Givin 'em somethin' they can feel!

On February 25, I was contacted by a woman, via instant messenger, who
is a fan of my band's music. I'm often contacted by fans. Yet there
are times when I am able to "shoot the shit" with them, and there are
times when I'm a bit occupied. Nonetheless I always try to give a few
moments of my time to anyone who takes the time to absorb our music.

Although I've enjoyed speaking to each and every one of our
supporters, speaking with her was one of the most inspiring and eye
opening moments of my life.

She's been unemployed since Jan, and her living conditions aren't the
best. Although she has a college degree, and appeared very
articulate, she has been unable to find any work. Needless to say she
wasn't in the best of spirits.

All she really wanted to do was talk about today's music. (In her
opinion) It wasn't very rousing, and she longed for the days when
music (particularly hip hop) moved her spiritually. She proceed to
tell me how our music was different and how much she connected with it.

I could feel her pain, confusion, and feelings of hopelessness travel
through my laptop and seep into my conscious. I listened and allowed
her to vent her frustrations about her life and the economic
rollercoaster that is our world.

She didn't need a philosopher, or some artist trying to shove a cd
down her throat, she just needed someone to talk to. To connect with
someone whom she felt understood her misfortune( and trust me I do).

Our conversation was a profound reminder of why I decided to devote my
life to the arts. It was never for fame, immense wealth, or any of the
like (but let's be honest a ride or two in a lambo ain't a
crime..lol). I chose my path for the sole purpose of wanting to be a
voice for people who felt alone, isolated, scared, frustrated,
saddened, powerless, and confused. Since childhood I've often tried to
make a difference in the lives of others.

If a line from one of my verses helps a man/woman find the fire in
himself/herself to go out there and do whatever it takes to make his
dreams a reality then so be it. If a few strums from my guitar relaxes
the pulse of many and stirs the souls of thousands then that's even
better.

There's a lot of pain in the world these days. Jobs are dwindling at a
rapid rate unseen since the 1930's. The Stock market is in tatters.
People are committing suicide because they can't afford to put food on
the table, and hopelessness is spreading like a cancer. My priority
right now is doing all I can to brighten the lives of others just as
they have helped to give my life purpose. I'm no Superman, and
honestly I ain't trying to be. I'm just trying to do my part to help
other people do theirs.

I'm sharing this with you, for when it comes to my music my supporters are my
biggest inspiration. It may sound a bit cliche' but trust and believe it.

Unfortunately my passion, and my intensity have often been misconstrued by some as angry rants and misguided behavior, but nothing could be farther from
the truth(Those who don't know me, or my music usually make this mistake). Anger when it is focused and combined with enthusiasm brings about change. Make no mistake, many a great movement was started due to a few people being pissed off about their social conditions. They were so ticked off they decided to stand up for change, and were "crazy" enough to believe they could achieve it.

Ironically, maybe file sharing was born out of a strong disdain for paying 20 bucks for an album with only two good songs on them. (And personally I don't blame them. I got a jerked a few times too man!)

The fans didn't give a damn because they believed the industry didn't
give a damn. People banded together to elect our President because in
their hearts they believe he genuinely cares about people( I refuse to
get into a political discussion. This is just an example).

And for me that's what it's all about. Giving a damn!

IT'S A WRAP!!!

Last weekend was the final weekend of recording our debut album Everything Burns. The mixing and mastering stage is our next mountain to climb(and for all my audiophiles and beat heads you know all about that process..lol. ).

Nonetheless this past weekend marks the end of the recording phase of the band Silent Disorder’s debut EP, and we would like to share our excitement with each and every one of you.

Here’s the playlist for Everything Burns:

Tumbling Down
Everyone’s a Criminal
Slither
Less Colder
Wolves
Everything Burns

Let me tell ya, John (bass) has been instrumental in assuring our project is a huge success. His dedication, passion, and bass expertise has helped to keep the SD machine running on many a long night. Dude really gave us his 200 percent.

Sadly Cabes(drums)is moving on to pursue other projects, but he will be staying on as SD’s recording engineer. John and I wish him all the best as he concentrates on the recording and release of his own music.

But have no fear, for our good friend Nick, an incredible drummer (and all around cool dude) will be picking up the reigns, and helping to take the SD sound to the next level.

We promise that this project will take you on a journey of twists and turns as we offer up a fresh batch of hip hop/metal/soul for your hungry ears.

A special thanks to all who have embraced our new sound, sent us letters of encouragement, and have spread the word about us. Thanks for taking the time to peep “Slither” last week and for telling us how much ya diggin’ “Tumblin’ Down”.


Expect the album to drop officially some time in the Spring, as well as new music for the rest of 09 into 2010. We’re gonna have a few show dates in the summer, and we’re looking to shoot a video for one ( or two) of the songs from the album.

(Maybe you can choose our first video.)

Special thanks to those who have ridden with Heron since the Mutiny days!
For those who are unaware of my history peep this link

http://cdbaby.com/cd/herondemarco to check out my first album.

Have a great week people and stay up!

Fuck Hip Hop?

I ask this question because it seems to be the general consensus among many people I know(including myself, but we’ll get into that in a bit). I understand the statement is rooted in frustration, disillusionment, and a dash of confusion, but I must admit their arguments are not baseless.

 Whenever the topic of hip hop comes up in many circles I’m in, it’s usually met with silent grunts, frowns, angry mumbles and someone quickly changing the subject (I once had someone switch the damn topic to shitty diapers…Wow!)

 I hear the same gripes time after time”….It’s repetitive…they don’t talk about anything real…the music hasn’t evolved…I’m tired of the gun talk..” The remarks can be rather brutal(and in my opinion well deserving).

 If the topic survives for more than 30 seconds it usually transforms into a stroll down memory lane to revisit “the good ol’ days”. I swear when they speak I can  smell the commanding scent of fresh vinyl,  and used jan sport back packs filling the air as I am regaled with stories of crews long gone who “kept it real”.

 If not visited with caution, nostalgia can behave like an invisible narcotic. Addictive, and as mind altering as any illegal substance picking at your spirit and  leaving your mind stagnant ready to be devoured by the wolves of change.

 Okay all mellow drama aside…

 HIP HOP FUCKIN SUCKS NOW!!

 YES I SAID IT…WHAT?

 Now let’s be clear, I’m not talking about hip hop’s underground. There are a few cats I check for who are doing some interesting things, but what sucks is many of them aren’t as publicized (read:popular) as the latest hip hop beef, shoot out , or chain snatching .

 It’s a sad case when hip hop beef has become more entertaining than the music itself. The media and a lot of the acts are too preoccupied with pulling off publicity stunts, flooding the game with forgettable songs, and reminding their fans how tight their swag is.  All in hopes of diverting your attention from the fact that their music is about as tight as SupaHead’s vagina. 

 I’m willing to bet you a cool 100 bucks that you can name a shit load of publicity stunts, out of the blue incidents, or diss records that were presented to the public in the last six months  before you can name 10 classic game changing albums that were released in the last three years. Fuck it…give me some classic songs if that’s too difficult to pull off.

 Ladies and Gentleman hip hop has officially reached rock bottom.  Much like the inauguration of Barack Obama…I never thought I’d live to see it.

 Rappers have become a tired cliché. I’ve gotten more entertainment from those two dudes who always do those hip hop skits on SNL. I’ve tried to work with other emcees in the game but I find it hard to work with cats with an ego the size of the Washington Monument on steroids.  Some of you dudes need to seriously humble your fuckin selves and learn to behave a little more professionally. I make it my business to treat people with an equal amount of respect regardless of profession or social status.

 I’m a music fan first and foremost. Therefore I believe I speak for many frustrated fans when I say:

Fuck your swag, your block, the size of your crew, how many birds you flip, and all that other bullshit you clowns are lying about. We all know your jewels are rented, your cars are leased,  and your two child support payments away from being locked up  and being somebody’s “down ass chick”.

 And before I receive any stupid pointless comments dubbing me “a hater” let me ask this question: Since when does having a difference of opinion with someone, or calling someone out on their bullshit make you “a hater”?

 Are you fuckin’ shittin’ me? Has it gotten that bad? Are you muthafuckas that pussy that you’d rather keep your thoughts to yourself because you don’t want to be seen as a hater?  Are you that desperate to fit in? Man, I’m going to save that for another rant.  I’m disgusted. What happened to hip hop’s fuckin balls. Maybe corporate America slashed them off , bagged ‘em up and dropped them off in the middle of the desert for the vultures to feast on.

 Being an emcee used to mean something. Pride, dignity, our words were weapons. Now they’ve been reduced to humorous anecdotes, catch phrases, and dance steps to sell lame products and shit tasting beer. Disgraceful. We’ve gone from being the voice of a generation to a fuckin punchline on Leno.

 Who’s to blame? Who gives a shit! If your house is burned down to the fuckin ground, which would be your biggest wish? To find the person who burned your house down or wishing your house didn’t burn down in the first place.

 I don’t know man. The Roots are retiring from touring, Jean grae retired, Common’s doing movies, Nas is still out there, but he’s not enough. We need a movement damn it.

 It was a movement of collective forward thinkers that brought hip hop to it’s prominence eons ago. Ehh…whatever. The fans have moved on so maybe it’s only fitting that the acts have moved on.

 Maybe subconsciously I’ve moved on in some way, that’s why I went out and created my own style of hiphop/rock. 

 Yes…Rock. Yes I play a guitar…yes I listen to metal..yes I support other genres of music, and yes it ain’t “traditional hip hop” which if I may add is the dumbest fuckin phrase I’ve heard in a minute.

 Hip hop can not be confined to a sound.  It’s about a feeling, and expressing  real emotions. Creativity lives at its core and creativity can not (and should not) be married to conservative ideals. *Sigh…you know what? Fuck it.

 My band and I are going to concentrate on doing what it is we do.  Giving people our 200 percent on each song, breaking rules, following our ideas and pissing a few people off a long the way. And that’s about as Hip Hop as we can keep it.

 

“I'm an intellectual/Of rap, I'm a professional and that's no question, yo..”

 -Nas -Halftime

 

Heron Demarco