DJBooth.net

DJBOOTH.NET reviews Sunshine (currently available on iTunes). Big respect to DJ Z and staff.

DJ Z (Resident DJ @ DJBooth.net) writes… 4stars

Sometimes it takes me, and our staff, several listens before we give a song submission the thumbs up for a feature on our homepage. Phashara had me convinced about 15 seconds into the song. No long, drawn-out intro - just straight into the heart of the record. I’m a big fan.

x20nickel (Resident DJ @ DJBooth.net) writes… 4stars

Exactly what @DJ Z said, on my ipod before I even finished listening to the song. Pretty much sums up this record. I like it.

Peep the Article…

Back in September of 2009, Chi-town’s Beatmonstas reminded us that hip-hop is more than just Beats and Rhymes on their provocative, politically-charged Booth debut. On his first solo feature (and latest B-side), group member Phashara serves up something a little mellower, explaining that he wants nothing more than to spend his life soaking in the bright Sunshine… well, that and an end to the Iraq War, not to be at the mercy of a privileged upper class, safety for his family and, hey, a little spending money certainly wouldn’t hurt. Phashara’s verses may be chock full of incisive commentary on serious issues, but the artist’s laid-back, guitar-laced production and easygoing hook are perfect vibe out material. The result is a head-noddable summer jam for the conscious set… or a conscious joint for lovers of warm weather? Call it what you will but, if you’re impressed by Phashara’s skills on the mic and behind the boards, you’ll most definitely want to keep it locked for all the latest on his forthcoming street album, Pathways, which has yet to receive a solid release date. ~Richard (writer DJBooth.net)

Back On My Blog Sh!# Vol. 1 Mixtape

New Phashara music featured on mixtape “Back On My Blog Sh!# Vol. 1″ via www.BBmp3s.blogspot.com. First up is the mega collabo most may have already heard “Say Your Prayers” featuring Phashara, Qwazaar, Longshot & Savant (produced by UK native, Passion HiFi). The other is new single, available now on iTunes and Amazon.com,”Burning Hot” written and produced by Phashara. Other up and comers featured on the mixtape include Famoso, Lo Keys, Nick Pratt, Noah Jones and more.

Download it here

"Burning Hot" - Digital 12" (b/w Sunshine) Written, Produced & Performed by Phashara

After releasing The Storybook Adventure in mid 2008, Phashara regrouped with group members Noble Dru & Phat Kid Therapy to reignite the release of Beatmonstas sophomore release Bomb Til We Hit Em in 2009. Now in 2010 Phashara preps his own sophomore release with the singles Burning Hot & Sunshine due out June 15.

The singles find Phashara in polar opposite moods as Burning Hot’s aggresive pace tells a story as only Phashara can about street life, decisions and consequences. On the other side of things Phashara gets rather introspective about life, decisions and dreams on Sunshine.

As a prelude to the coming album entitled “Pathways”, Burning Hot is a stew of classic breaks a-la Rock the Bells and Peter Piper chopped with haunting strings and topped with Phashara’s agile intellectual wordplay and ODB’s voice “Burning Burning Hot!”. Sunshine is a soulful joint where the emcee effortlessly painting a vivid picture over plush grooves.

Take a listen at Phashara’s Soundcloud page

Cop it on JUNE 15 on ITUNES or AMAZON

The good folks at Platform8470.com reviewed Beatmonstas’ “Bomb Til We Hit Em” LP in late 2009. As a result they included us in their annual “Wrap Up” piece where they conduct a short micro interview with the artists they’ve featured or reviewed throughout the year.

Peep the review here… Platform8470.com album review

Peep the micro interview here… Phashara / Beatmonstas - Wrap Up 2009

Or read it below…

	What was the biggest moment of the year for you personally and in general? Seeing ‘Bomb Til We Hit Em’ released and burning shit down, especially in Southern America (big ups to Brazil).
	Best album(s) of the year? ‘Cuban Linx 2′ and ‘Bomb Til We Hit Em’
	Best movie(s), TV or book(s) of the year? Best Movie - ‘Orphan’
	What do you wish for hip-hop in 2010? A collabo album between Marvin Gaye and J Dilla. Balance and more individualism. Less follow the leader and more blazing trails. And a healthy dose of Beatmonstas music.
	What do you wish for the world in 2010? A better economy worldwide. Maybe that will help to stimulate music sales too.
	What releases/projects can we expect from you (and yours) in the 2010? Expect a couple dope instrumental albums from Beatmonstas Ent. Solo album projects from Noble Dru (HELL IS HERE) & Phashara (THE VINNY VANGOGH JOHNSON EXPERIENCE). Got a new Beatmonstas’ joint featuring Craig G too.Hot bidness 2010.

Here’s whats dope about when hip-hop meets social networking meets various recording technology… In 2008 I released “The Storybook Adventure”. Just before the release I got at my man Tall Black Guy, who produced a joint on the album, about having his group, The 80’s Babies, perform at my release party in Chicago. We made it happen, the show was a smash and on the way back to LA I listened non-stop to The 80’s Babies LP. I was caught up by the melodious sample heavy bangin beats and the fly lyricism from my man Shogun aka Dee Jackson. Not only was Dee droppin jewels with the lyrics but he had a few other impressive Emcees featured throughout the album. Savant of RareBreed is one of those emcees.

At some point, Dee Jackson, Savant and I began communicating via myspace. Soon we’d exchanged info and ideas and beats and we began the process of a collabo… one of which has yet to materialize (btw we got work to do fellas). Still from that exchange I was turned on to Passion HiFi, UK producer / DJ, when Savant asked me to get on a song he was working on called “Say Your Prayers” that happened to be produced by Passion HiFi. The song was to feature Savant, myself - Phashara & Longshot. Long story short… I got the beat, wrote the rhyme, recorded the verse and sent the wavs to Savant. Savant repeated that process with Longshot and when he was done with his own verse he proceeded to shoot it all over the wire to ‘Passion’ in the UK.

Time passed and here we are in 2010. I got an email from Savant with the finished song attached. The song had a dope new Passion HiFi track and was already mixed and mastered and available for download on DatPiff.com as a part of Passion’s new mixtape “Return Of The Soul Rebel”. The song is fresh-to-def from the track to the rhymes to the razor sharp cuts and when all is said and done…. I have yet to meet Passion, Savant or Longshot in person. You gotta love hip-hop and technology.

…….

In 2004 Passion HiFi released his first ever mixtape on the Evil Twin label. An amazing 165,000 worldwide downloads later and it time to do it again, this time bigger & better. With guest UK & US MC’s Phashara, Savant,  Longshot, Apathy, DZK, Genesis Elijah & SoHo amongst others plus the usual exclusive remixes you know this is gonna hit hard! Dope beats, slick MC’s and twisted turntablism for the soul…

Peep the joint below… download it here http://bit.ly/cPF0CL

Get at any of us on twitter @Phashara @SavantRAREBREED @MCLongshot @Passion_HiFi

Professor 9th Wonder

One of my biggest gripes with the direction of my beloved hip-hop is that so many of the people in the culture take pride in being a dumb ass. But every now and again there is a beacon of light shining in a way that positively reflects on hip-hop and rap music and the whole lot of the culture. Turn to 9th Wonder, or should we say Professor 9th Wonder.

A history major and college graduate himself, 9th has been teaching a hip-hop history class at his Alma-mater “North Carolina Central University” for the last few years. Now the multi platinum Grammy award winning hip-hop producer is prepping for his latest scholarly journey as a Professor at Duke University along with Professor Mark Anthony Neal.

Professor 9th Wonder’s course at Duke is considered a African American Studies course and it’s called  “Sampling Soul.” The course focuses on examining songs from the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements. According to Professor Mark Anthony Neal’s blog, NewBlackMan.BlogSpot.com, the course is “…a look at how the songs that made up the social soundtrack of the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power Movement remain relevant in contemporary culture.”

Peep the video below where 9th speaks with  Maestro Knows of maestroknows.com about everything from Fruity Loops to good music, and of course teaching a course at Duke University. Enjoy.

As usual, if you happen to be reading this via facebook rss feed, or the like, and you can’t see the vid, head over to www.phashara.com to check it out.

Speech of Arrested Development

Remember “Speech” from “Arrested Development”? Well, some may have thought he and Arrested Dev’ had fallen off the face of the earth after smashing the industry with two Grammy Awards in 1993 for Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, and also being named Band of the Year by Rolling Stone magazine. No one was messing with Arrested Development in 1993 and 1994. Few have stopped to think about the doors that they kicked in for the South and the trail that they blazed for acts like Outkast & Goodie MOB.

Well anyways, back to my man Speech, he has never stopped doing music. Music lovers and live show aficionados  may already know that he has always been touring and releasing albums. Here he speaks to the Legendary Davey D about how the south does or does not get a bad rap for the type of rap music they do. And you may ask, “What qualifies him to speak on the plight southern rap?” And I’d reply, “refer to the first paragraph herein.”

Enjoy!

As usual, if you happen to be reading this via facebook rss feed, or the like, and you can’t see the vid, head over to www.phashara.com to check it out.

Roxanne Shante

For all the ladies in hip-hop who don’t feel properly represented by the over blown sexuality that seems to have become the prerequisite for female emcees in recent times, peep this video entitled “The Revival” featuring Roxanne Shante & Bahamadia.

The Revival gives a candid glimpse into the first meeting of legendary Hip-Hop pioneer Roxanne Shante and veteran Philly emcee Bahamadia, as they trade stories of their struggles and triumphs in the industry over their long careers. It shows the exchange of lessons between them and up-and-coming artists DJ Shortee, Eternia, Stacy Epps, and Invincible. This short documentary, a collage of performances and behind the scenes footage, was filmed by Invincible while on the road in Europe as part of We-B Girlz all women independent Hip-Hop tour. The largest all female Hip-Hop tour of its kind, it spanned over three weeks, six countries, and featured dozens of female artists who performed for tens of thousands of supporters.

Enjoy!

If you happen to be reading this via facebook rss feed, or the like, and you can’t see the vid, head over to www.phashara.com to check it out.