Hip Hop is a way of life, and that life did not always reflect the violence and thuggery you see in today’s cookie cutter, video game orientated Hip Hop artists. Groups like Melle Mel and the Furious Five, Run DMC, Beastie Boys, and DJs like Grandmaster Flash used to take their beats and poetry and use them as a tool of expression. The message: Inner city youths were not all gangsters, they were human beings. While the trials and tribulations of life in the streets were tough, they sought other ways to deal with the hazards of their environment. Turntablism, drum machines, and freestyle lyrical delivery were the chosen weapons. Through these tools they found a way to sing about life, about relationships, racism, education (or lack thereof) and everything that encompasses being young in a harsh world. However, the twist was positive. There was hardly a first hand account of murder or drug dealing. Instead they chose to take their observations and make it kick, make it danceable. Enter the new school embracing the old: Faternal.

faternal is a local hip hop trio of Shawn and Jason (twin brothers, and MC’s) and their DJ KC. Armed with little more than a pair of turntables and microphones, these young men storm the soundstage and take the listener on a journey of everyday Sonoma County life through the mind of a young poet and musician. Sound boring? Far from it, as life presents its pitfalls and upswings everywhere, and they are here to let you know they don’t succumb to any of it. They take command of their positions, and spend their time writing, rhyming, and doing what they can to not only survive, but excel. Their words are sharply delivered, and their beats sting and bump with precision. Having had the pleasure of hearing them live at The Last Day Saloon last evening (December 27th) I can firmly say they are destined for great things. If you’re a jaded thirty something like me, who can remember the ground breaking under Beastie Boys Brass Monkey, find a way to go see these guys. You can find them at http://www.myspace.com/faternal. Hip Hop does not have to be about gats and Crystal. Some of us look for something a little deeper, a little cleaner, and a little more inspiring.

WORDS BY: Mike Mercer
check his page out http://myspace.com/djmikemercer

The F.A.T. Man’s Listening
Current mood: busy

Listening Notes:
Holy hell this is a surprising album. Who the hell are these kids from Satan Rosa, CA? I mean, the production is nice, tight, complex early-90-ish beats with post-Kanye sampling. The scratching is SUFUCKINGPERB! I have to say, this is on the buy list if I can find it. The only thing I wish is that they would have cut the track listing down to 10 songs. If they had the six standouts with four of the other solid joints they could have hit it big. As it is, they’re going to stay underground for a while yet.

Release Date: 2007

F.A.T. Rating: Good.

Track Listing:
1. Fist Step
2. What’s Fresh
3. The Labratory
4. Get at me Girl 2.0
5. Castle in the Sky
6. Killing Pens
7. Energy Drink
8. Running Back to Hurt
9. All Mental
10. Some of the Things
11. She Don’t Know Me
12. No Style Like Mine
13. Movement
14. Snakes
15. On the Map
16. Driving
17. Message to You
18. One Step Ahead

Good Rap Music 101 Material:
First Step, The Labratory, Castle In The Sky, Some Of The Things, No Style Like Mine, & Message To You

Average 5-Star Rating: 3.33

Posted by Joe at 9:58 AM

Labels: Rap

Sincerely the F.A.T. man

Emry Jr. “PUTTIN’ Y’ALL ON NOTICE vol. 2″

PUTTIN’ Y’ALL ON NOTICE vol. 2

Back again for tha 1st time. Now where was I, Oh yes, the sultry, sensual Ms. DONAH HUNTER. She’s got the voice of an angel. (Fantasia watch yo back) Check out my girl SHAKTI. (the picture in particular) Living proof that queens don’t just come in black and white. Ms. SHAKTI’S interesting because she spun her own culture into HIPHOP gold. At a time when the music of our culture has become fond of her heritage, she brings authenticity. And my personal little brother from another mother PSYCHOSIZ. The most formidable wordsmith that I have ever come across. Brilliant lyricism acompanied by a brash well-deserved swagger. You can’t tell PSYCHOSIZ nothin’ and why would you want to. NOTHIN BUT HEATT brings the best Oakland has to offer to Los Angeles. Westcoast rap is misrepresented without them on the roster. The name to remember NOTHIN BUT HEATT, got it, good. These beats have been blessed by God. RELIGION has a sound that everyone will want a piece of. Canada’s premier producer with more talent then he knows what to do with, but he still remains humble, a sign of a spiritually concious artist in it for the right reasons. These cats got at me just a couple of days ago and I had to mention them. LOWER3RDS equal flawless. Hot spit with smokin’ beats LOWER3RDS is the complete package. Now I’ve listened to a lot of rap and I never come across rap with a christian message much less one thats as hot as any without one. EMAD SAAD’S flow is one of a man on a mission to save soul through HIPHOP. WISE INTELLIGENT, Jersey’s resident rap philosopher. Hard like “The Bricks” where he’s from, WISE is a definite essential. EYEZNPOWA is a rapper gone supersaiyen.(nuff said) Anybody not willing to give white rappers their props will loose that opinion upon hearing FATERNAL. HIPHOP has existed log enough for anybody to say that they’ve grown up listening to it, but how many can say they live it. FATERNAL can make that boast. Go head twins.

SOMAYA REECE, SOMAYA REECE, just sayin’ that makes me smile, try it. The final entry on my french quarter squad is REAL URBAN EXPRESSION (R.U.E.). Their harmonizing is hypnotic and the french sounds so good in HIPHOP music.Last but not least is my personal friend and the jack of all trades on my list. From audio to visual TREVONNE does it all. An actor, MC, and beatmakin’ monster. that completes my top 25 list but theres a lot more deserving artist on there and if you are reading this and wanna be down I’m taking applications.