Slept on Rappers

At a time when emcees have found themselves driven by material motivations, it can be hard to find creativity amongst the masses of rappers aspiring to prominence. The latest emcee to emerge from the Bay Area, prince ALI, is an exception to this rule. On his debut album, Curb Side Service (Hiero Imperium), Ali's inspirational lyrics are complemented by equally rousing, head-nodding beats. Featuring guests such as Keith Murray, Pep-Love, Planet Asia, Tajai and A-Plus of Souls of Mischief, Rakkaa of Dilated Peoples, among others, Curb Side Service is one of the most impressive albums to come from the Bay in years. Just take Ali's personal favorite, "The Majors" featuring Casual, Planet Asia, and Keith Murray. "Building with some of my favorite emcees was truly a humbling experience," admits Ali who still remembers the excitement he felt when he heard Keith's classic joint, "The Most Beautifullest Thing in the World," on the radio in 1996. And for those sleeping on the west coast, just check "California Cliff Notes" featuring Pep Love and Ali, trading verses over a classic Cali soulful riff. But Ali tackles assorted topics on his debut album. On "Way of the Warrior," Ali illuminates a situation where he was exposed to the shady side of the bizness. "One the greatest things about making music is that you can use it as a vehicle to express emotions," Ali explains about the inspiration for the track. "But like all mistakes, it was a valuable lesson," he adds. "Some people immerse themselves in music when they make a record," notes Ali, "but I virtually stopped listening to it. It was in that solitude that I was able to focus inward, and the album came to light. And to be working with Hiero is a sign that things have come full circle for me. The love for the art form existed before Hieroglyphics, but it became a realistic pursuit after they emerged," he adds, "I remember growing up in the Bay, wanting to be 5th member of Souls of Mischief." "Hiero has always been about putting out quality music," notes Tajai CEO of the Bay Area based label, Hiero Imperium, and now we're at a point where we can focus on the new, up and coming talent. Ali is an artist who embodies Hiero's vision and we're excited about supporting him." Born in Oakland and raised in Hayward, California, Ali started writing at the age of nine, and hoped to hoped to one day make records of his own. "It was all over for me after seeing RUN D.M.C with Dominique DePrima on the television show 'Home Turf' in 1984," says Ali, who received his MFA at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. "It just sparked something inside me and I knew I wanted to be an emcee." Undoubtedly, Ali's spiritual life has also profoundly influenced his music. "Sound affects your mental state. It can leave lasting impressions on a persons being. Music is a weapon, a tool, and at its best a vessel for change." Production on Curb Side Service is shared by Destruments, along with CHIII, Skavenger, and the Roy Butterfields Project.

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Single: The Path / Honor Code

Good hip-hop is more than just dope music. It also delivers messages that resonate with its listeners. Much like the socially conscious enery of Public Enemy, Poor Righteous Teachers and the X-Clan, the Chosen Few are scholars through hip-hop, spreading their infectious tunes laden with throught-provoking messages. The Chosen Few knew the implications involved when choosing such a bold statement as their moniker. However, it perfectly embodies the trio’s sentiments and overall mission of artistic and social freedom. The group comprised of Cold Showda, Charles “Chop” Cooper and Unjust have traveled long and far, both physcially and figuratively, to release their long-awaited debut album, New World Symphony, slated for release January 9, 2010 on Hiero Imperium Records. Originally from Ohio, home to legendary funk artists like Bootsy Collins, The Ohio Players and Lakeside, the three independently migrated to the progressive Bay Area in the early 2000’s after recognizing the limitations of their small market, in search of musical and personal diversity. Chop and Cold Showda immediately felt right at home and started performing together as the Greans, sharing the stage with such acts as Mos Def, Common, The Alkaholiks, Slum Village, and Bootcamp Click while Unjust shaped the visual presence of famed indie label ABB Records and a bevy of artists including Little Brother, Hi-Tek, Strong Arm Steady, Planet Asia, Tek9, J. Dilla, A.G., O.C., Nappy Roots and Dizzee Rascal. Drawing from personal experiences, the Chosen Few have witnessed their fair share of injustices and tragedies that would make most people run for the hills. All three continuously give back to their community when not on the road. Unjust works with at-risk-youth, Cold Showda as a mental health counselor, and Charles Cooper as a coach and teacher. \"Being that we all are involved in education and pro-social work we value certain ideals\", says Charles “Chop” Cooper. \"Integrity, unity, good work ethic, being genuine and innovative, and valuing the importance of personal relationships, these are the values that we want to shine through on this album, for the listener to enjoy.\" It took a few years and several solo ventures, not to mention a host personal trials and tribulations, before the three came together in 2008 to record New World Symphony, an album they hope fans will not only appreciate, but identify with. New World Symphony features Unjust\'s soul and pychadelic rock laden beats, Cold Showda\'s relentlessly agressive lyrics, and Charles \"Chop\" Cooper\'s masterful saxaphone playing and lyricism. The 19-song album is full of powerful messages - from the urgent, call-to-action title cut, “New World Symphony” to “Believers,” an autobiographical account of their childhood home and the devastating impact the recent economic climate has had on Ohio. Making guest appearances on the album are Del the Funky Homosapien (“King Kong”), Pep Love and Rakaa Iriscience (“It’s Good), Tajai (“Belly of the Beast”), Opio (“Elevation”), Piakahn (“Ride”) and more. With the release of New World Symphony, the Chosen Few are kick starting their mission “We want to encourage listeners to empower themselves by realizing that they have the influence to not just choose what music they want to listen to but the power to carve their own paths and seperate themselves from the flock,” says Unjust. “The power of choice lies in all of us.”

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Single: Understanding

Since the age of 16, Knobody has been busy developing his unique blend of rhyme & spoked word (coined as \"Rappetry\") to become one of the most recognized young emcees in the Bay Area hip-hop scene. Knobody began his career selling EP\'s of his rhymes in &; around the streets of the Bay for $2 a pop. He showed his passion &; dedication to the craft a few years later, when what began as a joint effort between several fellow artist became his 2001 solo debut \"Tha Book of Mathieu\". With a great deal of underground buzz & success of the album & subsequent mixtapes, in 2006 Knobody took his talents across the Bay Bridge to San Francisco where he dominated Philip Drummonds monthly \"Beats, Rhymes & Life\" song competition at the Element Lounge. Dont mistake him for a battle rapper though, the point of the contest was to craft the best complete song, not to freestyle or diss the other emcees. His reign as champion only ended when he was asked to step down & become a judge of the competition to give the other rappers a chance. From there, Knobody\'s career began to gain serious momentum. In late 2006, Hieroglyphics emcee & resident A&R man, Casual, happened to be at a show that Knobody was performing at. Casual couldn\'t stop listening to the CD Knobody had given him months earlier, &; within weeks Knobody was negotiating a deal with Hiero Imperium to become the first member of their new Triple i League crew. Casual has high praise for him- \"Knobody\'s well of rhymes runs deep. The only other emcee I\'ve heard who can stay on the same subject throughout a song without having to switch up is Eminem.\" Anyone who is familiar with Casuals formidable skills knows that this is not praise to be taken lightly. In September 2007, Hiero Imperium released Knobody\'s first (official) project \"Tha Clean-Up\", a heavy hitting, fully realized album that aims to do what a clean-up hitter does on a baseball team: smack one out of the park. Knobody has re-teamed up with Da Beathoven(Scion/Roland 2007 King of the Beats Champion), Retro(the Tones), & other friends & fellow artist and in 2011 is set to release his follow up, tha GO AHEAD, Knobody looks to pick up right where he left off...\" With his next album highly anticipated, & touring in & around the country becoming a regular thing, one thing is certain...the \"Kno-Show\" is just getting started!!!

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Single: On My Job

1994's Fear Itself is of significance to Owens' career. It is his only major label-marketed album and features various members of his crew, Hieroglyphics, on vocals and production. The album also features a prominent cameo from Bay Area rapper Saafir. The album follows a traditional format: its songs adhere to a verse-chorus-verse arrangement, and the up-tempo and slower tracks are contrasted against each other. The popularity of the album's second single, "I Didn't Mean To" exposed Owens to a wider audience. He released three follow-up albums after "Fear Itself", one of which ("He Think He Raw") was distributed by Sony-affiliated distributor Red Urban. Owens is now a community activist. In 2006, he took on a role as Music Production and Media Arts Consultant at Youth Uprising. Jonathan Owens currently holds a seat on the City of Oakland Board of Cultural Affairs. Owens is also CEO of Hiero Jeans.

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Single: That's How It Is

Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Pep Love relocated with his family to Oakland, California as a teenager. In Oakland, he partnered with fellow DJ/producer Jay-Biz to create the group, The Prose. The Prose was later incorporated into the underground hip hop collective, the Hieroglyphics, in 1995. Pep Love is a practictioner of Capoeira martial arts, and is also a vegan. Pep Love made his recording debut on Casual's 1993 release, Fear Itself. The Prose released their debut album, The Shamen, in 1993. The album featured appearances from Hiero members, Del tha Funkee Homosapien and Casual. Pep Love released his solo debut album, Ascension in 2001 and Ascension Side C in 2003, through the Hieroglpyphics' self-owned, independent label, Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings. He also contributed significantly to both of the Hieroglyphics' studio albums, 3rd Eye Vision in 1998, and Full Circle in 2003.


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Single: T.A.M.I.

Oakland native Tajai began rhyming with future band mate A-Plus at age 8, while both were in elementary school. Tajai and Phesto met later in junior high school. ;A-Plus ;later introduced ;Tajai ;and Phesto to the remaining Souls of Mischief member, Opio, and the group informally formed in high school before making their major-label debut on Jive Records with their well-received album 93 'til Infinity, in 1993. 93 'til Infinity is the group's highest charting album to date (#17 Top R&;B/Hip Hop Albums; #85 Billboard 200), and in January, 1998, was named one of the Top 100 Rap albums by The Source magazine. The group stayed with Jive for one more album, 1995's No Man's Land, before being released from the label during that same year. In 1995, following the release of the group from its major-label contract with Jive, the group officially formed the alternative hip-hop collective Hieroglyphics, with emcees Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Casual, Pep Love, Jaybiz, and producer Domino. The group participated as full members in both Hieroglyphics' studio albums: 1998's 3rd Eye Vision, and 2003's Full Circle. The group has released two albums on the Hiero's self-owned independent label, Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings, 1999's Focus, and 2000's Trilogy: Conflict, Climax, Resolution. On October 30, 2006, Hierocast (Hieroglyphics' official podcast), Del tha Funkee Homosapien reported that the Souls of Mischief were currently working on their next studio album with Prince Paul (De La Soul, Gravediggaz, Handsome Boy Modeling School). The group is currently touring along with Bukue One and Serendipity Project on the Ice Cold Tour. ";Tour Stories"; has been released as a promo for the Ice Cold Tour and their upcoming album. Song file information indicates that the title of the next album will be Montezuma's Revenge.

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Single: Proper Aim