Pittsburgh Hip-Hop -- All of the artists and music on this blog are strongly supported by Stilltown. Links may be hidden in pictures or comments. Please contact me if you want a link removed.
Part 1: The Early Years In this segment, Black Sun speaks about early experiences as a hip-hop artist, the forming of the Four Horsemen, his transition from high school to college, and power-outage ciphers.
Part 2: Music Lives Forever In this segment, Black Sun speaks about the internet and hip-hop becoming a global phenomenon, the "now" generation, and the economics of lyricism in hip-hop.
Part 3: Saying Lines & Scoring Touchdowns In this segment, Black Sun speaks about hip-hop upgrade, his hometown of New Kensington, the soon to be released All-Madden '11 Mixtape, family, and work ethic.
Black Sun performs live at: GSMG x Stilltown present IMPACT Music Series Shadow Lounge, Aug. 27, 2010 "When We Do Our Thing"
"Baby Powder"
"Hannibal Lecture," from the soon to be released All-Madden '11 Mixtape
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) AV – Self Centered (Prod. by Keelay & Zaire) 2) Mario Dones – Ring To It (Prod. by Keelay & Zaire) 3) AV & Slo-Mo – Work (Prod. by Keelay & Zaire) 4) Mario Dones ft. Kam Moye – What More Could You Want (Prod. by Keelay & Zaire) 5) The Ave – Bob Knight (Produced by P. Fish) 6) Mario Dones – Pastries (Prod. by Nice Rec)
7) AV - Been Around The World (Prod. by J. Fish) 8) AV – The Quiet (Prod. by Nice Rec)
9) The Sole Vibe Interlude (Prod. by Veterano) 10) The Ave ft. Slo-Mo – Miss Jane (Prod. by Lazy J) 11) Mario Dones – Slow Motion (Prod. Keelay & Zaire) 12) AV – Reflections (Prod. by DJ Whooligan) 13) The Ave – Last Day of Summer (Prod. by J. Fish) 14) Mario Dones - Episode Call Life Revisited (Prod. by P. Fish) 15) AV – You (Prod. by Keelay and Zaire)
-------------------------------------------------------------- Vol. I 01-Guess Who's Back 02-America (Wake Up 03-Clones 04-Who Shot Ya 05-The MC (Mass Appeal) 06-Nuff Said
07-Do U Smoke (Cross the Border) 08-Non-Stop (Freestyle) 09-Reality 10-I Declare War 11-Big Ass On the Floor 12-Fallin' 13-Two Nickels
03-Radioactive 04-Everybody's On Drugs 05-Backpack Anthem 06-Gettin' @ Sunny 07-For the Children 08-Interview 1 09-I'll Be Around 10-Sex, Drugs, & Hip-Hop 11-Disneyland
12-Kill Bill 13-Breathe In 14-That Ain't Right 15-Interview 2 - Keep Doin' It 16-You Don't Know Me Either 17-Walking Thru the Hood 18-Selfishness 19-Doves 20-Sayonara
"On some solo shit, never been seen/ like George Clooney on the cover of Ebony Magazine/ Or, Shanaynay in the KKK/ packin' AK's, stickin' up Free and AJ"
"Fuck rhymin' bout diamonds and gems/ Yo, I'd have a pair of 12-inch Timbs than 20-inch rims"
"Sick in the brain, dawg never been in my right mind/ Word to Jesus rob Regis for his lifelines"
Concrete Elete consisted of Furious Styles, God Gifted, OMG, Chilly Ism, and Evil Man, with El aka Asiatic the Natural on production, a six man wrecking crew that did damage on the Pittsburgh and Philly hip-hop scene during the mid-90’s. Members brought their own artistic vision to the knocking instrumentals. In 1998, that vision was expressed through the crew's debut album, Basic Instructions: Listen... and Repeat.
Basic Instructions was 19 tracks deep, showcasing each MC's unique approach. El's versatile production served as a comfortable home to the rebellious lyrics of Furious Styles, the street savvy rhymes of God Gifted, and the clever wordplay of OMG.
Here to build on the crew’s history is Furious Styles aka Jasiri X.
RW: Peace Jasiri. Describe the foundation upon which Concrete Elete was assembled. How’d you meet and join forces?
JX: We met because I used to buy weed from Chub aka Evil Man. One day he was out of town so he hooked me up with Chill and OMG. We started talking about hip-hop, and that same day we were in me and Asiatic's studio, and the rest is history.
RW: You collectively finished the Basic Instructions album in 1998. How was it released?
JX: We actually put the album out ourselves, but we didn't have all the technological means like we do now, so not a lot of people heard it, but it gave us a buzz in Pittsburgh. Everybody called it the Red CD.
RW: Following the release of Basic Instructions, what ultimately led to the disbanding of the crew?
JX: We actually recorded an entire album after Basic Instructions, but we couldn't agree on the direction. I felt like we should remain underground and other members felt we should make crossover records so we just went our separate ways.
RW: How did the Concrete Elete experience provide groundwork for Jasiri X, the solo MC?
JX: It caused people to know and respect me in the Pittsburgh Hip-Hop scene, so I could still get shows and support as a solo MC. Plus we performed a lot, so it enabled me to learn how to rock a crowd, which is a lost art today.
RW: How do you believe fans can embrace this long lost Concrete Elete album?
JX: To me it still stands up to the test of time, good beats and good lyrics. I'd put us up against a whole lot of groups out today that aren't half as talented. Also want to send a special shout out to two original Concrete Elete members not on the album, The General and the Black Chinaman.
Tracklist: 01. Intro 02. Dat First Shit 03. We Got U 04. Raw Dilly 05. Where U At 06. Interlude 07. Physical Anger 08. Khalifahs 09. I Don't Know 10. Takin Over
ATTN PITTSBURGH
