For The Power of Grayskul!
This weeks Underground Artist Review, has the pleasure of bringing to you, the group Grayskul. For those of you who have not been privileged enough to see these amazing artist live, you will get an overview today that will persuade you to do so and soon. Grayskul is made up of members Onry Ozzborn, JFK, and Rob Castro. These great artists are currently residing on Rhymesayers Entertainments' label.
The first time I saw Grayskul was at a Tragedy show in the amazing, and long gone, Rock and Roll Pizza (that used to reside on 112th and Powell in Portland OR). Though the venue is now long gone, Grayskul still lives on and grows more talented and masterful each day. Grayskul put on an incredible show that night and even gave me an exclusive interview after that show, that will appear on the Tragedy DVD, release date TBD. The band has continued to prove themselves worthy of such a great name after all these years. With their debut release of "Deadlivers" (2005), Grayskul paved the way for a new idea of Hip/Hop that has been a supervillian's design of music takeover. Set on nothing less then world and music domination. With great songs like "Action Figure of Speech" and "Deadlivers" the album gave the fans a great amount of lyrical stylings that were well written and full of actual content.
The only complaint I had was that many of the songs and rhythm styles seemed the same. As I moved from song to song on the CD I felt the way the band put their lyrics to song was very similar in sound (same inflection on each verse of each song on the CD) but if that is the worst thing on the CD they are doing better then 98% of underground artists out there, that I could write a page of what they are doing that bothers me musically.
Grayskul also released these albums in 2005: Creature, Wand and The Gun.
The next CD I came across was Bloody Radio (2007). This CD shows amazing growth, improvement of talent, and infliction in lyrics that I had previously found disheartening in the first CD. The song shows that with time and practice comes better quality and more toned skills. I enjoyed songs such as "Missing", "Is It Me", and "Us". If Grayskul was able to maximize their growth from CD to CD, like they have done here, in just two years then I am looking forward to reviewing what is next.
Grayskul also released these albums in 2007: Facefeeder, Scarcrow, and Prom Quiz
The next CD that Grayskul put out is called Graymaker (2009). I enjoyed the change of pace in this album. The tempo was slowed down a bit, but the lyrical content was till present. Songs that make you think and see things in our world that many people turn a blind eye too or may not recognize, made for amazing songs that will last the test of time. Songs from this CD that really stood out for me were "Bread and Wine", "Duece Duece", and "Drapes". The album had a mix of slower beats and quicker tempos. I feel that each album has shown more growth and more lyrical maturity then the previous CDs.
Grayskul has not released an album since 2009, which makes for the longest time period between albums since 2005. I hope that Grayskul has something amazing in the works for fans. The last Facebook post showed they were playing in Seattle in Sept 2012. So we know that Grayskul is still working and producing music, and until they release another anticipated album we will be patiently waiting. For the power of Grayskul can not be contained nor eliminated. So tell your Grayskul fans that the band is in the midst of their "super special, awesome ultra special, sexy transformation sequence...go! (Grayskull quotes).
Out Of The Darkness, Shines the Moonshine Bandits, To Light The Way.
The Moonshine Bandits get their name from their deep family roots running illegal booze during prohibition. This all took place in Northern California during the years of the Great Depression. Now the Moonshine Bandits have their own actual 99 Proof "Outlaw Moonshine" Spirit which was set to hit liquor and grocery stores legally in 2011 and it is produced by Valley Spirits Distillery in California. Now the Moonshine Bandits are not only known for their liquor but also for an amazing lyrical talent that has put them in the midst of such great musicians as Tech N9ne, Rehab, Vanilla Ice, Kottonmouth Kings,
Tragedy 503,
E-40, Twiztid,
Haystak, ,
The Expendables,
and many more. One of the most amazing honors and opportunities requested of these talented guys was when they received a phone call from the United States Military to perform at Fort Irwin, CA. The Moonshine Bandits performed on July 4, 2010 at the Fort Irwin Military Base located in the Mojave Desert for thousands of our U.S. Troops. They were able to give our troops a much needed release and a performance worthy our men and women of honor.
The first time I had ever heard about the Moonshine bandits was back in the early 2000's when they contacted Tragedy 503 and requested him to be a part of their Whiteboyz In The Game compilation (featuring mainly white rappers and artists) in the industry, also known as the underdogs (in an industry like this, we'll just accept that as most truth). This record was in no way meant to be any sort of a race recognition or to say that any race was better then another, but to give some people who are usually known to be underrated in the industry the chance to show some talent. I am not sure how the CD did in the end, but I do own a copy and I think that the concept may have been flawed looking back now, but the idea was of good heart at the time.
The Moonshine Bandits have come out with their fair share of CD's these past years, moving up with hard work and determination to be a part of SubNoize's amazing lineup. Some of those great features are Divebars and Truckstops (Which features one of my favorite songs "Fists and Jager") , Prohibition, Soggy Crackers, and theirs newest album to drop Whiskey and Women. The Moonshine Bandits recently hit up the Seattle are doing a tour with Rehab called United Shiners of America USA Tour. The show featured stops all across the US. The boyz just recently hit back home in Cali and from their Facebook status updates are grateful for the experience, but even more grateful for a moment home and with family.
The Moonshine Bandits look like really fun and interesting guys, but they are quite the enigma of a group. Don't get me wrong, they are fun, great to watch live, and have an amazing gimmick going on, but how did this come about? Cowboy rappers from Cali? Was this part of a great game of truth or dare that went very wrong? "Hey truth or dare".."Dare dude...okay I dare you to start a rap group (drunkin snickers) and do it looking like cowboys. " (Drunkin laughter erupts . "No way dude its not gonna happen...Ya I'm ma do it, I'm totally gonna do it. " Years later their friend stare sitting at home watching them on TV thinking to themselves, man I had no idea that they would do it, let alone be famous. Maybe you shouldn't have dared him to f*%$k my mom either that night asshole!! (insert funny sitcom sounds duh duh duhhhh). So no matter how the idea got passed around, it worked. You can even find the Moonshine bandits songs featured on CMT of all places.
Well the sun will only shine on the days that Moonshine bandits have left to offer us great music and great shows, and the moon will light there way to the stadiums filled with fans and cheering crowds. Like a photographer at night aiming for the best picture of the orange moon rings, I'm gonna shoot...on out of here and leave you to do the rest of the research yourself.
