 Philadelphia has produced some of music's most prolific talents in history. It's responsible for an era of music comparible to that of Motown, Stax, and Chess Records while molding artist who continue to push the envelope like Jill Scott, Bilal, and the Roots. Philadelphia is a traditional city, some times to a fault in a time when most are willing to conform to whatever the "It" thing of the moment is, they are known to stick to their own merits. Some feel that it is due this stick to your guns attitude that Philadelphia hasn't been able to get a foothold on the current state of music like New York, Atlanta, Miami and LA, while others believe that it is the force that drives some of the most innovative music to ever be created.
It is this history, merit and innovation that inspires the next group talented artist and musicians to bring proper light to the city of brotherly love. Standing out among this pack is emcee/singer/song writer Lawrence Arnell. Though you may be just hearing about him, most fans of independant hip-hop should familiar with some of his past work. At 19 years old, Lawrence caught the eye of Tommy Boy Records as a member of the hip-hop collective The Deadly Snakes. With dates on the Lyricist Lounge Tour, placements on the soundtrack to Jet Li's Black Mask movie and a co-sign from Prince Paul, The Snakes seemed to be on the right track. But soon after The Deadly Snakes disbanded following the release from their deal with Tommy Boy. While most would've thrown in the towel completely, L. Arnell fell back and sharpened his skills as an emcee as well as a vocalist and song writer.
Since then he has collaborated with a number of underground heavyweights such as Jedi Mind Tricks, Outerspace, Dave Ghetto and more.
More recently Lawrence has partnered with Dave Ghetto and Philadelphia based producer Dame Anthony to create Ghetto Rock Star, a venture that will not only allow Lawrence Arnell to shine as an artist but to develop more a song writer as well. "L. Arnell has the type of talent that is able to span all genres of music, which allows him to bring something unexpected to a record, be it vocals, lyrics or track selection", cites Dave Ghetto. Whether in the forefront or behind the scenes L's talent will definately shine through.
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Imagine KRS One, Rakim and Nas mashed up with a little Big Pun on acid! You get deep, visual, unapologetic lyrical rap with a message! That's Armageddon! Bronx, New York native, Armageddon, has been rapping since the 5th grade. His pursuit of a rap career began in 1985 with a rap clique called Wild Style, which consisted of five kids rapping and singing for fellow students at a Bronx public school. Later, at the still very early age of 16, Geddy, as he is affectionately called, met Fat Joe and quickly became a part of Terror Squad, the crew that then consisted of Fat Joe and Keith Nut and later Big Pun. The group has come a long way since its inception.
In the years leading to Terror Squad's biggest hit record ever, Lean Back, Armageddon stayed busy writing, performing, and producing. Described by Fat Joe as "the deepest lyricist in the group," he has produced and written over a dozen records for Fat Joe, Big Pun, and Terror Squad, collectively. He's also credited with co-writing tracks featured in hit films such as Fast and Furious and Rush Hour. Additionally, Armageddon helped produce music for the WCW Wrestling Organization. One of his biggest accomplishments to date is Fat Joe's 2001 platinum album Jealous Ones Still Envy which he executive produced.
In maintaining his longevity in the music industry, Armageddon has embarked on new endeavors that display his versatility, as well as his diverse interests in the music business. He recently launched Geddy Communications Inc. in an effort to establish his independence as an artist, producer, and executive. In regards to his latest venture, Armageddon declares, "I love to create and innovate, whether it is entertainment, technology, fashion or business in general. I was idle as a TS artist. I felt it was time to evolve from background man to front liner. I have to always be growing; I need to be able to express myself, and GedCom is part of that expression. It's an extension of me." Under GedCom, as he likes to refer to his company, Armageddon is currently working to release his long awaited solo album, The Journal,via his music brand, GeddyMusic.com. With his incredible lyrical ability and his business savvy mentality, he is sure to take hip hop to another level. |
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Born in Miami, FL during the height of the drug trade and raised there during one of it's most violent times, Shadowman Boogie sought refuge in music. This love for music would take him around the world, working with the likes of DJ Spinna, Eminiem, Shabbaam Sadeeq, Jigmastas and even rocking the stage with legends such as KRS-1 and Sadat X. Shadowman Boogie took his music to additional heights when he and his cousin Skam2? formed OldWorlDisorder, putting out releases on Beyond Real Recordings and eventually solo efforts through BBE.Â
He shed light and exposing all that has been battered and bruised. Shadowman expresses daily life using his impeccable flow in a manner that most everyone can associate with. During an apex of his career, at the time when he was most popular, even feared by some of your favorite emcees, he went to prison to serve a three year sentence for trafficking cocaine. No stranger to trouble he did his time with dreams of returning to the world a hero, but the dream gave way to a shocking reality. The world had moved on.
Turning to one of his best friends, Shadow set out to create a musical masterpeice called GODS AND CRIMINALS . The world would have to wait though and so would he, so as he searches for a home for GNC, he presents to the world a gift of sorts.. "The Midnight Sun", hoping to raise a few eyebrows.Â
No labeling needed for this artist. This artist was raised in the streets, yet the knowledge exceeds in his dynamic vocal delivery at Hip-Hop and Drum N Bass shows nationwide. Any beat will do or the accapella will be the rhythm you ride to when listing to Shadowman Boogie.Â
Currently Shadowman Boogie is completing "Gods and Criminals Vo. 1" for a slated release in 2010 on SoFlo Entertainment. |
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"If you want to make beautiful music, you must play the black and the white notes together." ~ Richard M. Nixon I don't think there are many musical biographies that start with quotations of Richard M. Nixon but DJ Vadim, the John Coltrane of hip hop isn't your average around the way producer. These days producer / DJ's come a dime a dozen. If you are expecting to hear the same old, the average, the normal, the mundane 12 tracks looping the same soul records for 4 minutes; you may be disappointed. This is different, this is Independent music, it's from the earth, organic, single estate, nutritious, whole-grain, wholesome: soul music. For DJ Vadim, it's a journey, and with every album comes new expressions and colours. For those who have just joined the adventure, you couldn't have joined at a better time. The new album is without doubt the best so far. DJ Vadim has made a long career out of travelling the world and delivering innovative head pounding beats. 4 solo albums, 2 group albums (One Self, The Isolationist), 1 remix album, countless mix tapes, EPs, remixes, all the 12's and 7's under his belt; and 14 years later we arrive at 'U Can't Lurn Imaginashun,' the new DJ Vadim album. It's a continuation of the journey but much more than that. For an artist with such a long recording pedigree it would be easy to sit in cruise control, knock out music by numbers, and stay in the box... ...however that isn't DJ Vadim and 2008 wasn't the average year for this musicista. "2008 has been the worst year of my life. I went through the most gut wrenching emotions with family trauma and personal health. My father went partially blind after having 3 failed cataract operations. My mother nearly lost her house in the credit crunch and ended up having anxiety attacks. My wife was very ill and I went blind in my left eye. I was diagnosed with eye cancer at the end of the summer and had a very precarious operation to remove it. It was the darkest moment of my life. For the first time I had to dwell with the idea of death and not being invincible, but I felt kindness, love and appreciation from so many people around the world praying and sending positive energy, thank you to you all. The surgeons saved my eye, got rid of the cancer and since then I've gone on to complete a new album." "Imagination is more important than knowledge" ~ Albert Einstein "U Can't Lurn Imaginashun' is about having to go within the deepest parts of you to find inspiration. In life we are taught so much; at school, in courses to learn languages, computer studies, science, religion and sport; we live in a time of unprecedented technology which is available at our finger tips. Each year we get cheaper, more powerful, more portable computers, phones and music programmes; new tools to help us create and communicate. Imagination is one thing you must go inside yourself to find and none of this technology helps us with that; neither cheap computers or more powerful software can make the music for you. Imagination, the will to fight for your life, to love and to struggle; these must come from within. Imagination in a way is the basis of all of life. It's about thinking about possibilities; 'what if that wasn't like that, if that was different, if...' So many people live their life without asking why, or if; just accepting the rules, accepting the cards they're dealt, accepting authority, governments, companies, pollution and waste; We're not looking forward to what could be; what can be, if we take responsibility and just do it. We can build a better world and we don't have to accept our fates and give in. Being diagnosed with the unimaginable; cancer, I had to fight for my life. I wasn't going to let the cancer overcome me, my body or my passion - music. With tragedy at the door I looked within myself to create something new. I felt kindness, love and appreciation from so many people around the world praying and sending positive energy... ...I didn't accept the cards dealt to me and since recovering I feel healthier for it. I know who my real friends are. I would never wish what I went through on anyone else but I wouldn't change it for the world because it made me, is making me, into a better me." 'U Can't Lurn Imaginashun' is a testament to 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger,' and beyond that, it's a call to realize dreams despite adversity. The creative juices condensed by a tough year, 2008, the year where banks crashed, governments quaked, and DJ Vadim faced up to his fears and realized his own mortality. The ocular melanoma that grew unseen in Vadim's eye and the whirlwind operation that saved his life did nothing to dampen his spirit, Vadim got through it and thankfully 2008 wasn't all bad. From adversity came touring worldwide with Fat Freddy's Drop, DJ Krush and Slick Rick. 2008 also found Vadim digging deep to find something new within to write a new album, find new expressions and even skills. The new album debuts Vadim's foray into playing keyboards and 'singing' (through a vocoder, talkbox and autotune!); stepping out from behind the desk. For this album, it's about crafting the song. "This is something I never would have done 10 years ago, let alone even on my last album. I feel like the album musically bridges gaps between the eclectic and what is more 'mainstream.' Bridging genres and drawing elements from soul, hip hop, reggae, downtempo, this is defiantly a move to more electronic sounds from my 'Soundcatcher' album of 2007. Perhaps you could describe the sound as 'Soul 2 Soul' meets 'Daft Punk' for 2009! Eh, maybe we'll call it 'Soul-step!"
Like a fine wine that takes exceptional ingredients, years to mature, space to breathe and take on the flavours of its environment; a great producer must experience life, sound, humanity, nature and emotion and use these as his ingredients. The truly international DJ Vadim has journeyed around 60 countries playing over 1500 gigs on a musical and life forming adventure; Vadim brings with him these ingredients; sounds he's heard, artists he's met from long and far, experiences and emotions, as he steps into his basement studio to sonically distill. The musical vocabulary that he expresses in this album show flavours from all corners of planet earth, and ultimately what it is to be alive in this day and age, a world full of diversity and possibility, where musicians and artists can work together through telephone wires, separated by continents; where we are only held back by the limits of our imagination. If you think you know what DJ Vadim does, then think again. 'U Can't Lurn Imaginashun' is black and white notes and every colour in between. This is by far the most open and eclectic of DJ Vadim's albums, and yet more focused and refined. "Music rots when it gets too far from the dance. Poetry atrophies when it gets too far from music." ~Ezra Pound
Adversity, creativity, imagination, longevity, legendary status in the game... But what does the album sound like? Though inevitably this album may be labeled as 'underground,' it is greater than that. It's fun, fresh, new and NOW. It has jams that could sit next to Desmond Decker, Q Tip or Jill Scott as well as Flying Lotus or Dilla. It is rap, soul, reggae, daft punk'esque inspired down-tempo; all that, and still more. You can feel that journey, that boom-bap, that wholesome organic freedom and love for all music and creativity. This is music for the dance and poetry simultaneously. That feel good factor. |
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