I recently had the opportunity to catch a sneak-preview rehearsal of Godisheus, a new band on the D.C. scene. Formed by veteran D.C. hip-hop artist Head-Roc and the MVP Band, an all-star lineup of some of the heaviest hitters on the go-go scene— Dwane ‘Kiggo’ Wellman on drums (Chuck Brown, 3LG), Dwayne ‘Super Bad III’ Lee on guitar (Suttle Thoughts, Familiar Faces, 3LG), and Keith “Blizzard the Bass Lizard” Snowden (Backyard Band)—Godisheus is working hard to define a new live sound rooted in the funk.

Head-Roc, who has taken on the stage name O.M.V. for this project, is no stranger to working with a live band. During the mid ’90s, he, Kiggo, and Superbadd III were part of Three Levels of Genius (3LG), a live hip-hop band that proved influential in the region. O.M.V. is is quick to point out that Godisheus is not a hip-hop band but rather “the return of funk music for the people.”

As we all know, funk beget go-go and hip-hop in ways dear to the District. Don’t get it twisted: Godisheus is no cover band doing their best Parliament rendition, they are that raw D.C. funk sound with a message of empowerment for the people delivered by one of D.C.’s mic champions.

Over tight arrangements that are equal parts funk, rock and soul, O.M.V. brings the lyrical heat, speaking truth to power with every line, something that has earned him the respect of hip-hop kids, punk rockers, indie rockers, the anti-war movement, and progressive audiences all over. Powered by Kiggo’s impeccable drumming (he is the third generation of his family to have worked for Chuck Brown) Super Bad III’s six-string magic and the low end work of Blizzard the Bass Lizard, the Godisheus International Funk Train (The GIFT) will be stopping in Silver Spring this Saturday for the Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair. Their performance starts at 2 p.m.

Almost as awesome as this.

From Take Me Out To The GoGo Magazine:

“Robert Michael Reed -aka- Syke Dyke of Trouble Funk passed away at 10:42 last night of Pancreatic Cancer at the age of 50.

For those who don’t know, Dyke founded Trouble Funk in 1977. He served as musician and vocals for many Trouble Funk tunes…including probably one of his most notible signature rap delivery in the song “Pump Me Up.” Funeral Arrangements and info will be forthcoming…”

There’s lots more info on the message board.

Who knew Elmo dug the homegrown sound?

Hip-hop super-blogger Eskay over at NahRight.com is linking to a leaked track from the forthcoming album by The Roots featuring up and coming R&B star Chrisette Michele and D.C.’s Wale over a crankin’ go-go via Philly backbeat courtesy of QuestLove. (Looks like all those shows in DC finally rubbed off on him!)

In the past, Wale has credited the Roots’ Black Thought as one of his influences as an MC, and the admiration is definitely mutual–Black Thought has stated that “Wale is the only new artist he is feeling.” The execs at Def Jam are lining this up to be the lead single for the new Roots album and Wale’s buzz may give them the boost they need. Not to mention that go-go influenced songs by non-DC artists have a great track record. (See Jill Scott, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Salt N Pepa, Heavy-D, LL Cool J…)

Wale layers his in-the-pocket flow about nothing to Quest’s go-go influenced drumming with a tight 16 bar verse that compliments the vocal work of Black Thought and Ms. Michele. Like many a great song by the Roots, Rising Up seems to lament the mainstream hip hop media’s refusal to support their brand of good music and their efforts to correct that.

Here’s to the Roots finally achieving the multi-platinum records sales and radio success that they have been angling for their whole career. Only time will tell, but they may have just lucked up on one of this summer’s D.C. anthems - at least once it gets covered by a real go-go band or two.

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