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Inventive HipHop / Neo-Soul Hybrid
author: Syd Caesar
This CD is tight. Period. Point blank. It's a dope hybrid of HipHop and neo-soul. Picture Amel Larrieux (of Groove Theory) and Talib Kweli (of Black Star) making an album together, and you get the gist of 2win Souls' 'What The World Needs'.
2win Souls is Essential MC, an East Coast-bred rhyme fighter; Raven, a Cali-born songbird who also produced the entire CD. They hit a lot of different angles on this CD. The opener "Tell Me" is a bouncy, block-rattling joint; with E. and Raven playing skeptical lovers, guarding themselves against heartbreak. "So What" addresses the SoundScan whores and Big Willie hacks ruining HipHop. "Power" is an illuminati-type joint, with the duo speaking on worldly evils. "Made 4 Me" finds them playing eternal flames missing each other greatly. And "It's Alright" recalls Tupac's "Staring Through My Rearview", as E. and Raven give inspirational food for thought.
Essential MC and Raven perfectly offset each other. As an MC, Essential's got the complete tool kit. He's articulate; spins tight metaphors; and he tells real stories from the heart. And my man's a Golden Era throwback. He's got great breath control; a distinctive vocal tone; and he can ride a beat like a cabin cruiser.
And Raven is amazing. She handled every aspect of this CD's creation; from the recording and production, to the final mixdown and mastering. She even played all of the instruments. Ma is a genius. On the mic, she's got a beautiful voice; and hovers over a track when she sings.
Beat-wise, Raven offers a lot of different moods and feels. Her Middle Eastern sitar thump on "Power" really drives the track. "Soul Assignment" moves with a subdued, introspective bounce. The flute-sprinkled "Promiseland" has an infectious slow bop to it. And the Latin-flavored burner "Te Quiero" can fill a dancefloor instantly.
'What The World Needs' is a welcome oddity: a HipHop album with no pretense whatsoever. No empty Rolex flashing or crushed linen folding. Just dope, soul-stirring music. To the label A&R execs out there: ya sleepin'. Get off your ass; get out to L.A.; and sign 2win Souls immediately. They're the truth. - Syd Caesar
Press release distributed in partnership with ... Billboard Online Press
CELEBRATING CHANGE Through MUSIC: Funk/Rock Band "A Warrior Nation" Headlines January 20th Event
Los Angeles-Based "A Warrior Nation" Leads Live Music Lineup at Presidential Inauguration Party in North Hollywood
Los Angeles, CA (Billboard Publicity Wire) January 16, 2009 -- On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, Los Angeles-based funk/soul/rock band, A Warrior Nation, will headline a special event in North Hollywood, in what will be one of the city's only celebrations of the Presidential Inauguration with live music performances and celebrity hosts.
The evening's celebrity hosts will kick things off: Jennia Fredrique, who played the role of "Brandy" in the 2008 film "Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom"; and Roshawn Franklin, who can currently be seen on FOX's hit television series, "24".
The event's talented music lineup will begin with opening artist "Mdot," who won Best R&B Male at Urban Threshold's 4th Annual Underground Music Awards, in New York City, and has also won various awards in the NAACP ACT-SO competitions. Next up, will be hip-hop/alternative/trip-hop performer, Essential MC. Closing out the individual artists lineup, will be one of the world's most gifted vocalists, Kim Yarbrough.
The band lineup will follow, starting with Los Angeles-based alternative/rock/indie band, Wylde Bunch, followed by another local act, funk/soul/jam band, Pinot. Rounding out the band lineup, will be headliner, A Warrior Nation.
"We are very proud to be a cornerstone of this special event, celebrating a moment in history" said Marc Littlejohn, A Warrior Nation's manager. "The evening's lineup itself, represents the change that will come not only in 2009, but throughout President-Elect Obama's term in office. We're excited to be doing what we're doing, here and now."
North Hollywood lounge and live music venue, Blue Moon Nights, will host the evening's festivities, which begin at 8:00 PM (Pacific). The event, which is co-produced by Marc Littlejohn and Anthony Davis, is expected to see an attendance of about 500 people. All will be entertained not only by the live music performances, but also by the various inauguration balls and parties being broadcast from Washington D.C., and projected on the venue's 11 flat-screen televisions. In addition, a special guest DJ and dancing will enhance the celebration.
Admission for the evening is $10.00 per person, and a portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to The HUSH Foundation®, which benefits Pediatric HIV/AIDS and Cancer Research. Blue Moon Nights is located at 4712 Lankershim Boulevard, in the NoHo Arts District. - Billboard Online Press
Discography
2winSouls - "What the World Needs" 2003
Available on CD Baby
Essential MC
"Essential Affirmations"
2008
Essential MC
"Surrender"
Coming Soon
View a recent performance here:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=43938289
Listen to what others have to say about Essential MC here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59Jx958_JWk
Photos
Bio
Sol Aponte the Essential MC, was born with a unique purpose to raise consciousness through the power of the spoken word. He has worked with a myriad of local and national organizations as a lecturer, hip-hop emcee, spoken word artist, mentor, and workshop facilitator. Some of the organizations have been the Agape International Spiritual Center, NAACP, National Urban League, HeArt Foundation, Star Education, J.U.I.C.E., Avant Yard and others.
As a speaker, Sol has been known to captivate the audience in his keynotes by delivering his message in a style that resonates with the attendees. Being a natural emcee, he innately tunes in to the energy of the crowd and “uplifts them to another level of consciousness”. – Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith. He adds a component of spirituality, vision, and self determination from the perspective of a young, focused, hip-hop generation leader that is transformational and quite essential to future leaders.
As a hip-hop and spoken word artist, Essential has had the privilege of sharing stages with other artists such as: Mos Def, Common, Talib Kweli, Jill Scott, Jessica Care Moore, The Roots, dead prez, Method Man, Saul Williams, Michael Bernard Beckwith and many more. He is currently being featured on KRS One’s Stop the Violence 2 album, along side artists such as Nelly, The Game, Ne-Yo, Talib Kweli, Lyfe Jennings, Busta Rhymes and many others.
He has also recently released his self produced motivational CD entitled Essential Affirmations which was designed to reprogram the subconscious mind by using declarative poetry set to hypnotic tribal rhythms. Currently he is working on his hip-hop album which features platinum producer Duane “Da Rock” Ramos as well as a track with stic.man from dead prez and other collaborations.
Essential was recently featured as the top #22 unsigned hip-hop artist on myspace.com, which has been confirmation that uplifting hip-hop music is not only growing but that he is at the forefront of the shift. He is currently booking dates for his fall lecture tour as well as gearing up for the release of his transformational hip-hop album.
As an active advocate of shifting the state of hip-hop culture, Essential has met with and interviewed: Jesse Jackson, Magic Johnson, Akon, RZA, The Roots, Louis Gossett Jr., Hill Harper, Vondee Curtis Hall, Vanessa Williams, Talib Kweli, E40, Snoop Dogg, Master P., and so many other actors, activists and artists.
Essential has been known to have a gift of effectively communicating the principals of a higher consciousness, through his lectures, workshops and music. In what seems to be a Universal season of change, Essential MC is quite an essential element to that shift.
For more info visit: www.essentialmc.com
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