As of late, Hip Hop acts overseas have steadily made their mark in the states. Whether this has been pushed by the innovation of the digital music age, it is safe to say that both sides have benefitted from the merger. Take for instance the Ancient Astronauts. Fronted by Dogu and Kabanjak and based out of Cologne, Germany, this production duo has taken their Western European culture and fused it with nearly every musical aspect the world has to offer, with an emphasis clearly on Hip Hop. As such, the duo treats their debut album We Are To Answer with a collage of sounds punctuated by their drive to create something new.

The Ancient Astronauts set this mood with the album-opening “From the Sky,” which features sparse scratches and a heavy bass line. Then, on “I Came Running,” they put their conceptual mind state as futuristic journeymen in full swing. Filled with gravitating melodic lines and a rock-induced break, “I Came Running” keeps the listener attentive till the very end.

Of course, as an album more tailored to the Hip Hop audience, Dogu and Kabanjak make good with a couple of raw tracks. Capturing ’90s era nostalgia on “Risin’ High,” the Ancient Astronauts masterfully resurrect an east coast boom-bap formula that perfectly illustrates what Hip Hop has been missing in the last few years. Featuring rapper Rashaan Ahmad, who treats the beat with an upmost respect to the past, “Risin’ High” becomes the highlight of the album.

A similar tone is provided on “Oblivion,” where rapper Azeem calls out the powers at be when he rhymes, “They build more prisons than places for teachers / Prostitute freedom, gave us fake leaders / Broke out the bank, and made a fake Jesus / Broke off the noses to make a fake Egypt.”  Sadly, the same can’t be said for “Classic,” where The Pharcyde [click to read] members miss the mark on an otherwise strong cut.


As stated earlier, the Ancient Astronauts expand their musical horizon on We Are To Answer, replacing typical sample-driven tracks with captivating records. This is evident on “Lost in Marrakesh,” which captures the mental picture of an exotic oasis waiting to be discovered. Then, taking the more eclectic route, the Ancient Astronauts consult their inner Daft Punk with the upbeat “Everybody.”

One spot where the duo might have made a blunder is with their Reggae-influenced records “All of the Things You Do” and “Surfing the Silvatide.” While catchy, the former track sounds like a generic dance hall production. Similarly, the latter record provides nothing substantially special, albeit a steady groove.

Earlier this year N.A.S.A., a pair of deejays from North America and South America respectively, released a similar project in Spirit of Apollo [click to read]. While it’s difficult to compare both projects, the Ancient Astronauts seemingly have less clarity on their debut album than N.A.S.A. did. With that said, We Are To Answer still provides a great experience for people willing to take the musical leap, and likewise gives the notion that the Ancient Astronauts are a production duo worth listening for in the near future.