Mach-Hommy, continues the rollout of his critically acclaimed album #RICHAXXHAITIAN, The video for one the album’s unexpected standout cuts, “SUR LE PONT d’AVIGNON (Reparation #1)“ with Sam Gendel, drops alongside a limited-edition drop of thematic merchandise. The video, directed by Lasheef Ecks, was filmed at Haiti’s National Landmark, La Citadelle Laferrière, a 19th-century fortress located in Milot, in the northern region of the country. Built by the island nation’s first president and only king, Henri Christophe, in 1820 and designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, La Citadelle remains a marvel of engineering, history, and resilience. The video captures majestic aerial views and panoramic backdrops as Mach performs atop the fortress’ centuries-old architecture. “This is an exact visual representation of how I felt when I wrote this song and how I feel every time I hear this song,” says Mach.
Hinting at the song’s parenthetical title, Mach notes, “They’ve been rocking us to sleep with that shit for so long. My turn now.” Despite the fact that the song itself weaves in the well-known 15th century French nursery rhyme, “SUR LE PONT d’AVIGNON” is no lullaby. . This melodic venture sees Mach floating between English rhymes, French melodies, and Arabic prayers, atop smooth production from Grammy-winning beatsmith Conductor Williams. The track also features burgeoning and flourishing saxophone, courtesy of elusive composer, Sam Gendel.
Along with the new video, Mach will unveil a limited-edition merch capsule in the theme of #RICHAXXHAITIAN. The capsule includes designer t-shirts and water bottles that feature Mach’s proprietary camouflage. Designed by Mach himself and inspired by the album, the T-shirts include quotes related to Haiti. The limited-edition, handmade, designer vinyl pressings include options such as sand-filled and money-filled.
The capsule is available for purchase at billy-z.com
The new video for “SUR LE PONT d’AVIGNON” is the latest visual offering from #RICHAXXHAITIAN, the fourth album in a tetralogy of albums that examine Mach-Hommy’s relationship with his homeland, following 2016’s H.B.O. (Haitian Body Odor), and his two acclaimed 2021 albums, Pray For Haiti and Balens Cho (Hot Candles). #RICHAXXHAITIAN is a small musical panacea for his homeland amidst poverty and political strife, combating the public’s negative images of Haiti by focusing on the greatness and prosperity of the country’s diaspora. Over the course of the album, Mach-Hommy emphasizes the country’s potential, strategizing ways that his troubled homeland could become an exemplar of Black cultural and economic excellence.
#RICHAXXHAITIAN garnered massive acclaim upon its release and the album welcomes collaborators new and old to help flesh out Mach-Hommy’s sound, including Black Thought, Roc Marciano, Tha God Fahim, Your Old Droog, Drea D’Nur, and Big Cheeko, plus producers like Grammy-winner Conductor Williams, Grammy-nominated producer Quelle Chris, longtime associate Sadhu Gold, and others.
Attempting to transform our modern dystopia into a utopia using only his rhymes and force of will, Mach-Hommy invites us all, from his most loyal investors to his freshest fans, to imagine a brand new world. With #RICHAXXHAITIAN, that seemingly impossible dream creeps ever closer.
“I’ve always wanted to rep for Haiti and the cultural and intellectual richness we’ve provided the world,” Mach-Hommy says. “From our musical styles like kontradans that have influenced world music, our natural resources which provide so much raw material for so many important advancements in technology, our thinkers that pioneered philosophical movements and Black pride, and our spiritual leaders who kept the religious traditions of Guinea alive and intact, the religious traditions of Ayiti….”
Stream #RICHAXXHAITIAN: https://too.fm/kxjk19e
Buy #RICHAXXHATIAN on vinyl, CD, and limited-edition merch at billy-z.com
© 2024, Seth "Digital Crates" Barmash. All rights reserved.
