Interview w/Simon Illa
by: Justin Weleski

As people, we all go through trials and tribulations throughout our lives as we all get older. In many people’s cases, it slows them down, and possible destroys them. While many others use it as fuel to work harder and never take a lose, no matter what it takes. In Simon Illa’s case, that is exactly what he did, is doing, and will continue to do. Not taking no for an answer and continuing to getting more and more noticed on a national scale, is exactly the path Simon Illa has taken. Now looked upon as one of the biggest Philly Producers in the city, we got a chance to meet up with Simon Illa on one of the few days he’s not on the road, or in the studio making hits!
Simon Illa Myspace

*Also please watch this video to get a little more familiar with Simon Illa, as this interview was done as a follow up, to us watching this video clip:
Click Here to Launch Video

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Wordplay w/Caliph-NOW
by: Deesha Dyer

Caliph-NOW is best known as the producer behind Viro the Virus as well as 420. Coming straight outta Jersey, Caliph-NOW is a hard working man not only doing the producer duties, but also moonlighting as a DJ at times and working several jobs. Another thing that stands out about him is how supportive he is of local underground hip-hop. You can always catch him at shows nodding his head and standing in the front giving props to whoever is on stage. As he continues to hustle promoting Viro’s Jersey’s Finest, I got to him to just bust it up. Enjoy!
Click Here to purchase Viro The Virus- “Jerseys Finest”

*Check out Caliph-NOW & Viro The Virus Tonight at Ulana’s and this Saturday at Liquid Charm Click here for more details on Events

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Interview w/Tidal Wave (Adam 12 & Tarp)
by: Justin Rizzio

Every so often, a group or an album comes along that really makes you want to listen. Tidal Wave is that group, and Sink Or Swim is the album. Consisting of Tarp and long time collaborator and Philly veteran mc Adam 12, Tidal Wave is looking to crash the shores hard with this one. Tarp and 12, along with help from DJ Panek(ill!), have put together their latest offering, which is sure to make any Philly hip hop fan proud that this is the city they represent.

Check out Tidal Wave live at Ulana’s this Thursday for there Album Release Party.
Click here for event Details
Click here to purchase album at cdbaby.com

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Interview w/Mr. Eon (of High & Mighty)
by: Justin Rizzio

During the mid to late 90’s, when independent hip hop started to ‘blow up” in NYC, The High and Mighty were on the forefront of the “underground” movement. They stood for true hip hop culture and, most importantly, they represented the city of Philadelphia. The High and Mighty, a duo made up of Mr. Eon and DJ Mighty Mi, have released numerous albums and 12″s along with multiple releases put out by their own label, Eastern Conference Records. Recently, a chance encounter gave me the opportunity to talk with Mr. Eon and to find out more about hip hop’s 12th man.
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Wordplay w/STRESS (of SubHoodz/Krush Unit)
by: Deesha Dyer

I don’t even know where to begin in describing this week’s WORDPLAY candidate. Stress is a lot of things….son, friend, husband, brother, producer, entrepeneur, dj, rapper, hype man, photographer, dog owner (he and wife Kelly honestly have like 10 or something)…and for those that know him well - absolutely insane. Although he can appear intimidating, especially when he is angry and his face gets really, really red; Stress is a nice dude. Seriously, he is! Enjoy…
Click Here to purchase new SubHoodz album “No Regrets”

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SubHoodz
“No Regrets”
Purchase Album at amazon.com

I think it’s fair to say that giving the SubHoodz the Philly Vet status would be a big understatement. Being that they’ve been around for over 15yrs, invented a sound many have gotten rich off of, shared shows with rock and hip hop legends, all while still being around and making fresh 2007 music. The six member band finally returns off of a 7 year hiatus from there last album “Genuine B-Boyz” and serves us a collection of old and new material from their first two album. The album consists of two re-makes (Back In The Day featuring Danny Diablo and Concepts 2006,) some SubHoodz classics, and three new tracks: The Next, Hand Grenade, and Point Blank. So if you’ve never heard of the legendary boys before, or can’t afford to buy the rare first two album imports on E-bay I suggest you pick this album up and have a huge house party with the album on repeat. You nor the party would be disappointed!
*New SubHoodz album coming late 2007

“Point Blank”
Produced by: SubHoodz
Subhdz.com
Label: Creep Records
Click Here to Watch the Back In The Day Music video

Verso
“Audio Visuals”
Purchase Album at cdbaby.com

Jamaica born, Philadelphia raised MC, Verso, breaks out with his debut album. Truly showing you the visuals that made Verso a man through his sound and rhyme. Holding nothing back from speaking on the lack of unity within the Philly hip hop scene to MC’s who just shouldn’t be MC’s. The album features 215 producers Documentalz, Don Wil, Bjorn, LF Daze, and Ohene and is accompanied by MC’s: Reef The Lost Cauze, Red ID, A. Dot, Thee Phantom, & Topaz. All put together in this unique sound package, with a CD that actually feels like a record. (no really, the CD actually has grooves on it.)
“Doitlike”
Produced by: Documentalz

The 49ers
“Equilibrium”
Purchase Album at cdbaby.com

The telephone area code 215 may have its city limits, but this website doesn’t. From West Chester to South Jersey to Delaware, we cover it all! So with that being said we couldn’t sleep on the rising Newark Delaware hip hop scene which has produced the talents of The 49ers. This is also why they were one of our first MP3 Artists of The Week on 215. And by talents we mean the producing, DJ cutting, live shows, sound mixing, and of course rhymes, that this group does all 100% themselves. And as we all know from our experiences of listening to Tribe, Gang Starr, Wu-Tang, and so on, the 100%, we do it all our self method produces nothing but high quality music, which these guys do extremely well. But we’re going to stop here because they don’t need the hype. Just listen to it yourself!
“Too Sophisticated”
Produced by: The 49ers

Super Chron Flight Brothers
“Emergency Powers”

Billy Woods and Philly MC Priviledge are members of the east-coast supergroup The Ravers, but also form as the Super Chron Flight Brothers. Emergency Powers is their debut record, but the two brothers have been successfully collaborating for over five years now. This album was almost two years in the making, carefully crafting concept records with lyricism, wit, and originality. The debut album features the underground hero MF Doom on production, Theadore Unit member Trife Da God, Cannibal Ox, and fellow members of The Ravers.
“Dirtweed”
Produced by: MF Doom
Label: Backwoodz Studioz

Wordplay w/Eyego (of Eyego/Direct)

By: Deesha Dyer

The name might not sound that familiar or you may not recognize the face right away, but chances are you have nodded your head to his beats. Josh is half of production team, Eyego/Direct, which he created with his brother Jake. They have beats featured on Reef’s last 2 studio releases, as well as his recent mixtape, Long Live the Cauze. Josh was also one of the featured producers at the third installment of Beats and Rhymes this past January bringing forth a catalog of infectious beats. When we did this interview, he had been up the night before making beats for hours. Sure, we could have discussed that, but ehhhh…..no! Instead, take a peek into the miscellaneous and useless information that he volunteered to share. Well, that I volunteered for him to share!

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Interview w/Tru Life
By: Justin Weleski

With this MC’s documented past, there’s no denial in his words or name; Tru Life. Although his past was an angry one that we all saw in the BEEF DVD series, he plans to now bring the tru way of life to his rhymes, and not settle for anything less. We got a chance to sit down with Roc la Familia artist; Tru Life at Heat Holders office on a Monday night after he was on Comsic Kev’s radio show, promoting his new single and mix-tape.

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Interview w/Necro
by: Justin Rizzio

Necro performing LIVE this Thursday at The Troc along with Freddy Madball & Stress(Sub Hoodz), & DJ Starscream (Slipknot)
Click here for more details on show

Death, sex, and hip hop. These are just a few things that embody the artist known as Necro. In the early to late nineties, this upcoming rapper/producer was a favorite on New York’s “Stretch and Bobbito Show”. His topics ranged from everyday street life in Brooklyn to porn and gay bashing. Over the years, Necro has made a name for himself rhyming, producing, and running his own Psycho Logical Records. He is a legend in the underground whose rep just gets stronger. We caught up with Necro right before his tour made its stop in Philly. Here’s what the originator of “death rap” had to say. (And since this interview was done via email, I decided that it was only fitting to leave his answers raw and unedited. Like the man himself. )

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Wordplay w/Viro The Virus
by: Deesha Dyer

Cool, calm and collected is how Viro the Virus always appears - even on stage. Alongside producer, Caliph-NOW, Viro released his second album, Jersey’s Finest in February. He has a good chunk of guest collabo’s including Slim DSM and Reef the Lost Cauze, as well as producer credits from Stress, Eyego/Direct, and Decypher. Many count him as one of the premier MC’s to come out of Jersey in the last few years using his intelligent rhymes and storytelling as prime examples of where he gets that title. Because he works so much and lives on the other side of the river, there isn’t much time to kick it with him, except for events here and there, so I thought it’d be good to catch up with him. And that Serena and Venus question has to do with him claiming his love for Serena on the booklet of his first album, Future Trauma. I wonder if she ever responded? Anyway…enjoy!

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