Gonjasufi Nikels and Dimes (2011)
It’s all about the search for god within oneself and the personal experience of the divine. We’re talking about Sufism, a mystical aspect within Islam. The ultimate goal of Sufism is to purify the soul, foster a deep, loving connection with the divine and to attain spiritual knowledge that transcends the formal practices of Islam.
Music and poetry are central to Sufi practice. In sessions known as sama, Sufis engage with devotional music or poetry to evoke emotional states that bring them closer to god. The dance of the Mevlevi order, commonly known as the whirling dervishes, is one of the most iconic forms of sama.
Sufism’s message of love, tolerance and the inner search for truth has resonated far beyond the Muslim world, attracting spiritual seekers from diverse backgrounds, including Sumach Ecks, an American musician, vocalist and yoga teacher. Ecks even references Sufism in his stage name, Gonjasufi (with the first part of the name nodding to his love of burning the herb).
After a guest appearance on West Coast beat virtuoso Flying Lotus’ 2008 track “Testament”, Ecks went on to release a series of EPs and LPs. His 2012 album MU.ZZ.LE stands out as a highlight in the catalog of this weed-smoking yoga teacher. The album features “Nikels and Dimes”, a track where Ecks’ signature vocals—sounding both ailing and haunted—hover over a raw psychedelic beat.
The song became something of an underground gem and, at one point, caught the attention of Jay-Z, who sampled not only the song’s instrumental but also its chorus for the closing track of his 2013 album Magna Carta… Holy Grail. Since Jay-Z’s version is a bit too polished for our taste, we prefer Gonjasufi’s original:
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