The other dude in the pictures is Hamilton, aka MC Like Minded. Ham went to high school with Key and I, and have been rockin' with us since The Flow's first mixtape early last year. Music runs in the family for him. His brother Hugh is also an MC and his father worked security for many huge bands, such as Aerosmith.
Funny enough, his father and my father went to high school together as well. Not mention my moms has known his moms since high school as well. Small world eh? But before he went back to The Bay to start the school year at UC Santa Clara, he wanted to get down for V.I.S.I.O.N.S. Key could not make it that day because he had a prior engagment with his family. But Ham and I still held it down and came out with a banga!!! Can't talk about it yet, ya'll just gotta wait for the album.
You can check out Ham's music @ http://www.myspace.com/therecipieforfresh
The Family Everyone came over to the crib to celebrate my grandmother's 75th birthday while we were recording. An opera trained singer with a masters in music, she is the music inspiration of the family; not to mention the most honest person I know. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMOMMY!!!!
7 Years of writing rhymes, hundreds of pause tape beats, 4 years of DJing, 2 Mixtapes, 1 Group L.P, 1 Group E.P, a radio show, 19 years of growth, a dream and the grace of God has brought me to this point. I have been waiting to record my official debut album for a long time. As it would turn out, I will not be making this journey alone. But I couldn't have been blessed more with a better friend and "partner in rhyme" then Keyon. His thoughts and point of view helps broaden this album, while helping maintain the tread essence of our message. We have one of those working relationships where our chemistry can be non-verbal. We know what needs to be done and how to do it without saying a word. I guess that is in part why we are close friends.
We were friends way before I founded H.F.P. As a matter of fact, he did not know I rhymed until late into our Freshman year of High School. We met through trying out for the basketbal team (he played all four years, I was cut all four years). I also did not know he wrote poetry until late sophomore year. Is was not until the end of our junior year did I ask him if he wanted to start turning those poems to songs. The concept of us recording an album together was conceived almost a year and a half ago. But I going to leave the full story behind the album for the liner notes. I will have those posted here and on H.F.P's Myspace page once the album is out.
Sidenote, the dark brotha in the first picture is Stephen, a homeboy of Key & I's that went to high school with us. Keep came through to hang out with us and kick one of the funniest freestyles I have ever heard. I may posted it up here one of these days. Oh, one other thing, I usually not one to give out details on projects I'm working on until right up to the release, but I can tell you this...
1. The album's name (if you don't know by now)- V.I.S.I.O.N.S
2. The MCs that are so cold, they make mics freeze- DJ Chuck "thE oLd SouL" & Key-Real "The Poet"
3. Production- All handled by your truly
4. Guest Appearances- Some people I've worked with before, somebody I have not worked with before.
5. How many tracks?- 14 Bangas with 2 Interlude Beats stuck somewhere in between (a la Pete Rock, Soulquarians).
6. When Does It Drop?- This September
DJ Chuck & Key-Real- V.I.S.I.O.N.S. In 2007 We're Gonna Help You See Clear... Coming September 2007
Yahoo has finally posted that Common show Key, P, and myself was at 2 and a half weeks ago. Just go to Yahoo, click on music, and you'll see it under "Nissan Live Sets." Three of us were on the left side of the stage and could be seen clearly at some points (if you look hard). It was easy to point myself out because I had a hat on (plus my glasses were reflecting off the camera like a mirror). Just look for a skinny brotha, wearing a Navy Blue and sliver Kangol hat and a black "J Dilla Changed My Life" T-Shirt on. You'll find me along with Key & fellow blogger Patrick.
This made my Friday when I saw this...
I have bought 12 albums in the last week, this is one of them (took me a while to get this)....
Another must have from the HOJ team... Getback is next...
Los Angeles AKA DA Wild Wild West, California, United States
DJ Chuck "thE oLd SouL," prez & owner of The Mighty, Mighty, Honor Flow Productions and a Young Black Man with a lot of his mind that "thinks too much" (c) A.D.
