SPOTLIGHT: FARRAH BURNS

Frequent listeners of THEZROHOUR podcast and readers of the blog know that I always feature the best female emcees on the scene. Haitian born Farrah Burns got next. She began her performance career headlining in New York City hot spots like Joes Pub, SOB's, Knitting Factory, APOLLO, South Paw, Galapagos, Canal Room, Webster Hall, Lyricist Lounge and Philadelphia's own Mecca for soul performances Black Lily.



I first heard Farrah Burns at Galapagos Art Space in Brooklyn, New York some time back. I was impressed with her flow and stage presence but forgot to seek her out. Flash forward to a few weeks ago and her video for the brilliant song "Shotgun Wedding" came my way and I was blown away by her neck snapping track. This week she dropped a new free project "Who Is Farrah Burns" which is available on datpiff.com. The mixtape is framed by interview segments that allow you into the essence of this powerful voice. Check it out below and hit up her Facebook and Reverbnation pages to tell her what you think-

Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Powered by DatPiff.com

SPOTLIGHT: ANTI-CREW

Chicago based hip hop/alternative band ANTI-CREW is blazing through the mid-west with their genre-fusing sound. Their newest release, Foundation: Expansion Plan, is Hip-Hop at the core with a cross-genre sound that encompasses the essence of live instrumentation blended well with original sampling and turntablism. Band members MC FlareThaRebel, guitarist Pat Attack, bassist Cambo, and drummer Archangel each bring their distinct musical flavor to the stew. Below is a video for "BLUR":



DOWNLOAD "Foundation: Expansion Plan" HERE

SPOTLIGHT: EDREYS

A quadruple threat (producer, lyricist, graphic artist and painter), EDREYS is our spotlight artist this week on THEZROHOUR.COM. Reppin' Buffalo, New York, Edreys has previously worked with groups SOULIVE, MEKA 54 and RAW INTEL. With his focus on a solo career in full swing, Edreys has opened for Ghostface Killah, Craig David and Slum Village. This summer, you can catch Edreys at select dates during the VANS Warped Tour. His vocal delivery and music illustrate the much needed comeback to the tenets of emceeing- confidence, delivery, and creative wordplay. We dropped a couple of cuts on THE ZRO HOUR recently (check the most recent podcast for the track "TROUBLE") and feel that Edreys' music evokes a time when hip hop was not constrained and sometimes misdirected by big business. Peep the cut SUPERMAN SWAG for a prime example of Edreys' flow and production. Hit him up on myspace and tell him what you think..

VIDEO: I LIKE IT- Edreys

SPOTLIGHT: IAMISEE

This week's spotlight artist is the dope Philly representative, emcee and producer- IAMISEE. IAM's commanding flow coupled with skillful, soul driven production puts the "Now School" on notice. Check my earlier review of his live show at NYC's Knitting Factory HERE. Hit him up and let him know what you think..

SPOTLIGHT: PACIFIC DIVISION

Pictured above left to right: BeYoung, Mibbs, and Like

This week's spotlight artist is a group from the left coast that feels like the resurrection- PACIFIC DIVISION. Pacific Division, Palmdale, California’s trio consisting of brothers Like and Mibbs, along with BeYoung, have been together dating back to 2001, shortly after their high school days. Joining the workforce lacked appeal compared to the glossy dreams that the guys had vicariously lived through as Hip Hop fanatics – so they went for broke and chased destiny with microphones and exclusive sneaks. the troop from just north of Los Angeles emulated their idols, such as Native Tongues, Hieroglyphics and even Thug Life in slow-crafted, conceptual music. In mid 2006, Pacific Division’s Blend Tape premiered, as a thematic mixtape combining mid-‘90s classic-inspired covers with newer works with producer Swiff-D (The Diplomats, Snoop Dogg, Nas). Songs chronicled day-jobs, trying to appeal to the fairer sex without fat pockets, restoring a Black presence in Hip Hop, and carefully coifed wardrobes amidst the pursuit of glory. We dropped a couple of Pacific Division tracks on THE ZRO HOUR in the past and we featured the crazy video for their single "F.A.T. Boys '08". These Fashionable Artistic Trendsetters bring the vibe of native tongue along with a fresh energy that's been missing from the screwface styles present in much of radio friendly hip hop. Their music grabbed me immediately and took me back to the true school. Check em out and let them know what you think..

The Wake Up Show pt 1

SPOTLIGHT: DASHAH

This week's spotlight artist is again someone not new to THE ZRO HOUR but the time is now to reveal more about the "Rap Burglar" aka "The Inkaholik" emcee known as DASHAH. Dashah represents a needed return to the days of emcees who invest their life into the pen and pad. Dashah's focused, deliberate flow shows the beat who's in charge and keeps headz focused on his descriptive wordplay. Born in Alabama, Dashah was raised in Long Island, a long time Hip Hop Mecca. As a kid he was surrounded by music- schooled to funk by his DJ dad and rap from the fellows on the block. Dashah loved everyone from Digital Underground to Big Daddy Kane and the Native Tongues posse. In the mid 90’s D and his family (he’s the middle of 4 kids) moved further out on the Island and, coincidentally their new neighbors were the families of old school legends Rakim and Erick Sermon. In high school Dashah and his boys started making homemade mix tapes and by 1997 he was in his first MC battle and then his very first show. “I was 17 and I was getting a little local buzz.” The next year D and his crew Long Island Trees came through with another tape and then just as things were heating up, Dashah went down south to spend time with his dying grandmother. “All my grandmother wanted was for me to finish school and succeed in music. After she passed, I decided to get serious because it was what she asked me to do.” In 1999 Dashah moved back home and two years later dropped the Unexplainable First Edition: which lead to opening slots for Ja Rule, Fabolous and Naughty By Nature Even though things were going well, D decided he needed a change of scene to push his career even further. He moved to Cali in 2002, dividing his time between LA and San Diego. Money was tight but that didn’t stop Dashah from spending his last dime on a hip-hop convention. His hope? That he’d make some connections and get his music into the right hands.

He did and soon D had a manager who hooked him up with producer Chris Warrior. After two years creating hot songs Warrior introduced D to Yon Styles, a young industry vet (Black Eyed Peas) and product manager for Fuzz Artists- an indie digital label. Styles dug what he heard and offered D a deal but Dashah admits, “I wasn’t sure. It was so new but then I figured, why not?” In 2006 Dashah signed with Fuzz Artists, formed his production company Top Shelf Enterprises, and headed back to NY: ready to reaffirm his hometown’s legacy. After dropping “F*ck Da Majors” D and crew headed back to the lab where they are currently cooking up his Fuzz Artists debut. This year will see the release of his album project. Dashah is due to drop a mixtape before the album (Yo D, when can I hear it?) and is currently featured on the first single, DECORATED VET off of ILL INSANITY's (new group featuring two former members of the X-Ecutioners-Rob Swift and DJ Eclipse and DJ Precision) new CD GROUND XERO. Hit him up and let him know what you think...

SPOTLIGHT: AAROPHAT

This week's Spotlight artist is an incredible lyricist reppin' Youngstown, Ohio- AAROPHAT. Aarophat is all about "death to mediocrity" in Hip Hop. I'm witchu bro! He was chosen as one of 2007's Rawkus 50 and rightfully so. Aarophat's commanding voice and slick wordplay allows him to keep company with the future greats in Hip Hop. He patterns himself after no one, but with a healthy respect for Hip-Hop greatness and quality emceeing reminiscent of legendary wordsmiths such as Big Daddy Kane and Rakim, Aaro’ has set out to blaze new trails and leave his mark on the game. With humble beginnings in the inner city of Youngstown, his story isn’t one of hard luck. He’s not a killer, a drug dealer or portraying the role of a street thug. He grew up in the neighborhood like everyone else, but was able to maintain his focus on the craft he grew to love at an early age. His current release, AARODYNAMIX, is a bomb mixture of hard hittin', diverse beats, focus and quality lyricism. There are no "fast forward" joints and it begs to stay on repeat. Crazy atmosphere throughout. AARODYNAMIX features guests No Joke, Dolo, Columbo Black, Akir, Ben Levels, Tay'uana and D-Flawless. Production is handled by just 2(!) producers- Illastrate and C Dubb. The standout tracks are "Caramel" (which we dropped here a few weeks ago), "It's Hard", "Demolition!", "U C. US" and "Sun Move On". Cop this joint and holla at Aarophat to let him know what you think..

SPOTLIGHT: PACE WON & MR. GREEN

This week's spotlight artist is a dynamic duo in the tradition of the classic hip hop combo of (1) DJ and (1) Emcee- PACE WON & MR. GREEN. In the essence of ‘Eric B. and Rakim’ and ‘Gangstarr.’ they define their style as classical hardcore Hip Hop. Mr. Green’s heart pounding beats blend perfectly with Pace’s gravelly yet smooth flow creating a flawless result. Within days of dropping their first single, they were already in the radio rotation of many profound DJ’s such as DJ Premier, DJ Eclipse and DJ Tony Touch. Their song ’Children Sing’ is considered to be an underground classic. With a dynamic live show that involves includes both improvisation as well as crowd participation they are true performers. The debut album THE ONLY COLOR THAT MATTERS IS GREEN will drop this Spring. Pace Won should not be unfamiliar to fans of Hip Hop. Pace Won is a member of one of New Jersey's illest crews THE OUTSIDAZ and made his debut on The Fugees classic, THE SCORE. He followed his debut with appearances on Rah Digga's DIRTY HARRIET and Redman's MALPRACTICE albums along with a couple of independent releases WON and TELEPATHY. Mr. Green is a self-taught, hip hop composer who has a straight forward approach to his production. Originally a DJ, Mr. Green's first official production credit came at the end of 2006 on C Rayz Walz album "The Dropping". The song "Childhood" featured Matisyahu, the platinum Jewish Reggae sensation and Kosha Dillz. Mr. Green has also produced for our first SPOTLIGHT featured artist CYMARSHALL LAW. Check 'em out and let them know what you think!

SPOTLIGHT: HEAVENLY NOISE

This weeks' spotlight artist is a group that is not quite new to THE ZRO HOUR. HEAVENLY NOISE is actually a group within a group. Singer da*sey and producer BATSAUCE are the founding members of THE SMILE RAYS. The Smile Rays, hailing from Jacksonville, Florida are one of 2007's Rawkus 50. Together with MC THERAPY, Batsauce and da*sey collide over neck snapping breakbeats, high energy and classic soul. Heavenly Noise features da*sey as the featured vocalist on Batsauce's crisp, underrated production. The vibe reminds me of a blend of Erykah Badu and Portishead. Hit em up and let them know what you think!

New Feature On THEZROHOUR.COM: ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Beginning today, THE ZRO HOUR launches a new feature to the website. Every week we will be featuring a new artist that we have either featured in our playlists or are on the verge of the next breakthrough. Links will be provided so that you can hit the artist directly and tell them what you feel about their music. CYMARSHALL LAW is the first artist in the spotlight. Cymarshall Law was one of 2007's RAWKUS 50 and is an emcee/lyricist of the highest caliber. His album HIP HOP IN THE FLESH, is filled with personal and creative topics. His flow and tone of voice is very unique and projects clarity. The boom bap behind the voice is bass heavy and keeps your neck in perpetual motion. If you would like to submit a link to your musicplayer for consideration or give us the heads up on someone we may be sleepin' on, hit us up at musicplayer@thezrohour.com