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Block Scholars was named officially in 2008 from the combination of the artists; 2mental (Nathan Andreas), NOBULL (Bennett Baskerville) and Slimdog of Slimdog Productions (David Bell Jr.). Both 2mental & NOBULL have worked on separate projects with Slimdog Productions, but all decided to become a force to be reckoned with in 2008, with one goal: To bring real Hip Hop back to the forefront of the music industry with their own unique style. Both 2mental & NOBULL are skilled lyricists from different parts of the US. 2mental, from Austin, TX. by way of Philadelphia, PA. and NOBULL from Colorado Springs, CO. by way of The Bronx, NYC. Slimdog also is from Colorado Springs, CO. by way of Akron, OH.
All have had top music chart positions on many independent sites such as, IACmusic.com, Soundclick.com, Audiostreet.net, Garageband.com (song of the day), mp3unsigned.com & ArtistLaunch.com. The claim to fame was back in November 25,2007 when 2mental, Jewelz & Slimdog Productions charted on Cashbox Magazine's top 10 Indie Hip Hop/R&B Charts with "Dear Momz". The song soon hit the prestigious #1 spot on the chart on December 17, 2007. Block Scholars are the KIAC OPEN SONGS COMPETITION WINNER 2009: HIP HOP for, "Livin' In Tha' Jungle ft. 2mental" & IACmusic.com's 2007 IAIA GOLDEN KAYAK INDIE HIP HOP SONG OF THE YEAR for Slimdog Productions, "Dear Momz ft. 2mental & Jewelz". Block Scholars were selected by URB MAGAZINE'S, "NEXT 1000" artists to watch for in 2009 and were 1 of 100 finalists invited to NYC for the URBAN MUSIC AWARDS, "AMERICA'S NEXT URBAN SUPERSTAR" out of 10,000 entries. Slimdog Productions, "Crunk It Up Man!!!, was selected by NBC/UNIVERSAL SPORTS for licensing for their programming. In January 2010, Slimdog Productions was a finalist in AllHipHop.com/Uplaya.com's contest to find the next up and coming Hip Hop group with, "Fantasy ft. Preach Ankobia & Acapa Da Kid" out of Montreal, Canada. Because of other obligations, 2mental is no longer with Block Scholars. Block Scholars wish 2mental the best in his future endeavors. You can also hear more of Block Scholars music along with works with 2mental on, "Slimdog's Slimdizzle Fo' Shizzle Show" podcast at: www.slimdog.podomatic.com with currently over 5700 feeds a month.
February 13, 2010: Block Scholars: Weather The Storm Compilation Album, Featuring 2mental & Block Scholars goes on sale at Magnatune.com
Block Scholars On Magnatune
Block Scholars will be only the second Hip Hop group to sell their works on Magnatune.
We like to thank all the listeners and publications who have taken the time to listen, comment & review our music. Here are some:
"- Our second hip hop artist on Magnatune, but the first in quite a few years. The Block Scholars impressed me with the quality of musicianship, production and lyrical content."
-John Buckman, CEO and founder of Magnatune.com 2/12/10-
"Dear David,
Thanks for submitting the material for the evaluation.
WOW - great job David! These songs are as strong as anything on the radio in the rap genre.
All of the bases are covered - music, lyrics, rapping, beats, etc... I am very impressed.
The lyric "loose lips sink ships" ("Livin' In Tha' Jungle ft. 2mental") made me smile, as that's a common expression for one of my favorite Uncles. It made me think of him. So that was cool. :-)
I only have good things to say about your music. You are doing a great job and if you keep working hard to get it out there from Colorado to the world, the sky is the limit..."
-Eugene Foley of Foley Entertainment Inc., consultant/advisor to over 40 Gold/Platinum Record & 3 Grammy winning artists/producers. One of the most respected consultants/authors in the music industry, evaluating Block Scholars songs; "Livin' In Tha' Jungle ft. 2mental", "Never Repented ft. NOBULL/Knife Star/Vagabond" & "Lyrical Extermination". www.FoleyEntertainment.com 10/13/09-
"There’s some knowledge you can’t get in school, it comes from experience. Block Scholars use lessons learned from their personal trials and tribulations to teach the masses through their music. Having blessed the raw funky production of Slimdog on previous collabs, MCs NOBULL and 2mental officially united with the producer in 2008. The result is a group that hopes to use their allegorical street tales as an instrument of change. The head-nodding beats are a nice bonus."
-Block Scholars, "Livin' In Tha' Jungle" Reviewed by Dan Vidal URB.COM 3/10/09-
"The Block Scholars are a hardcore Rap outfit hailing from Colorado Springs. For us, they really came out of left field, and we were pleasantly surprised when their music ended up in our in box last week.
So far what we have heard is a wide array of various songs, in various styles, all put together extremely properly.
There is a lot you need to know about these hustle hard motherf***ers (including a dope Podcast they do), So we will be unveiling it over the course of this month, in fragments.
But for now..."
-THE COLORADO RAP REPORT 3/16/09-
"Music Comments: David Bell, Jr. bangs out high tech and an instrumental foundation on his large cd. It's about the rough and tumble hustle of the street, full of harsh thoughts and conscious hip hop chops. The ep has deep and timely lyrics about keeping it real. The highlights on these tracks occurs when he gets into the musical quality of the melodies, with techno backbeats and deep vocals to back his message...We look forward to receiving more tunes where this came from!"
- A&R SELECT HOLLYWOOD 3/26/09-
"Here I go again folks, another example of synchronicity finding its way into my life, this time thanks to the threesome of Slimdog, 2mental and Jewelz. How's that you ask? Simplicity man, pure and plain simplicity ... you see I've had Slimdog on my to do review list here for dog's ages - hey, no pun intended!! So here I am showing up on Slimdog's page just ten days before Christmas, and what song to I choose to listen to first? Yep, you got it - "Dear Momz". So what's that got to do with synchronicity? Everything! The song was a Christmas gift to 2mental's mom, and that sure made this feel like synchronicity to me. Anyway, congrats to Slimdog, 2mental and Jewelz for picking up the Golden Kayak for Best Song Hip Hop/Rap 2007 AND for hitting # 1 on Cashbox Magazine's Top 10 Indie Picks for R&B Hip Hop - well deserved recognition and achievement in anybody's books. As for the song itself ... awesome way cool funk beat, intense and passionate vocals, poignant and polished lyrics, experienced arrangement and smooth Slimdog production ... it all adds up to one perfectly "rap-turous" dedication to "Dear Momz" here, there and everywhere. To describe the song in one word: a "Standout". Welcome to Legendary Music II." -Neil from Neil w Young And The Legendary Bear Creek Band, IACmusic station: Legendary Music II 12/15/08-
Thanks Neil!!!
"I found this Slimdog Productions song 3-12-2007. It's now here on this station for reasons that are so ironic tonight that it would take me forever to figure out how to explain it. Here's the 2007 comments - I can listen this kind of feeling all night long. Nice background music for a get together with friends. Then TURN IT UP if the get together starts getting more lively. I'm going to go find more of your music because I do beleive there is an abundance of other music on your artist page. So I'll be there soon as I get this station mix done. Thank you for the great song Slimdog! And thank you so much for the sweet comment in the shout box. Made me giggle. Wish you the beat. hehe! I can certainly use all the beat I can get in this life. IT IS NOW 2009 and we're about to see it arrive on the this Jam station. I can hardly wait to push the button here to see it come alive before my very eyes just like it did in 2007. By the way, if you didn't know, Slimdog has an ACCUTE memory in the sweetest adorable of ways! Also has an ACCUTE talent for music production and creations. I can't get this song to play, but I don't care, as long as I was able to get it here, I'm HAPPY! The chain of events leading back to this song include something Bryon Tosoff found weeks ago, and old ash ferry station that really shouldn't even exist anymore. I sadly deleted all my statinos some time ago. Funny how things come together in the ways they do. I just found Dollorado on that deleted station that Bryon found weeks ago. He happened to just mention a station he found. That was pretty jawdropping he managed to find it at all. Bryon is very clever if you don't know by now. Confused yet? I am too! The mystery of how it came to be, to make it possible to be on this station is the Magic that happens every once in awhile. -ash"
- Ash Ferry on Slimdog Productions song,"Dollarado" from JAM NIGHTS HIP HOP station on IACmusic 9/30/09-
Thanks Ash!!! You're the BEST!!!
"for World Peace and helping others..so Slim and all lay down a cool track that evokes the kinda mindset that needs to be broadcast all over...this is a real grooving vibe....but more then that this signals a change in attitude in hip hop rap whatever you want to call this type of work,.it is a nature of what they themselves have experienced and overcome , that being the pulls to the darkside and now the light that shines from them can be mirrored and reflected to help the underprivileged, the downtrodden or even those who may have it all ...change is coming in the form of peace and brotherhood. carry on the groove dudes...Bryon"
-Bryon Tosoff from "Music Is Truth" station here at IACmusic.com on Block Scholars, "This Is For My People: The Rhythm Of A Scholar" 10/2/09-
Thank You Bryon...
The meaning of "Block Scholar" is this: "Even though some of us come from areas of the US where life was tough, we pulled through it with success, in our own ways and with knowledge gained from our experiences to reach and teach the world through our music."
"Block Scholars" LP & "From Zero To Hero" Free EP Download coming in 2010...
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The ONE
Soon to be a new track by Block Scholars...
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Classical Fused with Hip Hop Beat
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Block Scholars - Lost Cause ft. 2mental
2mental tells a story about a out of body experience he once had. Produced by GID Productions. From the album, "Weather The Storm" on sale at Magnatune.com
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Alternative Hip Hop
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2mental - Dear Momz ft. Jewelz
2mental's Christmas gift to his mom featuring Jewelz...A gift, to me, that will last forever. Hit #1 on CASHBOX MAGAZINE'S TOP 10 INDIE HIP HOP/R&B CHARTS on the week of December 17th 2007.
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Alternative/Hip-Hop
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Block Scholars - Livin' In Tha Jungle ft. 2mental
Block Scholars tell it like it is out there!!! Brian on the background chorus. Thanks homie!!! Music by STK. Thanks to all who voted for the song; fans, judges & the artists at IAC.
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Hip Hop/Rap
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Block Scholars - All My Life ft. 2mental
NOBULL & 2mental talk about their journeys so far through life.
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Alternative Hip Hop
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2mental - Break It Down ft. Lil' Nate(BSDK)
2mental, along with Lil' Nate(BornSlaveDieKing), talks about the old school days of Hip Hop. Had fun doin' this one...
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Ol'' School Hip Hop
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2mental - Tell Me Why ft.Trinity i
2mental asks the questions that we all ask about life and in ourselves...
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Hip Hop/Rap
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Block Scholars - Our Year ft. 2mental
Former bandmate 2mental gets own with NOBULL to let people know what's up with Block Scholars...Music Produced By NOBULL
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Hip Hop/Rap
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Block Scholars - Within' The Lines ft. 2mental
Gotta draw the line somewhere... Music Produced by NOBULL.
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Hip Hop/Rap
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Block Scholars - Don't Fake Tha' Funk ft. 2mental
WHEW!!! The Block Scholars bringing it HARD to those fake, no good "rappers"...You KNOW who you are...
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Funk
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Block Scholars - You Can't Fight Us ft. 20/20
Might as well join us. Haha!! Featuring 20/20 from Colorado Springs...
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Hip Hop/Rap
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Block Scholars - Uplaya Anthem (Prod. By Infidel)
This is the official theme song for the Uplaya web site. Approved 2/18/10 by CEO David Meredith and Robert Lamm, the founder of the iconic band "Chicago". Will be up on the site soon. And YES, it scored a 8.9. A Platinum Auddy Award.
The artist has designated this song as non-chartable.
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Hip Hop/Rap
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Preach Ankobia - Fantasy ft. Acapa Da Kid
Song is 1 of 4 songs in finals of AllHipHop.com/Uplaya.com contest. We are honoured to be recognized for our hard work!!! Preach Ankobia & Acapa Da Kid are Hip Hop Artists from Montreal. I was Blessed to have them grace this tight beat...
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Hip Hop/Rap
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Block Scholars - I Want (S.T.W.N.C.) ft. Blackjack
Blackjack, out of Louisiana raps along with NOBULL on "I Want (Some Things Will Never Change) about their dreams, not only for themselves, but others as well.
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Positive Hip Hop
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Do Da Dew (Instrumental)
Plannin' to get some vocals on this one...
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"U Can Do Da Dew" to Soulfulness
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The Harder They Come (Instrumental)
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Hip Hop/Electronica
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Council Of 9 Remix by Soulsellerbeats
Doin' it NO HOLDS BARRED!!! Featuring: god-b/NOBULL(Block Scholars)/Matt Maddox/Vagabond/Prosthetic Hip/Dirty Bird Emcee/Masspike/Knife Star/One Mic Thanks to Soulsellerbeats who remixed this DOPE track from Dirty Bird Emcee's original track!!!
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WuTangClan Style Hip Hop
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Block Scholars - Who You Foolin'???
Block Scholars speaking on these fake-ass rappers...You ain't foolin' us!!!
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Hip Hop/Rap
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Block Scholars - What You Gonna Do? ft. 2mental
When your back's against the wall...What YOU Gonna Do???
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Hip Hop/Rap
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Block Scholars - This Is For My People: T.R.O.A.S.
"This Is For My People: The Rhythm Of A Scholar" is kind of the theme song of what Block Scholars are about. We do our raw stuff, but this is what we REALLY are about; Reaching and Teaching through our music....
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Positive Hip Hop/House
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Block Scholars - Back 2 Hip Hop ft. J-Springz
J-Springz, my "son" (stepson's best friend) who is a aspiring rapper, collabs with Block Scholars NOBULL on this track about bringing REAL Hip Hop and the culture back to where it belongs in this wayward genre. Produced by STK (Self Taught Knowledge).
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Old School
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Never Repented ft. NOBULL/Knife Star/Vagabond
Block Scholars own, NOBULL, collabs with Knife Star(Chile) & Vagabond (S.Dakota) of The Hatchet Men on a controversial topic that sometimes gets swept under the rug. Produced by STK (Self Taught Knowledge).
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Hip Hop/Rap
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Heart ft. Derelict/NOBULL
In Hip Hop nowadays, most artists on the radio don't talk about what goes on in their heart. It's all about the rims, booty & clubs on radio...No heart. Produced by Dion X(also known as Blue Earth from S. Dakota).
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Hip Hop/Rap
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Block Scholars - Bring It Back ft. Hatchet Men
Vagabond (S.Dakota) & Knife Star (Chile) feature on a Big D.O.(Colorado Springs)track about bringing that real Hip Hop again.
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Hip Hop/Rap
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Dollarado (What You Gonna Do? Instrumental)
Kinda modeled the beat after THE ROOTS tight beat from the song,"In The Music".
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Hip Hop Beats
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Block Scholars - Lyrical Extermination
We wanted to expand our horizons a bit with this song. Block Scholars is a 2009 URBAN MUSIC AWARDS FINALIST for "AMERICA'S NEXT URBAN SUPERSTAR" www.urbanmusicawards.net
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Hip Hop With A Dose of Rock Star
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Block Scholars - My Ghetto Testament ft. Sincere
NOBULL & Sincere talk about the toughness of the streets and making it when all is said & done. Persevere!!! (Done when Bush was`still in office: 2008)
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Hip Hop/Rap
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Tell The Real Story ft. Vagabond & NOBULL
Is racism still alive? You tell me...
Produced by STK.
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Hip Hop/Rap
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Wikked (Instrumental)
Instrumental of song "Wikked" ft. Slimdog, NOBULL, SIRTAFYDE, J-Springz and KENBO. Coming Soon!!!
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Hip Hop/Rap
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Block Scholars - I Spy
NOBULL & I rip these MCs that are killing Hip Hop not just in the Pikes Peak Region of C. Springs, but everywhere.
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Hip Hop/Rap
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Block Scholars - Second II None
Need we say anything more? Produced by NOBULL.
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Hip Hop/Rap
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Crunk It Up Man!!!
"Crunk It Up Man!!!" was composed in 2004 as one of my first beats ever made. It was just selected on June 5, 2009 by NBC/UNIVERSAL SPORTS TELEVISION NETWORK for licensing and placement in their library for their programming.
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Hip Hop Instrumental
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You Can't Fight Us (Instrumental)
You might as well join us...Rap version coming soon.
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Hip Hop Instrumental
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Why
Just askin'...
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Hip Hop/R&B Instrumental
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Cracks In The Pavement ft. M.O.S. of M7music.com
"A Featured 20 Song" at ArtistLaunch.com, the lyrics are by M.O.S.(Master Of Self)of M7music & of CREW 54...He spits some knowledge on a Slimdog laced track. Catch M.O.S. at: www.myspace.com/masterofself
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New school
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Focused Instrumental ft. Elise
The hook is by Elise out of Denver. It hit #1 in Jazz:Vocal & Jazz: Overall on Soundclick back in 2006.
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Ambient
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Brian Jerome - Livin' The High Life
My first collabo with a IACmusic artist!!! Brian Jerome talks about "living the high life" and forgetting about what's REALLY important though. Introducing Steve Rosario from the "Funk Factory" band. I appreciate the great work the both of you have done!!!
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R&B/Soul
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KENBO - Lyrical Statement
KENBO, from Jacksonville, Florida, does some work on an Old School style Slimdog track.
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Hip Hop/Rap
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KENBO - Fresh
KENBO doin' it of the Freshness beat...
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Hip Hop/Rap
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SIRTAFYDE - Move Wit It!!!
SIRTAFYDE, from my birthplace of Akron, Ohio, gets down on an East Indian track from Slimdog.
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Hip Hop/Rap
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SIRTAFYDE - Who's The Baddest!!!
Sirtafyde come hard on this one...Catch him at: www.myspace.com/sirtafyde
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Hip Hop/Rap
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Stroke
Hoping to find an R&B singer or a tight rapper for this smooth track...
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Urban Contemporary
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Stasis
Soulful/R&B type instrumental with a Hip Hop beat
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R&B/Soul
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S.L.I.M.D.O.G. (Instrumental)
Supreme Lyrics Involving My Dominating Orchestral Game...Featuring: NOBULL, 2mental, SIRTAFYDE, KENBO, J-Springz and Main Course COMING SOON!!!
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R&B/Soul
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Rise Up
Smooth beat with just a tinge of rock guitar and some rhodes keyboard thrown in...
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Ambient
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Freshness
Fresh like Wonder Bread...
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Hip Hop Beats
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Comments
View All
Aimee Terrin
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3/14/2010 1:02:14 PM
2Mental -
hopefully by then I will have gotten my butt out to AZ to record with pHLeGm, but ether way hit me up when you are local as we have a few studios we work out of here in LA...we will do some drops on 'Lifetime'...
xoxo
A.T.
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Aimee Terrin
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3/14/2010 4:04:00 AM
Slim -
Got something special in the works for you...I'll fill you in more in the next few weeks, but it involves y'all and "In Another Lifetime"...xoxo A.T.
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Bob Rylett
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3/4/2010 5:54:47 AM
Slim, thank you so much for your kindness and prayers, you sir are a talented, talented gentlemen and we haven't been formally introduced...my name is bob rylett...and the pleasure is mine...
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denise cascione
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2/13/2010 7:50:13 AM
morning my friend...loving the grooves and the lyrics here this morning ....wishing you continued inspiration
bless you
denise
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Aimee Terrin
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1/29/2010 10:38:25 PM
Going through your records one by one...diggin' your style...
xoxo
A.T.
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Jesse Adams
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1/18/2010 12:36:44 PM
Thanks Slim! 2010 has already gotten off to a freakin' AWESOME start, so hard to imagine it'll only get better, but I know it will.
Here's to a productive year full of progress.
CHEERS
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srm
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1/17/2010 8:28:43 PM
Thanks for dropping by, Slim! Sorry for the delayed response (I don't get around to IAC as often). I hope you have a tremendous year!
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Neil w Young and The Legendary Bear Creek Band
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1/13/2010 9:04:42 PM
Many thanks Slim for your New Year's good wishes. All the very best to you and yours for the New Year too my friend!! Congrats too on the 1st Place Year of the Indie in HipHop/Rap/Dance. AWESOME on YOU!!!
Play hard, rock on and happy trails.
Neil
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bownarrowmusic
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1/13/2010 5:42:45 PM
Thanks for the dropping by Slim. I hope your 2010 is very productive, happy.
roy
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SILVERWOODSTUDIO
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1/12/2010 2:13:21 PM
Hi Slim
Thanks mate ! I should have congratulated ewe for winning the contest but I was sulking in the corner, after our songs disappearing mid round-
we got a bit slack after the contest, but back now, with new material, and our stations are holding up well in top 100, We have a lot of respect for what ewe do here-
Rob
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denise cascione
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1/9/2010 8:20:23 PM
Oh Slim thank you for your kind words
wishing you a new year filled with inspiration
love that beautiful music!
denise
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Richard Scotti
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1/9/2010 10:43:23 AM
Happy New Year to you too, Slimdog and congrats on your #1 in the contest! I would have been up there with you if the judges didn't have such different tastes as the vast majority of voters! (in your case they got it right)
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FLOW of Meshwell
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1/9/2010 8:08:17 AM
Happy New Year to you and yours as well! Hope you doin' some big things with that music. I've only made it about 4 songs deep into my solo effort but they commin along nicely. Hold it down and keep pumpin' them beats out! FLOW
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Vincenzo Pandolfi
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1/9/2010 4:53:38 AM
Thanks Slim for thinking of me and my family. We are all doing great so far. A very happy and creative 2010 to you as well!!
I have not been around much lately as it has been very busy for us..renovations, overseas visitors, work....but I will be back soon...
Ciao
Vincenzo
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The CODE
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12/31/2009 8:55:19 AM
Happy New Year Slim!
All the best for 2010!
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