Representin’: Chicago
Sounds Like: Styles of Beyond meets A Tribe Called Quest
Chicago native Simeon (now known as See-Me-On) Viltz had plenty of musical influences around him growing up. Viltz’s father was a member of the MCA Records funk outfit, Black Lightening, and the young boy from Hyde Park (home of President Obama) watched his family jam with Earth, Wind & Fire on several occasions. Even with being surrounded by legends of that stature, Viltz insists it was Darshon (Race) Gibss who lead him in the direction of rap.
See-Me-On and Race make up Primeridian, one of the best hip-hop, jazz, soul and funk fusion groups since the days of A Tribe Called Quest. Taking their name from the point where east meets west, the two Windy City MCs found their early influences to be cross regional.
“Chicago was a hub where we would see the East Coast and West Coast kind of set it off with the whole hip-hop thing,” Race says. “We were banging Cube and banging De La Soul all in a single bound.”
More than just simply underground legends, Primeridian has collaborated with everyone from RUN-DMC and Brand Nubian to Common and Erykah Badu. On their latest album, Da Mornin’ Afta, the fellas — along with original member, Jaime (Tree Tha Scarecrow) Roundtree — accomplish what few in rap music can today, a solid record from start to finish. “We try to bring you through all of those [musical] dimensions. The listener’s A.D.D. is strong nowadays [so] you want to keep it moving,” See-Me-On says.
Primeridian is known to invoke the spirit of iconic artists from their hometown. “Even with R. Kelly — he could take a raunchy concept, but kind of make you feel like you’re almost going to church with it,” See-Me-On says. “With our music we definitely connect on that [feel-good] soul music and the funk.” –gavin philip godfrey
Check out Primeridian’s hip-hop class on www.rollingout.com/video.
