The long awaited 2011 additions to my zombie rapper series is in full effect! In conjunction with the release of 5 new undead MC’s I’ve collaborated with the amazing crew over at MADE for this summer release. We will be kicking off the event with the mix-master/spinning stylistics of VIPJ of The Cool Kids and Dreas of Heardrums Records and Galapagos4. Ice cold libations provided by Arrogant Bastard Ale and killer Chi-town BBQ for all the baller cats who come through. Come raise hell with us and celebrate the undying legends of hip-hop with style!
The theme title stems from one of the greatest of all time hip-hop pioneers Run-DMC. Being one of the very first albums I ever owned, Raising Hell is a seminal release that highly influenced my creative side at a young age. Sporting Adidas and big gold chains would forever mark the fashion styling of 1980’s urban youth breakers and hip-hop culture. Paying homage to Jam Master Jay and the ‘Kings of Rock’ was inevitably the go-to choice for representing the aesthetic of this show.
/// Jam Maggots Jay ///
You will see quite a few of these flyers floating around Chi-town prior to the show. Funky-fresh Eazy-E for the masses…maybe more funky than fresh!
When it comes to the true pioneer, father, king, and OG of gangsta rap I bow my head and spark a tight one. Eazy-E was a huge influence on my perception of just how far you can take your craft with the freedom of speech. Pushing buttons in the world of hip-hop through streetwise ingenuity Eazy opened up the air waves for controversy. Such as any hardcore master of legitimate creativity would do, the E sought out to conquer the world of hip-hop rap with a ruthlessly independent audacity that would forever influence the minds of urban inner-city youth and remain a vital edge to the voice of the streets. Beyond all others, Eazy muthaphukkin E remains a perpetual echo in my mind and is a constant memorial to how essential staying true to yours really is. From Boyz-N-The-Hood, 8 Ball, and Dopeman to Automobile, Nobody Move, and Give Me That Nut the Eaz was king of hardcore down to tha last roach. The Compton legend will forever have ’em all shouting “We want Eazy!”.
/// ZombEazy ///
As no stranger to West Coast rap and the Cali sun it is of due respect to pour out a little liquor for perhaps the most infamous of rap-game icons. Tupac Shakur has been eternally with me through thick & thin and always left me keeping my head up. Growing up a huge Digital Underground fan I was exposed to Pac at his rawest and had the chance to grow with his music through my teenage years. When I heard of his death following the intuitive lyrics and titles on his pseudonym Makaveli I knew his ghost would always haunt the imagery within my best work. There truly is not enough thanks I could give to 2Pac for being the abiding soul who helped govern my wild youth. Thug4Life!
Paying homage to the original human beatbox means blunts, candy, and big bags of chips. That’s right, I’m talking about the biggest baller of the Disco Three Buff Love. Man, he and Doug E Fresh made making beats with your mouth the illest thing next to sporting locs, gucci hats, and a pair of slick Bally on the feet. The human beatbox was synonymous with breakers, graffiti gangs, and fashioned a new co-soldier to the line of 1980’s hip-hop DJ’s and MC’s. There was a time when you not only got phat nasty beats, ill samples and raw scratching, but also had the intense pleasure of puffing cheeks and puckered lips piping out chains of cacophonous cadence. Needless to say, beyond the mega-sized characteristics of the Fat Boys the human beat box, the ox that rocks, better known as DJ Dr Nice The Power Lord Rocker – Buff Love and the trio will always represent a more innocent time when hip-hop was fun as hell and living larger than life was no cliché! R.I.P Buff Love!
/// ZomBuff Love ///
You simply can’t even mention Wu-Tang Clan without going straight to the raw dog dirt-nastiness himself Ol Dirty Bastard aka Dirt McGirt. ODB was another of hip-hop’s mutants who rose from the crack-laden alleyways and drunken chambers of New York City’s Staten Island (Shaolin). Just the pure rawness and raunchy mayhem inflicted by the slurping genius-tongue of Dirt Dog reflects the sick wit and unadulterated chaos of the East Coast’s roughest boroughs. Never a dull moment with Dirty. His pervasive lyrics, gritty-growling tone, and tell it as it is nature forever grows unchallenged in the vaults of rap culture. Nuff said…mad love to Big Baby Jesus!
/// Ol Decay Bastard ///
My favorite image out of this series is also the more rare of MC’s to have graced this planet. Not only rare in such amazing raw talent, but rare in the role of gender. Gorgeous to the very last my heartstrings pulsate for Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes. Not only was TLC a groundbreaking musical trio in the golden age of R&B/Hip-Hop are one of the best selling female groups of all time. I remember watching Left Eye on MTV’s The Cut in the late 90’s and always drooled over her athletic stature and sheer spunkiness. My “back in the day” girlfriends always had a little Left Eye in ’em with funky doos, baggy draws, and button-nosed beauty. Just watching her move makes my mind Creep!
/// Dead Left Eye ///
Big sky-shouts to the largest rapper out the Bronx Big Pun. One of the hippest cats to come out with a most original MC style, Big Punisher always left the stage smoking with fists full of merriment. I remember first hearing him on The Beatnuts track Off The Books thinking his poetic huffiness was the perfect silhouette to the toony-beat backed tracking. Always a fast paced rhymer and big lover Pun will everlastingly go down in the hip-hop annals as one of the nicest, smoothest, and well rounded lyrical masters of the era. Cruising in the hot sun with the top down blasting any Pun track will put you in the perfect state of mind. A slice of life to feed the nation of beat-heads, he went down way before his time. Play on player!
/// Big Puss ///
Strictly from the Houston streets comes the hot boy who was all about wood grains and diamond paint. UGK came with ferocity on the release of Super Tight. My mind was blown with “A Pocket Full of Stones” which set a tone for how the darker commercial side of UGK would contend with more mainstream rap of the 1990’s. UGK was one of the foremost dirty South rap groups to emerge and ping my radar consistently. Pimp C was sippin’ that sizzurp until the very end. The rap game will forever feel the void of of Pimp C spitting truth-daggers of flame in the eyes of all posers. Trillest of Trill!
/// Pimp Z ///
As a young player macking to the fullest in the 90’s it was sheer necessity to have Notorious B.I.G. in the home, the club, and the car at all times. His infallible lyricism laced with intelligent snippets of his autobiography created the perfect visual backdrops for the ever-changing industry of the time. Caught up in the East Coast / West Coast rivalry in the scene Biggie Smalls became a symbol of strength and integrity for all types of youth across the nation. Big ingeniously became the face of East Coast rap and Bad Boy. When the two-disc Ready to Die hit the billboards like a nuclear bomb the revival of gangsta rap hit its peak. His murder will always remain one of the hardest hitting mysteries and controversies to spill over into mainstream media. Forever rest in peace Big Poppa!
/// ZomBiggie ///
The last martyr of this series is one of the most respected contributor to the game who has had a hand in creating a multitude of hits across the board with so many amazing artists. His vocals on Warren G‘s Regulators, contributions to Death Row, and formulation of 213 set a tone for transition in gangster rap into a more mellowfied R&B context. Nate Dogg quickly became the vocality of various rap artists from all regions which ultimately led to a more unified cohesion of cross-collaborations within the industry. He was on all the essential records of the time. From Dre’s The Chronic, to Pac’s Thug Life: Vol. 1 and down the road to Ludacris “Area Codes” the player of all time will perpetually sit on the throne of G’s whose deep tenor will continue to resonate throughout the age of hip-hop. Big ups always to this Long Beach baller!
/// Late Dogg ///
Legends never die!
I’ll be releasing footage and reviews post Raising Hell. Limited Edition prints, posters, and entire sets are available for sale. Drop me a note if your interested in pricing and purchases. LONG LIVE HIP-HOP!
First off big bows with clasped hands and hats off to all who came out to Raising Hell. The response and attendance was amazing. MADE was packed out all night with the best of Chicago crowd. Mega huge shout outs to VIPJ and Dreas for tearing it up on the turntables. The crowd was bumpin and dippin all night! Big thanks to our friends at Arrogant Bastard Ale for keeping the hoppy ale flowing. Last but not least a giant high-five to the crew at MADE for all their assistance in providing the perfect venue to pay tribute to hip-hop’s greatest!
Lots of artwork was sold and the limited prints are dwindling so hit me up direct if you want to score one of the limited undead prints.
More photos from the crowded gallery to the after party to come! Thanks CHICAGO!
All Images © Nick Beery | All Rights Reserved | www.BEERYMETHOD.com