Wednesday, December 31, 2008

SYM Artist Profile #5 *** B. DOLAN ***


B. Dolan




Somewhere at the darkest fringe of the griot tradition, exists the sociopath man-ogre known as B. Dolan, effortlessly shifting shape between an activist, clown, writer, and performance artist.

Since 2001, a series of gritty, spectacular performances have earned Dolan considerable notoriety; both for their controversial and challenging subject matter, and the brutal intensity with which they are delivered.

Dolan first cut his teeth at Brooklyn's Nuyorican Cafe, and gained attention as part of HBO's Def Poetry Jam in 2002. He captured the Providence poetry slam title in both 2002 and 2003, and served as a member and coach to several national Slam teams before breaking with poetry slam in late 2003.

In 2002, he founded a youth art-outreach program called "the Open Mics Project", and began counseling youth through rap and poetry in a variety of settings. In 2003, he took a job working with adjudicated youth at Tides Family Services, and helped the school develop a hip hop-based arts program for their at-risk students.

2003 found Dolan releasing a demo version of "The Failure" in a limited, hand-to-hand fashion. In the midst of developing the ragged, breakdown aesthetic seen in his most recent work, recording hundreds of demos and even fronting a band, Dolan also conceived of (and co-founded) the Knowmore.org website with fellow poet and friend Sage Francis in 2005.

Since then, Dolan has toured extensively in the US, as part of Sage Francis' Death Dance and Knowmore.org Tours, as well as Buck 65's International Situation Tour, captivating audiences from coast to coast and announcing himself as a formidable new presence in the worlds of lyricism, performance art, and political action.

In 2008, Dolan released the most comprehensive collection of his recordings, works, and performances to date. First the "Live Evel" vinyl EP, and finally "The Failure" LP, (feat Sage Francis, Alias, Sole, and more.) Additionally, he appeared on Prolyphic & Reanimator's debut album "The Ugly Truth."

These releases have been supported with further performances, in the US (most notably as part of Murs' Paid Dues Festival) and internationally (France's Tribu Festival, Villette Sonic, and more.)

From the cave to the stage, B. Dolan is bringing the circus to an incident near you. Step right up.



















SYM Artist Profile #4 *** MICKEY FACTZ ***


MICKEY FACTZ




“I’d like to think I’m everything that Afrika Bambaataa would’ve envisioned hip-hop to be in 2008, 2016, 2030.” – Mickey Factz, SPIN Magazine (May 2008)

It’s a new age for music. The once broad gap between genres has been blurred and the experience made viral. As a new cultural revolution unveils itself to the masses, one artist has been navigating himself through this realm of waves and pixels. Creating an identity and following so surreal, he’s pronounced himself to be music’s digital messiah.

Helming from the boogie down Bronx, the birth place of Hip-Hop, Mickey Factz isn’t your traditional “b-boy.” As he told the Fader Magazine, “I was always somebody who didn’t want to be like everyone else…I need to be looked at, gawked at.” Wearing raw denim from Rag & Bone, a Rocksmith Tokyo leather bomber, Prada specs and a pair of Supra, he’s more Moon Walker than Child of the Ghetto. However, this unconventional child of the ghetto is the archetype for today’s New Artist.

Always ahead of the curve, Mickey Factz has been releasing free downloadable mixtapes since 2006. In the winter of 2007, he broke out reaching worldwide praises with the release of “Heaven’s Fallout.” On “Heaven’s Fallout,” Mickey Factz took us on his internal search for clarity and meaning in his journey towards self-enlightenment. We listened intently as the abstract psyche of an artist came into full focus as he confided in us about his aspirations, relationships, and vices. Laying his narrative over an eclectic array of music from alternative to rock to electronic while still embracing his foundations, Mickey Factz christens “Heaven’s Fallout” as the genesis of the new sound of hip-hop for a new generation.

To follow up “Heaven’s Fallout” success, at the top of ’08 Mickey Factz began to virally release a track every week for free, as part of a series called “The Leak.” The buzz from “The Leak” grew tremendously as every blogger and media outlet from Nahright.com, Hypebeast.com, XXLmag.com and so forth began covering and following it, waiting to see what new music Mickey had for the public. “The Leak” series would soon manifest, “The Leak Vol. 1: The Understanding” and “The Leak Vol. 2: The Inspiration” mixtapes. A 1 standing for Mickey’s “Machine Gun” on the list of “Songs to Download Now” in the August 2008 SPIN Magazine, topping the likes of songs by RadioHead, Maino, and others. A campaign entitled “Incredible,” where artists such as Tyga, The Mad Rapper, Naledge of Kidz N The Hall, Curren$y and others jumped on Mickey’s “Incredible” instrumental; having it proclaimed freestyle beat of the year, second to only Lil Wayne’s “A Milli.”

Outside of his onslaught of free music for the people, this year Mickey Factz collaborated with The Cool Kids on his unofficial single, “Rockin N Rollin (Remix)” which made its way onto MTV2, MTVjams, MTVu, and Music Choice. He’s performed at notable venues such as BB Kings, SOBs, The Knitting Factory, and others. Also Mickey’s been chosen to be one of the faces for Rocksmith Tokyo, a Japanese clothing brand. He’s begun cementing the Supra sneaker brand as this generation’s, “My Adidas.” And has graced the pages of several national publications such as VIBE, the Fader, SPIN, GIANT, and XXL which named him one of ten artists to check for in 2009. All of this while continuing to build a brand and movement, GFCnewyork, which people can once again champion like they did the Bad Boys and Rocafellas.

As his GFCnewyork team continue to strategize the months ahead, while reading blogs, and answering endless calls from people with interest, Mickey Factz confides in the mic on the other side of the glass plane, pouring his life experiences on another track from “The Leak” series titled the “The Inspiration.” With this track he hopes to shed light and inspire those listening via the stories of his own trials and tribulations. But before he steps in, he’s asked what do you this for. Genuinely, he replies, “First off, I do this for my culture, because the progression and longevity of it means a lot to me and the future. Other than that, my ego tells me I can be…excuse me, that I am bigger than Michael Jackson and as innovative as Prince, so I wanna wake this industry up; have them take several doses of my pills and say goodbye to the matrix.”











aye yo
First Things First and last things last
Cut the middle man out so I can stack cash
None of your songs ever rock you rap trash
The jokes on you and imma have the last laugh(HA!)
Look man give it up
Homie I been fly with my pants zipper up
I'm the man look me up
Not Disney
Google me now the names Mickey
How slang birds
You cats looking broke
You only slang words to the raps that you worte
I couldnt be a lame
It would be the same
With my go supers on like I'm puttin on a chain(damn)
The streets never tied
Why... listen
I like to call it swagg
So please stop trippin
no im not kiddin
so holla if you know it
The cool kids is here and we rockin n Rollin

Chorus:
rockin n rollin
rollin n im rockin

poppin when its goin
goin and its poppin

i got it so i show it
i show it cause i got it

GFC the team
posers cant stop it

STOP IT! Posers cant stop it










SYM Artist Profile #3 *** CANTO I ***


CANTO I





"This one's for the people."



Canto I (Pronounced ‘Canto - Eye’) consists of two members. Older brother Danny (Effect) Fiorentini and younger brother Joey (Joe Fury) Fiorentini. We were both born and raised in Las Vegas, and currently reside in Reno, Nevada. Route 95 is our sanctuary. Musically, we do what we feel. No matter what it is, if we create it, we enjoy it. We write about situations that affect us directly; Hip-Hop is our way of expressing it. We try not to be another self-righteous Hip-Hop group. Its a movement of jah people. Out-Box kids. Get it.



SYM Artist Profile #2 *** HIMSELF ***


HIMSELF




Writer, song writer, rapper, performer, loved, hated, respected, envied, laughed at, ridiculed and appreciated a member of the Netherworlds and friend to some of your favorite rappers. Happy, sad, frustrated, content, disappointed, satisfied, humble, confidant, energetic, lazy, motivated, uninspired and I uses hella post-its. Terrible with names, worse with telephone numbers, can always remember a face but never where I know it from and tired of trying to act like I remember. Tired, insomniac, night owl, morning bird, social butter fly, recluse, I drive alone when I have no where to go I make up elaborate stories so I can be by myself I drive to the beach often, but often i stay in my car and watch the water from the drivers seat. I’m addicted to life and all the emotions that come with it even though I can rarely sleep through a whole night due to them. My name is Himself. And i will lay hands on anybody who uses my name in vain.








Himself is a member of the Netherworlds w/ MURS and Anacron.

"Murs, Himnself and Anacron meld B-boy tradition with of-the-moment gangster character. Think of NWA disposition with updated lyracism and an electified beat to back. Cut-and-dried yet advance, Pals is something fresh." - Urb

"Not only does Anacron's combination of head-bopping drums and electronic instrumentation make a perfect setback for Netherworlds, but also proves to be some of the most original beats in some time." - Ugsmag.

"there's not really much to say, apart from that it feels somewhat unneeded to even call this dope, as that seems to have been inevitable. However, for all those that only trust the written word: this is dope. Dope in an universal kind of way, and even doper for those that enjoy the left coast mentality, blueprint and ways of doing things. So take this in with a bear hug" - Urbansmarts.com


Monday, December 29, 2008

SYM Artist Profile #1 *** U-N-I ***


U-N-I




IN 1999, AT THEIR FIRST DAY AT ST. BERNARD HIGH SCHOOL, Y-O MET THURZDAY, ANOTHER RAW MC. DURING LUNCH THEY WOULD HAVE FREESTYLE BATTLES THAT WOULD GET THE WHOLE SCHOOL WILD. THEY QUICKLY RECOGNIZED EACH OTHER’S TALENTS.

TOGETHER AS “U-N-I”, THEY HAVE OPENED UP FOR REDMAN AT THE SNEAKER PIMPS TOUR IN LOS ANGELES, AND CHICAGO’S VERY OWN, LUPE FIASCO AT THE KEY CLUB ON SUNSET. THEY HAVE CONQUERED AIRWAVES ON POWER 106FM IN THE MIX WITH DJ RAPHIKI, AND ON 93.5 KDAY WITH THE GOODFELLAS. THEY ARE CURRENTLY FEATURED IN THE FOURTH EDITION OF SCHEME MAGAZINE, AND HAVE BEEN INDUCTED AS THE FIRST SCHEME MAGAZINE ARTIST, OR SCHEMERS. U-N-I CAN BE SEEN ON SCHEME MAG’S WEBSITE AT HTTP://SCHEMEMAG.COM/SCHEMERS/U-N-I.

RECENTLY THEY HAVE BEEN FEATURED IN URB MAGAZINE’S NEXT 1000. THE NEXT 1000 IS WHERE URB SCOURS THE GLOBE TO BRING YOU 20 BREAKING ARTISTS PER WEEK FOR A WHOLE YEAR. U-N-I RECEIVED A COPIOUS AMOUNT OF VOTES AND YOU CAN ADD A VOTE AND COMMENT AT HTTP://WWW.URB.COM/PROMOTIONS/NEXT1000/PROFILE.PHP?BANDID=371.

CURRENTLY U-N-I IS PROMOTING THEIR STREET ALBUM, “FRIED CHICKEN AND WATERMELON.” LACED WITH 14 TRACKS OF COMPLEX, THOUGHT-PROVOKING AND PLAYFUL LYRICISM COUPLED WITH SURE-FIRE BEATS, “FRIED CHICKEN AND WATERMELON” IS SET TO BREAK THE STEREOTYPE GIVEN TO WEST COAST RAPPERS. THEY HAVE RECEIVED GREAT REVIEWS ON OKAYPLAYER.COM AND RAPMULLET.COM, AND HAVE BEEN RECEIVED WITH OPEN ARMS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC.

“IT’S NOT GANGSTA RAP, IT’S FRESH NEW HIP HOP MUSIC FROM 2007 AND BEYOND.” -Y-O

THE STREET ALBUM ALSO INCLUDES HOT PRODUCTION FROM SWIFF D, RO BLVD, MOUFAHZA, PROH MIC, DIABOLIC AND DAME TAYLOR.

U-N-I IS SET OUT TO BRING A NEW SOUND TO THE GAME, WHILE KEEPING IN THE MIND THE TRUE FUNDAMENTALS OF HIP-HOP. UNFAZED AND DETERMINE, U-N-I IS BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS BY ATTRACTING PEOPLE FROM ALL DIFFERENT AREAS. IT’S NOT JUST AN URBAN SOUND, BUT ALSO SUBURBAN. U-N-I, SHORT FOR “U-N-I TO THE VERSE,” (LIKE YOU AND I) IS DETERMINED TO UNITE PEOPLE WHEREVER THEY PERFORM. THROUGH THEIR UNIQUE SOUND AND RAW TALENT, THESE VERSATILE AND AUTHENTIC ARTISTS WON’T STOP UNTIL THEIR MESSAGE OF UNITY GETS ACROSS. FROM ASIAN, TO BLACK TO LATINO, EVERYONE IS CERTAIN TO VIBE WITH THEM.








i feel like
we at the center of the u-n-i verse
and the sun is my heart
so i shine through the verse
radiant like l.a. sunshine
so lets crack the head
no coke in mine
live for today aint promised life
roll with the windows
down breathe the night
as the
sun sets and the mornin breaks
just thank god you was able to wake
give a kiss to ya girl
a kiss to ya moms
a dap for my niggas
that have to bear arms
on a beautiful day
keep it neutral
let's all try to be beautiful people
respect life
your life is respected
turn this tune up
don't damn reject it
don't front
you know i got ya open
check the dialect on the diaphragm my man

I take sips of the o.j.
scramble the egg with some butter on my three pancakes
lick the fingers when i'm done
take a look outside
i see the sun just begun
so i hops in the shower
i'm lying if i said fifteen cause it takes about an hour
and i see its 75 degrees
theres no need for me to rock the long sleeve
i'm hot i'm cold
i'm cool i'm hot
i see the tree the kids the block
beautiful little neighbor gave a sexy nod
one cup of this kool-aid to set the day right
so i'm off to the sunshine
never waste days like this
take advantage of the one lied
keep your faith in the sky (why)
thats where the heaven is (why)
thats where dream is well aint it?

(HOOK)
now put ya glasses up
you can roll it up
you can drink to this
you can smoke to this
you can roll to this
put your windows down and
bump this sound through any hood
it feels good
Just a beautiful day
It feels so good
Just a beautiful day
It feels so good
Just a beautiful day
Just pump it up and just vibe
























Speak Your Mind *** PRESS RELEASE ***

*** PRESS RELEASE ***

live concert @ the
LAWLOR EVENTS CENTER
University of Reno, NV
Saturday April 4, 2009

All Ages / Doors 6pm / Show 6:30pm

SPEAK YOUR MIND
The Biggest Hip Hop Festival in Nevada's History, 1 Night, 1 Stage, 5 Hour Show, 12 Live Performances, 3 Live Artists, Break Dancers, Vendor Village & more

*** RAISING MONEY FOR THE LOCAL HOLLAND PROJECT & UNR SCHOLARSHIPS ***

Featuring live performances by:

Sage Francis
(Providence, RI)

Kidz in the Hall
(Chicago, IL & New Jersey, NJ)

Luckyiam
(Living Legends - Los Angeles, CA)

Pep Love
(Hieroglyphics - Oakland, CA)

2Mex
(Visionaries - Los Angeles, CA)

U-N-I
(Inglewood, CA & Seattle, WA)

Mickey Factz
(Bronx, NY)

B. Dolan
(Hanton City, RI)

Himself
(Los Angeles, CA)

Metaphysical
(Reno, NV)

Canto I
(Reno, NV)

Tree Woodz
(Robbins, IL)

ARTISTS BIOS AT: www.syminvasion.com/SYM_bios.pdf

Speak Your Mind is a Hip Hop oriented music festival to raise positive community awareness and personal knowledge. Speak Your Mind will not only raise money for a good cause but it will bring the community together and use popular music as a tool to teach. All the artists included in this event are informative, educated, independently successful, community orientated and display strong ideas in their lyrics.

THE HOLLAND PROJECT: Provides a safe, drug-free and hate-free place for youth to partake in art and music, workshop opportunities and involve themselves in their community.

UNR CREATIVE SCHOLARSHIP(S): Funding for students at the University of Nevada, Reno with the hunger to create but not the money.

MORE INFO AT:http://www.syminvasion.com/ or www.MySpace.com/SYMinvasion
Info Line: (775) 200-2948 / Fax: (360) 246-9190

TICKETS: $25 Pre-Sale & $30 Door http://www.tickets.com/ / (800) 225-2277

Lawlor Box Office
(775) 784-4444
1500 N. Virginia St. (Reno)

Beach Hut Deli
(775) 747-SURF
6160 Mae Anne Dr. (Reno)

Lawlor Box Office
(775) 329-8477
1092 S. Virginia St. (Reno)