Killah Priest
Walter Reed, born [August 16, 1970] better known by his stage name Killah Priest, is an American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan affiliate who was raised in Brooklyn. He is known for intensely spiritual lyrics loaded with metaphors and religious references. He is connected to the Black Hebrew Israelites through his rhymes, and is known for controversial and political subject matter. He is also a part of supergroup the HRSMN along with Canibus, Ras Kass, and Kurupt.
Rashad & Confidence
Two longtime students of the game, finally drop their long-awaited debut album “The Element of Surprise”. This up-and-coming MC/producer duo, hailing from Brooklyn and Philly, merged to create a record with a timeless sound reminiscent of hip-hop’s golden era but with a fresh, updated feel. With no guest appearances or other producers involved, Rashad & Confidence embody the sound real hip-hop heads yearn to hear, going back to the times of Gang Starr and Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth.
The soulful hitting and sample-based boom bap beats courtesy of Confidence capture the pure essence of classic hip-hop production while Rashad’s deep and conscious lyrics slice through each track with topics ranging from various life issues to relationships or just raw lyrical display.
Estee Nack/ Tragic Allies
There are very few rappers nowadays who are able to keep a keen balance of intelligence, and street awareness in their music, especially in an era where bounce producers, and dance-move rappers have dominated mainstream hiphop. Born and raised in Lynn, Massachusetts, rapper and self declared prophet and messenger Alex Rosario or “Estee Nack” has something special for those who long to hear a high voltage delivery and quick, thoughtful lyrics over a rugged beat.
Raised in the rough East Lynn neighborhood, 2nd generation Domincan-American Estee was a staple on the notorious Union Street, where he would walk streets alone by the age of 6, alongside prostitutes and drug addicts, bodegas and barber shops. His home was on Chatham Street, where gunshots were often heard at night over the Black Moon and Gangstarr blaring out of neighbors’ homes. Estee spent a lot of his time at local record shops on Union Street, hangin’ out with the owners. Since he was born to a traditional family from the Dominican Republic, he was intrigued by the American hip-hop music, and began to emulate rappers such as Nas, Mobb Deep, Buckshot, and certain members of the Wu-tang clan. It was no time before he was freestyling alongside his peers in middle school, battling for money and gear, but most of all, respect.
In hope that he could one day be a professional rap artist, during his high school years, Estee found it hard to pay much attention in class. He would often write verses in english and math class, while paying close attention in History & Science class. He wondered why he had to salute the flag, and honor genocide and bondage issued by the European to Asians, blacks, and natives American tribes. He wondered why the big bang & theory of evolution were not consistent with the Adam & Eve story of creation given to him by his family. This type of thought process became evident in his rhymes as he began to reference religious dogma and compared it to modern day society. Feeling as though he would have no chance at getting into a good college upon barely graduating high school, only thanks to an alternative program offered in the city to troublesome students, Estee found himself in the street, with nothing but his ability to make music.
Juggling to survive on his own and keep his dream alive, Estee began recording with other Lynn native, Purpose as the Tragic allies and NYC based Culture VI records inc, making his first official appearance on debut album by Culture VI “Elite”(2003). Two years later, Estee appeared alongside Purpose for the Tragic Allies debut release “The Mixtape”(2005), followed by the Tragic Allies’ “Grey Skies” Mixtape(2007), and Purpose’s “Soul Purpose” mixtape(2008). Estee plans on keeping his work going in 2009 where he is again heavily involved, nearing the close of production, on the Allies’ first official studio album, “The Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil”, and having almost completed reconstruction of his solo “Infidel Castro” Mixtape. With the Allies set to release so much material this year, Estee and his crew may find themselves in a position to step into the limelight sooner than anyone has expected.
