preachjacobs.com: the blog

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Preach Jacobs & Denz "Maple St. Sessions" feat. on KevinNottingHam.com

2009-06-27T14:09:00.000-07:00

The homie Preach hit me up earlier this week with an exclusive first listen of his new project with Denz called Maple St. Sessions. The album is real ill and though it’s not quite ready for release yet, I got a couple of leaks for you all to check out. Preach is hard at work on a few different project right now, so let’s hope homie gets the shine he deserves. Check out the tracklist and artwork to this album after the cut, as well as grab the two leaks…
read full article

Long Live Michael Jackson: Thrill Kill Beats by Geoffrey aka The One

2009-06-27T11:46:00.001-07:00

OM hip-hop recording artist the one (aka jah freedom) had this idea a while back by combining scenes from the movie 'killer' with mj's 'thriller.' i felt it would be great in dedicating great mj inspired material to help us with our lost. here's more info:

The story behind thrill kill

The story behind the remix album…swiped from Om records blog>>>>>>>>>
In
celebration of the 25th anniversary of Thriller, Thelonious Onederful
Esquire aka THE ONE just hit me with his new concept remix soundtrack
album ‘Thrill Kill.’ Using elements and samples from Thriller, he
devised a new soundtrack to go along with his favorite movie ‘The
Killer’ directed by John Woo. Using samples from the legendary Thriller
album, THE ONE gives us a new interpretation of the songs designed
specially for scenes in ‘The Killer.’ Make sure to peep each song all
the way through as the flips the beats in multiple styles and up to
three times on some tracks. This is strictly for fun and promotional
use only. Don’t be afraid

Download Thrill Kill Now

Preach Jacobs & Denz "Maple St. Sessions"

2009-06-26T21:49:00.000-07:00

i'm back bidges. sup yall? this is the first look of the new ep "Maple St. Sessions" with Denz (ill producer out of the U.K.) i'm proud of our joint effort which also includes production by clokwork and stellar edwards.

want a sneak peak? here's two tracks:

"Oh Yes" (prod. by Clokwork)
"Cool Out (Denz RMX)" (prod. by Denz)

biggups to all the support. listening party in s.c. coming soon.

art direction by Piensa Art Company

Michael.

2009-06-26T21:41:00.000-07:00

this is so surreal. i heard the news from a text message saying "michael jackson is dead." i never realized how past generations felt when people of this nature passed. from john lennon to elvis to jimi to anyone that passed before their time. i have to say that now, i know what it feels like.

one of the best dedications so far that's been released is one by j.period 'michael jackson-man or the music.' enjoy the free download and celebrate life.

Free Times: Features - The Great Columbia Mixtape

2009-06-07T17:44:00.000-07:00

Preach is featured on the "The Great Columbia Mixtape" with 50 songs you should know about people from Columbia, SC. "South Coca" is onda list. Read the whole list here.

or just see what they said:

Preach
“South Coca”

Listen to "South Coca" courtesy of Preach
Garveyism (2007)
Another Native Tongues-inspired rapper, Preach — who, full disclosure, is an occasional Free Times contributor — spits fluid, conscious rhymes over Blue Note-inspired beats. “South Coca” is all about taking pride in where you’re from; and Preach is from right here.

Preach feat. on In Between The Lines EP

2009-05-24T17:28:00.000-07:00

1. Radio Heroes ft. T.R.A.C
2. This Life ft. Roshin (of notes to self)
3. Take A Trip ft. Phonte (of little Brother)
4. I'm outta Here ft. Preach
5. Roll The Dice ft. Voice

Another Marc Mac Production with a helping hand from Phonte of LB & FE, T.R.A.C, Preach, Roshin of 'Notes to Self' and Voice. Look out for a full length from Marc and T.R.A.C this summer.

Marc Mac aka Marc from 4hero is well known for fliping his script, his productions cross platforms from Jungle to Jazz and on this EP Marc goes all out 'hip hop' with a 90's style approach to beats, breaks and melody. The Ep is set up as a 10 track digital release including the beats/instrumentals but vinyl pressing is never out of the question.

check out samples on the omniverse site.

Travelogue: Preach Jacobs in Japan

2009-05-07T10:38:00.001-07:00

I’ve been a starving artist — at times literally — for quite some time now. Struggle has been engraved in my brain as just a part of the game, but that doesn’t mean that at times it’s become exhausting living here in the states. I’ve always been told that going overseas would give you a perspective that being in the great U.S. of A couldn’t provide, so when my pal Keesh told me he had an opportunity to hit up Japan and do some shows, I took it. What ensued was a life-affirming experience.
In order for me to appreciate the effects my trip had on me with my music, I had to understand Japan from a human approach. I asked Keesh, who lives there and acted as my tour guide and translator, what he felt were the differences between living in Japan versus America, and he gave me a profound response.
He told me that the culture of Japan is an enduring culture. If things are difficult, not to your liking, you endure and be patient. I saw that patience first-hand and it appeared to breed a humbleness that the metropolitan Columbia area hadn’t offered.
He then offered that America has an instant-gratification culture. Whatever you want, from a swine-flu-infested-Maurice-Piggy-Park-Bar-B-Q burger to your Internet porn, things are expected to arrive pretty fast. read more

"Outta Here" video by Preach (prod. by Marc Mac)

2009-05-04T16:32:00.000-07:00

Exile interview for Vapors Magazine

2009-04-26T22:44:00.001-07:00

Words By Preach Jacobs
In hip-hop, it’s sometimes hard to make the distinction between beat-makers and producers, but with Exile the choice is clear. Best known as one of the heroes in the independent game, Exile is pushing the envelope on what we are accustomed to hearing from producers, and Exile’s collaborative effort with emcee Blu on Below the Heavens has skyrocketed him to the top of the list of most-sought-after producers.

“While we were recording the Below the Heavens record, there were some commercial records we did that we didn’t put on the album. We wondered if we should go in the commercial direction, but we chose not to. Instead we decided to do us. We agreed to make the music we enjoy.”

As a result Exile gained a reputation for having a sound that captured the golden age of hip-hop, as well as going beyond the norm with his new concept record Radio.

“Everything on this album is sampled off the radio. It was a way to make beats in a different way. I hate to say it, but I got bored and wanted to challenge myself. This album was the perfect way to go about it,” Exile admits. The grandson and son of acclaimed musicians, Exile is a product of his environment, explaining how his upbringing crafted his sound.

“My grandfather played traditional Italian stuff, and one of his pieces was actually stolen by Ricky Ricardo and used for the Lucy show. My father was with a group called Lost & Found in the 60s. I grew up around that, it’s in my blood.”

On Radio, Exile orchestrates the songs with a unique brilliance. Every random sound from radio static, classic talk radio vocal clips and weird sound effects were blended seamlessly to make the songs. Sonically speaking, the album is unlike anything I’ve ever heard and will no doubt get him more attention for his beats. Exile acknowledges this but still is able to remain grounded.

“I’m willing to make beats for major labels and artists, but the only thing I’m afraid of is my sound changing. When I got my beat on the Mobb Deep album, I was getting my beats pitched to a bunch of places and I started to cater to them. I had to catch myself and I promised that if I do it, I have to make the beats the way that I want to.” It’s becoming clear that he’s a producer with very vintage hip-hop morals.

“I still wish we were still rocking tapes and vinyl. There’s something special about it. Back in the days you got props for having the dope tape with shit on there nobody else had. Now, with the internet, even though it opened the door for everybody to get some recognition, the mystery was lost. With this new stuff I’m doing, that’s something I want to bring back.”

Radio is in stores now!

put me on your back

2009-04-08T23:12:00.000-07:00

okay, so i will be in japan next week (i'll be sure to have plenty of pictures and blog updates for the two or three people that read my shit...lol). but these are the new shirts we're taking with us. thanks to dre for the phat azz design. right now the prices are $15 and the sizes are L and XL with colors green/baby blue or khaki. want yours? cop it now! peace

Japan Jitters

2009-03-26T20:23:00.000-07:00

Thursday March 26, 2009
Anyday where I don’t shoot myself in the head is a victory. It gets to the point that no matter how many times you try to find answers with horoscopes, i-ching, Buddah, the Good Book or space crystals, it all boils down to you being alone. It boils down to you having to make decisions for yourself. No help from a guardian angel and no fucking life-line you can call when $250,000 is on the line. Nope, it’s just you.

Realizing this comes at a cost (sometimes more to others). I remember looking at bible thumping folks. You know, the ones that have this glaze over their eyes, like they’re in their own little world oblivious to rapes, murders, killings and porn. I pitied them, but seeming that I’m the depressed fucking wreck I guess the joke’s on me.

I don’t know if I’m writing a movie script, journal, suicide letter or a memoire. At the end of the day it could all be considered a self-loathing guide for people searching for sympathy. But in reality I don’t think that. I’m not searching for sympathy, or a free ride, I just want a fucking chance. I just want to proper situation to appear where I can show whom ever I need to show what I can do in my respected fields.

I heard somewhere that Sade only writes when she’s extremely depressed. It’s weird because I love her music, I’m impatient and want her to hurry up and put something out. But am I at the same time wishing heartache and pain for her so I can have more tunes for my iPod?

I used to convince myself that the work was the most important thing. I still believe that to a certain degree, family of course takes the lead. But I’ve always lived a writer’s/poet’s fate; Jocks don’t have to write sonnets to get pussy, ‘cause they were jocks. We were the dorks with bad vision and a knack for words so that was our weapon. Believing that people will only give a shit about me if I a) do something magnificent (i.e. cure cancer or something) or b) withstand a large amount of noble suffering (like being in a wheelchair after saving a child from a burning fire and logs collapse on me).

And with these type of skewed sentiments I create. My music tends to either be highly politically charged (as in my purpose is this ‘movement’) or complaining about being broke while that undeserving fuck isn’t.

As I prepare for my trip to Japan, self-doubt has a way of flirting with me. When the plane ticket costs two months worth of my rent, I need to be sure about what I’m doing. Am I sure? Well, maybe not. But fuck it.

At the end of the day, even the sun goes down. Heroes eventually die. Horoscopes often lie. Take it EZ. -pj

Audio Treats Inspirations Mixtape

2009-03-16T16:23:00.001-07:00

my folks in germany, audio treats have a dope mixtape of your favorite joints. peep it out. and frank get me over there soon! download it HERE.

Preach on MTV/Can yall do me a favor? & more

2009-03-13T18:50:00.001-07:00

mtv has this thing where they're reaching out for indy artists to play their music on shows. so they have these pages where we put our music up and have people vote for em. more votes, the more visible it becomes and helps get my shit on the channel.

it would be appreciated. you may have to register your email, but i'll owe ya a twinkie or something. thanks in advance.

peep it: http://soundtrack.mtv.com/preachjacobs

also we re-upped the welcome to blutopia link. enjoy.

Free-Times 'A Familiy's Lost' by Eric Ward & Preach Jacobs

2009-02-26T08:36:00.001-08:00

A Family's Loss
Grieving in Aftermath of Unsolved Murder
BY ERIC K. WARD
On Nov. 13, 2006, the Richardson family of Columbia was mournful and broken, a devastated kin dealt a crushing blow with the murder of one of their own, an unsolved slaying that magnifies their pain, and makes closure elusive for them.

Twenty-four hours — that’s all it took for the lives of this model middle-class American family to be turned upside down, forced to shoulder a tragic burden like no other.

Theirs is a story of a family’s loss. It is not a story for the faint or calloused of heart. But in its telling, the human face of a man taken in his prime — then-37-year-old father of four Joe Richardson — comes to life. Likewise do the stories, at least in some ways, of other victims of unanswered killings whose perpetrators punctured holes in the soul of justice.

And maybe, just maybe, the sharing of the Richardsons’ suffering will jog memories or otherwise prompt a surfacing of information that unravels the mystery of who caused it.

The detective who is handling the case, Sgt. Kevin Isenhoward of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, says he is following a new lead that offers a glimmer of hope. “We’re trying to verify some details of the story that was provided to us,” he says in an interview Feb. 18 at the department headquarters on Two Notch Road.

Isenhoward encourages anyone who might know something about Joe’s murder to contact him.

The crime that sparked the family’s sorrow and upheaval, a cowardly shooting of Joe in the head while he was asleep, occurred in less than a calendar day. Rather, it unfolded in a span of time closer to that of a door sliding closed, or being kicked open.

Indeed, the latter marked the beginning of the darkness in which Joe was slain, according to the prevailing theory of the family members. There are seven of them in their immediate circle: mother Petrona; brothers David, Mark, Jahn and Albert; and sisters Jennifer and April.

On a drizzly and overcast early evening in late January, most of the Richardsons gather at the mother’s home in Forest Acres to share their story.

Inside, the family members sit semicircle in a sizable living room. Resting on a wall shelf in the room: a black, wooden, lettered carving that reads “F A M I L Y”. Playing with arts and crafts under a table in a dining area off of the room: three children.

“Twelve years strong — we’ve been making incense 12 years,” says David, 38.

The second oldest of the five brothers, he was principally responsible for starting Twelve Tribes out of his home on Pendleton Street in the late 1990s. About two years later David moved to Veterans Road and relocated the business to a shed behind his new residence.
The next move was a full-on retail outlet on Shakespeare Road in 2002.

With help mainly from Jahn in the early days, Twelve Tribes grew with each step and other members of the family got more involved in the operation of the hand-dipped incense company along the way. Jahn oversaw distribution; mom handled packaging. Everyone played their part, David says. “We were selling 100,000 packs in six months.”

The enterprise was grounded in the teachings of Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey and other black leaders in how to build community and attain self-sufficiency, he says.

Sealed in signature black pouches, the Twelve Tribes aromas include African Musk, Kush, Cool Water, Wild Jasmin Flowers (an excellent choice) and Honey Rain.

The scents of Twelve Tribes continue to burn via sales at longstanding locations of its products, notably the U.S. 1 Metro Flea Market in Lexington County.

“Oldest sibling Joe was the face and charm of Twelve Tribes at the flea market after David opened a storefront on Shakespeare Road in Columbia,” 25-year-old Preach Jacobs, a Free Times contributor and longtime friend of the family, writes in a sidebar to this story.

But the fortunes of the family business turned on that dark November 2006 night when Joe was murdered. “After that everything just kind of disintegrated,” David says.

Jahn, 33, agrees. “Things were never the same after that,” he says. “A piece of all of us died that day.”

Says 29-year-old April, “It’s definitely a void.”

The Murder

Mark, 35, was there when it happened. His eyes water and his hands tremble as he recalls the events, which unfolded in his one-bedroom apartment at the Austin Woods complex on Garners Ferry Road where Joe spent the night.

“I woke up around 3 o’clock [in the morning],” Mark says. “I went to the bathroom and he was laying there.”

Thinking that Joe was fast asleep, Mark says he returned to bed and got up six or seven hours later at about 9:30 a.m. His older brother was still lying there in the living room, motionless. “You could see his face, kind of swollen and deformed,” Mark says. “You could tell something happened.”

What happened, he theorizes, is that someone kicked in the apartment door and shot Joe in his sleep. A closet and cabinet doors were open and the apartment had been ransacked, Mark says.

Apparently a heavy sleeper, he got dressed, called the Sheriff’s Department and David and went outside and waited in his car for them to arrive.

His brother showed up shortly thereafter as did Sgt. Isenhoward and another investigator from the department, John Ewing, who helped the sergeant work the case until taking a job as police chief in Bishopville, a small town about 50 miles east of Columbia.

Isenhoward says he stays in contact with Ewing about Joe’s unsolved murder.
The detectives inspected the apartment, witnessing damage to the door, and took Mark in for questioning. “More like interrogation,” he recalls, “because they thought I did it, you know. I had to take a lie detector test just to prove my innocence.”

Isenhoward says they drilled Mark pretty hard, questioned dozens of people, including other members of the family, and canvassed the flea market, laboring to get a sense of what Joe was about, what he was into and who he was involved with and had befriended.
But no real suspects emerged, he says, and mystery soon enveloped the investigation. “We don’t have that many cases that go cold that quickly,” Isenhoward says.

This one showed signs of a robbery, but Isenhoward says he was told that nothing was stolen from the apartment. “And I have some concerns about that,” the detective says. “It just seems that something else is going on.”

David says “stuff was shuffled around in the closet” that was open.

Mark says the investigators speculated that the scene had been staged and that Joe’s killing was gang and/or drug related.

Jahn says all leads turned up void and the case produced nothing in terms of a motive. A toxicology test of Joe’s body found no trace of narcotics, he adds.

Similarly, no DNA or fingerprint evidence surfaced, Petrona says. She says she can’t make sense of it. “There was nothing. We don’t know any more today than we did two years and going on three months ago.”

April says she thinks it was somebody in the apartment complex.

As for Austin Woods tenants, they proffered a universal “I don’t know nothing,” Jahn says, adding that there is a lot of gang activity around the place.
Isenhoward describes Austin Woods as problematic.

And, after all of their searching the investigators found themselves with no clue as to the identity of the killer(s). “They said it was like looking for a needle in a haystack,” Petrona says.

The mother offers mixed accounts of the detectives’ work. At one point in the conversation she sizes up their approach as, “It was like, OK, that’s just one more murder in Columbia.” At another point she says they had nothing to go on and, “I think they did the best they could.”

Mark says he thinks the detectives could have found some evidence in the apartment.

Says Isenhoward, “There’s nothing I could have done or anybody could have done or any [law enforcement] department could have done differently.”

Know Something?

Do you have information about the unsolved murder of Columbia resident Joe Richardson?

Richardson was fatally shot at the Austin Woods apartment complex on Garners Ferry Road on the night of Nov. 12, 2006. He was 37 and a father of four.

If you know something about the case, Richardson’s family encourages you to contact Sgt. Kevin Isenhoward of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department at 576-3073 or kisenhoward@rcsd.net.

The Mystery

Typically, he says, people who commit homicide know their victims and the crime stems from a feud that developed in a friendship or romance. “Which may be the case here, but we’re just not getting the right information to connect the dots.”

Part of the difficulty in solving Joe’s murder is that the investigation generated little insight into his character and lifestyle, even from the family, Isenhoward says. “It really seemed to us that he was kind of a loner type,” he says.

One possibility lurks in a man with whom Joe had a physical altercation prior to his death, the sergeant and family members say.

The man lived in Austin Woods and Joe apparently got the better of him in their fight, but to this day who he was remains unknown, Isenhoward says. “We only know the man by the name Roughneck,” he says. “Nobody even heard of that name down there [at the apartments].”

Sometimes, people who might be involved in a case like Joe’s will withhold information because it would incriminate them for minor violations, the investigator says. “Which can devastate a case.”

In that regard, the mother instructed her children to tell the authorities what they need to know “and the stories haven’t changed at all,” Isenhoward says.

A robbery and homicide detective for 11 years, he says that investigations of such crimes usually assemble a mass of information in the first couple of days. And if a case is cracked, it is most often within a relatively short period of time that follows.

However, the window on that clock never closes.

“In fact, we solve a lot of cases years later,” Isenhoward says.

For now at least, this one leaves many questions unanswered: Who was the man Joe had fought with and did he have anything to do with his murder? Why was nothing taken from the apartment? How come Austin Woods tenants were so tight lipped? Why did the case go cold so fast?

For Mark, finding his brother lifeless was a haunting experience that lingers. “I see it every day,” he says. In the aftermath, Mark says, “I had to start all over — spiritually, physically, especially emotionally.”

Jahn was the last person to see Joe alive. They were hanging out at Jahn’s place, in the East Lake subdivision near Austin Woods, watching TV the night of the murder. Joe was unusually quiet, not talking over the TV as he normally would, Jahn says. He wonders if the killer followed Joe from there to the apartment complex.

Jahn says Joe wasn’t perfect and things were going on in his life that he was unable to manage. Joe, he says, had experienced “a couple of failed relationships” and was a heavy drinker.

The siblings say Joe also was immensely protective of his family, had a fondness for cars — body work and detailing — and was skilled in plumbing. “He wanted his own body shop,” April says.

Jahn: “He looked up to his children, because he knew there was potential in them.”

Joe also liked coffee and movies. “Karate flicks,” April says.

He was a reader, too. His interests in that pastime focused on geography and history, especially the African experience, David says.

With a picture of the five brothers perched on a mantle behind Petrona, tears flow from her eyes as she describes the content of the character of her lost son: outgoing and friendly, among other traits. “He had his ways just like all of us do,” she says, “but through it all he was a good person.”

Time softens the sorrow, but it never dissipates completely, the 59-year-old mother says, comparing Joe’s death to losing a limb.

Some days, particularly holidays, are worse than others, Petrona says. “And honestly, I didn’t think I could sit here and go through this interview. But God is good.”

Joe Richardson would have turned 40 on Jan. 31. Since his murder, one of his children has given birth to a grandchild he will never know.

But as he rests in peace, it is safe to say the Richardsons will take care to help that newborn member of their family come to know Joe.

Remembering Joe

Writer Recounts Friendship with Family of Murder Victim

By Preach Jacobs

When I first met the five Richardson brothers in 1999 at age 16, I envied their remarkable love and close affection for each other.

I met David Richardson at the U.S. 1 Metro Flea Market in Lexington County where he was selling his well-known hand-dipped incense named Twelve Tribes. He also sold jewelry, knitted caps and black empowerment books, all of which reflected my personality at the time. David was a 20-something, gentle, soft-spoken man, and I had immediately found a mentor and a friend. In the coming months, other members of his family migrated to Columbia from Connecticut.

The Richardson clan consisted of seven siblings — five brothers and two sisters. I was soon introduced to all of them and quickly became a fixture at their family gatherings. One brother in particular, Albert, became my best friend and musical collaborator with our hip-hop band 7 Moonz (Albert eventually branched off to become lead singer of local hip-hop powerhouse Déjà Voodoo). The relationship among the five brothers inspired awe in me for their strong sense of family and commitment to each other’s well being. I sought to be like them, and often smiled to myself when people thought I was one of them. The family directly influenced my mannerisms, ways of thinking and even my fashion sense.

Family is a big deal to the Richardsons. David launched their business venture, which helped many of his family members get on their feet before venturing on to other things. Oldest sibling Joe was the face and charm of Twelve Tribes at the flea market after David opened a storefront on Shakespeare Road in Columbia.

I remember Joe having a distinctive and hearty laugh that filled a room when you told a dirty joke or confessed a failed attempt at hitting on a young woman. The family described him as loyal and caring and he had a reputation at the market for having a strong work ethic.

When I got a call in November 2006 that Joe had been fatally shot, shock hit me hard, and I saw firsthand just how hard it hit the family.

Joe’s passing also affected me in other ways, including him appearing in my dreams. In one dream, he was where I had last seen him — the market, and he was there without a care in the world. I spoke to him and gave him a hug, and he asked how I was doing. I can’t recall what I told him, but it caused Joe to laugh hysterically. I joined in with the laughing until I realized that Joe is not with us anymore. Then I woke up.

By the time I had this dream, I hadn’t seen the other siblings for a while, and one day decided to visit David’s store and say hello. It was around May 2007 and I came across an empty building where the business once resided.

Twelve Tribes’ storefront on Shakespeare Road had closed. Brothers Mark and Albert moved to different states. Marriages were broken. Morale was broken. In addition to the grief caused by losing their loved one, the family was frustrated by questions left unanswered by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, which had jurisdiction over the case. And I was left feeling hopeless after mother Petrona Richardson said she didn’t know who was on the case and that the detectives handling it weren’t calling with updates.

The majority of the siblings believed and still believe that Joe’s case was a low priority with the investigators. David said he felt that more could have been done, and that in the eyes of the investigators, Joe had become a statistic and not a person.

Mark, who discovered his brother’s body in the Austin Woods apartment they shared on Garners Ferry Road, spoke about how it affected him.

“I lost everything,” he said. “I had to start over emotionally. I feel everything happens for a reason, and feel that is why I work at a hospital now. I speak to everyone in the waiting room who may have lost somebody. And I believe that they are grateful for me because I know what they’re going through. I hug them and cry with them because I can relate to them. I thank God for being able to do that.”

Because of shows like CSI and The Wire the public might think that murder investigations are solved within an hour including commercial breaks. The Richardsons aren’t so naive. Even though they want the murderer(s) brought to justice, they’d settle with knowing the investigators cared.

Joe, who would have turned 40 in January, will never see his newborn grandchild. He will never share another moment with his mother and siblings; never share another moment with a loyal customer.

But surprisingly, the Richardsons aren’t bitter. Rather, they celebrate the life Joe lived.

Jahn was the last of the siblings to see him alive. “He was at my house that night, watching a movie and playing with my kids. We dozed off, then he woke up to leave and we said we loved each other and he left. He left, and after that, I lost my best friend.”

Let us know what you think: Email news@free-times.com or editor@free-times.com.

Preach mentioned on Loud.com

2009-02-25T14:00:00.000-08:00

New York, NY (November 26, 2008) - From the homie, DubMD:
…”Renatus” in old Latin meaning Born Again/Reborn: 44 emcees over 34 handpicked beats! Thirty four tracks of that raw, authentic, no apologises Hip Hop music for the purest, 100% EXCLUSIVE from the emcee to this project, with a classic intro by the genius that is DJ Unexpected. This new mixtape is available for exclusive FREE DOWNLOAD right here, so pass it around, throw it on your iPod or burn it to CD-R, its yours! Thanks to everyone for all the continued support!

01.) The Genesis (Intro By DJ Unexpected)
02.) 6th Sense - Hip Hop Renatus (Produced By Erick Sermon)
03.) Mr. Live feat. Earl Blaize - The Bitch That You Are (Produced By Oddisee)
04.) Sic Osyrus & Donny Goines - Why Lord? (Middle Fingers Up) (Produced By Khrysis)
05.) Karniege - The Kush (Produced By Jake One)
06.) Skyzoo - Bang This (Produced By The Alchemist)
07.) Dominique Larue - Role Play(Produced By 9th Wonder)
08.) Emilio Rojas - E To The M-I-L-I-O (Produced By JDilla)
09.) Access Immortal - Stay Strapped (Produced By DJ Premier)
10.) Melodiq feat. Nikal Fieldz - Bottom Of The 9th (Produced By 4th Disciple)
11.) Diablo Archer feat. Myk Dyaleks (of BrokN.English) - We The New Era (Produced By Domingo)
12.) Sha Stimuli - Today We Living (Produced By Nottz)
13.) Fred Knuxx - Air ‘Em Out (Produced By Hi-Tek)
14.) Laelo Hood - Extra, Extra! (Produced By DJ Khalil)
15.) Supastition - Sound Of Reform School (Produced By Black Milk)
16.) Black ELement - Feel The Hunger (Produced By DJ Scratch)
17.) Droppin’ A Message (Interlude)
18.) Zero Star - On My Backpack Shit (Produced By Large Professor)
19.) Little Vic - Let The Dollar Circulate (Produced By Ayatollah)
20.) Cymarshall Law - This Is The End (Produced By Salaam Remi)
21.) Donnan Linkz - Buzz Kill (Produced By Oh No)
22.) Cy Yung aka Cyrano - OK Corral (Produced By Madlib)
23.) Tislam The Great - Once Again (Produced By Questlove)
24.) Faro - Love Me Or Hate Me (Produced By Scram Jones)
25.) Arsun F!st - I’m In Here (Produced By Marco Polo)
26.) Sense-I - Sense-I’s The Name (Produced By Nicolay)
27.) Wordsmith feat. Kontact & Black Knight - Signing Day (Produced By Pete Rock)
28.) Journalist 103 - Til’ The Trumpets Blow (Produced By Illmind)
29.) Clap Cognac feat. Jedi Knight - Chosen Ones (Produced By Havoc)
30.) City Scholar - The Rebirth (Produced By Evidence)
31.) Detroit Red - Hip Hop Redefined (Produced By Buckwild)
32.) D.V. Alias Khryst feat. Retsam Da Prince - It’s Da Govarmynt (Produced By Marley Marl)
33.) Nametag - Champagne Bottle Flow (Produced By Ski Beatz)
34.) Panama aka Da Spanish Kid - Born Ready (Produced By RZA)
35.) Hi-Coup feat. Spectacula - My Father Told Me (Produced By M-Phazes)
36.) Preach Jacobs feat. N’telligence - Mic Check (Produced By Rockwilder)
37.) The Exodus (Outro By DJ Unexpected)

Scoop Dub MD Presents Hip Hop Renatus (Mixtape) right here.

Mickey Rourke 'Spirit Award' speech

2009-02-25T13:37:00.000-08:00

maybe this is why he didn't win the oscar. even though for the record, sean penn was very well deserving.

New Podcast: Blutopia Podcast 4-Cool Out Music

2009-02-18T22:21:00.000-08:00

hope you enjoy it. i did the cover and took the pic. thanks to monique for posing. peep it and other podcasts from Preach's Podcast Page or download HERE. tracklisting is as follows:

1.Glow-Jake One f/ Elzhi & Royce Da 5'9
2.Hiatus-Diamond D
3.MVP-Ludacris
4.Smile-Scarface f/ Tupac
5.Tribute to Dilla-J Rawls
6.I Can't See Nobody-Nina Simone
7.Wild International-One Day As A Lion
8.Because-Beatles
9.Hold On-Blu
10.Nothing Less Than Ill-Showbiz & AG
11.I Just Wanna Emcee-Preach prod. by Katrah Que(http://www.myspace.com/kindablu)
12.I Want To Spend The Night-Bill Withers
13.The Light '08-Common
14.I Don't Like To-Shad K
15.Higher Level-KRS One
16.Us & Them-Pink Floyd

Ballast Trailer

2009-02-18T01:00:00.001-08:00

just saw this movie and was pretty blown away. review coming soon.

Perfect Sounds Forever

2009-02-11T15:35:00.000-08:00

Preach Jacobs Reminisces Over Sounds Familiar
BY PREACH JACOBS
It's 3:37 a.m. on a Sunday in the summer of 2007. My cell phone rings. There's no logical reason why the name Sounds Familiar should be showing up on my phone this late; this can't be good. The other end of the phone was Charles Hayes — Chuck to whom I and every Parklane location of Sounds Familiar customer has known him for nearly 20 years. He spoke, bleakly.

“Preach: What are you doing?”
“Nothing. What's wrong?”
“Preach ... you just need to come to the store. It's unreal.”

Luckily I lived minutes away, but those five-minutes was enough time for me to wonder about what could have happened. Were we robbed? Was there a shooting? Did someone die? My wondering ceased when I drove past the store and noticed that I could literally see into the store. Some drunk driver — supposedly after too much tequila — drove his pick-up truck directly into our store through the concrete walls. Shattered glass, broken shelves, smashed CDs and not to mention tire marks on the floor had me waiting for Ashton Kutcher to come from out of the bathroom, telling us we were punk'd. The driver, who had been taken into custody by the time I had gotten there, didn't have a scratch on him; he was found sleeping in his truck, minus a windshield, next door at the gas station.

Chuck, Sounds Familiar vet Joey Bull and I were the ones left to clean the store; fittingly we were the last three to tear down the store in the middle of January for Parklane's dreaded closing.

I think I'm one of the only people in my immediate circle that loved his job. I mean, I absolutely loved my job to the point I would be there for hours on my days off. I had pride that we could call ourselves music professionals.

We knew the title of that gospel song you wanted when you didn't know any of the words, but were only able to hum the tune. We knew the artist you were looking for with your vague description. And if you were calling us to find out how to spell an artist so you can download it, good luck looking for Ellvuzz Castelbow.

Every worker had his or her own customers. I had my hip-hop fanatics after turning them onto J. Dilla, Foreign Exchange and my solo album. And we could tell what kind of record you wanted based on how you waltz into the store. Pants sagging with a chain where I can see your name? Gucci Mane. Khakis with deck shoes? Robert Plant's album with Alison Krauss. Tight jeans and purple Nikes? Lupe Fiasco. Walking in with tattered clothing asking for free promos and listen to the music in the players on the wall? You weren't buying shit.

Life just isn't complete without being cursed out by a senior-citizen gospel customer mad at you because the particular artist she's looking for hadn't released his album yet; the idea of explaining release dates and record labels to them is a losing battle. Or cleaning splashback on our private bathroom after rapper Yung Joc, stopping by during his tour, stayed in there for more than 10 minutes. Or watching over the young kids that are trying to be slick, but we knew they wanted to steal the newest DJ Dice mixtape with that hot Lil' Wayne song.

But we had our great customers. Mr. Lee, the businessman that bought nearly $200 worth of gospel records each visit, and one of the nicest human beings you'd meet. Or Norris Dennis, a soft-spoken Southern gentleman who's a truck driver by day but a DJ at night, and one of our most loyal customers. Or the infamous Greater Hits, who got his name by buying nothing but greatest hits by his favorite artist, and if you didn't move fast enough he'd threaten to “body slam you, soldier!”

Besides the free promos, wearing what I want, promoting my own music and meeting exciting people, I actually loved the workers I was blessed enough to be around. Chuck, who's a clean-cut, glasses-wearing, steak-and-potatoes-eating everyman, intimidated me when I first met him. He seemed like the biggest square on the planet. Now, I can't imagine how my life would be without knowing him.

Or DJ Joey Joe a.k.a. The Bull, who has the largest vinyl collection I've seen and seemingly hates all the hip-hop I love (with the exception to Dilla) has become like a brother to me. Our arguments (as well as with other workers) have been legendary and even tempted me to seek other employment, but there is nothing I wouldn't do for him. (He'll probably be pissed that I'm writing about him. Or, as he would say, he’ll “sue me.”)

And, finally, Pete Smolen, the owner of Sounds Familiar, the man whose combustible temper scared the hell out of me when I first met him. Now, I believe I will never work for a better boss.

If I had to say why Sounds Familiar is closing down, it would be for three reasons: (1) The Internet, (2) the economy and (3) loss-leaders. It's easy to bash the Wal-Marts of the world (even though they do kill small businesses), but I do know that times have changed. We're just analog babies in a digital world.

I'm not bitter about leaving. I'm very sad indeed, but I'm not getting angry like people were when Dylan or Miles went electric. I can understand that times are changing; the only problem is now, that if you wanted to get an acoustic Dylan record, where would you go?

This isn't about me losing a job; this is about Columbia losing a cornerstone of the community. About the nation losing the fundamental building blocks of a city: the music store.

I always wondered what Rob Gordon from High Fidelity would be doing if there was a sequel in today's climate? The story would totally be different, as his store Championship Vinyl would have gone under and he would have joined the cast of Office Space, doing computer tech work.

I'm not bitter, honestly. It's just the sign of the times. Nothing is going to be the same for me when the store closes. I guess I'll have to get a real job and have a boss with a stick up his ass. For every co-worker that's become a friend, for every friend that has become family because of this establishment, I am forever grateful. And I hope Columbia will realize what we've lost. But you might not realize it until you're looking for that CD that you can't find anywhere else.

Good luck using the ‘Net.

Preach Jacobs worked at the Parklane Branch of Sounds Familiar from 2005 until it closed in January, and is a contributor to Free Times. Let us know what you think: Email music@free-times.

Best of 2008

2009-01-16T07:38:00.000-08:00

Preach Jacobs for the Free-Times
1. Erykah Badu, New Amerykah, Vol. 1 (Motown)
(10 points)
This is the first full-length album the queen of neo-soul released in eight years. Even though she might have taken people for a loop who were looking for more sappy-jazzy-tunes of her past, this album explored more funk and sass that the public wasn’t use to hearing from her. I for one love the effort and commend her no fear attitude. Artists, take notes.

2. Black Keys, Attack & Release (Nonesuch)
(10 points)
I love this album. The music was intended for the late, infamous Ike Turner, but due to scheduling conflicts and death of the blues star, Dan Auerbach and Pat Carney decided to save the tunes for themselves. Throw Grammy golden boy Danger Mouse in the mix and you have the perfect blues-rock hybrid.

3. Black Milk, Tronic (Fat Beats)
(10 points)
Ever since the death of J. Dilla, many wondered who would take the torch as elite boom-bap producer. It’s become very clear that Black Milk is up to the task, as his latest opus is as perfect of a hip-hop record I’ve heard in a while. I believe Black Milk released the best hip-hop album of the year, and I dare anyone to prove me wrong.

4. Foreign Exchange, Leave It All Behind (Hard Boiled)
(10 points)
Rappers don’t want to rap anymore. Well, it’s really a problem in this instance because Phonte of Little Brother can sing his ass off. Backdrops produced by indie-producer superhero Nicolay equals a great offering of house-soul and hip-hop all into one.

5. Al Green, Lay It Down (Blue Note)
(10 points)
One of the greatest soul singers of the past 30 years is back. Of course, he’s had his moments with the hot grits and turned to gospel, but he’s back in R&B form with his throwback modern-day classic.

6. Kings of Leon, Only By the Night (RCA)
(10 points)
The Southern rockers are back and catchier than ever. Who would’ve thought they started out with religious-oriented content with songs like “Sex on Fire”? Kings of Leon prove once again that they are one of the best rockers out there today.

7. N.E.R.D., Seeing Sounds (Interscope)
(10 points)
The all-time hipster beat-maker comes out with another passion project under the N.E.R.D. moniker. It’s impossible to accurately define the sound, as it’s a jambalaya of every possible genre except country. It’s a testament to how good artists can sound when they’re not thinking about album sales.

8. One Day as a Lion, One Day as a Lion (ANTI)
(10 points)
Zach de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine and Jon Theodore of The Mars Volta release another revolutionary-inspired record loud enough the shake the establishment. Zach is in top form over heavy baselines and threatening drums. Only complaint is that it’s an EP and not a full-length.

9. Q-Tip, Renaissance (Motown)
(10 points)
If A Tribe Called Quest was to put out an album now, we would be lucky if it sounded remotely like this. Tip, one of the last active members of The Native Tongues, produces a great collection of jazzy-honest-hip-hop music reminiscent of Tribe’s glory years. Also, anyone able to get D’Angelo out of hiding gets my support any day of the week.

10.Raphael Saadiq, The Way I See It (Sony)
(10 points)
The ex-frontman of Tony! Toni! Tone! returns with his third solo-effort that reminds you of an old Smokie Robinson record. Replacing neo-soul grooves from his previous efforts with ‘60s throwback tunes proved that Amy Winehouse isn’t the only person that can have a great album by recreating vintage soul music.

Ludacris-Theater of the Mind Review

2008-12-22T08:46:00.000-08:00

Ludacris-Theater of the Mind
Disturbing Tha Peace/Def Jam
Rating: 3 out of 4
By Preach Jacobs

Not many artists have the duality of Ludacris in hip-hop. The ability to have commercial appeal while being aware of the roots for so-called backpackers, Luda has the potential to impress both. At times he swayed more towards commercial acclaim, but there’s brilliant moments on his newest release “Theater of the Mind” that proves that he does in fact keeps his ears to the street.

“MVP,” the DJ Premier produced track, is arguably the best record on the album. Claiming that he’s “the first southern-rapper on a Primo track,” ‘Cris conquers the track with ease (even though Scarface and Devin the Dude have blessed Premier songs prior to the ‘Mouth of the South’). Also, the 9th Wonder produced “Do the Right Thing,” featuring Common and Spike Lee, is the perfect way to end the album. Uplifting and with boom-bap production providing proof that Luda hasn’t lost his roots. READ MORE…

Nicolay interview in The Find Magazine

2008-12-11T07:20:00.000-08:00

sup yall? this is preach. wanted to hip you all to another publication that i'm working with out of the netherlands called the find magazine.

you can download the second issue for free (including my nicolay q&a): The Find Magazine issue 2 download. or you can go read it online. biggups.

Common Interview

2008-12-09T12:40:00.000-08:00

Words by: Preach Jacobs

There hasn’t been an emcee that has grown in the eyes of the public as much as Common. Since his debut in 1992, Common (formerly Common Sense) has transformed into an icon, becoming a poster-child for authentic hip-hop. Now with his eighth album, Common maintains a calm demeanor about his music and other career paths. Acting is his next undertaking. The Chicago emcee has starred in blockbusters like ‘Smoking Aces,’ ‘American Gangster’ and will appear in this summer’s ‘Wanted.” It’s apparent that Common’s focus is shifting but he assures us that music is still in play.

“Right now, I want to do movies more than music. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not planning on retiring or anything from music; I just feel as an artist I want to challenge myself. Movies are just more exciting to me right now, and I’m having fun doing them.”

Even though film is taking the front seat in his career, he is confident that his new album will offer a side the public hasn’t seen with him before. After Common’s “Like Water For Chocolate” album, featuring the Grammy-Winning “The Light” produced by Jay Dee, I wondered if there was going to be more Dilla production on this new project or any other Dilla related efforts in the making. READ MORE…

Common Review 'U.M.C'

2008-12-09T12:37:00.000-08:00

Common-Universal Mind Control
G.O.O.D. Music /Geffen Records
Rating: 3 out of 4
By: Preach Jacobs

There’s something in the water for the alternative-hip-hop artists. Everyone that’s been instrumental in the jazz-inspired-neo-soul movement is running as fast as they can in the opposite direction musically. The Roots’ sound has become more rock inspired, rappers like Mos Def would rather be in front of a camera than rap and D’Angelo hasn’t put out a record in almost nine years. Chicago based emcee Common seems to be no different as his newest project takes him furthest away from his musical comfort zone with ‘UMC’ (Universal Mind Control). READ MORE…

Kanye West-808s & Heartbreak review

2008-11-26T13:48:00.001-08:00

Kanye West-808's & Heartbreak
Roc-A-Fella Records
2.5 of 5
By: Preach Jacobs
Everyone has gone through a bad break-up and lost a loved one. So, when listening to Kanye's latest effort, I do have that in the back of my mind. After losing his mother to cosmetic surgery and having his engagement defunct, I actually felt pain for someone whose cockiness would convince a young Ali to be more humble. Well, introducing Kanye's '808s and Heartbreak,' the album with the potential to humble him. read more

DJ Babu interview

2008-11-14T12:42:00.000-08:00

Words by: Preach Jacobs
It may be safe to say that hip-hop years are similar to dog years. The longer you’re in the industry the faster time seems to fly by. The next thing you know there are more pups fighting to get the attention that you once received without much effort. But for DJ Babu, the dog-eat-dog game of hip-hop doesn’t affect him one bit. Fresh off the release of Duck Season 3,’ Babu solidifies a reputation that most producer/djs can only dream of. Tune in and listen to a legend. read more

Q-Tip Review for Vapors Magazine

2008-11-14T12:39:00.000-08:00

Q-Tip-Renaissance
Universal Motown Records
Rating: 4 of 4
By: Preach Jacobs
There’s no doubt that A Tribe Called Quest helped shaped the sound of some of hip-hop’s most endearing artists. Q-Tip was at the forefront of the group proving that rappers can have a sense of humor, not be violent, talk about love and still rap over addictive beats that are bass-heavy and full of melodies. Q-Tip’s newest album “Renaissance” is appropriately titled as he continues a sound the Native Tongues were known for. read more

MURS review/ Sound Bites (Free-Times)

2008-11-06T10:01:00.000-08:00

MURS — Finally, the good guys are winning. From the presidential election to the hip-hop world, it seems that the people that need to be heard are getting greater opportunities. Maybe that’s why underground rap hero MURS titled his latest full-length release Murs For President. read more

Obama Wins...What Now?

2008-11-05T05:43:00.001-08:00

It’s the morning of November 4th, 2008 and my phone texting is working overtime. It seems every fives minutes someone is encouraging me to vote or wondering if I’m in line or not. It’s funny because a mere four years ago, no one even bothered asking me these questions on election day. Not to say that four years ago democracy wasn’t as important, but Kerry hadn’t sparked the younger generation no way near a Senator Obama. Beyond Obama being an African-American, his biggest achievement is inspiring young voters. Being apart of the hip-hop community, a community that generally ignores politics (feeling that our demographic is mutually ignored by politicians), we’ve seen an unimaginable change of heart. You see young voters believing in someone, and actually being enthusiastic about the democratic process.
Maybe that’s why after the tenth text message I received concerning this election didn’t bother me as much as it would have four years ago. Even though I don’t have the energy to tell everyone “I voted last week,” I do share their enthusiasm. Even though my vote has already been casted, I can’t help but feel that I’m in line with so many young Americans as I type this around 12:30 in the afternoon. The anxiety I feel is similar to seeing the police lights turned on behind me. I know there’s a good chance that I won’t get shot, but it can happen. That’s how I feel about McCain/Palin ticket winning, it could happen.

9pm
I’ve been stuck at my job without a television resulting in me going to Time.com every five minutes to see what’s going on. Now, I’m home watching MSNBC as the Electoral Votes add up on Obama’s behalf. And then it hits me: He wins, so now what? What stance does the young hip-hop generation need to take? How many times do we hear a minority friend or relative talk about their hardships being caused by ‘the man.’ The invisible whitey has been blamed for years, and admittedly sometimes deserved the blame. But what about the times where our hardships are of our own making? Accountability and responsibility has to be the new united way of thinking for young minorities. What better inspiration than having an African-American Commander-In-Chief? The idea of Afro-American upliftment can best be paraphrased by Chris Rock who said that he can’t wait for Obama to become president so black parents can’t stop saying to their children “you know you can be the first black president,” but if you say to white children “you can be president” they will roll their eyes and simply respond “yea, I know.”

10:55pm
It’s nearing 11pm and I’m waiting for the polls to close on the west coast so I can finish this editorial and have a drink or two. While I wait, I hear Democrats basking in glory and Republicans saying McCain didn’t have a fair shake due to Bush’s mis-governings of our nation. The real issue isn’t about left or right, but the frustration of a nation that decides to change its mind about race and leadership about this country and give an African-American a chance. So, is America ready?

11pm
Is America ready? Dammit, we better be. Obama wins.

12:00am
It's midnight and the new President Elect Barack Obama is about to hit the stage with the new First Family. After walking with wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha, Obama addressed the country with a confidence only seen from men who know what they're doing. Never have I felt so calm and had trust for an elected official as much as I do our 44th president and it was odd to me. Then after re-thinking this historic event, I was angry that this felt odd. Shouldn't we feel this sense of accomplishment and hope after elections? After a touching and inspiring speech, two things resonated with me: 1) I am so proud of my country, something that I've never really felt before and 2) change that's always been promised does seem to in fact be delivered. -PJ

Black Milk 'Tronic' review on Vapors

2008-10-31T16:00:00.000-07:00

Black Milk-Tronic
Fatbeats Records
Rating: 4 out of 4
By:Preach Jacobs

Ever since the emergence of Motown records, Detroit has been one of the Mecca’s of black music. The genre of hip-hop is no different providing some of the most talented groups and producers in recent memory. Within the past three years, Black Milk has been one of the leaders of the Detroit hip-hop movement, and continues with his third solo release titled “Tronic.”

If there’s anyone that’s taken the baton and ran with it since Jay Dilla passed, then it has to be Black Milk as he channels the late producer from drum patterns, flow to cadence. Songs like “Losing Out” featuring Royce Da 5′9 is an incredible display of Milk as producer and rapper. read more @ vapors

Nicolay interview for Vapors Magazine

2008-10-30T22:55:00.000-07:00

Words by: Preach Jacobs
According to Nicolay, best known as one half of Foreign Exchange (with Phonte of the North Carolina group Little Brother), many “producers” don’t deserve their title. Well, if anyone has room to talk, it’s him releasing superb efforts every year since 2004’s Foreign Exchange “Connected” sonically recreating a soulful blend of hip hop/house and jazz. Now, being at the helm of a new label along with a new release, Leave it All Behind, Nicolay had a chance to talk it up about the future for him and his take on the industry. READ MORE @ Vapors…

New Preach Posters & shirts

2008-10-24T13:23:00.000-07:00

sup yall? this is preach with a long overdue update. first off, biggups to dre (illustrator of blutopia) for his new design for the new 'garveyism' posters and shirts. the obama/obey influece is heavy and i love the design. shirts will be available soon so stay tuned.

also, hope you enjoy the new layout to preachjacobs.com. we got more stuff on the way, i promise. that's it for now. be easy.

Kardinal Offishall-Not 4 Sale review

2008-10-24T11:46:00.001-07:00

If you haven’t heard Kardinal Offishall’s album “Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1,” then consider yourself deprived of some great reggae influenced hip-hop. Bubbling in the underground circuit in the states for years (even though he’s a bigger name in his native Toronto), Kardinal always seemed one song away from blowing up in the states. It was with pleasant surprise to see rap/r&b crooner Akon take notice placing him on his Konlive imprint releasing Kardinal’s newest album in four years “Not 4 Sale.” read more from vapors magazine

Jake One-White Van music review

2008-10-24T11:45:00.000-07:00

Jake One-White Van Music 4/5
It appears that the independent producers are making the best hip-hop records lately. From Marco Polo's "Port Authority" to S1's "Music Box," the bunch of rapper-one producer compilations have been the most promising albums in recent memory. Jake One is no different as he releases "White Van Music," one of the best albums to come out in 2008. READ MORE

Foreign Exchange-Leave It All Behind review

2008-10-24T11:43:00.000-07:00

Foreign Exchange-Leave It All Behind 4 stars
2004's release of Nicolay and Phonte's "Connected" album was a testament to the power of cyberspace bringing us together. Due to Nicolay and Phonte's distance making it difficult to record the project together in a studio, the duo opted to produce the album via Yahoo Instant Messenger crafting a sonic masterpiece. Seamlessly blending aspects of hip-hop, electronic, house and soul music making a modern day classic. Now, four years later, they release the sophomore Foreign Exchange project 'Leave It All Behind.' READ MORE

The One interview for Vapors by Preach Jacobs

2008-10-24T11:34:00.000-07:00

Taken from Vapors Magazine
The One: SuperPsychoSexy
Words by: Preach Jacobs

What happened to the anger in our music? What happened to our sense of purpose? Treading on the heels of the Civil Rights Movement from the late 60’s to 70’s, you had a mergence of black music engulfed in pride, frustration and an independence that wasn’t seen in our music prior.

In the midst of all of this, soul and funk music was conceived. Influenced by the church, mixed with the electric guitar and synths, this music stands the test of time. Somewhere along the way, black music lost its soul, but thankfully OM’s new artist The One recaptures the essence of Funkadelic and Curtis Mayfield and mixes it with the hip hop/neo-soul sound of Jay Dilla - a sound that’s vintage and yet ahead of its time. The One observes his musical upbringing and explains where the sound for his debut album “SuperPsychoSexy” comes from. read more