Blogs
This was an article in the Sun Sentinel newspaper that I never got to post as a blog. It was printed back in December in the Homegrown section. Good looking out on the interview Beth. The url is:
http://www.southflorida.com/music/sfl-homegrown.pg,0,546137.photogallery?coll=sfe-guide-4promos&index=28
E. Grizzly
MP3: E. Grizzly -- Change the World
When E. Grizzly takes over the mike, he doesn't rap about expensive jewelry and cars.
"Most people don't have all that," he said. "I'm basically a regular guy. I try to make music that speaks for the people."
A Philadelphia native of Puerto Rican descent, Grizzly has been spreading his hip-hop message for the common man to average Joes for 11 years.
Grizzly, whose real name is Erik Tirado, said he earned his nickname on the streets of his hometown. "It's an urban term up North," he said. "Get on your grizzly. It means working hard to make money."
After moving to Miami in 2003, Grizzly continued to stay busy by performing at clubs and signing with the Miami-based record label Puerto Roc Records.
His recently released CD, Hip Hop Is Dead, earned Grizzly the shout out rap artist of the year at the 16th annual Los Angeles Music Awards. The honors, presented by LAmusiconline.com, were handed out Nov. 9.
Grizzly said another CD with Puerto Roc Records, The Revolution Will Be Televised, is due out in March.
Grizzly is booked 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Thursday at the Voices and Vibes open mike showcase at Troy's Package & Lounge, 2990 W. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-791-0120. Grizzly also frequently performs at the spoken word open mike nights on Wednesdays at Power Studios, 3701 NE Second Ave., Miami; 305-576-1336. Visit egrizzly.com and myspace.com/erikgrizzly.
(File photo)
Nov 30, 2006
Copyright © 2007, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
This is an interview I did with Aaris Schroeder from UBO magazine who is by the way one of the flyer cheif editor chicks I have ever seen. I was expecting Jonah Jamison from Spiderman. (you know I had to **** with you a little bit Aaris. lol) But check it out. The url is
http://ubomagfeatures.blogspot.com/
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UBO Magazine: Feature Stories
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Friday, June 8, 2007
Feature: E. Grizzly; Album: "Hip-Hop is Dead!" The Mix Tape Vol. 1
Feature: E. Grizzly
Album: Hip-Hop is Dead! The Mix Tape Vol. 1
By Aaris A. Schroeder
Editor-In-Chief
April 16, 2007
Erik Grizzly, also known as E. Grizzly makes his conscious effort towards hip-hop in Miami, FL with his album, "Hip-Hop Is Dead," under Puerto Roc Records who heads one-half of the production team but originated his musical path in Philadelphia during '01.
"It started with my ex-girl from high school. I wrote her this love poem when I was 14 [years-old] and she went crazy. I think I lost my virginity because of that poem. So I just kept writing poems for her because she was such a giver afterwards and then all that made me start writing rhymes. It all started with a girl," elucidates E. Grizzly.
E. Grizzly started off murdering other emcees in his rhymes with the release of an album, produced in Philly entitled, "Anti-Matter," under A-Type Tactiks, an independent label that is involved with the "Hip-Hop Is Dead" movement. The album was released before he moved to FL. in '03.
"There's so much freaking garbage out there it's ridiculous. It's not all about money, cars, hoes, etc. I don't necessarily want to be rich off the music. That would be cool if it happened but that is not why I make music," explains E. Grizzly.
Performing all over FL, E. Grizzly still takes it up to New York and Philly a few times a year to perform where he originated.
Pushing the "Hip-Hop Is Dead," effort has lead 25-year-old E. Grizzly down a political and litigating process as himself and Puerto Roc Records begin a nasty lawsuit to trademark the term.
According to E. Grizzly, Def Jam never licensed the phrase, "hip-hop is dead" and since Jonathan, also known as "Dj Primo" Padilla, CEO/President of Puerto Roc Records had created flyers, stickers and t-shirts with the phrase on it to represent the last 20 years in hip-hop. In April '06, Padilla and E. Grizzly filed for a trademark application to have the rights to use the phrase exclusively for the artist's album title not to mention awards that had been given to the artist after the album had been released.
Soon after the album release, NAS came forward to explain that he was releasing his album entitled, "Hip-Hop Is Dead," Sept. '06.
Padilla and E. Grizzly "feel strange having a pending trademark litigation case against one of their favorite emcees that they grew up listening to but have faith everything will work out in the end," according to a press release from Puerto Roc Records.
"It's a bunch of music business bullshit because NAS is one of my favorite emcees but that is what it is," explains E. Grizzly.
E. Grizzly has performed pretty much the entire east coast. Selling over 5000 copies of his album in the last year, the effort has assisted this urban artist to win "Best Independent Artist" and nominated for "Best Breakthrough Record" for "Hip-Hop Is Dead," at the 16th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards in '06.
E. Grizzly will spit at hip-hop shows, small spoken word joints, gangsta-rap orientated venues and folk-music spots.
"I know if the poetry crowd likes one of my songs then it is a good song. They are the hardest crowd to please," says E. Grizzly.
"Revolution Will Be Televised," will drop fall '07 under Puerto Roc Records. The new album will feature different independent poets, folk singers, emcees and R&B singers.
To learn more about E. Grizzly, you can check out his website http://www.egrizzly.com or his MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/erikgrizzly and pick up an album at http://www.cdbaby.com/egrizzly.
39th Ave Music LLC Updates…
*TC and 39th Ave Music have teamed up with Compton-Drew Middle school in St. Louis, MO, to start an e-mentoring program in the fall of 2009! More details to follow!
*Catch TC and 39th Ave Music performing live during the “Derrty DJ Midwest Summit Weekend”, May 15-17th!
*TC and 39th Ave Music will be live @ “Annie Malone May Day Parade” May 17th in St. Louis, MO! Look out for our float and free giveaways!
*TC performing live May 26th @ Club Viva
*TC of 39th Ave Music will host a football camp for Tennessee Titans wide receiver Justin Gage on June 6th and 7th in Jefferson City, MO!
*Check out TC’s video “Louie-Walk” www.youtube.com/sta2ff and download the record for free @ www.reverbnation.com/tcof39thavemusic
*39th Ave Music official website will be launching soon.. “www.39thavemusic.net”
*DON’T FORGET, TC’S ALBUM “THE FIRST OF ME” WILL BE DROPPING THIS SUMMER VIA 39TH AVE MUSIC/TMG!
Going in to the studio for a good solid afternoon of practice. Have a ton of music to go through. Choir music, music from my bass lesson, and rehearsing for a show I have this week. I also have a library book on 16th century anthems! Can't wait to use of few of those ancient lines and add some new lyrics.
Still seeking my ideal job, a two or three evening a week restaurant / lounge job where I do three sets and get to dress up! (and leave my amp) A real home!
AC Haley
You can read my official blog at:
www.myspace.com/irenebmusic
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Puedes leer mi blog oficial en espanol en:
www.radioneox.com
39th Ave Music LLC Update!
*TC of 39th Ave Music to headline the ?Melanoma Benefit Concert? @ Central Missouri State University! March 28th @ 9 pm
*39th Ave Music will have a dancer/ model search on March 30th for features in TC?s ?Lou-ish? video, which will be shot April 3rd & 4th! Contact 39thavemusicllc@gmail.com for more details! Download ?Lou-ish? free @ www.reverbnation.com/tcof39thavemusic
*TC to headline Tennessee Titans wide receiver Justin Gage homecoming in Columbia, MO?April 18th @ Pepper?s Night Club
*TC has launched his 4x4 Block Sweep ? cleaning program, which was inspired by our 44th president Barack Obama! More details to come.
*TC?s album ?The 1st of Me? will be dropping summer 2009 via
39th Ave Music/ TMG!
39th Ave Music Would Like To Thank Everyone Who Participated In The Damien Nash Life Celebration Weekend And Making It A Success! Your Support Is Appreciated & PRICELESS! Because Of ?U? We Continue To Progress!
www.myspace.com/jamesmillerband??
The James Miller Band is recording "All In" , an Alternative/Acoustic Pop-Rock album w/ Lyrics by Kristen Henderson and Music by James Miller featuring the anthemic rocker "Thankyou", The Radio-friendly Hit Single "Like you I do", Straight-ahead rock infused lyrical silliness of "Scrabble" as well as the epic choral finale of the Title Track "All In".
MIKEL IS A SOUL/HOP ARTIST. HE TAKES HIP HOP TRACKS AND INFUSES SMOOTH VOCALS OVER THEM THUS CREATING A GENRE HE NAMED HIMSELF, CALLED SOUL/HOP. HIS INFLUENCES ARE BOYZ II MEN, USHER, BRIAN MCNIGHT, AND JODECI. HIS SOUND IS COMPARED TO A CROSS BETWEEN CHRIS BROWN, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, AND JON B. HE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON HIS SOPHOMORE PROJECT TITLED (NEON DREAMS & LIQUID LOVE). MIKEL HAD A SMASH HIT IN GERMANY CALLED "AS WE GET DOWN", WHICH TOPPED THE CHARTS IN EUROPE ALONG WITH ARTISTS SUCH AS T PAIN, RAY J, MARIAH CAREY, RIHANNA, PAUL WALL, 50 CENT, AND JANET JACKSON TO NAME A FEW. U CAN HEAR HIS HIT SINGLE ON HIS IMEEM PAGE. AS IT IS HIS FEATURED SONG. YOU CAN ALSO HEAR IT @ MYSPACE.COM/MIKELSOULHOP. MIKEL IS A INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTAR, CURRENTLY RESIDING IN TULSA OK. HE IS PART OF QUARTER STOP ENTERTAINMENT. MIKEL THANKS YOU THE FANS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, AND LOOKS FORWARD TO SHARING HIS NEW SOPHOMORE ALBUM (NEON DREAMS & LIQUID LOVE) DUE OUT LATER THIS SUMMER.