1. "Street Scene" Written By Leon Mitchison (Boulder Heave Music-BMI) © 2006 Now Again Records, LLC Courtesy of Leon Mitchison 2. "Cornbread" Performed by The Blackbyrds Written by Donald Byrd Published by Elgy Music. Courtesy of Concord Music Group 7. "Adeniji" Performed by The Budos Band Written by Daniel Foder Courtesy of Daptone Records 10. "Point Of No Return" From the Viper Records release REVOLUTIONARY VOL. 2 Performed By: Immortal Technique Written By: Immortal Technique and Toure "Southpaw" Harris Published By: Immortal Technique, and Young Elite (ASCAP) Courtesy Of: Viper Records 12. "Chicago Falcon" Performed by The Budos Band Written by: Kalkyonji, Anandji Courtesy of Daptone Records 16. "Race" artist: G13 written and produced by Michael Genato published by Mike Genato Music (ASCAP) Courtesy of 12Tone Studios, Brooklyn 17. "On Full Alert" by Clayton Awful Written, and Produced by C. Nepveux Humid Sounds Music (ASCAP) 2007 18. "Fresher Than This" Written By: Tha Otha's Performed By: Tha Otha's Published By: Base 9 (ASCAP) & Lower Plateau Music (ASCAP) Courtesy of: www.base009.com 19. "My Way" C-Rayz Walz & Sharkey are...Monster Maker Written by "Sharkey" Shaun Sharkey, "C-Rayz Walz" Waleed Shabazz, Maia Banks Published by Swimming With The Sharks Music, Cryptic Writing Publishing, Mother Mary Productions 20. "Drawing Lines" by Clayton Awful Written, and Produced by C. Nepveux Humid Sounds Music (ASCAP) 2007 22. "Mystic Blue" artist: Malice written by Chris Gjerstsen produced by Malice Courtesy of 12Tone Studios, Brooklyn 23. "Drip" artist: G13 written and produced by Michael Genato published by Mike Genato Music (ASCAP) Courtesy of 12Tone Studios, Brooklyn 24."Mr. Incredible" Written By Abisha Uhl, Jessica Farmer, Katie Murphy and Brooke Svanes A Uhl, K Murphy, B Svanes (SESAC) J Farmer (ASCAP) Performed By: Sick of Sarah Published By: Adamant Music Publishing (SESAC) and Hypertender Songs (ASCAP) Courtesy of: Adamant Records 25. "Rebirth" artist: Montique Willis written and produced by Montique Willis published by Divine Dirt, Inc. (ASCAP) Courtesy of 12Tone Studios, Brooklyn 27. "Hard Days' Work" artist: Montique Willis written and produced by Montique Willis published by Divine Dirt, Inc. (ASCAP) Courtesy of 12Tone Studios, Brooklyn 28. "The Leap and the Struggle (Remix)" Written By: Bobby Moreno, Utavie Iniya Additional Music by: Donovan Pyle Performed By: DiMaggio of Project Pangaea Published By: N/A (PRO Membership Pending) Courtesy Of: N/A (Label Representation Pending) 29. "Chaser" artist: G13 written and produced by Michael Genato published by Mike Genato Music (ASCAP) Courtesy of 12Tone Studios, Brooklyn 31. "Backdraft" Artist: Mathematics Written by James Ronaghan, Michael Genato, and Roy Dank Published by Check The Math Music (ASCAP) / Social Studies Music (BMI) Courtesy of 12Tone Studios, Brooklyn 32. "Sikulandile" Performed by: Soweto Gospel Choir Courtesy of: Soweto Gospel Choir Pty Ltd 46. "Build A Fort" artist: Montique Willis written and produced by Montique Willis published by Divine Dirt, Inc. (ASCAP) Courtesy of 12Tone Studios, Brooklyn 47. "Know What I'm Saying" Written By: Vogado / Combstock / Johnson Performed By: Zero DB Published By: Just Isn't Music Courtesy Of (LABEL): Ninja Tune 48. " Backyard Betty" Written By: N Hanks / A Epton Performed By: Spank Rock Published By: Just Isn't Music Courtesy Of (LABEL): Big Dada 49. "We Came Here" artist: HandinHand written by Kathleen Walker and Michael Genato produced by HandinHand published by Kinkystyles Publishing (ASCAP) / Mike Genato Music (ASCAP) Courtesy of 12Tone Studios, Brooklyn 50. "Trucha" Performed By: Ghostman MC Written By: Axel Ramon Peres Gonzalez, Kendall Marsh, Javier A. Willy Published By: Axel Ramon Peres Gonzalez/ Kendall Marsh/ Javier A Willy/ JWCT Songs (BMI) Courtesy Of: Mental Music Productions by arrangement with Format 52. "Boxer" (Instrumental) Written & Performed By: Grover A. Zinn Published By: NightGlow Music (ASCAP) Courtesy Of: Zinndeadly 54. "Mil Sujetos" Performed By: Ghostman MC Written By: Axel Ramon Peres Gonzalez, Kendall Marsh Published By: Axel Ramon Peres Gonzalez/ Kendall Marsh/ JWCT Songs (BMI) Courtesy Of: Mental Music Productions by arrangement with Format 57. "Microfone" Written By: Dr. Onionskin Performed By: Dr. Onionskin Published By: Base 9 (ASCAP) Courtesy of: www.base009.com Used by arrangement with Babygrande Records 58. "Rattle Drums" Written By: Adrian Trejo Performed By: The Vanguards Publisher: n/a 59. "Got a Thing on My Mind" Performed by The Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings Written by Bosco Mann Published by Boscosound Music BMI Courtesy of Daptone Records 61. "Whats The Picture" Written By: Dr. Onionskin Performed By: Dr. Onionskin Published By: Base 9 (ASCAP) Courtesy of: www.base009.com 62. "Destitude" artist: Malice written by Chris Gjerstsen produced by Malice Courtesy of 12Tone Studios, Brooklyn 62. "Glad DanceHall" Written By: Adrian Trejo Performed By: The Vanguards Publisher: n/a 62. "Fac Horns" Written By: Adrian Trejo Performed By: The Vanguards Publisher: n/a 65. "Brooklyn" Artist: The G:neus Written and produced by Michael Genato Published by Mike Genato Music (ASCAP) Courtesy of 12Tone Studios, Brooklyn 67. "Plastics" artist: G13 written and produced by Michael Genato published by Mike Genato Music (ASCAP) Courtesy of 12Tone Studios, Brooklyn 68. "BOMB THAT SHIT!" Written, Produced, All instruments by PAUL BUSHNELL (PapaBush Music, ASCAP) 70. "Mina de Família" Performed by Fulero o Esquema Produced by Érico Theobaldo Written by Adriana Pires and Paula Pretta Publisher N/A Courtesy of Adriana Pires and Paula Gomes da Silva
DAVID GARCIA - Music Supervisor
David Garcia was born in Caracas, Venezuela; He grew up in Los Angeles then transplanted to the San Francisco Bay Area. Having lived in these parts of the world filled his life with different flavors, a 'mash-up' of cultures and musical influences helped shape his style. In San Francisco is where he kicked off his music career holding down residencies at some of San Francisco's biggest nightclubs and working for the top radio stations as a host and producer of 2 very influential underground music shows: "House Nation" and "Radioactive". With this success, he developed the reputation as one of the most versatile voices of the San Francisco scene.
In early 2000, he decided to expand his entourage and create his own label imprint SOLMATIC Records, during which time he also immersed himself into the studio, hoping to develop his own sound. Confirming Garcia's talent as a Producer/Remixer was the amount of Chart & play list support he received from global djs such as Judge Jules, Carl Cox, DJ Dan, Bad Boy Bill, Robbie Rivera, Richard Vission, John Acquaviva to name a few; He has also remixed tracks for the likes of Korn, Nelly Furtado, Ashlee Simpson, Carina Round and many others. In 2003, he changed zip codes & headed south to Los Angeles, where he partnered up with fellow DJ/Remixer/Producer) Richard Vission who is now taking part in pushing SOLMATIC to a whole new level.
Currently he continues to tour (USA & internationally), produce/remix and collaborate, with more enthusiasm than he has ever had before, knowing this is just the beginning...
myspace.com/davidgarcia
DISCO D - Composer
With a diverse and decorated 10-year career in the music industry, 26-year-old Disco D is considered by many to be a musical enigma. As a producer, his credits range from underground genre-defying, vinyl-only Detroit Ghettotech records (he is also credited for giving the unique music style its moniker) to multi-million selling street anthems for 50 Cent ('Ski Mask Way'). He has toured as a DJ all over the world, wowing crowds with his genre-bending track selection and quick-fingered turntable trickery. D has also composed music for a range of commercials and TV shows (Best Buy, Sprite, VH1 'Hip Hop Honors', and Nickelodeon 'Kids Choice Awards') and is currently hard at work on his debut film and videogame scores. D is a serial entrepreneur, holding a degree with honors from the prestigious University of Michigan Ross School of Business (program ranked #3 in the world by US News & World Report). His several companies are involved in a diverse range of interrelated activities, including music production; artist development/A&R; music licensing and publishing; new product marketing and launches; and even import/export of unique products from Brazil.
Born David Shayman in St. Louis, MO, D moved to Ann Arbor, MI at age 6. Equally interested in music, physical science and computers, D was blessed with a wide range of experiences at an early age, which shaped both his creative and business mind. Growing up just outside of Detroit meant exposure to a diverse range of music. 'Before Disco D was even born, I was a fan of all types of different stuff, from The Beatles and Donna Summer to Charlie Parker and John Coltrane to N.W.A. and 2 Live Crew to Pantera, Primus and GWAR,' remembers D. 'I didn't have any sort of preconceptions about genres, I just was into what impacted me emotionally.'
Just one exposure to Detroit's legendary rave scene and DJ culture was all it took. In November 1996, Disco D was born. Within 18 months, D had become a phenomenon with his first mix CD, 12' EP and club residency before even graduating from high school. He signed his first record deal with Bad Boy Bill's Contaminated Muzik/Mixconnection Multimedia at age 17, and started his first record label, GTI Recordings, at age 19. D successfully juggled a top-tier university education, record label, and international tour schedule, and relocated to New York City in 2002 after completing his degree. His fascination and focus on the Ghettotech scene peaked in 2003 with the release of 'A Night At The Booty Bar' on Tommy Boy.
2004 saw D's transition into the world of commercial hip-hop, R&B and dancehall. In 2004, Disco D collaborated with HOT 97's Cipha Sounds for a number of projects'co-writing, co-producing and mixing five songs on Nina Sky's debut album (including their airplay hit 'Turnin' Me On'). He also collaborated with Cipha on a number of hit dancehall remixes including Christina Milian's 'Whatever U Want' (peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart) and Pharrell's #1 single 'Frontin' (co-remixed with Federation Sound's Max Glazer and featured on the Grammy-nominated Def Jamaica album). Soon thereafter, D sought to establish himself as an independent production entity. In 2005, he unleashed his biggest record to date'the hood smash 'Ski Mask Way' on 50 Cent's multi-platinum, Grammy nominated album 'The Massacre''the top-selling hip hop release of the year.
D's future is bright and busy. He has upcoming records with Trick Daddy ('I Pop') and Lil' Scrappy ('Right Away'), and official remixes for Shiny Toy Guns ('Le Disko') and Crime Mob ('Rock Yo Hips'). He just launched his brand-new Brazilian urban label Gringo Louco with BRAZA'a bilingual supergroup composed of three of the biggest rappers from Brasil, with their first Disco D-produced single 'Son Do BRAZA' having already been featured in EA's NBA Live 07 and on MTV's hit reality show 'The Duel: Real World/Road Rules Challenge.' The Brazilian rollout continues with D overseeing the US marketing and distribution of aLeda'the world's premier transparent rolling paper'and a music marketing campaign for Cabana, the first double distilled Brazilian Cacha'a. If you don't know about Disco D yet, you better ask somebody!
www.discod.com
MEREDITH CHIN - Composer
Meredith Chinn was born to get a groove going. She discovered her voice as a composer at a young age and by first grade she had a piano at her finger tips and before her shoe size changed again she had accomplished the violin and the flute. You've recently heard Meredith's work behind Jay Z's HP commercial and in the score of the Iraq War documentary 'Thank You For My Eyes' as well as the films "Slipdream" and 'Induction' and in series television as the composer for ' Life in the Fab Lane' staring Kimora Lee Simons.
A graduate of the L.S.U school of music Meredith has always been on the cutting edge of electronic music and technology as well as DJ based composition style. Known for playing all the instruments on her compositions and pulling beats to loop from her extensive record collection Meredith's visual sense and classical training has made her a natural fit for composing scores for film and TV; and her ability to jump from genre to genre an undeniable resource.
As a producer Mrs. Chinn was behind the mixing board on acts like Sense Field's "Tonight and Forever" LP, featuring top ten modern rock single 'Save Yourself' Jillian Ann and TXRX. Meredith has remixed songs such as, 'Kiss From A Rose' by Seal and "Don't Dream It's Over" by Sixpence None The Richer. She has also engineered for mega producer Don Was.
Known by her other name: DJ PANIC, Meredith has spun world wide and held residency at the Standard Hotel in Hollywood and had shows on Dublab and KCRW.
Meredith currently lives in Los Angeles and sees the world through music as it translates one beat at a time.
FEDERICO RAMOS - Composer
Federico Ramos is a leading studio and live performer guitarist in Los Angeles, California. Although Federico began his music studies in Montevideo, capital city of his native Uruguay, the musical roots of his ancestors first directed him to Southern Spain. In his five-year residency he got involved with the art of Flamenco and he worked and studied with masters of the genre. Although he enrolled in the Real Conservatorio de Madrid, his unceasing interests eventually brought Federico to the United States where he studied formally at the Guitar Institute of Technology in Los Angeles, Berklee College of Music in Boston and the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia where he was the recipient of full scholarships and obtained a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts. Further studied with Jazz guitarists Joe Pass, Pat Martino, Joe Diorio and Ron Eschete, and orchestration with Brazilian Maestro Moacir Santos.
When he began his association with legendary reeds master Dr. Yusef Lateef, he was able to delve into alternative systems of improvisation and other world non-western disciplines. Collaborations with other renowned musicians include: John Pisano, Ray Brown Jr., Charlie Haden, Freddie Hubbard, James Newton, Jon Hassel, Mark Isham, Maynard Fergusson and Cecil McBee. Other efforts include works with Milton Nascimento, Geraldo Azevedo, Jackson Browne, Elton John, Dionne Warwick, Andy Williams, L. Subramaniam, Camilo Sesto, Julio Iglesias, Joan Sebastian, Lionel Ritchie, Cheb Mami, and Jon Anderson. In the film scores realm he is featured in works of composers Terry Plumeri, Hans Zimmer, John Powell, Jim Lang, Danny Elfman and James Horner.
BILL BRENDLE
Bill Brendle is from Santa Barbara, CA and now resides in Los Angeles. He has composed and produced music for many independent and feature films for 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight, and Warner Brothers. His music has been heard in many TV commercials, and he is the composer for a several documentary films that have aired on PBS, The Discovery Channel, and HBO. He works with Rickey Minor (musical director for the Grammys), and is currently an arranger/orchestrator on the highly successful program 'American Idol'. He has performed as a keyboardist and pianist with some of the most recognized names in music including: Sergio Mendes, John Legend, India Arie, Joss Stone, The Black-Eyed Peas, Erykah Badu, Jojo, Whitney Houston, Gino Vanelli, Michael McDonald, Tito Puente,Celine Dion, Eric Benet, Carol King, Joe Williams, Steve Winwood, and Chaka Khan.
Bill Brendle is also the co-founder and composer in the band "Sambaguru", an ensemble of six musicians from Brazil, Sri Lanka, and the United States. They have been playing a wide-ranging blend of Brazilian, original, colorful, and compelling music since 1997.
In Brazil, he has recorded with Maria Beth'nia, Simone, Rita Lee, Hermeto Paschoal, Guinga, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and Ivan Lins.
C-RAY WALZ
Every once in a while an MC emerges who profoundly alters the
landscape of hip hop. Big Daddy Kane. Rakim. Chuck D. Ice Cube. Jeru.
Biggie Smalls. ODB. Eminem. It's time to make room for another name on
that list. Straight out of that boogie-down borough where it all
started, C-Rayz Walz comes heavily armed with his self-created style -
The Art of Energy. Spellbinding, cinematic, jaw-dropping, mind-
blowing, completely original. The words will be put in your mouth. All
it takes is one listen to start understanding why the game is about to
completely change. Having achieved a mythic rep in the underground as
a soloist as well as a member of the mighty crew known collectively as
STRONGHOLD, this urban legend has been applying a vice grip on the
independent scene for quite some time now. C-Rayz is totally for and
from the streets, managing to soar above and beyond that realm while
staying connected to hardcore and mainstream listeners. C-Rayz proves
that he is "Hip-Hop manifesting himself through Rap" on every track he
blesses. The past, present and future are all represented to the
fullest dimension on his projects and no one can walk away from the
listening experience without feeling they just heard something
incredible. After seeing his performances, hearing his solo projects
and listening to him shine on various collaborations, hardcore fans
have become Conspiracy Theorists, demanding to know why this artist is
not in every record store and touring all over the world, being seen
and heard by the people he represents so effectively. But, thankfully,
that's all about to change. Having already served up countless MC's on
vinyl platters, C Rayz has decided to take it to the next level by
combining forces with Definitive Jux. You can almost hear history
being made already. With a destined-to-be-a-classic album, Ravipops,
on its way, and his debut 12-inch "The Essence," the first shot across
the bow, C-Rayz Walz is here to stay and his universal sound will
stand the test of time. Get ready and definitely, definitely don't
sleep. 'Nuff said.
http://www.crayzwalz.com
http://www.myspace.com/crayzwalz
FRANCIS POWELL (DJ WISE)
As Dj Wise I have played different styles of music, House, Drum and Bass, techno, Trip Hop, ethnic, electro punk, experimental. I play the tunes that I have written, mixed with the kind of musicians I like. I have won Dj Contests, as well as a competition run by PSP Pure Urban (sony playstation) It was a competition run in different parts of Europe and I won the French section.
http://francis.powell.free.fr/
MONSTER MAKER
Renowed producer/DJ Sharkey and indie hip-hop stalwart C-Rayz Walz have teamed up to deliver a concept record that speaks to the Monsters within us all.
The breaking point/threshold of personal cacophony is the general idea behind the Sharkey and C-Rayz Walz collaboration album Monster Maker. Sharkey breaks down the concept further: 'I feel like the world is the monster maker and I feel like everyone, no matter how good of a family you've been raised by, or how good of a person you are, is capable of being that person that is sitting in the middle of bumper to bumper traffic for an hour one day and on the verge of going out and blasting people. Everyone has that seed in them where they're capable of doing something monster-ish.'
Sharkey's debut album, Sharkey's Machine was embraced by the media far and wide. Featuring the likes of Grand Puba, Jean Grae, Cannibal Ox, The Pharcyde, Cherrywine (of Digable Planets), and many more, Sharkey's Machine was named one of the top 10 albums of the year by the Washington Post, amongst numerous other accolades.
Definitive Jux released Walz's Ravipops, in 2003. The EP We Live: The Black Samurai appeared in 2004. The full-length Year of the Beast hit the streets in 2005, & The Dropping, was released on Urchin Studios earlier this year.
As Walz explains: 'Sharkey's a maaaad underrated producer, arranger, concoctor the same way I'm a maaaad underrated artist, composer, performer, thinker. We both put in a lot of work and have had long careers in this music industry and I don't think that we really got that good weather, it was a lot of gloomy days, but I now think the world is definitely gonna see something.'
After completing Monster Maker, Walz unequivocally feels that Sharkey is "the best I've ever worked with. Sharkey's [influences] are everything," Walz explains, "they're rock, they're synth, they're techno, they're Hip-Hop'they're everything'he made a monster and now he's here to bite everybody's fuckin' head off man."
Sharkey is indeed ready to do damage, in that he aspires for his music to be an outlet for others. 'For the most part it's about giving somebody something that's maybe an outlet for them, just like music's an outlet for me.'
Sharkey and C-Rayz Walz have tapped into their creative geniuses to create that something and what they've created is, simply put, a monster.
Look out for the full length in August 2007 on Babygrande Records.
myspace.com/thisworldisamonstermaker
monstermakermusic.com
SICK OF SARAH
Sick Of Sarah began in Minneapolis, MN in April 2005 as an all-female band with catchy hooks, unique lyrics and thoughtful, well-crafted music. The band displays talent, passion, and an ever-present sense of humor that shapes many of their songs. They combine sympathetic acoustic moments with driving electric rock, often in the same song. With influences ranging from John Fogerty to Joan Jett, Sleater-Kinney to Vanessa Carlton, Sick Of Sarah brings an energy and blended alternative pop-rock style that has listeners singing along after the first chorus.
Guitar player, lead singer, and songwriter, Abisha Uhl, 25, has an ear for pop, a mouth for rock, and an attitude for punk. She first picked up a guitar at age 13 in Okinawa, Japan where she lived until she was 18 and moved to the US. She began listening to Michelle Branch and Vanessa Carlton, which led to her becoming a solo artist in the Minneapolis area and eventually becoming a founding member of Sick Of Sarah. Her lyrics speak maturely and sometimes humorously of love, loss, and often nothing at all, but regardless of the topic, Abisha will sing every song like it's the greatest thing anyone's ever heard.
Guitarist and back-up vocalist, Katie Murphy, 24, was always involved in some type of musical endeavor growing up in south St. Paul, MN. She began teaching herself piano at 15 years of age and acoustic guitar when she was 16. Always looking to advance her skills, she picked up the electric guitar early on during the course of Sick Of Sarah's construction, per the band's request, and has since found that flexibility and creativity are the keys to her performance. Katie lists Jewel and John Fogerty as her biggest musical influences.
Jessie Farmer, 26, originally from Peoria, IL, decided on music as her passion at the tender age of 7 when a piano was introduced into her home. She learned both the guitar and drums after that. She found success as the touring bass player for prominent Minneapolis punk rock band, Babes In Toyland in 2000. Jessie had sworn off the bass just before being approached by lead singer Abisha to play in her new band. Influenced by Joan Jett and the Mamas And The Papas, Jessie brings a natural, seasoned rock tone regardless of whether she's playing bass, lead guitar, or singing back-up vocals.
Drummer Brooke Svanes, 23, began playing drums when she was 11 years old and since then has become a meticulously skillful drummer. She has been in bands all through her teen years in Bismarck, ND and now calls Minneapolis her home. She may look at ease behind a set, but do not be fooled by her calmness; you are guaranteed to feel her Sleater-Kinney influence as well as a decade of practice in every beat she makes.
Newest band member, Jamie Holm began writing around the age of 15, when her dad taught me some guitar chords. She would hide in the basement when no one was home and write about relationships and heartbreaks she never had. After a series of jobs and schooling (Jamie has a degree in Radio Broadcasting and works as a DJ at the Minneapolis Rock Station 93x), Jamie moved to LA to be in a rock band with her brother Chris, and picked up the bass for the first time. In December of 2005 the siblings returned to Minneapolis and formed a band, Hazel Strange, which has built a strong fanbase. Jamie met the Sick of Sarah girls when Hazel Strange and SOS played in one of the worst blizzards of 2007. A strong friendship and mutual musical respect ensued and, inn January 2008, Jamie joined SOS on bass (freeing up Jessie to play lead guitar).
You may have noticed there is no one named Sarah in the band. The namesake for the band is in fact a Sarah--the lead singer's former roommate who stated one day she was just plain sick of her own name. It caught the girls' ears and then caught on.
Website/myspace: www.myspace.com/sickofsarah
SPANK ROCK
The story of Spank Rock is a story about Baltimore, but then again, it ain't. Because it's a story about leaving as much as it's about staying, about moving on while remembering your roots, about innovation and its relation to tradition.
Naeem Juwan, better known as MC Spank Rock, MC Super Disco Spank Ro' or just Spank Rock, grew up alongside two brothers and five sisters in a West Baltimore row house. 'The only element of my household that was consistent,' he remembers, 'is that my mother and father always listened to music, a habit my mom says she picked up from her mother.'
Meanwhile downtown, in a neighbourhood little less riven by crime and poverty, Alex Epton was growing up with his parents, both artists from Oklahoma. And while his mom and dad 'always supported any vaguely creative endeavors on my part,' they may not have been expecting him to transmogrify into the producer known as Armani XXXchange.
As the two boys grew up their paths twined over and round the city without the two of them ever coming into contact. As Naeem remembers it, 'from prep school to the raunchy hood club Paradox, I found myself spread thin across all positive and negative elements of city life.' Epton, meanwhile, was too busy taking classes at the Peabody Conservatory of Music to have much involvement in the city's club scene.
Naeem had begun rapping in the 8th Grade, getting advice and ample criticism from a big sister who was a little more deep into the hip hop thing than he was. Through her, he was eventually introduced to Shaun J Period (the producer for Mos Def's groundbreaking 'Universal Magnetic' EP), Mos Def and Last Emperor. Period, in particular, took the trouble to mentor Juwan: 'Shaun invested a lot of time into helping me develop my skill as a recording artist, and being in such good company at such a young age made me believe that I could be just as important as Mos Def or Kweli in a year.' It wasn't to work out quite like that. By the late-nineties the wave of underground hip hop was starting to dissipate and both Epton and Juwan were keen to leave a city which, at the time was, in Naeem's words, 'static'.
Alex headed to Boston to the New England Conservatory of Music where he 'failed out' before moving on to New York, where he ended up joining pop-punk-electro outfit Zero Zero. Through their album, produced by the DFA, Alex landed a gig interning at the DFA studio. 'I did not know anything about how a real studio works. So I learned the basics: what is a mixing desk' what is a patch bay' a filter' eq' microphone'' After his time there he ended up working as a bike messenger and a truck driver to make ends meet, all his spare moments spent on the old Zero Zero ProTools rig, getting to grips with production.
Naeem, meanwhile, 'moved to Philly, got wrapped up in the thriving 'Neo Soul' scene, started listening to punk, dropped out of college, partied like the world was ending and got rid of all of my hip hop cds. But I continued to make music and develop a style of my own.'
The pair were introduced 'with the idea that we would make music together,' by Chris Devlin aka Chris Rockswell. Chris had lived on the same street as Alex and had been at school with Naeem. He had some graffiti in an exhibition in Baltimore and invited them both to the opening and hence engineered their meeting. He remains their DJ and an essential part of the group to this day, respected and admired by the others for 'his taste in music and ear for rocking a party'.
The process that led to 'Yo Yo Yo Yo Yo' was set in motion. After Alex had helped out engineering at sessions that Naeem was working on with Steve McReady, the MC began to go and visit the producer in Brooklyn. When Juwan heard Epton's own music, he knew he had to put something on top of it. As Alex explains it, his musical background means that 'I'm interested in remixing songs that don't exist. Creating songs just to remix them. Creating songs just to sample them.' As for Naeem, 'I always try to be as honest as possible with my music and have it represent my life as it is at that moment in time.' It was a meeting of minds.
The resulting album sounds like 'the rap version of Prince's 1999 album,' according to Juwan, or, more self-deprecatingly, from Epton, like 'American kids ripping off European kids ripping off American hip hop.' Either way, it's quite unlike any record you've heard before. And one that, in some strange sense, could only have come out of Baltimore, even if the protagonists had to come out of Baltimore to make it.
Not that the connection is dead. Fourth and final member of Spank Rock is battle DJ, designer and motor mouth Ronnie Darko. 'We're all from the same place,' explains Alex, 'so we understand each other deeply. And we like to drink together and fuck around and have fun.' Naeem concurs: 'Ronnie's the life of the party. And the one person in the group that's most likely to get all of our assses kicked.' He pauses, smiles a sly smile. 'Next to Alex, that is''
www.myspace.com/spankrock
THE OTHAS
Hip Hop
www.myspace.com/theothas
www.myspace.com/lpmfam
VIRGIN TEARS
www.virgintears.com
www.myspace/virgintearsla
ZERO DB
even if you've only just heard their name, you are sure to have already enjoyed a hard fruit or more of zero dB's labour, whether one of their early 12" releases such as now jazzfloor classics "come party" and "click" or one of the many quality remixes that these went on to trigger demand for by truby trio, suba, peace orchestra, john kong & moonstarr, grupo batuque, hexstatic, original soul boy, nicola conte, acme, interfearance and even sun ra (co-mixed with gilles peterson). or maybe you simply know them for the bleary head and weary body you were left with after a night out at one of the many parties they've stirred up around the globe'
zero dBoys chris vogado and neil combstock have been concocting a provocative, innovative and addictive brew of hard jazz, electro, latin, hip hop and house, laced throughout with their now signature dirty, heavy basslines. Their early cuts were nurtured by chris' eclectic and experimental record label, fluid ounce, which released their early 12"s as well as a compilation album of their remixes, " reconstruction",
their debut artist album, "Bongos, Bleeps & Basslines" will be coming out in Summer 2006. to accompany the album release, zero dB will be embarking on a live "Bongos, Bleeps & Basslines" party tour this spring and beyond, across europe and the rest of the world - y'all wanna come party with them' you have been warned!
www.myspace.com/zerodbspace
ZINNDEADLY
Zinndeadly has carved out an impressive genre-bending musical career over the last ten years. Responsible for the music behind Eminem's first Top 10 radio hit, Zinn has made records with a number of Grammy-nominated rappers such as Mystic, Planet Asia and Killah Priest, and has collaborated with such hip-hop luminaries as Cut Chemist (Jurassic 5), Canibus and Iriscience (Dilated Peoples). Not to be confined to one world, Zinn's musical palatte and it's emotive and inspiring textures has led to an auxiliary career in film and television. His instrumental compositions, which run the gamut from hip-hop to downtempo to electronica to reggae, are bringing his sound to an even larger audience and further establishing him as an artist with a complex and compelling aural vision.
WEBSITE: http://zinndeadly.com
MYSPACE: http://myspace.com/zinndeadly
David Garcia was born in Caracas, Venezuela; He grew up in Los Angeles then transplanted to the San Francisco Bay Area. Having lived in these parts of the world filled his life with different flavors, a 'mash-up' of cultures and musical influences helped shape his style. In San Francisco is where he kicked off his music career holding down residencies at some of San Francisco's biggest nightclubs and working for the top radio stations as a host and producer of 2 very influential underground music shows: "House Nation" and "Radioactive". With this success, he developed the reputation as one of the most versatile voices of the San Francisco scene.
In early 2000, he decided to expand his entourage and create his own label imprint SOLMATIC Records, during which time he also immersed himself into the studio, hoping to develop his own sound. Confirming Garcia's talent as a Producer/Remixer was the amount of Chart & play list support he received from global djs such as Judge Jules, Carl Cox, DJ Dan, Bad Boy Bill, Robbie Rivera, Richard Vission, John Acquaviva to name a few; He has also remixed tracks for the likes of Korn, Nelly Furtado, Ashlee Simpson, Carina Round and many others. In 2003, he changed zip codes & headed south to Los Angeles, where he partnered up with fellow DJ/Remixer/Producer) Richard Vission who is now taking part in pushing SOLMATIC to a whole new level.
Currently he continues to tour (USA & internationally), produce/remix and collaborate, with more enthusiasm than he has ever had before, knowing this is just the beginning...
myspace.com/davidgarcia
DISCO D - Composer
With a diverse and decorated 10-year career in the music industry, 26-year-old Disco D is considered by many to be a musical enigma. As a producer, his credits range from underground genre-defying, vinyl-only Detroit Ghettotech records (he is also credited for giving the unique music style its moniker) to multi-million selling street anthems for 50 Cent ('Ski Mask Way'). He has toured as a DJ all over the world, wowing crowds with his genre-bending track selection and quick-fingered turntable trickery. D has also composed music for a range of commercials and TV shows (Best Buy, Sprite, VH1 'Hip Hop Honors', and Nickelodeon 'Kids Choice Awards') and is currently hard at work on his debut film and videogame scores. D is a serial entrepreneur, holding a degree with honors from the prestigious University of Michigan Ross School of Business (program ranked #3 in the world by US News & World Report). His several companies are involved in a diverse range of interrelated activities, including music production; artist development/A&R; music licensing and publishing; new product marketing and launches; and even import/export of unique products from Brazil.
Born David Shayman in St. Louis, MO, D moved to Ann Arbor, MI at age 6. Equally interested in music, physical science and computers, D was blessed with a wide range of experiences at an early age, which shaped both his creative and business mind. Growing up just outside of Detroit meant exposure to a diverse range of music. 'Before Disco D was even born, I was a fan of all types of different stuff, from The Beatles and Donna Summer to Charlie Parker and John Coltrane to N.W.A. and 2 Live Crew to Pantera, Primus and GWAR,' remembers D. 'I didn't have any sort of preconceptions about genres, I just was into what impacted me emotionally.'
Just one exposure to Detroit's legendary rave scene and DJ culture was all it took. In November 1996, Disco D was born. Within 18 months, D had become a phenomenon with his first mix CD, 12' EP and club residency before even graduating from high school. He signed his first record deal with Bad Boy Bill's Contaminated Muzik/Mixconnection Multimedia at age 17, and started his first record label, GTI Recordings, at age 19. D successfully juggled a top-tier university education, record label, and international tour schedule, and relocated to New York City in 2002 after completing his degree. His fascination and focus on the Ghettotech scene peaked in 2003 with the release of 'A Night At The Booty Bar' on Tommy Boy.
2004 saw D's transition into the world of commercial hip-hop, R&B and dancehall. In 2004, Disco D collaborated with HOT 97's Cipha Sounds for a number of projects'co-writing, co-producing and mixing five songs on Nina Sky's debut album (including their airplay hit 'Turnin' Me On'). He also collaborated with Cipha on a number of hit dancehall remixes including Christina Milian's 'Whatever U Want' (peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart) and Pharrell's #1 single 'Frontin' (co-remixed with Federation Sound's Max Glazer and featured on the Grammy-nominated Def Jamaica album). Soon thereafter, D sought to establish himself as an independent production entity. In 2005, he unleashed his biggest record to date'the hood smash 'Ski Mask Way' on 50 Cent's multi-platinum, Grammy nominated album 'The Massacre''the top-selling hip hop release of the year.
D's future is bright and busy. He has upcoming records with Trick Daddy ('I Pop') and Lil' Scrappy ('Right Away'), and official remixes for Shiny Toy Guns ('Le Disko') and Crime Mob ('Rock Yo Hips'). He just launched his brand-new Brazilian urban label Gringo Louco with BRAZA'a bilingual supergroup composed of three of the biggest rappers from Brasil, with their first Disco D-produced single 'Son Do BRAZA' having already been featured in EA's NBA Live 07 and on MTV's hit reality show 'The Duel: Real World/Road Rules Challenge.' The Brazilian rollout continues with D overseeing the US marketing and distribution of aLeda'the world's premier transparent rolling paper'and a music marketing campaign for Cabana, the first double distilled Brazilian Cacha'a. If you don't know about Disco D yet, you better ask somebody!
www.discod.com
MEREDITH CHIN - Composer
Meredith Chinn was born to get a groove going. She discovered her voice as a composer at a young age and by first grade she had a piano at her finger tips and before her shoe size changed again she had accomplished the violin and the flute. You've recently heard Meredith's work behind Jay Z's HP commercial and in the score of the Iraq War documentary 'Thank You For My Eyes' as well as the films "Slipdream" and 'Induction' and in series television as the composer for ' Life in the Fab Lane' staring Kimora Lee Simons.
A graduate of the L.S.U school of music Meredith has always been on the cutting edge of electronic music and technology as well as DJ based composition style. Known for playing all the instruments on her compositions and pulling beats to loop from her extensive record collection Meredith's visual sense and classical training has made her a natural fit for composing scores for film and TV; and her ability to jump from genre to genre an undeniable resource.
As a producer Mrs. Chinn was behind the mixing board on acts like Sense Field's "Tonight and Forever" LP, featuring top ten modern rock single 'Save Yourself' Jillian Ann and TXRX. Meredith has remixed songs such as, 'Kiss From A Rose' by Seal and "Don't Dream It's Over" by Sixpence None The Richer. She has also engineered for mega producer Don Was.
Known by her other name: DJ PANIC, Meredith has spun world wide and held residency at the Standard Hotel in Hollywood and had shows on Dublab and KCRW.
Meredith currently lives in Los Angeles and sees the world through music as it translates one beat at a time.
FEDERICO RAMOS - Composer
Federico Ramos is a leading studio and live performer guitarist in Los Angeles, California. Although Federico began his music studies in Montevideo, capital city of his native Uruguay, the musical roots of his ancestors first directed him to Southern Spain. In his five-year residency he got involved with the art of Flamenco and he worked and studied with masters of the genre. Although he enrolled in the Real Conservatorio de Madrid, his unceasing interests eventually brought Federico to the United States where he studied formally at the Guitar Institute of Technology in Los Angeles, Berklee College of Music in Boston and the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia where he was the recipient of full scholarships and obtained a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts. Further studied with Jazz guitarists Joe Pass, Pat Martino, Joe Diorio and Ron Eschete, and orchestration with Brazilian Maestro Moacir Santos.
When he began his association with legendary reeds master Dr. Yusef Lateef, he was able to delve into alternative systems of improvisation and other world non-western disciplines. Collaborations with other renowned musicians include: John Pisano, Ray Brown Jr., Charlie Haden, Freddie Hubbard, James Newton, Jon Hassel, Mark Isham, Maynard Fergusson and Cecil McBee. Other efforts include works with Milton Nascimento, Geraldo Azevedo, Jackson Browne, Elton John, Dionne Warwick, Andy Williams, L. Subramaniam, Camilo Sesto, Julio Iglesias, Joan Sebastian, Lionel Ritchie, Cheb Mami, and Jon Anderson. In the film scores realm he is featured in works of composers Terry Plumeri, Hans Zimmer, John Powell, Jim Lang, Danny Elfman and James Horner.
BILL BRENDLE
Bill Brendle is from Santa Barbara, CA and now resides in Los Angeles. He has composed and produced music for many independent and feature films for 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight, and Warner Brothers. His music has been heard in many TV commercials, and he is the composer for a several documentary films that have aired on PBS, The Discovery Channel, and HBO. He works with Rickey Minor (musical director for the Grammys), and is currently an arranger/orchestrator on the highly successful program 'American Idol'. He has performed as a keyboardist and pianist with some of the most recognized names in music including: Sergio Mendes, John Legend, India Arie, Joss Stone, The Black-Eyed Peas, Erykah Badu, Jojo, Whitney Houston, Gino Vanelli, Michael McDonald, Tito Puente,Celine Dion, Eric Benet, Carol King, Joe Williams, Steve Winwood, and Chaka Khan.
Bill Brendle is also the co-founder and composer in the band "Sambaguru", an ensemble of six musicians from Brazil, Sri Lanka, and the United States. They have been playing a wide-ranging blend of Brazilian, original, colorful, and compelling music since 1997.
In Brazil, he has recorded with Maria Beth'nia, Simone, Rita Lee, Hermeto Paschoal, Guinga, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and Ivan Lins.
C-RAY WALZ
Every once in a while an MC emerges who profoundly alters the
landscape of hip hop. Big Daddy Kane. Rakim. Chuck D. Ice Cube. Jeru.
Biggie Smalls. ODB. Eminem. It's time to make room for another name on
that list. Straight out of that boogie-down borough where it all
started, C-Rayz Walz comes heavily armed with his self-created style -
The Art of Energy. Spellbinding, cinematic, jaw-dropping, mind-
blowing, completely original. The words will be put in your mouth. All
it takes is one listen to start understanding why the game is about to
completely change. Having achieved a mythic rep in the underground as
a soloist as well as a member of the mighty crew known collectively as
STRONGHOLD, this urban legend has been applying a vice grip on the
independent scene for quite some time now. C-Rayz is totally for and
from the streets, managing to soar above and beyond that realm while
staying connected to hardcore and mainstream listeners. C-Rayz proves
that he is "Hip-Hop manifesting himself through Rap" on every track he
blesses. The past, present and future are all represented to the
fullest dimension on his projects and no one can walk away from the
listening experience without feeling they just heard something
incredible. After seeing his performances, hearing his solo projects
and listening to him shine on various collaborations, hardcore fans
have become Conspiracy Theorists, demanding to know why this artist is
not in every record store and touring all over the world, being seen
and heard by the people he represents so effectively. But, thankfully,
that's all about to change. Having already served up countless MC's on
vinyl platters, C Rayz has decided to take it to the next level by
combining forces with Definitive Jux. You can almost hear history
being made already. With a destined-to-be-a-classic album, Ravipops,
on its way, and his debut 12-inch "The Essence," the first shot across
the bow, C-Rayz Walz is here to stay and his universal sound will
stand the test of time. Get ready and definitely, definitely don't
sleep. 'Nuff said.
http://www.crayzwalz.com
http://www.myspace.com/crayzwalz
FRANCIS POWELL (DJ WISE)
As Dj Wise I have played different styles of music, House, Drum and Bass, techno, Trip Hop, ethnic, electro punk, experimental. I play the tunes that I have written, mixed with the kind of musicians I like. I have won Dj Contests, as well as a competition run by PSP Pure Urban (sony playstation) It was a competition run in different parts of Europe and I won the French section.
http://francis.powell.free.fr/
MONSTER MAKER
Renowed producer/DJ Sharkey and indie hip-hop stalwart C-Rayz Walz have teamed up to deliver a concept record that speaks to the Monsters within us all.
The breaking point/threshold of personal cacophony is the general idea behind the Sharkey and C-Rayz Walz collaboration album Monster Maker. Sharkey breaks down the concept further: 'I feel like the world is the monster maker and I feel like everyone, no matter how good of a family you've been raised by, or how good of a person you are, is capable of being that person that is sitting in the middle of bumper to bumper traffic for an hour one day and on the verge of going out and blasting people. Everyone has that seed in them where they're capable of doing something monster-ish.'
Sharkey's debut album, Sharkey's Machine was embraced by the media far and wide. Featuring the likes of Grand Puba, Jean Grae, Cannibal Ox, The Pharcyde, Cherrywine (of Digable Planets), and many more, Sharkey's Machine was named one of the top 10 albums of the year by the Washington Post, amongst numerous other accolades.
Definitive Jux released Walz's Ravipops, in 2003. The EP We Live: The Black Samurai appeared in 2004. The full-length Year of the Beast hit the streets in 2005, & The Dropping, was released on Urchin Studios earlier this year.
As Walz explains: 'Sharkey's a maaaad underrated producer, arranger, concoctor the same way I'm a maaaad underrated artist, composer, performer, thinker. We both put in a lot of work and have had long careers in this music industry and I don't think that we really got that good weather, it was a lot of gloomy days, but I now think the world is definitely gonna see something.'
After completing Monster Maker, Walz unequivocally feels that Sharkey is "the best I've ever worked with. Sharkey's [influences] are everything," Walz explains, "they're rock, they're synth, they're techno, they're Hip-Hop'they're everything'he made a monster and now he's here to bite everybody's fuckin' head off man."
Sharkey is indeed ready to do damage, in that he aspires for his music to be an outlet for others. 'For the most part it's about giving somebody something that's maybe an outlet for them, just like music's an outlet for me.'
Sharkey and C-Rayz Walz have tapped into their creative geniuses to create that something and what they've created is, simply put, a monster.
Look out for the full length in August 2007 on Babygrande Records.
myspace.com/thisworldisamonstermaker
monstermakermusic.com
SICK OF SARAH
Sick Of Sarah began in Minneapolis, MN in April 2005 as an all-female band with catchy hooks, unique lyrics and thoughtful, well-crafted music. The band displays talent, passion, and an ever-present sense of humor that shapes many of their songs. They combine sympathetic acoustic moments with driving electric rock, often in the same song. With influences ranging from John Fogerty to Joan Jett, Sleater-Kinney to Vanessa Carlton, Sick Of Sarah brings an energy and blended alternative pop-rock style that has listeners singing along after the first chorus.
Guitar player, lead singer, and songwriter, Abisha Uhl, 25, has an ear for pop, a mouth for rock, and an attitude for punk. She first picked up a guitar at age 13 in Okinawa, Japan where she lived until she was 18 and moved to the US. She began listening to Michelle Branch and Vanessa Carlton, which led to her becoming a solo artist in the Minneapolis area and eventually becoming a founding member of Sick Of Sarah. Her lyrics speak maturely and sometimes humorously of love, loss, and often nothing at all, but regardless of the topic, Abisha will sing every song like it's the greatest thing anyone's ever heard.
Guitarist and back-up vocalist, Katie Murphy, 24, was always involved in some type of musical endeavor growing up in south St. Paul, MN. She began teaching herself piano at 15 years of age and acoustic guitar when she was 16. Always looking to advance her skills, she picked up the electric guitar early on during the course of Sick Of Sarah's construction, per the band's request, and has since found that flexibility and creativity are the keys to her performance. Katie lists Jewel and John Fogerty as her biggest musical influences.
Jessie Farmer, 26, originally from Peoria, IL, decided on music as her passion at the tender age of 7 when a piano was introduced into her home. She learned both the guitar and drums after that. She found success as the touring bass player for prominent Minneapolis punk rock band, Babes In Toyland in 2000. Jessie had sworn off the bass just before being approached by lead singer Abisha to play in her new band. Influenced by Joan Jett and the Mamas And The Papas, Jessie brings a natural, seasoned rock tone regardless of whether she's playing bass, lead guitar, or singing back-up vocals.
Drummer Brooke Svanes, 23, began playing drums when she was 11 years old and since then has become a meticulously skillful drummer. She has been in bands all through her teen years in Bismarck, ND and now calls Minneapolis her home. She may look at ease behind a set, but do not be fooled by her calmness; you are guaranteed to feel her Sleater-Kinney influence as well as a decade of practice in every beat she makes.
Newest band member, Jamie Holm began writing around the age of 15, when her dad taught me some guitar chords. She would hide in the basement when no one was home and write about relationships and heartbreaks she never had. After a series of jobs and schooling (Jamie has a degree in Radio Broadcasting and works as a DJ at the Minneapolis Rock Station 93x), Jamie moved to LA to be in a rock band with her brother Chris, and picked up the bass for the first time. In December of 2005 the siblings returned to Minneapolis and formed a band, Hazel Strange, which has built a strong fanbase. Jamie met the Sick of Sarah girls when Hazel Strange and SOS played in one of the worst blizzards of 2007. A strong friendship and mutual musical respect ensued and, inn January 2008, Jamie joined SOS on bass (freeing up Jessie to play lead guitar).
You may have noticed there is no one named Sarah in the band. The namesake for the band is in fact a Sarah--the lead singer's former roommate who stated one day she was just plain sick of her own name. It caught the girls' ears and then caught on.
Website/myspace: www.myspace.com/sickofsarah
SPANK ROCK
The story of Spank Rock is a story about Baltimore, but then again, it ain't. Because it's a story about leaving as much as it's about staying, about moving on while remembering your roots, about innovation and its relation to tradition.
Naeem Juwan, better known as MC Spank Rock, MC Super Disco Spank Ro' or just Spank Rock, grew up alongside two brothers and five sisters in a West Baltimore row house. 'The only element of my household that was consistent,' he remembers, 'is that my mother and father always listened to music, a habit my mom says she picked up from her mother.'
Meanwhile downtown, in a neighbourhood little less riven by crime and poverty, Alex Epton was growing up with his parents, both artists from Oklahoma. And while his mom and dad 'always supported any vaguely creative endeavors on my part,' they may not have been expecting him to transmogrify into the producer known as Armani XXXchange.
As the two boys grew up their paths twined over and round the city without the two of them ever coming into contact. As Naeem remembers it, 'from prep school to the raunchy hood club Paradox, I found myself spread thin across all positive and negative elements of city life.' Epton, meanwhile, was too busy taking classes at the Peabody Conservatory of Music to have much involvement in the city's club scene.
Naeem had begun rapping in the 8th Grade, getting advice and ample criticism from a big sister who was a little more deep into the hip hop thing than he was. Through her, he was eventually introduced to Shaun J Period (the producer for Mos Def's groundbreaking 'Universal Magnetic' EP), Mos Def and Last Emperor. Period, in particular, took the trouble to mentor Juwan: 'Shaun invested a lot of time into helping me develop my skill as a recording artist, and being in such good company at such a young age made me believe that I could be just as important as Mos Def or Kweli in a year.' It wasn't to work out quite like that. By the late-nineties the wave of underground hip hop was starting to dissipate and both Epton and Juwan were keen to leave a city which, at the time was, in Naeem's words, 'static'.
Alex headed to Boston to the New England Conservatory of Music where he 'failed out' before moving on to New York, where he ended up joining pop-punk-electro outfit Zero Zero. Through their album, produced by the DFA, Alex landed a gig interning at the DFA studio. 'I did not know anything about how a real studio works. So I learned the basics: what is a mixing desk' what is a patch bay' a filter' eq' microphone'' After his time there he ended up working as a bike messenger and a truck driver to make ends meet, all his spare moments spent on the old Zero Zero ProTools rig, getting to grips with production.
Naeem, meanwhile, 'moved to Philly, got wrapped up in the thriving 'Neo Soul' scene, started listening to punk, dropped out of college, partied like the world was ending and got rid of all of my hip hop cds. But I continued to make music and develop a style of my own.'
The pair were introduced 'with the idea that we would make music together,' by Chris Devlin aka Chris Rockswell. Chris had lived on the same street as Alex and had been at school with Naeem. He had some graffiti in an exhibition in Baltimore and invited them both to the opening and hence engineered their meeting. He remains their DJ and an essential part of the group to this day, respected and admired by the others for 'his taste in music and ear for rocking a party'.
The process that led to 'Yo Yo Yo Yo Yo' was set in motion. After Alex had helped out engineering at sessions that Naeem was working on with Steve McReady, the MC began to go and visit the producer in Brooklyn. When Juwan heard Epton's own music, he knew he had to put something on top of it. As Alex explains it, his musical background means that 'I'm interested in remixing songs that don't exist. Creating songs just to remix them. Creating songs just to sample them.' As for Naeem, 'I always try to be as honest as possible with my music and have it represent my life as it is at that moment in time.' It was a meeting of minds.
The resulting album sounds like 'the rap version of Prince's 1999 album,' according to Juwan, or, more self-deprecatingly, from Epton, like 'American kids ripping off European kids ripping off American hip hop.' Either way, it's quite unlike any record you've heard before. And one that, in some strange sense, could only have come out of Baltimore, even if the protagonists had to come out of Baltimore to make it.
Not that the connection is dead. Fourth and final member of Spank Rock is battle DJ, designer and motor mouth Ronnie Darko. 'We're all from the same place,' explains Alex, 'so we understand each other deeply. And we like to drink together and fuck around and have fun.' Naeem concurs: 'Ronnie's the life of the party. And the one person in the group that's most likely to get all of our assses kicked.' He pauses, smiles a sly smile. 'Next to Alex, that is''
www.myspace.com/spankrock
THE OTHAS
Hip Hop
www.myspace.com/theothas
www.myspace.com/lpmfam
VIRGIN TEARS
www.virgintears.com
www.myspace/virgintearsla
ZERO DB
even if you've only just heard their name, you are sure to have already enjoyed a hard fruit or more of zero dB's labour, whether one of their early 12" releases such as now jazzfloor classics "come party" and "click" or one of the many quality remixes that these went on to trigger demand for by truby trio, suba, peace orchestra, john kong & moonstarr, grupo batuque, hexstatic, original soul boy, nicola conte, acme, interfearance and even sun ra (co-mixed with gilles peterson). or maybe you simply know them for the bleary head and weary body you were left with after a night out at one of the many parties they've stirred up around the globe'
zero dBoys chris vogado and neil combstock have been concocting a provocative, innovative and addictive brew of hard jazz, electro, latin, hip hop and house, laced throughout with their now signature dirty, heavy basslines. Their early cuts were nurtured by chris' eclectic and experimental record label, fluid ounce, which released their early 12"s as well as a compilation album of their remixes, " reconstruction",
their debut artist album, "Bongos, Bleeps & Basslines" will be coming out in Summer 2006. to accompany the album release, zero dB will be embarking on a live "Bongos, Bleeps & Basslines" party tour this spring and beyond, across europe and the rest of the world - y'all wanna come party with them' you have been warned!
www.myspace.com/zerodbspace
ZINNDEADLY
Zinndeadly has carved out an impressive genre-bending musical career over the last ten years. Responsible for the music behind Eminem's first Top 10 radio hit, Zinn has made records with a number of Grammy-nominated rappers such as Mystic, Planet Asia and Killah Priest, and has collaborated with such hip-hop luminaries as Cut Chemist (Jurassic 5), Canibus and Iriscience (Dilated Peoples). Not to be confined to one world, Zinn's musical palatte and it's emotive and inspiring textures has led to an auxiliary career in film and television. His instrumental compositions, which run the gamut from hip-hop to downtempo to electronica to reggae, are bringing his sound to an even larger audience and further establishing him as an artist with a complex and compelling aural vision.
WEBSITE: http://zinndeadly.com
MYSPACE: http://myspace.com/zinndeadly