Slept on Rappers

What follows below is a detailed life-long history of Chris Palko, aka Cage. While there is a whole lot of information here, none of it is filler; everything detailed below was instrumental in making Cage who he is at this point, and the story below is one of the most insane, crazy, tortured and triumphant stories you could imagine. Cage’s life has gone from watching his father shoot heroin, to addiction and violence and mental institutions to cutting an album for Columbia Records and being a rising star in the heyday of the NYC independent rap scene, to the final culmination and personal triumph that this album has become. It’s a brand new record from someone who has been through more extreme circumstances than most people could ever imagine, and has come out triumphant and a better person because of it, and whose artistic vision now reflects this. EARLY LIFE: + Born in Wurzberg, Germany to American parents. His father, Bill Murray, was an MP in the US army stationed on West German military base where Cage and his parents lived until Bill was dishonorably discharged for selling and using heroin. When he was 4, Cage and his family were sent back to the US where they took up residence in Middletown, NY. + When they got to Middletown, his father continued to abuse heroin, often making Cage assist by pulling homemade tourniquets around his arm. His father left them suddenly with another woman. The last time Cage saw his father, he had a standoff with the Middletown state troopers after threatening his family with a shot gun. He was arrested and Cage has not seen him since. He was 8 years old at the time. TEENAGE LIFE: + By the time his mother was on her third marriage, Cage was getting kicked out of Middletown Highschool during his freshman year. His stepfather would beat him up, punch him in the head, even leaving a scar over his eye. Around this time, Cage started using drugs (LSD, mescaline, weed, alcohol) + His mother sent him to live with his uncle (a Vietnam vet who never retired from the army) on a German military base for a year. That uncle hated him, beat him up and sent him home to America after a year. + Chris started getting into all sorts of trouble, including getting arrested (for drug possession, fighting in the streets, etc). He was 16 years old at this point. He was put on probation for charges, but after several violations found himself facing real jail time. His mother convinced the judge that Chris was mentally unstable and instead of prison he was sent to the Stony Lodge Psychiatric hospital for a 2 week evaluation which turned into an 18 month stay. + During his stay at "The Lodge", Chris was part of a small group of medical guinea pigs who were chosen to be the test subjects for a new and untested drug called Prozac, which hadn’t hit the market yet. Misdiagnosed and placed on Prozac, Cage became suicidal and made several attempts to try and kill himself (first by hanging himself by his own shoe laces, then by saving up his mandatory lithium doses for a month and ingesting all at once). He was subsequently put on suicide watch. + He was restrained over twenty times for periods of up to 13 hours at a time (illegally), sometimes by straightjacket, sometimes by 10 point bed restraints. Cage would later refer to this period in his life as his "rap college". He would spend his time doing the only thing he could, which was go deep into his mind and hone his imagination into the visceral and dramatic writing style he has to this day. + After being subjected to Lithium, Prozac, and a host of other drugs (and then even more drugs to counter the side effects produced by all the initial medication), Chris went from being a troubled teenager into a legitimately bi-polar young man. + He was eventually released on outpatient program and christened himself Alex, after the protagonist from A Clockwork Orange. RAP LIFE: + 18 years old, fresh out of the lodge, Cage decided to pursue his the talent he honed while in hell and try to become a professional rapper. He made a demo, got a manager and was introduced to Pete Nice of 3rd Bass fame. Pete featured Cage on his solo effort "Dust to Dust" on the song "Rich Bring ‘Em Back" in 1993. This was his first appearance on a rap record. + Through Pete Nice Cage met fledgling radio personality Bobbito Garcia who had just started his soon to be legendary late night mix show with DJ Stretch Armstrong. He was invited up to the show several time, earning a rep in the emerging underground NY scene as a savage and raw new MC with an original style based on his tortured life and demented imagery + Through his connection with that show, he met and formed a strong friendship with the KMD (whose front man Zev Love X would eventually be known as MF DOOM) and formed a very strong friendship with the late great Subroc. Cage was the last person to see Subroc alive before he was killed. He also became associated with and close to: Kurious Jorge, K-Solo, Godfather Don, Artifacts, Pharoah Monch, El-P (who actually worked with cage briefly in 1994 on a 3 song demo now lost to the world), the Juggaknots and many more. + Bobbito and Pete Nice started a label through Columbia Records called Hoppoh and was on the verge of singing cage as one of their first releases. At this time cage was heavily abusing drugs and every time he got into the studio he was too high to record anything that Columbia thought was worthy of a major label release. + Frustrated and dejected, Cage put his rap dreams on hold and moved back to Middletown where he got deeper and deeper in drug abuse and found out he was having a child. + In 1997, Cage’s friend and mentor Bobbito Garcia started his own independent label Fondle 'Em Records, and offered cage a twelve inch deal. Refocused and determined to get it right this time, Cage penned the single Agent Orange b/w Radiohead. The single would go on to be one of the landmark records of the golden era of NYC underground/independent rap music and propelled Cage into cult star status. + After a few more singles with Fondle ‘Em, Cage met and became friends with Philly to New York transplant rap group The High And the Mighty. He formed a group with them called the Smut Peddlers, and Rawkus (who were riding high on albums by Company Flow and Mos Def, to name a few) offered them a full length album deal through Eastern Conference’s imprint, Eastern Conference. The record sold over 50 thousand copies and solidified Cage’s status as a rising rap star in the independent scene. + Cage went on to do more records with Eastern Conference including his first solo record Movies for the Blind. The record was the realization of the very character he became through his tortured early years, relying on raw, savage, often cruel, misogynistic, gritty and rebellious attitudes he had formed through his earlier years. The record struck a chord, selling 15 thousand copies in just 2 weeks, and his legion of dedicated fans grew ever bigger, attracted to his visceral and dangerous persona and music. He traveled the world several times over in support of the record and became a major draw in the independent show circuit. + Soon after he started the supergroup Weathermen, comprised of good friends Camu Tao, El-P, Aesop Rock, Yak Ballz, Tame 1, Breeze of the Juggaknots and Vast Aire. + Restless with his artistic direction and feeling trapped by a persona created out of his troubled youth, he found himself at a crossroads. He felt as though he was squandering his writing abilities and catering to music with content that only scratched the surface of what he was about. He no longer wanted to project crazy for the sake of crazy and grew tired of showing the results of his past and how they reflected on his personality. Instead, he wanted to explain why he was the way he was and wanted to make a record that he could play for his daughter someday; a record that reflected the man he was now while at the same time finally shedding light on the source of his rage, pain and rebellion. It was at this point that he and El-p started to seriously talk about making an album that would truly realize his desire to take his art to another level. They cautiously talked and imagined this transformation for over a year, culminating with his signing with Definitive Jux records. El-p and Cage worked together to bring these ideas to fruition, and the result is a cathartic and radical statement of a tortured boy turned man. A detailed, imaginative and often disturbing look into the dark territory that Cage had so closely guarded from the fans that loved him.

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Single: Too Heavy for Cherubs

Despot was one of the greatest military commanders in history. He has also been portrayed as a power hungry conqueror. Despot denied being such a conqueror. He argued that he was building a federation of free peoples in a Europe united under a liberal government. But if this was his goal, he intended to achieve it by taking power in his own hands. However, in the states he created, Despot granted constitutions, introduced law codes, abolished feudalism, created efficient governments and fostered education, science, literature and the arts.

Upon discovering how small their son would probably be for the rest of his life, his parents decided he would live in the kitchen. This small kitchen in a Queens apartment building would house the fledgling rapper for the entire 23 years leading up to the present. After years of enduring the ridicule that came with leaving his house bathed in the stench of whatever was for dinner that night, a young Despot, at about 12 years of age, decided he would make his mark. Of course this mark is being made very slowly, but please do not mistake sloth for an attempt at perfection.

During what can be seen as a very successful scholastic career of standing on various corners and hurting people, Despot sought a creative outlet and found it in the small rapping nooks of New York City. After recording a handful of songs with junior high school friends on a built-in radio mic, the decision was made to venture outside of the neighborhood with this newly discovered talent. Making appearances at various open mics in the mid to late 90’s, during what seems to have been a renaissance period in New York City’s hip hop scene, he would make the friendships that would later make him even more unfriendly. The first official show brought a very young Despot to the stage alongside some very well respected hip-hop veterans at the now defunct Tramp’s. Stepping on stage after the Rza and performing two songs over other people’s instrumentals gave him the confidence he needed to not do a show again for a couple of years.

A year or so later, after several recorded performances that will never be spoken of, Despot made perhaps his first noted appearance on the CP Records compilation entitled, “Euphony.” The song, “Cynical Bastards”, produced by Cryptic One of Atoms Family, featuring LoDeck, was an anthem of love and understanding of our fellow man; a song which made the whole world smile. This song would earn Despot a place in the nearly deaf ears of the world’s rap fans. Not very long after his Euphony appearance, he began feverishly recording horrible songs that nobody liked. Eventually, during his stay at the miserable brick fortress of a corporate lawyer (college), he penned the song “Homesickness,” which he would later pass on to his dear friend EL-P to be released as a single on Definitive Jux Records and featured on Definitive Jux Presents Volume 3. This song was not about being homesick, but rather about being sick of home; what a silly way to talk.

Quite a few years before all of this, Despot had met Blockhead (of international rap fame) through their mutual friend LoDeck. Who knew that this meeting would turn into years of beat tapes, beat CD’s, and beat file transfers. After spending a few years telling Blockhead how much he liked certain beats and didn’t like others, but never actually rapping on any of them, the b-side to Homesickness, “Life With Snarky Parker,” was recorded. It was with this track that a partnership was cemented and the sound of brows furrowing around the world could be heard for miles. This marked the first step into the brave new world of making rap albums.

With the work ethic of a hairbrush and the wit of a new sock, Despot and Blockhead have been working on a debut full length since Despot began to lose his hair. Blockhead will handle the majority of the production on this album with some dear friends stepping in to make whatever sounds we have not made yet. All parties involved stand very solidly behind the claim that this album will make every possible noise.

A loyal and upstanding member of the infamous Lo-Lifes crew, Despot salutes all of those who are winning and adheres to a very strictly regimented dress code. The heinous street exploits of Despot both young and old are only to be spoken of posthumously. To date, his most notable achievement is that he has never died while he was alive. Soon you will all hear far more noises than you can bear to hear.

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Single: Crap Artists

In an industry where artists trade identity for dollars and mediocrity is a mainstay on Top 10 playlists, it's refreshing to see an artist stay true to his or her craft. As tempting as it is to change one's style, most musicians could care less about acceptance, concerning themselves more with musical integrity than record sales.

South Carolina-raised Atlanta resident rapper/producer Danny is one out of a handful of artists that still lives by this ethos; appealing to many crowds without ever conforming to one, many consider Danny to be a breath of fresh air in a genre cluttered with uninspiring and often unintelligent music. His breakthrough album "Charm" earned him a nod from the Recording Academy in late 2006, and his full-length follow-up, "And I Love H.E.R.: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack", was praised by Pitchfork, All Music Guide, and was named by ABC News as one of the 50 best albums of 2008. Now, on the verge of releasing his Definitive Jux debut album, Danny is poised to show not only his fickle hometown but the entire globe what his purpose is: making good music.

Born in the early '80s to a mother and father both enlisted in the U.S. Army, Danny began to develop a deep love for music as a child; years passed and by the age of 15 he was adept in creating keyboard-driven beats on his Yamaha with ease. Following his initial reluctance to rap, Danny began to pen his own lyrics and eventually recorded makeshift songs first on his boombox (via cassette tape), then later on his personal computer. While enrolled at Claflin University Danny continued to experiment with music production, developing a cult following around his school in the process. Drawing warranted though unwanted comparisons to established producers of the era, he learned a variety of techniques in a short amount of time, and in 2002 felt compelled to work on a solo debut, tentatively titled "The Danny Swain LP".

As the oft-told story goes, however, the album never came to pass. During production on his self-titled project Danny was accused of changing grades for over 300+ students at his college, a charge that he vehemently denies to this day. The ambitious MC was expelled from Claflin University and forced to retreat to his hometown in November of 2003. His credibility harshly damaged and his dreams forcefully snatched from him, Danny woefully put away the pen, pad and equipment and vowed to quit music for good.

Danny quickly bounced back and spent much of 2004 juggling jobs, rebuilding his reputation and vigorously trying to re-launch his music career. A year after the grade controversy Danny resurfaced in the Columbia hip-hop circuit and released his first official album, "The College Kicked-Out". Though a decent project in its own right, the success of "The College Kicked-Out" was marred by unconvinced critics. Danny would self-release (and self-produce) another LP, "F.O.O.D.", before finally hitting big with his 2006 album "Charm". Months after its release tracks from "Charm" made their way into the offices of Definitive Jux, who offered him an exclusive album/video deal in conjunction with MTVu. His breakout success came at a most inappropriate time as Danny had long maintained in interviews that "Charm" would indeed be his farewell album.

Five independent studio albums, three instrumental albums, an EP and a greatest hits collection later, and Danny was finally able to reach a massive audience and escape obscurity and anonymity. Now on Def Jux and forced out of "retirement", Danny has fans around the globe looking forward to what the young MC/producer will cook up next.

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Single: The Groove

Cool Calm Pete's debut solo album Lost coming out in the US on Embedded Music, July 2005 and out in Europe on February 20th on Definitive Jux.

Out of the wreckage of a broken junk-bot, emerges unscathed, Cool Calm Pete. One third of the underground outfit Babbletron, Calm Pete is the one whose words come slower. The precision of slow flow may be lost on some, but to the big brain females out there, here comes trouble. His new album, Lost is going to ring bells like Bob James on the first four bars of “Mardi Gras.”

While a child running wild through the streets of New York City, this Queens traditionalist MC studied the manuscripts. Calm Pete understands the last 15 years of rapping. He doesn’t rhyme for the sake of riddling, because he knows better. Calm Pete carries weight. The weight of not being an idiot. He understands his words, he understands his rhyme scheme, he understands why he raps and he understands why he makes beats. There are few other MC’s that are as well versed without coming off like a nerd. It is all balanced because the slow words come from a quick tongue planted firmly in his cheek. Imagine Stanley Kubric and Chevy Chase figured out how to use Pro Tools and wanted to make a smart hip hop album.

His name tells volumes. Composed, subtle, logical, and deliberate, Cool Calm Pete’s name lives up to his character. Fearless through confidence, not compromise, he is rarely a victim of circumstance. In music anyway, that means he does shit on purpose and he does it his way.

• One of the 3 members of the critically acclaimed group Babbletron.

• Born in Seoul, Korea and raised in Queens.

• Attended the esteemed Cooper Union and received his BFA in fine art.

• Hard working, Pete is productive and prolific, impending musical projects include The Defenders and a follow up Babbletron EP.

• His musical inspirations start and end at Queens rap. Queens rap rules. Golden age hip hop. soul, motown, jazz and all the usual rap producer stuff all the way to classical pianists like Vladamir Horowitz all in between.

• The album is also Pete's production debut, so peep the beats. There's also fresh production from fellow Defenders Doc Strange, Ed Live, as well as Babbletron's ground breaking DJ Pre.

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Single: Black Friday