Afrika Shox | |
Cover: | Africa Shox.jpg |
Caption: | 12" cover |
Type: | single |
Artist: | Leftfield featuring Afrika Bambaataa |
Album: | Rhythm and Stealth |
A-Side: | Shox remix |
Released: | 6 September 1999 |
Genre: | Breakbeat |
Length: | 3:43 |
Label: | Hard Hands, Chrysalis Music |
Producer: | Leftfield, Nick Rapaccioli |
Prev Title: | Release the Pressure' |
Prev Year: | 1996 |
Next Title: | Dusted |
Next Year: | 1999 |
"Afrika Shox" is a song by the English electronic group Leftfield, released as the first single from their album Rhythm and Stealth in 1999, and features the vocal talent of American musician Afrika Bambaataa. It was released on CD and 12" on 6 September 1999 on the Hard Hands record label, published by Chrysalis Music. The song was their highest-charting single, reaching #7 in the UK Singles Chart. The song was later used in the 2001 film Vanilla Sky and was included in the film's soundtrack album.
The music video was directed by Chris Cunningham and was one of the first videos to be put into DVD quality featured in the demo disc featured in issue 51 of The Official UK PlayStation Magazine. The video portrays a homeless African-American man stumbling the streets of New York City, while pieces of him break off like porcelain. He eventually wanders into a Break-dance tournament, where a B-Boy chips off the Protagonists left leg causing him to stumble and fall to the ground to the awareness of Afrika Bambaata who assists him. As the homeless man stumbles out he gets hit by a taxi, shattering and killing him. This video portrays racial struggles and anti-capitalist ideals.
Initial copies of the 12" release had a sticker incorrectly stating the version of "Phat Planet" was the Dave Clarke mix (which is available on Stealth Remixes)