Kassa Overall - CREAM

Grammy-nominated drummer, producer, emcee, and vocalist KASSA OVERALL is redefining the boundaries between jazz and hip-hop. Revered by living icons and underground tastemakers, he began his career behind the drum kit. His groundbreaking solo projects have established him as a driving force in the American jazz scene and beyond, fielding support from visionaries including Thom Yorke, Iggy Pop, Virgil Abloh, and more. As a 2025 recipient of the prestigious Doris Duke Artist Award, Kassa has cemented his status as a leading voice in contemporary jazz.

On CREAM, his fourth solo studio album, Kassa pays homage to the twin passions of his youth—hip-hop and jazz drumming. With this collection of instrumentals, the visionary drummer and producer transforms classic rap songs into timeless standards, mining the continuum between jazz and hip-hop from every angle without any shortcuts and offering a fresh take on the “Great American Songbook”—honoring the rich legacy of Black American music.

CREAM highlights Kassa’s artistry through masterful arrangements, thoughtful song selection, and a sound that traces the arc of his evolution. Backed by a stellar band with generational jazz legacy, the project embodies his genre-fluid approach and his commitment to pushing jazz forward.

From Newport to North Sea, his band has garnered wide acclaim for their live performances, which Gilles Peterson has called “completely surreal.” He has appeared on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series and released several critically acclaimed mixtapes, with praise from The New York Times, NPR Music, The Guardian, Afropunk, and more.