MP3: Bisco Smith- “Fresh Water” Blockhead Remix Bisco Smith Teams With Def Jux Producer Blockhead For Edgy, “Fresh” Remix
Critical Praise for Bisco Smith:
“Bisco’s debut album has a decidedly dark, creepy and measured ambience, much like a thriller when the hero is about to turn the corner… he examines the fragile nature of our existence.” – The Source
“Bisco is continuing the longstanding NY tradition of cutting edge hip-hop.” – Skunk Magazine
The Song:
Bisco Smith’s forthcoming visionary record The Broadcast pushes the boundaries of traditional hip-hop, incorporating a grimy electronic/dubstep vibe into Bisc’s next-level lyricism. Long associated with Def Jux, having collaborated extensively with their artists and designed several of their album covers, Bisco took the logical step of securing a remix by legendary Def Jux house beat master Blockhead. The long-time collaborator with Aesop Rock has deftly crafted a re-imagining of The Broadcast’s second single “Fresh Water.” Blockhead manages to give the track a more traditional hip-hop beat to ride without sacrificing any of the grime or edge that makes the track so compelling. With muted horns and turntable scratches, hearing Bisco’s words twisted around a Blockhead beat is thrilling for fans of either artist.
Bisco’s music, always rich in imagery, delves uniquely into the theme of media transmissions throughout The Broadcast. “Fresh Water” is an explicit exploration of radio broadcasting and its influence in the music world. The song addresses how powerful of an authority mainstream radio is, and just how sinister its influence can be on impressionable ears. Bisco was clearly influenced by his experience being somewhat of a hip-hop tutor to kids in his spare time when writing “Fresh Water.” “The whole song was written really for the younger radio influenced world – trying to fight the misconceptions that get fed to them,” Bisco says. Indeed, listening to the radio can often feel like a muddled and toxic experience, desperately in need of some “fresh” angles and artists. While the radio may be in dire straights, Bisco Smith isn’t ready to give up hope quite yet. “I’m not saying the water’s too dirty to swim, but the oxygen is definitely thin. There is an antidote to the poison, you just have to go find it.”
Bisco Smith’s second full-length album The Broadcast will be available January 19, 2010.
“Fresh Water” Blockhead Remix
Video :
The Background:
Bisco Smith moved to NYC 10 plus years ago from Connecticut and quickly made a name for himself DJ’ing at clubs, distributing mixtapes, performing at open mics, and in graffiti circles. His debut release, The Basics EP (2006), gained the favorable attention of music critics and his subsequent release, The Stay Up Project mixtape (2007) was downloaded over 5,000 times. Bisco’s penchant for capturing our chaotic reality with his narratives, images, and collaborations has earned him a reputation as one of the most honest and creative artists of today. Going beyond music, Bisco Smith is also an accomplished graphic artist. He’s done cover art, designed promotional materials and spearheaded art direction for artists such as Aesop Rock, The Perceptionists, C-Rayz-Walz, Murs, El-P, and others. His art has been featured in several magazines and art house coffee table books and in galleries, such as Danny Simmon’s Rush Arts Gallery. 2008 was a big year for Bisco. He released the critically acclaimed album When Electric Night Falls (Embedded Music), toured the US, and performed at CMJ, SXSW, Scribble Jam, and NXNE. Since the start of 2009, Bisco has already released a multimedia project entitled The Strange Love Project, and is now preparing for the release of The Broadcast. It is clear that he shows no sign of slowing down. He spends his time designing everything from record covers to websites, painting walls, participating in art gallery shows, and mentoring the city’s youth with art and music, all the while transmitting top quality music to the world. Prepare to tune into Bisco Smith’s forthcoming LP, The Broadcast, available January 19, 2010.
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