The Illustrious Blacks
With inspiration from extraterrestrials like Prince, David Bowie, Grace Jones, Boy George, and George Clinton, The Illustrious Blacks have arrived with a mission to fuse futuristic funk, hypnotic house, and cosmic pop into pulsating positivity for the planet. The real-life married couple are not only co-pilots on their artistic voyage but are united in their fantastical journey through life.
In 2017, The Illustrious Blacks released their highly anticipated debut EP, NeoAfroFuturisticPsychedelicSurrealisticHippy, on Concierge Records. The EP features the high-energy single "Blast Off," the seductive "Red Light," the thought-provoking "Delusions of Grandeur" and the anthemic "Black Like Jesus."
In the same year, the dynamic duo also found time to work with producer Nickodemus on a remake of the 90s dance floor classic "Funk That!," which spawned a popular music video. Toward the end of summer 2017, The Illustrious Blacks landed their live show Hyperbolic for a three-month residency at the legendary Joe's Pub at The Public Theater.
If their music and live shows are meant to elevate you into the stratosphere, then The Illustrious Blacks radio show, "On Air w/The Blacks," is an opportunity to experience their inner space. The entertaining and often hilarious weekly series invites listeners onto the mothership of the charismatic couple, where they discuss the latest happenings in global pop culture on WBAI 99.5 FM in New York.
Individually, Monstah Black and Manchildblack illuminate the galaxy with equal magnitude. Together, as The Illustrious Blacks, they have combined their powers and metamorphosed into supernovas, blazing through the Milky Way like a comet, with their own unique brand of cosmic freak nobility.
Image courtesy of The Illustrious Blacks