Brooklyn based Brown Rice Family won WNYC’s coveted battle of the Boroughs, representing Brooklyn in the citywide competition for informal title of New York’s best band.
In addition to musicians from the US and Japan, Brown Rice Family has strong diaspora roots, including members from Haiti, Jamaica, Nigeria, and South Africa. The seven member, multi-national, brass supported, Afro and Reggae infused group entered the competition off a streak of notable performances and collaborations.
Partnering with Hip Hop Saves Lives (Chad Harper as MC) and Cocody Productions (Jake Bright
as DJ), the group headlined Art for Africa Sotheby’s, hosted its album/video release concert at The Player’s Club, and was the opening act for Brooklyn Museum of Art’s debut 2012 Target First Saturdays.
Brown Rice also recently joined Hip Hop Saves Lives and Cocody Productions as house band to this summer’s Stonehenge Properties WAN LUV music series, to which Face2Face Africa is a partner.
At WNYC’s Greenspace Brown Rice’s Afro Caribbean infused set and engaging presence that inspires dancing from familiar and unfamiliar crowds alike won over judges and NYC residents, who voted by text and email for their favorite band.
“We did it! We brought the crown back to Brooklyn. Next is the Brooklyn Coliseum,” said Brown Rice front man Okai, referencing bringing the title of best band in the borough back to Brooklyn and the return of the Brooklyn Nets.
Those looking to check out Brown Rice Family can attend any one of the free WAN LUV events coming up in July, August, and September. Click here to view pictures from past events. In addition to performing a DJ drum circle on July 19 and 26, the band will headline WAN LUV in full on August 9.
