A monk (from Greek: μοναχός, monachos, "single, solitary" and Latin monachus) is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of other monks. A monk may be a person who decided to dedicate his life to serving all other living beings, or to be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live his life in prayer and contemplation. The concept is ancient and can be seen in many religions and in philosophy.
In the Greek language the term can apply to women, but in modern English it is mainly in use for men. The word nun is typically used for female monastics.
Although the term monachos is of Christian origin, in the English language "monk" tends to be used loosely also for both male and female ascetics from other religious or philosophical backgrounds. However, being generic, it is not interchangeable with terms that denote particular kinds of monk, such as friar, cenobite, hermit, anchorite, hesychast, or solitary.
Warp 9, a science fiction themed electro-funk and hip hop trio, best known for their influential singles "Nunk," "Light Years Away," and "Beat Wave," ranks among the most iconic groups of the electro hip hop era. Described as the "perfect instance of hip hop's contemporary ramifications," Warp 9 was the brainchild of writer-producers Lotti Golden and Richard Scher. The duo wrote and recorded under the moniker Warp 9, a production project at the forefront of the electro movement. Warp 9 evolved from a studio concept into a band when Prism Records expressed interest in releasing Nunk as a single. Golden & Scher invited drummer Chuck Wansley and percussionist Boe Brown to perform the male vocals and rhymes. Later, a female vocalist was added to the group; Ada Dyre performed vocals and rhymes for Warp 9's second single, "Light Years Away." The group released two albums, It's a Beat Wave (1983), (Island Records), a street themed testament exploring the topics of science fiction, hip hop and mixing, and Fade In, Fade Out (Motown), (1986), a soul R&B oriented montage. Warp 9's image is best described on the cover of their 12" single "Light Years Away," with Milton (Boe) Brown (Warp 9's lead singer), Chuck Wansley and session singer Ada Dyer in their trademark sci-fi space suits.
"Nunk" (also known as "Nunk (New Wave Funk)") the first single by the electro hip hop group, Warp 9, released on Prism Records in 1982, was written and produced by Lotti Golden and Richard Scher. The song appeared as a vocal and instrumental version on the group's 1983 debut album It's a Beat Wave on Prism Records and 4th & Broadway records in the UK.
New York City radio station WKTU featured "Nunk" in a commercial to promote the station's signature sound of emerging hip hop. By 1982, the electronic (electro) sound had become the trend on the street and in dance clubs largely due to "extraordinary advances in electronic music technology in the late 70's and early 80's." Drum machines, especially the Roland TR-808 lowered the cost of record production, providing opportunities for producers to create and experiment with new sounds.
"Nunk" was code for NUNK= N-ew wave + f-UNK. The record was characterized by a robotic chant, syncopated rhythms and arcade-sounding, sci-fi influenced synths from funky keyboard riffs to eerie string lines."Nunk"'s popularity helped Warp 9 develop a devoted following in the New York metropolitan area, leading to a worldwide deal with Island Records (Prism/Island Records in the U.S.) on which their debut LP, It's a Beat Wave and subsequent singles were released. The producers, Lotti Golden and Richard Scher produced dub mixes and instrumental versions of "Nunk" creating club and remix possibilities.