More Photos From Brother Ali

All photographs Copyright - Peyton Owen

 Here are a few more photographs from Brother Ali.
The top three are from Atmosphere at the Ogden. Enjoy!

 

P.O.S. Does Things Differently

Courtesy - P.O.S Facebook

For artists today, music is about trying to be innovative, creative, and trying to find that sound and style that makes their music stand out. For the Minnesota native, P.O.S, he is already ahead of the game because of his innovative beats and lyrics filled with passion and intelligence. The pure originality of his sound is made clear after you listen to his music for the first time. P.O.S takes hip-hop, chops it up, and then glues the pieces back together with parts of punk, making his art different than any other template provided by the music industry.

P.O.S has gritty punk rock influences like Black Flag, Bad Brains, and Minor Threat. He then incorporates these influences into his genius lyricism and unique style on each of his albums along with aggressive rhymes, heavy and honest lyrics, and unconventional beats.

On his newest LP, We Don’t Even Live Here on Rhymesayers Entertainment's record label, P.O.S. takes his music in a new direction, while still staying true to his previous style and grit. It is as if he is standing on the line between staying underground and using mainstream music (dubstep and house genres) as a tool to challenge himself and the underground hip-hop scene.

On the first track on the album, “Bumper,” P.O.S jumps right in using a synthesizer mixed with instrumental beats that work together smoothly. It is as if P.O.S explains his introduction of dubstep/electronic on the album in this song’s lyrics: “I take my with it/I take forever, so sick of were and that clever/Let’s skip ahead to the next/ pushin’ my own limits…”  He wants to challenge himself and the music industry to start inspiring people again.

P.O.S also exposes the truth behind mainstream rappers as well as his disgust with their impact on the music industry. He puts it plain and simple: he is tired of the fake image these bullshit rappers put out there, acting as if they are God’s gift to music. He rips apart the pretentious so called “musicians” that bring true music down by becoming consumed with materialism and false images. It is as if they suck the life out of the honesty and passion true musicians put into their art. P.O.S. explains, “While rappers try to act like they labels advance ‘em money still/and acting rich in a shaky and fake economy…They front so hard and so fuck it/They can’t even look in my eyes…I came to play, I came to rock/I came to stay, they came so soft/can’t look away, my rock is off/Out of the box…”

It is pathetic what music and hip-hop have come to in the mainstream music industry. P.O.S plays off it in his music, especially on his latest album. This is done through taking his intense attitude and creating the theme for We Don’t Even Live Here, which is encapsulated in the track “Fuck Your Stuff.” He seems to be fed up with the pretentiousness and egos many artists act as if it what other people think of them and how they look is more important than the quality and effort put into the music. It seems to be what P.O.S is trying to break this down as well as trying open the eyes of others by being himself. This attitude is very prevalent in this album.

Another element that makes We Don’t Even Live Here different for P.O.S  was working with well known DJs like Boys Noize and Mike Mictlan, who is a part of  his label Doomtree. They work together to give the album an interesting electronic sound, while still incorporating P.O.S’s unusual beats. It is just the right amount of electronic influence because it doesn’t overpower P.O.S’s beats, instruments, and samples. There were also a few tracks that sounded like they were off one of his older albums. This gives the album a nice balance to it.

I can’t decide if We Don't Even Live Here was a progression for P.O.S and his music, or if he is just trying to make a statement by dipping his foot into the ocean of mainstream while attacking the fake rappers with their “grillz", ridiculous jewelry, and overall lack of respect for hip-hop. Whichever it may be, he calls it as it is and inspires artists to get out of the hole that has been dug by the heartless in hip-hop.  

Check out P.O.S’s latest album We Don't Even Live Here. Also please donate money for his needed kidney transplant, and lifetime expenses that go along with the procedure even if it is as little as a dollar. He’s had deteriorating kidneys (Kidney Thief off of Ipecac Neat) since he was a kid, but now his condition has become life threatening This has caused him to postpone his tour until he has fully recovered. It is hard for musicians to have great health benefits so help out an amazing artist who had the courage to ask for help.  Eyedea from Rhymesayers is already missed by so many and another talent lost would be devastating.

Eyedea - Still Alive Through His Music and DJ Abilities

Courtesy - Eyedea and Abilities Facebook

Michael Larson, who to most is known as the underground rapper Eyedea, could freestyle and spit with such an incredible flow that would make your jaw drop right to the floor and your eyes pop out of your head from amazement. He is part of the Rhymesayers Entertainment crew and record label, based out of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. 

Eyedea’s soul is kept alive through his music, friendships, fans, and family. His memories and music shouldn't be defined by the thought of his untimely death in October 2010, but instead he should be remembered as a pure legend of the underground hip-hop scene.

Eyedea was best known for his freestyle battles, where he regularly beat his opponents with his cleverness and speed. Listening to one of the battles for the first time, I thought he was unstoppable. Instantly I had to dig deeper in order to discover who he was and as much of his music as possible. This led me to DJ Abilities and all those associated with the duo. Eyedea and Abilities broadened my musical knowledge and overall love for hip-hop and music.

A few years ago, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to talk with DJ Abilities a few days before Eyedea passed away. This was at a show he was playing with Pigeon John in Denver and he asked where he could find a burrito. Then throughout the conversation I even asked him when the two were going on tour next. Abilities replied,  “Hopefully soon,” with a smile on his face.

Eyedea's original style and unbound lyricism will continue to live on along with his memory and untamed talent that even made the underground smile.

Here is an awesome clip with Eyedea and Slug from Atmosphere on a morning radio show free styling back and forth.  Eydea made Slug look like a chump and completely out of his element, when even Slug has an awesome flow.
Let's keep the music alive. 

The Motet - Funk is Dead Photos

The Motet is an awesome band from Denver that plays a variety of shows, whether it is music they wrote or if they are covering a band like The Grateful Dead or The Talking Heads. Every time I see them I have a such a great time dancing  singing, and getting funky with everyone at the show. They can take any band's music and make it completely their own. Check out even more photos from The Motet - Funk is Dead here.

 

Primus Gets in Your Face with 3D

Primus 3D - copyright Peyton Owen

When I first bought tickets to go and see Primus in 3D I had no idea what to expect or how exactly the show was going to work at a venue like the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver. I walked in after waiting in the ridiculously long line that went down about 2 blocks or so from the entrance of the venue. Once inside, I grabbed some 3D glasses, and hoped it was going to be as great of show as previous times I have seen Primus. I had a good feeling about this show though. Les Claypool, the bassist, has continued to amaze me with his style, skill, and performance.

As the show started, I was shocked by how groundbreaking the 3D was. This Primus concert ended up having by far the best 3D visuals I have ever seen. No movie or IMAX 3D could even be compared to how the Fillmore was set up with incredible lighting, full surround sound, and most of all, visuals that made me think I could grab what was in front of me. It was also amazing how Primus based their show off of images, which if I try and remember all of the shows I have seen with remotely comparable visuals, Tool at Lollapalooza in 2009 as well as Tool (again), and Puscifer (more theatrical) at Rivers Edge, were the only two that stuck out. Most bands have light shows and whatnot, but this was different. I have never seen a show in 3D and interestingly enough when you took off your glasses the screen looked normal, which I wasn't expecting because the only thing I have to compare it to are movies.

As usual, Primus and Les Claypool killed it with their unique sound of jamming hard and heavy bass lines. They also were able to keep the crowd's attention by mesmerizing them with amazing stage presence as well as the passion and intensity coming through the speakers and band. The music went hand in hand with the 3D visuals too, especially when classics came on, such as "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver." On the screen there were 3D pieces of cheese switching to a fast motion cityscape, to old race cars moving statically in the video. See it for yourself:

However, some very tall people made it difficult for me to see many of the incredible images because at certain points due to some people's amazing ability to stand directly in front of me, or to shove past me as thought I wasn’t there in order for them to rudely move through the crowd, almost knocking people down on the nasty floor. Proper concert etiquette seemed to be lacking. I don't think "excuse me" is in very many people's vocabulary.

In the end, none of that mattered because having the opportunity to see Les Claypool shred his bass apart with his signature top hat and circular glasses with Primus' constant creativity put into their performances makes it quite hard to ruin such an incredible experience. The 3D made their performance even better.

Check Primus' latest album Green Naugahyde and go see them live! Share your own Primus experiences.

Held to Heiruspecs

Courtesy - Heiruspecs Facebook

The hip-hop group based out of St. Paul, MN, Heiruspecs, is unlike most hip-hop groups because of their over all creativity and what seems like effortless flow, rhythm, and musicianship in their music. They play as a live band, which tends to be rare in the genre. I'm sure many haven't had the opportunity to take a listen to their jazzy, funky, blues, sound that draws you into its originality. Then insane raps and lyricism are layered on top to smooth their style own style over. These St. Paul natives have essentially created a genre of their own. They consider themselves, "St. Paul rap giants."

Just by reading the above, some may initially think that Heiruspecs’ sound might be similar to the Flobots or another band of that nature, but no… the energy and raw emotion is so explosive that it is hard not to listen over and over again, even when it is a poor quality live recording, which I have found plenty of. They have such a unique sound to their music making it is almost unfair to compare them to other hip-hop groups with live bands or other artist in general.

When listening to Heiruspecs you feel as if you are right there with them at the show as they jam out with the drums, bass, keyboards, beat-boxing, guitar, etc. all coming together like cigarettes and smoke. At times Heiruspecs reminds me of Galactic with Corey Henry rapping and playing the trombone like in their song "From the Corner to the Block." However, Henry brings in a completely different element to Galactic that makes the two incomparable when Cyril Neville goes on tour with them it is as if the full-bodied energy becomes a bit lost. This is one of the things that makes Heiruspecs special.

If you are headed to Minnesota try and check out one of their shows, and if you are stuck where you are check out some of their live videos here.  There is a beautiful musical loyalty to them, especially in their hometown. They need to be heard outside the music bubble of St. Paul.

This band is legendary in the underground music scene of MN, and it is amazing that they are still doing what they love. Heiruspecs deserves to be respected in the music industry, and if you don't have respect for them after listening to some of their music, then maybe you should stop listening to so much Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift. The two have a tendency to cause brain damage.

No One Asked For Quarters, Just FiveNDime

Courtesy - cuindependent.com

Jason Michael otherwise known as FiveNDime, is a DJ and producer based out of Boulder, CO. This progressive musician has taken his life long experiences and exposure to a variety of genres, such as Western and Eastern influences and incorporates them into his own music. While playing multiple instruments he has been able to start to develop his own style of music through experimentation and manipulation of various sounds and instruments.

Although FiveNDime would be considered by most to be Dubstep or House music, there is much more to the complex production and variables he puts into his songs. On the track “Jason VoorHees,” the introduction starts out with a beautiful, yet darker sounding keyboard melody that the entire track essentially becomes based off of as well as reverting back to. The head banging beat slides smoothly into an incredible hip-hop style beat that makes me want to dance. I wanted to hear someone start rapping when this came into full effect to possibly give this hip-hop like section more body to it as well as giving listeners something more to connect with. I still think the beat is incredible with simplicity taking music off to be catchy, yet original.

On many of the tracks I listened to on FiveNDime’s Sound Cloud, I felt there was something missing. It was not necessarily an effect, another whomp, or synthesizer, instead it is something I can almost hear, I want to connect with it, which has the ability to make FiveNDime’s music completely successful, but it isn’t something that can just be thrown in and make everything better like a Band-Aid. Jason would make sure it fits perfectly. It has potential to develop naturally with his music as he moves forward in the music world. Whatever “the missing” is or isn’t, it would enable more tracks to stand strong on their own, which seems to be what he is going for. However, “Da Lullaby” is an extremely resilient on its own because of the emotion put into every part of the song. The transitions are seamless and the entire song flows like a Dubstep river. He keeps it true to his style by making listeners feel the music by putting his cards all out on the table.

I also believe FiveNDime would be more successful in having some kind of lyricism on top of the beats, whether it is a sample (or several), a singer, or rapper all the while staying true to his love for Dubstep. Lyrics have the ability to draw listeners in and give them something to connect with. However, most importantly he needs to take more of his unique influences and make them go wild. I feel a sense of shyness coming out of his tracks where there shouldn’t be, but this is less prevalent in his newer songs.

FiveNDime has amazing potential to not only create his own genre of music and to move music in a positive new direction, but to show listeners his true diversity of listening and original style of his music. I look forward to hearing future tracks to come as well as watching him take his knowledge of production to a new level. He is so close to greatness and born with a talent for music that should take him far. I am excited to see what he comes out with next, however, there is more to an artist than what is put on a disk. Performing live is a whole other entity that I would love to see FiveNDime take over. Watch out for this up and coming artist.