knuckle
sammiches
the mixtape
about the album
The Knuckle Sammiches Mixtape is the result of four years of collaboration and experimentation with my team. We crafted sounds, places, ideas, and colors, allowing them to collide and create something truly unique. To understand the sound of blaxploitation, I immersed myself in the films first. I believe that to truly grasp the essence of the sound, you have to watch the art it was made for—the action-packed, badass films that defined the movement.
Blaxploitation films emerged in the early 1970s, driven by the cultural momentum of the Black civil rights movement, the Black power movement, and the Black Panther Party. These films featured Black actors in leading roles and w ere made by Black people, for Black people, with Black people. Iconic films like Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971) and Shaft (1971) were pivotal in defining the genre.
The funk and theatrical elements of blaxploitation are the soundtrack for black heroism. We had Characters like Shaft, Foxy Brown, Dolemite, and Black Dynamite we didn't need Batman, Catwoman, and James Bond,the characters in blaxploitation embodied the strength and resilience of superheroes.
This blend of influences added a rich, dynamic layer to our sound.
Dolemite, played by Rudy Ray Moore, is a larger-than-life character who combines comedy, kung fu, and street smarts to fight corruption and crime. Black Dynamite, portrayed by Michael Jai White, is a Vietnam War veteran and former CIA officer who uses his martial arts skills to clean up the streets and take down drug dealers and gangsters.
Blaxploitation soundtracks were the first to feature funk and soul music, with artists like Isaac Hayes and Curtis Mayfield creating iconic scores. These soundtracks not only complemented the films but also helped define the genre, adding a powerful auditory dimension to the visual storytelling.
The Knuckle Sammiches music is like stepping into an animated theme park where genres blend playfully, creating a sonic space that's both futuristic and nostalgic. It's a kaleidoscope of influences, from the theatrics of Japanese jazz to the rawness of underground hip hop, and the heroism of the funky sounds of blaxploitation.
Knuckle Sammiches is a blaxploitation, so it's only right that we create our version of the sound while standing on the shoulders of those that came before.
Our dedication to capturing the essence of these genres and blending them with our vision resulted in an adventurous listening experience. Each track feels like an adventure through MR. TOMONOSHi!'s wondrous imagination, ushering listeners to a place where his love for blaxploitation and vision for the future of the medium collide.
Adventure Awaits...
with love + imagination
-MR. TOMONOSHi!
behind the music.
I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS ALBUM.
Musically, this is where I see my future—not so much in rap, but with the band or the orchestra playing my arrangements to animated worlds I've created on large screens and AR technology. It's a spectacle, an experience for all ages and cultures. This music allows me to talk to anyone, anywhere, filling their heads with pictures that they paint with their imaginations.
This is my dream music. I grew up in the orchestra playing the trombone, but I always wanted to be the conductor. This experience has been that dream coming true. I want to do this forever—make music like this forever.
I am grateful to every musician that worked with me to bring this to life. I am about to tear up writing this—the craziest thing is, this is only a taste of the musical dessert we created. A slice of the cake. I cannot wait to share more.
Adventure truly awaits...