Nov Ganon Interview In Convention Mag!

Go check out Brooklyn's own, Nov Ganon in Convention Magazine with his exclusive interview!

Click here:
http://readconvention.com/ThoughtProcess_0009.html

Subterranean

Parenthetical Girls is a band hailing from Everett Washington that I had in my music library for a few months. I remember scanning through their "Safe as Houses" album and turning my nose up to it in disgust. Ironically enough like some of my favorite bands in the past year that were presented before me (such as Xiu Xiu and Casiotone For The Painfully Alone), I listened to the "Safe As Houses" album again and had a completely different mindset when taking in the opera vocal styles and indie-rock instrumentation. I was completely blown away, and I believe that this band is going to get heavy rotation from me within the coming weeks. It's amazing that some of my favorite bands and artists I could not stomach their music initially, but after giving their music a chance months down the line, I learned that their music was extremely good. I guess that when you have an artist, producer, DJ, or even band that is so original in their sound, it takes a while for a music lover to digest what they are hearing.


I have always had an extreme longing to go to the UK; I really do not know why, but ever since I can remember going to the UK has been something that I have always wanted to do. Out of the city of Leeds, England comes the band that I was introduced to two years ago, ¡Forward, Russia! After seeing their video for the song, "Nineteen," I initially knew that ¡Forward, Russia! would be a band that I would listen to for some time. With their current album, "Life Processes," there are an eclectic arrangement of songs displaying the true talent that this UK band possesses. It would be a great idea to check this band out; I want one of those exclamation point t-shirts!

U-N-I Interview

Los Angeles was been slated with the stereotype of “gangsta rap” since the early 90’s and there was recently been a resurgence of the region’s hip-hop that is looking to change this. I remember seeing the “K.R.E.A.M. (Kicks Rules Everything Around Me)” video on YouTube back in December and saying to myself that these two dudes right here (Y.O. and Thurzday of U-N-I) could definitely help bring back the true essence of hip-hop’s music that has been lost in the bling era. The true essence of hip-hop of having fun and living life can be seen and heard in their “Beautiful Day” video on YouTube as well. Together, Y.O. and Thurzday make up the hip-hop duo of U-N-I and are gearing to drop their second installment very soon. With over 4 million plays on their Myspace page, their music is being heard all over the internet. I was able to sit and have a good conversation with these two dudes out of Inglewood, and ask them a few questions regarding their music, their next album, and other shit about them as individuals.

What’s up with you cats, man? Introduce yourselves to the HipHopRemix.com world. How did you two meet and why did you pick the name “U-N-I?”

Y-O:

We met at St Bernard High School in 1999 in the courtyard [during] freestyle battles. We recognized each other’s talents and decided to move as a unit. We both played [basketball] ball too.

Thurz:

We came up with the name U-N-I after being inspired by The Roots “Illadelph Halflife.” They had a song with Common titled “U.N.I.verse at War.” It fit us as a first person statement where myself and Y-O go against all contenders while maintaining an “universal” goal in our music to not be “boxed-in” to 1 sound.

There’s been a huge resurrection of hip-hop going on in the Los Angeles area as far as with acts coming out such as Custom Made, Pacific Division, J*Davey, Blu, and as well as you guys. How do you guys feel about the recent wave of hip-hop music that is coming out of your hometown area?

Y-O:

Cali is where it’s at. There’s so much talent out here and we’re proud to be recognized in this new movement.

I seen in the “K.R.E.A.M.” video that you cats had a good deal of about 100 pairs of shoes in the main scene. For all of the sneaker heads out there, how many pairs of sneakers do you both have? What’s your favorite pair of sneakers?

Thurz:

I kind of lost count. My favorite kicks at the moment are my Lobster SBs. Them joints are fresh…I’m kind of upset I couldn’t get the special package from the Concept store in Boston, but it’s all good.

Y-O:

I’m probably approaching 200. My favorite kicks right now are probably….hmmm….I’m going with my Jordan IV’s

When I seen the “Beautiful Day” video on YouTube for the first time months ago, it definitely reminded me of Pharcyde. It was a feel-good joint, and I felt that I could relate to you cats. A lot of the hip-hop now that is coming out is about material things that most people won’t ever able to afford; it’s a breath of fresh air to hear some hip-hop that I can actually relate to. How do you guys feel about the hip-hop scene right now (both mainstream and independent)?

Thurzday:

I feel that a lot of independent artists are receiving more love than mainstream artists. Folks are tired of being force-fed the bullshit music on the radio, so the independent scene serves as a refuge for folks who want some authentic shit, and that’s what we provide. With “Beautiful Day,” we wanted to showcase a nice day in our city over a laid-back track with our own flavor.

Y-O:

A lot of mainstream artist are on their way out, and you definitely know that when you see cats like Nelly biting scenes and concepts from our music video. I think the independent scene is more creative.

Now, man…I gotta ask this! When you made the song, “Fat Girl,” did you guys have anybody in mind when writing it, or were you just making the song just because?

Thurz:

That song was inspired by our good lady friend. We won’t say her name, but the skit before the song is a true story. We started freestyling over the beat about our big ladies and we made it into a song. Lol!

Are you guys currently in the process of signing to a label, or are you going to stay independent?

Y-O:

If somebody comes with a correct offer, we’d definitely take that into consideration.

Thurz:

…Until then, we’re going to keep producing quality music and pumpin’ it out to the internet and streets.

I know that a lot of cats will look at the album title of your first installment and say, “What the hell?!” What made you cats come up with using the title, “Fried Chicken and Watermelon?”

Thurz:

Basicly, black folks are stereotyped as loving fried chicken and watermelon. The West Coast is seen in a similar light of being stereotyped as 1-dimensional and stuck on that gangster tip. The title is used to catch your attention and break the stereotype.

Y-O:

We represent a new movement and we showcase that with our street album.

My favorite song by you cats right now would have to be “Supreme Song.” Will it be on the next album that you guys put out, and when is the next album coming out? What producers and emcee’s will show up on the LP?

Y-O:

“Supreme” is going to be on our 2^nd installment titled “A Love Supreme.” It’s being totally produced by Ro Blvd. We’ll hopefully be dropping it in the 3^rd quarter of this year

Define your music in one word.

Thurz: Innovative

Y-O: Fuckin sick! LOL

Who are your top five all-time emcee’s and producers?

Thurz:

1. Emcees
1. Redman
2. Black Thought
3. Common
4. Jay-Z
5. B.I.G.

Y-O:

2. Producers
1. J Dilla
2. Premiere
3. The Neptunes
4. DJ Khalil
5. Just Blaze

Are here one of you working on any side projects? Are you guys sponsored by any clothing brands? How would you describe your clothing style?

Thurz:

No side projects. We’re down with Lemar & Dauley and Orisue.

Y-O:

The best way to describe our style is “comfortably fresh.”

Will you guys be going on tour with anyone this summer?

Thurz:

We might be doing something with Aloe Blacc real soon. Stay tuned in

If you guys could work with any artists, bands, composers, etc, (dead or alive), who would you both want to work with?

Thurz:

I think our ideal collab would be J Dilla on the production with a feature from OutKast

I would like to thank U-N-I for taking the time out of their busy schedule to conduct this interview with me; make sure to add them as a friend on Myspace and check out their first installment, “Fried Chicken And Watermelon” (which can be purchased on their Myspace page).

Scanz

Scanz "A Dimepiece"

This is one of the latest artists to get signed to Rawkus 50, and I was actually sent this video from a friend of mine. I was truly impressed with what I heard in this video and will definitely be getting his album as soon as possible.

Who is Fat Tony?

I have linked up with this cat named Fat Tony out of Houston, Texas that is hella young but still has the work ethic of a man well into his mid-twenties. I listen to a wide array of music (hip hop especially) and for me to say that I'm going to help manage someone they must be hella good. The potential level of this kid is hella high and I expect him to do hella well.


Check out the new song added to Fat Tony's page....
"Love Life"


Click the picture to add Fat Tony!!!



Upcoming Shows

Oct 31 2007 9:00P
21+ - Pi Lounge and Bar ::: Halloween Show w/ Domino (iLL Faded Productions) Houston, Texas

Nov 2 2007 6:30P
University of St. Thomas w/ Fat Tony, Dee Rail, The Low Ends, The Rudyments, and more. Houston, Texas

Dec 1 2007 12:00P
Free Show - Contemporary Arts Museum houston, Texas

Dec 13 2007 7:00P
Mojo Risin' Coffee House w/ World Wide Web Houston, Texas

Ghostland Observatory

I had never even heard of the Ghostland Observatory until the Treasure Island Music Festival in San Francisco on last Saturday, but from their infectious synth production and lively vocals I instantly became intrigued on whom this duo from Austin, Texas was. Aaron Behrons (the vocalist) and Thomas Turner (the producer) are the masterminds behind their debut LP, "Paparazzi Lightning." It's very rare that I listen to an electronic-infused LP and feel that it is only fitting that I get my ass up and dance! I'm not even halfway through the LP yet, and it is slowly becoming an album that I know for sure will be receiving heavy rotation from me. Something that you rarely find amongst singers is that they sound totally different live than they do on their albums, but with Behrons, this was not an issue. He sounded just as great in San Francisco as he did on the album. I didn't get a chance to see them because I was backstage for the most part of their performance, but I know that now next time I see the Ghostland posters being posted for their next performance here in the Bay Area that I will be front row taking in all the great music that this duo both produce together. From the city that highlights the South By Southwest Festival every year, Austin, Texas did a great job in producing this group, the Ghostland Observatory.

Ghostland Observatory's performance at SXSW

Treasure Island Music Fest

It's very simple, people. I work for a pretty popular underground hip hop group, and I got to hang out backstage at the Treasure Island Music Festival in San Francisco, California yesterday. All day I was sitting backstage at this festival running into many independent artists, bands, and groups. Just to name a few: Thievery Corporation, Ghostland Observatory, Honeycut, DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist, Kid Beyond, Zion I, M.I.A., etc. From looking at the line-up yesterday, I knew maybe only 3 artists on the bill out of like 15. But, I think that it was a great thing because I got to discover many new artists and bands that put on one hella great show. In the middle of Zion I's set, the power went out on the stage for like 3 minutes, but they pulled it together to keep the crowd excited. I had a great time out there in windy ass San Francisco! Amazing how being on the water on Treasure Island, there's a huge degree of wind coming off the water. It was cold as hell out there earlier in the day, warmed up for maybe 2 hours around 2pm, then went back to being chilly again around 5pm. But other than that, sitting in the VIP stands and looking at the stage and crowd going nuts over the artists and bands was sick. Then, seeing the background of beach, ocean, and the cityscape of Frisco was truly a reminder of how beautiful and blessed we all are to live in the Bay Area. Well, not all of us. LOL.

...more more...yeah...musique.

I've been listening to some really great albums lately including Killah Priest, the Smiths, Cyne, etc. I've been sitting at this computer recently almost since Saturday listening to hella albums that I've been recommended to listen to by friends and albums that I haven't listened to at all. Hell, I have albums on my computer that have never been played to since the day I downloaded them. Yeah, that's right...I said downloaded! I'm not afraid of the Music Federallie's. I have realized that the albums that I have slept on the most and never played were the best albums in my whole musical collection. I'm just thankful that God gave me this wide-open musical taste to like many different types of music beyond hip hop and rock. I love the fact that I can play Frank Sinatra or Billie Holliday, Atreyu, Aesop Rock, and Dieselboy all in the same play list and appreciate all of them. I definitely need to do a profession that includes writing and music. I think that all of you should check out all of these artists.


Killah Priest (of Wu Tang Clan)


Cyne


LMNO (of the Visionaries)


Justice

Sunspot Jonz

The true hip hop! Definitely true hip hop indeed from Oakland-raised and bred co-creator of the Living Legends crew, Sunspot Jonz on his most recently released underground hip hop LP, "Why We Fight." There are six members of the Living Legends whom are both from California's hubs, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. All of the Legends have gone on to do many solo projects and most of the solo projects were just alright, but Sunspot Jonz has definitely proven on this LP that he can be successful with or without the Legends. "Why We Fight" is laced with 19 heavy bass-laden and eclectic tracks and a bonus track at the end of the installment that all carry their own many different themes to leave your ass nodding your head for 80 minutes . I was hella impressed with what I have heard on this LP!. From the jazz-influenced instrumental, "Hip Hop" to tracks featuring the Grouch, Equipto, Luckyiam.PSC, and Eligh, this album is definitely one for any hip hop collector. I would recommend this to any hip hop fan, well any music fan in general. Sunspot Jonz will not let you down on this LP; he will leave your senses and ears tingling and wanting more.

Overall Grade: 84 percent (B)

Finally, a radio station I can listen to!!

It's kind of a hassle to find a radio station that plays independent music. Usually you have to turn your FM dial to the 88-92 range to find a college radio station that plays some kind of independent and obscure music, and there is usually never a radio station that is decided to the greatest genre of hip hop: the underground hip hop scene.

I was scanning through my daily internet website that I love to go to find my latest in underground hip hop news and album releases, Underground Hip Hop.com, and found this radio station run by a UC Davis graduate that is devoted to nothing but the finest in underground hip hop. The play list has some of the most obscure and local scene artists to even some of the most popular hip hop groups and solo artists amongst the underground hip hop circuit.

I recommend that you go to http://www.gtronicradio.com/

People In Planes

I am writing again; I am listening to "Falling By The Wayside" by a hell of a great band from the UK, People in Planes. I bought their LP "As Far As The Eye Can See" back in January at the best indie record store in the world, Amoeba Records in San Francisco and haven't been able to stop playing it since. Whether you like rock or not, this LP is one of those albums that even the most close-minded music fan might be able to enjoy. It's just pure rock music. The sense of simple baselines and a front man that can actually sing his ass off is something that is hard to find in a rock band nowadays. I would hella recommend you to buy this LP when you get a chance.

Overall Album Grade-85 percent...hella good!

People In Planes - Falling By The Wayside
Download Music Video Code at Roxwel

So...I downloaded this album last week, and I finally got around to listening to it Friday. (Yeah, yeah, yeah...illegal, so what!) The very first time I heard anything about Brother Ali was on a song called "Cats Van Bags" on Atmosphere's "Seven's Travels" album. I was instantly interested into getting one of his albums, but I didn't get one until recently.

This album is decent. Brother Ali is a lyricist that can basically spit lyrics in the most profound and conscious ways, but overall, I wasn't blown away by this album. I am a music enthusiast (especially when it comes to underground hip hop and rock), therefore I wasn't too impressed with the album. Not to say take anything away from Brother Ali as an artist; it's just that this album was good, but not great. Songs such as "Faheem" and "Pedigree" were great attributes of Ali's musical work that helped to change somewhat of my perception of this album. More or less, he is a great emcee, but he seems much greater of an artist to feature on someone else's music rather than his own solo project.

This album has 14 songs, and even though I wasn't too blown away by the lyrical content or instrumental beats I would recommend "The Undisputed Truth" to any person looking to gain more of an underground taste to their music library.

Overall grade- 7.8

Definitive Swim

Definitve Jux (an independent hip hop record label) teamed up with Cartoon Network's "Adult Swim" to put this mixtape together. It has a collection of songs on it by Def Jux artists such as Rob Sonic, Mr. Lif, El-P, etc.

I think they did a really good job putting it together. It is also a FREE download at the Definitive Jux website. If you are into hip-hop not infused with the typical "money, cash and drugs" format, this would be a great add to your music collection.

http://store.definitivejux.net/store/index.htm