Joell Ortiz - Modern Day Slavery video featuring Immortal Technique from the album, The Brick (Bodega Chronicles)

Immortal Technique - Golpe De Estado video featuring Veneno and Temperamento

Renowned rapper and activist Immortal Technique, in conjunction with Fat Beats Record Store, will be encouraging the hip-hop generation to register to vote at his record release party in New York for his third album, The 3rd World. The party will start at midnight on Monday, June 23rd at the New York location of Fat Beats Record Store.

Immortal Technique and Fat Beats owner and founder Joseph Abajian decided to include a voter registration booth at his record release party with the shared goal of getting the hip-hop generation involved in the presidential election. Says Mr. Abajian, “The original intent of hip-hop was to lead a more informed, righteous life by getting kids out of gangs and educating them. Back in the day, we had Melle Mel and Public Enemy to hold the torch, but nowadays, Tech is one of the last standing emcees who talks about politics in his rhymes. We need to wake up the hip-hop generation, who has been blinded by bling, money, and women.” Tech corroborated, “Even though democracy can be circumvented (and it traditionally has been) it is important for us to remember that voting is just one aspect of it, voting 25 times every century is only a part of democracy, what holds a society together are the institutions that it sets up. Those will outlast any regime and echo throughout history. Voting is important because all politics is local and what we do locally can be seen nationally, and then…globally.”

With the release of The 3rd World, Harlem-born Immortal Technique is breaking a five-year hiatus since his last LP. Featured artists include Chino XL, Ras Kass, Crooked I, and Poison Pen, as well as producer DJ Green Lantern. The 3rd World will be available nation-wide on Tuesday, June 23rd through Viper Records. The record release party will be held at midnight on Monday, June 23rd at Fat Beats Records, New York at 406 6th Avenue, 2nd Floor. For more information, please call 212.673.3883.

Immortal Technique MySpace

BABYGRANDE’S 2008 INAUGURAL RELEASES: BLUE SKY BLACK DEATH, RANDAM LUCK and RANSOM IN STORES

Indie powerhouse Babygrande Records, home to such acclaimed acts as Hi-Tek, GZA, Hell Rell, JR Writer, Jedi Mind Tricks, Immortal Technique, & many more, announces today’s release of its first three records in 2008: Blue Sky Black Death’s “ Late Night Cinema,” Randam Luck’s “Conspiracy of Silence” and Ransom’s “Street Cinema,” These offerings are as diverse as the Babygrande roster itself and foreshadow the breadth of releases to come in 2008.

Blue Sky Black Death - “Late Night Cinema”

After numerous collaborations with the underground’s finest (including two full-length records with Wu-Tang affiliated emcees Holocaust & Hell Razah), URB next 100 producer duo Blue Sky Black Death foray into a unique and eclectic soundscape with “Late Night Cinema” (their first fully instrumental release), broadening horizons with an album that will also undoubtedly further diversify their fan base.
With influences ranging from electro to boom-bap and folk to funk, this sonic venture, co-authored by forward thinking producers Kingston and Young God, is a testament to the progressive stylings of the buzzing producer duo.

Randam Luck - “Conspiracy of Silence”

Over eight years of local support have made Randam Luck a force in the San Diego indie hip-hop scene. A raucous live act, Randam Luck have appeared with the likes of Evidence (Dilated Peoples), Jayo Felony, Don Carlos, De La Soul, KRS-1 and many more. Their debut albumfeatures a who’s who of independent hip-hop: Vinnie Paz (of Jedi Mind Tricks), ILL Bill (of Non-Phixion & La Coka Nostra), Sabac Red (of Non-Phixion), Kool G Rap, Outerspace & more. “Conspiracy of Silence” is as much a tribute to hardcore independent hip-hop as it is a fresh take on the sub-culture that spawned franchise powerhouses Jedi Mind Tricks, Non-Phixion and many more.

Ransom - “Street Cinema”

Hailing from Jersey City, Ransom was an integral member of the “A-Team” crew that also included Joe Budden and recently slain member Stack Bundles. Ransom recently experienced heightened attention owing to his highly publicized falling out with Budden. Having recorded and/or collaborated with such A-list acts as Lil’ Wayne, Rick Ross, Juelz Santana, Jadakiss, Styles P., Sheek Louch, Fabolous, Flo-Rida and more, Ransom’s street and blog-based buzz has reached a fevered pitch in anticipation of the release of his debut offering, “Street Cinema.”

Featuring Jadakiss, Stack Bundles & more, Ransom’s “Street Cinema” is an homage to the streets that raised him, and the life he left behind in pursuit of lyrical legend.

…that at the first Rock the Bells date on July 26th at Tweeter Center in Boston, David Banner took issue to having to perform before Immortal Technique (as originally planned). According to witnesses, when Banner was told that no changes would be made to the line-up, he “threw a tantrum,” left the venue and dropped out of the remainder of the tour. Banner did not appear at the two RTB New York dates since.

by Christopher “Scav” Yuscavage

Be careful. Immortal Technique has got a brain full of knowledge, a heart filled with hatred, and a potent mouth spurting out more truth than an anti-smoking commercial, and he’s not afraid to use any of it.

His second full-length creation “Revolutionary Vol. 2,” the follow-up to his controversial “Vol. 1,” not only picks up where the first leaves off, it comes for the heads of those that are not listening yet, the half-truth news anchorman, the unoriginal A&R, the snake promoter, and the weak public that accepts whatever the government tells them. But, unlike other “revolutionists” and social connoisseurs, Immortal Technique manhandles a mean set of rebellious beats and radical lyrics too, with an attractive and informative approach that makes the average socially conscious rapper look like an average social slacker.

Original Article (extended)

by Hugo Lunny

Every now and again I receive or hear of an album that truly stands out. Hip Hop fans nowadays all consider themselves an authority on what’s hot and what’s not, and, it seems that the views differ so drastically that deciding to actually pay attention to any one artist or opinion seems pointless. So, I rarely take the time to review a release. I have writers who do that and I typically handle the organization of the site. With that said though, after a lot of positive comments from people I, on occasion, pay attention to - I was exposed to Immortal Technique.

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FROM THE FORTHCOMING ALBUM, IN STORES: JULY 17th, 2007 Immortal Technique Presents…Akir “Legacy”

Owing to pent-up demand from a rabid and growing fanbase, Akir’s debut album Legacy is re-released on July 17th courtesy
of Babygrande Records. The album was executive produced by buzzing politically charged emcee Immortal Technique and features guest appearances from Jean Grae, Immortal Technique, Abiodun (The Last Poets), Dujeous & more. Production on the album is handled by Southpaw (Immortal Technique), Heat Makers (Juelz Santana), The Fyre Dept (GZA), DJ Static & others.

Akir has already experienced massive press support, having been recently featured in XXL’s renowned Chairman’s Choice column as well as receiving the honorary (and coveted) unsigned hype accolade from seminal hip-hop publication The Source. A tireless road warrior, Akir has spent the last few years on tour, completing a total of 2 international tours, 7 domestic tours, 200+ shows including Amsterdam, Denmark, London, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and, Venezuela. He has performed with a variety of acts including Nas, Kool G. Rap, Mos Def, Styles P, KRS-1, Ghostface, The Game, Talib Kweli, Saigon, Dead Prez, Little Brother,
Jean Grae, Masta Ace, Wordsworth, Vast Aire, Brother Ali, Immortal Technique and more.

Rhyming is an art form. Just like painting, dancing and hustling. If you don’t know the techniques of the genre you can easily be swept off your feet. Enter Hip Hop staple, Poison Pen, a battle MC turned street prophet. The Brooklynite started in 1996 at the first online radio station 88HipHop.com, before tearing through the streets as the undefeated champ of the NYC MC battle circuit. After participating in the Blaze Battle, Pen decided to retire in 1999 and later host the most popular lyricist competition to date, Da Cypha Emcee Battles featured throughout NYC including special showcases at Kevin Powell & Russell Simmons’ Hip Hop Speaks.

It was hunger, not chance, that brought Poison Pen to the forefront. Founder of indie rap clique Stronghold, members including Breez Evaflowin’ C Rayz Walz, Immortal Technique and DJ Static before the group released the acclaimed mixtape Stronghold Volume 1. The result was a classic collaboration. “As far as the recording, I don’t do Pro Tools rap. I don’t do a record & send it out to a nigga I don’t know and have him email me a verse back… Naw, I don’t make music like that.”

Good music has always been his focus. His first appearance on wax “On the Mic” floated off the shelves in ‘98 just two years before receiving his own distribution through Landspeed Records for his debut single “Top of the Food Chain”. But the microphone monster didn’t stop there. He lifted Rainmakerz Records with his second solo joint “Fall Back” before slaying the video game industry lyrically. Lending his voice to high selling vids The Warriors and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories Pen’s rhyme schemer duality would keep fans thirsting for his own album. “I been on everybody’s else’s shit - but never my own”, says Pen, with more fervor and honesty than agitation. “I did MF Doom’s “Bloody Chain”, the Beatminerz album, Apathy’s “Eastern Philosphy” album and both of Immortal Technique’s Revolutionary Volume 1 and 2.” He smiles that wicked wattage unusual for a grimy street survivor. “We helped the whole NYC come up…. Now NYC needs to let me do the same”.

He makes it look easy. Making records, appearing in Dave Chapelle’s Block Party, VH1 Hip Hop Honors and MTV’s The Shop, & DFX, spitting countless bars on albums not your own. Pen has a way of keeping his name on the tongues of Hip Hop heads without breaking a sweat. Poison Pen continues to tour Hungary, Amsterdam and Norway with the gutter mentality and linguistics that fans have grown to love, and has completed his unofficial first solo album, titled “Pick Your Poison: The Mark Of The East” available in the spring on Fontana/Universal records. “The Money Shot” album will be available soon after . This rhyming life is definitely an art form.

Check out Poison Pen on myspace: www.myspace.com/poisonpen