Inverse

With young hip-hop groups such as U-N-I, Pacific Division, J*Davey, and Custom Made, there is a duo named Inverse that is helping bring the true essence of hip-hop back in their very own stomping grounds of Los Angeles, California. For too long west coast hip-hop has been slated with the stereotype of “gangsta rap,” and groups such as Inverse are definitely showing that west coast cats can rock the mic too. Tunji (being from the San Francisco Bay Area) and Toby (from Los Angeles) are breaking down the west coast moniker for hip hop as “gangsta” with their very own debut release, “So Far (The Collection)”

which can be downloaded for free on their Myspace page. Let’s get to know Inverse more:

Can we start with a little background on who Inverse as a group is and how you guys met? What were the elements that drove the two of you into creating Inverse? How did you meet?

Toby: We met at a show in 2001...had a similar taste in music and a similar desire to make honest, soulful hip hop music. We wrote a song the first day we met. We created Inverse with the idea that through all differences both personally and artistically there lays a similar spirit and passion in what we do. We are able to create something from two different approaches that ties together well as a whole while hopefully reaching more people due to its wider range of approach.

Tunji: We chose the name Inverse because we knew people would immediately focus on how different we are on the surface, and also since we make hip hop so what we're doing is literally in verse.

As far as the LP “So Far” (The Collection), do you feel that it helps define you as a group and as individuals through the mediums of hip hop?

Toby: Well first of all, we'd like to just clarify that “So Far” isn't quite an LP..it's more of a "collection" of old songs, songs from side projects, and a few new songs recorded for this collection. Its intention is to give people a quick taste of who we are, where we've been, and where we're going. I think it's a good introduction to what we're about musically and personally but understand that this is primarily promotional material where as the album will really give us the opportunity to dive into what we're about musically and who we are as people.

Tunji: I definitely feel like we stand out in the current world of hip hop, and “So Far” shows that. We always try to make personal songs and put our real lives in the music, so whatever we do is going to speak to who we are as young men and as artists. In that sense, the music on “So Far” definitely captures who we are as people, but it's not necessarily a complete picture because it's not our real album. It's more of a quick snapshot. It's like an introduction, but you'll get the full story once you hear our album.

What are some of your favorite songs on “So Far?”

Toby: My personal favorites are "So Far" and "I Believe" with "HipHopSoul", "Remember The Name", and "Everything Is Beautiful" closely behind.

Tunji: I'd have to choose between "Constellation," "Remember The Name" and "HipHopSoul". Definitely one of those three.

Are there any major or independent labels that are trying to sign you guys, and do you plan to sign to a label or work independently?

Tunji: We have a few options we're exploring with indie labels, and a few people we work with want to help out on the distribution side, but right now we're just trying to keep the buzz from “So Far” going and focus on finishing the album. We actually got contacted by a major last week to set up a meeting, but we haven't set it up yet. I'm pretty sure we want to keep things independent at this point, but we're open-minded. Obviously, we want to be successful, but we're not in any hurry to get signed or blow up right now. We want the whole world to hear our music, but we also realize that if you want a lasting career, you have to pace and plan things meticulously and make the right business decisions to support the music.

Toby: Basically what Tunji said...We're going to continue to market ourselves independently with somewhat of an entrepreneurial mindset. Trying to create this brand and market it to the world. That being said, we have a few options on the table, and we are open-minded to hear what is available. We will make whatever decision we feel is best for providing us long-term success.

Who are some of your musical influences?

Toby: My musical influences range from blues, classic rock, soul, hip hop, world music, and even some country. I grew up listening to a lot of blues and country because my dad is from the south. My mom listened to more classic rock (the Beatles, Led Zeppelin. etc). [And] I grew up exploring music and gaining huge influences from the likes of Nina Simone, Bob Marley, Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Tupac, Common, Cee-Lo, Fela Kuti, James Brown, Muddy Waters, Brother Ali, etc..

Tunji: I'm definitely a music junkie, so there are way too many too name. My parents are from Nigeria, so there was a lot of afro beat and Nigerian music like Fela Kuti and King Sunny Ade being played in our house that influenced me growing up. My parents were also into soul and all the Motown stuff from the '60s and '70s, along with Michael Jackson and Prince and all the classic '80s R&B and funk. I'm a huge Beatles fan as well. As far as hip hop goes, my biggest personal influences come from OutKast, Jay-Z, Nas, Common, Mos Def and Talib Kweli, Lauryn Hill, Cee-Lo Green, The Roots, The Pharcyde and Atmosphere, along with people we know and admire like Brother Ali, Little Brother, the whole QN5 camp and all our friends out here in LA who we're rising with. Right now, I'm going crazy over the newest Erykah Badu album and these dudes called Chester French who I recently met out here in LA.

Hey Tunji, I’ve read that you were from the Bay Area? How do you feel about the hip hop scene in the Bay Area, and who are some of your Bay Area hip-hop influences?

Tunji: My experience with bay area hip hop is pretty unique because even though I grew up there, I didn't really come of age as a hip-hop head until I was in high school on the east coast. When I was in elementary school and junior high and the west coast was really running things commercially, I was into what all the kids in the bay were listening to - Snoop and Dre, Tupac, Too $hort, E-40 and The Click, the Luniz, Mac Mall and all those artists. But then I went to boarding school with a bunch of kids from Brooklyn and the Bronx, so around 9th grade I started listening to Nas, Wu-Tang, Jay-Z, Mobb Deep, Biggie, the Fugees, Heltah Skeltah and stuff like that. High school was when I started writing rhymes, so I was more influenced by that east coast style of rhyming and the beats as well, 'cause that's what I was around at the time. So, I'm not really an authority on bay area hip-hop, but I'm definitely influenced by the independent spirit of the bay and the business-minded manner in which bay artists have pushed their own music for the past two decades. Bay area rappers really pioneered the idea of moving major units independently, and hip-hop artists today owe a lot to that. As far as the hip hop scene in the bay right now, I feel the same way as I feel about hip hop everywhere - there are a few talented people making great music, but there's a lot of really, really wack shit as well. I've always been a big Heiro fan and I like Zion I a lot. I'm still a huge E-40 fan - in fact I was part of the marketing team for his last album when I worked at Warner Bros. Records, which was an amazing experience just being a hip-hop kid from the Bay and getting to help push an E-40 album.

Toby, how do you feel about the state of hip-hop in general today? Do you think that there needs to be a complete makeover from the mainstream hip-hop’s “Money, Cash, Hos” format that has been so overly saturating the radio and airwaves?

Toby: Well I don't necessarily think there is anything inherently wrong with that format of music. The problem really lays in the lack of balance...the lack of equal representation. This creates misconceptions about what hip-hop is to fans and outsiders alike. Hip-hop is and can be so many things at once. As a genre of music, it is an extremely diverse medium through which we can bring an extremely diverse spectrum of lyrical content and musical composition. Then you have mainstream fans who define hip-hop as one thing while underground fans define it as another. Both are right and wrong simultaneously. Hip-hop on both sides of the spectrum just lacks balance. There's constantly one type of stuff made over and over and over again with maybe a splash of something different here and there. Rock music has several different subgenres represented in the mainstream world. So, this leaves a chasm in the world of hip hop listeners because they are not represented through the same channels of media. Underground fans will swear that everything underground is "real hip hop" and better than all that "wack" mainstream stuff. Mainstream fans will swear that all underground stuff is amateur or some nerd shit talking about laser beams and galaxies etc..When the reality is that 95% on both ends of the spectrum are not very good. And there's great stuff made on both sides as well. If hip-hop fans would eliminate their own self-imposed boundaries, perhaps it would help bring the good stuff on both ends of the spectrum to the forefront so that we will have balance.

If you guys could do collaboration with any artist of any musical genre (dead or alive), who would it be with?

Tunji: I'd have to say either OutKast or Nas. A hungry Nas though. I wouldn't mind working with Erykah Badu or Fela Kuti either.

Toby: I could go a lot of different ways with this one. First two names that came to my mind were Quincy Jones and James Brown. I also think it would be interesting to make music with one of the big classical composers....Inverse featuring Beethoven.

What can people that don’t know Inverse already expect from you guys that is different from other hip hop groups?

Toby: I think the two main things are honesty and focus on songwriting. I think Tunji and I are both comfortable removing whatever boundaries usually exist between the listener and our true self. I think we bring an intelligence, worldliness, self-reflection, and diversity that most artists are unwilling or unable to bring to the table. This allows us to be honest about ourselves, about those that surround us, our culture, and our world with a sincerity that I believe people can relate to due to the universal themes carried within all people and all cultures. I think we also put a huge emphasis on songwriting that most other hip-hop artists do not. We usually see an emphasis on making a catchy song but without substance or much musicality. Or an emphasis on solely lyrical content and flow while ignoring the musical aspect of the medium. Our intention is to make catchy, well written, musically rich songs with substance that listeners can connect to on multiple levels. Lastly, I would say that we are constantly pushing ourselves...challenging ourselves to make our next song the best we've ever done. So with that mindset I think that listeners can expect us always to be pushing forward and progressing as artists and people.

Tunji: Musically speaking, we’re definitely trying to bring something new to the table. Our songs usually have a lot of movement to them, and I don't think we sound like anything that's out now or that people have really heard in hip hop. First and foremost we’re lyricists, but we try to incorporate very distinct hooks, bridges and melodies to bring a fresh approach from a songwriting perspective. I think our songs allow us to appeal to a lot of people who love music but aren't necessarily fans of rap, but diehard hip hop heads are down with us too because at the core we're both MCs and we can really spit. But we’re not caught up in trying to fit in and you can always expect us to channel our true lives and experiences through the music. Our music always comes from our real life experiences and we try to talk about life in a way that’s at the same time personal and relatable to the average person. We realize we don't look or sound like what most people expect from hip-hop nowadays, but we're okay with that and we definitely embrace that uniqueness.

What projects are you guys working on as a collective and even solo?

Tunji: Lately we've been working with some really talented instrumentalists and vocalists to take our live show to the next level. We want to make sure the live experience is just as dynamic as the songs we've been making. As far as recording goes though, right now we're just trying to finish up the album. We already have a few ideas for what to do next, like an EP with all international producers, a collaborations project taking advantage of the ridiculous amount of talented friends we have around us, and a few other ideas we've been kicking around, but the album is top priority. I definitely want to do some solo music as well, but the time will come for that. Right now the focus is on Inverse.

Toby: We've been working on coming up with new ways to market ourselves effectively. [We are] trying to bring Inverse to the world as a globally recognized brand and to find the best ways to get our music into people's ears. It's a new era for independent music artists, so it's important for us to focus on the business aspect of things as much as the music. As far as solo projects go...I really want to establish Inverse first before we consider doing a project individually. There is no doubt though that as two very different individuals we would both like to do some solo music down the road. This would be something in addition to pushing Inverse forward, not in lieu of it.

11 When can hip hop fans expect another Inverse release?

Tunji: Look out for “Long Day's Journey” before the end of 08, and we actually just got So Far up on iTunes, so the people can go grab that now. We just got So Far pressed up on CD too, so holla if you need a copy.

Toby: I think Tunji covered everything as far as Inverse releases go. However, we may have a song here or there on some side projects. Stay tuned, make sure to get a copy of So Far, and make sure to spread the music around as much as possible.

A song that really stood out to me was “’Til The End (C.A.L.I.)” featuring Deacon the Villain from the hip hop group, CunninLynguists. How did you guys click up with him to do this song?

Tunji: We've known those dudes for a long while, almost 8 or 9 years now. Kno used to steal music from my shared folder when I was in college and we started talking and becoming better friends around 2002. Then during my senior year I got a big budget from my school and organized a concert with Inverse opening up for CunninLynguists, Little Brother and Cee-Lo Green. We came up with this plan to book the CunninLynguists and Cee-Lo on the same flight out to Cali, which helped them build a relationship with him and led to him appearing on their album A Piece of Strange.

When they came out for that show at my school, it really solidified the friendship and they asked us to jump on the Sloppy Seconds 2 mixtape they were working on at the time. They were out here in LA for another show and we worked on it. It was a real natural thing. Kno actually came up with the hook first and then Deacon absolutely killed it. That song was our first appearance on an official release, and it introduced us to a lot of people, so we're definitely thankful. Those guys have been a huge help for our careers and we consider them both friends and mentors. Whenever they're out here in Cali you can guarantee Inverse is gonna be there as well.

Toby: I actually first got in touch with them about 9 years ago when I got some beats from Kno for a solo project I was working on that never panned out. We just loosely stayed in touch until the show at Tunji's school that he mentioned.

We have tremendous respect for them as people and for their musical talents and we definitely will be working with them often in the future. A Piece Of Strange Productions, which is the name under which Kno and Deacon produce as a collective, will actually be executive producing our upcoming LP Long Day's Journey.

So there you have it, Inverse…not just your typical hip-hop group. Toby and Tunji are two very different individuals that have been brought together for one sole purpose; to bring the hip-hop heads and music heads alike originality to the music forefront. Los Angeles is becoming a hotbed for young up and coming hip-hop groups (U-N-I, Pacific Division, etc.), and Inverse has the drive and potential to help push themselves into a whole new musical realm of their own. Be expecting a grand set of things from Tunji and Toby in the near future, and if you haven’t already, go download their “So Far (The Collection” on their Myspace page for FREE! Thanks guys.

Fat Tony

There’s a storm of potential brewing in the core of young Fat Tony’s mind. Did I emphasize young (he’s not even 20 years old yet); Fat Tony is from the same stomping grounds that UGK, Scarface, K-Otix, and DJ Screw made famous, Houston, Texas. Now with his debut solo installment, the “Love Life” EP released on March 4th, it is laced with a variation of eclectic songs talking on a wide-arrange of topics. Even through the EP-opener, “Faith (You Never Know),” to the songs like “She Glows” (produced by Tom Cruz of hip-hop group, Supreeme), every song on the Love Life EP stims to the central theme of loving and living life to the fullest.

Already with the huge opportunity of playing and performing at one of the biggest independent music festivals in the world, South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, Fat Tony will prove to the world that he is more than capable and ready to make a viable impact to music fans’ ears, minds, hearts, and souls.

1) Where did the name, “Fat Tony” come from? What’s the origin of the stage name, and how is the hip hop scene in Houston?

“Fat Tony” came from my adolescent hands while sitting in my 8th grade P.E. class during a class pizza party. They had us watching Scared Straight as a treat! Trying to turn out us young Houston hooligans into upstanding citizens. (Them niggas failed.) I tagged the name on a cup and it got noticed by some friends. The name stuck for my raps ever since then.

The Houston Hip Hop scene is dope. The scene is warm and flourishing with several new developments that seem promising. There are always venues awaiting you to book a show, and there's definitely an audience for a various styles of rap blasting off down here; whether it's classic Texas rap, Screw, radio shit, ultra underground rappity rap stuff, etc. Promotions for shows are looking bigger, glossier, and attracting nice crowds (thanks corporate sponsorships!).

2) As a young hip hop emcee breaking through the roots in Houston with an already somewhat mentionable name in your own city, what are your plans for this year?

My plans for the year are to rap wherever I can, whenever I can, for whatever audience is out there ready to listen. I wanna play hella shows across the land, hitting every college campus spot I can find. I've got my debut release, Love Life, poppin off as a free download right now from my Myspace page. I'm working on songs with my friend D ee R ai L for our duo, I and I. Working on a full-length Fat Tony album to follow up my EP too.

3. What drew you to hip hop? Are there any other genres of music that have helped you as a musician?

I was drawn to Hip Hop because I'm a young man born in 1988 and it’s a culture I grew up in since day one. I was always aware, open, and intrigued by rap. There were always a ton of records in my house, so I got into a lot of other music genres before I was a huge rap fan. My grandma listens to a lot of country, blues, and gospel. My mom likes a lot of classical, jazz, blues, and rock 'n' roll, And my dad jams lots of country and reggae music. I started getting big into Hip Hop around age 9; Thats when the radio and MTV were drawing me in heavily.

I get influenced by a lot of different genres, but besides Hip Hop I'd say punk rock is my biggest inspiration. I always did my research with music and got intrigued by D.I.Y. Cultures coming from underground rock 'n' roll and hardcore scenes. Listening to young bands who promoted, pressed, and handled all their material by hand gave me the motivation to get my stuff on the road.

4. How would you describe your cadence during over your songs? Do you feel that there is any other up and coming artists (such as yourself) from your area that the readers should be keeping a potential ear and set of eyes out for?

I'd describe my cadence as DOPE. Something that'll draw you in from a distant listen. Appealing to fans of good music across a variety of backgrounds. My music is for everyone. Out of this Houston area, I'd advise anybody with tastes to keep ears open & alert for D ee R ai L, Nosaprise, Tha Fucking Transmissions, iLL Faded Productions, and The Television Skies. [They are] all good artists and bands that I can co-sign all day long.

5. Who were some of the singers, hip hop artists, and bands that helped mold the artist, Fat Tony?

Too many! I go through periods of getting hella inspiration from different styles and eras in music. The biggest artists to influence me have always been Prince, Outkast, UGK, J Dilla, A Tribe Called Quest, The Smiths, Bad Brains, The Ramones, My Bloody Valentine, and DJ Screw. All the rap greats have inspired me of course, especially Jay-Z, Nas, 2Pac, E-40, De La Soul, Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, Mos Def, etc.

6. So I hear that you are set for your first solo release of an EP entitled “The Love Life EP.” What can music fans of all walks expect from hearing this musical installment of yours?

Good ass American rap music for young peoples worldwide. Nothing but good beats, dope rappin'. Something enjoyable to play when ridin' with your dudes or entertaining a lady friend. It fits any setting except a Klan rally or Republican convention. Fat Tony doesn't fuck with those types.

7. Are their any accolades that you have received so far even before releasing your first album?

I've been voted dopest young rap nigga alive by humans able to hear. They just haven't mailed me my trophy yet. I've been given a lot of good opportunities over the years. All because of blessings and my own hard work. I've been performing, making music, booking & promoting shows for a few years now. I definitely believe in hard work paying off.

8. The South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas is one of the biggest independent music festivals in the U.S. and I was told that you would be performing on stage for it. Do you feel any pressure at all?

I feel pressure to get my name out in a sea of other rappers trying to do the same! It's too many people trying to get in this now that it can make things oversaturated. The crabs in a barrell approach is never a good look. I'm confident that I'll stand out and reach the people that need to hear me though. I'll be performing with my partner D ee R ai L and DJ Klinch. We've got a great show for anyone that catches one of our performances.

9. What more can the readers expect from Fat Tony? Are their any other projects that are in the works with you right now?

Readers can expect more good music because I've always been known for doing a million projects/bands/groups at once and I don't think that's slowing down any time soon. An I and I album is coming and a Fat Tony full-length album is coming. I'd rather let the records speak for themselves rather than hype them up. Stay tuned to my Myspace and Facebook domains to always see whats good with me!

10.If you could do a song with any musical artist(s) (dead or alive), who would it be with?

I've love to do music with a bunch of people. Production wise, I'd love to do tracks with J Dilla, Pimp C, Q-Tip, Three 6 Mafia, Timbaland and The Neptunes. They've all produced many of my favorite songs ever. Sa-Ra have some really nice stuff too. I've got a crush on cute ass Amerie and love her “Touch” album. I'd get in the studio with her in a hot minute. Get on some “I'ma rap really tight, you just kill these hooks!” type tracks. I'd do music with Outkast because they are the very best, period. And if I could get a guest rapper on some shit of mine in the near future it'd be E-40! It could be a song about nothing, I don't care! Hella gifted with the voice he has. I'd like to get down with some of these new era rap dudes that I hear spittin' really hard like Supreeme, Blu, or Pacific Division. I want us all to feel like we're part of a new age in rap music.

This young guy with an extreme amount of talent with a genuine cadence and dope live show set is ready to set the microphone blaze along with music fans’ ears and minds as well. I had a great time interviewing Fat Tony, and would like to say thanks for the interview. Be sure to download his debut release, the Love Life EP for FREE!

Click the link below to download the "Love Life" EP for FREE:

http://www.zshare.net/download/8444653db47ce0/

Somobe

Las Vegas has been a city known to sprout up lavish casinos from the dry desert terrain like wild flowers growing in an oasis. But amongst the dry desert of Vegas, there is a musical oasis of a hip hop group known as Somobe with an impressive first album entitled, “The Great Communication” that opened a lot of hip hop heads eyes. Following the same distinctive parallels of the legendary Pete Rock and CL Smooth and Gangstarr, Somobe has formulated a sound all to their own comprised by a producer/DJ and an emcee. Let’s get to know masterminds behind the group, Somobe:



1)So guys, what is the meaning behind the name, “Somobe?” Is there a specific reason why you guys choose the name over any other? What are your names for those of the readers whom are now being introduced to you?

Bob J:
The term “Moby” meant cool back in the swing era. So we took that changed the “Y” to an “E,” added the “So” to make Somobe, meaning “So cool.” At the time, we were sort of struggling to come up with a new name once we discovered our original name had already been taken. One day, Jon just came up with Somobe and we just ran with it. I’m Bob J; I produce and play bass during live shows.

Jon: I’m Jon; I’m the emcee/producer


2)As for a little background on you guys, how did you two meet? Were you neighborhood friends growing up, or were you acquainted in college?

Bob J:
We’ve got that whole classic story thing going on. We met in school in the marching band; Jon played sax and played trumpet. One day after school, he and a drummer were jamming together, [and] I had just recently picked up bass and I joined in on the session. We started writing original songs and it just sort of took off from there. It’s hard to believe that that was 9 years ago, I guess we’ve been doing it longer than it feels.

3)Being a hip-hop group from Las Vegas, Nevada, do you feel that the music scene there is doing well? Who are some of the artists from Las Vegas that our readers should be looking out for?

Bob J:
Las Vegas has always been an indie rock town. There’s plenty of rock acts out here, most notably the Killers and Panic at the Disco. But as for hip-hop, we’ve sort of stayed under the radar, but it’s definitely bubbling up. The Chapter has always been the standard out here for good hip-hop, but also check out Isaac Sawyer and Artson.

4)I was very impressed when I heard the album, “The Great Communication” on a lyrical and production level? Who are some of your musical influences that help shape and mold Somobe (lyrically and production-wise)?
Jon:
For me, production-wise I’d say J-Dilla is an influence. At first, I didn’t realize how much of an influence he was, but now in retrospect, he had a major influence on my production style. [Also,] DJ Premier. Lyrically there are a lot of different guys that influence me. [Such as] Royce Da 5’9, Elzhi, MF Doom, Pharoahe Monch, Jay-Z. [There's] tons of different dudes.

Bob J:
As for me, I’ve always kind of looked up to the Neptunes and how they’ve progressed yet still maintained their sound. It’s like you know when you hear a Neptunes track but at the same time I’m like “Wow. That’s the Neptunes?”

5) At the end of the song, “Where I’m Supposed To Be” who were those individuals that were talking about why hip-hop? What made you guys come with this idea to add them to your album?

Bob J:
Those were some fans we reached out to to add a more personal down-to-earth element to the album. Because at the end of the day, art is determined by the audience and we wanted to give them a voice too.

5)Out of the 12 songs that were installed on “The Great Communication,” what were you guys’ favorites?

Jon:
I think Long Days is one of my [favorites] on the album. That song has about a billion metaphors and symbols in it that 99% of the people who hear it won’t ever catch. It took me about 4 months to write that song.

Bob J:
Personally, I like the “Clap On” for its energy and every time I hear “Stateline,” I kind of smile to myself and bask in our glory. Ha-ha. Just kidding.

6) Are there any songs on “The Great Communication” that were based on actual events that occurred or people that you actually knew?

Jon:
“Stateline” is based on a murder/rape case that happened at the state line between Vegas and California. It is written pretty much detail for detail from the police reports, so if you read the reports and then read the lyrics, you’ll really appreciate that track. Google “Sherrice Iverson”. I didn’t want the song to be disrespectful to the victim or her family. It’s written in a way that documents the events, with the details that were missing from the police reports filled in with fictional elements. Oddly, it’s the most upbeat song on the album, yet it has the darkest subject matter. I liked that contrast.

7)What can hip-hop heads look forward to from Somobe in the next few months to a year? Are there any side projects that either one of you are working on right now?

Jon:
We’re producing a few projects for some other artist. There’s a soul/R&B project in the works with an artist named Melinda Valenzuela. We’re producing and co-writing that one. She’s the girl singing on “If I Can’t” on our album; she’s extremely talented. There are a lot of other things in the works with a few better known artists as well. We’re busy!

8)If you could be anywhere on Earth right now, where would you be? (Answer individually)

Jon – There’s no place like home.

Bob J:
I’d love to visit the Philippines again and see my family; I love it out there.

9)If you could collaborate with any musical artist(s) or band (dead or alive), who would it be with?

Jon – Marvin Gaye. Man that would be dope!

Bob J:
Wow. Hmm. James Brown and Prince or any funk band from the 70’s. Rage Against the Machine would be crazy!!!

Somobe’s first album, “The Great Communication” is an eclectic balance of songs that leave the listener in euphoria; the complete mix of production and lyricism blended together to the delight of the listener. Much to the musical delight to the listener by the end of “The Great Communication, Bob J and Jon of Somobe put the corresponding elements of DJ/producer and emcee on a great plain like two perfect pieces to a jig-saw puzzle. Thanks for the interview, guys!

Debut EP "The Love Life" by Fat Tony

.............................


Fat Tony's Love Life Available Now!
Entire EP & Individual Tracks Available as *FREE DOWNLOAD*

www.zshare.net/download/8444653db47ce0/
[copy + paste the link into your address bar]




1. Faith (You Never Know)
2. Stand High ft. Tom Cruz (of Supreeme)
3. Love Life
4. She Glows ft. Smash Bro + Tom Cruz (of Supreeme)
5. Much Accomplished ft. Smash Bro
6. Goodbye (Outro ft. Errbody, nigga!)


Released by Same Struggle Ent.
http://www.myspace.com/samestruggle

Troubles of Youth

At the age of twenty-three, I have learned much about myself through the many interactions and hardships that I have encountered with peers within my age range (of 21-25). I have learned that I am definitely older in the mind than I am physically; I have been told that I have an old soul and I am really starting to believe that this is true. I realize that I interact much easier with those that tend to be in their late twenties to early thirties. A lot of times when I talk to people my age, I feel like I am talking to little kids; the things that they do without any kind of regard for anyone else shows a true lack of maturity.
My mother even said this last week, "You need an older woman; you need to talk to a woman in her early thirties." Could you imagine me (at the age of 23) hearing my mother saying that I should talk to women 10 years older than me? It was not so surprising that I heard this from my mother seeing as I get along easier with people already ten years older than me in the first place. It seems that people that are much older than me tend to understand me much more than my peers whom seem to be consumed with bullshit most of the time.
I have even noticed with my male peers the lack of maturity is truly infectious. Being at the age where most are extremely immature and are struggling to find a balance between late night bar binges and paying rent, I have felt like I was talking to little children when friends of mine talk about particular things that they have encountered in their lives. Listening to twenty something college graduate friends of mine complain about living on their own sounds almost elementary to me.
We all struggle at some point in our youth to find a balance between paying rent and having a dwindling childhood, but I have realized that I have grown so much faster than those around me. It is sad, and I am thinking of engaging on more interactions with those humans that are physically ten years in stature ahead of me in age, but obviously with minds that should parallel each other without a problem.

This Type of Shit Happens (Seriously)

What more can I say about what has occurred this weekend other than it was an eye-opening experience that I will never forget. I drove over 2 hours on Friday to get to Sacramento from my home here in the Bay Area to visit a "friend" of mine that I was dating at the time. We argued on Friday and Saturday night after alcohol was both in our systems; I will take the brunt of the reason for the argument on Saturday. But, when someone drives so far to see someone, you would hope that they would not leave you at their apartment by yourself in a strange town. So then, here I am, Saturday night, half drunk and belligerent as fuck stuffing my clothes into my overnight bag getting ready to drive back home.
I drive 30 miles, call a friend of mine in Vallejo, and receive a call from the "friend" whom had left me in the first place. I decide to turn around and try to work things out with the friend back at their apartment all the while thinking to myself, "I gotta bad feeling about this." Let's not forget the open pregnancy test box I had found in her cabinet which obviously wasn't for me seeing as we never had sex. But, let's not go off on a tangent; so I pull up to her apartment and it is about 1:30 AM now Sunday morning and I am tired as hell from the alcohol that I had consumed previous hours before.
She wallows into the apartment all drunk and changes into her pajamas; we begin to talk. All the while, I have noticed over the time that I have know this girl that she is completely nonchalant about our quarrels whether as if I was present of not, it didn't really matter to her. I told myself repeatedly that I would not give up the next great person I would meet (like I had done before with Shean in DC). We mend things, so I thought and preceed to go to sleep. She awakes me at 8AM and I go back to sleep after a bit of fooling around. I arise back again at 12 noon that day (Sunday) to call my father while she prepares breakfast.
Now this is where it gets a little fucked up! I am standing in the living room of her studio apartment where I hear someone rattling keys in her door. The chain to the door is latched and I see another man peering into the door looking dead at me. I don't fully realize whom this could be. She seems a bit startled by this, and I ask whom it is. She merely replies the biggest piece of shit for a lie I have ever heard,"It's nobody important; it's an old friend." She goes outside to talk to the guy and I say,"Fuck this!" to myself and proceed to get dressed. She immediately walks back into the apartment and locks the door and I ask her once more whom it is. This time there's a different answer,"He's an old friend; he is my ex-boyfriend."
I proceed to ask her,"Why does he have a key to your house if he's your ex?" Mind you...a little back story on me and this girl....I met her in May...she allegedly "was going through some shit with her family" and stopped talking to me without and calls, texts, or anything....she calls me a month ago in January to make a mends....we begin to date.
I knew all the while even back in May that she had a boyfriend she was not telling me about. She was always distant, and would disappear for days at a time without a trace. Now it all makes sense....
When I met her in May...she was also seeing this guy (the door guy)....she put me on the back burner for this guy....I stopped talked to her....things didn't work out for them...so she decided to comeback to me in January....now the ex boyfriend is back in her life....

I am pissed the fuck off! I have no idea how I should feel right now. Long story short, I drove home; I am so confused. I guess I'll have to charge this to the game and keep movin'

Presidental Race 2008: Does It Really Matter?

Girl: I'm voting for Obama; he's a black man that will give this nation great change.

Boy: Is that change he will give a great one in the era of despair or will the change be brought from a greater source of racial tension in this nation resurrecting the white/black Jim Crow-esque ideals of the earlier half of this nation's birth?

Really, truly think about your vote today. Does it even matter in the first place? Is there already a winner picked out? Could all this "America's Choice in 2008"advertising all be a PR ploy? I'm not the most political person in the world when it comes to this thing they like to call "democracy," but I will say this....I believe that this country is in for a whole heap of trouble this year. Regardless of whom you vote for today, the political candidate that will be placed in office this time next year will be guaranteed to be the scapegoat of all of America's economic, military, and political problems. Doesn't this make complete sense to you, people:

A hundred years ago, black men and women (of whatever color) were seen as subsidiaries amongst their alleged "superior counterparts" (white men). Isn't it the least bit ironic to you that a black man (who is already the most hated figure in the world especially in this country) and a white women (a hundred years ago, women were fighting for the right to vote) now are the two figureheads for the 2008 Election? The irony of a black man and a women being the flagship talking heads for the seat in the "grandest house of them all," the White House is remarkable to me. I don't believe in this "America is ready for a change" PR campaign bull that is being saturated throughout the core of this country. From the shiny Obama stickers imprinted on college kids book bags in Seattle to the Clinton pick-it signs posted proudly in America's heartland of the Mid-West, the PR campaign is everywhere.

Even if either one of these political figures are truly "just" people, they are being voted into America at the time of being on the brink of a recession, economic depression, and even under the talons of the most feared war of them all, World War 3 with differences amongst Russia, Korea, and China. And what would this make the next president, whom happens to be possibly a black man or women...obviously, this makes them a scapegoat! Seen as scapegoats, (women and black men have been for centuries) what makes you people think that the next president won't be a scapegoat not only for America's problems, but the world's problems in general?

If Obama wins, we are in for a heap of trouble. A race war maybe only a few months away. Seriously! If Clinton wins, she will be scapegoated for America's future travesties. It's a double-edged sword regardless of whom the winner is of the two.

God help us all!

The Carps Interview

“I don’t want some wood grain for Christmas,” Jahmal Tonge belts out on the Carps’ drum-induced song “All The Thugz I Know” on their EP, “The Young and Passionate Days of Carpedia Vol 2.1.” I was originally introduced to the Carps by a friend of mine, and I can recall the first song I heard by them literally catching my attention in the most vibrantly and rhythmically authentic of ways.
Coming from the frigid tundra (better known as Toronto, Canada), Jahmal Tonge (drums and vocals) and Neil White (guitar) are making a solid impact there and beyond their local music scene. Imagine this: a progressive rock duo with elements of punk rock, soca, hip-hop, and soul blended together and you have the Carps. Jahmal and Neil are the complete mix of rock, soul, funk, and R&B to quench even the most eclectic music aficionado’s acquired taste.

First and foremost, who are the Carps (collectively and individually)? How did you guys meet?

Neil and Jahmal:
[Our names are] Neil White and Jahmal Tonge. [We] met playing music at a youth group in Flemingdon Park, Toronto, ON. Neil [was]on bass and Jahmal [was]on guitar.

The first time I heard of you guys was on your EP entitled “The Young and Passionate Days of Carpedia Vol 2.1.” Why did you guys pick the band name the Carps anyway? Is their any significance behind the name?

Neil and Jahmal:
The band is named after the saying “Carpe diem” a motto from a poem by Horace meaning, “Seize the Day.”

On the song “Compton to Scarboro” was there any significance behind the premise of the song? Was the song actually made for an individual that you guys know, or was it made to show a dynamic of people that choose to walk their lives down the wrong path?

Jahmal:
It’s a bit of both. I [Jahmal] grew up [as a] black boy in a middle-class neighborhood, and right on the other side of the freeway was government housing. I knew a lot of cats who thought Toronto was Compton. It was made for all those guys. The ones I knew, but more so for the ones that are coming up.

I had heard a remix that the Bay Area producer, Trackademicks did of your song, “The Tumultuous Adventures of JJ Iscariot & the Insatiable Booty Fanatic” and I thought it was hella good! Are you guys acquainted with Trackademicks, and how do you feel about the work he has done on other remixes for other artists? Did you guys enjoy your remix that he did for one of your songs?

Jahmal:
We LOVED it! Track is a great dude, and the Bay recognizes him for sure, but the world is sleeping on him. His beats are out of this world. [And] more than anything else, he’s just a great dude. Bayyyyyyyyyy!!!

Jahmal, you have a vocal style that reminds me of Lenny Kravitz. You have a very strong singing voice. What are some of your musical influences that helped mold your cadence?

Jahmal;
Definitely not Lenny. I would credit M.J. and Otis Redding. After that, I really don’t know.[I am] just trying to do my own thing and [I] hope I don’t sound too much like Omarion.

Is either one of you in any other side projects other than the Carps? Are there any other projects coming out soon that your fans can be watching out for?

Neil:
I produce on the side. Nothing [has] slated for release at the moment, but there will be some cool remixes come ’08.

You guys put together a collective sound that is definitely hard to put in a genre. How would you guys define your musical sound?

Neil and Jahmal:
We don’t, and we wouldn’t!

Neil, you have a great talent on your guitar. Who are some of your influences (musically) that made you want to pick up a guitar in the first place?

Neil:
Definitely would have to be Les Claypool from Primus; he’s a tremendously inspiring performer. When I started playing bass, I was really into punk rock music, and artists like Fat Mike (of NOFX) and Matt Freeman (of Rancid) usually supplied my favorite bass lines.

I have never seen you guys live, but I hear that you guys have one hell of a great live set! What can people expect to see when they come see the Carps perform?

Neil:
Well, [before] Youtube, answering that would be difficult. But, it’s all on there for everybody to see.

If you guys could do a collaboration with any musical artist or artists (dead or alive), who would it be with?

Neil:
Pharrell Williams, Stevie Wonder, Cody ChesnuTT, Jackson and his computer band.
Jahmal:
Shawn Hewitt-.The actually talented version of myself.

What can Carps fans expect from the Carps in the future? Are there any future albums coming out in the near future and when?

Neil and Jahmal:
We’ll definitely have something out in the U.S. in ’08, and tours and tours and tours.

You guys being from Toronto, how do you feel about the music scene there? Are there any local Toronto artists that you guys enjoy listening to?

Neil:
[There is an] incredibly vibrant music scene in Toronto. We have a great collection of venues and a number of excellent festivals: Canadian Music Week and North by North East. From Scarborough, (just north of Toronto) I really enjoy Shawn Hewitt (www.myspace.com/shawnhewitt). There is also an excellent prog-rock group called dd/mm/yyyy. Others I enjoy include MSTRKRFT, Death From Above 1979, Crystal Castles, and Let’s Go to War
Jahmal:
Shawn Hewitt. Thunderheist.

"Compton to Scarboro"
The Carps are a bright set of individuals with an even brighter future. If you haven’t already, go cop “The Young and Passionate Days of Carpedia Vol. 2.1.” I would like to thank Jahmal and Neil for taking the time out of their busy schedules to participate in this interview.

-Kevin Robinson, Jr.

Squeamish Sun.

I sit here at this desk; I sit here watching the Sun die in the clouds. The Sun being suffocated by the clouds succumbing to the darkness. The Sun almost a dead light drawing the parallels of one single firefly in the darkness of Autumn on the Eastern Shore to which I lived for a few years. The Sun no longer blazing in the sky of blue that it creates; the Sun set from a blazing yellowish-orange to a dull dirty-snow white through the thickness of the clouds. Nothing being porous through these clouds; hell, not even a star as powerful and bright as the Sun can burn off the mundane gristle of the clouds. Only once will the Sun gasp to darkness to be born again tomorrow...perhaps.

Independent Musically Minded...I Am Meant For This.

I've been a little busy lately trying to figure out what it is entirely I am going to do in the next year, and I have come to the conclusion that I am meant to do something with music. Not even on the musically side of the spectrum, but more or less, on the management, marketing, or public relations side of the business. I am learning that from meeting different artists, DJ's, and producers in the music business from interning with the underground hip-hop group, Zion I that I have the potential to do fairly well in this business. I don't think that I would be able to work in any other industry other than music because this is what drives me to do certain things throughout my daily routines of my life. Only at the age of twenty-three, I am learning that I have a much more different mind state than my peers that share the same age group as I do (ages-19-25) whose highlight of the week for the most part is wallowing in local dive bars at the financial expenses of their parent's credit cards. You know, that age when you are pretty much out of college, and are trying to figure out what the hell it is that you exactly want to do in your life. That indifferent part of one's life when they choose whether to grow through (what I like to call) "grown child syndrome" or to take the big chance in actually doing what is inevitable, growing up. School seems to be the major element that I need to finish in the next few months. But, I have realized that through the many blessings that have been given to me by God that I am meant to be a force within this industry of music.

God, please just grant me the strength and vision to progress in the industry; I will need it.