We Speak Hip-Hop
Rashad & Confidence return with “Feel It”
Below System Records has released “Feel It” an unearthed gem from Rashad And Confidence. Available on all streaming platforms, the track was originally recorded in 2011 as part of The Element Of Surprise LP sessions. Why it wasn’t part of the original album isn’t clear as “Feel It” is easily as strong as any of the fan favorites from that body of work.
What’s also ironic is that this track recorded in 2011 could have easily been mistaken for a forgotten jam from the golden age of east coast hip hop. Vinyl grit, analog warmth, booming low end and an ethereal jazz element. Topped with Rashad’s endless couplets and smooth delivery the track is especially poignant, and he drops truth bombs on how the current music today doesn’t inspire him and how trends and politics get you further than actual skills.
Listen to “Feel It”: https://bsr.ffm.to/feelit
“Feel It” as well as another unreleased track “Non Stop” and 2019 single “Desires” will be part of the Below System 2xLP vinyl edition of The Element Of Surprise. Pre-orders for the vinyl is available now via the link below and will start shipping in early May.
Pre-order The Element Of Surprise: https://www.belowsystem.com/products/rashad-confidence-the-element-of-surprise-2xlp
Rashad, a Brooklyn NY emcee who sports a nimble and rapid flow excels at making anthemic choruses interspersed with highly detailed bars. Examples of album topics include a vivid picture of the hood while making a cautionary tale of its pitfalls (“The City”), his personal emcee origin story (“Days Of My Youth”), and the results of low motivation (“Pass Me By”) among others.
Boston based producer Confidence has made a career of sample chopping and analog warm heaters. He also tends to favor the one emcee/one producer line-up of the golden years. This extends to his recent collaborative LP’s on Below System Records including Library Of Sound with M-Dot and Kool Moe Dese with Big Dese.
Hiero is back! Fresh off their international Hiero 360 Tour, the Oakland, CA super-crew has announced their first release in over thirteen years! All Said And Done will be released on 9/3/26 and the album’s first single “Drum Talk” is now available on all streaming platforms.
“Drum Talk” features an all-out lyrical smoke session from Casual, Souls Of Mischief members Phesto Dee and Tajai as well as Del The Funky Homosapien.
Listen to “Drum Talk”: https://promo.theorchard.com/OTf4THL8AWSMaUDoZPgu
Speaking on the forthcoming album (the first official Hieroglyphics release since 2013 mixtape The Kitchen) Del beamed “It’s like the best-case scenario, the way it’s working. I love it! It’s working better than I even could have imagined.”
Formed out of the Bay Area, Hiero includes Casual, Souls Of Mischief (a quartet composed of A-Plus, Opio, Phesto and Tajai), Del The Funky Homosapien, Domino, DJ Toure and Pep Love. The crew announced their presence to the world on the track “Burnt“, the B-Side to Del The Funky Homosapien’s 1991 single “Mistadobalina.” However, it was the 1993 release of Del’s sophomore album, No Need For Alarm, Souls Of Mischief’s debut album, 93’ Til Infinity and Casual’s 1994 debut, Fear Itself that solidified their skills to hip-hop fanatics worldwide. Label frustrations and politics spurred the formation of their own label, Hiero Imperium. In 1998 Hieroglyphics released their debut album Third Eye Vision. This was followed by 2003’s offering, Full Circle.
More Info: https://hieroglyphics.com/
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