Kamasi Washington releases new album Heaven and Earth, the long-awaited follow up to his debut The Epic. To celebrate, Washington shared new video, directed by A.G. Rojas for ‘Street Fighter Mas’, watch below!
The video includes cameos by famed Street Fighter legends Gootecks and Combofiend and one of Washington’s Los Angles heroes — Kevin Gilliam a.k.a. BattleCat, a longtime collaborator of Dr. Dre, Snoop and Tupac Shakur.
The video was inspired by Washington’s love of the Street Fighter video game and depicts Washington’s adventure through Los Angeles en route to an epic battle to claim the title of champion against Combofiend.
Recorded in Henson Studios in Los Angeles with The Next Step, as well as members of The West Coast Get Down. The music was composed, written and arranged by Washington, with new arrangements of Freddie Hubbard’s ‘Hub-Tones’ and kung fu film theme ‘Fists of Fury,’ as well as one song by bandmate Ryan Porter. Thundercat, Terrace Martin, Ronald Bruner, Jr., Cameron Graves, Brandon Coleman, Miles Mosley, Patrice Quinn, Tony Austin and many more contribute to the album.
Heaven and Earth is comprised of two halves, which find Washington confronting quotidian realities with cosmic themes. A further investigation of Washington’s world building ideas, the new album explores his reckoning with current global chaos and his vision for the future.
Stream / purchase Heaven and Earth here.
