The
Video:
What makes DaVinci so dynamic is that he consistently establishes expectations and consistently breaks them afterward. While The Day The Turf Stood Still's first single, "What You Finna Do", painted a picture of gentrification affecting his neighborhood, The Fillmore, DaVinci's second single, "Ben", took a look at society's infatuation with money; all with DaVinci's block-influenced point of view. With his latest single, "Concrete Jungle Juice", premiering today on Pitchfork, DaVinci again shows off his diversity, with his gruff voice and watery flow working overtime for nearly three minutes, unimpeded by a chorus.
The song title – inspired by DaVinci's drink of choice at the time, the mixing of Gin and Tampico – sets up expectations of a tough party song. But while the video has scenes of DaVinci looking and talking tough – "I keep committing crimes when you hear me on these beats. A high hat homicide, bass-line battery/ Snare drum slayin', it’s a kick drum casualty" – the video is also a statement for the Bay Area rapper. "We wanted to remind people we're from San Francisco," says DaVinci. "The skyline intro; the Giants fitteds; the orange and black imagery. We're from the Bay."
Watch the Pitchfork premiere of DaVinci's "Concrete Jungle Juice" Video:":
http://pitchfork.com/tv/#/musicvideo/6909-davinci-concrete-jungle-juice-sweetbreads-creative-collective
Alternative Link:http://www.vimeo.com/13538404
To Download DaVinci's The Day The Turf Stood Still, please visit: http://www.swtbrds.com/davinci
Alt Link: http://swtbrds.bandcamp.com/album/the-day-the-turf-stood-still
For more information on DaVinci please contact Michelle or Dan at Audible Treats.
The
Background:
The Fillmore District has bred more rappers per capita than any other district in San Francisco,
and although the older generations recall its rich musical history
rooted in Jazz, the Fillmore today is rife with drugs, turf wars, and
mass gentrification. DaVinci, a young MC raised in
the Fillmore, is a prime example of the duality of this area, who at
the age of 13 was homeless, hungry, and hopeful for a way out. Explains
DaVinci, "My music has everything to do with my environment: from
robbing, killing, pimpin' to selling and abusing drugs," he explains
about his heavy content. "It's a direct reflection of what my friends
and family have been through and are still going through." While his
story is similar to many other young rappers’ upbringings, DaVinci was
surrounded by an incredible pool of Fillmore talent and by studying
with the greats, he was able to sharpen his skills and aim higher than
most, cultivating his story-telling abilities beyond mere
drug-and-gun-talk. Growing up in the same 10-block radius as Bay Area
rap legends San Quinn and JT the Bigga Figga,
DaVinci was content in merely watching the next generation follow in
their footsteps, until he received overwhelming praise from his peers
from a mixtape appearance, which then prompted him to pursue rap
professionally. In 2006, San Quinn welcomed him onto the "Pressure Makes Diamonds Tour" with rap veterans Xzibit and Tech N9ne.
Since the tour, DaVinci has kept busy appearing on numerous mixtapes
and compilations, as well as preparing his official debut album, The Day The Turf Stood Still. The Day The Turf Stood Still is available now via SWTBRDS Creative Collective. |