Sample the Martian
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Sample the Martian

Detroit, Michigan, United States | INDIE

Detroit, Michigan, United States | INDIE
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This band has not uploaded any videos

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"WBNY Interviews Sample the Martian"

Transcript of Interview:
Interviewer WBNY: Off their newest release “Self Made Loner” that was just Sample the Martian with their song “Trak Tohr Behme” and we have eMpyre of the group on the phone with us, how’s it goin’ there?
eMpyre (E): It’s goin’ pretty good
WBNY: And what do you do for Sample the Martian? Are YOU Sample the Martian?
E: It’s pretty much all me. Um, I have, uh, my engineer play drums on one song on the album. I had a couple people contribute little musical bits but pretty much I played all the instruments on there and did all the vocals.
WBNY: Very cool. Is this the first CD that you released, or do you have, have you been doin’ this for a while?
E: Well that’s the first full length CD that I’ve put out. I um, I started Galactic Dust Records in 2002 and I put out um, a compilation called Share Wares and I had two songs on there. And then after that I put out another compilation called Untyin’ Lost Souls and it had three of the songs that are on Self Made Loner but they were more demo sounding…
WBNY: Ok
E: and we uh, added a third verse to two of the songs and made it sound much much better on the Self Made Loner release.
WBNY: Cool. So you started up your own label and then you started making music on the side and slapped it on there.
E: Well it was kind of, you know, I thought I could do it all at first…
WBNY: <laughs>
E: and then uh, as I got more and more into it I realized that a lot of the people I was trying to work with would quit you know after a few years or I would do a lot of work for them and uh, it was kind of thankless. Like you know, I was trying to network and build with people and
WBNY: Yeah, yeah
E: it just wasn’t seeming to work and a lot of my friends and fans were like “Man, I would much rather you concentrate on Sample the Martian and hear full records by you” so that’s pretty much what I did.
WBNY: Nice! And you’ve got the new CD Self Made Loner which is available now I believe…
E: Yes
WBNY: Um, If people want to get a hold of your music or find you are you up online if people want to search it up?
E: All over the place
WBNY: Oooh!
E: <Laughs> Um, Amazon, iTunes, Jango
WBNY: Or just Google search I would imagine
E: Yeah, that’s…
WBNY: You’ll find a whole bunch of stuff
E: Yeah if you go to uh, Galacticdust.com it has all the links to pretty much everything on there
WBNY: Very cool. And are you doing this music live for performances?
E: As a matter of fact, um, last weekend on Sunday, I went to go see uh, MC Lars at a local venue called the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. It’s a college venue for the University of Michigan and um, we’ve been kinda talking for a few years him and I and walked in there finally introduced myself in person, and he was like “hey, do you want to come on stage later and perform uh, some of your lyrics to one of my songs?” I was like, well sure…
WBNY: Nice
E: so…That was awesome, it was a sold out show MC Chris was headlining and he had YT Cracker on with him and next week I have uh, two shows in Detroit and then I would say after the first of the year I’m gonna start trying to uh do spot dates around the Midwest…
WBNY: Very cool. But you’re from Detroit I believe?
E: Yeah
WBNY: Ok, so but maybe you’ll be coming around that’s not too far away from Buffalo.
E: Oh no, actually I really would come up to Buffalo
WBNY: All right!
E: I have a couple friends out there
WBNY: Very cool. So just keep an eye up online you’ll have all the updates up there if people want to check out tour dates once they come up
E: For sure
WBNY: I would say, very cool. New CD Self Made Loner um, from Sample the Martian is available now if you want to go up on galactic dust records has all the info if you want to google search Galactic Dust or Sample the Martian. We’ve got eMpyre from the group on the phone he does pretty much everything of Sample the Martian…and I gotta ask, what are your influences that kinda got you into this?
E: Wow, that’s um
WBNY: - WBNY FM Buffalo


"WBNY Interviews Sample the Martian"

Transcript of Interview:
Interviewer WBNY: Off their newest release “Self Made Loner” that was just Sample the Martian with their song “Trak Tohr Behme” and we have eMpyre of the group on the phone with us, how’s it goin’ there?
eMpyre (E): It’s goin’ pretty good
WBNY: And what do you do for Sample the Martian? Are YOU Sample the Martian?
E: It’s pretty much all me. Um, I have, uh, my engineer play drums on one song on the album. I had a couple people contribute little musical bits but pretty much I played all the instruments on there and did all the vocals.
WBNY: Very cool. Is this the first CD that you released, or do you have, have you been doin’ this for a while?
E: Well that’s the first full length CD that I’ve put out. I um, I started Galactic Dust Records in 2002 and I put out um, a compilation called Share Wares and I had two songs on there. And then after that I put out another compilation called Untyin’ Lost Souls and it had three of the songs that are on Self Made Loner but they were more demo sounding…
WBNY: Ok
E: and we uh, added a third verse to two of the songs and made it sound much much better on the Self Made Loner release.
WBNY: Cool. So you started up your own label and then you started making music on the side and slapped it on there.
E: Well it was kind of, you know, I thought I could do it all at first…
WBNY: <laughs>
E: and then uh, as I got more and more into it I realized that a lot of the people I was trying to work with would quit you know after a few years or I would do a lot of work for them and uh, it was kind of thankless. Like you know, I was trying to network and build with people and
WBNY: Yeah, yeah
E: it just wasn’t seeming to work and a lot of my friends and fans were like “Man, I would much rather you concentrate on Sample the Martian and hear full records by you” so that’s pretty much what I did.
WBNY: Nice! And you’ve got the new CD Self Made Loner which is available now I believe…
E: Yes
WBNY: Um, If people want to get a hold of your music or find you are you up online if people want to search it up?
E: All over the place
WBNY: Oooh!
E: <Laughs> Um, Amazon, iTunes, Jango
WBNY: Or just Google search I would imagine
E: Yeah, that’s…
WBNY: You’ll find a whole bunch of stuff
E: Yeah if you go to uh, Galacticdust.com it has all the links to pretty much everything on there
WBNY: Very cool. And are you doing this music live for performances?
E: As a matter of fact, um, last weekend on Sunday, I went to go see uh, MC Lars at a local venue called the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. It’s a college venue for the University of Michigan and um, we’ve been kinda talking for a few years him and I and walked in there finally introduced myself in person, and he was like “hey, do you want to come on stage later and perform uh, some of your lyrics to one of my songs?” I was like, well sure…
WBNY: Nice
E: so…That was awesome, it was a sold out show MC Chris was headlining and he had YT Cracker on with him and next week I have uh, two shows in Detroit and then I would say after the first of the year I’m gonna start trying to uh do spot dates around the Midwest…
WBNY: Very cool. But you’re from Detroit I believe?
E: Yeah
WBNY: Ok, so but maybe you’ll be coming around that’s not too far away from Buffalo.
E: Oh no, actually I really would come up to Buffalo
WBNY: All right!
E: I have a couple friends out there
WBNY: Very cool. So just keep an eye up online you’ll have all the updates up there if people want to check out tour dates once they come up
E: For sure
WBNY: I would say, very cool. New CD Self Made Loner um, from Sample the Martian is available now if you want to go up on galactic dust records has all the info if you want to google search Galactic Dust or Sample the Martian. We’ve got eMpyre from the group on the phone he does pretty much everything of Sample the Martian…and I gotta ask, what are your influences that kinda got you into this?
E: Wow, that’s um
WBNY: - WBNY FM Buffalo


"Five Albums That Changed My Life with Empyre Ramirex of Sample The Martian"

We recently cornered Detroit Nerdcore veteran, Empyre Ramirex (AKA, Sample The Martian) to pick his brain about the type of album that influence his sci-fi, funk-hop mish-mash sound. He was cordial enough to indulge with some pretty in-depth answers.

Beastie Boys: Licensed to Ill
When this album came out, it was actually hard to get in stores. I remember going to Harmony House early on a Tuesday because they just got a shipment in and buying it. I had my grandma drive me. It sold out by the end of the day. It was a tape I carried with me because everyone always wanted to hear it and so did I. Its an album I was asked on many occasions to “turn down.” I remember my dad wanting to listen to it with me in his old Montego and he was pissed that they sampled Zeppelin a few times. It was such a great blend of the newly budding genre of rap that also had rock guitars and an 808. I actually wore this tape out and had to get a 2nd copy. Of course, it also really put Rick Rubin and Def Jam on the map too—and Rubin is at least partially responsible for many of my other favorite records. I’m also pretty sure that Slayer wouldn’t be where they were today if it wasn’t for this record because they were also on Def Jam and its obvious that this record was the cash cow of the label. American, Rubin’s later label also put out God Lives Underwater, Black Crowes and a great collection of Johnny Cash albums. This album spiderwebbed into many areas of my life.

Queen: Night at the Opera
Right around the time I got my second copy of Licensed to Ill, I also got my first full length Queen Album. I didn’t know it as a young teen, but this album at the time had the highest recording budget to date. Obviously, it had “Bohemian Rhapsody,” but it also had “The Prophet Song,” “I’m in Love With My Car” and other fun songs like “Seaside Rendezvous” and “39?—a sci-fi tale about a 100 years passing from a one-year journey a la the concept of relativity. I think what really got me about this album was its stunning diversity and layers. I was young so I didn’t have the musical ear that I have now, but its one of those albums that I was able to listen to from front to back. I still listen to this album and I’m always blown away by the vocal layers. This album is to vocals what a Metallica album is to guitar. As per any Queen album, Freddy Mercury’s vocals are extremely dynamic and, though people don’t know it, many of songs don’t follow tempo’s like most rock music. Instead, its based on feeling much the same way a classical piece is directed to an orchestra. Things swelling and falling and speeding up and slowing down. Most bands just use simple tempo changes that have a drum fill or bridge to accomplish, while these songs live and breathe and flow.

Nirvana: Nevermind
A lot of things came together about the time this record was released. It was a prime age in my teens. My friend Jim was out in California with the Navy and brought this record home with him. It hadn’t “hit” yet, but he sought me out to hear it. He copied the cassette while we listened to it and I took it home and played it over and over again while I beat Sonic the Hedgehog on Genesis. A few weeks later, people started buzzing about Nirvana and a few months later, when I was at the State Theater for a RHCP, Pumpkins, Pearl Jam show, everyone was leaving. The venue was about half empty and they were spinning tracks for “Clubland” when they put on “Smell’s Like Teen Spirit”. Most of the crowd hurried back into the auditorium and danced and hung out; its the only time I’ve ever seen that happen. That album still easily holds up to the test of time and the emotion in Kurt’s voice is so raw and powerful. It’s another album that plays like a greatest hits record. I was already getting bored with rap at that time and though well schooled in Metallica and Zeppelin this album opened up to me a new generation of sounds. It led the way for a lot of music that was up and coming like NIN, Rage, Jane’ - Blog Rocking Beat


"Five Albums That Changed My Life with Empyre Ramirex of Sample The Martian"

We recently cornered Detroit Nerdcore veteran, Empyre Ramirex (AKA, Sample The Martian) to pick his brain about the type of album that influence his sci-fi, funk-hop mish-mash sound. He was cordial enough to indulge with some pretty in-depth answers.

Beastie Boys: Licensed to Ill
When this album came out, it was actually hard to get in stores. I remember going to Harmony House early on a Tuesday because they just got a shipment in and buying it. I had my grandma drive me. It sold out by the end of the day. It was a tape I carried with me because everyone always wanted to hear it and so did I. Its an album I was asked on many occasions to “turn down.” I remember my dad wanting to listen to it with me in his old Montego and he was pissed that they sampled Zeppelin a few times. It was such a great blend of the newly budding genre of rap that also had rock guitars and an 808. I actually wore this tape out and had to get a 2nd copy. Of course, it also really put Rick Rubin and Def Jam on the map too—and Rubin is at least partially responsible for many of my other favorite records. I’m also pretty sure that Slayer wouldn’t be where they were today if it wasn’t for this record because they were also on Def Jam and its obvious that this record was the cash cow of the label. American, Rubin’s later label also put out God Lives Underwater, Black Crowes and a great collection of Johnny Cash albums. This album spiderwebbed into many areas of my life.

Queen: Night at the Opera
Right around the time I got my second copy of Licensed to Ill, I also got my first full length Queen Album. I didn’t know it as a young teen, but this album at the time had the highest recording budget to date. Obviously, it had “Bohemian Rhapsody,” but it also had “The Prophet Song,” “I’m in Love With My Car” and other fun songs like “Seaside Rendezvous” and “39?—a sci-fi tale about a 100 years passing from a one-year journey a la the concept of relativity. I think what really got me about this album was its stunning diversity and layers. I was young so I didn’t have the musical ear that I have now, but its one of those albums that I was able to listen to from front to back. I still listen to this album and I’m always blown away by the vocal layers. This album is to vocals what a Metallica album is to guitar. As per any Queen album, Freddy Mercury’s vocals are extremely dynamic and, though people don’t know it, many of songs don’t follow tempo’s like most rock music. Instead, its based on feeling much the same way a classical piece is directed to an orchestra. Things swelling and falling and speeding up and slowing down. Most bands just use simple tempo changes that have a drum fill or bridge to accomplish, while these songs live and breathe and flow.

Nirvana: Nevermind
A lot of things came together about the time this record was released. It was a prime age in my teens. My friend Jim was out in California with the Navy and brought this record home with him. It hadn’t “hit” yet, but he sought me out to hear it. He copied the cassette while we listened to it and I took it home and played it over and over again while I beat Sonic the Hedgehog on Genesis. A few weeks later, people started buzzing about Nirvana and a few months later, when I was at the State Theater for a RHCP, Pumpkins, Pearl Jam show, everyone was leaving. The venue was about half empty and they were spinning tracks for “Clubland” when they put on “Smell’s Like Teen Spirit”. Most of the crowd hurried back into the auditorium and danced and hung out; its the only time I’ve ever seen that happen. That album still easily holds up to the test of time and the emotion in Kurt’s voice is so raw and powerful. It’s another album that plays like a greatest hits record. I was already getting bored with rap at that time and though well schooled in Metallica and Zeppelin this album opened up to me a new generation of sounds. It led the way for a lot of music that was up and coming like NIN, Rage, Jane’ - Blog Rocking Beat


"Geek Spotlight: Sample The Martian"

If you are a fan of nerdcore and a part of the community, then you probably know that Scrub Club Records has a new artist in their line-up. The veteran nerdcore artist, Sample the Martian, has joined with the rest of Scrub Club Records, which is sure to bolster their ranks even more. Sample the Martian has been innovating the Detroit underground music scene for over a decade and has been creating his own style of nerdcore with no apologies. As MC Lars put it:”Sample the Martian mixes the creativity of early Digital Underground with the musical complexity and forward thinking of MC 900 Foot Jesus. People often ask me what the next generation of hip-hop will sound like. ‘Self-Made Loner’ is it!” Sample the Martian is made up of multiple facets of the man behind the music. To a lot of people he is known as eMpyre ramireX, but that is just one side. Recently, I was able to interview eMpyre, digging into the mind of the man and the Martian:



TGP- Can you explain who or what Sample the Martian is and what the different facets are- such as eMpyre ramireX and Groovin’ Reuben Martinez? How did you come up with these and where does the line lay that distinguishes them from one another?

eMrX(STM)- Well years ago I remember wanting to make a comic book to accompany the music. So in doing that Groovin’ Rueben, The Martian, was created. He has been the basis for most of the artwork that is on CDs, Flyers and posters. I had like a dozen characters that I made and the Martian’s powers were to unlock other people’s powers. I’ve always seen him as more of a Bob Marley meets Yoda type persona. There is a side of me that is kind and nurturing. I’ve always picture the Martian persona being the side that makes the funky bass lines to my songs.

Sample the Martian is really the band name that encompasses everything. It translates, in my head, to “try something different.” I came up with a story one time about how a Martian came to Earth in 1975. My step-dad saw a UFO around that time in Dearborn MI and I used that as the basis. This Martian was the biological father to the Martian, that is, “The Martian” and myself. There is also a creative AI who’s original name was “Drip.” He was put together in an abandoned network of caves using thousands of old PCs networked together- then through time travel came back in his integrated smaller form. I’ve always considered that member the part of me that uses more technological means in my music, like drum programming and sequencing. Empire was always, in my head, the angry one and his power, that was unlocked by the Martian, was to heal people; but could only do so when his mind is at peace. Which at the time took a lot of concentration.

Where is the line? Well, they are all just different facets of my personality. One theme I’ve always toyed around with in both my music and in real life is that line where Organic meets Tech. How can they both co-exist without choking the other out?

Sample The MartianTGP- How long have you been a musician and a performer?

eMrX(STM)- I started playing on the piano when I was 11 or 12 I think. My sister signed up for lessons and I got jealous. I started taking lessons right about the time she quit. I used to figure out songs on the piano and my parents made a big deal out of it and told me I should stick with it. I really didn’t. Then around when I turned 16, some friends taught me how to play guitar and from there I also learned drums, bass, turntable scratching and audio production- all while I was in college.

TGP- How did you get started playing nerdcore? What does nerdcore mean to you and what do you feel sets you apart from other nerdcore performers?

eMrX(STM)- I really didn’t set out to be “Nerdcore.” I just learned from a lot of people to “Write what you know.” I used to incorporate a lot of samples into my live set, stuff from Transformers cartoons, Zelda and Castlevania music; and after one of my shows someone asked me if I considered myself - The Geek Path


"Geek Spotlight: Sample The Martian"

If you are a fan of nerdcore and a part of the community, then you probably know that Scrub Club Records has a new artist in their line-up. The veteran nerdcore artist, Sample the Martian, has joined with the rest of Scrub Club Records, which is sure to bolster their ranks even more. Sample the Martian has been innovating the Detroit underground music scene for over a decade and has been creating his own style of nerdcore with no apologies. As MC Lars put it:”Sample the Martian mixes the creativity of early Digital Underground with the musical complexity and forward thinking of MC 900 Foot Jesus. People often ask me what the next generation of hip-hop will sound like. ‘Self-Made Loner’ is it!” Sample the Martian is made up of multiple facets of the man behind the music. To a lot of people he is known as eMpyre ramireX, but that is just one side. Recently, I was able to interview eMpyre, digging into the mind of the man and the Martian:



TGP- Can you explain who or what Sample the Martian is and what the different facets are- such as eMpyre ramireX and Groovin’ Reuben Martinez? How did you come up with these and where does the line lay that distinguishes them from one another?

eMrX(STM)- Well years ago I remember wanting to make a comic book to accompany the music. So in doing that Groovin’ Rueben, The Martian, was created. He has been the basis for most of the artwork that is on CDs, Flyers and posters. I had like a dozen characters that I made and the Martian’s powers were to unlock other people’s powers. I’ve always seen him as more of a Bob Marley meets Yoda type persona. There is a side of me that is kind and nurturing. I’ve always picture the Martian persona being the side that makes the funky bass lines to my songs.

Sample the Martian is really the band name that encompasses everything. It translates, in my head, to “try something different.” I came up with a story one time about how a Martian came to Earth in 1975. My step-dad saw a UFO around that time in Dearborn MI and I used that as the basis. This Martian was the biological father to the Martian, that is, “The Martian” and myself. There is also a creative AI who’s original name was “Drip.” He was put together in an abandoned network of caves using thousands of old PCs networked together- then through time travel came back in his integrated smaller form. I’ve always considered that member the part of me that uses more technological means in my music, like drum programming and sequencing. Empire was always, in my head, the angry one and his power, that was unlocked by the Martian, was to heal people; but could only do so when his mind is at peace. Which at the time took a lot of concentration.

Where is the line? Well, they are all just different facets of my personality. One theme I’ve always toyed around with in both my music and in real life is that line where Organic meets Tech. How can they both co-exist without choking the other out?

Sample The MartianTGP- How long have you been a musician and a performer?

eMrX(STM)- I started playing on the piano when I was 11 or 12 I think. My sister signed up for lessons and I got jealous. I started taking lessons right about the time she quit. I used to figure out songs on the piano and my parents made a big deal out of it and told me I should stick with it. I really didn’t. Then around when I turned 16, some friends taught me how to play guitar and from there I also learned drums, bass, turntable scratching and audio production- all while I was in college.

TGP- How did you get started playing nerdcore? What does nerdcore mean to you and what do you feel sets you apart from other nerdcore performers?

eMrX(STM)- I really didn’t set out to be “Nerdcore.” I just learned from a lot of people to “Write what you know.” I used to incorporate a lot of samples into my live set, stuff from Transformers cartoons, Zelda and Castlevania music; and after one of my shows someone asked me if I considered myself - The Geek Path


"Sample The Martian: Self-Made Loner"

Sample the Martian, a rap “group” that is really just one guy, who also goes by the name eMpyre ramireX, is just as the name suggests. It’s a world away from current rap albums (or previous ones), and Self Made Loner might just be the perfect title for the rapper’s first release. But none of that is bad – Sample the Martian is one of the most refreshing things I’ve heard in years.

eMpyre is the Andrew Jackson Jihad of rap; he raps and sings with a flatness in his voice that can be chalked up to personality and isn’t a fault – he’s got something to say, and he’s going to say it. He’ll remind you of some of his influences like the Beastie Boys, but mostly, you’ll find his style fairly unique.

What eMpyre has to say is something you won’t mind listening to, either. He does occasionally swear more than is really necessary, but for the most part, his songs are clever and sometimes funny. “Brain cells dyin’ while I’m playin’ Atari/I kick it old school like a TV with a dial” he sings on “Battle In My Mind,” and on “Atmospheric Pressure” he raps, “Reality is priceless and useless to the sightless/ignorance is bliss that’s why I’m happy when I’m pissed.”

The tracks behind the raps are interesting, too. It’s not something you’ve heard over and over; these are professionally mixed tracks that you can tell were a real art to the person who made them. Each song has a near perfect background track and a lot of it consists of real instruments, something hard to find in rap albums. The music is as unique as eMpyre is.

Self-Made Loner is a work of art, from the cover art itself, to the carefully crafted music arrangements and the matching lyrics. eMpyre may have made himself a loner, but he’s also set himself apart in an impressive way. - Muzik Reviews


"Sample The Martian: Self-Made Loner"

Sample the Martian, a rap “group” that is really just one guy, who also goes by the name eMpyre ramireX, is just as the name suggests. It’s a world away from current rap albums (or previous ones), and Self Made Loner might just be the perfect title for the rapper’s first release. But none of that is bad – Sample the Martian is one of the most refreshing things I’ve heard in years.

eMpyre is the Andrew Jackson Jihad of rap; he raps and sings with a flatness in his voice that can be chalked up to personality and isn’t a fault – he’s got something to say, and he’s going to say it. He’ll remind you of some of his influences like the Beastie Boys, but mostly, you’ll find his style fairly unique.

What eMpyre has to say is something you won’t mind listening to, either. He does occasionally swear more than is really necessary, but for the most part, his songs are clever and sometimes funny. “Brain cells dyin’ while I’m playin’ Atari/I kick it old school like a TV with a dial” he sings on “Battle In My Mind,” and on “Atmospheric Pressure” he raps, “Reality is priceless and useless to the sightless/ignorance is bliss that’s why I’m happy when I’m pissed.”

The tracks behind the raps are interesting, too. It’s not something you’ve heard over and over; these are professionally mixed tracks that you can tell were a real art to the person who made them. Each song has a near perfect background track and a lot of it consists of real instruments, something hard to find in rap albums. The music is as unique as eMpyre is.

Self-Made Loner is a work of art, from the cover art itself, to the carefully crafted music arrangements and the matching lyrics. eMpyre may have made himself a loner, but he’s also set himself apart in an impressive way. - Muzik Reviews


"Self-Made Loner"

"sAMPLE tHE mARTIAN is as amusing as he’s clever. The lyrics are tight, the tunes are catchy as hell and the whole Self-Made Loner record is a breath of fresh air." Brett Callwood - Metro Times


"Self-Made Loner"

"sAMPLE tHE mARTIAN is as amusing as he’s clever. The lyrics are tight, the tunes are catchy as hell and the whole Self-Made Loner record is a breath of fresh air." Brett Callwood - Metro Times


"Detroit Music Awards Set to Turn the Ripe Ol' Age of 20"

The Detroit Music Awards turn 20 years old this year. April 15 will see The
Fillmore packed with a who's-who of Detroit music royalty. But there's also
a whole bunch of folks you might not know, whether they're up-and-comers or
local mainstays that you just haven't familiarized yourself with yet. Well,
we've done the heavy-lifting for you, and put together a quick list of five
artists who you should take the time to get to know.

Sample the Martian
The man known as Empire started his intergalactic musical journey on the piano at the age of 12.
From there, he's become a mostly self-taught musician, having learned guitar, bass, drums, synth
and all things hip-hop mainly by ear. A job at Northern Michigan University's WUPX radio station
in college further entrenched Empire in the musical scene and lifestyle. After graduation, he
started Galactic Dust Records, and went on to release two compilations (Share Warez in 2002
and Untyin' Lost Souls in 2004), featuring only a handful of Sample the Martian tracks, but
unleashing a number of up-and-coming nerdcore artists. While promoting the record in the Detroit
area, Empire has built a network of local and national hip-hop acts. In 2010, a full-length
Sample the Martian LP was released, showcasing a full album of the artist's spacey,
robo-trippin' hip-hop amalgamations. Sample the Martian is nominated for "Outstanding Hip-Hop
Artist/Group" and "Outstanding Urban/Funk/Hip-Hop Recording." | RDW - Adam O'Connor - Real Detroit Weekly


"Detroit Music Awards Set to Turn the Ripe Ol' Age of 20"

The Detroit Music Awards turn 20 years old this year. April 15 will see The
Fillmore packed with a who's-who of Detroit music royalty. But there's also
a whole bunch of folks you might not know, whether they're up-and-comers or
local mainstays that you just haven't familiarized yourself with yet. Well,
we've done the heavy-lifting for you, and put together a quick list of five
artists who you should take the time to get to know.

Sample the Martian
The man known as Empire started his intergalactic musical journey on the piano at the age of 12.
From there, he's become a mostly self-taught musician, having learned guitar, bass, drums, synth
and all things hip-hop mainly by ear. A job at Northern Michigan University's WUPX radio station
in college further entrenched Empire in the musical scene and lifestyle. After graduation, he
started Galactic Dust Records, and went on to release two compilations (Share Warez in 2002
and Untyin' Lost Souls in 2004), featuring only a handful of Sample the Martian tracks, but
unleashing a number of up-and-coming nerdcore artists. While promoting the record in the Detroit
area, Empire has built a network of local and national hip-hop acts. In 2010, a full-length
Sample the Martian LP was released, showcasing a full album of the artist's spacey,
robo-trippin' hip-hop amalgamations. Sample the Martian is nominated for "Outstanding Hip-Hop
Artist/Group" and "Outstanding Urban/Funk/Hip-Hop Recording." | RDW - Adam O'Connor - Real Detroit Weekly


"MC Lars review of Sample the Martian"

"Sample the Martian mixes the creativity of Digital Underground
and the musical complexity and forward thinking of MC 900 Foot Jesus.
People often ask me what the next generation of hip-hop will sound
like. 'Self-Made Loner' is it!" ~MC Lars
- MC Lars


"MC Lars review of Sample the Martian"

"Sample the Martian mixes the creativity of Digital Underground
and the musical complexity and forward thinking of MC 900 Foot Jesus.
People often ask me what the next generation of hip-hop will sound
like. 'Self-Made Loner' is it!" ~MC Lars
- MC Lars


"Push the Conventional Expectations of Hip-Hop"

"Sample The Martian drops tracks that push the conventional expectations of hip-hop with old-school beats, psychedelic guitars, analog synths, and abstract lyrics that flow like water from the subconscious of one ungrounded dude." ~Fuze Magazine - Fuze


"Push the Conventional Expectations of Hip-Hop"

"Sample The Martian drops tracks that push the conventional expectations of hip-hop with old-school beats, psychedelic guitars, analog synths, and abstract lyrics that flow like water from the subconscious of one ungrounded dude." ~Fuze Magazine - Fuze


Discography

Self-Made Loner (2010)
Rhyme Torrents Halloween Compilation (2010)
Rhyme Torrents 8.3 (2008)
Untyin' Lost Souls (2004)
Share Warez (2002)

Photos

Bio

Multi-instrumentalist eMpyre ramireX engineers, codes and assembles multi-dimensional sonic landscapes and lyrical mind f**ks for deep feeling thinkers to relate to.

Sample the Martian has been nominated for 6 Detroit Music Awards.

Sample the Martian was used by ABC's Police Drama: Detroit 1-8-7

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