trio is a unique combination of longtime collaborators with independent music industry stalwarts Afrika Bambaataa, Thievery Corporation, Thunderball, Fort Knox Five and Gogogo Airheart. The three cherry picked an all-star cast of D.C. artists to record with for their debut album “One World Sovereignty”. Edgy guitar riffs by Rob Myers (Thievery Corporation, Fort Knox Five, Thunderball), funky saxophone from Frank Mitchell jr. (Thievery Corporation See-I), and Rhymes from Asheru (Unspoken Heard, “Boondocks” theme song) are all included. Something special is created when the contributions of these superstars are blended with the sultry soul of Akbar’s voice, Hash’s dubby basslines, and Rex’s funky afro-Latin percussion.

Nappy Riddem was recently nominated for a Washington Area Music Association award as 2010 best performance artist in electronica. The Nappy crew just finished 2010 playing several sold out shows, headlining the Night Fever Wax Poetics party at the Scoot Inn Austin, opening for Bassnectar at the 9:30 Club in DC, and playing the CD release party for their label mates Los Empresarios at U St. Music Hall in DC.

Fresh from playing 3 showcases during SXSW, Rex Riddem recently finished mixing down Nappy Riddem’s debut album, due to be released September 2011 on Fort Knox Recordings. Their recent releases, deemed “groovy” and “awesome” by Steve Aoki, are featured on Fort Knox Recordings “The New Gold Standard 2″ compilation featuring a guest appearance by Asheru. Nappy Riddem’s sound, which is affectionately called “the Riddem Method” has even traveled as far as Budapest, receiving regular airplay on Hungary’s FM 90.3 as well as nationally on KEXP in NYC and Seattle.

Nappy Riddem - Rastar
Nappy Riddem - One World Sovereignty