Educated Consumers

A great hip hop show can be measured by two things. One is the artist's ability to captivate and command an audience from something as simple as jumping around to the time honored call-and-response. The second thing goes along with that as it is the energy between performer and audience as both participants feed off each other's. Minneapolis duo Eyedea & Abilities, along with their guests, had the audience moving, jumping and responding to each line from both the stage and on the floor.

In support of the recently released By the Throat, Eyedea & Abilities wasted very little time jumping into the newer material. Opening numbers "Hay Fever" and the punkish "Factory" pumped up the audience as Eyedea headed into the audience to perform the numbers. The crowd bobbed their heads, chanted lyrics back at him and jumped around alongside the MC. These tracks were followed by fellow album cuts "Time Flies When You Have A Gun" and "Spin Cycle" which were met with enthusiasm from Eyedea who bounced around the stage while showcasing his abilities as both a performer and a rapper.

Seven of the album's cuts blended seamlessly between tracks from their previous two albums, 2002's First Born and 2005's E & A, thanks in part to Abilities' turntable dynamic. His, and no pun intended, abilities as a DJ is in a league of its own among modern DJs and rightfully belongs in rankings of such legends as DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Premier and Grandmaster Flash. Mid-set, he took a moment to show his championship winning skills as Eyedea danced around the stage either alone or with opener, Psalm One.

It is his skill and precision as a DJ along with Eyedea's lyrical and verbal prowess that make them a very engaging duo in the studio. Live, however, it is these things in addition to their ability to integrate the audience into their show help make them one of the most energetic live hip hop groups around. By the time they arrived at the set closer, "Now," the audience had followed, chanted and danced to almost to every word and Eyedea & Abilities had just as much fun getting there by thanking crowd and their openers as well as telling stories and jokes between the numbers.

Openers Educated Consumers, Psalm One and Kristoff Krane did their parts in warming up the crowd by providing some very enjoyable sets. D.C. duo Educated Consumers made the most of their 25-minute set by combining some slightly laid back beats incorporating a 90's non-gangsta rap, West Coast vibe with that of today's indie hip hop scene with a bouncy rhyme delivery, Kaki King references and a song that weaved a sped up sample of Steely Dan's "Do It Again" into its second half. As they crowd got more into their short set, the duo's rapper, Seez, eventually gave himself to them by performing half of the set's closing number in the middle of the masses of bodies circled around him which became a standard for the night and far from a boring one at that.

Local artist Psalm One proved to be one of the best female rappers around during her 30-minute set. Her voice is very similar to Lauryn Hill's but with a bolder, stronger presence. Backed by her DJ/hypewoman, Fluffy, Psalm One is a very engaging and intelligent performer who could be respected whether you are a fan of hip hop or indie rock. The proof of that came when she dished out her rhymes over a beat that sampled Spoon's "I Turn My Camera On." as well as having a dance battle with Fluffy. She is a emcee that one should, by all means, catch if she is in your town.

Kristoff Krane started off his performance with technical problems as his microphone was not working and his beats were not coming through the p.a. Later on, he had microphone stand problems as well. When everything was working, however, Krane was a one man band programming his beats, rhyming and playing guitar. He even took the time to pull up an audience member onto the stage to beatbox over a freestyle to which he did not even have a microphone to rhyme with since he gave it to the beatboxer. Nevertheless, Krane proved to be one of the most versatile performers of the night.

The night culminated with Eyedea & Abilities bringing out all of their guests for a freestyle encore. They like, the audience, came together and had fun which best sums up the night. It was a night of great beats and rhymes and enjoyable performances. In a genre where artists attempt to be entertaining by being flashy, creating uninspired dance moves or sounding like robots, it was refreshing just to see people just enjoy what they do best and on top of that, have an audience going crazy after each of your songs. - Hightower and Jones

Review - "Write Hear":
Over the weekend, I managed to do something I have never done before: Play golf. The most important lesson I learned out in 80 degree weather for 5 hours straight is that, just like many other things in life, golf takes patience. Musically, without patience any artist can slow their progress by making quick, rash decisions. Educated Consumers prove that they have the patience as well as the talent to build a strong foundation of memorable music with the release of Write Hear.

I swear on my mother's sweet green beans I saw a fellow golfer take at least 10 practice swings before actually hitting the ball. If it were not for the heat, I probably would have pulled out a pillow and took a quick nap as I waited in the golf cart between holes. The first thing I thought to myself was, "Why do these cats take this so seriously?" But then I caught myself - it was clear these people enjoyed golfing just as much as I enjoy creating hip-hop music.

Educated Consumers fit the mold of this analogy perfectly; after a two-year wait to release their album under the premeditated terms implemented, they managed to drop a quality album that was worth the wait. After reading an interview online where EC stated that they wanted to release their album under better conditions to reach more people and expand, I believe they have or will do this by taking the time to do a few "practice swings" before the official release of this album.

Within Write Hear, you will find innovative beats and rhyme schemes that seem influenced by a cross between classic Beatnuts, Gangstarr and Boot Camp Clik tracks. Stand out songs on this release are In The Pocket, Dot, Dot, Dot ..., and Faceless.

- ScholarMan
- hiphoplinguistics.com

"Write/Hear" is like a crash-course in underground hip-hop. The Maryland duo -- Seez Mics on vocals and t.e.c.k. on beats -- are clearly students of the genre and have taken the best bits and pieces to craft an album that never outstays its welcome, even at 17 tracks and nearly an hour. The beats are mostly pretty simple. That shouldn't be construed as a criticism: The simplicity keeps things from getting cluttered. Instead of the stark, sinister beats favored by the likes or GZA or the icy minimalism of the Neptunes, the Consumers opt for straightforward beats with some slightly jazzy samples -- a little flute here, some horns there -- that channel the underground scene of the '90s more than today. Lyrically the group also avoids extremes, nowhere near nerdcore but without any hard gangsta fronting either. Seez Mics fills the songs with clever wordplay -- "1 Hit Wonder" finds him getting far more mileage out of a number theme than he has any right to -- and there's a down-to-earth honesty throughout that is one of the album's strongest assets.
- washingtonpost.com

I write it, then I record it Then I seize the microphone so I can perform it And as long as you're right here willing to support it Make some noise if you're ready to enjoy it ====== Those are the opening words of SeezMics, the MC in Educated Consumers, and Write/Hear (self-released) is an album sought after by those who still care about lyricism, and the twists and turns that can happen when one puts pen to paper. SeezMics immediately states that he's not in this to play the fool, and even goes so far as to say that he left that at the altar. Not that humor isn't around the corner, but this is not about joking around nor is this "see how big your keg is" rap, it's nice rhymes executed in a manner that represents the music (produced by the musical half of the group, t.E.C.K.@) in a way that other duos should seriously look into. It's nice to hear someone who not only knows how to write, but knows how to write. Sometimes a rapper will have one quality over the other but SeezMics does both. On the surface it sounds like these guys have been listening to a lot of Dilated Peoples, Gang Starr, Latryx and Big Daddy Kane, and if so, you're obviously listening and listening well. SeezMics comes off as a regular guy whose words are merely a day in the life of a guy who simply chooses to express himself with the help of selective samples and deep beats. While you will hear a bit of bragging and boasting, much of his words are more conversational than confrontational What I also like is how these songs may about being around friends and crew, but there's an outlook that goes beyond that, one of growth that goes past the high school and college fantasies, and it's very nice to hear that and yet still sound fresh and new. It's grown up hip-hop, yet still holding to the values of youth. Impressive. iCon The Mic King, K-Cromozone, and Manchild also sit in in a couple of tracks too. For those who like knowing that a producer made an effort to make the beats and put everything together, t.E.C.K.! is your man. There's not only knowledge dropped in the lyrics, but also in the music, and if you're not careful you might miss some important essentials. Crispy and dirty when needed (which is most of the time), crisp and pure in others, and whether it's old school tradition or new school club bangers, he is capable of doing them all, but the neverending crate of classic traditions is what makes him standout, even from other like-minded producers who know how to find the right breaks, basslines, and melodies. If you are an educated consumer, then perhaps this review will provoke you to make a wise purchase. I would recommend this.

- John Book/Music For America

When the progress of an art form creates immense pressure to be original, sometimes it's better to just be good. Educated Consumers do just that. No groundbreaking ideas. No incredible concepts. No extraordinary rhymes schemes. Just good hip-hop music.

With a swagger similar to the likes of Dilated Peoples and People Under the Stairs, this is minimalist music. Good rhymes and good beats, blended nicely for a feel good sound, but still maintaining a gritty presence through the headphones.

This is my first time hearing of emcee Seez Mics and producer t.E.C.K., but after experiencing what these guys are made of, I am interested in hearing their first album as well.

A joint that stuck out for me is 'Steal', an ode to the 'ol 5 finger discount, but Ceez Mics talks touches on the topic metaphorically, while t.E.C.K. kills the track with a down trotting flute sample, dancing around a simple, but hitting boom bap drum pattern.

Another highlight is 'Dot Dot Dot', a violin themed head-nodder worthy of a rewind or two (also briefly featured at the end of their video for 'Steal'). And 'Roaring Flood', in my opinion Ceez Mics' best lyrical display with a crazy drum driven track with a simple yet hypnotizing 60's sounding guitar & key sample. 'Nothing Without' is another dope offering, sounding like a lost jewel from the late 90's.

As previously mentioned, there is nothing completely unforgettable about this album, but in all respects, it's a good casual listen for any fan of decent hip-hop.
- oteampress.com

The track from the album of the same name, Educated Consumers bring a refreshing sound to the face of Hip Hop. Hailing from College Park, Maryland, the duo of Seez Mics & t.E.C.K. drop an impressive second effort that plays out nicely on those lazy Sunday afternoons. With original production and solid lyricism Educated Consumers (although not overly witty) have crafted a solid album that is well worth you attention. "Write Hear" is a throwback to the days of the emcee/DJ combo that ruled Hip Hop. The album is hardly groundbreaking, but I wouldn't hesitate to say that Hip Hop could use a few more Educated Consumers (pun intended) to populate the landscape of the culture. Big ups to the fellas at Hip Hop Bootleggers for puttin' me on to this fresh ass album.

- whentheyreminisce.wordpress.com

53. "1 Hit Wonder"-Educated Consumers

Stop sleepin' on Educated Consumers "Write Hear"! Yet, another release that more than likely flew under your radar in 2007, "Write Hear" is comprised of crisp drums, clever samples and dope lyrics from Seez Mics. If there's one world to classify "Write Hear", it would without a doubt be "refreshing", Hip Hop could use a few more "surprising" releases such as this. "1 Hit Wonder" finds Seez Mics "running down the numbers" with a clever rhyme scheme and knocking drums that only begins to hint of the originality that can be found on this highly underrated offering from the College Park, MD duo. One of the best "underground" albums that I discovered in 2007.

- whentheyreminisce.com

Here is a new FREE EP from one of my favorite groups back from my hometown, Educated Consumers. MC Seez Mics, on top of being one of the nicest guys in the world, is one of the nicest MCs out of the DMV scene (B-more, stand up!). Here is the download below via their website EducatedConsumers.com, as well as two of my favorite tracks to sample before you commit to the download. I know how you all work.

- rhymeshouse.com

A few weeks back, we opened a show for Eyedea & Abilities (of the Rhymesayers Entertainment camp). For a number of reasons (including the weekend of the show also being the weekend of my 2_th birthday, constant extreme shifts in my job/emotional/social landscape over this most recent chunk of time, copious amounts of Jack Daniel's finding its way into my system, that there are only 24 hours in a day, I'm an ass, etc) I never recapped the show (which I do occasionally) or even gave it the ol' long-winded, almost unreadable SD intro on the ramp-up to the date (which is generally a lock).

Luckily, the homie SeezMics from Educated Consumers did it for us.

Educated Consumers (from Maryland) also opened for E&A that evening, and impressed the shit out of us. Not only did they have that rare quality of not being garbage (which is something underground rap acts excel at more often than not) but they were chill as fuck and provided excellent merch table conversation. Their Write Hear album is dope and you should buy it.

Here's the excerpt from Seez's tour blog for Providence:


May 30 @ The Living Room (Providence, RI)

Took us 90 minutes to get to I-95 from Brooklyn. Word.

This was the first city where we had a hotel and I was anxious to see what kind of accomodations we'd be dealing with. Fortunately for us, <3 Kel was on the case and booked us a dope room on the cheap. We chilled for a bit, soundchecked and set up merch at the venue, then broke out to get some food.

Providence is a lot like D.C. in that you go from rundown industrial graveyard to bustling urban sprawl in a matter of 500 yards. A Mexican spot did us lovely and I was amped for the show. Unfortunately, the Celtics were eliminating the Pistons (sayonara Flip, keep playing the other team's best scorer straight up!) and the crowd was more into the game than my bad jokes. Such is life. I got to build with Storm Davis of the Oakland A's/Poorly Drawn People, and hopefully we'll be trading shows with them soon.

Manhattan had drained the party out of us, so we weren't in the mood to go out. We were in the mood to take some pictures with the venue's graffiti wall as the backdrop and do an interview in front of a Dunkin' Donuts (the interview footage will be posted shortly ahem Sean ahem.)


Read the rest of SeezMics' tour blog here, and, in theory, a PDP/EC collaborative effort will pop up on your radar sooner than later. - stormdavis.blogspot.com

Dont even think about skipping this joint right here. You sleep on this, then your a fool. I was blown away by this CD. Its just got that RAWNESS that makes you just want to break yo neck rocking out.

The duo of Cole “Seez Mics” Policy and Jason “t.E.C.K!” Fields are not actually from Washington DC or Baltimore - they call College Park, Maryland home - but their reputation as arguably the best hip-hop duo to come from the greater metropolitan area betwixt B-town and Dead City has been growing steadily since they first came together in 1999. Already under their belt are two LPs, Aisle 2 having garnered the most acclaim and getting them the attention that allowed Write/Hear to happen.
They’ve opened for Murs. They’ve been on a Warped Tour date. They’ve been hyping Write/Hear on their website for over two years. What took so long? Who cares. It’s finally here, and it’s better than you’re expecting, if you were expecting it at all: As the cover-art suggests, this album is built on old-skool beats and back-to-basics lyrical prowess the kind of which has been lamented so often as of late.
Write/Hear is a great album because it shows how necessary every point on the hip-hop spectrum is. I’m not going to lie and say that “This is Why I’m Hot” doesn’t have an incredible beat with mind-numbingly stupid lyrics, or say that Sage Francis doesn’t have a keen eye for exposing political turmoil… But Educated Consumers prove that you can have both, and neither, and still be good. That’s the magic of this album. It’s totally average and perfect for exactly that reason.
- freestylemadness.com

Educated Consumers Aren't Hustlers, Baby, They Just Want You to Know Hip-hop Isn't All About the Benjamins


The Educated Consumers
By Jason Torres

Ignorance is bliss--especially in today's hip-hop. I mean, those guys poppin' Cris and blingin' all over MTV look like they're having a blast. But for the few people who can see through the glitz and past the Belvi-sippin' and dance-floor loitering, clarity is a blessing and a curse. Those people can make music without conforming to a label request. They don't have to worry about the commercial audience or SoundScan numbers. But they get the stigma of soft, backpack-wearing haters. If the hip-hop on radio and TV is any indication, it must be harder to stick to the basics--dope lyrics and hot beats--than it is to dream up a catchy call-and-response hook. But the Educated Consumers stick to the basics and make it look easy.

Educated Consumers' sophomore album, Aisle 2, released on the College Park-based Modular Moods label, is exactly the kind of hip-hop mainstream radio doesn't play. From the intro, the Consumers dare listeners to "Get excited, get motivated, [and] get educated." Lyrical gymnast Seez Mics of College Park--aka Cole Policy--and Baltimore-based mix-master t.E.C.K!--aka Jason Fields--have crafted a gem of an album void of the commercial sensibilities practiced by most of their contemporaries. Aisle 2 is an underground hip-hop album. But it's blazin'.

What draws you in is t.E.C.K!'s production, showcasing his intricate yet straightforward blend of samples, deep bass grooves, and scratches. Then Seez Mics puts your attention in a vise grip with good, old-fashioned bravado and lyrical prowess that sucker-punches you with a message or two. Seez Mics effortlessly flexes his wit and vocabulary on a range of topics from the stupidity of substance overuse to the frustrations of English class, all while reminding would-be competitors that an actual lyrical battle is an exercise in futility.

"We met about two years ago through a mutual friend," Fields says. "I liked that his rhymes had substance. He wasn't talking about what he had and he's not angry about what he doesn't have, and his flow is one of the best I've heard."

The album provides a showcase for that flow. On "Fortune Cookies," Seez Mics and K-Cromozone trade pearls of wisdom from fortune cookies over a meal at a Chinese restaurant, "You protect no one by being overprotective/ try making being objective an objective." On the hilarious "That Guy," Seez Mics playfully warns listeners to avoid being the annoying, unreliable, all-around jerk of a friend who won't help pay for gas, eats your last cupcake, and borrows money in the same day.

The duo first revealed that fun-loving spirit on a self-released 2000 debut CD-R, but it wasn't the sort of product that caught eyes. They wanted their second album to look more professional, but they also didn't want to sacrifice control. "We sold about 500 copies of our first album," Seez Mics says. "This album was all about the balance of access and necessity." In other words, they wanted to make an album with integrity but also make a little money.

Aisle 2 fits that bill, but it's not all fun and games. Seez Mics' confident delivery breathes levity into Aisle 2's darker tracks, and his lyrical prowess and knack for enlightening listeners without being preachy comes to fruition on "Clearance Items" when he rhymes, "I wonder why/ So many of y'all spend so much time/ deciding between gettin' drunk or high?/ Gettin' by doesn't constitute a life/ It convolutes individuality." He also asks dudes to check themselves on the "The But Song"--and it's not about ass. "Every guy thinks his girlfriend is so complex/ but what do you expect, when you treat 'em like inanimate objects?"

Their sound is a testament to their influences. It isn't hard to hear some early De La Soul or A Tribe Called Quest in there. The tracks are broken up by a few interludes. On "t.E.C.K! Inthenude" the group's producer pours out a sip of his instrumental skills. There's another interlude, a rather raw moment called "Hi, I'm a Battle Rapper" where Seez Mics houses the mic in front of a live audience and extends an open invitation to any MC who wants to step up.

Educated Consumers are a great contemporary MC and DJ tandem, even if their sound is reminiscent of early-'90s hot hip-hop. You can hear Souls of Mischief or Pharcyde spilling over some of the Consumers' tracks. Aisle 2 could've dropped in '92 and gone at least gold--especially with cuts like "Best Wishes," when Seez shows off some storytelling flexibility and pours his heart out over a tranquil piano-driven rhythm that is the album's brightest musical moment.

Although there is a talent in the way that they've recaptured the sound of what were arguably the most fecund years in hip-hop, times have changed. It's 2002, and without a big single it is unlikely that you'll hear any of the Consumers' goods on the radio. Still, they sound classic more than they do outdated.

So for all those pessimists out there who think the more talented MCs have sold out, hip-hop isn't dead. Perhaps you, too, have noticed that the midday radio and MTV playlists are little more than advertisements for items the average listener can't afford broken up by a few club anthems, but don't draw that chalk outline around hip-hop just yet. In the age of the thugged-out car collectors and Mafia caricatures, acts like the Educated Consumers hit you upside the head with very relevant music that should be checked out by any hip-hop head.


Educated Consumers open the God Loves Ugly Tour at the Ottobar Oct. 21.

- citypaper.com (Baltimore)