The MC Ready Or Not Freestyle - No Ready

 

Kicking off a Freestyle Fridays vibe in the heat with something classic for those that know

Ready Or Not, taken from The Fugees second album The Score

Contains a sample of "Boadicea" by Enya and its chorus is based on "Ready Or Not Here I Come (Cant Hide from Love)" by The Delfonics. . 

Somewhere around 96 I had this album stuck in my disc man, only to be interchanged with the likes of maybe Nas - It Was Written or Mary J. Blige - My Life. To this day it remains one of my all time favourites. Classic

Captivated by the culture crossing vernacular, and blended singing and rapping vocals over infectious multi genre neck snapping beats, I was hooked. As a group of socially conscious intellectuals The Fugees had a voice, sound and story that felt closer to mine  than any hip hop I'd listened, to that date.  

I love this beat for its sheer simplicity; literally a moody synth bed of Enya for some phat hip hop drums to sit on top, and that's it. An emcees dream. Id freestyle to this for hours. Eventually I wrote No Ready which celebrated the Reggae/Danehall/Hip Hop lifestyle lived in Jamaica while making commentary on how my immediate environment ironically just wasn't ready for me to bring such music to the wider world.

Still you know... I just wanna sing my song  

Listen to the original recording of Nuh Ready here...

The MC AFFIRMATION

Produced by #Inztinkz 

Mixed & Engineered by King Droopie 

Just a regular day in #Jamaica; cruising through suburbs and speeding down highways, but to the rest of the world, suburbs, highways and anything not fitting the Jamaican stereotype doesn’t exist here. 

Here is home, a place I need a plane to visit now that I’m living in London again. I see so many influenced by this island of paradox and beauty not knowing how much it truly has to offer, including Jamaicans that have never ventured as far as Kingston or who have yet to even step foot on its soil. 

Reflecting on this during a recent trip home I started documenting. So untypical am I; British Jamaican #HipHop #Reggae #Soul #singer. Every day that breaks is far from regular, even if all you see is the highlights, this is a sound journey. Art is the mission music is the medicine love is the message. 

This is my affirmation welcome to the adventure.

DYING TO LIVE / LOVING AND LIVING - My last unmixed tape

Not for general consumption but since its you, here you are. I've been in two minds about even sharing these but here I am, or I should say have been for a number of years, between Dying to live and loving and living my life.


I been feeling every line, far longer than I care to remember.

The last time I promoted myself as an artist was 2011. I was trying to write my way out of easily my 4th life changing depression. Submerging myself in my craft was beginning to pay off in that onstage I was truly beginning to let go. Offstage however, art was having the life choked out of it and escape was becoming less and less.

Sadness’ undertow had me by the throat. 

Pain silenced my voice 

In my earlier experiences with depression I would cut my skin deeply, trying to match the pain I was feeling inside, hoping to get it out. Unable to have an emotional release, frustrated and flabbergasted when I was dry out of tears, I’d grab anything sharp to help me weep. If I couldn’t cry, bleeding would have to suffice.

I’d never consider myself suicidal. I’d never want the attention of a ‘suicide attempt’, I think the shame would make me kill myself. I have always had suicidal fantasies however. Like if I were dead then I could imagine people responding to my death the way I thought they should to my life. Ah but then how would I see that. No.

If I could cut deep enough to release my pain that blade would remind me I’m very much alive. Carry on. Things aren't the absolute worst they could be, and should they ever be, well, then my escape plan is to just apply more pressure and just go.

Now I’m reminded of a piece of graffiti all the way upstairs on the 6th form block in high school that read something like ‘A-levels escape route’ with an arrow beside it pointing over the wall to the ground below. My type of humour. 

A good sense of humour is great to cover pain and scars, but there is no humour in ending your life as an escape from however you may be suffering, or as a statement to those left behind. Especially if you're feeling like you've not gotten life started yet. Then you haven't even seen the best part. The thought of leaving this existence without having thrived as the best version of myself, purpose full, inspiring, impacting and sharing my gifts, is sadder than all the sadness. There's so much work to do here first. Heal first. 

So I exit

Pain strengthens a voice 

I learn to release through music.

Circa 2009 I wrote Dying to Live and Loving and Living believing in things I was yet to see. One song to access my feelings, examine my thoughts and sort them, the second to project my attitude, healing and growth beyond them. Not that I had such clarity at the time. The only personal plan I had was to not give up and never stop. I had fully hit the glass ceiling of trying to please everyone else, and I had shattered. Times over. 

While I prepared my art to share with the world, I would begin rebuilding myself stronger like Kintsugi pottery, gold in my imperfections. Eventually a path lead me back to the UK where I could start from scratch  experience and build around my music. I soon however found myself in a new version of the same circumstances living for others more so than myself. Life was once again marginalising my time to focus on my art. It was the internal work that had to take precedent. 

I have never doubted myself creatively. I have known myself as a creative since birth, but I hadn't realised how little confidence I had, and how much I’d lost along the way in every other aspect of self. I’ve now spent more time in my shadow than my light and gotten to know my self better with these two songs. The journey within continues but now that these two songs have been recorded and given a little polish I have completed my journey with them

Through break ups, loss of friends, family feuds and turmoil, creative differences, homelessness, sofa surfing, heavy depression, departure from the spotlight, false starts and technical difficulty after technical difficulty, Dying to Live has been recorded no less than twice and Loving and Living no less than 3 times. So we’ve been through it together.

Now they can almost be just songs for me. I still find it difficult at times to sing along to Dying to Live and in the recording I can hear the strain in my voice as the pain I access to emote the song grips my throat and I push through it. Loving and Living I am no longer happy with the reference to dying but I'm very certain about how that makes me feel about cherishing and making the most of life.

I look at my scars now mostly healed and sure I recall some of my lowest moments, but can't actually remember what all of them were for and that makes me smile. Perseverance is beautiful. So I leave Dying to Live here in case someone needs to find it, perhaps it will help lead them to Loving and Living.

Five Steez is a 'Dreamer': From Jamaica Star

Originally posted in the Jamaica Star 

Independent hip-hop artiste Five Steez is representing for anyone with a dream on his latest song, titled 'Dreamer'.

The third single from his upcoming album, Love N Art, with producer Mordecai, also features the vocal styling of long-time collaborator Shaq the MC.

Five Steez takes his audience on a quick journey, reflecting on his youth and how he began pursuing music.

Ironically, Shaq the MC, despite the name, sings the chorus with Steez.



THEIR HISTORY

"Shaq is someone I've collaborated and performed with going back eight years or more," said Five Steez. "He was featured on my first album, War for Peace. And even before that as an organiser in Kingston's live music scene, he was one of the first persons that gave me a platform."

Shaq the MC is the only featured act on Love N Art, appearing twice.

"Shaq is a dope rapper, but he's also a singer who understands this sound," said Steez. "He now lives in London, so, one of the times he was here in Jamaica, I got him in the studio and he laid some vocals for two of the songs, including Dreamer, with which he really helped me do something different."

Dreamer comes on the heels of two previous singles, True Original and Work, released in September and October, respectively.

Five Steez - Dreamer Ft. SHAQ The MC

For the big dreamers out there, another hot one from my partner in rhyme Five Steez featuring yours truly ...
Enjoy Dreamer from the upcoming album Love N Art on all platforms.

5 Steez celebrates 'war for peace' 5 year anniversary

Today is the 5-year anniversary of my debut album #WarforPeace. Say something if you have it. Get familiar if you don't. Link in bio. Artwork: @laurorebel. 📷 @thetherapistsol. #HipHop #Rap #Music #IndieHipHop #IndieMusic #IndieArtist #BoomBap

A post shared by Five Steez (@fivesteez) on Aug 21, 2017 at 8:03am PDT

In The Studio

https://shaqthemc.tumblr.com/post/158349491572

Sade Ft The MC - Somebody Already Broke My Heart

Mario Evon at Redbones with CH4SE

Five Steez - War For Peace (The remix EP)

Foundation - Jah Sun & Kabaka Pyramid official video

Went to look for my breddah in rhyme Kabaka Pyramid the other day and ended up rolling through to his video shoot for Foundation with Jah Sun. A handfull of us as bredrin in music were together with fire blazin and Soursop blend sipping up. Director Tim Cash came out with a small crew and his toys and set up. This deep pool of talent had gathered in the hills overlooking sun basked Kingston to make the video happen just in time before heavy rain tore through the sky. What a blessing

Love In Di Mawnin - Mario Evon Ft SHAQ The MC (Live @ Back to The Future)

Mario Evon 'Back to the Future' at Redbones

Friday March 15th Mario Evon returned to Red Bones Blues Cafe with 'Back to the Future'. 

Rain fell all day, mangoes dropped from trees, and panties flew that night. The 'Prince of Reggae-Soul' sailed smooth and easy through Reggae Oldies, Soul favourites and dancehall gems while spicing and blending with some originals from his forthcoming album M.E. On Love. 

Always bringing friends and family along; DJ Wayne Greezy selected on the digital wheels of steel; Stratdon warmed the ladies and opened the show; Stephen Madden, Jasmine and Suzanne Tylor lent guest /support vocals, as well as myself The MC... who did exactly that. (speaking in 3rd person?- Yup). All this while the band put it down!

Many thanks to Pree Jamaica and Marcus Golding Photography for these images, see the rest here and here...

check the highlights...

More videos at Mario Evon Youtube and Pree Jamaica

Pay Attention - Hip Hop happens

 

Well supported, the Hip Hop movement continues to grow on The Rock. I enjoyed this show from start to finish, and was welcomed like hip Hop royalty among people genuinely there for the music. Inztinkz and DJ Andre Young had the place moving wall to wall. Heads were banging between sets, and the sets were heavy. Everybody took the stage professionally and stood uniquely and individually as a genuine bonafide definition of Jamaican Hip Hop. I don't know how many are aware they were just a part of history. 

Check for France Nooks, 5 Star, KoroFyah and Iyah Gift. Here's some of the footage...