Honkey Kong Features Appearances From Xzibit, Celph Titled, General Steele, Mad Lion, Action Bronson, Slaine, Vinnie Paz, Ill Bill, Esoteric and Production from DJ Premier, DJ Muggs, Evidence, Statik Selektah, Da Beatminerz
After signing a major-label deal with Atlantic Records and eventually being granted his release, Apathy released his debut album, Eastern Philosophy in March 2006 and it received rave reviews from Vibe Magazine and a slew of prominent publications and he was highlighted as one of the top upcoming emcees by XXL Magazine with a “Show And Prove” selection and as one of Urb Magazine’s Hot 100” artists. Apathy released his sophomore LP, Wanna Snuggle, in October of 2009 and as with all of his work, it was again met with critical praise; the project included collaborations with Cypress Hill, Mike Shinoda, Skyler Gray and Phonte (of Little Brother).
Though Apathy is a solo-artist at heart, he is an artist who wears many different hats; he is a founding member of the Demigodz crew, he’s also a member of Army of The Pharaohs and the bi-coastal conglomerate The Get Busy Committee (which also includes Scoop Deville and Ryu; they released their debut collaborative effort Uzi Does It 11-10-2009) and joining frequent partner in rhyme Celph Titled to form their Dirty Version Records label. Also, in addition to producing a great deal of his own material, Ap recently contributed production to Cypress Hill’s Rise Up LP and has produced tracks for Mike Shinoda, Skyler Grey, Phonte, Styles Of Beyond, 7l & Esoteric and Get Busy Committee.
On August 23rd, 2011 Apathy will take his career to another level with the release of his third-solo LP Honkey Kong. With Honkey Kong, Ap has undeniably crafted his best project to date and the Evidence produced “Check To Check” has already impacted the blogosphere and only heightened expectations for it. The DJ Premier produced lead-single “Stop What Ya Doin” f/Celph Titled will be released in early August. Honkey Kong includes production from Apathy, DJ Premier, DJ Muggs, Statik Selektah, Evidence, Da Beatminerz and Teddy Roxpin (Mac Miller) among others. Guest appearances on Honkey Kong include Xzibit, Slaine, Vinnie Paz, Esoteric, Ill Bill, Celph Titled, Action Bronson, General Steele (Smif N Wessun) and Mad Lion and the guests that appear on the LP appear for a very specific reason, as Ap verifies; "When I started to make Honkey Kong, I knew I wanted to make a hardcore, classic hip-hop album. I grew up listening to Gang Starr, Wu-Tang, EPMD... and so on. So when this album started coming together, and I started working with dudes who I grew up studying and idolizing, like Preem, Muggs, Beatminerz, Steele, Mad Lion, that made all the bullshit of the industry, worth it to me. Working with DJ Premier, is personally the most important point in my career. That's my favorite producer of all time, hands down. Everyone who contributed to this album killed it, and definitely brought their "A" game.”
Tracklisting & Credits for Apathy’s Honkey Kong LP:
1. Honkey Kong featuring Vinnie Paz (produced by Vanderslice) 2. Holy Ghost featuring Slaine (produced by Apathy) 3. The Villain featuring Ill Bill (produced by Apathy) 4. Check to Check (produced by Evidence) 5. Stop What Ya Doin featuring Celph Titled (produced by DJ Premier) 6. The Recipe featuring Xzibit (produced by Stu Bangas) 7. Fear Itself (produced by DJ Muggs) 8. Who Got Da Juice starring Blacastan (skit) 9. It's Only Hip-Hop featuring Brevi (produced by Statik Selektah) 10. I Dedicate This To You featuring Tosha Makia (produced by Smoke The World) 11. All I Think About featuring Action Bronson (produced by Vanderslice) 12. Never Say Never featuring General Steele & Mad Lion (produced by Teddy Roxpin) 13. Albino Gorillas featuring Esoteric (produced by DJ Wayne Ski) 14. Peace Connecticut cuts by Evil Dee (produced by Da Beatminerz) 15. Army Of The Godz featuring Esoteric, Blacastan, Reef The Lost Cauze, Planetary, Crypt The Warchild, Motive, Celph Titled & Vinnie Paz (produced by Teddy Roxpin) 16. 1:52 AM (produced by Apathy)
Sick song Diesel Fluid from the new Wu-Tang compilation "Legendary Weapons", its definitely changed my perception about this compilation that was labelled as a Wu project
"A record that confounds expectations on ever level. An exhilarating debut " -Q
"Redefining UK Hip Hop." - MTV (The Wrap Up)
"Tracks that court the unexpected and dare to evolve beyond mere beats... Terrific ." - Observer
No rest for our boy DELS, even a few months after the release of his critically acclaimed and much loved debut album, GOB. The last time we saw DELS he was filming a mini documentary to show off the work that went into recording the track "Capsize", and now the Ipswich, UK emcee and graphic designer is excited to let fans in on the other side of the equation with a spaced out video for the single. As DELS spits his verses while standing among alien pyramids and marble mazes, satellites' spewing lasers and virtual organs pulsating aplenty, the chorus drops in with Joe Goddard singing "where is the heart and soul, we need to stick together", an effect that bring the tracks slew of different style and sounds together, creating something that sounds completely new and effortlessly different.
DELS wants to give back to the people that stuck by him throughout the release of his debut album. DELS is holding a contest, currently underway, which allows aspiring producers to upload their original music to the Big Dada website. At the contest's close, DELS, along with the Big Dada staff will listen to the twenty most popular tracks, as determined by view and play counts. Upon selecting the winner, DELS will rap over the instrumental, and Big Dada will release the song through their site. For more information, including rules and guidelines for entering the contest, head over to http://www.bigdada.com/dels-vocal/
This fall, DELS will also be hitting the road in support of GOB, performing throughout France and the UK. Tickets are on sale now and more information can be found here
GOB is now available via Big Dada/Ninja Tune.
The album + the official "GOB" music video can be purchased here, at iTunes for only $5.99
What's Up is a free single from I.Deals new album "Spills" which dropped just last month, chilled lay back hip hop definitely worth downloading, Download/Listen to the whole album HERE
Starting from humble beginnings, The Real Frequency became the premier hip-hop show on Canada's first commercial urban radio station by featuring up and coming local artists who eventually became international stars. By giving early support to artists such as Drake, Shad, Boi 1-Da, and Tona, the show consistently showed its dedication to Toronto's burgeoning hip-hop community. Though The Real Frequency show recently stopped broadcasting due to the sale of its parent station, its dedication to hip-hop lives on in the form of a new album project.
Now, running full heartedly with an idea that evolved from one of the most popular segments on the show, The New North, The Real Frequency has put together a compilation album, also titled The New North, that features over 30 artists best representing Toronto's up-and-coming talent. Pairing together MC's, producers, singers, and DJ's from the city, Real Frequency has created a project that features the likes of JD Era, Marco Polo, Kardinal Offishall, Moss, and more, including aforementioned artists Tona and Boi-1-Da.
Also coming together for the album is Shad and Frank Dukes, who crafted the lead single from The New North, with the song "Flawless." The song, which also features cuts from DJ Dopey, kicks into full gear from jump, with Frank Dukes' gritty beat. Shad's slick wordplay fits snuggly over the driving bass line and well-placed horn chops, an instrument selection that was a conscious decision for Dukes. "After hearing that I would be working with Shad, I knew I wanted to bring him into a different zone," explains Dukes. "I gave him a rugged, aggressive beat that he absolutely bodied – it was his performance that helped inspire the song title."
