Zulu (musician)

ZULU aka MC ZULU (born Dominique Rowland) Panama City, Panama is a Chicago-based musician; best known for his fusion of Reggae-inspired vocals with various forms of Electronic Dance Music. He released several studio albums deliberately concentrating on genres which, at the time, had not been formally categorized. He refers to his non-traditional style of Dancehall as “Electro Reggae” ^[1] - a term coined from Sly & Robbie’s 1986 release of the same name. The name Zulu (Shaka Zulu) was initially a derogatory term given to him by school classmates in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, Illinois where he grew up. He embraced the name after hearing mixtapes containing the music of Afrika Bambaataa's Zulu Nation.

Career

Influences

Before becoming a vocalist, Zulu started out as a producer and engineer of House and Hip-Hop music in Chicago. Growing up his musical influences were wide, ranging from King Tee to Cyndi Lauper^[2]. In an interview with Mixpak, he says Tiger's Dancehall classic "Ride 'Pon Riddim" was the final push which made him want to perform Reggae^[3]. Zulu is also influenced by Roots Manuva, Bob Marley, Celia Cruz and Fela. He draws upon comedians such as George Carlin and Robin Harris for inspiration. His trademark megaphone used during live performances to “hype up the front row” was inspired by wrestling manager Jimmy "Mouth Of The South" Garvin. He also admits to being a fan of contemporary artists like Rihanna and Lady Gaga^[4]. Zulu often cites Bruce Lee as a personal hero and credits books like the Tao Te Ch'ing for giving him insight.

Electro Reggae/Global Bass (2003-2013)

As the internet expanded its reach, new forms of Reggae-infused dance music began to emerge by way of UK sound systems and record labels. DJ/producers playing Jungle, Dubstep, Grime, and related genres around the world frequently added acappellas to their tracks. Electronic re-works of established genres (ie. Cumbia, Balkan, Funk Carioca) were reaching mainstream awareness, often using Reggae vocals as a common element. Journalists in their attempts to keep pace with the fast changing musical landscape would sometimes take the risk of creating names for the nondescript, hybrid genres. The most notable of these terms, “Lazer Bass”was coined by Sasha Frere Jones of The New Yorker, as a way to describe the work of producers like Montreal's Ghislain Poirier, and Megasoid^[5].

Although “Lazer Bass” as a term was largely rejected by the artists themselves, journalists did use it for a time, eventually abandoning it in the face of significant backlash^[6]. In a 2008 article for Chicago’s Reader, MC Zulu was referred to as “The President Of Planet Lazer Bass”. Staff writer Miles Raymer expressed surprise at the fact that the voice he heard in several "Lazer Bass” collaborations was someone from Chicago^[7]. The group Megasoid ultimately did not release a full length album, but another act Major Lazer would embrace the aesthetic, rising to establish the mainstream market and genre.

Among the thriving underground community, a more generally accepted term "Global Bass" was settled upon which was most likely a combination of "Lazer Bass" with Wayne Marshall's coinage "Global Ghettotech"^[8]. Zulu explained in interviews that while he felt locked out of the traditional Dancehall market, groundbreaking producers like Megasoid, Poirier, David Last, and DJ C would enthusiastically seek him out for collaborations. He also said that writing to these tracks required a different cadence from traditional Dancehall, which could be found by randomizing and reversing 16th notes^[9]. As the production could be quite minimal in certain areas, he would also add a spoken word section, alternate melodies or 4-5 part harmonies^[10].

Discography

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Outlaw Speakerbox Anthology – 2013

Mochipet Is Evil (w. Mochipet) - 2012

Anarchy In The Neighborhood (w. Radiohiro) - 2012

Electro Track Therapy - 2011

Crowd Control EP - 2011

MC Zulu Free Sample Pak - 2010

Musically Massive Album (w. David Last) - 2009

Musically Massive EP (w. David Last) - 2008

Gods And Robots (w. DJ C) - 2008

MC Zulu EP - 2008

Spread The Word - 2007

Riddim Killah - 2005

Whitelabel Menace 2 - 2003

Whitelabel Menace 1 - 2001

Free Radicals - 1999

Singles

101Void f. Process Rebel - Solid Gold - 2012 (Subinfinity Recordings)

Wasserstoff & MC ZULU - Lose Control - 2012 (Metrofon)

MC ZULU (SaBBo Prod.) Love Machine - 2012 (Perception2020)

BIONIK & MC ZULU - Baila Mundo Club Mix - 2011 (Perception2020)

Wasserstoff & MC ZULU - Abendland Tryptychon - 2011 (Metrofon)

FSTZ f. MC ZULU - Badman Bounce EP - 2011 (Snatchy Trax)

Monkey Steak - Hyped Up E.P. - 12" / 33 RPM - 2010 (Steakhouse Records)

OctaPush - Dexia (Baila Mundo) - 12" / 33 RPM - 2008 (Iberian Records)

The Drastics f. MC ZULU - Lonely No More - 10" / 45 RPM - 2008 (Jump Up)

The Drastics f. MC ZULU - Love Is War - 12" / 33 RPM - 2008 (Jump Up)

DJ C & Zulu - Darling - 12" / 33 RPM - 2007 (Community Library)

DJ C & Zulu - Body Work - 10" / 45 RPM - 2006 (Community Library)

DJ C & Zulu - Ransom The Senator -12" / 33 RPM - 2006 (D$R Bristol)

Animal Attraction - 7" / 45 RPM - 2006 (Community Library)

Cop That / Striptease - 12" / 33 RPM - 2003 (Out Of Print)

Remixes

MC Zulu often sings to mainstream instrumentals and sends them out to DJs as specials, which he refers to as the Whitelabel Menace Series^[11]. The acappellas for many of these tracks and others are released as free downloads via his website with an open 50/50 license. This method has added to his notoriety as artists around the world create remixes on a continual basis.

Artist Collaborations

Datsik, Rise At Night, Liquid Stranger, Stefon Bionik Taylor, Kool Keith, Aceyalone, DJ Kentaro, Messinian, Poirier (Ghislain), DJ C, David Last, Searchl1te, Jeekoos, Joao Brasil, Process Rebel, Kush Arora, OctaPush, Sabbo Ronen, Soulico, Sub Swara, Frikstailers, Yellowtail, Final Veil, Chrissy Murderbot, Bollygirl & Cenzo, John Russell, Dimm Summer, Don Yute, Ras Amerlock, Zeno, Piranha Piranha, Dub Gabriel, Grodio, Maffi, Alex Ferguson, Munchi, The Bumps, Mochipet, Alberto Caballero, Vinyl Blight, Radiohiro, FSTZ, Top Billin’, Wasserstoff, AnTenNae, Knight Riderz, Conrank, J-Boogie, Afrolicious, South Rakkas Crew, Maga Bo, Theeo & Erin Powers, Q Craft, DJ Dolores, Neon Steve, Mr Geography and more.

MC Zulu performs traditional Roots/Dub Reggae with Chicago band The Drastics and collaborated with Jamaican producer Delon Reid during a stint as a producer and engineer for Manatee Records.

Personal Life

MC Zulu’s father is Panamanian and his mother is from Texas. He began singing in his uncle's Ft. Worth, Texas church and developed a 4 octave vocal range. He also sings in Spanish occasionally. He is married with 3 children and cites this as a reason for not touring extensively. When not touring, he works as a nurse specializing in neonatal and pediatric ventilator care. He has stated that one needs to be imaginative when looking for ways to get paid as a musician. To this end, he blogs occasionally at a site he created, Global Music Biz Net^[12].

In June 2012 he filed a utility patent for an invention he describes as an upgrade to the travel pillow and is currently working to bring it to the market. ^[13]

Other Accomplishments

- Recorded voiceover drops for the 2004 version of PCDJ which were distributed by way of their Record Pool

- An exclusive mix of his song "Higher Velocity" with Aceyalone and Bionik was featured in a Puma advertisement starring Usain Bolt

- No Lies remix contest with Dub Gabriel was sponsored by Ableton, DubSpot and Akai

- Headlined the opening night of Sydney Fest 2010

- Image/likeness used in advertisements for Sydney Fest 2010 (literature and city busses)

- Played Pitchfork 2011 with Chrissy Murderbot

- MC Zulu’s remake of “Electric Avenue” and the single “Let Me Turn You On” featured in AMC theaters’ pre-show entertainment worldwide

- Selections from the album entitled “BIONIK Roots” featured on MTV, Direct TV, in Hilton Hotel chains and various retail outlets

- Kush Arora and MC Zulu featured in "Riddim Ribbon" game app

- Headlined the opening night of Reggae On The River 2013

References

Persondata
Name	Zulu
Alternative names
Short description	Panamanian musician
Date of birth	1975
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death