TOP SENEGALESE HIP-HOP ACT! Gokh-Bi System (pronounced Go-Bee), has emerged as one of the leaders of the African hip-hop movement. Born in the slums of Dakar, the capital of Senegal in West Africa, GBS was formed in 1995 by three childhood friends Mamadou Ndiaye (MC), Diasse Pouye (MC), and Pape "Bathie" Pouye (manager) who grew up together in one of Dakar's poorest villages, Pikine, Guinaw Rail which translates literally into "the other side of the tracks."

Raised in Senegal's deep, rich musical culture, Gokh-Bi System, like most urban youth born in the 80's were heavily influenced by hip-hop. Bathie and Diasse are brothers and when they were young; their parents welcomed Mamadou and his family into their home. Transfixed by the conscious lyrics and powerful messages of The Last Poets, KRS-1, Chuck D, and Dead Prez, Gokh-Bi System started out imitating what they heard on the cassettes, combining English, French, Arabic, and several other Senegalese dialects including Serer, Jola, and Wolof (the official language of Senegal), into their own flow and ultimately into a unique style dubbed “Ancient Meets Urban” which blends "Ancient" African traditional rhythms and contemporary "Urban" America beats, a sound which appeals to traditional music enthusiast and hip-hop purist at the same time.

Soon their freestyles turned into original compositions and the boys from the other side of the tracks added Backa Niang (percussionist/vocals) and Sana Ndiaye (ekonting/vocals) and rechristened themselves as Gokh-Bi System which means "neighborhood system." "In Africa, if you live in the same neighborhood, you are like family," explains Mamadou, one of the lead emcees. "Through our music we want to spread that sense of family we share in Senegal around the world. Even though we live in different countries and speak different languages, we are all part of a universal family. If countries across the entire world respect that our fate is linked, there would be no conflict or war. We would all live in peace."

The group is due to release their first full length studio disc Rap Tassu. "Our new album Rap Tassu will enlighten people about the origins of rap music. For centuries in Senegal, we've had a style of early hip-hop called Tassu which sounds like drumming and clapping against a chant," explains Mamadou. "It's basically the music that stayed in the spirit of American-Africans that evolved into the rap music we hear today, so in essence Hip Hop is Returned Home through Rap Tassu." GBS' social messages are strong on Rap Tassu with "Bop Sa Bop" which shares a message of how real issues of humanity (poverty, misery) are universal maladies. "Broken Dreams," discusses how the greed and jealousy of African leaders has affected the continent. The title track from Rap Tassu was nominated for the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

"Hip-hop takes a joyful, respectful place alongside traditionalism." (Jon Pareles, New York Times)
Tickets go on sale at noon Fri Nov 21 from Cedar Ticketline (612-338-2674 ext 2), Cedar outlets, and online at Ticketweb.

$12 advance, $15 day of show