cappablack

Cappablack is a duo comprised of iLLEVEN (programming) and Hashim B. (programing&scratching). Influenced by the raw hiphop sound of groups such as Mobb Deep, Cappablack released their debut album "the state of the night" in1997 from soup-disk, which combined experimental beats and noir soundscapes. This album became a classic instrumental album in the Japanese hiphop scene. After the release of this album, Hashim B. joins the group, and they release "the opposition e.p." which featured the UK rappers Mandelbrot Set and Starving Artists who were known for their collaborations with DJ Vadim. They also contributed a track on the "Out For Fame!" compilation by Bristol hiphop/breakbeat label, Hombre, and developed their unique and spellbinding combinaton of beats and scratches.

Their second 12 inch "the economics e.p." was discovered by Pole, a key figure in the Berlin dub electronic scene, and they become the first Japanese group to contribute a track to scape's "Staedtizism 3: Instrumentals"(2002) compilation. Their track "Components & Variables" gains worldwide acclaim, and they are offered an album deal from Pole. However, the album production process is delayed, and during that period they contribute tracks to the "Staedtizism 4" (2003) and "But Then Again"(2004) compilations.

While time passed, their first album "the state of the night" continued to garner respect, and the tracks they contributed to the scape compilations also helped to get them international recognition. Though they did not perform regularly, they performed at the "Oceanclub - Berlin in Tokyo" festival curated by Gudrun Gut and Thomas Fehlman. Cappablack also performed with Pole and Jan Jelinek in Tokyo for the Janury 2006 scape tour in Japan, which became one of the most talked about shows of that year. In their 10 year span as a group, though they only released 1 album and 2 12 inches, but their universal sound has continued to gain them respect.

Alongside his work in Cappablack, Hashim B. started the project Ill Suono with fellow beatmaker Azzurro. Their self-titled album featured the rapper Shibitto from Origami, and the "ILL SUONO Remixed" album featured remixes by Dabrye, Nobody, and Nobukazu Takemura (both released on soup-disk). Hashim B. is also known as a hiphop DJ mixing disparate genres together, and has performed with the likes of DJ Shadow, Keb Darge, Madlib, and Peanut Butter Wolf. His "Omnivore" series of mix CD's have also become cult favorits. He also works as a music journalist and translator for numerous hiphop magazines. He has been working out of Los Angeles since October 2006.

Discography:

Releases:
The State Of The Night (CD) / soup-disk 1997
The Opposition EP (12") / soup-disk 1998
The Economics EP (12") / soup-disk 2000
Facades & Skeletons (CD) / ~scape 2006

Remixes:
Ruf-Neck Piano's Repaired Piano (CD) Solarizing Ruf Neck Piano / Shi-Ra-Nui 1998
Shogeki no UFO -Shogeki no Remix- (CD) Variation in U.F.O. / Transonic 1998
Sub Rosa vs. Shi-Ra-Nui (CD) Solarizing Ruf Neck Piano / Sub Rosa 1999
Sub Rosa vs. Shi-Ra-Nui (LP) Solarizing Ruf Neck Piano / Sub Rosa 1999
La Mano Fria - Bandeja Paisa (CD) Suffer Great Nation(Cappablack Remix) / Beta Bodega 2004

Tracks Appear On:
Silverlization 2 (CD) Inu-no-michi, Fragile / soup-disk 1997
Out Of Perspective (CD) Niji's Hierofraffiti, The Crossing / soup-disk 1998
Out For Fame! (CD) The Economics / Hombre 2000
Out For Fame! (2xLP + 7") The Economics / Hombre 2000
Staedtizism 3: Instrumentals (CD) Components & Variables / ~scape 2002
Staedtizism 3: Instrumentals (2xLP) Components & Variables / ~scape 2002
Staedtizism 4 (CD) Harder To Unravel / ~scape 2003
Staedtizism 4 (2xLP) Harder To Unravel / ~scape 2003
~scape Showcase (CD) Components & Variables / Wire Magazine 2003
But Then Again (CD) 5th Dimension (Anti-imperialism Disco) / ~scape 2004
~scape (CD) 5th Dimension (Anti-imperialism Disco) / Sinedin Music 2005