Latest Updates
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Podcast: "The Drought" mixtape by DJ Houseshoes
http://www.abbrecords.com/Music/Podcasts/Big%20Tone/01%20The%20Drought%20Mix%20Tape%202.mp3
BIG TONE TO RELEASE THE DROUGHT (ABB RECORDS) 10/04
Big Tone has found himself riding the wave of a buzz that is currently creating frenzy on the Detroit underground scene. After years of rhyming collaborating with some of hip hop's most prominent talents including Jay Dee, Dwele, Slum Village, and Lacks, Big Tone is releasing his self-produced solo project, The Drought, on ABB Records (summer 2005). Fresh off of a string of impressive releases; Partycrasher (Carl Craig's Antidote Music), the Wasted Youth EP 2 Minds, 1 Block (Bling 47 Group), It's Like That (JayDee's Welcome to Detroit LP), and the explosive single, "Its a Wrap", with Phat Kat, featuring Big Tone (Barak Records), Big Tone is bringing forth one of the most anticipated solo efforts to be released out of Detroit.
After moving away from his infamous 7 mile stomping grounds, the next neighborhood he called home was the Plymouth Road area of Detroit’s west side, known as P-Rock. In the late 90's Tone began to make his rounds, and his presence felt in the D's underground scene. The Hip-Hop Shop, St. Andrew's Hall, Ebony Showcase, and The Lush all played a part of Tone's rapidly growing reputation. His first EP, Earcandy, earned the ears and respect of a wide audience, including established independent record label executive, Carl Craig (Planet E Communications). Craig became one of Tone's biggest mentors and friends in music. "The next thing I know, I was the next artist to sign to Planet E's sister label, Antidote Records," he recalls. After doing a few white label releases, Tone was exposed to a worldwide audience. It was these opportunities that also earned him a highlighted appearance, working with a friend and mentor Jay Dee on the song "It’s like that" which appeared on JayDee's Welcome to Detroit (BBE Records). He followed with a flash of brilliance on his self produced debut single, “Party Crasher", which in return was mixed by JayDee. This Three song release solidified Big Tone as a commander on the mic, and augmented the custom of the artist/producer double threat.
One of Tone's most notable contributions to Detroit Hip-Hop was founding the group Wasted Youth. The first project from this group, "2 Minds, 1 Block", set ablaze the local scene and quickly became a phenomenon. "It never ceases to amaze me how a CD that is intended to touch no further than the hood, can find its way to the other side of the globe," Tone reflects. Due to popular demand the album was repressed and released through Bling 47 Group, and was instrumental in establishing the group's large fan base. Wasted Youth is currently working on a second project entitled Teen Spirit, which is scheduled for release fall 2005.
"I'm able to bridge the gaps between the different areas of rap music, because they've each played a role in my upbringing, I feel I've been able to create something universal because of this. 'The Drought' is my 'Illmatic'. It's my 'Reasonable Doubt'", Tone reveals, "The dominoes continue to fall, the next domino is my album. When that one falls, it’s a wrap." With The Drought under his wing, Big Tone is promising not to disappoint those thirsty for the next big thing.
www.abbrecords.com
http://www.abbrecords.com/Music/Podcasts/Big%20Tone/01%20The%20Drought%20Mix%20Tape%202.mp3
BIG TONE TO RELEASE THE DROUGHT (ABB RECORDS) 10/04
Big Tone has found himself riding the wave of a buzz that is currently creating frenzy on the Detroit underground scene. After years of rhyming collaborating with some of hip hop's most prominent talents including Jay Dee, Dwele, Slum Village, and Lacks, Big Tone is releasing his self-produced solo project, The Drought, on ABB Records (summer 2005). Fresh off of a string of impressive releases; Partycrasher (Carl Craig's Antidote Music), the Wasted Youth EP 2 Minds, 1 Block (Bling 47 Group), It's Like That (JayDee's Welcome to Detroit LP), and the explosive single, "Its a Wrap", with Phat Kat, featuring Big Tone (Barak Records), Big Tone is bringing forth one of the most anticipated solo efforts to be released out of Detroit.
After moving away from his infamous 7 mile stomping grounds, the next neighborhood he called home was the Plymouth Road area of Detroit’s west side, known as P-Rock. In the late 90's Tone began to make his rounds, and his presence felt in the D's underground scene. The Hip-Hop Shop, St. Andrew's Hall, Ebony Showcase, and The Lush all played a part of Tone's rapidly growing reputation. His first EP, Earcandy, earned the ears and respect of a wide audience, including established independent record label executive, Carl Craig (Planet E Communications). Craig became one of Tone's biggest mentors and friends in music. "The next thing I know, I was the next artist to sign to Planet E's sister label, Antidote Records," he recalls. After doing a few white label releases, Tone was exposed to a worldwide audience. It was these opportunities that also earned him a highlighted appearance, working with a friend and mentor Jay Dee on the song "It’s like that" which appeared on JayDee's Welcome to Detroit (BBE Records). He followed with a flash of brilliance on his self produced debut single, “Party Crasher", which in return was mixed by JayDee. This Three song release solidified Big Tone as a commander on the mic, and augmented the custom of the artist/producer double threat.
One of Tone's most notable contributions to Detroit Hip-Hop was founding the group Wasted Youth. The first project from this group, "2 Minds, 1 Block", set ablaze the local scene and quickly became a phenomenon. "It never ceases to amaze me how a CD that is intended to touch no further than the hood, can find its way to the other side of the globe," Tone reflects. Due to popular demand the album was repressed and released through Bling 47 Group, and was instrumental in establishing the group's large fan base. Wasted Youth is currently working on a second project entitled Teen Spirit, which is scheduled for release fall 2005.
"I'm able to bridge the gaps between the different areas of rap music, because they've each played a role in my upbringing, I feel I've been able to create something universal because of this. 'The Drought' is my 'Illmatic'. It's my 'Reasonable Doubt'", Tone reveals, "The dominoes continue to fall, the next domino is my album. When that one falls, it’s a wrap." With The Drought under his wing, Big Tone is promising not to disappoint those thirsty for the next big thing.
www.abbrecords.com
Friday, September 02, 2005
CESAR COMANCHE DROPS SQUIRREL & THE ACES, 09/20/05, ABB RECORDS"Finally beats and rhymes on a record without all that phony rappin shit!!!"- DJ Premier, Gang Starr
"One of the dopest emcees coming outta North Carolina. His flow is sick. Emcees take notice. Squirrel and the Aces is a Dope album!!!"- DJ Evil Dee, Blackmoon / Da Beatminerz
Cesar Comanche is one of the founding members of the lauded North Carolina hip-hop collective better known as the Justus League. The Justus League is also home to critically acclaimed act Little Brother who helped put the crew on the map with the success of their debut album The Listening (ABB Records) in 2002. Originally from Jacksonville, NC, Cesar began writing rhymes in 1994, but didn’t pursue rhyming as a career until 1996. In that same year, he met budding producer 9th Wonder and began collaborating in the studio as well as doing shows in and around North Carolina. It wasn’t long before his sound and style got around.
After a few years of working and perfecting his craft, Comanche along with 9th Wonder, organized their fellow friends and rap artists in the Triangle’s hip-hop scene and started the Justus League Crew in 1999. Since then, he has performed with such acts as Tha Liks, The Coup, Hieroglyphics, ZMan, Dilated Peoples, Living Legends, Faust & Shortee, and Wordsworth to name a few.
During time off from his extensive touring schedule, Comanche recorded his third album Squirrel and the Aces, a collaborative effort in the vein of Pete Rock’s Soul Survivor series. The album features a string of guest appearances including Tajai from the Souls of Mischief, Phonte and Big Pooh of Little Brother, and several Justus League members as well as production by 9th Wonder (Little Brother, Jay-Z, Destiny’s Child), Nicolay (Foreign Exchange), Khrysis (Justus League) and more. When asked what inspired the Squirrel and the Aces, Comanche said, “The album title comes from my father’s band he had in the early seventies; my mother was also a singer in that group. This album is dedicated to my parents group and also is a celebration of the musician/entertainer.” Squirrel and the Aces debuts September 20th 2005.
In addition to touring the US and Canada, and performing with Little Brother and the rest of the Justus League, Comanche has appeared on television shows such as Hip Hop Nation (NBC), Distortion 2 Static (WB Network), and Little Brother's "You Hear It First" segment on MTV2. He has also been featured in several videos, most notably, Little Brother's "Speed" and his own "Lamb to Lion" video which won a "Most Creative Atmosphere" award from the University of Chapel Hill. In addition, he has received rave reviews in The Source, XXL, Then Independent Weekly, to name a few. Cesar has also released two solo albums on his own Defenders of the Free World imprint (2000’s Wooden Nickels and 2002’s Paper Gods), and has appeared on Little Brother's The Listening, the Justus League’s NC State of Mind Vol. 1 mixtape, the Hub City Revival Compilation, and the Hall of Justus’ Singles Files mixtape as well as dozens of singles.
Like his Justus League counterpart Little Brother, Comanche looks to diversify the face of Southern rap with witty, thought-provoking lyricism and soulful production while sharing some of his very human experiences as an entertainer. In a time where artist have become carbon copies of each other, Comanche offers a fresh look at a forgotten art form.
www.abbrecords.com
PODCAST: Squirrel and the Aces mixtape mixed by DJ Flash
