Lord Kash a.k.a Kash Flow became artistically self-aware through the Saint Louis underground scene. Focusing his skills for a decade in the group Honors English, with STL game changer Tef Poe, was a perfect armor hardening training ground for both of them. Both artists are currently on solo paths, but plan on working together again when the time is right. The second solo joint from Lord Kash called Rebel Sound System is hittin the streets like an alien invasion. This album is a ten track power move from a veteran emcee. The impressive production from various high voltage sources reverberates through your body, while cerebral line after line fires synapses through your brain. Kash’s clever, conscious flow and rebel rock flair are tuned to a classic rapper frequency that shines on this refreshing new project. REBEL SOUND SYSTEM…..Engage. ~ Hensley
“Consider this a freebie, the next one’s gonna cost ya” – Lord Kash
Ω** REBEL SΩUND SYSTEM **Ω
DIVINE STYLINGS
Lord Kash ft. Shomriya, Realistic
PRΩDUCTION
ARZA, DJ Reminise, Blade Gordon, Black Spade, JBJR, Enferno Muzik, Tech Supreme
Here’s the best footage I’ve seen of 2Pac’s soul living through technology. Pac’s charisma, thug life persona and talent were all alive and smashing the California desert last night at Coachella 2012. This hologram was obviously built from an actual live performance, it’s not a facsimile of him, it’s real digitized footage synced with his voice, it’s scary perfect, down to the tattoo’s. Check Pac’s digital ghost rockin Hail Mary and 2 of America’s Most Wanted live with Snoop at Coachella 2012 4/15/2012 ~ Hensley
I Definitely recommend everyone check the 3rd podcast from the cleverly enigmatic new record label Farfetced. Released monthly, the first 2 podcasts are testaments to the labels off the charts experimental hip-hop production and mixing skills. With upwards of 20 artists on the label they draw from a deep talent poole, who’s genre smashing styles are never limited by any boundaries, this makes for an amazing monthly throwdown. This time around they take a turn for the funky, with touches of new rock and hip-hop classics, in just the right spots. Taking the wheel as selector on this one, is Farfetched/9-Ball artist Scrub, who’s funky, backwoods pimpin style takes us through 30+ minutes of life affimation. Press play, have fun. ~ Sikboy
Sean Daley aka “Slug” of Atmosphere is at the point in his career where he can decline interviews, look down on the “little people” and not lift another finger in the world of menial jobs. The Minneapolis-based emo rapper help build an empire of underground hip-hop when he co-founded Rhymesayers Entertainment, home to P.O.S., Brother Ali and, of course, Atmosphere. Admittedly, he’s an unstoppable force with endless vision and nonstop determination to make Rhymesayers the best independent label in the world, but he’s also a bit of an egomaniac. Nonetheless, he’s done well for himself. I had a brief conversation with the man to talk about his moniker, his top 5 albums and online chess.
Kyle E. : Who or what influenced you to start making music?
Sean Daley: “I don’t know. I had an aunt that wasn’t that much older than me that spent a lot of time at my house. Just seeing the way she reacted to certain albums or artists and the fact I thought she was super cool because she was a teenager and I was a younger kid probably had an impression on me and that made me want to have something to do with making people react to me the same way I saw her react to Prince. Then the fact that I just loved rock and I’ve always been an attention seeker.”
What made you come out from behind the turntables on grab the mic?
“I just wasn’t progressing as a DJ. I started DJ-ing in ‘87. I learned how to transform and I didn’t really progress beyond that. When people started doing flairs and shit I was just like ‘I don’t care about that fancy shit.’ I just wanted to blend and stuff. So I figured I would just chill and rap.”
Your lyrical content seems highly personal. Do you ever feel like you’re revealing too much?
“Nah, because it’s all fictional.”
Really? There’s some autobiographical stuff in there though.
“I mean, no more than any book you read. It’s coming from your hand, your mouth, your eyes, but it’s not like any of those stories were truly autobiographical. They’re used to exemplify the struggle or dichotomy between the genders. Honestly half the time I was using that gender struggle as a metaphor for how I saw other things. Anybody that thinks I had a girlfriend who was as hard to deal with as Lucy is ridiculous. I had 15 girlfriends that were as hard to deal with as this character, Lucy. I stopped doing fictionalizing in the first person on the new album. There are 2 songs I did that are incredibly autobiographical while on past albums like God Loves Ugly, all the songs were metaphors. I adhered to go first person with those 2 particular songs but everything else I went narrative all the way.”
Did you think Rhymesayers Entertainment would be the empire it is today?
“Yes. I was confident in the people. I knew Brother Ali would be great. I knew Eyedea would be great. I didn’t’ know how that was going to happen, but I was confident in the artists.“
Where did the Slug moniker come from?
“Oh, it got shortened from Slug-O. That got shortened from Little Slug-O which was my nickname as a kid.”
What are some of your observations on hip-hop today?
“I don’t have any complaints. I’m to old to complain about hip-hop. There’s so many more important things to complain about. I mean, the shit I see on CNN makes me cringe. The things that go on in the entertainment world are funny to me. Everyone is so fucking insecure about their place, ya know? It’s like the backpackers bitch about the mainstream because the backpackers are broke. The mainstream bitches about the backpackers because the mainstream is afraid they won’t be respected in 5 years. Fuck both sides. Fuck the underground. Fuck the overground. Fuck the middle ground. It’s just a bunch of fucking people trying to find their fucking identities. Once you get comfortable with who you are as a person, you’ll stop complaining about all of that other dumb ass shit.”
Do you believe that comes with age?
“Yes, I think it does.”
Name you top 5 favorite albums. Go!
“It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back by Public Enemy, Fear Of A Black Planet by Public Enemy, To The East Blackwards by X Clan, One For All by Brand Nubian and Death Certificate by Ice Cube.”
How do you feel growing up in the Midwest influenced your musical style?
“I think most of us in the Midwest kind of became sponges. The East Coast, West Coast, The Geto Boys- we absorbed everybody and so we’re kind of a mish mash of all of that. You can hear a little bit of Nas and KRS One in us. You can hear a little bit of Ice Cube and Digital Underground in us. It’s like we sound like all of our influences.”
What does the music you make mean to you on a personal level?
”I guess for the most part it’s like a ritual you do to give back to the people who gave it to you. Aside from the fact that we built a business out of it, we’ve turned it into a vehicle for other people to share their stuff. It all come down to this- it’s guided by the governor in me that wants to make sure I give back like KRS and Rakim did to me.”
As a human being, how does it feel to be in the position of selling out shows and having thousands of fans that idolize you? Is that kind of weird feeling?
“I stay pretty detached from how many shows I sell out or how many units I move. I focus on the fans and try to be as personable as possible because I understand that’s what they’re here for. At the end of the day when I go back to my house, I don’t think about this shit.”
So how do you unwind?
‘I play online chess” [laughs].
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned over the past two decades?
“It definitely isn’t anything I learned in the music business. It’s pay attention to how and why you choose to self-medicate.”
I feel you there. So how do you self medicate these days?
“I play online chess.’
No yoga?
[Laughs] “No, not yet. It’s not trendy enough yet. I’ll do yoga, get a dog and play Frisbee soon though.”
One more generic question- what are the best and worst aspects about touring?
“Trying to maintain a healthy day-to-day lifestyle from sleep to food to exercise. That’s easily the worst. The best is the constant distractions when you’re on tour. You don’t get bored. There’s always something to play with and something to do.”
I’ve seen you several times and on stage, you seem like a natural-born emcee. You make it seem so effortless.
“You got this all from seeing me perform?”
Yes [laughs]. It seems easy for you. Do you feel you were just born with this gift or did it evolve from experience?
“I’m sure it came with practice and experience. I don’t know too many natural-born emcees. Most of them are practiced emcees. The only person I would say I’ve seen or heard that I would say are natural born emcees are KRS, Nas and Rakim. Everyone else has practiced a lot and cares about their craft a lot.”
Best collaboration you’ve done?
“I don’t know who. I love making music with Brother Ali and Murs- that’s it. Everybody else I just like.”
If you could work with anybody alive or dead, who would it be?
“You know what the Midwest is? young and rest-less.”- Kanye West, damn right and Locash Magazine is no exception. We plan on keeping the underground circling until we spin this bitch into a cyclone, this time we’re smashing bandcamp like a trailer park. We have put together 2 Kill Bill themed mixtapes for your enjoyment. Vol.1 (((Hattori Hanzo Cuts))) and Vol.2 (((Go-Go’s Secret Tracks))) contain 24 new BANGERS from various artists that have supported us, many are sneak preview exclusives from albums to be released this summer! Step 1, turn the volume up to 11, step 2 discover and download what you like, step 3 leave a dollar or whatever you want to support underground MUSIC, JOURNALISM, and ART while giving yourself some good karma, it’s all name your own price, enjoi. ~Sikboy and the Locash Collective Artists~
Chuck D is one of a kind. As mastermind behind Public Enemy, Chuck D began his ascent into rap history in the mid-80’s when he put out his first mix tape, Public Enemy # 1. It was the foreshadowing to the creation of Public Enemy. Flava Flav, Terminator X and Chuck D signed with Def Jam in 1986 and two years later executed It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back which would prove to be their most successful album to date.Over the past 24 years, Public Enemy has unleashed some of the most politically conscious content that the hip-hop community has ever heard.
The first four albums that Public Enemy recorded transcended rap music. Each record built upon the previous one, offering the listener “music from the people, not above the people,” as Chuck D puts it. Fear of a Black Planet ushered in the 1990s with the song “Fight the Power,” a rallying cry for rebellion. Spike Lee used it to frame his landmark film, Do the Right Thing. Then in 1991, Public Enemy came out with Apocalypse 91 . . . the Enemy Strikes Back, its most resolute political record. It is anchored by the song “By the Time I Get to Arizona,” the group’s response to that state’s refusal to honor Martin Luther King’s birthday.
Other than the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy has been one of the only rap acts to span two decades and still remain a vital part of the music industry. What’s more amazing is that they’ve done this as they’ve constantly went up against the whole apparatus of the industry. Chuck D has never been anything less than outspoken and become not only a spokesman for rap music but for the struggles of African-Americans his fans wouldn’t want him any other way. Chuck D continues to tour with Public Enemy, but is much more than just an MC; add author, producer, college lecturer and entrepreneur to the list. I got a call from Chuck D shortly after he landed in New York City. He was in good spirits despite losing his luggage.
Kyle Eustice: In the documentary “The MC,” you are heralded as the father of politically charged rap. When you first started out, was that your primary goal?
Chuck D: “I first stated out in the period of R&B, as in Reagan and Bush. I had no choice but to get somewhat political. I had to talk about my surroundings so it kind of happened by default. It came out of understanding of Curtis Mayfield and James Brown who made it possible. I knew we would have impact as a group”.
On Fear of a Black Planet, you explored many themes like black images in Hollywood. 20 years onward, how do you feel about the progress regarding these issues?
“We set out to make records that stood the test of time, being inspired by What’s Going On and the great Beatles albums, you know, Abbey Road. We grew up in that period. It first started out in the rock world, then the soul world had great albums. Stevie Wonder, Isaac Hayes, and albums had themes and the themes, well, people would put their whole lives into the themes of albums. When we started recording the ‘80s, rap music had from a singles medium…and was thrust immediately into being this album medium only because the major record companies at that time only mainly operated from a profitable album standpoint”.
“We understood the magnitude of what an album was, so we set out to make something not only that epitomized the standard of an album, but would stand the test of time by being diverse with sounds and textures, and also being able to hone in on the aspect of peaks and valleys, so we set out to do that. And here we are, later on. The album was a statement because it actually took a college professor’s theory and turned it into a rap record, which was kind of over-the-top, but reflected where we were at, at that time and especially at that stage and our age, because we weren’t kids. I was a postgraduate college student. It wasn’t like I was 22 or 21. I was 30 years old”.
You and Flava Flav seem completely different. How did you end up forming Public Enemy together?
“In Long Island, I was involved in music all over the community. Then I got involved in college radio to bring hip-hop to areas that didn’t have it. I met Flava Flav in 1982 while working at WBAU at Adelphi University. Rick Rubin wanted to sign what we were doing. He and Russell Simmons had just started Def Jam”.
Hip-hop has seen all sorts of transformations over the years, not necessarily good ones either, what do you think of the current state of hip-hop?
“I think the artists are trying to become better, but the infrastructure is lazy and sloppy. The radio stations are lazy. The radio stations have not treated the genre as fans would like . Hip-hop and rap shouldn’t chase as many women away as it does either. It seems like when they make a recording they have no one to send it to. My goal today is to service my websites, SheMovement and HipHopGods, where classic rap lives on”.
How do you maintain such a powerful vocal presence without using overdubs?
“Melle Mel and sports announcer Marv Albert were two inspirational styles I could learn from when I was getting started. Twenty-five years later I can still yell over a mountain. I don’t smoke and I don’t drink. That helps”.
Speaking of, what is your stance on drugs and alcohol use among today’s youth?
“Everything in moderation. You can’t tell a person once they are over 19 or 21 what to do. You chose what you want. You do it as long as it don’t do you. If someone’s getting all crazed out you want to tell them to search for something else in life that has more meaning”.
What topics do you cover on the college lecture circuit and how does the content differ from your album material?
”Rat race, reality and technology. I pretty much have been consistent with those for 20 years. Usually those are the themes. They seem to captivate young minds. I try to do my best to explain the history of things”.
You testified before Congress in favor of “peer to peer mp3 sharing,” something that would obviously be detrimental to your income/your industry. This could shed light on the fact that money is not your motivation and along with political reasons you believe in an alternate purpose for making your music.
“ You gotta love it. Making a living is different than making a killing. People solely after money end up doing stupid things. You gotta love every aspect of the creative process”.
You’ve released your first solo record in over 14 years, Don’t Rhyme For The Sake of Riddlin’. What led to putting out another solo album? And it’s only available at digital outlets, is that correct?
“The record sn’t so much a solo album, per se, as it is a solo project. A lot of projects like Confrontation Camp and Fine Arts Militia are included in this, as well as a lot of other work I’ve done in the last 10 years. I’ve recorded songs for ESPN [“Get Used To Me,” for a Muhammad Ali tribute] and done several others throughout the last 10 years; Don’t Rhyme For The Sake of Riddlin’ collects all that together. If this were to be a physical release, I probably wouldn’t have done it”.
“We’re in an age where we can deliver now without the hindrance of the business side of things. As it is now, I tend to make songs one at a time. The album concept was beautiful back then, but music has been a singles-driven medium for the last 10 years. I see something happening in the world, I can write a song about it and have it out there almost instantly”.
What do you think of Flav’s recent venture into the fried chicken business?
“I think it’s a positive thing for Flav. The thing with the reality TV thing, it’s not real at all. You can be on it one year and done the next.. Flav wanted to do a talk show with the same people that did Flavor of Love, but they didn’t think that was a good idea”.
Engineers in Your Ears ft. Mac Lethal ~ Till the Clouds Run Dry (Pterodactyl Remix)
“Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” ~ Confucius, “I’m gonna live till I die.” ~ Frank Sinatra, “Get high as fuck, and tell everyone you love em” ~ Type, all great quotes from great people. If you take the karma from these quotes, mix it down with progressive hip-hop, EQ a ton of acoustics, and track two rhythmic emcees, you would get the E.Y.E vibe. E.Y.E brings a good times sound that can easily translate from a bouncing club to a beachside campfire, the Engineers are an undeniable party. While checking out their new project Ain’t no Sunshine I proclaimed “that’s my favorite track” at least five times and was left with a get up and do some living feeling when it was over. At times this album can borderline motivational speaking without the douchy tie, cliche quotes or any agenda besides go hard or go home.
Kylo Rich and Purposeflo make up this two-man music machine. Together they write, produce, and mix all aspects of their music, which makes it completely original to them alone. As far as I can tell they only even sample themselves, who does that shit! E.Y.E. does and it works. To discuss a little bit about their Educational Background: Purpose studied musical composition during his Bachelor’s degree at ASU and also mastered recording and engineering techniques at the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences. Graduating with a 4.0 and obtaining certifications in ProTools, Logic, and Reason, he brings pro level A- game production skills. Kylo compliments their business with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Marketing to compliment the foundation of their new business, Engineers in Your Ear Productions, LLC. The final product is Hip-Hop in its essence with driving percussion and effects. Many tracks are heavy on keyboards and guitar (acoustic and electric) which gives it a genre-crossing appeal that both true heads and people who otherwise wouldn’t listen to hip-hop can appreciate.
With tracks modeled after classic artists like The Doors and Bill Withers their influences run deep. Other musicians are only part of what influences the Engineers they both seem to operate on a zen type level of consciousness. ”To me, music is a reflection of all there is. If reality is really different wave lengths of Light and what not, music is the brain’s way of understanding unity through waves. Or something like that” ~ Purposeflo. Purpose is a Taoist and Kylo is an avid student of nature. What really seems to drive the engine the most is a circle of energy between the group and their fans. As they told us“ We LOVE our fans! I think we connect with them because we respect them. I don’t think our fans owe us anything, but we owe the fans everything”.
Last summer’s Ain’t No Sunshine Tour kicked off in the groups original stomping grounds, Arizona. E.Y.E. toured with Bodi, Doctype, and Smash Moody (currently Errol Hem) and they traveled up the West Coast rocking shows in AZ, CA, WA, OR, MT, and CO. They brought their message to the people and planted E.Y.E. flags all along the way. They have also mailed out stacks of free physical copies of their latest album to friends of their facebook page and frequently do contests for free albums and merch. In turn fans send back pics of themselves with their free goods for an online photo album called E.Y.E and YOU. They send out positive vibes and it resonates with fans and artists alike, all of the art in this article are fan submissions wanting to give back to the symbiotic vibe.
Besides their growing fan base, the Engineers roll with a pretty deep clique of underground artist. Collaborations with Mac Lethal, Grieves,Type and Eclipse all grace the new album, along with their soulful go to singer Mauricio Whitford. On the live tip frequent tour mates Bodi and Kristoff Krane are always down to throw down a high energy live set. With energi to spare and a touch of that old enginuity, the Engineers are building a dream on solid ground. Check them out rockin with Greives on Honest Microphone. PEACE ~ SIKBOY
Download the new E.Y.E album Ain’t no Sunshine here
Anatta by Bodi & Abstrakt from the “Forever is Now” Ep
By any ones standards Bodi (formerly Alexipharmic) has walked some rough roads as of late. Amidst the challenges he has faced, there have also been some very stand out amazing moments. Basically the last year for him has had many taunting ups and downs like a game of whack-a-mole. In 2012 he has emerged like a light through the darkness. He is humbled, stronger and very focused.
During last year or so Bodi lost a few people including his former tour mate Mike “Eyedea” Larson, his dog, two other friends and both Grandparents. He also did over 70 shows, put out some bangin music and volunteered much of his summer at the Ebenezer and Faraja Orphanages in Kenya. Another notable accomplishment was partnering his record/merch label Elephant Memories with global relief efforts. Fifty percent of these proceeds go directly to the global charity organization Mercy Corps and 100% of his brand new project’s proceeds go to the Ebenezer and Faraja Orphanages.
All of these events recently culminated in the release of the 8 track Ep Forever Is Now. Even though personal tragedy was definitely an influence in this project this is no bum out, pity party album, it’s quite the opposite. It has the feel of a celebration of life instead of the obvious sadness of when it ends. The contributors to the project come together seamlessly. Bodi flows prolifically over bouncy, spacey tracks produced masterfully by the U.K.’s own Abstrakt. With a few subtle samples from Icelandic rock group Sigur Ros, Abstrakt blends the two styles into an ethereal sound. Guardian angels and life lessons provide the inspiration and the children of Kenya grace the cover.
This is an amazing body of work coupled with an amazing cause. This is a soundtrack of life and food for the soul. It pumps sonic satisfaction through your speakers and bleeds audible affection to your senses. To get a little insight on who Bodi is, I had to include this track Simple Man from a previous project.
Get Forever Is Now below and help Bodi and Mercy Corps spread the love at the same time. This is dope on multiple levels people, hit it up ~Sikboy
Farfetched is an independent music and art imprint based out of St.Louis, MO. We specialize in creating thought-provoking, honest, and innovative content for all
Featuring Sonic Engineers Sanguinite, Standing Sleep, Scripts and Screws, Midnight Giant, Blank Generation, Wino Willie, Micheal Franco, Scrub, EkleKtrip, Air Haze, Jai & Ebony, Crayon Stars, Whiteout , Kepra, Thelonious Kyrtonite, Symphonique, Port Side and Helen Marie.
Download the debut project PROLOGUE from the new label ***FARFETCHED***
Team Flight Case stand up! Danny D.J.P Phillips of Springfield Missouri is the 2012 Master of the Mix Champion, and well deserved. Danny won the internet voting every week and the judges respect. It think it all started when Kid Capri asked him if he was going to pull a computer out of his flight case in the first episode, to which P replied “Nah, it’s all records man”. By the end of that set all the judges were cheering and yelling Thank you! Amber Rose had his back the whole show and that was it man, 8 shows later P for the win! Danny had a lot of respect for his competitors and gave runner ups DJ Msquared and DJ Yonny 10 grand each. I caught Danny after some well needed rest and before he flies to New York tomorrow here’s what he told me.
Sikboy: How was your Master of the Mix experience?
P: “It was wild and crazy, it was very interesting and long and drawn out but very successful at the same time, so there’s no complaints whatsoever”.
How did you pick your final set?
“I just kinda went with it man, we were actually kinda handcuffed song wise through the whole thing till the end. There were a few things that I picked out but, with me using vinyl I didn’t really have a chance to use a lot of the things I think about, that I could really go left field with. I only used what I was allowed to use for the most part. I just manipulated it the way I do and did the best job I could do and I got through luckily”.
You earned it man, me and my friends voted for you a bunch of times.
“Yeah man and that’s what really brought it down, I appreciate and give a shout out to everyone for voting because the voting is what really made me win in the end. Because what Master of the Mix wanted to see I think was not just how skilled everyone was, they wanted to see how people out there felt about what dj they thought should have won. There were over 50 thousand votes total and over 30 thousand came in for me, which is breathtaking. I didn’t realize I had that many fans out there that really care you know, family, friends just everybody. I knew there were out there but it never really surfaced like to where it slapped me in the face in a good way, like wow. A lot of people really had my back and it’s much appreciated”.
Team Flightcase really came together, that was a cool concept.
“Yes it did, it really did, it suuuure did” (laughs)
We had a great time watching the show and everyone is really happy for you.
“Thank you, my love goes out to everybody that voted. I think at the end Micheal Mcpherson (M2) had a really good set he’s a really good dj, Yonnie is a good dj too. I think what it boiled down to at the end for the judges is they wanted to see who had really stood up for the culture for so many years and payed their dues and I payed my dues longer, it just was my time I think and with the voting I think that really showed America, Yo this dude is like, you know the Master of the Mix (laughing) so yeah it feels good”.
Did you get a big Amber Rose Hug?
“Oh yeah, Amber Rose is a sweetheart man she actually came up and gave me some really good advice and I respect her even more for that and she’s a really nice person”.
What was her advice?
“Kinda the do’s and don’ts about the money I won, and I appreciated that she was looking out for me”.
How does booking look this summer?
“I can’t even answer that right now my life’s crazy I got a new manager now Smirnoff has me for a year I got a full on contract with them so it might be kinda hard to jump around but we’ll see”.
Check out what DJP had to say moments after his win was announced.
Congrats D.J.P. and Turntablism lives!!! as always you can keep up with D.J.P herewww.djpmix.com
