If you start a label that puts out records by Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Common, and Pharoahe Monch, chances are you’re going to want to make music of your own. That’s the case with Brian Brater, who co-founded Rawkus Records, which released seminal works by all of the above (including the classic Mos Def and Talib Kweli collaboration as Black Star).
Not content to simply boost the signal of other artists, Brater wanted to get in on the game himself, so he formed Sherbert Gang, a new multimedia art project. While LA painter and artist Amir H. Fallah tackles the visuals, Brater programs beats that take more inspiration from the west coast beat scene than they do from the decidedly east coast hip-hop that made Rawkus’ name. The group’s first release comes in the form of their self-titled Sherbert Gang EP, and we’re happy to be premiering the song “Battle Cry” today. Give it a listen below.
