"Anti-Crew Presents: Dat's Wassup Mix Tape"
Anti-Crew are back, not with a proper full length album, but with a "mix tape"-type function. In other words, you could call Dat's Wassup!!! a teaser for what they have planned later in the year. What I liked about these guys before is how their lyrics and music together sounds right. What I can't stand are people who just slap any kind of verbal junk over hot and steamy beats, or sloppy beats over well written words and it just sounds like a hot mess. These guys, representing the Kansas City hip-hop scene, know how to do things right and I'm glad these guys haven't given up for the sake of being crunkier. Their sound is much more tighter this time around, not that it was sloppy before (because it wasn't), but if anyone had any doubts that they weren't ready to take their careers to the next level, this CD will remove them. "Keep Talkin'", which teams them up with Mac Lethal, has the feel of the music from the early 1990's. You never really hear "down home" when it comes to hip-hop (and those that are called "down home" are anything but), but you feel as if you've entered a comfort zone with these guys, and they can do no wrong...What I like about their writing style is how they can talk the talk, but never overstep their boundaries. If it's not what they're about, they're not going to talk about it. If it's a fantasy tale, they'll let you know. What they'll also let you know is how it is in KC, as they do in "KC Shuffle" with Joe Good, Approach, Brother Of Moses, Lucid, Qan, Reach, and Ubiquitous. It's all about the battle of words and wit, but they manage to keep their egos in check for the spirit of the song, which lets listeners know the KC hip-hop scene is not to be fucked with. This mix tape could have easily been released as a proper Anti-Crew album. If this is just something to throw out to the fans in the meantime, the world may not be ready for what they're currently putting together. It's dangerous. -Da Bookman (John Bookman), Musicforamerica.org
"The Progressive Movement: A Step Forward"
As its title suggests, Anti-Crew's Progressive Movement is an eloquently left-leaning effort. MC Flare Tha Rebel assassinates presidential policies, takes aim at gun violence and sideswipes idiots who fear public transportation. However, A Step Forward modestly underestimates the mammoth-stomp impact of this expertly produced debut disc. Flare and his beat creator and occasional lyrical cohort DJ Eternal play with grunge-style soft-loud dynamics during their choruses and experiment with everything from bouncy, bass-anchored club jams to tense piano-and-kick-drum backdrops. Anti-Crew even scores with its hidden track, a hilariously accurate crunk parody built on the shout-along hook of its title, "Stick Your Ass Out the Window." A compelling storyteller, Flare excels at creating "Waterfalls"-style cautionary scenarios. He's not as cuddly as some conscious rappers -- he spits expletives with prickly passion -- but the edge serves the songs well. On one cut, the duo chants, Potential ain't shit unless you do something with it. Anti-Crew has converted its promise into an essential album. -Andrew Miller, The Pitch
Anti-Crew is about music. The founding members of this Hip-Hop band, FlareThaRebel and DJ Eternal, came together at an early age in Kansas City, MO with a new twist of the classic DJ and MC combination.
FlareThaRebel, the lead MC/vocalist was born in Brooklyn, NY, and has lived with a culturally-enriched Hip-Hop spirit since drawing his first breath. His creative rhyming method is both socially-conscious and entertaining enough to make heads nod. He has as been called a "compelling storyteller with a lyrical versatility” that enables him to take Anti-Crew's music through a vast range of appealing themes and concepts.
DJ Eternal is the son of a symphony bass player. Known for his multi-tasking abilities, he is the man behind most of Anti-Crew's production – both during the band’s live sets and on records – as he bounces from turntables-to-guitar-to-microphone, right alongside FlareThaRebel. His eclectic background comes through in producing Anti-Crew‘s unique sound and encompassing a varied combination of musical styles.
Anti-Crew‘s first full-length album (which received five-star reviews from numerous publications and websites) was released while the founding members were still in high school.
The Pitch (Kansas City, MO) wrote that, "Anti-Crew's work ethic has awed the scene. Even among the ranks of professionals twice their age, it would be hard to find anyone as determined or sure of themselves."
The group was also named one of the “Top 30 artists under the age of 30” by the Kansas City Star and has already broken internationally, with its first CD racking up sales in Japan, as well as in the United States.
Moving to Chicago to pursue college degrees, FlareThaRebel and DJ Eternal took their sound to the next level, adding a live band to the mix for performances and recording.
Anti-Crew created an even more dynamic sound with the addition of Cambo on bass and guitarist Pat Attack, soon afterward joined by Hector on drums. Each member is talented enough to excel as a solo artist and together they create a cross-genre style that continues to win new fans.
Anti-Crew brings a high-energy, charismatic performance to the stage that never fails to ignite crowds. The combination of drive and natural talent that has brought the group an early taste of success is generating excitement that has only just begun.
To learn more about Anti-Crew check out the official web-site and these links to some of our press coverage.
looking forward to seein your show in june.....come by c & g smokeshop on 3957 broadway kansas city, mo 64111 and take advantage on the american glass art that we carry
i have new tracks on my page! please check them out and show me some love. i"d really appreciate it. it doesn"t take that long to do some good listening. and if you want, you can leave comments...that"s good too! thanks alot...peace!
