HKB FiNN's original blend of Acoustic Afro Hip Hop fused with intelligent lyrics, live and sampled music bridges the gap between Rap & Poetry. His music has strong elements of Jazz, Blues, Reggae and West African flavours. Original.

14 MP3 Songs
SPOKEN WORD: With Music, HIP HOP/RAP: Alternative Hip Hop



Details:
HKB FiNN is a Spoken word artist from the UK who embodies all the worldly influences that are present in a cosmopolitan city such as London.

FiNNâs combination of provocative poetry, innovative raps and original music has made him one Hip Hopâs most unique artists. His unique brand of alternative Hip Hop is part Reggae, part West African, part Jazz, part Blues but is always filled with an elegance and verve rare in Hip Hop.

Born in Malta, educated in Jamaica and brought to the UK in his early teens HKB FiNN has been active in Hip Hop since 1989. He was the former front man of UK band Katch 22 (known then as Huntkillbury FiNN). After 3 albums the band parted way and FiNN experimented with New Metal, Classical and Electronica for a few years.

After hearing Saul Williams in 1999, began to explore the Spoken Word tradition. He studied artists like The Last Poets and felt the time was right for a new Spoken Word revolution. Since 1999, he has recorded and performed across several genreâs with various groups and organisations such as: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Tunde Jegede Ensemble, Roots Manuva, Viva Sinfonia, No Jazz, Gunshott, Electro Deluxe and many more.

In 2002, his groundbreaking solo debut album ViTALiSTiCS established FiNNâs mixture of High and Low art music melding Beats and Live strings to create an album which received both critical and commercial acclaim. His work with Katch 22 had gone full circle with FiNN introducing original compositions and not samples to the language of Hip Hop music.

In 2004 his flair for musical innovation received further recognition and he was awarded an honorary Masters in music law by the University of East London for his contribution to contemporary music.

In 2005, FiNN began attracting new audiences with his ever developing sound. Incorporating West African melodies with the rhythms of the African Diaspora, he recorded a new album entitled: ACOUSTiC AFRO HiP HOP. The new album has been much praised by the public and press alike and topped Mojo Magazines Urban Albums of 2005 list. The album has been described as:

âA masterpieceâ Outside Looking in Magazine

âAn inspiration to listen toâ UKHH.com

âExceptionalâ The Sunday Times

âWell crafted, an atmospheric gemâ RAPNEWS.CO.UK

âBeautiful arrangements and thoroughly refreshingâ NiCK LUSCOMBE, XFM RADiO

âThis is music from that ânext levelâ many rappers claim to be striving to attainâ MOJO MAGAZiNE

In 2006, HKB FiNN will release his first full spoken word album entitled: SPOKEN HERBS. Featuring the production talents of Derek Johnson, Don Jose and guest vocalist Cleveland Watkiss, this new work promises to take FiNN into new territory. FiNN describes his new sound as Blu-Dub (a combination of Blues, Hip Hop and Afro-Reggae) and is due to be released in September 2006.

HKB FiNN has moved away from the conventional presentation of hip hop to create an elegant but unique sound that is constantly challenging the parameters of what is known & expected of hip hop. His approach of mixing elements of High and Low art in the form of âBeats and Stringsâ has won him international acclaim and confirms that HKB FiNN is no ordinary artist.