Peace and Red Velvet is a hip-hop, R&B and acoustic funk duo comprised of DJ/Producer Whispah the Ruler, (James Porter from Wilmington, Delaware) and his recently instated wife, Acacia the Queen, formerly Acacia C. (Acacia Porter), from a certain non-claimed Puyallup, Washington.
June marks the anniversary of their first musical release and the two-year anniversary of their leap year introduction to each other. They released an EP, “366,” on June 4, 2016, and are reissuing it as “366 The Re-P.”
Peace and Red Velvet evoke a strikingly definitive emotional response making them a standout, blasting every definition of positive, feel-good energy with socially conscious material.
In “Go,” Acacia’s strong, catchy hook anthems over a smooth and powerful hip-hop beat: “Know that it’s my time / I know it’s my time to go.” Whispah’s hand-raising refrain calls, “Take what you got, rise to the top.”
I talked to the duo about who they are. Their answer coincides beautifully with the reality of seeing one of their shows. They mentioned a “feel-good vibe” that can “carry you away.” They finished up their definition with this humorous synopsis: “Like the best feeling you’ve ever had, plus your top 10 favorite things, below that!”
For Peace and Red Velvet, re-issuing the “366” was like a “shedding of the skin,” a renewal, wanting to release a project that they feel does the band justice, sonically. Also they wanted the emotion to match the level of energy they put in to their live performances. The “Re-P” features six songs, five newly recorded and re-imagined Peace and Red Velvet classics and one addition, the couple’s first love song they have written together, poignantly titled “Be Love,” produced by Lucy Christo.
This song is an energetic, dance- and love-infused song that brilliantly combines the multiple musical elements found in their work into one powerful free-flowing song that somehow gets everyone to find their “good foot.” This song feels iconic to everything that Peace and Red Velvet are. It makes us forget about every time we ever held a grudge or stubbed our toe. It encompasses the magic and powerful and insanely pure sense of positivity that they exude in their music and shows. When I describe what Peace and Red Velvet are, I always say, “If you’re depressed go see a Peace and Red show.”
While the duo may be right off the hill of their June 10th release, they are gearing up for a few side projects as well. Be on the lookout for “Blue Suede,” the smooth and cool debut EP from Acacia the Queen; a PRV joint EP release with Seattle rapper, Call; Whispah the Ruler’s solo beat mixtape; and his joint EP release with fellow Flux Fam collective member Rocket.
The EP “366” is available through iTunes, Google Play and Spotify.
Gui Jean-Paul Chevalier is a Seattle-based recording artist and author from rural Washington, living counter-small-town mind for the cause of humanity. Read his previous Arts, Culture and Politics columns.
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