UnioNoMics 101

Back when rapcity was worth watching they played shit like this:

Thru Playin' Round Here is really, honest-to-God, almost done!! I put the last song in the cd-project today. So far only Bobbi D has heard this incarnation of the cd, but pretty soon I'll put it online for everyone to hear. Now the only thing I have left to do is master the cd and finalize the artwork, which is damn near done anyway. Then I can send the thing off for manufacturing.

It's been a very arduous process getting to this point. The damn thing has taken forever in every phase, and I've learned sooooo much about the process of putting together a cd and what methods work best for me. For instance each song needs to be worked on until it's finished, as opposed to a conveyor belt process where I write everything then record everything then mix everything etc. Waiting so long to hear the finished product opens me up to losing steam.

TPRH has drained my energy, hopefully once it's completely done my creative juices can flow again. Right now I got about 5 songs that I need to write to, but I rarely get the urge to write anymore. I know part of that is the sad state that music is in lately. There hasn't been much to inspire me. Hard workdays don't help either. Neither does the fact that my most creative time of day occurs during my workday. Good times.

Anyways enough complaining. TPRH is almost done! Check our music page, download something, join the mailing list. Ron has a new cd up there that he completed in a week! Normally I'm very skeptical about the quality of music made in such a short timetable, but Ron did a commendable job. My main complaint is I wish the songs were longer. Check out Nefarious Snapshots Of An Arteest's Perspective

Here's the rundown of the past few weeks:

1. 3 weekends ago Ron came down. We went to a pretty good local show that Friday put on by Beatgarden Entertainment. Afterwards we had a real good conversation wit one Nico the Beast of Beatgarden. Overall a very good night, although some of the acts were wack as shit. But hey, nothing's ever perfect
2. The next day we went to a studio in the Far Northeast(of Philly) and met up with a talented group of emcees, a producer, and a manager/promoter. Shouts out to all of PaintBooth Productions, Kane, and HMD. We wrote and recorded a song with Untytled for a mixtape project that HMD was working on that day. So much props go to HMD for the look, and also to Sick Six for letting everyone use his studio. It was a real ill experience to write and record all in the same day. I usually take my time writing, then memorize the verse before I lay the vocals. But it was fun to challenge myself to try something different. I still strongly prefer my creative process though. I'm sure my verse coule've been better written and delivered if I got more time.
   
   Regardless of time contstraints, the song is ill, as is my verse. Peep my last entry if you don't believe me.
3. The next weekend I went to an ok show. It was real underwhelming to me, only a few of the acts caught my ear. The highlight of the night was finding out that the host is a teacher. It's cool to see other underground heads talk about their dayjobs. It's encouraging, since I'm holding down my "real jizzob" too.
4. Thru Playin Round Here is damn near done! I just got one song to mix, then gotta master the whole thing. My art man is MIA but my boy Joe is gonna handle the remaining artwork needs.
   
5. This past weekend I hit up Big O about getting on some show bills. And it looks like we'll be performing at the end of August. Can't wait!!
6. Me and Ron recorded 2 songs this past Saturday. Both are for our upcoming mixtape, Kick In Ya Speakers. I'll post one soon

The Union is making serious moves. Peace people

The weekend is here! HELL yeah! Happy Friday to all you stankin ass niggahs and to all the chickities, *in 50's voice* you know I love ya baby!
Seriously though, I'm really disappointed about the weekend because my car is out of commission until June 20th (that's another blog). My being carless is preventing me from going down to Philly to network and support a dope emcee called Sick Six at his release party. Unless I find a way down there, I'll most likely be home *in Kanye's Voice* "try'na catch the beat." :-/

I'm try'na think if there's anything else that I wanna tell you... Ooooooh yeeeeah! An extremely obese, I mean wide as aaaall outside, I mean I just swallowed a solar system type-fat broad at my told me I smell like watermelon yesterday when it was BEYOND obvious that I didn't. (Trick! Zest does NOT smell like no damn watermelon! Motha phuckin watermelon?!) That ish was a bit scary but I held my composure and didn't run for the hills.

Oooooh...I beat one of the executives at my job in cee-lo (a dice game that we played in the bathroom). Came up on a quick 20 bucks! On my lunch break I walked past his office showing off my fresh pepperonni pizza pie and thanked him for his generosity :-)

Since The Union has been making moves musically, I anticipate more traffic on my blog. With that said, don't furrow any eye brows when I stop acting lazy and start posting regularly.

Moving on...

"The Perseverance Volume 2: It's all in Your Mind..." Is slated for a late summer release (the first week of August). Am I excited? A little bit. I'm more confident with myself as an artist and this year's release will be different.

You see, this time around, I will actually distribute physical copies of the CD along with the digital downloads (all free). I have more supporters than I had last year (I mean real, loyal, "spit that shit Da Vinci!" in the face ass supporters). The cover art will be official (complete with mine and Knowledge's label logo's). As far as the music is concerned, the lyrics will be great and serve as a testament to my songwriting credibility. The songs are more heartfelt and moody than last years installment and the production has taken leaps progression wise.

I'm not going to talk your head off. Just know that if you've been following me for a minute, expect for your jaw to drop when my CD does.

This past weekend was one of the best I've had in a very long time. The highlight was me and Ron getting together with some Philly cats and wrote and recorded a new song, all in one day. The song is called All I Know, it's loosely about our love of hip-hop. I'll recap the whole weekend soon, but for now here's my verse:

and so we grind, destined to shine, in due time we'll find/
another rhyme to kick, but for now it's come-up shit/
never settling for second on the runner-up tip/
I'll command a kingdom, call me chief with the spit/
we been through struggles,but never no time for the humble/
call Satan a hater, we strike back like Vader/
get me down for a sec', I'm gunning for that ass later/
and I'll traverse the sky, droppin' rhymes on high/
mount up a sermon, spit with no reverance for ya preference/
now a PA resident, settin' it off, I'm hell-bent/
Knowledge of The Union got you open and fluid/
you niggas beat around the bush, I get checks and just do it/
audibly ill, fuck ya beef, pardon my grill/
enemies stagger away, flame-broiled for real/
and I'm the king, with the tempered-steel flow I show/
everyday this hip-hop shit is All I Know/