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Duo
Live
Walking through the crowds at the International
African Arts Festival this year my deep
thoughts were interrupted by a clear eyed
young brother with cornrows in his beard.
In a low “let me hook you up”
voice, Breeze [his name] went on to tell
me about a Brooklyn based Rap duo trying
to move units of their CD. I declined.
As I passed by the area several more times
that day I was struck by the fact that
their intensity had not slipped, they
treated each ‘no’ with a ‘your
loss’ attitude. Curious, I approached
Breeze and he sold me one of the most
original Hip Hop albums I’ve had
the pleasure to listen in a long time.
The twosome known as Duo Live and their
first full length album 1st H.I.Mpressions
(Redemption Recordings) both pay homage
to classic rap music that reigned in the
late 80’s. Coming up in the streets
of Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, lyricist Fre and
producer Sid V met while attending Brooklyn
Technical high school. They bonded initially
on their similar Caribbean and Southern
roots then sealed their friendship with
their mutual obsession with Rap music.
Fre studied the lyrical prowess of KRS-One
and Rakim, while Sid schooled himself
in the production styles of greats like
Large Professor and DJ Premier.
Almost eight years after they released
their first street single “Ghetto
Games” they are still flying below
the radar of the mainstream media. But
their street cred has won them collaborations
with some of the music industry’s
finest contemporary artists; Angie Stone,
Alicia Keys, Jimmy Cozier, Talib Kweli
and Mos Def. Their climb to success has
been chronicled in publications like KING,
The Ave, Rolling Out, Murder Dog, Billboard
and New York Newsday.
While labels and categories suit some,
Fre and Sid prefer to let the streets
decide where to put them. Rap, Hip Hop,
Conscious, or Thugged Out is left to the
fans; they simply “use intelligence”
in their art. Both practicing Rastafarians,
they titled this album with the acronym
for His or Her Imperial Majesty to show
their “dedication to the ‘hood
through the Most High.”
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