Although drum machines and drum loops are more common than live drummers in the world of rap, Brooklyn native
Stix Bones has kept a busy hip-hop schedule beating the skins for the likes of
Doug E. Fresh,
De La Soul,
Mos Def,
the Last Poets,
Gil Scott-Heron, and
Rahzel of
the Roots.
Bones began his drumming in church and continued in college, eventually earning a bachelor's degree in jazz performance. His last year in college included a European tour with poets the Vibe Khameleons that lead to a gig with poet Jessica Care Moore. By the time he made his recorded debut on the M.I.L. Multimedia/
Michael Zager project In the Spirit, he was already the drummer who rappers turned to when they were organizing a live group. He debuted his smooth jazz sound in 2006 with his own album,
Groove Like This. ~ David Jeffries