Tag Archive for 'problemaddicts'

Hip Hop Pick of the week: The Problemaddicts

Published by ejalyssa on April 2, 2008 in Artist Feature and Artist News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , .

 

www.ourstage.com

“Antitheses to the soulless pop music that hip hop has become.”

Name: Problemaddicts
From: Massachusetts
Emcees: Tone, Vorheez, Force, Black Buddah, 1ne Man
Backed by: DJ Theory
Formed: 2006
Ages: 23-28

Genre: Hip Hop
Sounds Like: Blackalicious, De La Soul, J5
Influences: Wu Tang, Common, Blackstar
Played With: KRS1, Little Brother, Mos Def, Ghostface Killah, … to name a few
Albums: The First Step (feat. Planet Asia, Masta Ace) – Sept. 2007


Why are the Problemaddicts blowing up on OurStage? Five words: intelligence, drive, skills, respect and personality. While their name makes them sound like trouble makers, these guys have no interest in selling out to the dramatic divide that infests the hip hop community. They aren’t concerned with who killed hip hop but rather, “who will revive it.” Their recipe for resuscitation? Smart lyrics, fresh beats, positive energy and killer live shows.

 

The Problemaddicts also take advantage of their individual talents to maximize the impact they make as a group. Vorheez works on the business end of things – Tone and DJ Theory work on mixing and developing the bands sound – Buddha reigns in the recognition with his sick free-styling/beat boxing skills & Force is networking the industry with his other group the Alchemystics.

Since these guys hit the competition they’ve managed to rack in seven top 10 spots and 2 number one channel placements (not to mention a frenzy of interest from OurStage fans and partners).

Fun Facts:
1. Two of them are chefs (Vorheez claims to make a mean Thai Shrimp Soup)
2. Favorite 80’s Cartoons: GI Joe, Thundercats, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
3. Tone’s grandfather is Carl Sagan
4. DJ Theory also spins with OurStage champs Lyke Minds
5. They prefer to play shows with a live band
6. They’re organizing a skate park concert series this summer

OurStage Semi-Finals Interview: SLiM PiCKENS

Published by ejquinn on March 29, 2008 in Artist Feature and Artist News. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

If you don’t know SLiM PiCKENS, then it’s time for you to bone up on your OurStage Hip-Hop knowledge. To get started, check out his song Redemption, which landed in Semi-Finals, making this the 7th(!) time he’s landed in the top ten on OurStage. I caught up with the OurStage superstar to get his thoughts on Finals Week, the Boston hip-hop scene, and how he uses music to give back to the community.

Quinn: Today you landed in Semi-Finals (again!) for Alternative Rap. Do you offer an alternative to mainstream hip-hop?

SLiM: First I wanna thank everybody who has supported me, I appreciate you all. Yes, my songs on ourstage are more geared tothe Underground Hip Hop movement. I do my best to create a sound and songs that are not the same recycled formula as most mainstream Rap music. More socially conscious, painting pictures of everyday struggles as I see them. You know? What is considered underground now used to be mainstream.

Q: You’re a seven time top ten artist on OurStage. Why do the fans love you so much?

S: I dont know man. Maybe because I truly am SLiM PiCKENS(pickings) lol. I hope they love me because I give real feeling in my music, something people can connect with on a personal level. Life lessons.

Q: Any advice for new artists on OurStage?

S: Yeah man, PROMO-PROMO-PROMO, thats what I do. I would tell them to find forums where people respect your craft and go hard with the promotion. Get on ya grind!!!

Q: For people in other parts of the country, what do you wish they knew about the Boston hip-hop scene?

S: The Boston Hip Hop scene has gotta lot of talent, many different styles and ranges of sound. We need people to recognize that we do have a Hip Hop scene(as small as it is). Its becoming greater day by day the more we unite. Check out Boston Hip Hop. We got next!!!

Q: If you could collaborate with any living artist, who would it be and why?

S: Wow, just 1 because there are so many. Man, how bout my top five (lol)? I would say Nas. He’s vivid with the story telling. Really descriptive. The Rza, he’s gotta real precision cut scientific type spit (say that 5 times fast lol). Common for his lyricism and finesse. KRS-1, pretty self explanatory. Rakim(Hip Hop GOD), Black Thought, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys lol the list goes on ya know.

Q: Any other artists on OurStage that people should know about?

S: Definitely, my homie Buttaraspy, he got flava for days. Also:

  • Izwon-raw raps
  • Subzero617-multi-talented artist
  • Problemaddicts-ill Hip Hop crew
  • C.A.M.IL-he’s nice with the mic
  • Miztasand-anotha multi-talented artist
  • Bsykes-gets the club hoppin
  • Rick Foy- ill with the video
  • B-Millz-Mr. Philly himself, kid got skills
  • E.B.B. and Flow-Good music for ya listening pleasure
  • The Press Project-DOPE

    There is so much talent on Ourstage!!!

    Q: In your song Hip Hop you say “f**k the radio.” Is radio dead?

    S: Its dying. DJs don’t break records like they used to. I listen to satellite radio, but FM forget about it (once in a blue moon). All u hear is the same trash over and over and over again. I think thats the reason people like it. They hypnotize you into liking it (lol).

    Q: What do you do when you’re not rhyming?

    S: Spend time with my family, my wife and 2 kids. I volunteer with Citizen Schools as a Citizen teacher for the Boston Hip Hop Shop apprenticeship. We teach the kids History of Hip Hop and how it is evolving. Its music, history, social studies, art, entertainment all rolled up in to one class, once a week with my co-teacher D. Brown from Jam’n 94.5. Other than that I relax, but Hip Hop is my life. Its how I survive.