Erick the Architect has released a new single from his upcoming debut solo album I’ve Never Been Here Before (out February 23). “Ezekiel’s Wheel,” featuring Parliament-Funkadelic legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer George Clinton, encapsulates Erick’s unconventional musical odyssey, weaving together his diverse influences of soul, funk, and reggae, and fueled by a determination to challenge conventional expectations of a hip hop artist. The song explores metaphors in the Biblical story of Ezekiel’s wheel, in which God arrives on a chariot drawn by four living creatures, and speaks to the unknowable powers we sometimes call upon to push us through a fight or struggle. The track is a nod to Erick’s time growing up attending church with his family in Flatbush, Brooklyn, which partly led him to become a musician.
“’Ezekiel’s Wheel’ speaks on my initial discovery of being both a fan of music and the desire to become a musician. I had an eclectic taste as a kid for soul, funk and reggae music more than I ever wanted to be an MC. I was raised in church so reading the bible was a practice that provided value and faith. RÜDE CÅT and I became close friends over the years, both growing up in church with west indian parents in NYC—the song really spoke to both of our upbringings. The song felt psychedelic, and who better but George Clinton to compliment that musical space. My mom was a big Parliament fan so I always heard his voice in my house. I had the song on ice for a bit before George and I even met at a photoshoot, but I always had him in mind. It’s an extreme honor to work alongside him. He has an incredible legacy and is easily one of my favorite artists of all time.” — Erick the Architect
“I met Erick while at the shoot for the Funkadelic x Market collab and we instantly clicked. Dude’s got that next funk! Erick invited me to add some Pfunk to ‘Ezekiel’s Wheel’ – it was a natural process and I’m stoked by the final outcome.” — George Clinton
In November, Erick announced I’ve Never Been Here Before in an exclusive feature with Rolling Stone who describes the album as, “a winding, perilous, and deeply personal body of work that celebrates [Erick’s] mastery as both a storyteller and conductor of his own authentic sound.” Alongside his most recent single, ”Shook Up” featuring Joey Bada$$, Erick had earlier shared two songs from I’ve Never Been Here Before: “Parkour” produced by James Blake and “Ambrosia” featuring Channel Tres. These three tracks have earned praise from Stereogum, Consequence, Hypebeast, XXL, SPIN, KCRW, HipHopDX, HotNewHipHop, Brooklyn Vegan and WNYC. Erick was also recently featured on Track Star.
“Ezekiel’s Wheel” will debut in tandem with an exclusive, limited-edition t-shirt co-created by Erick and George Clinton for MARKET. This collaboration represents a fusion of creative energies, serving as a tribute to Clinton’s profound influence on Erick’s artistic journey, both visually and culturally. Link to purchase here: https://marketstudios.com/
© 2024, Seth “Digital Crates” Barmash. All rights reserved.
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