Suntonio Bandanaz

Artist Information

Biography

Suntonio Bandanaz, (aka Asun) is a core MC and spearhead of the pioneering Seattle collective of Mc's, deejays, b-boys, and other artist-visionaries, known as Alpha P. (1st Platoon). Having overcome hardship and struggle in his own coming-of-age, this veteran artist consciously utilizes music as a platform to not only entertain, but also to uplift and empower. A sophisticated lyricist committed to keeping rap clever, Suntonio Bandanaz' distinctive style has influenced many other local up-n-comers over the years. Bandanaz is an MC's MC-- as highly skilled freestyler as writer; whose chop is as sharp as his flow is smooth, and who can hype even the mellowist crowd.

As an active member of the global hip hop community, Suntonio Bandanaz has shared stage with the respected likes of Afrika Bambaataa, Dead Prez, Abstract Rude, Percee P, The Jacka and Living Legends; and collaborated with many of Seattle's prominent emcees and deejays. Over the years, Bandanaz has forged strong relationships with community-based organizations and crews such as- Project Mayhem, Project Blowed, Silent Lambs Project, Tribal, 206-Hop and Centro de la Raza. Both as a performer and educator he has played an important role in the work spearheaded by Universal ZULU Nation (206) and Hip Hop Congress. A prominent figure in his own community, Bandanz co-hosts Seattle's most popular, longest running weekly b-boy night, "Stop Biting." Recently, Suntonio made moves into film as Lead Supporting Actor in the award winning docu-drama "23rd&Union" (2010) and Co-Producer of the documentary film about Seattle Underground Hip Hop, "The Blank Canvas" (2011).

One of Seattle's most prolific "Underground Hip Hop" emcees on the scene, Suntonio Bandanaz (previously recording as Asun) has created a massive catalog of independent material on CD, tape, vinyl and video. He has appeared on hundreds of tracks and released over a dozen projects including:The Naps Project, The House That Love Built vol. 1 & 2, Titanium Buttermilk Rhinoceros Briefcase, Codex Di Satio, and West Coast Scavengers 12". In true-school form, Bandanaz is master of the indie distribution hustle, a local legend who has moved tens of thousands of units hand to hand and in stores.

In 2010 Bandanaz joined forces with Seattle-based multimedia and record company Fresh Chopped Beats/MADK Productions with his acclaimed ground-breaking debut release, "Who is Suntonio Bandanaz?!"

"Suntonio Bandanaz is an unquestionable legend in 206 Hip Hop…The level of skill, talent and pure experience that Suntonio has acquired over the years shines through purely" -Shamako Noble (Hip Hop Congress)

The Fresh Chopped Beats/MADK team is gearing up for the anticipated release of Bandanaz's sophomore project, "American Gangster Nerd," due out in 2012

Instrumentation

Suntonio Bandanaz-Vocal Microphone
DJ SEAB4-2 Turntable +Mixer /LaptopSetup

Discography

Since the early 90s, "Bandanaz" has created a massive catalog of independent material and releases on CD, cassette tape, vinyl and video.

newest projects include:
"Who is Suntonio Bandanaz?!" (LP)2010;
"23rd & Union Movie Soundtrack" (LP)2011;
"American Gangster Nerd" (LP)2012;
"Alien Technology" (LP)2012;
"Boogie Up The Block" (music video).

Links

• MadK/FreshChoppedBeats Records
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Last.fm
• MySpace
• Amazon.Com
• Reverb Nation

Audio

• Boogie Up the Block
  Listen   Download
• Subtle & Profound feat. Suntonio Bandanaz, Julie C (Alpha-P)
  Listen   Download
• big drip mixdown
  Listen   Download
• COMPASS
  Listen   Download
• BANDANAZ!!
  Listen   Download
• Deprogram
  Listen   Download
• BossMan Final
  Listen   Download
• My Ninjas
  Listen   Download
• That Propa f Suntonio Bandanaz
  Listen   Download
• Get Lifted
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Boogie Up The Block

Video

American Gangster Nerd- Live@ ChopSuey

Photo Gallery

Press

• Hollering in Seattle: An interview with Asun and Jerm of Alpha P [+ Show ]
  

  "Asun aka Suntonio Bandanaz is a fast talker, an emcee and thinker of the greatest speed. His demean..."Asun aka Suntonio Bandanaz is a fast talker, an emcee and thinker of the greatest speed. His demeanor is calm and assuming, but his insight is obvious, his humor razor sharp and his ability to hit the sound bite on the nail unmatched. He is, perhaps, one of the world’s greatest freestylers and is most certainly the greatest I’ve ever witnessed (these days you can just never tell where someone dope is going to come from so I know I haven’t seen everything)."
  Shamako Noble November 25, 2008
  (www.hiphopcongress.com/?s=suntonio+bandanaz)

• For Immediate Release; "Who Is... Suntonio Bandanaz?!" [+ Show ]
  

  "Who Is... Suntonio Bandanaz?!" Official Debut & Global Release Party "Enter the Madness" 10year A..."Who Is... Suntonio Bandanaz?!"
  Official Debut & Global Release Party
  "Enter the Madness" 10year Anniversary Screening
  & Birthday Bash for KING KHAZM!
  
  Thursday, February 25th 2010, 8PM
  Chop Suey, Seattle WA
  Tickets $8 Advance: www.ticketweb.com
  
  HEAR THE SINGLE "BANDANAZ"
  http://www.freshchoppedbeats.com/music/Bandanaz_clean.mp3
  
  
  On Thursday, February 25th, Seattle's Independent Label, Fresh Chopped Beats/MadK, will celebrate its first 2010 project: "Who Is... Suntonio Bandanaz?!" This momentous occasion will umbrella a 3 part celebration: the FIRST "official" professionally pressed and internationally distributed CD Release of Seattle Underground Hiphop legend Suntonio Bandanaz; the 10 year Anniversary of MAD Krew's Northwest Hip Hop documentary "Enter the Madness" (produced by DJ Scene and directed by King Khazm); and a big birthday party for Seattle Hiphop luminary King Khazm (206ZULU, MAD Krew). 
  Starting the evening off will be a movie screening of MAD Krew's Northwest Hip Hop documentary "Enter the Madness", which commemorates the 10th year since it's national debut. This classic film produced by DJ Scene and directed by King Khazm swept the country by storm giving national exposure to Northwest emcees, deejays, b-boys and writers such as Swollen Members, Khingz, Massive Monkees, Alpha-P, Kutfather, Cause-B, Jabs, Lifesavas and many more during the late 90's era. Live Performances and the CD Release Party will begin following the screening with Suntonio Bandanaz, special surprise guests and DJ's Dev and Gumbeaux. 
  The question of the night of course: "Who Is Suntonio Bandanaz?!" A listen to the CD reveals a highly skilled, verbally dexterous emcee with a hard edge smoothed by elevated flow, and ability to chop at a pace that smartens the listener's ear. A sophisticated lyricist committed to keeping rap clever, his distinctive style has influenced many other local up-n-comers over the years. Suntonio Bandanaz is a core emcee and spearhead of the pioneering hiphop collective Alpha P. (1st Platoon). One of Seattle's most prolific in "Underground Hip Hop", Suntonio Bandanaz (aka Asun, aka Maddwon) has appeared on hundreds of tracks and indy-released over a dozen projects. Master of the hustle, he is a local legend who has moved over ten thousand units-- mostly hand to hand on the streets. Over the years Bandanaz has shared stage with the respected likes of Afrika Bambaataa, Dead Prez, Percee P, The Jacka and Living Legends; and collaborated with many of Seattle's prominent emcees. 
  “Who is Suntonio Bandanaz?!” is widely considered the best solo album from Alpha-P recorded to date. Featuring production by dj100 Proof, PhreeWil, WD4D, Audeos (as well as Blake & Dead Noise) and with appearances by Gabriel Teodros, Khingz, Maclemore, Julie C., Kas-1 and Skim, the record is one of the most anticipated, groundbreaking new projects from the Northwest.
  
  www.madkrew.com
  www.myspace.com/bandanaz4u
  
  "Who Is Suntonio Bandanaz?!" -facebook event page:
  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=268265203847
  
  ###
  

• NATION BUILDING [+ Show ]
  

  November 2008 november-cover.jpg FEATURES The Education o...November 2008
  
  november-cover.jpg
  
  
  FEATURES
  
  The Education of Vince Mira
  The 16-year-old king of Cash emerges from the shadow of the Man in Black with his own batch of songs.
  
  50 Ways to Be a True Fan
  A guide to where to go, what to buy, who to read and what to know to become an ultimate Northwest music fan. PLUS: An intimate look at Seattle’s house show culture
  
  Nation Building
  Five years ago the Zulu Nation set up shop in Seattle. Now 70-strong, 206 Zulu is looking to change Seattle hip-hop.
  
  CALENDAR
  The Sea and Cake, Of Montreal, Devin the Dude, Lucinda Williams and Joan Baez lead the month in music.
  
  SIGNALS
  The Crocodile Cafe and Doug Fir together at last, the mayor gives clubs a break for once, McLeod closes down and more.
  
  REPORTS
  Jazz: Multi-instrumentalist Eyvind Kang breaks musical boundaries and fits in a box.
  Classical: Olivier Messiaen’s organ music fills the St. James Cathedral.
  
  REVIEWS
  The Record Report: Jake One, Josh Rawling’s Trio, Akimbo, Conrad Ford, Desolation Wilderness and more
  The Film Report: Hancock, Hellboy II and WALL-E
  Sound Classic: The Supersuckers’ Must’ve Been High
  FIVE: John Richards gives away the secrets to impressing a DJ.
  
  THE LIFE
  
  Cool Intentions
  Students from the Art Institute of Seattle battle to see who can be the friendliest … to animals. PLUS: Cruelty-free shoes and where to get ‘em
  
  Of Bricks and Blooms
  A look at Georgetown, Seattle’s cultural diamond in the rough.
  
  Some Like it Hot
  Dish-off hunts for the most devilish dish.
  
  The November issue of Sound magazine is available at discerning record stores and magazine stands across across the Pacific Northwest. If you would like a subscription, go here.

• It’s Ya Mans On the Street, Put It On Repeat [+ Show ]
  

  I got to check Dead Prez at Chop Suey last night for SSG, concert review will be up over there soon....I got to check Dead Prez at Chop Suey last night for SSG, concert review will be up over there soon.
  
  DP didn’t come on til damn near past 1 as, in typical rap show fashion, a bunch of unknown and lackluster openers performed. One of note though (and that I was checking for) was Suntonio Bandanaz. Repping the C-D hard and claiming 18 years in the music game, he’s better known as Asun of the Alpha P crew and has ties with 206 Zulu and Project Mayhem among others.
  
  Bandanaz is at his best on tracks like the lead single off Who Is Suntonio Bandanaz?!, “Boogie Up the Block” (peep the video below). It sounds a lot like “Tell Me When to Go,” but that’s where he excels — going dumb like hyphy never died. Starting his set with “Boogie,” he had heads taking notice and most importantly getting people who had never heard of him before dancing. That’s big, and that’s rare for a virtually-unknown opener who very few in the crowd, if anybody, specifically came to see. He never recaptured the frenetic, fun energy of his first song during his set, but came close on cuts with a similar vibe like “Boss Man.” Dude can rap with the best speed rappers out there, taking bits of Bizzy Bone’s ability to rap a whirlwind, Pigeon John’s voice, and E-40's weirdness and cadence inflections, and putting it all over fast, sparse beats that thump quick.
  
  He also has a bit of a weirdo streak, something I always appreciate, referring to himself as the “American Gangster Nerd.” Hate to keep on the E-40 comparisons, but remember, Earl got his start rapping as a kid just looking in the dictionary for really obscure cool-sounding words. Nerdness runs in hyphy, and in rap in general. If he builds on “Boogie,” Suntonio could be Seattle’s most fun nerd.
  

• Suntonio Bandanaz - "Boogie Up The Block" [+ Show ]
  

  Suntonio Bandanaz is the alter-ego of the well-known area MC Asun, local veteran, legendary out-the-...Suntonio Bandanaz is the alter-ego of the well-known area MC Asun, local veteran, legendary out-the-backpack CD hustler (he estimates he's gotten 10K CD's into hands, I must have a half-dozen myself), co-host of the long-running weekly Stop Biting, and the pointman of Alpha P, a hiphop collective that defines the underground of Seattle rap(whose ranks include the gameful Jerm of Helladope); when Gabriel Teodros refers to a mythical "Westlake High School", he means the class of MC's that cut their teeth ciphering and hustling CD's on 4th & Pine in the late 90's/early aughts. It was there that you could frequently find Asun perfecting his fast, jumbly Hiero/Project Blowed-influenced rap style.
  
  Back in February, Sun gave a proper release to Who Is Suntonio Bandanaz?, an LP he'd been selling out the backpack since 2007, easily his best work. The above video is a vast improvement to the visuals that dropped at the time for his song "Getting Traded", sporting some proper production values, a nice sense of goofiness, and a cameo cavalcade that 206 hiphop junkies will appreciate, including such luminaries as James "Talksick" Sullivan, who passed in October of last year from H1N1 complications. (Damn, RIP homeboy; just writing that made me sad all over again.) Plus—kids jerking and flipping! Girls dancing! Ghostriding of the whip!

Setlist

Basic Requirements

Calendar