Fresh off of tour, and busy collaborating with pretty much everyone in the music business, Gilbere Forte doesn't seem like he slowing down anytime soon.
Polica's music is hauntingly smooth. Their debut album Give You The Ghost is something you must experience. The group is formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota and members include founders Ryan Olson + Channy Leaneagh as well as Chris Bierden, Ben Ivascu and Drew Christopherson. Pitchork filmed a Documentary on the american indie band.
Gajah is anOG in the game and half of the underground slayers Acid Reign. Today a new music video / short film surfaces featuring clinically insane producer Mute Speaker. Get lost in The Great Indoors Directed by Alan Mura. Their collaboration project On and Offspring is out now.
The underground is rumbling lately with this new Remix album from Southern California native Gajah. His most recent album Poverty's Prodigy, through Acid Lab Records has been remixed entirely with added samples and improved musical madness. The outcome is true art. Support good music.
Los Angeles underground veteran Gajah releases a new visual off his latest project Poverty's Prodigy EP out now. The record Little Too Much is produced by Duke Westlake. The video is a trip. Written & Directed by Gajah himself. Check it out below.
The underground scene in music is basically how Next In Show artists are born. Good friends over at Acid Lab Records have a secret that they just made public. MC's BeOND and Destruct come together to release REACT. The album was an easy and interesting listen with almost every track a neck breaker. My personal favorite from the album right now is Crossin Borders, which features Self Jupiter. Listen below. also check out Acid Lab vet MC Gajah latest album Povertys Prodigy HERE.
In Los Angeles there is a stealth underground rap movement, which is respected and praised by many. Gajah, one half of the rap slayers known as Acid Reign, just dropped his highly anticipated solo album Poverty's Prodigy where he spotlights the finer things in life rather than the money and models. Listen below to hear his full album, but make sure and support Gajah by purchasing the album on iTunes. Gajah had this to say about his album:
"Poverty's Prodigy is a testament of my personal, yet beautiful struggle growing up as a blooming Hip Hop artist with less than adequate means. I'm getting very personal and open here and admitting to many of my personal failures in life. Some hard lessons that I learned through the human process of trial and error. I also brush on the social restrictions placed upon lower class America and beyond. It's basically my message delivered in a mix of sorrow, despair, self pity, resolution but most importantly HOPE that will "hopefully" inspire many in these tough, turbulent times". - Gajah
The LA based rhyme slayer has been around the block and continues to put out good savage music for his fans. One half of the group Acid Reign, Gajah recently put out a collabo album with Seattle-based MC Graves33. The mixtape is called Two-Headed Dragon. Download the album below. The album is full of hot break beats and atomic verses, but most of all the lyrical local legend Gajah.
Gajah, he's nice
When did you first know that you wanted to be a lyricist?
When I was in
the 8th grade. I started writing raps here and there, testing myself to
see if I had it in me. The more I wrote, the more It felt natural so I
kept on developing my skill.
Did you ever get
hassled for being white and rapping?
No, fortunately. I became part of
the Project Blowed movement where it was a little tougher for a
non-black MC to get shine, but talent was recognized so therefore race
or complexion wasn't really a factor. I'm not Caucasian, I'm a mixed
mutt if you will, (Puerto Rican, Mexican & Italian) but I could see
how people would assume that I'm white.
Your flow is very
unique. Who If anyone do you consider yourself similar to?
I tend to
spit at a rapid pace which is a trademark of the mid 90's Project Blowed
style prowess. You could say I'm comparable to influential giants such
as Freestyle Fellowship, Abstract Rude, Hip Hop Kclan, & CVE who
were and still are my mentors til today. Other similar influences are
Organized Konfusion, LONS, Ultramagnetiic MC's & Big Daddy Kane.
I've always been fond of word play, word chops and all out
experimentation through lyricism. As I progressed I learned how to
convey a relative message with the use of these methods and develop my
own personal rhyme style.
How long does it take you
to write a rap?
It depends, it ranges anywhere from one day to 3
months. I could begin a verse and get eight bars into it, get stuck and
not come back to it til I'm in the mood, other times I'll be sitting in
the lab smoking a joint and the words will pour out like water. I find
it easier to work on multiple verses at a time, this allows me to
complete songs faster. I use an unconventional approach, I don't write
on paper til the song is completely pieced together in my head.
What do you like best
about doing live shows?
I aim to shock and awe the crowd and give them
something that the last or next act can't or couldn't. The amount of
energy that people channel is enormous, I feed off of it and It takes my
showcase to the next level, super saiyan style. Overall, I love to see
that frozen look in the gazers eyes when I lock them in for the mind
kill.
What interests you
outside of music?
Really, just hanging out with my friends and family
and having good conversation, watching movies, sipping wine with some
good laughs. My life is pretty basic, I don't sky dive or horse-back
ride. I like to game a bit, go to Museums and concerts occasionally.
Do you prefer rapping
in a group, such as your crew Acid Reign, or keep to yourself with a
solo career?
I'm equally devoted to my group and my own stuff but the no
compromise feeling of doing solo work is quite grand! What's good about
Acid Reign is that me and BeOND are like twin brothers who think alike,
we have no conflicts when it comes down to the creative process. We
tend to agree with each other ideas most often.
You have been a part
of the underground scene for a while. When did you actually start
getting respect from fans/other artists?
We got respect at Project
Blowed by the OG's in the pre-millenium which had a trickle-effect on
the fans in LA and the growing fan base out of state and overseas. To
this day, our name has circulated world wide and we are recognized but
still not respected like we should be I believe. To be honest. respect
really has no meaning any more. We are in the age of over night success
acts and gimmick whores.
Are you currently
signed to any label at this time?
I have a deal with Tokyo Dawn records
out of Munich, Germany for an LP to be released sometime in 2012. I
prefer to sign one album deals now and days and that's only if the label
can provide what our own label can't. Both myself and Acid Reign have
released projects on Alpha Pup Records, Uncommon Records, Briefcase
Rockers, Festen & Nomadic Sound System and we've also collaborated
with many other taste makers around the globe.
What music
motivates/influences you to create music of your own?
A lot of 60's
& early 70's prog/syche rock, free Jazz, various forms of electronic
music and pretty much anything bizzarre or spine tingling.
What can we look
forward to from Gajah?
Look forward to my upcoming LP, Poverty's Prodigy
dropping early 2012 on our label, Acid Lab Records. Also, a compilation
at the end of this year featuring all Acid Lab artists (Acid Reign,
BeOND & Gajah, Express Fresh & Damien Rodriguez, the
fore-mentioned Tokyo Dawn release and a project with UK producer
Awkward.
I know you have
children. What advice would you give to them that could help in
achieving their goals in the future?
Work hard, keep your eye on the
prize and don't let anyone or anything get in your way, you're unstoppable!
