J-Reed and Distinct of Eriez Finest In The Erie Times News
BY DAVE RICHARDS
dave.richards@timesnews.com
Published: January 15. 2009 12:01AM
They camp together, hunt together, drink together, work together, and swap fatherhood stories together.Oh, yeah -- best friends Jason Rieder and Ray Sobczak also rap together as J-Reed and Distinct in Eriez Finest. They know each other so well, they finish each other's sentences whether just talking or rapping. "We do go back and forth, and we back each other up," said J-Reed, 25. "That's a big difference because a lot of guys seem to go out and do their own verses, and that's all they know," added Distinct, 23. "Those artists don't help each other out. All your hear is screaming, you can't understand them. We have rehearsals before a show. We know what each other is going to say." They both work full time at Wal-Mart, both have kids, and oversee their own label, Royalty Records. But say this about them: They've come a long way in a short time. "We call ourselves Royalty because in all of our minds we're all kings and queens influenced by the hip-hop culture," J-Reed said. Their influences include Tupac, Jay-Z, Eminem, and Dr. Dre. Musically, they like to pump out party-friendly songs like "Move Ya Body," "MySpace Freak," and "You Don't Wanna Screw Wit Me." "We're different," said J-Reed. "Most groups doing hip-hop, they're looking for the fame, for the fast money. We do it because we enjoy it." "I think it's a whole different type of hip-hop from what people are used to," added Distinct. "It's not that 'I'm gonna come out and smack you.' We do a lot more party-type songs. We have a totally different style." They insist that style is inclusive, which they prove themselves: J-Reed is black, Distinct is white. They named their debut CD "Red, White, and Black" for symbolic reasons. "It had the American thing, like it's a melting pot, and the black-and-white thing," Distinct said. "And red because we all bleed red." Their home base is 3 Chances, though it primarily features country and rock on the jukebox. "Erie is not hip-hop central of America right now," said Distinct. "That's what keeps me going. It's fun trying. We had a show at 3 Chances, and there was guy in his 70s there, seeing the show. He came up to me and shook my hand and said he wanted to bring his wife next time. "It's great to see how hip-hop can cross over to any kind of crowd. When that happens, I feel like we did a decent job." They graduated from East High, but they didn't hang out then. They met while working at Dialamerica and work at Wal-Mart now. "I'm the better worker," Distinct said. "Can you put in that he takes 30 breaks a day? I want that known!" roared J-Reed. They hire DJs to create beats for them, then write everything else, including lyrics and vocal melodies in Distinct's home studio. They remain adamantly DIY for everything else, such as creating and posting fliers and booking and promoting shows. Friday's show at Papa's George is their first event that features outside help via sponsors -- Nakturnal, a promotions company, and Scion. Eriez Finest was a finalist for favorite hip-hop group at last August's RockErie Music Awards, and has racked up more than 43,000 hits for its songs on MySpace. But though they're catching on, they're adamant about keeping things real. As much as the music means to them, life matters more. "We put as much as we can into it," said Distinct, "but I never let it interfere with my daughter, my family, my work." "We're the rappers who take care of their children and take care of their homes and family life -- things that need to be taken care of," said J-Reed, who has two daughters and two stepsons.
Distinct aka Raymond John Sobczak III grew up listening to music of many styles through-out his life and was later drawn to Hip Hop/Rap/R&B more than any other genre. Influenced by everyone he heard, and not any one person, he began playing around with song writing and rapping at an early age in middle school. Finally, a few years later in Jan. of 2000 he decided to get more serious and record his own tracks. Upon that time him and J - Ali (Jamel Allen, a long time friend) decided to form a group. They started out calling themselves “Tha Yung Gunz… After a brief fall out Raymond met J - Reed aka Jason Reider (A mutually diverse artist from Erie) and started the infamous Eriez Finest. Their goal at the time was to make Eriez Finest a household name… Not knowing they were just a small piece to the puzzle in Erie music at the time. None the less a needed piece to the puzzle. They would later on find out their talents would expand and bring them to this point in the road.
Distinct...
When choosing a rap name, using one word that sums up his entire drive, work ethic, and originality Raymond dubbed himself, "Distinct." Distinct was born April twenty ninth 1985 in Erie, Pa to Kathy and Ray Sobczak. Distinct's Father raised him for the most part. His mother had a drug addiction throughout his childhood, so he viewed her as a sister with a bad habit and struggled with respecting her. " I remember when my mother used to drop me off at different peoples houses every other night, Na mean, she would have me stay there for the night while she was out doing whatever, I knew what she was doing, she would lie and tell me she was picking something up from her friend . I'll never forget this one time she left me outside while she went inside a building , I seen this dude give her crack, I was about ten...I went crying to my grams house since that day shit ain't been the same". Distinct's Father wasn't just raising him, he was raising his 3 brothers and occasionally a friend or two, all younger than him.
School wasn't Distinct's strong point until high school, he wanted to drop out in 8th... But finished high school with honor's! After graduating he got mixed up with the wrong people, and with out school he had more time to spend in the streets. Which lead to Distinct and the Authorities running into each other all through out his teen and younger adult years. After three long years to think about what he wanted to do in his life, he decided music was his only choice. Its the only thing he ever thought about on an ongoing basis and can relate to his everyday life. "I never was really good with expressing my feelings but, music was a way out ,the only way I knew how". His first free style was with J-Ali a long time friend. Ali was the first person that gave him the thought that rapping was more than something he loved to do, a hobby. "And since then the rest has been history in the making".
Distinct had a beautiful baby girl born December tenth 2007 which has changed his life, not just physically but mentally and emotionally. He now has the drive that he has been missing his entire life. Success isn't just an option anymore it a priority and he will capitalize on any opportunity thrown his way.
Distinct decided that there were too many distractions in Erie, and he needed a change. Trying not to move he decided to turn hate into paper. He has been dealing with hatred his entire life but now with music he finds it on a daily basis. In a way it gave him motivation, he didn't want to just make it for him, he wanted to make it for his daughter, family, friends, and ANYONE who beleived he couldn't. Distinct's top priority is to take his family out of the hood and put his daughter through college. Since then he has dropped two CD's "Distinction" and " Eriez Finest: Tha Finest Hour". He has also Been featured on numerous mix tapes. He has been in many conest including taking second place in "Blank's Gym Talent Show in 06 along wit J-Ali" and Being nominated with his group Eriez Finest for the 2008 Rock Erie Music Award's (they were voted among the top 5 Groups in Erie, Pa). He is currently working on another Album along with J Reed "Red, White, And Black" which will drop very soon here as well as a mix tape "Local Celebrities." " For me this is More than music, It's a way of life". Distinct loves nothing more then winning and hates nothing more then losing, but is always willing to keep his head up and keep working to be the best!
J - Reed...
(Coming Soon…)
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