Doc Brown has announced a Spring 2017 UK Tour which will take in 8 venues between 22nd March and 1st April next year. Simultaneously, he confirmed the release of an album, Stemma, although the date is as yet unspecified.
Brown rapped the news in a ‘Special Announcement’ video on Youtube, in which his background as a battle MC can be seen as a contrast to his perhaps more recognisable comedy persona. ‘All heads, I’m turnin’ ‘em, all feds, concernin’ ‘em. 27th, O2 Institute, Birmingham.’ In the video he muted a possible December release date for the album, but this may have had more to do with finding a rhyme for the name of the album, Stemma, as he quickly went on to clarify that, in fact, the date ‘maybe in the New Year.’ While the announcement video contained some comedic elements it seems to be an attempt to return ‘roots’ in more serious rap.
As well as using his hip-hop ability to let fans know of the news, Smith has also spoken on the topic, saying via stereoboard.com,
‘Guys – first off, a million thanks for all your continued support. I know many of you love my comedy, others have been following my TV and Film work, but all of you know I started from the bottom (AKA Hip Hop) now I’m here. But in March 2017 I’m going back to my roots with a new album, ‘Stemma’, and a tour taking in some of my favourite places to play in the UK.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ll be back making you laugh and/or cry in the near future, but for now it’s back to great music! Really hope you can make it- you lot make it all worthwhile! See you there!’
Although perhaps better known in recent times for his work as a comedian, especially in his work collaborating with Ricky Gervais, Doc Brown began ‘from the bottom (AKA Hip Hop).’ He was a member of the collective Poisonous Poets, which also included renowned UK MC Lowkey, as well as releasing three full-length solo albums entitled Citizen Smith Volume One, The Document and Citizen Smith Volume Two. The titles of these albums of course reference his birth name, Ben Bailey Smith. His most well-known track to date was ‘Donnie’s Lament’, more widely known as the ‘Mad World Remix’ which sampled Gary Jules cover of ‘Mad World.’ Smith has also recorded an unreleased album dubbed ‘Another Way’ by fans. A short film was also released in 2011 for ‘Bighty’, a track from the unreleased album.
As well as comedy, Smith has also been involved in film and television work since his hiatus from the Hip Hop scene and has appeared in Rev, The Inbetweeners and Miranda as well as working on the soundtrack for British film ‘Attack the Block.’
The Tour schedule will take in the following gigs:
22/03 – The Fleece – Bristol
23/03 – Band on the Wall – Manchester
24/03 – 24 Kitchen Street – Liverpool
26/03 – Wardrobe – Leeds
27/03 – O2 Institute – Birmingham
28/03 – XOYO – London
30/03 – Rescue Rooms – Nottingham
01/04 – Haunt – Brighton
