DIGGIN’ IN THE CRATES (D.I.T.C.) MCS, O.C. & A.G., TEAM UP TO RELEASE LONG AWAITED ALBUM
New collaborative LP from A.G. & O.C., OASIS, featuring production from fellow D.I.T.C. members Show & Lord Finesse, set to drop Nov. 24th on Nature Sounds / D.I.T.C. Records
Legendary New York MCs, O.C. & A.G. return from a brief hiatus to quench the thirst of hip-hop fans worldwide. The album, refreshingly titled, OASIS, is executive produced by Show (of Showbiz & AG fame) and features stellar production by Show, Lord Finesse, E. Blaze, and Statik Selektah. O & A, longtime friends and crewmates, first collaborated together on the classic track “Weed & Drinks” and ever since then talked about doing a whole album together.
“Its was organic cause the chemistry was also so crazy, explains OC. “The whole process was really pure and from the heart and hip-hop fans are gonna love it!,” says AG about their new album.
Born in the Brooklyn and raised in Queens, O.C grew up across the street from another lyrical legend, Pharoahe Monch of Organized Konfusion. That neighbor spawned O.C’s recording debut was in 1991 on Organized Konfusion’s classic “Fudge Pudge. O.C. was tour when he first ran into D.I.T.C. members Lord Finesse & Buckwild. After the tour, Buckwild and O.C worked on a demo that would eventually become the Wild Pitch Records classic, Word…Life which contained the classic lyrical assault Time’s Up, later featured on Eminem’s biopic, 8 Mile.
Andre the Giant, better known as A.G., began his rise to acclaim the day Lord Finesse showed up at his school to challenge any lyricist that dared to battle. AG stood up to Finesse, line for line and Finesse couldn’t help but take notice of the hungry rapper. While in the studio contributing to Lord Finesse’s upcoming LP Funky Technician, AG met Showbiz for the first time. The bond was instant and the newly formed duo began their career by selling self-financed Soul Clap EP out of the trunk of Show’s Acura Legend coupe. Their first LP, “Runaway Slave”, put the spotlight back on the Bronx and heavily influenced the whole modern East Coast style of rap. Their sound was a combination of mobster influence, thoughtful lyricism, and amazing production that became synonymous with the D.I.T.C crew.
With a combined 10+ albums under their belt, its amazing how the guys stay relevant after all these years. A.G. explains, “For me, it’s the passion, when you’re passionate about something, you stay inspired, through the good and the bad”. When speaking about the significance of the album title OASIS, O.C adds “ˆIt’s 2009 and both AG and myself have something new and fresh to offer. Fans have been searching for something like this for a long time and finally here it is”
Hip-Hop Super Group Trinity Pays Homage To DJ Roc Raida With New Single AG, Sadat X & DJ Jab Release First Single As Group, Album Dropping In 2010
For those wondering where hip-hop’s next super group is, Trinity has come to quell all inquiries. The triumvirate consists of AG, Sadat X, and DJ Jab and delivering raw, uncut hip-hop is priority number one on their list. After making their first performance appearance as a group at the recent Audible Treats CMJ ‘09 Showcase, Trinity is gearing up for an album release in 2010 via Fat Beats Records. In the meantime, the trio has come together to release their first single ever as a group, and with that single they chose to pay homage to the late, great DJ Roc Raida with“Roc Raida Tribute.”
The song is compromised of two different break beats, bringing forth classic hip-hop nostalgia fitting for one of the game’s most respected DJ’s ever. AG and Sadat X flow effortlessly over the golden age inspired beat and reminisce on Roc Raida and his unparalleled talents. Lines like, “And his name is Roc / International so his name won’t stop, ” and “They thought we had a bandstand and grand slam / Even Japan fans loved his hands” show the love that AG, Sadat X, and fans worldwide have for Roc Raida.
In a recent video all three members spoke about their personal relationship with Roc Raida and how the monumental DJ inspired them. AG had this to say about Roc’s talent, “Roc Raida was our only DJ. And I say only because anytime we went on the road Roc was always our DJ. To see him eventually win the world championship, it’s like damn I know him – my DJ is the best DJ in the world.” Sadat spoke on how, besides all the accolades and respect, Roc was a humble man at the end of the day, “You wouldn’t know he was so nice, he never blew his own horn… He never bragged about himself, just a very humble person, a family man… just a good dude.”
Be on the lookout for more info on Trinity and their upcoming album being released in 2010 via Fat Beats Records.
“Roc Raida Tribute”: http://media.audibletreats.com/Trinity-Roc_Raida_Tribute.mp3
Roc Raida conversation video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU2ViMUoBcA