Comin’ straight outta the L.A. underground, Thirsty Fish represent real hip hop to the fullest. As part of the Project Blowed collective (which includes Freestyle Fellowship, Aceyalone, Abstract Rude, Busdriver, and more) Thirsty Fish have been schooled in the fine art of freestyling from years of battling and ciphers in legendary Leimert Park. And all that hard work has clearly paid off as members Open Mike Eagle, Psychosiz and DumbFounDead tag-team freestyle with ease, like they were born with mics in their hands.
Thirsty Fish’s latest album, Something in the Water, showcases the trio’s complex wordplay, dope beats, and unique sense of humor. The guys have skills, but they aren’t frontin’ like they’re fake thugs. It’s a return to the backpack sound of yesteryear, but with a fresh, new twist. And if you dig their sound, check out DumbFounDead’s side-project Super Barrio Bros, an all-videogame influenced mixtape laced with game samples, sounds and rhymes. Clearly these guys are true gamers, and it showed in the booth at the Engine Room when they stepped up to the mic, dropping references to every game under the sun as well as G4tv, Attack of the Show, X-Play, Electric Playground and even Leo Laporte and TechTV!
Freestyle 101 is taking two weeks off for the holidays, so make sure to tune in on Tuesday, January 8th at 3 p.m. PST. when we resume with new webisodes featuring Planet Asia, MC Frontalot, RBX, Sticky Fingaz of Onyx, LMNO, Hangar 18, Pack FM, and many more every. Until then, peep us on MySpace, check out our behind-the-scenes photos, and rant in our Forums.
Citrus Sessions, Vol. 1, the new full-length album featuring MYKA NYNE (formerly Mikah 9) is in stores NOW! Citrus Sessions, Vol. 1 is a juicy collection of “Grown Folk” hip-hop from one of L.A.’s most pre-eminent emcees. Grown Folk hip-hop is a blend of sophisticated instrumental music combined with thought-provoking lyrics, enhanced with bouncy beats and delivered with a sexy swagger.
As a founding member of the legendary L.A. hip-hop group, Freestyle Fellowship, Myka Nyne was an integral part in the freestyle movement of spitting lyrics. Being a west-coast hip-hop pioneer and a classically trained jazz trumpet player, Myka Nyne invokes the same sense of uniqueness and musical appreciation to Citrus Sessions, Vol. 1. The album features hard-core beats to laid back grooves that highlight Myka Nyne’s signature style of chop delivery. Myka Nyne succinctly sums up his work on Citrus Sessions, Vol. 1, “Metaphorically speaking it is a musical flavor in my mind and technically speaking it is the quintessential statement of my career.”
Citrus Sessions, Vol. 1 also features production by heavy-hitters such as Josef Leimberg (Snoop), Headnodic (Crown City Rockers), Jeff Bhasker (The Game) and Erick Krasno (Talib Kweli.) The guest appearances on the album include Abstract Rude, P.E.A.C.E. and Tracy Lane.
Since 2000, Particle has emerged as one of the hottest up-and-coming acts on the jam-band circuit, playing their techno-flavored instrumental jams at sold-out shows across the country.
In late 2005, their guitar player left, and while auditioning new ones, they realized that they couldn’t decide between the two finalists, each of whom would take them in a different, new direction. After much soul searching, they chose both, and instantly expanded their range to include not only a more-organic rock sound, but also vocals, a first for them.
The Transformations Live DVD captures Particle as they introduce their new sound to their fans for the first time, at the Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood on February 24, 2006.
If you feel it, then check out this groovin beat:
W (with Joe Satriani and DJ Logic) Windows Media | Quicktime
What it is:
Producer Mums The Word brings together a first-string lineup of west coast talent to lace his beats. 15 strong tracks of Mums signature style, most including lyricists with a few instrumentals.
Featured Guests:
Myka 9, Abstract Rude, Brother Ali, Eligh, Scarub, Luckyiam, Senim Silla (Binary Star), Busdriver, Oh No, Natty Roots, and Mr. Banks.
