ÌFÉ and Friends Plan to "Beat the System" Friday at Tipitina's

ÌFÉ by Greg Miles

The electro-acoustic percussionist and producer will preside over a hip-hop-oriented revue built on the promise of NOLAxNOLA.

NOLAxNOLA is built on the premise that anything can happen in New Orleans’ clubs, whether its a history of musical legends making guest appearances at the Dew Drop Inn, Jazz Fest headliners playing semi-acoustic sets in Preservation Hall, or a drunken Eddie Vedder bumrushing the stage at Checkpoint Charlie.

On Friday night, ÌFÉ will play a show in that spirit, “Beat the System,” at Tipitina’s. The electro-acoustic percussionist and producer found his musical voice while DJ’ing and writing beats, and at “Beat the System” he and his band will be joined by rappers and singers Big Freedia, Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph, Ha Sizzle, GLBL WRMNG, Sly Watts, Saxkixave and more.    

During Jazz Fest, we profiled ÌFÉ, who used what he learned in marching band drumlines, hip-hop, and Puerto Rico to create modern expressions that reflect Yoruban culture. So far, he has interacted sporadically with New Orleans’ musical community, and this show represents an opportunity to change his profile and see how his music engages with the musical traditions represented by his guests.

ÌFÉ previewing his “Beat the System” show at Tipitina’s on Friday.

The show will serve as a preview of ÌFÉ’s Beat the System EP. “Jericho” featuring singer Charm Taylor is in the world now. According to a press release, the song is “a political and musical tribute to the African deity Shangó, imagines a world where systematically and historically oppressed, disenfranchised peoples finally see a bit of real life justice as Charm and ÌFÉ implore the Yoruban god of music and dance to fall on his enemies with fire and lightning.”

The Friday lineup suggests interesting possibilities. What happens when bounce artists Big Freedia and Ha Sizzle meet ÌFÉ? Does he up the clatter, or do we hear them in a more trance-friendly context? Many of the emcees associated with GLBL WRMNG have a strong pop sensibility; how does that work with a producer who doesn’t hurry to the hooks?

Like the legendary (and notorious) interactions from the past, It probably won’t all work as planned, but it could also show us and the musicians on the stage possibilities no one anticipated. It will also be another night in New Orleans’ clubs.