Contradictory Hiphop opinion, with a bitter and twisted attitude…
Posts tagged spotlight
SigNif – Lovely Imperfections
Jan 21st
Directed by Darren Alexander Cole, ‘Lovely Imperfections’ is the newest video from Milwaukee-bred, NYC-based rapper SigNif. Its taken from her album “The Transition”, available now for free download at http://signif.bandcamp.com/album/the-transition.
Also check out the Q&A below that SigNif recently did with Express Milwaukee.
Rapper Signif splits her time between New York and her native Milwaukee, and her music bears the stamp of both cities, blending classic New York hip-hop à la Gang Starr with smooth, Midwestern soul-rap. This year, she released her debut album, The Transition, which is available for free streaming and download at signif.bandcamp.com. Driven by Signif’s laid-back, loquacious flow and colored with shades of Little Brother and Digable Planets, it’s an assured, compulsively replayable effort, featuring contributions from Milwaukeeans Haz Solo, A. Prime and Prophetic. I caught up with Signif for a brief Q&A.
How did you start rapping?
I started writing poetry at a young age, which eventual turned into songs. I was always around music growing up, from watching my brothers freestyle and write lyrics, to my female cousin who was a rapper doing shows and battling. Music was something that was a part of my childhood that manifested into something I can never see myself parting with.
What brought you to New York?
Music is what brought me to New York. I was back and forth visiting between ’04-’05 when I first started recording my music, and I was hooked. It got to the point where I was like I’m just going to move out there and see what happens. Several years later I did. A kid chasing a dream pretty much.
What do you think of the Milwaukee rap scene right now?
I’m not there 24/7 but I always keep my ear to the streets, and from what I hear the scene seems to be growing which is always a good sign. My roots are Milwaukee, so I want for more than anything for the city of Milwaukee to get the hip hop recognition it so rightfully deserves.
What kind of beats do you gravitate toward?
My heart and soul will always be boom bap. I also love beats that have that story telling theme attached to them already, but I’m slowly opening up to different things. I definitely want to work with more live instruments when recording.
How does being a woman shape how you approach rap?
My approach to rap music is straight forward, but at the same time I put my womanhood first. Knowing I have nieces, and little cousins watching I’m careful on what I put out there. For me, it was a learning and growing process. When I was 19 the language was foul and aggressive, but once I started to grow and mature as an artist I became more comfortable in my own skin, and felt I didn’t have to keep up with my male counterpart, everything started flowing naturally.
![Depakote-Feature[1]](http://www.altrap.com/write/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Depakote-Feature1-64x64.jpg "Depakote-Feature[1]")
Depakote: Music As A Drug To Fight BiPolar Disorder
Jan 21st
Imagine being 18. When I was 18, I was hanging out with my crew, gallivanting around town, discovering what life had to offer. Watching DJ Qbert videos, rocking Pumas with fat laces, and rhyming to East Flatbush Tried by 12, I was in a transition period relocating from the San Fernando Valley to Orange County.
Now imagine that in the midst of your own memories at the age of 18, you started feeling lightheaded. You try to explain what you’re feeling, but nobody understands. You can’t control your mind and body. Nervousness, confusion, deep thought, suicidal and violent fits begin taking over your consciousness.
Nearly ten years ago, this is what happened to hip-hop producer, Erik Lopez, also known as Depakote. His parents eventually admitted him to the hospital, released a month later, visiting the psychiatrist bi-weekly and testing a plethora meds. It took a year to find a proper combination of medication and he was able to ease his way back into society. Anytime the conditions relapse, he needs to increase his meds.
These symptoms experienced by Depakote are known as a type of bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive disorder. According to the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Stanford University, 4% of people experience bipolar disorder at some point in their life. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million American adults in a given year.
Depakote is a prescription drug used to treat epileptic seizures, migraines and bipolar disorder. In the face of adversity, Erik Lopez took on the name “Depakote,” maintaining his sense of humor and optimistic outlook.
With love from his family and friends, he is able to move on and focus on his passions, using music as an outlet for artistic and emotional expression. Bipolar disorder has been associated with people in the arts with many studies showing a significant association between the condition and creativity. Depakote is one of those people that possesses such creativity and is able to transform his thoughts and feelings into his music.
Depakote has a number of albums you can listen to on MySpace. His latest release is The Gummo Album, a beat tape. Some of his tracks resemble that dark hip-hop sound found in DJ Shadow’s “Midnight a Perfect World.” Coincidentally, Depakote is studying the works of DJ Shadow and Blockhead right now. In addition, his favorite producers include 9th Wonder, Madlib, MF Doom, DJ Premier, and Rza, among many others from the Boom Bap Era. When all is said and done, Depakote said that if there was one person in the world he would like to work with, he said he would like to hop in a time machine, become invisible and observe the magic happen when Marvin Gaye produced the album Hear My Dear.
For you beat junkies, Depakote uses Fl Studio XXL 9, Reason 3.0, Recycle 2.0 and Cool Edit. His hardware includes an O2 Midi Controller and Abelton for live beat sets. For the rest of you, you can check out his latest Gummo Album here and visit the links below to follow Depakote in his musical journeys.
LINKS
Artist spotlight: Grit Grammar – Cold World
Feb 10th
Attempting to get back on my posting grizzy over here… to start here’s a cut called ‘Cold World’ from UK artist Grit Grammar.
Alternative download link here:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/rxhsrx
Myspace blurb reads like this…
A prolific hip hop enthusiast, Grit made the natural evolution into artist and emcee at a fairly late stage, however over the last few years he has been quietly developing his skills and technique in preparation to make his mark on the UK scene with a unique style and sound. Representing the UK to the fullest Grit has blessed open mics across the London area and beyond whilst readying material for public destruction with his dedication to lyricism, and dark reflective hip hop that often seems to get lost in a heavily over saturated genre. Stuck somewhere between mythological philosopher and street representer Grit is working with a new wave of extremely talented up and coming producers, as well as some more established artists to help create his ultimate vision and sound. Grit is currently working on his debut album, produced entirely by Baron Samedi scheduled for release sometime in 2009, so get ready for the onslaught!
Artist spotlight: The Package
Aug 24th
An old rmhh head hit me up a few days ago to share some info on a crew he was repping called The Package. One of the recent tracks, ‘Making Waves’ has just been remixed by Kev Brown and is getting spins from Pete Rosenberg on his late night Hot 97 show… matter of fact the track impressed Rosenberg so much he ended up directing the video. Myspace blurb, track, and behind-the-scenes video to follow – keep an eye on these cats… I’m feeling this shit a lot.
The Package is the embodiment of HIP HOP in a time where HIP POP is the norm. Dimensions, Noyeek the Grizzly Bear and Theory are all members of DC’s INFINITE LOOP, a superior collection of MC’s, DJ’s and producers who ruled the DC underground during the late 90′s and the better part of this decade. These three remaining members have joined forces once again to launch an all out assault on the airwaves above and below the radar with incredible, prolific rhymes over a bed of sonic gems provided by Theory.
On the mic, Dimensions exudes an aura of authority combined with intelligent rhymes that tell you how it was, how it is and how it could be. His partner in rhyme Noyeek is a Staten Island, New Yorker whose performance energy captures listeners, whether in person or on CD. Theory doesn’t rhyme but is by no means a silent member – as the sole producer for The Package, he mixed and mastered the entire album and does the majority of production on Dimensions’ and Noyeek’s solo projects. His beats are intense compositions that stimulate the imagination to the point where they become auditory cinema.
The Package offers you free downloads of hits from their album ‘New Golden Era” at WWW.NEWGOLDENERA.COM to wet your appetite for what’s to come! You also get TWO bonus tracks- “D-Dot”, Dimensions’ first single reppin’ the hometown, DC and “Ambulance”, a single from Noyeek the Grizzly Bear’s forthcoming sophomore album “EAR-tertainment.”
Check out these links to learn more about The Package and to keep in touch!
E-mail us- thepkgbiz@gmail.com
http://www.myspace.com/itsthepackage
http://www.myspace.com/lowdownplushmusic
http://www.myspace.com/dimensions00
http://www.myspace.com/noyeekThe Package – Making Waves (Kev Brown Remix)
Artist spotlight: NYOIL
Oct 16th
As 50 Cent and co will attest, the best way to create a nice little buzz around your product is to start a little beef. While NYOIL’s incendiary track ‘Y’all Should Get Lynched’ is definitely sticking it to some of today’s commerical artists, its done in a way that is less beef for buzz, and more a genuine concern with the way he feels Hiphop is heading. His myspace bio decrees…
“I will start as I intend to end.
Honest and real!
I am not HIP HOP.. i represent Hip Hop.. It’s hopes and frustrations. I rep for the streets and the suburbs, the thinkers and the thugs.
You see when people hear me they will see you because I am faceless, I am an idea and less of a person. People die, ideas are eternal, and i am the idea of HIP HOP music RAP, Rhythimically Applied Poetry.I will not waste anymore time claiming to be the BEST, there is no best MC. There is no GREATEST MC there is only the ART and EXPRESSION of EMCEE’ing. The VOICE OF GOD yearning to be heard thru our prose How can i claim to be better than GOD when he speak thru you too? EMCEE’ing: The voice of an enslaved people whose minds are still schackled longing to free themselves thru words to soar.. How dare I or you claim to be the best at speaking for these people.. EMCEE’ing : the voice of the youth screaming to be understood and respected EMCEE’ing the culture that bridges black and white and brown and red in one voice..
I AM NOT THE BEST .. BUT I AM THE BEST THAT I CAN BE!
I am not here to promote myself and just my intrest, I am here to make MUSIC and ART and hopefully I can do that with some of you. I love to collaborate, I am with a mixtape, I’ll do drops it’s good with me B BOYS!
I breakdance, Emcee, Tag, DJ, Write, Produce and SUPPORT. I am a true Hip Hopper.
If you are on this page.. then you are probably here because the UMC’s pointed you to me. They have taught me this. Kool Kim taught me about being selfless with this music. He taught me how to be humble and respect the culture more than my own ambitions. I love those brothers for giving the world Fruits of Nature, a beautiful album with beautiful songs. So now i hold thier torch, I hold the Fushcnikens torch, Brand Nubians torch, Nice and smooths Torch, KMD’s Torch, the ZULU nations torch, the nation of gods and earths torch, the West Coast torch, the East Coast torch, the cultures torch.. I hold it high internationally for all of the world to see.I am NYOIL. I am an idea.”
The big thing about NYOIL though is this video for ‘Y’all Should All Get Lynched’ which was originally banned from Youtube due to its graphical nature and message. Check this shit out and then go hit him up…
NYOIL on Myspace
Props to Robbie, for putting me up on NYOIL in the first place – check his interview with him right here…
Artist spotlight: Laura N-Black
Oct 2nd
I figured I’d shine some light on some of these myspace cats who are making some superb music that y’all don’t even know about. Don’t sleep.
First up, Laura N-Black…
If you ain’t feeling ‘Crazy’ (download here) then you are dead inside – a dried up husk of a person with no feelings whatsoever. And you smell. Of old socks and sweaty boxing gloves. True. (Btw, Ms Black – this is still getting chopped & screwed as promised.)
Anyways, about Laura…
Native of Cameroon, a french and english-speaking country in Central Africa.
Born in 1982 and singing for 14 years, Laura was a member of a gospel choir when in high school and passed a master in marketing and management in Paris, France in 2005. She is currently attending a course and planning to finish her studies in the USA in 2006.
Growing up on “NEW JACK SWING” thanks to her big brothers and cousin in the early nineties, her favorites were SWV, Portrait,Hi-Five,Brandy, H-town, Jodeci, Shanice, Guy, Bell Biv Devoe, TLC, Tony Toni Toné, Immature, Intro,Troop,New-Edition, Zhane, X-Scape and others.
She also really appreciates soul music from the likes of Teddy Pendergrass,I ndia.arie, Percy Sledge,Caldvin Richardson,Syleena Johnson. d’Angelo, Anthony Hamilton, Raphael Saadiq, Glenn Lewis,Jill Scott, Bilal.
Because of the english language, which is a kind of barrier for her music in France,and being a singer and songwritter,Laura is moving out to the United States to get more opportunities in the music industry .Indeed,English language gives her more inspiration.
Now Laura, is trying to add from time to time a touch of her African origin to her music. The “Music Daughter” as some call her performs in some clubs in Paris, and from time to time in London. She also got a chance to get up on stage in some venues in Baltimore and New York city.
“My dream is to share my music with all of you.”
Laura N-Black – Crazy
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Add her here…
http://www.myspace.com/laurangoundoblack
Artist spotlight – M.E.A.L. Tix
May 22nd
See, this is the beauty of the internets… some cats come at me out the blue (nh) and do something surprisingly good, that I feel everyone else should know about. This is how it should be done – just make good innovative stuff, instead of claiming to be the “Jay-Z of the 3rd ward” (I see you Brick), and good people like me will try to get you some spins.
Ladies and Elephants, let me introduce you to M.E.A.L. Ticket. No, its not another failed Chuck D acronym (50 points for those who can tell me the J.A.C.K.A.S.S. theory), its a team of fine young men, who are flipping the script a little on the mixtape scene. The producers are MERC and DJ CON. The rappers are 1′ER, FIYAH and FLOW.
Who is M.E.A.L Tix?
MEAL TIX is synonymous to great Hip-Hop music, cleverly orchestrated with innovative beats, prolific lyrics, and unprecedented energy.What’s in a name?
The acronym M.E.A.L. Tix, signifies Music Entertainment And Life. The group consists of three talented MCs sharing their experiences through music.The trio, Jahsh “Fiyah”, Obese “Flow”, and Natch “1’er”, represent Providence, RI with roots in Long Island and Brooklyn, NY. Fiyah, Flow, and Natch 1’er met at the Boiler Room Studio where they succumbed to their creative energy and musical attraction. Soon after, these fellas joined forces and have been making people dance and reflect on life with their fresh and original sound.
Lacing the beats behind MEAL Tix’s lyrics are DJ Merc, of Providence, RI and DJ Condadon of Mandatory Entertainment in Miami, FL. With the bangerz these producers create, MEAL Tix has unleashed their poetic creativity to another dimension. In a chant-like trance, the phrase M.E.A.L. resounds whenever this energetic trio takes it to the stage.
Thanks in part to Mandatory Entertainment, setting forth this project has proven to be a small stepping stone to the formation of a group of giants determined to share their talent and love for music with the world of Hip-Hop. In addition to the original music of M.E.A.L. Ticket, they along with Mandatory Entertainment, have created a new sound called SWITCH MUSIC. This music is geared toward the mixtape game taking industry instrumentals and creating new beats out of them and putting together a complete SWITCHTAPE. This will soon become the way artist promote their music using the mixtape concept while taking their music to another level.
Its not another cheesy ‘snap’ music thingy. Nor is it a dressed-up way of saying “we rhyme over other popular beats”. These cats are definitely doing something worth hearing, and so I suggest you check out the mp3s with the quickness.
M.E.A.L. Ticket – Love
M.E.A.L. Ticket – The Beginning
More info here, here, and here.
Stop sleeping bitches.
