INTERVIEW: Mars Ill - Surviving The Pain Of ProPain
Wednesday, February 28th, 2007 | Source: JesusFreakHideout.com (52)
Before the infamously long-delayed release of their stellar Gotee Records album Pro*Pain, Jesusfreakhideout.com sat down with Dust and manCHILD of Mars Ill to discuss a little about their past, their struggles with getting the record to the public, and their thoughts on the current rap scene. Jesus freak Hideout (John DiBiase): I have a ton of questions about the new record, Pro*Pain. Before we get started, can you say your names for the tape? Dust: This is Dust from Mars Ill. I’m a producer / DJ. manCHILD: This is manCHILD from Mars Ill. […read more]
In the flurry of promoting his third solo project, Portable Sounds, we got a chance to chat with TobyMac on the phone about the record before getting a chance to hear the finished product. As we battled the inconvenience of a cell phone speaker versus public background noise, the following conversation unfolded. Jesus freak Hideout (John DiBiase): So how’ve you been? TobyMac: I’ve been good man, just been trying to finish this record and finally got it done. Now I’m just slowly trying to work on some band songs, where it’s not just TobyMac but where it’s the whole Diverse City band. [
TobyMac has successfully launched a musical career on his own as having been one of the driving forces behind his previous venture, dc Talk. For those who have followed McKeehan since his days with the famous three-piece, one thing has remained predictable of this artist - his ability to craft memorable songs that listeneres can truly connect with. His third full-length solo project, Portable Sounds, continues his string of catchy hip hop-driven pop tunes backed by an entourage of talented musicians and vocalists. [
You’ve got to hate the politics of the music industry. The Showdown’s sophomore release has been pretty much done for nearly a year now. Why such a long wait before its actual release? Your guess is as good as mine. But regardless, the wait is finally over, and metal-heads have had ample time to gear up for the release of Temptation Come My Way. When we first met these Tennessee boys in 2004 on A Chorus of Obliteration, they were playing metal like nobody’s business. Roars, screams, guttural growls… all intricately and carefully placed within the confines of the metal carnage they were presenting. [
After two releases loaded with infectious post-emo flavored alt rock, Anberlin has become sort of a staple in the indie rock scene. The band returns for a third outing with Cities, a lyrical departure from their previous effort Never Take Friendship Personal, and musically the next step in the band’s artistic evolution. At first listen of Cities, it’s clear there isn’t a whole lot that’s changed for Anberlin stylistically. If anything, there’s a more mature and focused approach to their songwriting, with less concentration on fun than previous efforts (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Anberlin’s sound has always been a mixture of social reflection and a youthful excitement towards love and life. [
The boys from Bakersfield finally have a proper LP. Dance for joy, children. I have enjoyed Lost Ocean since hearing their independent releases, so it warms the cockles of my heart to see them with the potential of reaching a broader audience. And if there were ever a set of songs to serve as a proper introduction - the collection on Lost Ocean’s self-titled debut would be the ones. The songs are glossy in composition and thickly layered with lots of harmonized vocals and wistful guitar licks. [
With rap and R&B flooding radio on both Christian and secular markets, it’s no surprise that many new bands and groups will emerge with a similar sound. Group 1 Crew is another one of these, yet they have their own unique way of doing their music, with a style that mimics that of Black Eyed Peas and the currently put-on-hold Christian R&B/rap group Souljahz. G1C definitely has potential to go far in both mainstream and Christian radio, with party hits like “Let It Roll,” “No Plan B,” “Clap Ya Hands,” and “Put Like That,” which all have those beats that just make you want to bob your head, yet still have the straight-forward lyrical rap content. [
It is not uncommon for trends to develop in music over time. For Tooth & Nail Records, the most recent trend has been to re-release every album after only a few months on the market. With new songs, unreleased tracks and other bonus features, this might seem like a really good idea, but what it really does is leave listeners wondering whether to buy an album when it is released, or just wait until the re-release a few months later and get more for the same price. While record labels such as Tooth & Nail expect both copies to be purchased by everyone, this tends to be expensive, if not unnecessary, and so a choice must be made on whether to wait, or if the wait is even worth it. With The Fold however, they tried something new and decided to re-release their debut album online, exclusively through iTunes, entitled This Too Shall Pass (Special Edition). Not only does this create an opportunity to buy the entire album, but also to just purchase the 4 previously unreleased songs, which probably benefits everyone in the long run. [
Solid State Records has been trotting out an impressive array of young, heavy-hitting metal/hardcore bands lately, as their recent “Young Bloods” tours can attest. Having rocked stages with The Chariot, August Burns Red, Twelve Gauge Valentine and Destroy The Runner earlier this year, Inhale Exhale is the latest Solid State band vying for its fans’ listening attention. Off-handedly, perhaps the most interesting fact about this band is that their bass player had previously played with Relient K. Now counting Brian Pittman (yes, that Brian Pittman) among their ranks, Inhale Exhale present a promising debut in The Lost, The Sick, The Sacred, a thematic look into God’s love (”the sacred”) and how it affects those who are lost and seeking healing in their lives. [
Switchfoot is ready to follow-up Christmas Day with their third mainstream release (sixth overall), Oh! Gravity. - a distinct stylistic departure from their previous projects. Noticeably edgier and glaringly more unbridled, Oh! Gravity. twists and turns through twelve tracks that take the listener on a musical rollercoaster ride from the raucous title track to the ponderous “Yesterdays” to the Brit-pop “Burn Out Bright” and the softer and unpolished “Let Your Love Be Strong.” [
In his first studio recording in over four years, Matt Redman returns with his passionate voice and unsurpassed ability for writing great worship songs to release Beautiful News. The author of classics such as “Better is One Day,” “Let Everything That Has Breath,” and “The Heart of Worship,” just to name a few, Redman is a masterful worship leader and seems to capture the hearts of the audience at his concerts. His unique ability is why Facedown was such a successful live album, and why Redman chose to record his “best of” album in front of a crowd of believers. [
In the two years that Beatmart Recordings has existed, producer Todd Collins has been in search of pioneering rap artists, and the search has brought to light a few promising acts, such as Bobby Bishop and Japhia Life. But the search has also brought some artists that need more experience, like Fresh Digress. So when I heard that Collins himself considered Soul P. to be the pioneer for the record label, I had to check him out. [
Just over eleven years ago, a pop/rock album released nationally that would change the face of Christian music forever. dc Talk’s Jesus Freak was a musical landmark and it seems only appropriate that the record would be getting the rerelease / “Special Edition” treatment. The first disc of Jesus Freak 10th Anniversary Special Edition is “remastered” but remains to be pretty much the same Jesus Freak we all knew and loved as it was first heard in 1995. In addition to the original album, however, is an added second disc that includes brand new remixes, live tracks, and one, single never-before-released demo from 1995. It’s a treat-filled revisitation, but the question remains whether or not it would be worth rebuying the record if you already own it from over a decade ago. [
There is a point in every band’s career when they need to sit back and reflect on their journey so far. This may happen for many different reasons, but nevertheless, it is an important stage that a successful group needs to go through in order to stay focused on why they do what they do. For MxPx, that time is now. As a band that has accomplished so much in their career, November 21st marked the release of their second B-sides and rarities collection in the period of only a month. This time, MxPx teamed up with their former label, Tooth & Nail Records, to re-release Let it Happen, a 32 song epic originally released in 1998. The album marked a new direction for the band as they worked with their old producer, industry veteran Aaron Sprinkle, and teamed up with Tooth & Nail for the re-release, despite the history of conflict between the two. Packaged with the album are 3 brand new songs, pictures from their 14 year career, and every music video that they have ever made. When an album considered “generous” these days features only 14 tracks, Let it Happen is truly a great buy. [
As Beatmart Recordings readies to premiere what the label is considering their biggest release yet, Jesusfreakhideout.com’s Justin Mabee caught up with Soul P. to ask him a few questions about the artist’s pending debut, his music, and the hip hop industry as a whole. JFH (Justin Mabee): What has your journey to getting signed been like? Tell us a bit about your history. Soul P: My journey has been a lot of work, a lot of hardships, and a lot of learning that has taught me a whole lot. So it’s been a lot of fun. I released my first solo record in 2003 called Simply Soul and then released my second indie record The Soul Affect, and it dropped in January of this year. So I have been grinding for a little bit now, And now I’ve got The Premiere coming out. [
Shortly after it was announced earlier this Summer that P.O.D. had been released from their contract with Atlantic Records, Rhino Records announced that they would put out a hits compilation of some of the best tracks the band had recorded during their six-plus-year stint on Atlantic. Greatest Hits: The Atlantic Years is just that — some of the most memorable songs the band has released since their hit making 1999 record The Fundamental Elements of Southtown. With P.O.D.’s eyes set firmly on the future as they prepare for a new record on a new label, Greatest Hits: The Atlantic Years provides a retrospective look at where the band has been. [
After 10+ years with Gotee Records, releasing six full length records, a mildly successful remix album, and a greatest hits record, two-man rap group Grits is poised to release their latest venture, Redemption. After the dual Dichotomy albums, I fully expected Grits to step into some new territory with this next installment, however, what I found with Redemption surprised me. [
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