1773 – Sound Soulstice

It’s hard not to smile at something so authentic and genuine. Particles of Chicago sentiment, youth, and modern chivalry fuse and concentrate in their music, their lyricism, their performance.

The gentlemen of 1773 [Pronounced Seventeen Seventy-Three] first connected in 2004, when Just J and Moral One (of Berto Ramon) joined efforts with Wisdm O.N.E. Recently Itch13 replaced Moral One as the official 1773 DJ, but in some shape or form they’ve shared stages with: Wiz Khalifa, Little Brother, Rhymefest, The Cool Kids, Dead Prez, Lyrics Born, Blackalicious, Pigeon John, L.A. Symphony, Tanya Morgan, Ohmega Watts, Othello, Zion I, Blu, & Exile.

In March 2009, 1773 introduced Return of the New, an effort that was first released on the Japanese label, River City Music Entertainment (Yokohama). Following a month-long tour in Japan, this release was quickly picked up by U.S. label, Soulspazm in October 2009.

As collectors of sight and sound, they’ve brought together a string of instrumental beats on their first full length release for 2010 titled Sound Soulstice.Produced entirely by Australian producer ARKiV, Sound Soulstice will be 1773’s third project on River City Music Entertainment. Songstress Natalie Oliveri, and MCs Othello (of Lightheaded) & Ezekiel38 (Vertual Vertigo) all lend their palettes to the album’s sonic portrait…

“The earthly solstice deals with day and night, so we wanted to capture the universality of that concept both lyrically and emotionally” states Wisdm O.N.E.

Regularly performing for crowds of 200 and more in cities nationally and internationally, locally 1773 has performed at the following Chicago venues: The Note, Red Kiva, House of Blues, Double Door, Subterranean, Darkroom, Funky Buddha Lounge, The Butterfly Social Club, Elastic Arts; and the following Chicago festivals: Lollapolooza, the Taste of Logan Square, and The Puerto Rican Festival.

Their talent exudes in studio and on stage. Their performance stands louder nowhere else than within the arenas of charisma and great sound replication. The members of 1773 are disciples of music, Chicago and her cultural stock. Through the sweltering thick of this city’s talent, emerged a group that calls upon the cadences of hip-hop’s truest and congruent times…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9th, 2010

Housecall Entertainment & Ground Lift Media are excited to present the Chicago stop for Zion I’s “Atomic Clock” tour at Subterranean! Featuring local support from Notrydo.Sincere and Ground Lift Media’s own 1773! DJ sets by TREW.

Zion I Biography:

While the group’s roots are still firmly planted in hip-hop, Atomic Clock’s cavernous, atmospheric vibe recalls both the classic roots reggae of Max Romeo and The Congos and forward-thinking dub mixing of UK artists such as Adrian Sherwood. “The Takeover was a very external record and we wanted to focus on fun, party music,” says emcee Zumbi AKA Zion. “This one is much more reflective and internal. We didn’t want to just recreate what we did last album. Art is not about living in the past.”

For Atomic Clock, the duo employed live musicians to flesh out producer Amp Live’s original beats and thicken the overall sound. For many of Atomic Clock’s tracks, Amp would create the skeleton of the beat himself for the initial direction before collaborating with the group’s live musicians to complement the sound and, in certain cases, redo the track live. In stark contrast to The Takeover, which saw Amp and Zumbi e-mail verses and beats to each other to constantly tweak each song, the group and their collaborators engaged in days-long jam sessions, for the first time in their career, to best enunciate Amp’s initial idea.

“The Atomic Clock is the most precise timing device on the planet and I thought that applied to the immaculate timing and rhythm it takes between musicians in one room to make good music,” says Zumbi. “But also, I feel that time is speeding up on the planet and it seems like it’s dilating and contracting really quickly. We’re living in such an interesting time and I think time is on everyone’s mind in one way or another. Everything is exponential now.”

On “History,” the group’s most insightful and candid track, Zumbi recalls the duo’s autobiography from prior to the group’s formation until now. “We’ve been doing music a long time and sometimes you forget how long you’ve been at and how many places you’ve been,” admits the emcee. “I think it’s good to look back for a second before keeping it moving.” Keeping it moving is something Zumbi and Amp Live have never had problems doing and Atomic Clock stands as another engaging expression of the group’s mind, heart and soul.

Event Info:

Zion I “Atomic Clock” Tour ‘10
October 24th, 2010 // Subterranean 2011 W. North Ave.
17+, $15 // Doors 8pm, presales available at subt.net

…Featuring local supporting acts 1773 & NoTryDo.Sincere. DJ sets by TREW.

Presented by Housecall Ent. & Ground Lift Media…

Hosted by Chaka B and mixed by DJ TREW (Ground Lift Media), Volume 2 features production by Trishes (Austria), Soundprophets (Chicago), Tall Black Guy (Chicago), & Thir13teen (South Africa) as well as beats by J. Dilla, Shawn Jackson, Black Moon, Silhouette Brown, & 14KT.

And as an added bonus, each download of Volume 2 includes a hi-quality 320kbps version of Just Jay (of 1773) and Moral One’s new EP titled Maxwell St. Clocking in at a brisk 20 minutes, this EP represents the ideals of hard-earned pride and ‘big shoulders,’ two defining qualities for which Chicago has become infamous.

Presented by:groundliftmedia.com, fatlace.com, melloworange.com, thefindmag.com

After the successful release of Mixed Signals Volume 1 and their Sound Soulstice full-length (RCME Japan), 1773 emerge from a productive Summer with a recently-inked Korean distribution deal, fully prepared to unleash a second wave of new music for Fall 2010! With production on their forthcoming Greenlight Go! album and LuvBug EP wrapping up, ‘Round Two’ begins with the follow-up release in their Mixed Signals mixtape series

In celebration, we’ve put together a live music / dj event at Chicago’s Subterranean Lounge on October 8th, 2010. Featuring performances by a host of 1773 cohorts including Add-2, Vertual Vertigo, and Sincererly Yours. DJ sets by TREW, Mulatto Patriot, Itch13, and Red Bull Big Tune Chicago winner J.Rell. Hosted by Ms. Chicago.

FREE CD copies of Mixed Signals Vol. 2 to the 1st 25 attendees, or you can find copies at fatlace.com’s retail outlet in the Bay late next week. And as an added bonus, each download of Volume 2 includes a hi-quality 320kbps version of Just Jay (of 1773) and Moral One’s new EP titled Maxwell St. Clocking in at a brisk 20 minutes, this EP represents the ideals of hard-earned pride and ‘big shoulders,’ two defining qualities for which Chicago has become infamous.

Presented by:groundliftmedia.com

Release Party Information:
October 8th, 2010 @ Subterranean Lounge
2011 W. North Ave.
10pm-2am, FREE, 21+
Live performances by 1773, Add-2, Vertual Vertigo, & Sincerely Yours. DJ sets by TREW, Itch13, Mulatto Patriot, & J.Rell (Red Bull Big Tune Chicago Winner)

We’re proud to announce LITTLE BROTHER live WEDNESDAY MAY 19th 2010 at DOUBLE DOOR in Chicago!  It’ll be a legendary, yet bitter-sweet affair as they tour on the heels of LEFTBACK, the duo’s proclaimed last album together. 1773 will be performing along with local hero Pugslee Atomz for this epic concert which may be Little Brother’s last Chicago show forever!

Press inquiries please contact:
Nigel Ridgeway trew@groundliftmedia.com

Tuesday April 13 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Forming in 2001 in Durham, North Carolina, LITTLE BROTHER is the pair of emcees Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh and , first appearing on the hip-hop scene with their 2003 ABB Records release, The Listening.  The album immediately struck a chord with the rap community, garnering praise from the likes of Pete Rock and The Roots, as well as catching the ears of Jay-Z, who recruited producer 9th Wonder for some production work of his own.
The Minstrel Show LP followed as a darkly humorous album that is equal parts soul and satire, presenting a fictional television network, UBN (U Black N*****s).  As emcee Phonte explains, “As rappers, we have to take responsibility for what we say…If not, we’re doing essentially what minstrel shows did: perpetuating negative images and reinforcing those negative stereotypes.”  The second album was highly acclaimed by both critics and fans as both a bold statement on the current hip hop climate, and also as a masterpiece catapulting Little Brother into underground prominence.
After inner strife which usually follows success that shines as brightly as Little Brother’s, the long-awaited final album is here.  The laid-back yet infectious first single off the album, “Curtain Call,” says it all.  Phonte explains why the long wait, “I didn’t want our last record to be a bunch of second-rate material, I wanted to walk away from Little Brother knowing that I gave our fans all that I had to give, and said everything I wanted to say. With LeftBack, I’ve done that.”

It’ll be an epic night filled with classic beats, intelligent rhymes and the raucous celebration of a short but illustrious career from truly original voices in today’s vast hip hop landscape.

Tour support TBD,  Local support includes:

PUGSLEE ATOMZ – Kinda Like a Rapper out 6.1.10!
(http://www.myspace.com/pugsleeatomz)

1773
(http://1773live.com/)

DJ ITCH 13
(http://www.myspace.com/itch13)

hosted by AWDAZCATE!!

.::Sponsored by::.

for gear!
ST.ALFRED - http://www.stalfred.com/

for knowledge!
RUBY HORNET – http://rubyhornet.com/

for street!
HAND 2 HAND – http://www.myspace.com/hand2handpromotions

for culture!
FRANK 151 Chicago Riders – http://www.frank151.com/fdl/chicago_riders/

Presented by:
This event is brought to you by Cold Grums and Ground Lift Media.

Double Door
1572 N.Milwaukee Ave
21+   doors 9pm
$20 presales available at www.clubtix.net and www.doubledoor.com
$23 day-of door

Although they were technically only hosts, they had few moments to rock a new track from their upcoming album titled Greenlight Go! The song, “Makin’ Moves” is produced by Tall Black Guy and features MC/Producer 14kt (of the Athletic Mic League). Sherron Shabbazz over at examiner.com captured the fellas as they injected their energy into the sell out crowd at one of Chicago’s premier live music venues, Subterranean. Check out the video below…

bring that beat back v2 concert flyer.

‘BRING THAT BEAT BACK’ v.2

Feat.: Blu & Exile, Tanya Morgan, Eulorhythmics (album listening party), Il Subliminal. DJs Tone B., Trew, Sean Doe, & RTC. Hosted by 1773, Ms. Chicago.

Saturday March 6th, 2010
Subterranean 2011 W. North Ave, Chicago, IL
17+, $10 presale / $12 door (www.subt.net)

The seminal Chicago Hip Hop label and artist collective All Natural Inc. & the Marketing /Event Production firms Ground Lift Media & Cold Grum Productions have joined forces to present the 2nd installment of the event series entitled ‘Bring That Beat Back.’ The launch event (Nov ‘09) featured live performances by Guilty Simpson, Black Spade and Rita J, a producer showcase and a host of supporting DJ sets.

Bring That Beat Back returns on Saturday, March 6th with performances from L.A.’s Blu & Exile, Brooklyn/Cincinnati’s Tanya Morgan, Chicago’s own Il Subliminal (of Tomorrow Kings), and Eulorhythmics, who will be previewing their new album Green St. and Avers Ave.

Hosted by 1773 and Ms. Chicago, the night will also feature DJ sets by Tone B., Trew, Sean Doe, & RTC.

The ‘Bring That Beat Back’ concept is an amalgam of All Natural’s ‘Dance to the Drummer’s DB’ beat battle and Ground Lift Media’s ‘Big Bang’ producer showcase. As separate entities, both events focused on Chicago’s untapped fountain of production talent, DJs, and Hip Hop impresarios (Kenny Keys, Tall Black Guy, The Opus) and as a collaboration ‘Bring That Beat Back’ goes one step further by involving established, respected, and nationally renowned performers. On deck for future installments of the event will feature No ID and Flying Lotus. Chicago has always been home to cutting edge, genre-breaking music, and with ‘Bring That Beat Back,’ we aim to further solidify our city’s position as a musical powerhouse within the Midwest, National, and Global music scenes.

Bring That Beat Back Press Info:

Press:

Chris Catania BTTB Feature (via Live Fix)

Rita J Interview for BTTB v1 (via examiner.com)

Photos:

BTTB v1 Photoset (by Roper)

Video:

Guilty Simpson @ BTTB v1 (via Ruby Hornet)

Blu & Exile Bio:

Blu is the leader of West Coast Hip Hop. Since the days of Pharcyde, Freestyle Fellowship, and Jurassic 5, there have been few wordsmiths that have grasped the attention of listeners worldwide. Introduced to NWA and Public Enemy by his father, Blu later was captivated by the likes of Black Star, The Roots, and Common, creating a unique balance that is displayed in Blu’s personality and music.

Blu’s first full length LP, Below the Heavens, pairs Blu with producer Exile on the Sound in Color imprint. His first single, “Narrow Path” has rocked stages across the world, as fans begin to feel the impact of Blu’s music. His delivery flows flawlessly, while the content reflects the joy and pain of working class youth everywhere. Since the release of “Narrow Path,” Blu has performed alongside Slum Village, X-Clan, Platinum Pied Pipers, Lyrics Born, DJ Houseshoes, and many others, while participating in 3 high-profile nationwide tours alongside musical family members: Ta’Raach, Aloe Blacc, and Exile.

The buzz has fans salivating for new music. Worldwide, people are looking to put hope into the ‘next’ emcee that will give them the same feeling when they first heard Black Thought, Common, or Slum Village. Blu fulfills this need, but maintains something that is entirely new, while not recycled.

Tanya Morgan Bio:

A selection of music from artists performing at the upcoming ‘Bring That Beat Back v2‘ concert featuring Blu, Exile, Tanya Morgan, Donwill, Eulorhythmics, Adad, Il.Subliminal, Tomorrow Kings, & 1773.

Immediate download of 13-track album in your choice of formats via Bandcamp located below. Enjoy! and be sure to get your BTTB v2 presales now @ subt.net

Feat.: 1773, Wes Restless (Vocal set.) DJs Trew Romance, Moral One & Only, Manny ‘Love’ Muscles.

Sunday February
14th, 2010 @ Lokal 1904 W. North Ave, Chicago, IL
9pm-2am, 21+, No Cover

Beauty lies beyond the search… Ground Lift Media and Arthur Banks (of Jugrnaut Chicago) are excited to entice you with an intimate single/video release party for the Chicago-based trio 1773’s newest song entitled ‘That One.’ Featuring performances by 1773, a solo vocal set by Wes Restless, and love song-centric DJ sets by Moral One, TREW, & Manny Muscles (Jugrnaut).

“By looking at our group’s name, it’s obvious we have an affinity for Chicago. We always try to move people’s bodies with our music, but this event allows us to interact with Chicagoans on a personal level,” states Just Jay. “Although we may still tell you to wave your hands in the air [laughs].”

As an event, Me & You evokes the more passionate side of Hip-Hop & Soul as filtered through a perspective which is distinctly 1773 – at all times representing Logan Square/Humboldt Park, ‘feel good’ music, and eclectic urban fashion. Within the intimate confines of LOkal on Valentine’s Day, 1773 unveils their new album’s lead single ‘That One’ which finds MCs Wisdm O.N.E. & Just Jay contemplating their ideal mates. However, “the search is only part of the beauty, when you find out someone’s passions, goals, and quirks… that’s the realness,” explains Wisdm O.N.E.. In addition, the group performs a short selection of their ‘romantic’ tracks, and vocalist Wes Restless (The Jordan Years) takes the stage for acapella renditions of his most recent ballads.

1773 Mini-Bio:

Multitasking as MCs, singers, producers, & instrumentalists, 1773 [Pronounced Seventeen Seventy-Three] originated in 2004 as an occasional venture between Just J & Moral One (respectively, lead MC and drummer of the live Hip-Hop band Berto Ramon) and their longtime friend Wisdm O.N.E.. But in two short years the group evolved into a full-fledged endeavor and a highly regarded live performance act who has shared stages with Wiz Khalifa, Lyrics Born, Blackalicious, Pigeon John, L.A. Symphony, SoulStice, Tanya Morgan, Ohmega Watts, Othello, Braille, Blu & Exile.

2010 finds the trio nearing completion on their next album titled Greenlight Go produced completely by Tall Black Guy and featuring guest performances by Von Pea (of the critically acclaimed group Tanya Morgan), 14KT (Buff1, Athletic Mic League), and singer Ragen Fykes. Release date: October 2010.

1773 Perform “It’s On Again” Live @ Sub T/Wiz Khalifa Release from DeeJay Uncl El on Vimeo.