The Burnerz, a collabo between Zumbi (of Zion I) & Houston producer the Are, are readying a project of their own this Fall. Backpack Cat asked Zumbi some questions about his latest musical endevour, what it's like to work with a new producer and who exactly is The Are?

NB: Who is The Are and how'd you meet him?
Zumbi: The Are is a veteran producer out of Houston, TX. He began his career with K-Otix in the early 2000's. Within the last couple years, he signed on to Trackmasters and has credits on Keisha Cole's last album, along with credits with the Game and Ludacris. We met while on our 2nd tour in Europe during 2003. We spent 3 weeks travelling, and became homies while on the road.

NB: How is this record different from a Zion I album?
Zumbi: I feel like it is more of a testament to raw emotion. Usually, Zion I records go thru several layers of editing before they are sent out to the public. On the Burnerz album, everything has been done with the idea to capture the initial emotion of both lyrics and beats, and then it is served directly to the listener without any manicuring.


NB: What's the idea behind your record?
Zumbi: The concept of the Burnerz is to bring the world honest hip hop music, less concerned with image, while being totally committed to fresh musical content.

Oakland Emcee and Poet Ise Lyfe Talks Pistols and Prayers

Oakland emcee, poet, and activist Ise Lyfe is proud to announce the release of his debut book, Pistols & Prayers, a collection of prayers, poetry, journal entries, rhymes, and short essays. A powerful collage of thought provoking social commentary, Pistols & Prayers is a compelling glimpse into the author's coming of age as a man, artist, and advocate for social change. I caught up with the artist this week and asked him a few questions about the book:

NB: Michael Eric Dyson once said "Guns are at once the merchandise of manhood and the of its destruction." Can you explain the title of your book--why you used a pistol juxtaposed with prayers?

ISE: One, by the time I started to take my rhyming seriously as a career option, there were less an less venues, stages, and clubs that had a place for emcee's to come out and rock. Literally, club owners were taking stages out of the club and there was just small corner setups for a DJ. It was like being a rap artist was like the corny thing to be, which was a little heart breaking for me, cause when I was growing up it was the ILLEST thing you could be. So what was left? Spoken Word venues! I'm an emcee, but I think when people think of me their mind goes to "poet." But thats because I got on through poetry slams and HBO Def Poetry because that was the more accessible forum and platform for me. So in Spoken Word Culture, if you were up there on the mic rockin' it, we called it "Bustin'"- like a gun. Folks in the audience would make gun gestures with their fingers and yell out "BUP BUP BUP" making gun sounds to let you know that they were feeling you. So my book has elements to it that are spiritual, personal, reflective, vulnerable (Prayers), and at the same time theres another side of the book that is hardcore, Hip-Hop, powerful, controversial, hilarious, (Pistols).

The second reason for the title is to point out an irony. That we live in a time where people are excepting the ridiculous notion of killing in the name of God. Both sides of wars posture God or their spiritual belief as the reason for killing. I hoped that the title would put me in a position to say that...

NB: What inspired you to write Pistols and Prayers?
ISE: I'm a writer, you know? I thought it would be cool to act on that in a traditional form, but bring forth a SUPER non-traditional text. I'm glad to be an author who is also a Hip-Hop artist, not just some rapper who wrote a book. It puts me in a space to rep for Hip-Hop from two differnt spaces.

NB: How did it come about to make it into a play?
ISE: I was approached by my agent to apply to have my next big theater piece commisioned by a foundation in an effort to put my work on the next level. It worked! So when it came time to decide what I was going to put up, I thought it was a dope creative and business opportunity to base a play on my book. Creatively, I think its one of the "coolest" things I've done...

Good Times for Dark Time Sunshine

Seattle mainstay Onry Ozzborn has spent the last five years on Rhymesayers Entertainment putting out underground hip hop classics such as Grayskul’s Bloody Radio and touring and collaborating with everyone from Aesop Rock to Atmosphere. Now he has started a new group with producer Zavala called Dark Time Sunshine - some say this sounds like a “Psychedelic Gangstarr” others refer to the “slight bit of Company Flow twirling in the waters beneath them” - whatever it is - it’s some of the most exciting new hip hop to hit ears in a long time.

Under the moniker of Cape Cowen, Onry spits abstract anthems while Zavala’s boom bap psych rock production swirls, twists and bangs beneath. The album features Aesop Rock ,P.O.S., Solillaquists Of Sound ,Qwel ,Ceschi Ramos , Oldominion, Champagne Champagne and an array of great vocalists such as Reva Devito ,Poeina Saddarth ,Kaitlyn Leathers and more.

The duo met a couple of years ago in Portland, OR at a professional DART competition where Zavala was crowned victor and won a life-time supply of Tap Out attire (but that’s neither here nor there) - although it’s still a proud moment in D.T.S history. Both interested in Hip Hop,Punk, Electronics and Lady Ga Ga, the two started to formulate a genre of music some call snob rap ,dark pop and theatrical lazor blur under the moniker DARK TIME SUNSHINE. After releasing the FREE album BELIEVEYOUME (released mid - Nov 2009) the duo sets sail soon to bring forth their OFFICIAL, debut release of VESSEL (via Fake Four Inc.)

Hip-Hop Symphony Jazz Mafia Readies LP: Brass, Bows, & Beats

The Jazz Mafia—a collective of MCs, jazz virtuosos, arrangers, and composers—that include many of the Bay Area’s most innovative and prolific musical forces are releasing their debut album, Brass, Bows & Beats.

Unlike anything else to date, Jazz Mafia is the first hip-hop orchestra to perform 60 minutes of entirely original composition. Among the list of MCs making up the collective are Lyrics Born, Dublin, Aima The Dreamer, and Seneca. Now, Jazz Mafia are set to hit the road, bringing their borderless tour de force—by principal composer, arranger, and conductor Adam Theis (pictured)—outside the Bay Area for the first time.

The Jazz Mafia is bravado post-modern orchestration, improvisation, blistering solos, spoken-word, Latin poly-rhythms, boom-bap rhymes, and emotive ballads, all spun together with the spirit of a Jazz-era big band—but also masterfully adhering to symphonic structural elements.

Production on Brass, Bows & Beats is shared by Ben Yonas and Adam Theis. The album drops June 15, 2010.


CHECK OUT JAZZ MAFIA:
June 8 Sonoma Valley Jazz at Grinstead Amphitheatre Sonoma, CA
June 11 Harmony Festival at Sonoma County Fairgrounds Santa Rosa, CA
June 13 Playboy Jazz Festival at Hollywood Bowl Hollywood, CA
June 25 (le) Poisson Rouge New York, NY
June 27 Montreal Jazz Festival Main Stage Montreal, QC
August 7 Newport Jazz Festival Newport, RI
August 14 San Jose Jazz Festival/California Stage Theater San Jose, CA
September 17 Monterey Jazz Festival Monterey, CA
October 15 Laxson Auditorium/CSU Chico Chico, CA
October 30 Kimo Theater Albuquerque, NM

LA RAP ARTIST AMAD JAMAL READIES DEBUT ALBUM

No doubt, one of LA's best kept secrets is rapper and musician Amad Jamal. He's been on the scene for a while, releasing singles on ABB Records with DJ Khalil, Evidence of Dilated Peoples, and producer Brisk One, but now after years of recording --and a few life hurdles--Amad Jamal is finally ready to release Barely Hangin’ On: The Chronicles of a Brotha Like Rodney King (Urban Umpire Records/ABB Records). Guest appearances on the LP include Dilated Peoples, Defari, Mayya Lady Dragon, and Gotham Green. Production is on Barely Hangin’ On is shared by Brisk One and DJ Dahi.

Barely Hang’ On’s jazz infused beats and live instrumentation make it unlike any other hip-hop record to date. In fact, the album was completely remixed after it was finished. Amad-Jamal and his partna Colonious Funk (of The Solution) added live base, drums and sound to all 13 tracks.

Born and raised in LA, Amad Jamal, named by his mother after the famous Jazz legend, had a pretty typical upbringing, listening to N.W.A records and free styling at The Good Life Café as a teen. He attended John Burrows Jr High with Rakaa Iriscience where they were both immersed in the graffiti scene.

This is really one of the dopest new hip-hop albums in the past few years. Do not miss it!

DLabrie Brings Underground Rap to Korea

Bay Area rapper DLabrie hopped on a plane and went to Korea this month and showed the country a little bit of indie hip-hop! Below, I asked Labrie, who's album Mr. Netw3rk (June 2010) about shows, hip-hop and korean bbq.

NB: How did you book shows in Korea?
DLabrie: In 2002 I went to Japan on a fluke with my very 1st album "Little Malcolm EP." I did a few shows and sold a lot of albums. The trip really gave me a lot of game on how it is in Asia. So the next year I got a chance to go to Korea and I did the same the thing. Although the scene is very different from Japan. I hit the spots with music and met the right people. I've been back three times since and it just keeps growing.

NB: What was the crowd like at shows?
I stayed two weeks & did seven shows mostly at bars and lounges near the college areas. There's a lot of universities out there that's where a lot of the young people hang out who are into hip-hop. My favorite area is by Hongik University because thats the 1st area I checked out with that type of flavor.

NB: What's the hip-hop scene like in Korea? Any good Korean rappers?
DLabrie: The scene is small. Hip hop is not the main thing there its still growing. The youth know about it since they have MTV and they know about alot of the big stars Black Eyed Peas, Eminem, Kanye of course. Some people know other hip hop through the internet and from cats who come to the US and bring stuff back. They show a lot of love because they wanna see the real thing in the flesh. They definately appreciate it when I come through even if I'm not famous as Jay Z to them it don't matter. They still see rap as something amazing, they have graphitti, alot of breakers, dj's but they also dont know all the politics and negative aspects that we debate and talk shit about out here all day.

NB: Did you eat any Korean food? If so, what?
DLabrie: Hell yeah! They got the illest freshest seafood. I had Live Octopus still sqirmin down my throat. Thet got markets where they sell u everythang Live straight out the tank and straight to the cooker- sea urchan , clams, every kind of fish, prawns, crab and much wierder shit than that some I liked some I didn't. The food is very intimidating but its very good you just gotta give it a chance. They eat alot of soups, vegatables, with spicy sauces and eating meals there is family style it's not like this is mine this is yours. You all eat together. They got a lot of spots where they let you put your own food in the cooker right in front of you and you make your own soup, they also give you food in bowl that's still boilin hot while you stir it.

Author Anna David Gets Real About Reality TV

Calling all intellectual reality TV fans (yes, they exist). I may have found a new heroine: a collection of essays by best-selling authors on the subject! Reality Matters (HarperCollins), edited by NY-based author Anna David (Bought and Party Girl), hits stores this week and includes literary luminaries waxing philosophical about the appeal of shows like American Idol, The Real World, and Big Brother and their effect on American culture. From her Chelsea apartment, we talked about the book, reality TV, and why she wants to see Kanye with a show of his own.

NB: How'd you come up with the idea for a reality TV anthology?
AD: Well, I know that I’m obsessed with certain reality shows and it occurred to me that fellow writers – who are all, let’s face it, usually home all day and aching from within the depths of their souls for some new form of procrastination – had to also be. Since so many of us long to have our work have the same kind of impact on society that say, your average Hills character does and are sorely disappointed when it doesn’t, I figured there had to be a form of narcissistic envy contributing to their fascination. I turned out to be right: the only writer I contacted who told me that he didn’t love reality TV confessed in the next sentence that he didn’t actually own a television.

NB: Who are/what some of your favorite writers and pieces?
AD: Oh, I could never say. The whole Sophie’s Choice thing.

NB: Did any of the writers laugh at you when you asked them to contribute?
AD: Not one. There was a writer that wrote a piece that I didn’t end up using – she’s a great writer and was initially willing to rework it but we had this conversation where I said, essentially, that I wanted her essay to cover the deep issues in her life that the particular show she was addressing hit on. She paused and said, “I’m sorry but you want me to explain how a reality show impacts my deep issues?” I was embarrassed when she phrased it that way but the truth is, most of the pieces in the collection actually do that.

NB: Reality TV gets a bad rap. Do you think there's any redeeming value in it?
AD: One hundred percent. I believe we can learn so much about humanity and ourselves from it. I’m entirely serious. I hate to admit it but when I watch the kids on The Real World talk crap about one person because they’re mad at that girl and try to get everyone on their side or do something passive aggressive in retaliation that just makes everything worse, I completely relate. I may not act that way anymore but I once did and seeing how ugly it is when someone else does it reminds me of why I don’t let my id rule my life anymore. And The Bachelor? Watching these guys have to decide between two women they’re “sure” they love only to break up with the one they chose a few months later is a great antidote to all the messages we get about love being about romance and falling for someone quickly.

NB: Is there a reality show that's too bad to watch?
AD: America’s Got Talent. I had to watch it when I was writing a reality show blog for foxnews.com and I wanted to tear my eyeballs out; never has there been a greater argument for the fact that America doesn’t, in fact, have any talent. I think it has – blessedly – been cancelled. Potentially A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila though I can’t say for sure since I only caught a snippet once at the gym.

NB: Is there anything in the book a hip-hop head might like?
AD: The piece about The Amazing Race covers the writer’s experience working on the show and how he used the sort of scheming values preached on Survivor to try to retain his job there, and I think anyone who has struggled to reach the top -- or likes music about that – would relate to the ethical quandary he faces. But also anyone who likes to laugh at how ridiculous certain reality show characters and then be loathe to admit that they relate to them will enjoy the whole book.

NB: If you could create one reality show on a backpack rapper, who would it be?
AD: If we’re counting Kanye as backpack, then him for sure. Just seeing him on Punk’d years ago – I can’t remember exactly what he did but I think he lost it worse than anyone ever had in the history of that show -- was one of my all-time enjoyable television experiences. And his life, just what he says at award shows and to reporters, practically already is a reality show. I’d imagine he’s much too savvy a businessman to subject himself to something that would surely make everyone detest him more than they already do, though.

Click here to buy Reality Matters.

Boardin' with Ron Contour

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Oakland's DLabrie Says 'Krush Groove' Changed My Life and Explains Bay Universal Movment

After years making a name for himself as the fierce, witty, and energetic emcee from the Bay, DLabrie a.k.a DLabrozia is set to drop his official debut album, MR. NETW3RK (RonDavoux Records/Selecto Hits) this spring. The 23 track LP features M1 of dead prez, Mistah F-A-B, San Quinn, The Jacka, Zion-I, Adisa Banjoko, among others. Production on MR. NETW3RK is shared by Traxamillion, Sean T, MG, Infinate, and EQ.

And if you think the guest artists are an eclectic mix, it's because they are. Labrie's style is a fusion of many types of hip-hop and represent the different parts of his personality. "I don't affiliate solely with the hyphy, political, or back pack movement. I dig a lot of music from all over the globe. I call my music  Bay Universal!" 

Born and raised in East Oakland in the 80's, Labrie came up during the golden age of hip-hop. "In `85 my mother took me to the Eastmont Mall to see "Krush Groove"," states the emcee. "And that was it." Labrie also attributes his knack for writing to his mother, a singer, clothing designer, hair stylist, and community advocate. She also suffered from Schizophrenia.

"I had to grow up fast," explains Labrie. "I had to call a neighbor when she went into psychosis and sometimes had to get her to a hospital so I spent a lot of time with doctors and nurses chopping it up about different philosophies and life."

At 13, it was a done deal  and he knew his calling was to be a rapper. He started freestyling, writing, recording on a karaoke machine and passing out mixtapes using fast dubbing on his stereo.

When asked how he came up with the title for his record, Labrie laughs: "My former manager used to call me "Mr Network" cuz I always was connected to all kinds of people and would know cats everywhere. And it just stuck!"

Click here to read more about DLabrie

Buy Kicks and Play Madden Fight Night with Royal Elastics

Move over Vans and Nike, Royal Elastics, a laid-back, street-style footwear brand is starting to gain momentum. I sat down this week with Global Marketing Director of Royal Elastics, Maurice Pendarvis, in his downtown LA loft and asked him a couple questions about his job, the company and the sneakers.

NB: What do you do for Royal Elastics?
MP: Basically, I make sure we look good and do cool stuff.
NB: Who started it RE and when?
MP: Two guys from Australia started the brand in 1996. A few years later, K-Swiss bought and ran with it for minute. Then last year one of the employees raised the funds and bought the company.
NB: What's the concept behind the brand?
MP: We’re a small, independent company trying to make it happen. Our goal is to make comfortable shoes that look cool for kids like us: independent folks, trying to do their thing--whatever that may be!
NB: Who are you trying to compete with?
MP: Us vs. Them! Honestly, it's kind of hard to say we’re competing with anyone. We’re just trying to get back into our niche.
NB: Where is company based?
MP: The US office is located in Los Angeles but we have offices in China and Taipei.
NB: If you could pick any rapper to rock RE, who would it be?
MP: My first choice would be MF Doom, then Kool Keith and then Raaaaaaaandy--shit is funny!
NB: Where can people cop these shoes?
MP: People can buy the shoes from our street sales guy Manny. Just look for a off yellow 2001 Honda Civic on the corner of 7th and Industrial. He's usually there from 8am to 8pm Mon-Fri and 11-6 on weekends. If he's not there then buying directly from our online store is the best way to go. We'll be opening up a showroom in our office so people can come down buy it from there if we have the stock. If not, they can just order it from there and we can ship it to them. We also have a PS3 and get down on some Madden Fight Night, so if you got some skills...LET'S DO THIS!

To catch of glimpse or purchase some shoes, click here.

Wanna Catch Zion I Live?

ZION I On Western Canadian Tour

March 24th - Whistler BC - Maxx Fish Night Club
March 25th - Vancouver BC - Fortune Sound Club
March 26th - Nelson BC - Spirit Bar
March 27th - Edmonton AB - Pawnshop
March 28th - Calgary AB - The Republik
March 29th - Saskatoon SK - Cosmo Center

San Francisco Shows
April 1st Rickshaw Stop San Francisco, CA
April 2nd The Independent San Francisco, CA

April-May:
April 09, 2010 Salem OR - Willamette College feat. Pep Love and Casual
April 14, 2010 Los Angeles, CA - UCLA Mighty Mic
April 17, 2010 Piedmont, CA - Piedmont High School
May 4, 2010 Los Angeles CA - House of Blues
May 5, 2010 Los Angeles CA - House of Blues
May 6, 2010 Aspen CO - Belly Up Tavern
May 7, 2010 Boulder CO - Fox Theater
May 8, 2010 Colorado Springs - Colorado College
May 9, 2010 Denver CO - Cervantes Masterpiece Theater

Photo by Adam Abramowitz

Germany Imports Hip-Hop, Spiderman, and Blue Jeans

From New York-based independent filmmaker Meaghan Kimball comes Blau Jeans, a one hour documentary showcasing America's influence on Germany over the past 60 years. From Snoop Dogg to Google, Star Wars to George Bush, Blau Jeans captures modern Germany's reverence for America’s innovation--and resentment of its arrogance.

"I met an editor of the German magazine Style who told me that she learned English by listening to rappers like Eazy-E," laughs the NYU and AFI graduate from her apartment on New York's Upper East Side. "She studied the songs, the slang, and the humor! Sometimes the influence was indirect, like I met a lot of kids who seemed to know little about hip-hop music, but took their fashion cues directly from American street culture."

Kimball, who made the film while living in Berlin in 2005, says a documentary wasn't what she intended. "As a filmmaker living in a foreign country, I couldn't resist but to schlep my camera everywhere," she explains. "When I realized the degree to which Germans were conflicted about America and its cultural influence, I thought, this could be interesting. I have a film!"

Click here to view Blau Jeans trailer.

For more info on Blau Jeans:
www.mvkfilms.com
www.blaujeans.com
info@blaujeans.com

CALI-AGENT RAPPER RASCO RELEASES GLOBAL THREAT APRIL 2010!

Since touring the globe from the Czech Republic to Sierra Leone, Bay-Area emcee Rasco is returning to the game
with his sixth and most complete LP to date, Global Threat. Guest appearances include Royce Da 5"9', Planet Asia, Supastition, Concise Kilgore, as well as newcomers Jae Nut, Suryil and Mary Jayne.

Since dropping his ground-breaking LP in 1998, Time Waits For No Man, along with his follow-up EP, 99’s The Birth, Rasco, born Keida Brewer in San Francisco, CA, has redefined West Coast independent hip-hop, winning over fans and critics alike with his articulate wordplay. His second LP, Hostile Environment (2001) and the critically acclaimed third solo joint, Escape From Alcatraz have made Rasco one of hip-hop’s most consistent emcees in the game. In 2003 Rasco released his fourth release The Dick Swanson Theory Pt. 1 and debuted his own label PocketsLinted Entertainment.

In addition to all his solo projects, Rasco’s collabs with partna in rhyme Planet Asia have made him part of indie hip-hops most noted duos. His Cali Agents releases including How The West Was One (2000) and Head of State (2004) remain indie classics. What’s more, he contributed to the remix album, Reanimiation with Grammy Award winning rock-rap group Linkin Park.

Electronic Music Through the Eyes of Amp Live

Amp Live, the producer known for his futuristic beats with Zion I, will drop his second solo record, a hip-hop, dubstep, rock, dance hybrid, Murder at the Discotech. His newest effort is the second in his electroland series and features Mickey Factz, Zumbi (Zion I), Fashawn, The Grouch, Eligh, Yak Ballz, Chris Young and many more. 

Amp Live has worked with a slew of notable MCs, including Zumbi, The Grouch, Too $hort,  and Del the Funky Homosapian. He's also remixed tracks for MGMT, Radiohead, and Linkin Park.

Murder at the Discotech drops May 2010!!! Click here for more info on Amp Live.

Moka Only's Cousin Ron Contour Roams Earth and Eats at Will

2010 has already been an exciting year for Ron Contour. Besides obtaining a drivers license and much needed dental work, Contour—the older first cousin of the illustrious Canadian emcee Moka Only—is releasing a third album, Saffron on Fake Four Records.

Ron, the highly erratic, conceited, spacey, wandering, loopy and devastating emcee, got his start in hip hop / surf rock / jazz music scene in the late 90s after Moka Only witnessed Ron freestyling at a family reunion.

“He had skills, so I offered to help him get into the game,” explains Moka Only. Ron’s first self-titled release in 1999 (Underworld Records) was masterminded by Moka. In fact, it was actually billed as a Moka Only release. The album was critically acclaimed— inspite of the confusion as to whether or not it was a Moka Only album or not.

In 2000, contour dropped out of the scene altogether to pursue girls and bee-keeping. Women found him tolerable, and he lost interest in collecting bugs so, in 2007, Ron approached Moka again. In ‘08 Moka produced an album for Ron entitled Hot Dog on Legendary Entertainment.

In summer 2009 Ron hit the studio hard cranking out albums at a furious rate. In the fall he released The Summer of Ron on Domination Records, as well as The Beach also produced by Moka Only. He is also planning on releasing a travel album based on the Canadian Province of Ontario entitled Rontario.

Production on Saffron is compliments of superstar rap producer Factor.