Critical
Praise for Tanya Morgan:
"Tanya Morgan's sophomore album, Brooklynati, is their
most accomplished to date, a milestone moment for their already contagiously
soulful sound." - XXL - Chairman's Choice
4 Stars - Time Out NY
"Tanya Morgan is bolder and braver than forbearers like Black Star and Slum Village... an expansive tour de force" - Vibe.com
"Brooklynati is one of those albums that further proves the fact that hip-hop is not, and will never be, dead." - PopMatters.com
"Tanya Morgan has the best album of the year. And it's going to be totally ingored. And hip-hop "journalists" should be ashamed of themselves." - Odell Hall, Owner/Editor In Chief Planetill.wordpress.com, Editor AllHipHop.com
"Tanya Morgan are like the sons of De La Soul-- soulful, stressed,
effortlessly smart flows, intricate production, the whole package." - SPIN
Music Editor Charles Aaron
The Song & Video:
During the golden years of hip-hop, no group was more appreciated on their home turf than Brooklynati's own Hardcore Gentlemen. The trifecta of gangster Rapz Kaotic, dealer Reefer Sutherland, and OG Killah Silk was unparalleled. This was the heyday of the label, however, and major success doomed the group, who went from corner store legends to one-hit wonders in just a couple years. After this platinum single and the LP Rugged & Smooth (DJ Jurx Records, 1994) hit gold status, success dried up for the Gentlemen, as the follow-up "Brush Ya Teef Wit It" was quickly dismissed.
This, however, is the original 1994 joint resurfaced; the self-titled "Hardcore Gentlemen" single. Described as, "one minute and foty-fo seconds of the best straight-from-the-street hip-hop," by the original owner of Brooklynati's Village Lounge, the single defined the group and put Brooklynati on the map. This set the stage for rappers of the future, most notably Brooklynati revivalists Tanya Morgan, whose latest release, the aptly-titled Brooklynati, has brought hip-hop back to the city. From Reefer's polished squawk to Silk's dirty beat, "Hardcore Gentlemen" will serve as the "Things Done Changed" of Brooklynati for years to come.
Update:
So where are they now? In May of 2009, Hardcore Gentlemen attempted to do a 15-year anniversary show celebrating their classic and only single. The plan was to headline a show at Humphrey Lefty's (a concert hall in their own hometown) and to perform their hit 15 times in a row. Tragically, during the 5th performance of "Hardcore Gentlemen" the group became entangled in a fight on stage, resulting in a drawn firearm by one of their hypemen. Shots were fired, and while nobody was hurt, two of the group's three members (Rapz Kaotic and Reefer Sutherland) were arrested and are currently facing charges for concealing a weapon and endangering minors.
Tanya Morgan Tour Details:
9/3 @ Chicago, Subterranean
http://www.subt.net/#903
This show also available live online at: www.lumeefly.com
Guest List RSVP: michelle@audibletreats.com
Remember to enter the Tanya Morgan Remix Contest here: http://bit.ly/Fn5Cd
Also, please note the new Tanya Morgan Facebook & Twitter links listed below.
Don't forget to swing over to the Brooklynati DMV and register for your very own Brooklynati Drivers License! Make sure to hold onto the license. Tany Morgan's MySpace friends who add their Brooklynati license as their profile picture will be added to Tanya Morgan's top friend list. The license also entitles you to some goodies down the road! http://brooklynati.com/dmv/dmv.htm
Brooklynati is one of the Top Ten best selling hip-hop albums
on iTunes! Please post buy links if you can! http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=314766861&s=143441
Listen
to the first single, "So Damn Down" - http://media.audibletreats.com/Tanya_Morgan-So_Damn_Down-DJ_Mix.mp3
Get your virtual tour of Brooklynati here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=413Io1IQ2OA
The
Background:
Tanya Morgan is back with their third project,
Brooklynati, following the success of Moonlighting and The
Bridge. Since Von
Pea, Ilyas, and Don Will formed Tanya Morgan in 2003,
they have received high praise from media elites such as Spin, The Source, XXL Magazine and a resounding
seal of approval from the blogosphere. Considered by many to be our generation's
torchbearers for De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest,
Tanya Morgan will once again put their skills on display with the unique hip-hop
Americana sounds of their Brooklynati album this spring. Based on the fictitious city of Brooklynati, this release pushes the boundaries of a concept album by incorporating not only lyrical imagery but also cultivating a culture and mindset, which can be experienced through the City of Brooklynati Chamber of Commerce website:
http://www.brooklynati.com/home.html. The sites, sounds, memories, and events of Brooklynati were unleashed via Bay-Area based record label Interdependent Media,
the architects behind the funding and development of Brooklynati. Wanderlusts
can feed their souls at http://www.Brooklynati.com
About
Interdependent Media:
Founded in 2006 in the Bay Area by Evan Phillips, Interdependent
Media has built unique strengths in the development, production, and
marketing of recorded music via new methods of marketing and promotion. Armed
with a comprehensive understanding of both traditional and emerging methods of
marketing, iM has successfully created multi-faceted methods
of raising awareness and interest in their projects. Industry veterans Ian "ID" Davis and Dominic
Del Bene head operations at iM and are credited with discovering and/or
developing artists such as 9th Wonder, Little Brother, Tanya Morgan,
Blackalicious, Del the Funky Homosapien, the Hieroglyphics and more.
In 2009, iM will be releasing multi-media projects from artists Finale,
Canibus, K'naan, Truthlive, and Tanya Morgan. For more information,
please visit http://www.imculture.com
Tanya Morgan are available for in-person and phone interviews. Web editors contact
Dan for interview requests. Print editors contact Michelle.
Map
of Brooklynati:
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