Passtime : Check out this Artist!!

I guess I got tired of talking about myself. I decided it was time to help promote some other artists. Of course I will start right here at home in Phoenix Arizona. Check out this MC.

Awhile ago I received a message on myspace from an artist named Passtime, he was very complimentary, and seemed to be a person I would get along with. I really like people who compliment my music...go figure. Passtime had intelligent and meaningful things to say however, those kind of compliments are few and far between.

I decided to stop by his page and listen to some tracks, since he was pretty green, and maybe I could give some sort of constructive criticism. I saw a huge amount of potential, but wasn't completely happy with the recording quality or the fact that all of his tracks were on instrumentals by artists such as RJD2, and DJ Shadow. I kept in touch, hoping to see some growth, and man did I.....quicker than I would ever have imagined.

My man Phil (Passtime) picked up a beat from Orchestra Record's MC and beat-maker L a.k.a. I....and came up with a track entitled "Another Phase". Dope wordplay, a seriously smoothed out flow reminiscent of Arrested Development's Speech, and nice work with a theme (something we all know I'm big on.) A great song!! I was more than impressed when I first heard it. And not only could this kid rhyme, he had some serious pipes. I got caught up in some of my own musical jargon, but made sure to let him know he had done a great job. It would be a month or two before I heard anything, music wise, from Passtime.

Phil and I stay in touch fairly often, because we will be working on some songs together in the future. I knew he had been going through some personal drama, so I made sure I dropped him a line of encouragement whenever I thought about it. I stopped by his page to see what was up one day, and there it was, another new song. This time the producer was Richard Davey, and the beat was energetic and full of momentum. Passtime called the song "In the Moment", and had me stuck in exactly that the whole time I listened. Thick vocal harmonies, a nice grimy flow, this track was NICE!! I couldn't believe it....this kid picks up two beats from producers.....and BAM....two BANGERS! Give this kid a couple more beats and he'll hand out a classic album, I have know doubt about it. If this guy keeps improving at the rate he has, time might stop passing, and just stop to jam-out for a minute.

Hip Hop, as I am always extremely vocal about, is monotonous. I am often turned off by overly saturated copy-cats. I am turned off everyday by MC's who over MC and under art. I get tired quickly when old formulas are revisited to often. "Too many metaphors, not enough life" as I always say. Passtime seems to pass his time far above all of this, and I really enjoy that. An extremely talented MC, Poet, and Singer, this artist deserves your ears.....so stop by and hand em' over for a couple of minutes.......you won't regret it.
http://myspace.com/bypasstime

Bear the Astronot to ROCK Summerfest 08'

Bear the Astronot & The Cosmonauts don't really know where they fit in. Friday June 13th they will perform live at Summerfest 08' (Club Red/The Red Owl in Tempe, AZ) and prove that the answer is "Just about anywhere". Summerfest 08' in Arizona is a mainly Rock format, full to the brim with some of Arizona's hottest talent. Bionic Jive is headlining with a Hardrock/Hip Hop edge which has brought them right the verge of full-out mainstream success more than once. Roveen will bring a straight forward rock approach, while "The Skacas" who recently performed at Bear the Astronot's first Grab Bag event Reggae/Rock/Ska and trample the dance floor. This event should quite all the Bear the Astronot fans who always have said "You just don't fit in at these Rap Shows...You need to try something different". Here it is Summerfest 08' @Club Red 2155 E. University Dr. Tempe AZ 85281. Be there Friday June 13th.

The line-up is thick at this festival style event, with performances from acts such as Bionic Jive, Roveen, Bear the Astronot, The Skacas, The Shallow Type, Zeusophobia (Las Vegas, Nevada), The Hounds (Tucson, Arizona), Tribal Path, The Overpass, and more. There will be two stages, The Club Red Stage where The Skacas will perform right before Bear the Astronot & The Cosmonauts.....so be there about 8pm if not earlier to catch both acts. The show starts up about 8:30pm, but you won't want to miss the amazing drink specials including 50cent Heinekens from 7-9pm. That is right people "50cent Heinekens from 7-9pm!" The other stage will be a stones throw away....not literally, but you know what I mean, in The Red Owl right next door. The two venues are connected, so stage hopping will be a breeze.

Bear the Astronot & The Cosmonauts will be the only straight forward Hip Hop act, so please come out and support! This should be a great show, and since Bear the Astronot & The Skacas will be done by 10:15pm that night.....a wonderful time to come out and celebrate with the bands, meet anyone you haven't yet, and buy Bear and The Cosmonauts a drink! (Or not, whatever floats your boat) I hope to see you there.

Bear the Astronot releases new single "EMO Haircut"

Bear the Astronot releases a genre-bending new single entitled "EMO Haircut". The song is a fun, sarcastic, overview of EMO culture reminiscent somewhat of early Beck, of course with Hip-Hop undertones. "EMO Haircut" pokes more fun at the MC himself than anyone else. "I wrote this song to poke fun at myself, and make a cultural statement at the same time. I started growing my hair out awhile ago, and every once in awhile I would straighten it before I went out to perform or whatever. Every time I did that, everywhere I went, I heard "Whats up Fall Out Boy" or "EMO the Astronot is in the house tonight"....instead of downplaying it, I decided to add fuel to the fire. EMO culture and Hip-Hop culture are mixing more and more now.....I myself....might have the haircut.....but I think I will stick to Hip-Hop. EMO is just a little too heart-wrenching for me" explained Bear the Astronot.

The Arizona MC then went on to say, "I like to make fun of myself while explaining the funny and quirky things about others. I think it makes for great songwriting. I have started noticing a certain tension in underground Hip-Hop now, in as Sage Francis said "The Time of Atmosphere". We don't need defining lines in Hip-Hop, especially not at the Indie/Underground level. If you wanna cut your hair all "Fierce!" and watch Project Runway to distract you from how much you hate your emotional dark little life......then more power to ya'! If you wanna' keep it old school and never leave the DJ Premier era behind....then do it. I hope you add my music somewhere in the middle of all of it......Just don't push your beliefs or lifestyle on others. The way people look has only a small amount to do with who they are. I also wanted to warn you...so you don't take signs and pictures like the one attached to this blog so literally....cuz it would really suck to have the Hip Hop guy with the EMO Haircut whoop your ass in front of all your friends....with that faggy haircut and all. Don't judge and divide in Hip Hop. I wanted to say all of that in this song, but I really didn't....I just made a fun little song that makes fun of myself and EMO kids. I guess I saved the rest for the blog..".

"EMO Haircut" is available in Bear the Astronot's SnoCap store straight off of his myspace page at www.myspace.com/beartheastronot or at www.reverbnation.com/beartheastronot . You can also download the song off of turntablekachina.com . The song is only available as a single download right now for $0.99. Download your copy today!