Counting With Afrikan Sciences

Eric Porter Douglas, aka Afrikan Sciences, is responsible for some of the most exciting Afro-futurist productions in recent memory, blending the broken beats of West Coast funk with classic house, and a dash of Sun Ra sci-fi. His new LP, Circuitous, is out now on Berlin imprint PAN. It goes hard.

1 memorable line in a song:

“Even if it’s jazz or the quiet storm, I hook a beat up, convert it into hip-hop form.” -Rakim, “I Ain’t No Joke” off Eric B. and Rakim’s Paid in Full.

2 decisions I regret:

First would be selling my comic book collection which I had amassed from childhood to make rent as a struggling college student. I never recovered from that, and it kind of killed the spark I had for collecting. Second, around that same time, Whodini were in town to do a show, and their DJ was calling around trying to find turntables for the gig. They contacted me, but I held out because they wouldn’t have compensated. My childhood heroes—and I ended up trying to extort them. Oh, the shame.

3 people that should collaborate:

Doctor Who, Doctor Strange, Doctor Ice. The result? Time traveling rap with a twist of mysticism.

4 things I haven’t done yet:

1. Traveled to my namesake.
2. Performed in Japan.
3. Committed to daily practice on my upright.
4. Found inner peace.

5 things I used to believe:

1. That my parents were robots.
2. New sneakers made me run faster.
3. If I spun around fast enough counter-clockwise I could go back in time.
4. I could never throw away my childhood toys.
5. Children are the future.

6 hours ago…

I was preparing my child for school.

7 albums everyone should own:

1. Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band, The Very Best of Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band
   
   
2. Sun Ra & His Arkestra, Jazz in Silhouette
   
3. Ultramagnetic MCs, Critical Beat Down
   
4. Frank Zappa, Apostrophe (‘)
   
5. Two Banks of Four, Three Street Worlds
   
6. John Lee Hooker, Get Back Home in the U.S.A.
   
7. Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
   

After 8 p.m.

Daddy goes off duty, LEGOLAND is dismantled, Avengers are disassembled, and I clear out of my studio.

My 9 lives…

I keep resetting on the fifth.

I would touch it with a 10-foot pole:

Man-made drugs. Blessed be the herb.

This article originally appeared in the Winter 2014/2015 edition of Electronic Beats Magazine. To read more from this issue, click here, and to read Counting With columns from Helena Hauff, Jackmaster, and more, click here.