Mello-D & the Rados

Mello-D & the Rados Radio

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Here to Let you Know

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Released: Jan 1, 2008

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Here to Let you Know
2:56
1,172 plays
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Raw HipHop Shit
4:08
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Still Cool Witchu feat KRS ONE
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Potential Girl feat V Rich
4:15
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General Info

Genre: Fusion / Hip Hop / Jazz
Location Alexandria VA, Oxon Hill MD, Anguilla, Washington DC, US
Profile Views: 52834
Last Login: 6/14/2010
Member Since 5/3/2005
Website www.LiveHipHopBand.com
Record Label Imagination Inc / Thermite Records
Bio
.......... .. .. .. .. .. ...... .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .................... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... ..We've been all over the world playing this music. Says, Mello-D. This band represents the future of hip-hop. Live instruments, dope lyrics, clear messages. We show the world that it is possible to represent conciousness in hip-hop and be marketable... without being corny..... .. In the 11 years ..Mello-D & the Rados.. has been touring, the band has gotten a lot of national and international attention. They have taken another giant leap forward with the risky new album, Antitainment. .. "This album represents a deviation from the empty, lifeless music called 'hip-hop' by the mainstream." Says Mello-D. " It's an appeal to the consciousness and humor of the listener without being silly, preachy or redundant. This is relevant music." .. Antitainment has gotten a outstanding response in the U.S. and overseas. With a successful tour in England and two tours in Brazil, Mello-D & the Rados made a huge international impact in 2004. In the U.S., the first single, "Cool Witchu" dominated college radio for 8 weeks straight, peaking at ..3 on national radio charts. The Cool Witchu music video can be seen on MTV Brazil, B.E.T. , MTVU, MTV2 and other major U.S. and international video channels. .. Mello-D has rocked the mic with such popular artists as KRS-ONE, Jill Scott, The Roots, Cocoa Brovas, Organized Konfusion and he has played with jazz legends like Charlie Hampton, Herb Smith, Barry Harris, George Coleman and Clark Terry. .. .... .. ...... ..Click CD to Hear and Buy.......... Mello-D & the Rados has released their fourth album entitled, Antitainment Vol. 2: Truth, Lies, Etc. Frontman Darnley "Mello-D" Hodge once again defies the conventions of main stream hip-hop both lyrically and musically. "This is the rawest most true to life album in Hip-Hop this year... and we gonna piss off a lot of people with this one too." he says. From a lyrical standpoint Mello very candidly exposes himself on several songs. He takes the listener from laughter, to outrage and from apathy to concern. The CD starts off with a mid-ninties insprired intro by Jonny Black (aka Jonninfinit). Then in something of a musical tidalwave, Olugbenga (drums), Jesse (bass) and Sol (keys, vocals) lock the headnodding music bed while Mello-D smacks the listener in the forhead with vicious lyrical skills on Raw Hip-Hop. This happens just after trading verses with the legendary KRS-ONE on Still Cool Witchu, the follow-up track to Antitainment's hit song. Mello-D pulls no punches in criticizing bias in politics and media in the gritty, highly charged title track Truth Lies Etc and literally blows you away at the end of the song with a soulful tenor sax solo just before fading into Welcome to D.C., a roots rock reggae groove featuring a guest appearance from Akshan. On I'm Saying Sorry, Sol Zahran croons a spine tingling chorus while Mello-D runs down the true though not so pretty details of two of his past relationships. After that, Mello-D takes you into the mind of a cyber sex feind on Potential Girl featuring V. Rich (Amel Larrieaux, Musiq). There are songs like Waiting on Nine where Mello-D humorously explains the importance of free cell phone minutes. And on the clever spoof Pimpin Hoes, Movin Weight and Pushing Packages Mello-D takes all the modern rap cliches and turns them upside down into something hilarious. Mello-D says, "Antitainment Vol. 2 is a continuation of the previous album except we've taken it up a notch. Our mission has always been to make great music with a purpose. The purpose is to get the listener to see the world, the media and themselves in a different way while at the same time strectching the boundaries musically and creatively. We want you to take the lock off your brain and open your eyes. This is a movement. This is not entertainment. This is Antitainment.".. ...... ..Click CD to Hear and Buy......Washington, D.C.-area rapper Mello-D, aka Darnley Hodge, is one of the more positive hip-hop artists out there, as displayed in "Cool Witchu," the leadoff single from his third album, Antitainment. The rap displays a remarkable degree of tolerance for everyone from atheists to fans of football teams other than the Redskins. No matter what you're into, Mello-D assures the listener, "I'm cool witchu." Elsewhere, the rapper at first seems to be indulging in a seduction fantasy in "The Ride: Bonita 2004," only to reveal at the end that he and his girlfriend have simply been role-playing. In "The Square Dance," he takes on a subject not much discussed among rappers, the working world in which an employee must deal with middle management (now there's a phrase you don't hear much in rap) in seeking a raise. Mello-D isn't above expressing himself in common ethnic vulgarities and obscenities (although the album does not contain a parental advisory), and, despite his name, he isn't entirely mellow. He gets angry and frustrated here and there, but even when he does, as on "Find a Why," his problems are those of a conventional man in conventional social and business situations, not the usual outsider rage heard in rap: he's worried about his blood pressure, his girlfriend wants him to be more communicative, BET thinks his video doesn't have good enough production values. (Well, OK, most of us don't have that last problem.) If rap is supposed to be about real life, Mello-D nevertheless presents a real life actually rarely discussed in rap, the life of paying bills, working for a living, and maintaining a relationship. This is one rapper who isn't celebrating drug-taking, misogyny, and violence, and it's also one who is not dependent on musical samples; he's perfectly capable of writing his own music and playing a mean saxophone, too. .. - William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide............Click CD to Hear and Buy......The 2002 release of The Ultimate Truth built on that momentum producing the blazing lead single, "Keep On", which dominated college radio in the U.S. and debuted in the top 20 on most major national music charts. The single climbed all the way to ..2 on the HITS / Rap Attack radio charts! Along with the success of "Keep On", MDR also released a video for the second single "Stupid Jerk" which features comedian T.L. Fitz (Comic View, Apollo) and was televised on BET, MHZ Networks and other national video programs... ........Click CD to Hear and Buy................ The 1998 debut of Mello-D's first album, Backsliding, received high praise from within the music industry, introducing this multi-talented artist to the world in a big way. .... .... .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ......Still Cool Witchu..Live at the Velvet Lounge...... .. .. .. .. .. .... ..STUPID JERK MUSIC VIDEO (2001).... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ...... Thank you for hitting us up... enjoy the soundclips, peep the photos and make sure you leave a comment or message... One Love. .............. ************************************************************ .. ..
Members
........Mello-D (Emcee/Sax).. ......Olugbenga (Drums).. ......D'Salaam (Bass) .. ......DP (Guitar)....
Influences
VA/MD/DC Hip-Hop, Go-Go, BDP, PRT, X-Clan, Nate Smith, Herb Smith, The Roots, The Fugees, Bumpy Knuckles, Sonny Rollins, Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, Haywood Tucker, Charlie Parker, Aswad, Steel Pulse, James Brown, Maceo Parker, Astrud Gilberto, Brazil, Anguilla, Life, Death, Love, Hate, Lust, Fear... LIFE.
Sounds Like
...... the way graffitti looks in photo albums....

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Mello-D & the Rados on Channel 9 in D.C.

04:36 | 19 plays | Jan 23 2010

Photos

Music

The Ultimate Truth
20 Songs | Aug 5, 2010
Antitainment
13 Songs | Aug 5, 2010
Antitainment Vol. 2: Truth...Lies...Etc.
12 Songs | Aug 5, 2010
Backsliding
13 Songs | Aug 5, 2010

Comments

Bio:

We've been all over the world playing this music. Says, Mello-D. This band represents the future of hip-hop. Live instruments, dope lyrics, clear messages. We show the world that it is possible to represent conciousness in hip-hop and be marketable... without being corny.

In the 11 years Mello-D & the Rados has been touring, the band has gotten a lot of national and international attention. They have taken another giant leap forward with the risky new album, Antitainment.

"This album represents a deviation from the empty, lifeless music called 'hip-hop' by the mainstream." Says Mello-D. " It's an appeal to the consciousness and humor of the listener without being silly, preachy or redundant. This is relevant music."

Antitainment has gotten a outstanding response in the U.S. and overseas. With a successful tour in England and two tours in Brazil, Mello-D & the Rados made a huge international impact in 2004. In the U.S., the first single, "Cool Witchu" dominated college radio for 8 weeks straight, peaking at ..3 on national radio charts. The Cool Witchu music video can be seen on MTV Brazil, B.E.T. , MTVU, MTV2 and other major U.S. and international video channels.

Mello-D has rocked the mic with such popular artists as KRS-ONE, Jill Scott, The Roots, Cocoa Brovas, Organized Konfusion and he has played with jazz legends like Charlie Hampton, Herb Smith, Barry Harris, George Coleman and Clark Terry.

Click CD to Hear and Buy

Mello-D & the Rados has released their fourth album entitled, Antitainment Vol. 2: Truth, Lies, Etc. Frontman Darnley "Mello-D" Hodge once again defies the conventions of main stream hip-hop both lyrically and musically. "This is the rawest most true to life album in Hip-Hop this year... and we gonna piss off a lot of people with this one too." he says. From a lyrical standpoint Mello very candidly exposes himself on several songs. He takes the listener from laughter, to outrage and from apathy to concern. The CD starts off with a mid-ninties insprired intro by Jonny Black (aka Jonninfinit). Then in something of a musical tidalwave, Olugbenga (drums), Jesse (bass) and Sol (keys, vocals) lock the headnodding music bed while Mello-D smacks the listener in the forhead with vicious lyrical skills on Raw Hip-Hop. This happens just after trading verses with the legendary KRS-ONE on Still Cool Witchu, the follow-up track to Antitainment's hit song. Mello-D pulls no punches in criticizing bias in politics and media in the gritty, highly charged title track Truth Lies Etc and literally blows you away at the end of the song with a soulful tenor sax solo just before fading into Welcome to D.C., a roots rock reggae groove featuring a guest appearance from Akshan. On I'm Saying Sorry, Sol Zahran croons a spine tingling chorus while Mello-D runs down the true though not so pretty details of two of his past relationships. After that, Mello-D takes you into the mind of a cyber sex feind on Potential Girl featuring V. Rich (Amel Larrieaux, Musiq). There are songs like Waiting on Nine where Mello-D humorously explains the importance of free cell phone minutes. And on the clever spoof Pimpin Hoes, Movin Weight and Pushing Packages Mello-D takes all the modern rap cliches and turns them upside down into something hilarious. Mello-D says, "Antitainment Vol. 2 is a continuation of the previous album except we've taken it up a notch. Our mission has always been to make great music with a purpose. The purpose is to get the listener to see the world, the media and themselves in a different way while at the same time strectching the boundaries musically and creatively. We want you to take the lock off your brain and open your eyes. This is a movement. This is not entertainment. This is Antitainment."

Click CD to Hear and Buy

Washington, D.C.-area rapper Mello-D, aka Darnley Hodge, is one of the more positive hip-hop artists out there, as displayed in "Cool Witchu," the leadoff single from his third album, Antitainment. The rap displays a remarkable degree of tolerance for everyone from atheists to fans of football teams other than the Redskins. No matter what you're into, Mello-D assures the listener, "I'm cool witchu." Elsewhere, the rapper at first seems to be indulging in a seduction fantasy in "The Ride: Bonita 2004," only to reveal at the end that he and his girlfriend have simply been role-playing. In "The Square Dance," he takes on a subject not much discussed among rappers, the working world in which an employee must deal with middle management (now there's a phrase you don't hear much in rap) in seeking a raise. Mello-D isn't above expressing himself in common ethnic vulgarities and obscenities (although the album does not contain a parental advisory), and, despite his name, he isn't entirely mellow. He gets angry and frustrated here and there, but even when he does, as on "Find a Why," his problems are those of a conventional man in conventional social and business situations, not the usual outsider rage heard in rap: he's worried about his blood pressure, his girlfriend wants him to be more communicative, BET thinks his video doesn't have good enough production values. (Well, OK, most of us don't have that last problem.) If rap is supposed to be about real life, Mello-D nevertheless presents a real life actually rarely discussed in rap, the life of paying bills, working for a living, and maintaining a relationship. This is one rapper who isn't celebrating drug-taking, misogyny, and violence, and it's also one who is not dependent on musical samples; he's perfectly capable of writing his own music and playing a mean saxophone, too.

- William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Click CD to Hear and Buy

The 2002 release of The Ultimate Truth built on that momentum producing the blazing lead single, "Keep On", which dominated college radio in the U.S. and debuted in the top 20 on most major national music charts. The single climbed all the way to ..2 on the HITS / Rap Attack radio charts! Along with the success of "Keep On", MDR also released a video for the second single "Stupid Jerk" which features comedian T.L. Fitz (Comic View, Apollo) and was televised on BET, MHZ Networks and other national video programs.

Click CD to Hear and Buy

The 1998 debut of Mello-D's first album, Backsliding, received high praise from within the music industry, introducing this multi-talented artist to the world in a big way.

Still Cool Witchu
Live at the Velvet Lounge

STUPID JERK MUSIC VIDEO (2001)

Thank you for hitting us up... enjoy the soundclips, peep the photos and make sure you leave a comment or message... One Love.
************************************************************ ..
..

Member Since:

May 03, 2005

Members:

Mello-D (Emcee/Sax)

Olugbenga (Drums)

D'Salaam (Bass)

DP (Guitar)

Influences:

VA/MD/DC Hip-Hop, Go-Go, BDP, PRT, X-Clan, Nate Smith, Herb Smith, The Roots, The Fugees, Bumpy Knuckles, Sonny Rollins, Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, Haywood Tucker, Charlie Parker, Aswad, Steel Pulse, James Brown, Maceo Parker, Astrud Gilberto, Brazil, Anguilla, Life, Death, Love, Hate, Lust, Fear... LIFE.