Artist page

**Bio:** The Lafayette Afro Rock Band, originally formed as Ice in Long Island, NY, relocated to France in 1971, seeking to differentiate themselves from the existing funk acts in America. After the departure of their frontman, the remaining members became the house session band at producer Pierre Jaubert's Parisound studio. They regularly performed live in the Barbès district of Paris, which had a significant population of African immigrants, and their music began to incorporate African rhythms and textures. Following their 1973 debut LP, Jaubert renamed the group to Lafayette Afro Rock Band. In 1974, they released their second album, "Soul Makossa" (issued in the U.S. as "African Rock"), featuring the well-known track "Hihache." Their next album included "Darkest Light," which has a saxophone intro that was later sampled by various artists, including Public Enemy for "Show 'Em Whatcha Got." In 1976, the group reverted to the Ice moniker and returned to America in 1978, where they disbanded shortly after. Despite being relatively unknown in the U.S., the Lafayette Afro Rock Band was a significant force in 1970s funk and has been a prolific source of samples and breaks for many artists.

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