What I'm Watching: Logic & Raze "Here Before"

Moral of the story, stay away from serial killers when you're out at night. Or at least try. Logic & Raze serve up the visuals for Here Before, directed by Mark Gage and Brad Hollander. In the latest single from their ... Still Untitled project, the duo provide a haunting cautionary tale of late night trolling. Be careful out in those mean streets. Ha!

Follow the madness: twitter.com/themadbloggers_
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Logic & Raze "Kites"

Logic & Raze are a damn creative duo. I'm gonna let the homie JC Poppe do the intro here but what I will say is this is a pretty damn dope track. I dig it. Enjoy. Chea!

If you are a fan of music, I'm sure that you have come across the fantastic track by The Violent Femmes called "Blister in the Sun."

The Femmes,who are from the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area have left a strong legacy of tunes that are ingrained not only in the culture of Wisconsin but in the culture of alternative music everywhere.

In an attempt to pay homage to the great alt group, Milwaukee duo Logic & Raze have re-interpreted the song and modernized it for a whole new generation.

Their original take on the classic is called "Kites" and contains all of the great qualities of the original track while giving it a unique bend for those who embrace both the hip-hop and alternative rock cultures, and has been released today!

Even more basically, if "Blister" made you/makes you dance, then "Kites" is definitely going to make you dance. 

via JC Poppe



Follow the madness: twitter.com/themadbloggers_
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

What I'm Watching: Logic & Raze "EYE GEE OH"

With direction from Jack and Nick Packard, Logic & Raze deliver up the video for the Raze produced Eye Gee Oh track off their ...STILL untitled project. To me it's always dope when underground / indie heads create better videos than their mainstream peers, when the budgets are so vastly different. This is an example of a better video. I definitely respect what the Milwaukee duo did with this new set of visuals. I dig this highly addictive video/track combo. Dope.

I'll let the homie JC Poppe take the rest from here.

Milwaukee's semi-psycho, semi-party hip-hop group Logic & Raze have just released their latest music video, this time for their song "Eye Gee Oh."

The song is a bar fight anthem and the music video, directed by FunnyOrDie's Jack and Nick Packard, takes the visual representation of the song to a creepy new level of cinematic doom.

I imagine that a lot of people who don't live in Wisconsin like to believe that all we have in the state is beer, brats, Packers fans, and cannibalistic serial killers (Ed Gein and Dahmer), and the music video for "Eye Gee Oh" does nothing to disassociate Wisconsin from latter. 

Follow the madness: twitter.com/themadbloggers_
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

What I'm Watching: Logic & Raze "TOTMM"

The Milwaukee duo Logic & Raze drop off a new video for TOTMM. A collection of video clips, the new track and visuals to match pay a tribute to those who have supported them throughout their lives. I dig the personal approach to the cool track. Hit play and enjoy. Chea!

Follow the madness: twitter.com/themadbloggers_
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Logic & Raze "...untitled LIVE"

Logic x Raze x WMSE, great combination. Recorded live at WMSE studios on December 20th, as part of their Local/Live series, the live EP includes features guest performances by A.P.R.I.M.E. of AUTOMatic and BlAz of the NightKrawlers, with DJ Bizzon on the turntables. Enjoy.





Follow the madness: twitter.com/themadbloggers_
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

What I'm Watching: Logic & Raze "Thirsty" feat. A.P.R.I.M.E. and Elle Razberry

With their ... Still Untitled project on the way, Logic & Raze drop off Thirsty featuring A.P.R.I.M.E. and Elle Razberry. With Ku Mays behind the lens, Thirsty depicts an average weekday/weekend get together in the Brew City. I might need to hang. Ha! Cool video. Cool track. Hit play and enjoy. Chea!

Follow the madness: twitter.com/themadbloggers_
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

What I'm Watching: Raze & Logic (of The Hollowz) "Thinking Out Loud"

Sometimes a simple video speaks in volumes. This Ku Mays directed video does just that. With it's simplicity, it doesn't take away from the Raze & Logic track, yet enhances it visually. When I first heard the track a while back, it quickly became a favorite. The depth of the lyrics, the Raze production with Mike Carpenter on guitar and co-production, the track provides so much. Sometimes you're just Thinking Out Loud. Hit play and enjoy. Chea!

Follow the madness: twitter.com/themadbloggers_
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Logic and Raze "Thinking Out Loud"

Damn. This track is serious. Logic and Raze deliver up another incredible track off of their upcoming yet to be named project. "Thinking Out Loud" is dope, produced by Raze and features Mike Carpe on guitar. I'm already on my fifth play. Enjoy. Chea!



Follow the madness: twitter.com/themadbloggers_
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

EVENT: The Bury The Hatchet Show (5/28/11)

Milwaukee, if you haven't been paying attention to the blog, is a hot pocket of talented Hip-Hop. In my opinion it's better to work together than work apart or work against. These four dope acts are just the tip of the iceberg of what Milwaukee has to offer. I'll let JC Poppe explain the concept behind The Bury The Hatchet Show this Saturday night at the Cactus Club out in Milwaukee.

I wanted to let you know about a big show happening on May 28th at Cactus Club, beginning at 10PM, with a cover of $5.

Myself and Axtra (manager of Prophetic, and other UMG artists) are bringing together 2 UMG artists and 2 former House of M artists to do a show that symbolizes the end of the beef between these respective artists.

AUTOMatic, Prophetic, Raze, and Yo-Dot, will be taking the stage as peers on that night, the first time in over a year and for the second time in several years! There are no openers, there are no closers, there are just four dope hip-hop acts that are going to perform their butts off for those in attendance.

If you didn’t know there used to be a beef between UMG and House of M, there was a lot of bad blood between the two camps for years…going back to around 2008 and bridging deep into 2010.

When the House of M fell apart at the end of 2010, A.P.R.I.M.E. and Trellmatic of AUTOMatic, and Raze no longer wished to carry on any ill will because the issues were more with others that had been House of M, and the guys of UMG were tired of the cumbersome rigmarole beefing often presents. After several years, it was just stale and almost a cliche.

So, in an attempt to build bridges where they once were burned, I approached Axtra with the idea at the listening party for my albums Shadowlands/Tea Party and he was completely open to it!

As former manager of House of M (2010), and current manager of AUTOMatic and Raze, I’m very excited about this show because in my opinion these artists, AUTOMatic, Prophetic, Raze, and Yo-Dot, are some of the best that Milwaukee has to offer…and it’s going to be great to finally have them on stage with each other without any sour air in the building.

It should be said, however, that this show in no way reflects the feelings or thoughts of other former House of M members and UMG members and they are not included in this show’s line-up. Others have also burried the hatchet, but there are also some that are still very much leary of each other.

The night is going to be fun and is something that will help the Milwaukee hip-hop scene step closer towards the unification it once enjoyed in 2007.

The poster was designed by Dana Coppafeel.

Umbrella Music Group is a Milwaukee based label that is represented by artists like Prophetic, Ka$h, Yo-Dot, Tay Butler, and Adlib. No Half Steppin Crew is represented by artists like AUTOMatic, Raze, The Hollowz, DJ JDL, and DJ Bizzon.

Follow the madness: twitter.com/themadbloggers_
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Raze "Off My Rocker" featuring Logic (of The Hollowz)

Since last summer’s release of his sophomore album, Living in Technocolor, Raze’s reputation of being a wild card and too blunt at times has grown exponentially with a constant stream of public thoughts that call out whatever he feels needs to be called out at that time.

Finally, Raze admits that he’s gone “crazy” with his new song that features the equally-as-tortured rapper, Logic (of The Hollowz).

The song “Off My Rocker” (produced by Raze himself) unleashes nothing less than an eyebrow raising, and even macabrely humorous, walk through the thoughts of two emcees that aren’t afraid to let the “crazy” fly when it’s proper and necessary to do so.

via @JCPoppe




Follow the madness: twitter.com/themadbloggers_
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

What I'm Watching ... @RazeTastic "Blue Collar"

Milwaukee has heat. I keep telling folks that. Check out the new video from Milwaukee fam Raze for his track "Blue Collar" off his "Living in Technocolor" project. It's the my-job-sucks-tell-a-passenger-fuck-you-grab-a-beer-jump-down-the-escape-chute theme song. Enjoy the video shot by www.GrownManCollective.com and featuring a gang of cameos.



houseofmutants.com

Follow the madness: twitter.com/themadbloggers_
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

First Listen: @Razetastic "Living in Technocolor"

I've had "Living in Technocolor" for a few weeks now.  In between random other releases, I found myself going back to the project and blasting it. It's a great listen. Lyrically, the production and the overall concept is dope and delivers yet another layer of the Milwaukee emcee.

"Living in Technocolor" is the follow up to Raze's "Dreaming in Greyscale", coming almost two years after that release and fresh off the success of House of M’s "The Alternate Reality Of…"

The Prologue sets the stage. The Epilogue raps it up nicely. And all the tracks in between deliver on the 21 track LP. And from tracks like "One Hunnid" (talking about all the fakeness in music) to "Rosie Palms" (talking about "self love"), Raze brings a colorful spectrum to his music and this project.

Raze is one talented dude.

Raze has been featured on the blog a few times but we've never interviewed him. So, I reached out to Raze to talk about the new project and one of his favorite subjects, women.

Enjoy.

The Mad Bloggers: What's the difference between "Dreaming In Greyscale" and "Living in Technocolor"? As an artists, do you think you've grown between the two projects?

Raze: DiG (Dreaming In Greyscale) was essentially the story of the man behind the music. LiT (Living in Technocolor) is the music behind that man. DiG was a "how I got here" of sorts. My life experiences, whereas LiT is the product & artistic application of those experiences. Yeah, I feel I've grown, I've had to! As a father, husband, group member/leader, baby daddy, etc. (LOL) The maturity of this album I think really shines through. I've learned how to say some pretty direct and sometimes crass things, in a much more digestable way.

TMB: It's been a while since Dreaming In Greyscale, why so long?

Raze: Well, I started working on LiT in December of '08 right after DiG dropped (that July) after I left my former crew. Shortly after I started recording (4-5 songs in) I OFFICIALLY joined the House of Mutants. I did some work with Gambit & SoulMatikk (formerly D'Matikk) exclusively, and those demos turned into some of the tracks for "The Alternate Reality of..." (The House of Mutants group album of '09). I also put out a "mixtape album" called "Lust Love Hate" comprised of some older material and some new material around those subjects, cuz I felt it really hadn't been explored that deeply in my genre. That was well recieved, but really I took a break from the solo album to focus on the group album and to help put out JC Poppe's debut album "Sleep Therapy". It was definitely a good move because I learned a lot during the recording/producing of those albums, which I applied to LiT. It made sense because we wanted to springboard the solo albums of the House of Mutant emcees off of the group effort, instead of the other way around. It fit the "House of Mutants storyline" better that way in the long run...You'll all see soon after it plays out.

TMB: How long did it take for you to put together "Living in Technocolor"?

Raze: Like I said, I started recording in '08, but took essentially ALL of '09 off. So I guess it'd be fair to say I worked on this album maybe 6 or 7 months total?

TMB: Who did you work with on this new project?

Raze: Well, who DIDN'T I work with is more like it (LOL). I can honestly say minus a VERY few names, I worked with some of the most talented artists in Milwaukee and one in particular beyond. It was great to be able to have so many dope cats down for MY project. I worked with the House of Mutants crew (Lou Tang, Soulmatikk, Trellmatic, myself) plus FINALLY linked up with Miltown Beatdown legend Jihad Barakus. I got a track by Edward Cayce of The Hollowz and my boy SosaDaGr8 who's been a web homie for years. To help with the R&B/Poetry side of things, I got my sister Elle Razberry, Patrice Downey, Bobby Drake and Ms. Cream. I was blessed with gettin verses from APRIME, Frankie Flowers & SPEAKeasy on various songs as well. Plus I got some cameos from Gambit and JC Poppe and this cat named Yung Lil Bullshit that's doin big thangs right now. I've never been one for too many guest appearances on solo albums, but I truly needed these artists to complete the vision and they came thru amazingly for me and I'm beyond grateful for it!

TMB: You seem to tackle a lot of things in your music (Rosie Palms for example off the new project), where does that boldness come from?

Raze: Fam, if people only knew what goes thru my mind half the time...LOL. I've always been outspoken and opinionated. Sometimes it's a good thing, sometimes not so much, but I've accepted that THAT'S ME. So I just put my thoughts/feelings out there and see what happens. Like "Rosie Palms" for example, WHO DOES THAT?!? It's somethin EVERYBODY (don't be a fkn lie) has had an experience or 1000 with, so I wanted to spit on it (PAUSE). But I ain't wanna do it on some regular ish, so I took it to a storytelling/personifying tip. I love that track.

TMB: I've heard you be called, "a creative pillar of House of M", so how is Raze the solo artist different than Raze the member of House of M?

Raze: When you're in a group, its a democracy. So each member has a voice, but each voice is really just a different octave of the OVERALL vocal. A "Rosie Palms" or "Oh Baby" prolly would've been veto'd prolly on a group album, but "Starz at Nite" (from The Alternate Reality of...) wasn't because THE WHOLE could connect and relate, plus be comfortable rhymin bout it.

TMB: What's the hardest thing you're finding out with promoting/pushing your music?

Raze: That the game ain't what it used to be. I mean, I've BEEN known this, but it's kinda disheartening now because as an indie artist, our legitimate ALBUM RELEASES are outshone by web leaks of major artists. Sure, the internet has somewhat levelled the playing field to a degree but there's still so much financially and promotions wise we still can't compete with...unless we pull some Kat Stacks type BS or get a hood model chick to be our girlfriend...LOL

TMB: I've heard the ladies love Raze (LOL). What's that all about?

Raze: Back in the day I was a hoe...no lie. I mean I can't reiterate that enough. I am probably the Wilt Chaimberlain of Milwaukee's hip hop community. I can't say I'm proud of that, but can't say I'm ashamed either. All I know is women have always been attracted to me. I think I've always been a strong, leader type dude that doesn't sugar coat, so amongst an ocean of dudes tellin them what they WANNA hear, I'm givin 'em the real and maybe that built some kinda intrigue or somethin. I dunno, but I'm appreciative of them all....errr, MOST of them (LOL)

TMB: Random question, if you were stranded on an Island with three women, who would they be and why?

Raze:  Jill Scott, Kelly Divine and my wife. Jill could sing to me, spit that dope poetic angelic ish. Kelly Divine (porn star) could basically fuck my brains out CONSTANT and my wife could join in with Kelly PLUS keep me fed wit the "white girl chicken" or white girl coconuts...or white girl wild boar...or...you get it (LOL)

TMB: Right, right (LOL). And well, back to the music, if there was one thing you'd want people to take from "Living in Technocolor," what would it be?

Raze: My biggest wish for Hip Hop, and really urban music in general is the return of THE TRUTH to the forefront of it all. I'm tired of gimmicks, tired of rappers gettin exposed, all because they just couldn't "keep it one hunnid" in their songs. If you're a truly talented person, your highs and lows of your past will be forgiven. Because ultimately, it's all about the music, right? Life is vivid, multi-dimensional and colorful as hell. So take advantage of all life gives you. Or, maybe I'm still Dreaming...


Preview "Living in Technocolor"



twitter.com/razetastic
www.houseofmutants.com
www.cdbaby.com/cd/raze1

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Check It ... Raze "One Hunnid"

I intended to post this yesterday but fell into several coma like sleep stints. Before I knew it, it was morning. I wasn't drunk but don't recall going to bed officially last night. Yeah, that's a problem. Annnnnnnnyhoooooo, this is the new (and first) cut from the homie Raze of his upcoming album "Living In Technocolor." The dude is dope and if this track is any indication, "Living in Technocolor" is gonna be serious. Enjoy.

"This is the lead single from the album "Living in Technocolor" by Raze, a member of the group House of M. This album will also be the first official release by the newly established, independent House of Mutants imprint. The album is set for release on June 15th, 2010. The track was produced by Lou Tang for HoM; Co-Produced by Raze for HoM/DreamScale Media."

twitter.com/razetastic

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers