Far East Movement, Global Pan-Asian Dance Band From L.A., Continues to Rise

 

 

Far East Movement performing their hit single "Rocketeer." (C) 2010 Interscope Records, on YouTube. Good to see scenes shot near downtown Los Angeles, Little Tokyo and East L.A., where my people set down cultural roots and helped to build L.A. Strong karma in play.

 

FAR EAST MOVEMENT, the hip-hop electro pop Pan-Asian dance band from Central Los Angeles, continues to rise. They've performed in concerts with Lady Gaga, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Lil Wayne, Pitbull and other big names. Earlier this year, their smooth single "Rocketeer" broke into the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 and has drawn 28 million hits on YouTube.

A few more soulful tunes like "Rocketeer," a blend of old and new school, and they'll become this generation's Earth Wind & Fire, a global super group that fused cultural boundaries and sold out stadiums worldwide. Far East Movement seems to embrace its role as ethnic emissary, appealing to mixed fans, and citing everyone from white rockers to black rappers as influences. "We envision a free-wired world in which everyone is known by their Twitter handle and Facebook profile, not the color of their skin," band member Prohgress told Korina Lopez at USA Today.

No one-hit wonder here. (Their earlier "Like a G6" also made the Billboard charts.) Far East Movement could be at the cusp of a long and uplifting ride.

 

 

 

Earth Wind & Fire's monster 1980s hit "Let's Groove." Video courtesy of Elvistar's channel on YouTube. 

 

CoolGlobalBiz, August 23, 2011