Released today through New Dawn Records, the new album “Urban Testimony” by Justo the MC and Edinburgh lofi hip hop producer Brelstaff.

The entire theme is documented in a deeply personal narrative depicting events before, during and after the Brooklyn rapper’s curtailed and troubled time studying at Clark Atlanta University.  Details unfold of a conflicted mind on a potential escape route to academia straying rapidly on a hedonistic path and the consequences incurred.  While regrets are clear, the spirit of resilience prevails.  Emerging scathed but undaunted and emboldened by second chances, the final scenes present a renewed sense of optimism for the future with lessons duly learned. 

A fascinating and brutally honest account is relayed through trademark slick rhymes and deft lyricism, the art of storytelling set to a suitably atmospheric soundtrack provided by Brelstaff’s blend of soulful chilled lofi hip hop beats and ambient electronica.  Essential listening.

TRACKLIST

  • Don’t Forget The Music
  • Fine Line
  • High
  • Is She ft Preem
  • No Escape
  • Satan’s Grip
  • Falling
  • Dark Room ft DVNA
  • Definition of Love
  • Sunday

Available on all digital platforms including APPLE/iTUNES, AMAZON, TIDAL and below on BANDCAMP & SPOTIFY

FULL VIDEO PLAYLIST OF EVERY ALBUM TRACK IS ALSO ON THE LABEL’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Justo will be performing tracks from the album on Saturday November 18th at Deep Dive, Ithaca as a special guest of Anthony Kannon and Frost Gamble for their “Cautionary Tales” album launch event. 

For more information about all of New Dawn Records’ releases and roster, visit their OFFICIAL WEBSITE

All press, media and radio DJ inquiries regarding any of New Dawn Records’ releases and artists can be sent to ourselves, the label’s in house promotional division. Visit our CONTACT page.

UEP   

NY State rapper Tone Chop & producer Frost Gamble released their album “Respect Is Earned Not Given” on September 29th through Miami label 22 Entertainment.

Featuring Kool G Rap, Planet Asia, rap battler DNA, Tragedy Khadafi, Bigga Haitian, Canadian upcomer White Rhino and DJ Waxamillion, it is available in physical CD and digital formats from stores worldwide including Amazon, iTunes, Bandcamp & Spotify.

They have today launched the new video for the album track “Bing Stories”. Animated by Dion Johnson, it storyboards the poignant true life tale portrayed by the Binghamton lyricist creatively mixing two themes under one narrative.

WATCH THE NEW VIDEO “BING STORIES” ON YOUTUBE

Chop & Frost will be guests on DJ Eclipse’s “Rap Is Outta Control” show broadcasting live on Sirius XM Hip Hop Nation, Monday October 16th

Any members of the press, media or radio station DJs who would also like to meet the pair in NYC next week can send their requests to us at UrbanElite PR, our contact information is available HERE

Connect with them on social media

Twitter @ToneChop & @FrostGamble, the label @22entertainmen & video director @PxLXAStudio
IG @ToneChop & @Frost.Gamble
FB Tone & Chop’s Joint Page

UrbanElite PR
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

In the lead up to the release of his new album “Respect Is Earned Not Given” last week with long time sparring partner Tone Chop, NY state hip hop producer Frost Gamble, currently resident in Winnipeg Canada, sat down with Chicago online magazine “Flows for Days”.

In the article published yesterday, the crate digger speaks about the switch from vinyl in the beatmaking process and the progression from last year’s “Veteran” EP with Chop to the new album.

He discusses how he first started out in production, the earliest influences, his work on an award winning gospel album and also a project with the legendary Rakim’s son Tahmell, and the impact signing with Miami’s 22 Entertainment has had on his career – a label whose back catalogue includes Royce da 5’9″, Fashawn, J-Kwon, Bumpy Knuckles, KXNG Crooked, Joe Budden and many more.

Frost will also release a new EP “Rare Fabric” on October 20th, a collaboration with Tragedsy Khadafi and a new solo LP “I Missed My Bus” featuring KXNG Crooked, Ruste Juxx, Skyzoo, Rah Digga, Guilty Simpson, Ras Kass and many more is due out in early 2018.

The feature ends with Frost outlining which of today’s artists he rocks with the most, and also explains the source of his artist name. READ IT IN FULL HERE

Featuring Kool G Rap, Planet Asia, White Rhino, DNA, Tragedy Khadafi, DJ Waxamillion & Bigga Haitian, “Respect Is Earned Not Given” released last Friday, September 29th. Available on CD, digital mp3 and streaming formats from online stores worldwide.

The latest review comes courtesy of US online magazine Slickster Magazine. Written by Dom Wright who article is interspersed with GIFs to emphasise the point, he summarises “All in all, this album was a true work of art…can’t wait to hear what’s next from these guys as well as their next move

READ HIS APPRAISAL IN FULL HERE

Listen to the album stream on Soundcloud – whether your preference is Amazon, iTunes, Bandcamp or Spotify, the relevant purchase links are all contained within the stream’s notes

The duo release a new animated video for the album track “Bing Stories” next week and then visit NYC on 16th & 17th October to meet with press and media, including a guest appearance on DJ Eclipse’s “Rap Is Outta Control” show on Sirius XM [Hip Hop Nation].

Connect with them on social media, via twitter @ToneChop & @FrostGamble, IG @ToneChop & @Frost.Gamble and over on their joing FB Page

All media, press and radio station enquiries regarding Tone Chop & Frost Gamble, including requests to interview the pair in person in NYC or by other standard methods can be sent to us at UrbanElite PR. Our contact information is available HERE

UrbanElite PR
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

For the benefit of anyone who temporarily left the planet in the last 24 hours, NY State rapper & producer duo Tone Chop and Frost Gamble released their new album “Respect Is Earned Not Given” yesterday through Miami label 22 Entertainment.

Whether your preferred format is physical CD, digital mp3 or streaming, it’s all covered from a wide range of stores including Amazon, iTunes & Spotify

Given the pair started out in the late 90’s, it’s unsurprising that their style draws from the core principles of that era while not being stuck in it – a focus on meaningful rhymes and flow skills, battle bars mixed with the art of storytelling. The polished production fuses classic and contemporary sounds with a sprinkling of turntablism which in itself is an almost forgotten artform.

It’s inaccurate to apply labels such as old or new school to the genre generally as that depends on context and perspective. For Millenials who have been largely force fed a diet of bland, superficial, commercialised mediocrity passing itself off as culturally progressive – backed by a mainstream media who’ll literally say & write everything and anything to stay ‘on message’ and retain a writing gig – then Chop & Frost’s style IS new school to that generation.

The same generation were the catalyst in the resurgence of 90’s culture in recent years as college kids picked up on the classics for the first time in specialist clubs, where of course it all began in the first place.

To progress and evolve for the better rather than just for the sake of change, history has to be understood – evolution with core guiding principles brings longevity, without them a slow death follows. As such, “Respect Is Earned Not Given” plays an essential educational role for today, acknowledged by the three most recent reviews :

READ THE REVIEW BY “TRIPLE OT” HERE

READ THE REVIEW BY “RHYME JUNKIE” HERE

READ THE REVIEW BY “DOPE CAUSE WE SAID” HERE

INCLUDING GUEST FEATURED ARTISTS KOOL G RAP, PLANET ASIA, BIGGA HAITIAN, DNA, WHITE RHINO, DJ WAXAMILLION & TRAGEDY KHADAFI, LISTEN TO THE ALBUM STREAM ON BANDCAMP

Chop & Tone will be in NYC mid October promoting the album and meeting with press, including a guest appearance on DJ Eclipse’s “Rap Is Outta Control” Sirius XM show October 16th

Connect with them on social media – they’ve very sociable! – via Twitter @ToneChop & @FrostGamble, IG @ToneChop & @Frost.Gamble & over on their joint FB Page

All media, press & radio station enquiries regarding Tone Chop & Frost Gamble, including requests to interview the pair in NYC on Monday Oct 16 and Tuesday Oct 17, can be sent to us at UrbanElite PR. Our contact information details are available HERE

UrbanElite PR
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

Eastcoast rapper / producer duo Tone Chop & Frost Gamble have released their new album “Respect Is Earned Not Given” through Miami label 22 Entertainment whose back catalogue includes Royce da 5’9″, DJ Premier, Fashawn, KXNG Crooked, Joe Budden and Bumpy Knuckles.

The follow up to last year’s critically acclaimed “Veteran” EP is again rammed full of rugged rhymes, battle bars and true life stories from Binghamton’s lyrical marksman aided and abetted by guest artists Kool G Rap, Planet Asia, Canadian upcomer White Rhino, Tragedy Khadafi and rap battling phenomenon DNA.

Award winning producer Frost laces the album with high calibre beats fusing classic and contemporary sounds with a healthy dose of turntablism resulting in straight heat for the hip hop connoisseur. Look out for their guest appearance on DJ Eclipse’s Sirius XM Rap Is Outta Control Show, Monday October 16th.

Available on CD and digital formats now.

Listen to the album stream on Bandcamp

The album is also available on iTunes and Spotify

Two new reviews of the album have just been published.

First up is US online magazine The Pop Break affording the release a ringing endorsement with an 8/10 rating. Read what they had to say HERE

Secondly, from the other side of the world, Kenya’s Afro Way Magazine gives a similar assessment in acknowledgement of the quality of lyricism, rhymes, wordplay and production on display. Read their article in full HERE

Look out for much more international press & media coverage coming in the days and weeks ahead, and meanwhile keep up to date with the pair on social media via Twitter @ToneChop & @FrostGamble, IG @ToneChop & @Frost.Gamble and on their joint Facebook Page

All international media, press and radio station enquiries regarding Tone Chop, Frost Gamble and their new album can be sent to us at UrbanElite PR. Our contact details are available HERE

UrbanElite PR
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

Omerta-StreetsConnect

In the past few weeks, rapper M.I. from eastcoast hip hop duo Constant Deviants jumped on the phone to westcoast publication Streets Connect Magazine.

In what was an in depth conversation, many subjects were addressed meaning the resultant interview being published in two parts.

The first of these has M.I. going deep into the concept behind the group’s new album “Omerta” which released on June 28th, the production process, and the various inspirations that contributed to its ultimate naissance. This naturally leads the discussion on to his thoughts on the art of songwriting in hip hop today, and the group’s approach to a new project with the emphasis placed on a cohesive construction rather than random beats and bars.

DB2

The Baltimore MC gives an example of writing for a female audience, citing the approach of Mobb Deep, Pete Rock, CL Smooth and Gangstarr to underline the point, and it takes the interview back to the days of when the group first started, the progression from battle raps to the art of storytelling, and the release of their debut single “Competition Catch Speed Knots

Interesting insight to the mindset, and you can read the entire feature HERE

DLa

Look out for Part 2 of the interview being published very shortly, and the final episode of their Tre Volte freestyle video series releasing next week when M.I. will also have his new movie “Six2Six” screened at the Hip Hop Film Festival in Harlem.

Co:ordinated by Ralph McDaniels, it will be shown at 8.30pm on Friday August 5th at the National Black Theater in Harlem, and co:stars Treach, Syleena Johnson and Chief Rocker Busy Bee.

“Omerta” is available to buy as a digital download HERE and is being distributed worldwide by Fatbeats in CD and vinyl formats. Keep up to date with Constant Deviants on social media via Facebook (Group & Label) and Twitter (Group & Label) and meantime check out the album stream

All press, media and radio station enquiries and requests regarding Constant Deviants can be sent to us at UrbanElite PR. All of our contact details are HERE

UrbanElite PR
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

Constant Deviants_v3

During their recent visit to NYC to promote the new album “Omerta”, M.I. and DJ Cutt of Constant Deviants caught up with Rapstation’s Tim Einenkel in Brooklyn to talk through a number of subjects

They discuss the concept behind the album, and the metaphorical role playing element adopted via the personas of Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. They delve deep into the specific thought process involved and differentiate between a perceived “mafiosa rap” approach to one which juxtaposes circumstances of four people with identical heritages.

AOW

The discussion moves to the duo’s writing and recording process, comparing when they formed in Brooklyn to the current dynamic of operating from Baltimore and New Jersey. Appropriately at this point they talk more about their back catalogue and explain why they still give priority to producing an album as a cohesive body of work.

DJCutt

DJ Cutt then speaks more on his overall approach to production, how he determines the feel for a record and the various musical genres he sources for samples. Giving his thoughts on the diversion hip hop and rap has taken over the years, he suggests his own style is born of “tunnel vision”

MI2

Meanwhile M.I. explains why very few artists have had any longlasting influence on him, instead outlining his alternative sources of inspiration, and speaks on the broader issue of differing approaches to “the art of rhyme” through each generation.

Ending with their thoughts on the best scene from “Goodfellas”, the interview can be listened to in full via the AUDIO STREAM

989oa

The album is available to buy as a digital download from Six2Six Records BANDCAMP while CD and vinyl formats are being distributed worldwide by Fatbeats from July 15th.

All media, press and radio station Dj enquiries regarding Constant Deviants can be sent to us at UrbanElite PR, contact details are HERE

UrbanElite PR
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr