YFB January Issue- Music- Fault Station's 'The Final Third' {Risse C}

'For substance deprived rhymes to rise and make a mark in this. Like partying is all they see in this, pardon me the power of the spoken word to reach the audience'  -Fault Station

In an industry which struggles to be recognized as a viable enterprise in Barbados, the rap/hip hop genre can be considered the weakest link. However, the duo group Fault Station knowingly accepts the challenge to create lyrically strong, socially aware and thought provoking music; setting them apart from many of their international counterparts.

Kirkland 'Kas' Seale and Jabari 'Montana' Jemmott are kicking down the door and causing a disturbance in the local rap scene with 'The Final Third'. Even though they consider themselves rappers, their sound is anything but generic. Listening to their 2010 debut mixtape, produced by Stewart 'Strat' Carter of Triple E Studios, you will witness an amalgamation of sound ranging from rock and roll to ballads; with each track using an original beat- not the usual associated with the term 'mixtape'. 

 

With no two tracks alike, it is testament to their hard work. No strangers to the long studio hours and the fine tuning by Montana, a self professed perfectionist, Kas's studio time transforms him to his alter ego, moving away from his usual introvert and becoming a beast on the mic, spitting rhymes like they are his last.
 
This 12 track compilation is capable of being a hit with any audience, from 'Welcome to the Show' -an introduction to the entire experience and kudos, to 'Pleasure Doin Business' -a story about a man who yields to sexual temptation but home girl turns out to be a con artist. Other bangers on the album are 'Winner' feat. B-Roca and Teff; 'The Departed' feat. Chrissy Headley; 'Prelude to the Next Time' feat. B-Nice and 'Make Way' a Million Dollar Music production. 
 
No explanation can do justice to this musical masterpiece- you just gotta listen to it!The flow: insane, the lyrics: poetic, the message: raw and uncut. With the heart and soul of winners, these two are destined for greatness in 2011 and beyond.

Download the mixtape album here

Fault Station links: Reverbnation | Facebook | Twitter

The Rise of a Star: Janelle Monae

From her humble beginnings in Kansas City, I have followed Janelle Monae as an artiste and from then till now she has never disappointed. This exuberant young woman who has been likened to Andre 3000 of OutKast has a very unique approach to her music and performances. Decked out in her black and white tuxedo like ensemble, she always bend society's perception of what a female artist should be. Refusing to conform has made Ms. Monae a much needed breath of fresh air.

Monae is striking in every sense of the word, her music encouraged her move from Kansas to ATL where she founded her label the "  Wondaland Arts Society" ... not your average recording label. Under them she produced her first album "The Audition"  a piece of work which many of the music industry's top moguls slept on and it was highly underrated and never officially released. 

However, Monae caught the attention of music's most outstanding duo "OutKast" and it was influential in the exposure which she received from this point forward. Take a listen to "The Audition"

Monae has since moved onto bigger and better things, signing a distribution deal with Badboy, which has proven to be nothing less that vital to her establishment as one of the biggest names in our time. In my opinion it is very important for Monae to hone her craft under her original label, since as we have seen time and time again in the music industry, young talent is robbed of its uniqueness, and being signed results in their music becoming very run of the mill, their image is altered to fit the mould and the majority eventually fall into the shadows.

This can never be said of Janelle Monae who is on the verge of releasing her second major album "  The ArchAndroid"  which, from the sample she has posted on her Myspace is definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with. They are no filler tracks on this album, each song is lyrically astounding and the beats are equally iconic.

May 18th is the release date for her album and I look forward to purchasing it ....something I rarely do :). Ms. Monae has my support as a fan as long as she stays true to her music.

xoxo

Risse

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