Bei Ru “Little Armenia (L.A.)” Official Trailer (Album Available 11.19.10) from Bei Ru on Vimeo.

Just found out about this Lebanese Armenian artist from LA called Bei Ru. The music really kicks ass, he’s like an Armenian DJ Shadow.

Sampling is archeology. Digging through crates for obscure old records and drafting the sounds of times past into contemporary music is as much about preserving the past as digging for bones is. Few musicians take that pursuit as literally as L.A. native DJ/Producer Bei Ru. He has traveled across the Middle East on a mission to hunt down rare, obscure, and out-of-print Armenian records, which he uses to create a never-before-heard blend of vintage Armenian melodies mixed with touches of hip hop, funk, & soul. He breathes new life into these songs on Little Armenia (L.A.), an intoxicating voyage through rhythm and melody that serves not only as a dedication to the under-appreciated Armenian musicians of yesteryear and a homage to the Little Armenia section neighborhood of Los Angeles, but also as a musical map of the Armenian diaspora.

Kick ass! Here is a link to his website [Link]
Below is an interview with Bei Ru from last year.