ASM (A State of Mind) are an international Hip Hop collective who are rapidly making their mark on the scene through their "original and boundary-pushing" live shows, leading them to be recently deemed the "leaders of the new school" by Dj Vadim (BBE). The ASM live showcase is rooted in the unique on-stage beat production of Akai-wizard Fade, who gets busy with the MPC 1000, a Roland SP-404, Melodica, Korg Kaos Pad, Theremin, Technics Turntable and a Scratch mixer. The one-man ASM groove section is joined on stage by the mighty 6ix Toys horns (Marco Bernardis on Tenor Sax, Paul Berton on Trombone), creating a funktastic roots blend of organic neck-snapping goodness. This backdrop is the playing field where multi-national supermicrophonists FP the Funky Poet and Green-T get busy and experiment with rhyme-patterns and back and forth flows in ways that have seen them be compared to the likes of Jurassic 5, Edan, People Under The Stairs, and and A Tribe Called Quest. In the studio and occaisionally on stage, the ASM crew extends to include Sativo ..s & scratches and Nearski on graphic design.
ASM recently featured on the single 'Positively Inclined' from French producer Wax Tailor's album 'Hope & Sorrow' which has already sold over 50,000 copies worldwide. Their music video for Positively Inclined has been given heavy rotation on MTV France and MTV Europe, and the track held over 7 weeks in the top 40 French national airplay charts: a rare achievement as an underground hip hop group. Aside from their recent collaborative EP "Pre-EMptive Nostalgia" with Dented's Skrein, ASM are also releasing a Japan Only version of their EP 'Cosmic Flavour' in March 2008.
ASM are currently working on their debut full-length album 'Platypus Funk' which is set to feature Dj Vadim (BBE Music), Sadat X (Brand Nubian) Wax Tailor (Decon), Wildchild (Stones Throw) Kid Kanevil (Firstword) and Mr Mattic (Fantastic Planet), amongst others.
ASM have toured extensively over the past 2 years at venues and festivals throughout Germany, the UK, France, Switzerland, Holland, The Czech Republic, Poland and Lithuania to promote their vision of live hip hop sound. ASM have performed with the likes of Pharaoh Monch, J-Live, Peanut Butter Wolf & J Rocc, Wax Tailor, DJ Format, Masta Ace, Dj Vadim's One Self, Aesop Rock, Foreign Beggars, Skream&Benga, 4Hero and more.
People tend to have a very narrow view of what hip hop is about, and equate it with what they see on
MTV and hear on commercial radio. Based upon what the general public is force-fed by the Network
Corporations that unfortunately have a near monopoly on the market these days, its hardly surprising that most people think of chauvinism, violence, superfi ciality and consumerism when they hear
the words Hip Hop. A State of Mind is on a mission to destroy this conception. For ASM, hip hop is
about music and creativity and love, and always has been and always will be. In the world of music,
its the real hip hop that will survive even decades after the artists are gone, not the plastic on TV
thats been marketed to success. Remember that, and don't loose your faith in the art.
Much love to you too! I know well your music and you know why! My respect to your work! My lovely french voices and music early in the morning - it's true pleasure! Cheers from Sofia!
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