DEM SOUTHERNFOLKZ
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DEM SOUTHERNFOLKZ

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"Dem Southernfolkz"

Since we're already speaking of songs that are making waves, here's another one worth checking out.

Bonus mp3: Dem Southernfolkz feat. Skinny Deville -- "The Message"

Chances are you haven't seen Dallas hip-hop trio Dem Southernfolkz perform much around town. That's 'cause, really, Dem Southernfolkz (or DSFZ for short) hasn't performed much around town. It's tough to, y'know, when two of your three members are in the Army and being constantly shipped back and forth for overseas tours.

But that doesn't mean the music's any less powerful. Combining gospel influences with the aesthetic of southern-fried hip-hop troupe Nappy Roots (whose Skinny Deville guests on the above track) and the virtuous know-how of a couple young men who've seen more than they've probably had to, Big Ben (aka Thomas Benjamin), Kinfolk Jack (aka Richard Jackson) and Saturday Alridge (aka Nathan Wright have a created a sound that's at once hip and affecting.

The title track to the band's recently released full-length debut, The Message, is a natural entranceway into their style--which is one you'll likely to dig. --Pete Freedman

Tags: bonus mp3, Dem Southernfolkz, Nappy Roots, new releases - Dallas Observer


"Artist of the Week"

Artist of the Week: Dem Southern Folkz
Wed Aug 27, 2008 at 12:22:59 PM
Each Wednesday, Rocks Off arbitrarily appoints one lucky local performer or group "Artist of the Week," bestowing upon them all the fame and grandeur such a lofty title implies. Know a band or artist that isn't awful? Email their particulars to introducingliston@gmail.com.



Normally, we do everything we can to avoid anything Dallas-related. (It’s just a godawful place. They don’t even have running water; we heard they drink rain water or Big Red or something.) But after hearing a few tracks, we had to make an exception for trio Dem Southern Folkz, an emerging player in the Texas hip-hop scene. (It helps that the group's label, 100 Spoke, is based in Houston.)

One of the dopest things about DSFZ is that two members, Thomas Benjamin and Richard Jackson, are on active duty in the U.S. military. Geographical jokes aside, that’s reason enough to cop the Folkz's new album, The Message. We caught up with DSFZ shortly after Benjamin was deployed back to Iraq and had them answer a few questions for us.
Houston Press: So, first things first: Do you guys really expect to be taken seriously? We mean, your music is really solid, but c'mon, you all are from Dallas. That’s like, the butthole of Texas.

DSFZ: Energy can not be created nor destroyed. It travels from state to state. Dem Southern Folkz's movement is global. It travels the world.

HP: Dude, what the hell? Is that some special Dallas language? You’re on some otherworldly stuff right now.

DSFZ: Exactly. Dem Southern Folkz's music speaks for people around the world. No matter where you’re from.







HP: You guys are in the military right? How'd that work out? Do you guys rap about tanks and shit?

DSFZ: We prefer the statement: Two Soldiers (one former) and a college graduate. You could listen to our album 22.3 times in a row and you won't find any reference to Saddam, G.W. Bush, Osama, ninjas, Power Rangers or Jesse Jackson. Also, no animals or children were hurt in the making of The Message.




HP: Seeing as how one of you is currently serving in Iraq , how do you all feel about the war? What's it like over there?

DSFZ: Our hearts go out to all those who served, and are currently serving, their country. We also would like to take the time to send a special shout-out to those who fight daily battles in the streets of America, Africa, Europe and around the globe.

Being overseas in a war is like wearing a double suede and leather woolly mammoth winter jumpsuit with hot blue steel-toe boots and a No-Drip Triple Wet Curl... get the picture? It's nothing to glorify. There are people dying daily: Americans, Iraqis, Afghans. We in the free world take for granted the little things like soap, hot water, fast food, parents and freedom of speech and choice.
HP: Word. There's a line in "The Message" where someone admits to having caught
an STD from a video vixen. Is that true?







DSFZ: Yes and no. Yes, for some people. No, for Dem Southernfolkz. We have got to be more careful out here. It doesn't matter if you’re famous or regular; STDs are real! One of our members [Kinfolk Jack] lost a parent to the AIDS virus and has a sister with HIV. Dem Southern Folkz would like to tell people to strap up, get tested and be careful of who you become intimate with.

HP: Whenever a new artist or group comes out and is promoting their music, essentially what they're saying is, "We're better than whatever you're listening to right now." So give us five artists that you guys are better than. Five artists that, if someone is listening to them right now, they'd be better of turning them off and turning you on.

DSFZ: Dem Southern Folkz speak for the people. Anyone who has ever picked up a mic, instrument or equipment helped pave the way for us to do what we love. If we dis another artist we become part of the problem and not part of the solution. The state of music sucks right now partly because of this very thing - artists dissing each other and making destructive music. Where is the balance?
HP: Meh. We would argue that if the state of music does suck right now, it’d be because people are making sucky music, not that people are dissing each other. But since you brought it up, finish this: The worst song on the radio right now is...

DSFZ: Programmed music, every hour on the hour. Free the DJ!

Keep tabs on Dem Southernfolkz (and find The Message) at www.myspace.com/demsouthernfolkz - Shea Serrano
- Houston Press


"Dallas Observer: Dem Southernfolkz feeling The Love..."

Dem Southernfolkz Keep Feeling The Love, Talk About The War In Iraq
Wed Aug 27, 2008 at 05:02:06 PM


It was a little over a week ago now that we hipped you to Dem Southernfolkz by offering up a free download of the title track from the group's debut LP, The Message.

Well, it looks like we're not the the only ones digging on the Dallas hip-hop trio's sound. Our sister paper down in Houston is digging the act, too. Today, on their music blog, our colleagues crowned the guys their Artists of the Week--a delegation normally reserved for Houston's hometown artists--and they even had a little Q&A with the guys in DSFZ. Check it out:

HP: Seeing as how one of you is currently serving in Iraq , how do you all feel about the war? What's it like over there?
DSFZ: Our hearts go out to all those who served, and are currently serving, their country. We also would like to take the time to send a special shout-out to those who fight daily battles in the streets of America, Africa, Europe and around the globe.

Being overseas in a war is like wearing a double suede and leather woolly mammoth winter jumpsuit with hot blue steel-toe boots and a No-Drip Triple Wet Curl... get the picture? It's nothing to glorify. There are people dying daily: Americans, Iraqis, Afghans. We in the free world take for granted the little things like soap, hot water, fast food, parents and freedom of speech and choice.


Fairly powerful stuff for a Q&A. Read the whole thing here.

Us? We're waiting on baited breath for Big Ben (aka Thomas Benjamin) to return safely from serving in Iraq so we can see these guys live. At that point, we'll give you the whole scoop on DSFZ.

For now, though, DSFZ fans, you'll just have to revel in the fact that the armpit of our state thinks DSFZ is pretty cool. Which, I guess, is a compliment. To DSFZ. Not Houston. Houston sucks. Just to be clear. --Pete Freedman
- Dallas Observer


Discography

The Message -2008

Photos

Bio

Being able to adapt is a skill that every soldier must learn: Survival on the battle field demands it. The first time you listen to "The Message", the debut offering from DEM SOUTHERNFOLKZ, you will understand that this group of two U.S. Army soldiers and a rock influenced college graduate are redefining just what adaptation really means. Stationed together in Texas at Ft. Hood, Thomas (BIG BEN) Benjamin and Richard (Kinfolk Jack) Jackson first connected in 2001. BIG B.E.N and Kinfoke Jack quickly learned that they both shared the same high standard of music. Almost from the day they met, they started writing songs together, and with constant encouraging from peers and their fellow soldiers Kinfolk Jack and BIG BEN started recording songs until the Army activated their unit for a tour in Iraq. Upon returning to Dallas in 2005 the duo became a trio after meeting third member Nathan Wright (Saturday Alridge) who had just moved back to Dallas from attending school in Chicago. BIG B.E.N would be called back to Iraq, but the three piece group found time to record The Message album when B.E.N was home on leave at the end of 2007. When asked to comment about today's music scene, Kinfolk Jack stated, "The reason why today's music sucks is, Artist have been chasing a dream and at the same time selling the fans/buying public a fantasy when reality is what people need. And until we get back to Real Music minus the fab five topics, Sex,Drugs,MDK(Murder,Death,Kill),Club etc., we will continue this endless roller coaster ride. With The Message Album, We're trying to give the people an alternative view and a choice to either choose music with LIFE in it or music that's stuck on repeat". DSFZ