Jahari Massamba Unit

Jahari Massamba Unit is an occasional, loose-knit hip-hop and future jazz studio recording project comprised of producer/multi-instrumentalist <a href="spotify:artist:5LhTec3c7dcqBvpLRWbMcf">Madlib</a> and drummer/producer <a href="spotify:artist:6e7BQ0gM6o8ecMXRZkXxlZ">Karriem Riggins</a>. The pair have also worked together under the moniker Supreme Team, with <a href="spotify:artist:6e7BQ0gM6o8ecMXRZkXxlZ">Riggins</a> doubling as vocalist.

The two artists were introduced in the mid-2000s while working with Detroit producer/rapper <a href="spotify:artist:0IVcLMMbm05VIjnzPkGCyp">J Dilla</a>. As Supreme Team they issued a split 12" with <a href="spotify:artist:0IVcLMMbm05VIjnzPkGCyp">J Dilla</a>, "See (Suite)"/"Mash's Revenge." The pair first appeared as Jahari Massamba Unit on the track "Umoja" from <a href="spotify:artist:5LhTec3c7dcqBvpLRWbMcf">Madlib</a>'s 2007 faux sampler long-player Yesterdays Universe. In 2010, they issued a pair of cuts as JMU on <a href="spotify:artist:5LhTec3c7dcqBvpLRWbMcf">Madlib</a>'s iconic High Jazz outing ("Pretty Eyes" and "Wonderin'/Nightime"). On that date they also appeared on two cuts as <a href="spotify:artist:5pSUhgxq9FwDCRBDux7gS5">Yesterdays New Quintet</a> ("Don't You Worry Bout a Thing" and "Conquistador") and on still another as Poyser, Riggins & Jackson, with James Poyser and <a href="spotify:artist:5LhTec3c7dcqBvpLRWbMcf">Madlib</a> under another of his many nom de plumes, Otis Jackson, Jr. In 2020, the pair reunited as Jahiri Massamba Unit to release their proper long-playing debut, Pardon My French, on the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Madlib+Invazion%22">Madlib Invazion</a> imprint.

In February 2024, <a href="spotify:artist:6e7BQ0gM6o8ecMXRZkXxlZ">Riggins</a> issued To the Jungle on the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Madlib+Invazion%22">Madlib Invazion</a> label, and in March, the pair reassembled Jahari Massamba Unit for their sophomore long-player, Yhwh Is Love; it was released by <a href="spotify:artist:6e7BQ0gM6o8ecMXRZkXxlZ">Riggins</a>' Detroit-based <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Law+of+Rhythm%22">Law of Rhythm</a> label. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi