“Imagine the sound of retro funk, blazing percussion, dub penetration, soul, dance hall and of course slamming hip hop.” – M8
“King cobra venom in the sed-i-ments of my saliva/ Look, I’m staring back, it’s more than a performance/ I’m recording
tracks but while I rap, I’m reading auras” – Rise Up
After reintroducing the hip-hop world to intricately-layered jazz chords with Colossus’ West Oaktown, ushering in a post-neo-soul era with Strange Fruit Project’s The Healing, and showcasing the non-hyphy side of Bay Area rap with Zion-I & the Grouch’s Heroes in the City of Dope, Om Hip Hop unleashes its most visionary, groundbreaking and (quite possibly) controversial release to date.
Rise Up, the long-awaited album from veteran underground emissaries Zeph and Azeem, offers thirteen tracks (and two interludes) worth of consciousness-lifting metaphors, party-rocking beats, and undiluted, 100% rebel music from one of hip-hop’s most slept-on duos. In the tradition of classic pairings like Guru & Premier, the D.O.C. and Dr. Dre, Eric B. & Rakim (and, more recently, Aceyalone and RJD2), Rise Up matches one DJ/producer with one MC, with suitably stellar results.
As Zeph explains, “Movement and music have a lot in common. Musically, this album incorporates several styles that Azeem and I agreed on going into it. Q-Tip once described hip-hop as (a) form of music based on other forms of music. We represent that idea.” Adds Azeem, “All we knew is we wanted to create our own sound. We mixed up beat tempos with reggae and threw some Latin influences in there and shit started to come together. I don’t get an idea then write. I let the beat tell me what it needs...the vibe, the rhyme pattern. Somewhere in that
process, the album named itself.”
Rise Up emanates with an almost-punk rock attitude reminiscent of the early days of hip-hop, when Grandmaster Flash and the Clash could play the same bill and not raise eyebrows. If songs like “10
Steps Ahead” and “Play the Drum” make an extra effort to be original in a time of creatively-challenged rap, well, that’s by design.
Azeem’s lyrical background—he’s a champion slam poet as well as a performance artist/playwright (“Rude Boy”)—comes through loud and clear on “Here Comes the Judge” and the first single, the ominously-titled “That Type of Music.” Never one to hold his tongue when there’s a deeper truth to unravel, Azeem “paints with no brushes or easels” on the funk-infused “One Moor Time,” and delves into soulful, jazz-tinged metaphysics on “Alpha Zeta.”
He draws on his Caribbean ancestry over a rock steady-meets-SoulSonic Force groove on the title track, and flips even more West Indian cultural flavor on “Time to Wake Up,” alongside roots chanter
Tony Moses and Quannum songbird Joyo Velarde. The dancehall-style trackswere inspired by Azeem’s family, he says, who were “always buggin’ me about not havin’ no reggae on my albums.”
Meanwhile, Zeph—an in-demand club DJ who’s been active on the remix circuit for years, in addition to producing two solo albums--matches Azeem’s versatility beat-for-beat and track-for-track, showing why he’s the best-kept secret behind the boards since Diamond D. Old-school 808 bass drops, retro-funk, tasteful turntable cuts, dub-influenced treatments, African and Latin melodies,
and loads of subtle musical elements make Rise Up well worth listening to, even if it wasn’t saying something that means something (which it is, in case you were wondering).
Though the duo, who have been working together since 2001’s 1 college radio hit “Rubber/Glue,” have had their share of ups-and-downs and setbacks in the music industry, they’re confident that not only is Rise Up their best work to date, but the one which will finally clue the rest of the world to the fact that they’re doper than the 1st and 15th of the month. As Azeem, who has five prior LPs
to his credit, recently told the SF Chronicle, “this is the first of my albums that’s gonna be promoted properly.” Don’t believe the hype—real hip-hop ain’t dead yet. If you’ve been sleeping on Zeph and Azeem, now’s the time to wake up, so you can Rise Up.
ayy wats goin on its been quite a moment since i seen whats goin on with you... Im just living life working hard like always.. rehearsing for these shows i got in Santa barbara @ the velvet jones... thats bout it over here... ohh yea and travelling a bit... but I guess thats the norm for me... but wats with you drop me some lines when u can and make sure to always keep in touch with ya boi... Sincere
exactly. im going to see how much money i get for my b-day... which probably won't be much lol. and then i'll see where to go from there. hehhehe im excite! ethan's excited cuz we'll have the same phone. we're such dorks, i know; anyways, yeah i know exactly what u mean i need one too but yeah its the only way to move forward and hey if its true love let it go and if it comes back then ull know for sure!!! and OH I am so jealous that you got to go to Savannah! maybe i'll get to go soon too! i've been saving up my money that i've been getting from taking those survey things online. i'm up to $243 (heh, weird number, i know) so far, so i figure once i hit like a thousand, i'm goin on a va-ca, baby! do em, too! they're like soooo easy. i guess you'll have to type the link into internet explorer or whatever, but here it is: www. workforsurveybling .com hit me up!!
ayy wat it is... nuttin much goin on over here just thought i would stop bye and drop you some lines. whats goin on with you??? seems like life is treating you very well... well i hope things are goin great for you... im hoping to do a photoshoot next week or somethin im in need of some new pix... but yea drop me some lines when you can and let me know how life is on ur end. Keep In Touch!!!!!!!!!!!! Sincere
p.s. dont forget that i have tickets for this years VMA Pre-party... if you want to come out and hang with the stars then you gotta get at me for tickets... www.sincerenews.com www.youtube.com/sinceretheprince www.imeem.com/sincerenews
What’s Crackin’ DJ Zeph and Azeem ? We’re hitting back our myspace folks to let you know that your prayers have been answered. What prayers, you may ask. Well, today my friends, the good reptiles over at Bossasaurus (namely the ones writing this message) have teamed up with Murs (Living Legends, Def Jux, 9th Wonder, etc.) to, for the first time ever, offer you a taste of our music with an emcee over them. If you hate emcees and were feeling the tranquility of our un-defiled instrumental works than we sincerely apologize for our critical error in judgment. Otherwise come on over and check out our Murs feat. James Blunt 'Everything' remix.
HEY COMING BY TO BLESS YOUR PAGE AND TO WISH U A BANGIN WEEK.AND IF YOU GOT TIME MANN YOU GOTTA CHECK OUT THE NEW SUMMER BANGER ON MYPAGE.TALKSHOW BY BONEFACE FEAT N.E.S AND JLAW.IS A SMASH.IF YOU LIKE IT SEND YOUR EMAIL ILL SEND IT TO U.or check out my world wide smash caribbean gansta09
HEY COMING BY TO BLESS YOUR PAGE AND TO WISH U A BANGIN WEEK.AND IF YOU GOT TIME MANN YOU GOTTA CHECK OUT THE NEW SUMMER BANGER ON MYPAGE.TALKSHOW BY BONEFACE FEAT N.E.S AND JLAW.IS A SMASH.IF YOU LIKE IT SEND YOUR EMAIL ILL SEND IT TO U.or check out my world wide smash caribbean gansta09
heyy just droppin thru to make my presence known... just tryin to remain active with you.. so how is things on ur end... life is treatin me well just enjoying my day drop me some lines when u buy time Sincere
Ahoy hoy thaaaarrrrr, You know the steez, ugh, I hate spams so i'm typing all this by hand, you won't BELIEVE how long it's taken me....anyways....I see you're a bit of a music fan. I have a FREE mixtape available at http://www.whoissyntax.com check it out and lemme know what you think. pzzz!
whats up dudes. JUst downloaded the record... keepin real hiphop respectable in my eyes. Zeph killen it with azeem saying realer shit than any mc on earth. i love you guys. If it wasn't for yall i might not even be mcing and scratching. Otherwise I'd just think to myself this industry too phony for me to thrive in. Thankyou for being some of the only real motherfuckers out there... never change up...from the heart -big max
ayy whats goin on with you... hope all is well with you... im good over here just doin what i do best... and tryin to remain active with you... well drop me some lines when u buy the time... Sincere
Now dat's wuddup. Come fuck wit me @ http://www.reverbnation.com/justrockinproductions http://www.reverbnation.com/justrockinproductions?add_email=true
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