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NY State rapper Tone Chop and Winnipeg based producer Frost Gamble release their first collaborative EP “Veteran” through Seven 13 Music & Ent on November 18th. Available on pre-order via iTunes

Originally rivals in upstate NY’s rap battle scene during the 90’s, they became partners in rhyme, tagging and production. Already on record as crediting the wider hip hop culture and elements as being the catalyst for them to pick up the mic, US online The ReUp Spot sat down with them recently for their perspective on the evolution of hip hop over the past two decades.

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The feature is an insightful historical record, as the pair discuss their own involvement in music, graffiti and breakdancing at a time when by comparison to today, the elements had a more prominent and influential role in the wider culture.

Subjects addressed act as a historical snapshot of the changes which have taken place. The switch from vinyl to Serato, the elevation of hip hop music, fashions and art elevated from the underground to the broader commercial world, and the emergence of the various sub genres which now exist.

Focusing on the new release, they discuss the reasons for collaborating officially for the first time after all these years, their previous solo releases and the impact of signing with Seven 13.

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The article will likely be of extra interest to a younger generation, typically fed a very narrow representation by today’s media. There is more to it than that – go to the source, adapt and progress. “If you know whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go” James Baldwin

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE

The first single from the EP released was “Leave It Alone”, a tribute to Sean Price featuring Ruste Juxx and Nobi. Check out the stream

Connect with Tone Chop & Frost Gamble online :

TWITTER @ToneChop @FrostGamble
IG @ToneChop @Frost.Gamble
FACEBOOK JointFacebookPage

All media, press and radio station DJ inquiries regarding the “Veteran” EP release can be sent to us at UrbanElite PR. All our contact information is HERE

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Last week, Demetrius, Kenny and Julius from Horseshoe Gang dropped by the Inglewood studios of Homegrown Radio as guests of the HGR Live Show.

During the Long Beach group’s most in depth interview ever, they discussed a huge range of issues relating to the group directly and the wider world of hip hop and politics.

The interview began with the concept behind their album title “Anti-Trap Music” released earlier in April and their massive level of output over the years, including their Mixtape Monthly series which lasted a full year.

They explain this work ethic has its roots in a musical family background, and also explain their mother’s role in their education, the brothers never having attended public school and having often experienced homelessness.

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They discuss last year’s rap battle with Funk Volume, provide an insight to their upcoming new album “4 Brothers”, and address the wider subject of why they haven’t stepped into the rap battle arena or pursued solo projects.

A debate follows as to how rappers are rated, what defines a lyricist given the multitude of styles, and how aware a younger generation will be of anything not currently the staple diet of mainstream radio or clubland.

The conversation turns political, addressing recent high profile cases of police brutality and how the options available at the US elections might help, if at all.

With the interview drawing to a close, the studio addresses the recent VH1 Hip Hop Honors for Female Rappers before the group reveal they will appear as judges on a new tv talent show “One Shot” due to be shown on B.E.T. from August 23rd.

LISTEN BACK !

The group will be releasing a new video for “Shoe-icide Squad” – described as their version of NWA’s “Fuck the Police” – in the next few days. Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

All media, press and radio station enquiries and requests regarding Horseshoe Gang can be sent to us at UrbanElite PR, our contact details are HERE

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Baltimore MC M.I. and New Jersey producer DJ Cutt – aka Constant Deviants – released their fifth studio album “Omerta” on June 28th.

The duo who first formed while they were based in Brooklyn followed last year’s critically acclaimed “Avant Garde” by adding an additional twist with this year’s album, applying a theme throughout based on their respective Italian and Russian heritages.

The “mob” references are metaphorical, juxtaposing lifestyles by adopting the roles of Luciano and Lansky who shared their nationalities. A series of short stories demonstrate situations in a comparative way rather than the hackneyed “mafiosa rap” of the past.

The latest review to be published is by Italian online RapManiacz. Read what they have to say HERE

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The album is available to buy as digital download direct from Six2Six Records HERE

This week, the album is being distributed by Fatbeats in CD and vinyl formats to specialist stores worldwide, so whether you’re in the States, Canada, UK, Europe, Japan or Australia, you’ll be able to get your hands on a copy in the next few days

Look out for a new single release later this week and more media coverage shortly. You can connect with Constant Deviants on Facebook and Twitter and meantime, check out the official album stream

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

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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.

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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.

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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”

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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

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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

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Their fifth official studio album, Constant Deviants released “Omerta” last week, June 28th

French online In The Mood TV have just featured it today, picking up specifically on the themed concept which runs throughout. There were various contributory factors to this approach. M.I. and DJ Cutt drew on their respective Italian and Russian heritage and adopted the roles of Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky due to the cultural parallels. It is entirely metaphorical in nature presenting contrasting lifestyles in a series of sonic screenplays.

The edgier production compared to previous release “Avant Garde” sets the tone and was in itself inspired by the energy generated at a show they performed with Sean P in Switzerland.

You can read the feature and also hear the album stream over on In The Mood HERE

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Look out for more media coverage on the release, which has already received a 4 star rating in the internationally renowned MOJO Magazine, in the coming weeks.

It is available to buy as a digital download from Six2Six Records’ Bandcamp while CD and vinyl formats are being distributed worldwide via Fatbeats from July 15th.

They will also be releasing the third in their “Tre Volte” freestyle series very shortly, check out the first two episodes

Keep up to date with Constant Deviants on twitter @Cnstnt_Dvnts, the label @Six2SixShift and connect with them on their Facebook Page

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

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West coast rappers Horseshoe Gang jumped on Skype recently with UK journalist Thomas Schofield shortly after the release of their new album “Anti-Trap Music”.

Interviewing the group for London’s On The Come Up TV, they spoke about the earliest days and the transformation from The Untouchable Gang to their present moniker and their establishment within the COB movement.

They spoke about issues they feel they sometimes face in networking with other artists, and how they view the modern day version of rap battles, especially in light of their own well documented response to Funk Volume’s $500,000 challenge last year.

The interview concludes with the theme of the album title and how the group want to help inform the younger generations of traditional hip hop values in a modern context, and use the best of the old and the new to help push the culture forward

READ THE FULL FEATURE HERE

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The album “Anti-Trap Music” was released through Seven 13 Music & Entertainment on April 29th, and is available in digital and CD formats from iTunes and Amazon respectively.

The group are currently planning live shows with a possible tour being arranged, and a new album is also in the works. You can keep up to date with their news on Twitter @Horseshoegang and via their Facebook page HorseshoeGangCOB

CHECK OUT THEIR OFFICIAL “ANTI-TRAP MUSIC” ALBUM STREAM

All press, media and radio station enquiries and requests regarding Horseshoe Gang can be sent to us at UrbanElite PR, all our contact information is HERE

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Second episode from the new “Tre Volte” live freestyle video series by east coast duo Constant Deviants.

“12 Gauge Rage” again sees M.I. and Cutt live in the studio reppin the traditional hip hop concept of an MC and his DJ, consistent with the theme of their recent bonus joint “Cutt for President”.

They release the new album “Omerta” on June 28th through their label Six2Six Records. A new film named after the label and featuring M.I., Treach (Naughty by Nature), Syleena Johnson and Chief Rocker Busy Bee has been selected by Ralph McDaniels’ Hip Hop Film Festival for screening in August at the National Black Theater, NYC.

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The group will be in NYC during the last week of June to meet with media and appear as guests on various radio stations, beginning Sunday 26th on DJ Eclipse’s Rap is Outta Control Show on Sirius XM.

CHECK THE VIDEO

Constant Deviants on Twitter @Cnstnt_Dvnts @Six2SixShift

Constant Deviants on Facebook

All media, press and radio station enquiries regarding Constant Deviants and the new album “Omerta”, including requests to interview the group can be sent to us at UrbanElite PR. Our contact details are HERE

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In the lead up to the release of their album “Anti-Trap Music” on April 29th, Horseshoe Gang, sat down with west coast online magazine Streets Connect.

In one of their most in-depth interviews to date, the group spoke on a wide range of issues. They outlined the recording process and how they select the different styles of production, and the whole ethos behind the meaning of their album title. This leads them onto the wider subject of lyricism in hip hop, and the positive and negative influences these have depending on how imagery is portrayed per genre.

Their track “Shoe-icide Squad” has been much heralded as their version of NWA’s “Fuck the Police”, taking a stand against police brutality and protecting their community, and notably choosing to speak out on this when others have backed down. As explained in the feature this comes from the influence of listening to artists such as Rakim and moves the conversation forward to Tupac’s legacy, the long lasting effect it’s had on them, and the the west coast scene to this day.

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The discussion moves on again to touch upon their well documented rap battle with Hopsin’s Funk Volume, their plans to release a comic book series and they also go into more detail about their fanbase overseas, notably in the UK and Europe. Currently sitting in iTunes Top 50 in 15 different countries would bear witness to that fact.

Very interesting insight into all of that & more which can be read in full HERE

The album “Anti-Trap Music” can be bought on iTunes with CD versions available from Amazon Check out the full album stream

Look out for the group releasing a new single next week with further media coverage to follow. Meanwhile connect with Horseshoe Gang on TWITTER and FACEBOOK

All further press, media, radio & tv station enquiries regarding Horseshoe Gang can be sent to us at UrbanElite PR, contact details are HERE

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ATM-BritishHipHop

London journalist Taytula Burke jumped on Skype recently to speak with west coast hip hop group Horseshoe Gang in the lead up to the release of their new album “Anti-Trap Music” out on April 29th through Seven 13 Music & Ent.

As part of a broader feature piece for the UK online BritishHipHop.com, the interview focused on the meaning behind the title and the wider issue of lyricial content prevelant in various forms of the genre.

As in previous interviews, the group acknowledge the role artists such as Kendrick Lamar and J Cole have played in bringing the art of lyricism back to the table, but here again explain that one or two individuals cannot do that, or represent a movement alone. The inference being greater unity between like minded artists to help “clean up the industry” on a far larger scale

It’s an ongoing debate in the world of hip hop generally, but what’s certainly true is that the various evolutions have created very specific markets, often territory to territory. Apples & oranges.

READ THE FULL FEATURE HERE

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Obviously now gearing up for this, their fourth studio album, the group are still conducting further interviews with local, national and international press & media, the results of which you will see shortly, and there is also tentative word of an album launch event – stay tuned.

Last week they released the single “Intro” featuring their older brother KXNG Crooked. It is available to buy from the album’s pre-order spot on iTunes HERE

Keep up to date with the group on Twitter @HorseshoeGang and on their Facebook page “HorseshoeGangCOB”

All media, press and radio station DJ enquiries regarding Horseshoe Gang can be sent to us at UrbanElite PR, contact details are HERE

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Recently, west coast hip hop group Horseshoe Gang chopped it up with Joe Blakk & Mr Caypre on High End Radio which broadcasts through the Siccness Radio network.

The crew spoke about the COB (Circle of Bosses) movement started by their elder brother KXNG Crooked before addressing their tag as “the new saviours of the west coast” as part of the discussion on the loss of real lyricism in hip hop, and those artists who are bringing it back on the agenda.

The show’s hosts addressed the track “Why Men Cheat” from the group’s debut album “Gangsta MC” and their reputation over the years of talking about all forms of real life issues, before the subject moved to cyphers.

When asked whether they thought Fetty Wap, Young Thug, Future and Rich Homie Quan could go toe to toe in a cypher, Horseshoe Gang threw the doors open and laid down a challenge to allcomers to take ’em on before finishing the interview with Julius launching into a fierce 16 bar freestyle

The full interview was uploaded to the official Siccness Youtube Channel

More about the interview was uploaded to the Siccness website HERE

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You can watch Horseshoe Gang live on BSide Show TV tonight, Monday 28th March, from 9pm PST with hosts Rabbit and Susie Plascencia. The show streams live on uStream and can be viewed HERE

The new album “Anti-Trap Music” releases April 29th and includes production by KXNG Crooked, Jonathan Elkaer, Pitchshifters and Tabu. Available to pre-order digitally on iTunes while CD versions can be pre-ordered direct from Seven 13 Music & Ent.

Connect with Horseshoe Gang on TWITTER & FACEBOOK and look out for more media & press coverage in the weeks ahead.

All media, press, tv and radio station inquiries about Horseshoe Gang and the album “Anti-Trap Music” can be sent to us at UrbanElite PR, contact details HERE

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