An authentic 80’s time-capsule unearthed in a NYC recording studio!

Al Díaz’s career spans five decades. Born and raised in New York City, he was known by age 15 as a prolific and influential, first-generation subway graffiti artist. During the early 70s, his popular and recognized name was “BOMB-1.” He is known for his friendship with Jean-Michel Basquiat and collaboration on SAMO©…, the well known graffiti project appearing in lower Manhattan from 1978 to 1980. The tag and text slogans became known quickly on the streets and in the local newspaper media because of their wit and sardonic humour. After high school and the SAMO©… period, Díaz began to practice musical percussion, and created recordings, including performances with Liquid Liquid and on Basquiat’s collectible 1983 early hip-hop album, Beat Bop which also featured Rammellzee and K-Rob.

We now deliver celebrated NYC Artist/Musician Al Diaz’s take on the times heard through raw, rolling percussion layered with swirling poetic vocals - this time presented on a LIMITED 45 7” VINYL SINGLE from The Sound Council.

“What’s In A Name” was initially featured on the Tellus Dance cassette in 1986 but the original master tapes were unearthed in a NYC recording studio recently by producer/engineer Bruce Tovsky (Liquid Liquid, 99 Records). The track itself, which was birthed within the revered No Wave / Post Punk scene of a lost Downtown NYC, is seemingly drenched in the electricity of this glorified era.

The project is now debuting for the first time on a collectible hand stamped and limited vinyl pressing and drops with title single “What’s In A Name?” + Special DJ Remix by Mr. Chinn.

Release by The Sound Council