When is an act not an act? When it’s a movement. DA-MOVEMENT are a Chicago, USA-based collective that have proven they are making more than just music.
By Graeme Smith
“DA-MOVEMENT is a family affair and a preservation project that was literally birthed at the edge of a grave in 2009,” explains founder Pompey “Pay” Hicks.
He met John “Johnny P” Pigram when the latter sang at their Great Aunt Dorothy Reed’s funeral. “That moment of shared grief became the catalyst, and at the repast, a promise was made to build something that would honour our shared history,” says Hicks.
It’s a powerful origin story that speaks of destiny as well as desire. There’s a mentality to it that puts soul at the forefront, mirroring how the Chicago hip-hop scene has always been about soul.
DA-MOVEMENT evolved slowly eventually taking up physical space at recording engineer Rae Nimeh’s United Technique recording studio. That set up the foundation for what would eventually become All Black Everything (Remix), the track that introduced the act to me.
The single hits nicely from the off with a chant-along opening before a smooth-flowing first verse kicks in. The old school sound is immediately evident while the lyrics stay conscious. Verse and chorus trade blows while seamlessly introducing new voices to keep things fresh.
I hear a lot of great music through running this blog, but it is a truly exceptional thing to be able to share music that has already proven its worth. All Black Everything had enjoyed monumental success before I’d even picked it up.
It’s hit the top 5% worldwide on Digital DJ Pool, peaking at #39 out of over 10,000 tracks. It’s being played at 438 clubs across 127 countries and has been in rotation on over 180 radio stations and fifteen TV networks. The track is out there and feels like a sleeping giant.
“The reaction has been massive and is moving faster than we even projected,” says Hicks. “…we are even crossing genre lines—Ze Rock Radio just added All Black Everything (Remix) to their rotation, bridging the gap and proving that a raw hip-hop anthem can unite rock and hip-hop audiences.”
Outside of the numbers, the track has received an impressive critical reaction, emphasising it as a cultural cornerstone as much as the music. In Folded Waffle’s feature on DA-MOVEMENT, they referred to the remix as a “masterclass in cultural preservation” and GRID Magazine called it a “Chicago summit of talent.”
It feels as if the city of Chicago itself is an extra member of the DA-MOVEMENT, so I was keen to learn more about how things are there. “Chicago has always been the heartbeat of the culture,” says Hicks. “Right now, the scene is heavily focused on independence, ownership, and expanding beyond just music.”
He namechecks Billy “Bo” Deal and his Tyrant: Like Father, Like Son franchise as well as Chicago “titans” like Carl Terrell “Twista” Mitchell, Denis “AK” Round of Do or Die, Marrico “Never” King of Crucial Conflict, and, of course, the iconic John “Johnny P” Pigram with whom Hick connected right at the beginning.
“That energy is seamlessly bridging the generations right now,” Hicks adds. “By tying these eras together, you get iconic moments like Chance the Rapper teaming up with Do or Die and Twista for the Ride (Remix), a perfect fusion of the new school honouring the architects.”
DA-MOVEMENT have rightly staked out their piece of that landscape and are truly putting the city’s scene on the international map. You can certainly count me as a fan. They continue to build. “We are turning the dial all the way up,” Hicks promises.
If you want to keep up to date with DA-MOVEMENT you can do so by following them on Facebook, X, Spotify, and Instagram.
I’ll leave the last word to Hicks: “a massive salute to everyone rocking with DA-MOVEMENT. Whether you are tuning in from Chicago, the East and West Coasts, the UK, or France—we see you, and we appreciate the support.”
All Black Everything (Remix) is out now, and you can listen to it below.
Supported by Musosoup #SustainableCurator
