All The Innovators. Run DMC, UTFO,The FAT BOYS, KRS-ONE, The Beastie Boys,LL Cool J,Whodini,Grand Master Flash and The Furious 5,Afrika Baambaata,Tribe Called Quest,De La Soul,Rakim, Artifacts, Slick Rick& Doug E Fresh,Juice Crew,Black Star, Sage Francis, Freestyle Fellowship,(Project Blowed) Living Legends, Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth,Fu-Shnickens, Visionaries, Last Emperor, Rhyme Sayers,Wordsworth, Emenim,Quantum Projects,All the Mc's in Scribble Jam and WRC!(Fresh Coast) Onebelo, Immortal Tech,Def Jux, MF Doom, Heirogylphics, The Earthings,Effin Sombodies,Kool Herc! MY SKULL CONTROL FAM. All EMCEE'S/B-Boys(girls)/Graph Writters/DJS still killin' it and everybody else that is keepin Hip Hop breathin' CDBABY LINK for MANTIS FIST: Zen Archerz -->
Mantis Fist as a concept began in the garage of two brothers in Albq, NM around 1992- These brothers Steve(OKI) and Ron(Narrata) Nance would use a cheap Radioshack karaoke machine to record freestyle raps over beatboxing.They grew up watching movies like BREAKIN' and BEATSTREET and listening to artist like U.T.F.O.,RUN DMC and the BEASTIE BOYS. It wasn't until 1999 when they met another set of brothers that made beats- Keith and Ken Connell(The TWIN WHIRLWINDS) Who also used to listen to classic Hip Hop like LL Cool J That Mantis Fist was truly born. With many lineup changes along the way Mantis Fist is now OKI and The TWIN WHIRLWINDS. With NARRATA acting as the coach who occasionally suits up. Mantis has held there own on stage with SAGE FRANCIS, AKIL of J5, 2 MEX,OH NO,SMOKE, ILLMACULATE,PHUNK JUNKIES, BUKUE ONE, BUS DRIVER and many more. Watch OKI, battle NOCANDO in the FINALS of "MIC FIGHTS 11" on YouTube. Other live performances filmed by our man DRAW are here on myspace and youtube. Thanks to all you who voted for us in the BEST OF BURQUE 2006 issue of the Alibi, we were voted-"BEST HIP HOP BAND in ALBUQUERQUE" by you the readers of the weekly "ALIBI".
We also won-"BEST HIP HOP BAND in NEW MEXICO" in the New Mexico Showcase Battle of the Bands.
Thanks for your suport. tell us what you think ADD us as a friend leave a COMMENT. BOOK us a TOUR if you can,want to,and are able. Look for our new album soon. MANTIS FIST FIRST CD ZEN ARCHERZ IS OUT NOW. CD BABY
Vinyl & Verses sets it off again for our annual Pre Thanksgiving mash up! Arrive early because we max capacity every year and we don't want you in line out in the cold.
just wanted to say what up, and let you know that my first album, "Life and Death... Through the Eyes of a Martyr" is now out of print, and to celebrate I'm giving away the digital download of the full album away for FREE. you can download it right here:
Here's my reply to your comment on my blog: Its got nothing to do specifically with our town. I've spoken with quite a few artists across the country that have explained that they have the exact same problems in their respective home towns. This just seems to be the way the game is working now.
There are too many musicians and not enough venues for them. What happens is that the less talented, more weak minded musicians tend to not draw the line where it should be drawn. They're just kids that want a stage to rock. They get their 15 minutes in the sun and feel like a rockstar for a night. To some of these kids, its worth it.
What really needs to happen is that the most talented artists in any city need to come together and COLLECTIVELY draw a line in the sand. Anyone that allows a venue to cross over that line for the sake of just having said venue for a night should be blacklisted and banned from any and all opportunities that it is possible to ban them from. Fucking up the game should be punishable by career death. The problem is that there is so much politicin in the game that most people would not be willing to do this. Everybody wants to be everybodys friend. They all wanna smile, swing, and snap to the same happy tune. The only problem is that NO progress is made when you do this. There needs to be an understanding that there are rules, there is a line that you do not cross. If you cross that line you will be punished, because it does not only effect you, but it effects the way business is run in your entire city, and could also effect business in your state, and even nationally.
As far as fan support is concerned, I would first like to say that its not logical for me to expect every single one of my local fans to show up to every single one of my local shows. Its just not logical. People have their own lives that don't necessarily have anything to do with my music. I understand and respect this fact. I reach out to real people, not robots or yes men. But I will say this:
I have opened up for relatively well known acts. There has been an instance or two where I, and anyone I was performing with, have drawn more people and rocked my set way better than the headliner. In these instances I was still paid jack shit for my time and effort, while the headliner still got paid based soley on a name. This is wrong. This also goes to show that it doesn't necessarily matter what kind of following you have. If you take a little 21 year old snot nosed rapper that has never done a show before, and make him pay to play, he's going to bring in as much, or maybe even a little more than an established artist like me would. Why? First of all, he's paying the venue. That alone is income they wouldn't get from me. Second, if its his first show, you can expect all of his friends and family to show up to support him. They did for my first show, of course I GOT PAID for mine. Lol. I'm old, that was a long time ago. My point is, that if you take an artist like myself that draws the line and says, "I will not expect anything less than this," then you take one of these little kids that says, "ill do whatever you want me to, I just want a stage," from the standpoint of the venue, which seems like a better business decision? Obviously, the kid that just doesn't know any better.
These club owners are about 1 thing: making money. If they can make money for free without earning it, they are going to do so. The only way to stop it is to, somehow, take that option away from them. Which is why some sort of union would be extremely beneficial for all musicians. I just don't know how possible something like that is. You would end up having a lot of people with hurt feelings, and, unfortunately, everyone seems to be stuck on this bullshit, pc, I want to be friends with everyone garbage, that I don't know if the ones that should have the power to change it would be willing to.
I certainly am willing, but I can't draw the line by myself, it has to be done collectively by EVERY artist that has established themselves in our city over the last 5 to 10 years.
As far as why is concerned, the first problem is US. We need to spend more time reaching out to people that wouldn't normally be in a bar downtown. You can't expect to build a following by playing shows. If someones not there to see you, there normally not gonna pay a whole lot of attention.
Kind of a hypothetical question, but you can answer to yourself. How many of your myspace friends are people that live in Albuquerque that you don't know personally?
I've spent a little time lately (not enough) just randomly adding people from Albuquerque. I've gotten a pretty decent response. You have to give everyone a chance to hear it and expect about 5 or 10 out of 100 to like it.
As far as the snakes in the game are concerned, show them that their existence has no purpose, and they'll disappear. Its not easy to do, but it is very possible
How are you, Mantis Fist? Haven't checked in on you lately, so I swung by to wish you a happy September & hope you are feeling well! Listen, I have another track up on my page, "Attack Of The Mushroom People." You can hear it right now, if you'd like at: www.myspace.com/psychedelicpablo adios for now! Pablo
Check out our other pages,if you find time, if you would want to know more about us. The first ones on this page. Sinds you like this,you could request the other pages too and please read well before jumping to conclusion......
In the meanwhile, keep doing what you do best and stay yourself! You know allready.
Regards,
Bugz B,J.Blaze and Kane D Goreson, from Winners n sinners.
We are all winners and sinners, the balance is now, The key is gratitude. No fear,no keeps.
Please help me spread the word about my music by joining the most important team on my roster, The Lumpz One! Internet Street Team! Just sign up and you will receive email updates about Ambitious Vishunz LLC affairs and FREE mp3's before anyone else. I have been working hard in the studio, and this is how you can help me stay in touch while I work on new music for you, my fans. Thank you so much for your help. Peace -Lumpz One!-
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