Evan Phillips as "TRUTHLiVE" aka "EJ iLL" aka "Evan Flow" aka "the Popular Loner" aka "Santa Rosa's Own" aka "the California Son (Shine)" aka "Evan Almighty" aka "Zarpol the Vegebot"
Influences
still small voices and intuition... musical influences= Dr.Dre (beats), 2Pac (impact & influence), BlackStar (soul), Canibus (lyricism), Hi-Tek (beats), Pete Rock (beats), Outkast (originality with commercial viability), JOHN LENNON, U2, Depeche Mode, DJ Shadow, Bob Dylan, Jay Z (entrepreneurial grind), the Universal GODBODY...
About TRUTHLiVE (EVAN PHiLLiPS) is the Popular Loner
Faith and persistence is something that Emcee, DJ, Producer and Interdependent Media (iM Culture) co-founder Evan “TRUTHLiVE” Phillips understands. The name “TRUTHLiVE” came from a traumatic teen experience that saw Phillips undergo three heart surgeries to control a rare variation of the condition supra-ventricular tachycardia. Amidst a lot of doubt on his life, the artist and entrepreneur says he had an epiphany on how to devote his time on earth. “Live truth. Truth life,” he says were the exact words of the awakening. Thus, TRUTHLiVE. Often misleading to new listeners, he corrects “I’m not proclaiming myself as the truth, end-all be-all, it’s more of a reminder to myself as how to conduct my life, and my career.” The emcee best summates, “My music is my truth and my life.” That meaningful socio-political music rooted in classic Hip-Hop arrives in the form of “Patience”, TRUTHLiVE’s debut release entirely produced by acclaimed beatsmith Jake One, coming in the second quarter of this year.
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TRUTHLiVE’s career began as what he deems a “bedroom DJ and garage MC” for over a decade. Developing through the battle circuit, TRUTHLiVE surprised his peers as the young self taught DJ snuck behind a microphone and made his writing and rapping abilities known to the public. TRUTHLiVE joined Shaya and Eyezon (both Interdependent Media/iM culture artists today) in selling CDs hand-to-hand in Los Angeles, San Diego and the Bay area. “That’s what made me drop out of college, that’s what made me go for my dream,” says the artist today of his ventures in being a professional musician at the grassroots level.
In the years since, the emcee revisited his youth as a DJ and developed a sense for production. Having moved back to the northern part of the state, TRUTHLiVE performed frequently, sharing stages with acts Common, Murs and Hieroglyphics. Now a complete artist, after years of dedicated fine-tuning, “The whole thing has been a growing process to get it to the point where it was something that was totally me, still raw, but more mature and polished,” he says of his arrival with Patience. "I hold the late '90s Indie hip-hop era in such high regard. Myself, and my label mates, strive to carry on the tradition of thought provoking lyricism that is Independent, yet still commercially viable. We have paid a lot of dues on this path, and there are still a lot of dues to be paid, but we feel the time for our voices to be heard is NOW. That's why I started this label. We want to do it our own way. A way that is reminiscent of the golden era of Independent Hip Hop without catering to this new ring tone disposable art trend,” says TRUTHLiVE about his direction and inspiration, as well his respect for the culture.
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With nearly 100 songs completed before the release of the debut album, the work also lends itself for listeners to track that process with a promotional LP to set-up for the album. It is through this free, digitally-available release (titled “Get Smart/the Unlearning”) that TRUTHLiVE will showcase his production skills. This also allows fans to process the emcee’s unique approach while he locks in a date among his roster of artists.
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As longtime fans and new followers get acquainted through the promotional LP, Get Smart/the Unlearning also features production from respected names including The Are (Zion-I, Masta Ace), Tha Bizness (50 Cent, E-40), Vitamin D (Redman, Lifesavas), Keelay (Blu, Planet Asia) and J-Zone (Biz Markie, Cage). Juggling an Independent label with nearly 10 acts and a fledging artistic career of your own isn't typical nor easy, but Evan "TRUTHLiVE" Phillips and Interdependent Media (iM Culture) are breaking the molds of what we've come to expect from both artists and labels.
TRUTHLiVE (EVAN PHiLLiPS) is the Popular Loner's Friend Space (Top 39)
TRUTHLiVE (EVAN PHiLLiPS) is the Popular Loner has 2629 friends.
great song... hey just wanted to say i'm sorry if i was drunk and annoying the other night. I blame it on all those super bowl parties; however, it was nice to see ya!!
love the music truth, been listenin to ya since u dropped the santa rosa mixtape. pretty big inspiration for aspiring artists specially in the northern bay area. word keep up the good music rolling, and if ya got time check out my tracks let me know what you think. respect 1
THANKS for the ADD, Respect everytime, preview the new album "CLOCKWORK GREEN" on my music page. I love the feedback so leave me a comment. The new record is coming to ITUNES and CD BABY on OCTOBER 28th, 2008. Spread the Word. BIG UP!!!!!!!!
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