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THE DUNGEONEZE... "Do You Speak?" Vol.1 $10
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Atlanta is a city of transplants. This transient nature has allowed Atlantas independent Hip Hop scene to grow in many different directions- to develop a myriad of musical emphasis. This variety has spawned artist along several spots on the spectrum. Lil Jon, Killer Mike, OutKast, and Arrested Development all serve as eclectic examples. Kadar Israel is no exception. Hailing from Carson, California Kadar Israel, or Ked enters our scene as a veteran of one of the seminal Hip Hop collectives in Atlanta history: the Organized Noise camp. After being put on to his music on the Stankonia message boards, NorthernArc decided to interview Ked and learn more about his daily grind as an artist. We met up at a building downtown off Trinity and Peachtree used as a space for visual artists. Surrounded by fine art and enveloped by the sweet scents of incense Ked and I began our discussion about his art and his impact on the cityscape.
NArc: What brought you out here to Atlanta?
Ked: Really my affiliation with Organized Noise and the Dungeon family.
NArc: How are you affiliated with Organized Noise?
Ked: They helped me with half my album. Ive been coming here (ATL) since I was 16. Every since then its been on. Ray Murray is my cousin.
NArc: Who is Ray Murray?
Ked: Ray Murray is one of the three producers in the extended family of Organized Noise. I came here right after Outkasts first album. When I came, I came with music and they took me in. I graduated when I was 16 so I didnt have any attachments. I came and I slept on the floor. I saw how they made beats professionally. I sat back and soaked it all up.
NArc: How did that experience shape you?
Ked: I would watch how they approached the music. There was so much love. There were so many of them (artists). I would take that back to Carson with me, and go home for 9 months, and come back here for 3 months. Thats just how it worked.
NArc: So what would be a difference between the scene here and in LA?
Ked: Its way different.
NArc: Really? How so?
Ked: It was all love here. In LA its love, but its a different kind of love. Its so Hot- not temperature wise, but like with police and rivals and all sorts of gangs. There werent many big ass rap cliques. Out here it was a real family environment. Official grind and hustlin. I went back and forth until I felt like I was ready to release an album on my own.
NArc: How did you know things were developing in your career? Explain the transition from learning, to applying what you had learned under Organized noise.
Ked: When I was sitting in the studios doing my shit...telling engineers what to turn up and turn down and Im not paying for it? I felt like I had the momentum now. The business is about relationships. If you got the right friends, and they are real friends - theyll do for you and you do stuff for them in turn. The friendships came from people feeling me. Like my homeboy Morgan, he came through for me Engineering my music. Thats the vibe I get in Atlanta. In LA, its home and I love it, but its cut throat.
NArc: Would you look at yourself as having a leg up because of your relationships?
Ked: No, because for one- I had to do the same things. I had to grind, and make my own studio. I promote, produce- whatever.
NArc: How would you describe your sound?
Ked: I call it street music. Im not really focused on what kind of music I make. Its about my lifestyle. There are commercial cats that talk about how much music they make off of you. My music aint like that. I make music for the common man who got jobs and work everyday. Thats why the album is called the Daily Grind. Its about what the average person goes through every day. When I say street- I dont mean being homeless or crime. I mean if you are out there grinding you are in the streets.
NArc: Coming up in the ATL scene you got a lot of love, but who influenced you?
Ked: I dont look at it like that. I have music that I listen to, but when it comes to making my own music- I might not be on it like that. Its about my thought process- about what I am trying to express. Then I know what I want to feel, I create a landscape for how that thought feels. To me its a feeling.
NArc: What do you see as the future for yourself, and how do you plan on getting there?
Ked: To me thats the fun part. I dont necessarily know what Im doing tomorrow. I just let it flow. As for the future, I want to make the underground explode. I want to market all aspects of the culture. Im looking forward to doing more live shows and airplay. Eventually a video will be cool. I want to do something that feels genuine. It means something to me. Im an artist.
NArc: How do you view the ATL Hip Hop scene?
Ked: The club scene effects the underground a lot. When you enjoy a live experience you buy the album to take it home with you. People can start careersoff of live shows. Its easy to forget how impressive or entertaining a live show can be. You would have rappers like Aceyalone , Xhibit, and freestyle fellowship use shows to get on the mic on the wake up (radio) show. If you were good, you had a chance to freestyle. There arent many venues like that in Atlanta.
NArc: What would you like to see? Would you like to see more venues?
Ked: Im an extremist. I think every club should let us come in and do it. Its a lot of poetry in Atlanta now, but there isnt a lot of rap nowadays, and thats cool but its not Rap. People shy away from Hip Hops energy. I think that is foolish. Take it to the stage as an outlet. If we really feel that way, the stage is a great way to let go. Even if you arent the reactionary type, sometimes it feels good to hear that someone is going through the same thing that you are.
Like I cant paint the way my boy (tooki) can. But I can appreciate it- and all this artwork is all underground. Artwork- especially in the Black community is what we need.
We use the underground like activity clubs were used in high school - its something to do. A way to develop, and here in Atlanta its not as wide open as it could be. I feel like we need to open up spots. Even if it isnt a club. If its supposed to be a family vibe, why not have it in your house? The people will come to wherever its happening.
NArc: How can folks get their hands on your music?
Ked: Well, right now Im selling it on CD Baby. www.cdbaby.com/ked. Also iap-tv.com its a web site devoted to Southern rap. Or you can get it directly from me at affiliatedmusicworks@yahoo.com
Any questions or comments? Join us at the NortherArc message board.
Influences
SideStreet Ked's Profile Create Your Badge
Revolutionary street music. Politically charged with spiritual and bluesy undertones. Think Outkast meets Ice Cube with the lyrical agility of the Hieroglyphics.
Drop Me a Text Message and let me know what you think about the music.
SideStreet is The Dungeon Family's premier west coast artist. Born and raised in Carson, California (a SubUrb of Los Angeles, ie. Compton) The 25 year old Rap Artist moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 2005 to further his musical career. It was only a matter of time befor the Dungeon Family's premier production team Organized Noize Caught wind of the explosive M.C. and took him under their wing. For two years SideStreet was burried deep down in the dirty south, in the depths of the Dungeon, crafting his Sophmore effort "The Present Danger" under the experienced Tutelage of Atlanta's greats. The environment was perfect for his revolutionary street music which is often shunned by main stream listeners because of the raw unadulterated realness of his sound. With songs like "Do Whut It Do", an unapologetic look into the mind of a young father faced with the undaunting task of providing for his child and "Lesser of 2 Evils", a heartfelt rendering of the effects of media and television on the minds of America's youth, you begin to visualise the power that SideStreet displays on his second release "The Present Danger". Now, the self proclaimed "GangLeader" is set to unleash his soul on the world.
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DUNGEON FAMILY'S OWN SIDE STREET KED PRESENTS: "THINK NEW" W/ SPECIAL GUEST: MUMS FP FUTURESHOCK ZAQ COLDLY SIYA MAMA'S MUSTACHE AND DJ WILDLIFE ON THE 1'S AND 2'S>>>>>>> CHEAP DRINKS AND LOTS OF FUN!!!!! SEE YOU THERE
SIDE STREET PUTT EM ON FRONT STREET.LUNG HEAT SPOILIED THERE LUNCH MEAT.PUN LEAKED .SPLASH DOWN BOW 2 NO CROWN.FROM THE ATTIC 2 THA DUNGEON WE RISE TO 2 HOLD THEM DOWN
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