Lafayette Afro Rock Band

Biography

Lafayette Afro Rock Band was an American funk group formed in Roosevelt, Long Island, New York in 1970. Initially known as the Bobby Boyd Congress, the band was led by vocalist Bobby Boyd and included members such as guitarist Larry Jones, bassist Lafayette Hudson, keyboardist Frank Abel, horn players Ronnie James Buttacavoli and Arthur Young, drummer Ernest 'Donny' Donable, and percussionists Keno Speller and Arthur Young. Facing a saturated funk scene in the United States, the group relocated to Paris, France in 1971, where Boyd soon departed and the remaining members briefly became Soul Congress before settling on the name Ice, and later, Lafayette Afro Rock Band.

In Paris, the band became the house session group at producer Pierre Jaubert's Parisound studio and absorbed the vibrant African and North African musical influences of the Barbès district. Their sound evolved to blend American funk with African rhythms, textures, and rock elements. Under the Lafayette Afro Rock Band name, they released influential albums such as 'Soul Makossa' (1973) and 'Malik' (1974), featuring tracks like 'Hihache' and 'Darkest Light.' Although they received little recognition in the U.S. during their active years, their music later became a vital source of breakbeats and samples for hip-hop and pop artists, cementing their legacy as a foundational group in the evolution of funk and sampled music. The band disbanded after returning to America in 1978.

Fun Facts

• The band recorded under several aliases, including Ice, Crispy & Co. (Krispie & Co. in Europe), and Captain Dax.
• Their song 'Darkest Light' is one of the most sampled tracks in hip-hop history, appearing in songs by Public Enemy, Wreckx-N-Effect, and others.
• They became the house band for Parisound studio, backing not only their own projects but also other artists, including jazz and blues musicians.
• Their relocation to Paris was inspired by the desire to escape the crowded American funk scene and to find new creative opportunities.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Manu Dibango - Influence through repertoire and style; Lafayette Afro Rock Band covered his hit 'Soul Makossa,' which inspired their own fusion of African and funk elements. ('Soul Makossa' (album and song)) [early 1970s]

Key Collaborators

• Pierre Jaubert - Producer who facilitated their work as a house session band at Parisound studio and guided their stylistic evolution. (All albums recorded in Paris, especially 'Soul Makossa', 'Malik') [1971–1978]
• Mal Waldron - Jazz pianist; the band backed him on his unreleased album 'Candy Girl.' ('Candy Girl' (unreleased album)) [1975]
• Sunnyland Slim - Expatriate bluesman; collaborated on the album 'Depression Blues.' ('Depression Blues') [1976]

Artists Influenced

• Public Enemy - Sampled 'Darkest Light' for 'Show 'Em Whatcha Got' on their seminal album 'It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.' ('Show 'Em Whatcha Got') [1988]
• Janet Jackson - Sampled 'Hihache' in her music, drawing from the band's breakbeats. (Various tracks) [1980s–1990s]
• LL Cool J - Used samples from Lafayette Afro Rock Band's catalog in his productions. (Various tracks) [1980s–1990s]
• De La Soul - Sampled the band's breakbeats in hip-hop productions. (Various tracks) [late 1980s–1990s]
• Wu-Tang Clan - Sampled 'Hihache' and other tracks in their music. (Various tracks) [1990s]
• Wreckx-N-Effect - Sampled 'Darkest Light' for their hit 'Rump Shaker.' ('Rump Shaker') [1992]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Ozan Koukle - Remastered (Afro Funk Explosion)
2. Darkest Light (Darkest Light)
3. Darkest Light - Remastered (Malik)
4. Hihache (Soul Makossa)
5. Ozan Koukle (Afro Agban)
6. Candy Girl - Remastered (Red Matchbox)
7. Malik - Remastered (Malik)
8. Djungi - Remastered (Afro Funk Explosion)
9. Ozan Koukle - Remastered (Afro Funk Explosion)
10. Azeta (Soul Makossa)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia