Gonjasufi

Gonjasufi is the recording name of Sumach Ecks, an experimental electronic and hip hop artist from Chula Vista, United States, born in 1978. He is also known for work under the name Sumach.

Background

Ecks is born in San Diego to a Hispanic mother and an Ethiopian father. He is musically active from the 1990s, when he raps with Masters of the Universe and self-releases solo albums as Sumach.

Recording career

His first notable appearances on record come in 2008. He raps a verse on “Anything Is Possible” from Johnson&Jonson, the album by Blu and Mainframe, and sings on “Testament” from Flying Lotus’s Los Angeles. The latter attracts significant attention and leads to his signing to Warp Records.

Under the Gonjasufi name, he releases A Sufi and a Killer in 2010. He also releases The Caliph’s Tea Party in 2010, The 9th Inning EP in 2011 and MU.ZZ.LE in 2012.

Style

His music combines psychedelia with beat-driven electronic production, and is associated with dark songwriting, distinctive vocals and a mystic, street-level image.