"When it comes to mixing these traditions together, there are a lot of bad bartenders out there, but Gangstagrass picks the right ingredients that bring out the best in both of these worlds, showcasing the energy shared in common, and possibly carving out a new genre while they're at it." -The Deli
BROOKLYN, NY (May 25, 2012)--As the Jun. 5 release of Rappalachia, the first LP by Emmy-nominated bluegrass hip-hop group Gangstagrass draws closer, they have let loose that there's something secret in the album's packaging. A clue if you will. Fans who decipher the clue will be lead on a scavenger hunt, with clues leading to exclusive content - free mp3s, behind the scenes documents and mysterious sneak peeks at projects in the works. No telling exactly what great goodies will be discovered, but given Gangstagrass' penchant for delightfully unusual combinations, they're sure to be extraordinary.
Be sure to order Rappalachia on Jun. 5! http://www.gangstagrass.com/?openstorepage=home
Rappalachia shows off the style that made Kool Keith (Ultramagnetic MCs) legendary on "Western," ripping cowboy rhymes to a bouncing beat, augmented by banjo and dobro pyrotechnics. "Shoot Dem," featuring T.O.N.E-z, suggests a hoedown at a Jamaican dance hall, with T.O.N.E-z laying down his usual tougher than tough flow over a big stomping beat. If Jimmy Rodgers could have rapped as well as he yodeled, he might have cut something like "Gunslinging Rambler" which features rapping by R-SON. Rench fills in for Rodgers as R-SON spits out his heavy-duty ranch hand poetry.
Gangstagrass and Justified have a long, fruitful relationship. The show's theme song, "Long Hard Times to Come" received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music, and several other Gangstagrass songs have been featured in the series. Rappalachia goes beyond the show's soundtrack. "This record is a shout out to Appalachia, the cradle of bluegrass culture," says Rench, creator of Gangstagrass. "It's rooted in the sounds of traditional mountain music and presents Gangstagrass as a band with independent existence, not just one sound tied to a TV show."
Rappalachia Track Listing
1. Gunslinging Rambler featuring R-SON
2. Honey Babe featuring Brandi Hart and Nitty Scott MC
3. Shoot Dem featuring T.O.N.E-z
4. Our Life featuring Aint No Love
5. Red Sky Morning featuring Nitty Scott MC
6. Rappalachia 6
7. Aint No Stopping featuring Dolio The Sleuth
8. Down By The River, Down By The Sea featuring David E Beats
9. Country Blues featuring Brandi Hart and Nitty Scott MC
10. Western featuring Kool Keith
11. Bound To Ride featuring R-SON and Dolio The Sleuth
12. No Going Back featuring BROOKLYN35
13. Crossbow
14. Dollar Boss featuring Dead Prez and Kamara Thomas
15. Till My Last Shot featuring T.O.N.E-z and Jen Larson
### Praise for Gangstagrass
"The band's Snoop Dogg meets Bill Monroe sound breaks barriers and destroys genres with its eclectic mix of low down and down home beats."-Ardent Studios
On Gangstagrass' Bluegrass/Hip-Hop mash up: "When it comes to mixing these traditions together, there are a lot of bad bartenders out there, but Gangstagrass picks the right ingredients that bring out the best in both of these worlds, showcasing the energy shared in common, and possibly carving out a new genre while they're at it." -The Deli
"In the world of genre mashups, few artists have successfully bridged the gap between country and hip hop...The juxtaposition works better than you might expect."-MAGNET
"...An experiment that proves, at least to me, that hillbillies and emcees can get along swimmingly....manages to win over some people who dislike both bluegrass and rap." -Mother Jones - Maddie Oatman
"...these are mighty fine songs. In fact, they are genre-creating songs...Gangstagrass is a musical Reece's Cup, that makes both elements sound better."
"Here's the bottom line. I get a lot of requests to review records, but none of them so far have been as musically paradigm-shifting as Gangstagrass's aptly titled debut, Lightning on the Stings, Thunder on the Mic. This is some ear-bending, genre-changing goodness." -Newsome.org
"Cheers to Justified for tracking down the perfect theme song. FX's modern-day shoot-'em-up opens with the country-rap hybrid "Long Hard Times to Come,"... The title song's blend of twang and grit neatly fits the story of itchy-trigger-fingered U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens..." -TV GUIDE - Bruce Fretts
"'Long Hard Times to Come'...a mixture of bluegrass and hip-hop that might repel some purists on either side of the country-and-rap divide, but will knock the socks off just about everybody else." -The Wall Street Journal - Nancy Dewolf Smith |
