Son of a Diddly, It’s Ned Flanders…

Ned ”Lanky” Flanders

Created by Aaris A. Schroeder

Editor-In-Chief

 

 

Ned Flanders, otherwise known as Lanky due to his long, thin-like body isn’t an artist you would expect to come out of Orangevale, CA.  He’s in the indie art and music scene, flashing his art at local boutiques, venues and art galleries such as Blue Lamp and Deeda Salon.  He has definitely made a name for himself the last couple of years.

 

The art that is in demand is a cool, retro slant on tattoo inspired pen and ink pieces.  His artwork appears to belong on the arm of a Mexican Catholic yet the images aren’t all godly, there are messages in them.  Unique canvasses provide the grounds for new and old works of art, mending saintly subjects together in an antique tribal-like fashion within surreal tragedy and parody. 

 

Lanky also “writes by the way,” check this out, “Pulls out his futuristic communication device, calls his closest of friends, and lights up his pain-med vice / He confesses through the inanimate instrument his desperate need for help, cause this tobacco isn’t going to help him sleep.”

“My brain has always worked in a different way.  I always take the scenic route or ‘over-engineer’ my ideas and thoughts,” says Lanky who also confesses that music influences him beyond art but also in his every day life, “The combination [of music and art] is what keeps my sanity.”

Getting to know this passionate individual you will find that he is an eclectic person; working 40-hours a week, checks the gym, listenes to underground music and surrounds himself around artistic people constantly.  A couple of his favorite groups Strange Famous Records [Artists include Sage Francis, 2Mex, Prolyphic and Sleep] and Who Cares from Sacramento.

Music triggers Lanky’s artistic mindset, “I can have an entire conversation with someone and have no idea what it was about because I was in my art-zone.”

Lanky is an artist that has been able to please the masses but of late he has been getting a little artsy.

 

“Those who don’t like it motivate me to do more art like the stuff they dislike.  It’s a real ‘fuck-you’ thing, I guess,” says Lanky whose art has just began to get “taboo.” 

 

I guess so.  Lanky is currently grinding to Morrissey.

 

If you want to know more about Lanky Art check out his MySpace page www.myspace.com/lankyart. 

Ned "Lanky" Flanders Postulates Assimilatious Notions...Is that a real word? -- Photo Courtesy of Ned Flanders

 

AWKWORD Emcee & Natural Photo-Journalist

Urban Artist Bio
Artist: awkward
Angry Jew Fights Back With Art and Verb Play
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E-Mail and Free MixTape: awkward@subwaystiles.com

Website: http://www.subwaystiles/com

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/subwaystiles

Listen: http://www.soundclick.com/AWKWORDtheoneandonly

Ringtones: $0.99 http://www.isound.com/awkword

 

awkword [the mc]

the fallen angel,
the bleeding heart,
the impossible question,
the brutal truth,
the beautiful answer.

awkword lives and fights hip-hop. Growing up an angry Jew in a W.A.S.P. nest, he found solace in the written word, then the recorded song, then the live show. He went from fighting with fists to forging new frameworks and with a street protest background; his message is finally being heard.

Catch awkword free-styling on the streets of Brooklyn; rocking a “nazi punks fuck off” t-shirt to Fat Beats or blessing a screaming; triple-digit crowd in Danbury, CT.

awkword entered the world of hip-hop as a graffiti artist and now utilizes that same raw energy, rebelliousness and vigor in his recorded and live music. With the pen power of E.E. Cummings and the persuasiveness of a politician, he raps love and hate, drugs and alcohol, politics and pretty ladies.

awkword is the good and the bad of hip-hop, rethought and reworked, blended and encapsulated in one man, one mic with metaphors and stories, screaming Satan or singing celestial.

When he spits, the world is speaking.

"Commute" by AWKWORD. -Photo Courtesy by AWKWORD

 

A Flurry of Underground Artists Make Up The Mighty Underdogs, “The Prelude” Independently Produced E.P.

Album: The Prelude EP
By: The Mighty Underdogs
Produced: The Mighty Underdogs

 

The Mighty Underdogs, made up of Gift of Gab, Lateef The Truthspeaker and Headnotic are at it again, bringing DJ Shadow on track “UFC” and MF Doom on “Gunfight” among others together on their EP, “The Prelude,” released winter ’07.

This album brings old school anthems, almost southern-sounding, funky 80s beats, wonderful melodic music; even party beats together creating this 6-song EP.  Not as clean as Gab’s “Supreme Lyricism, Volume I,” this EP seems an attempt to create positive, poppy-sounding feel-good music to life.

The Mighty Underdogs Album Cover

Mic Jordan is Analytical and Persuasive in Hip-Hop

Album: Leviathan
By: Mic Jordan of Tribe of Levi
Produced: Independent

By Aaris A. Schroeder

Tribe of Levi has always been about their emceeing skills and word play, bringing the attention to local and universal politics and life’s daily dealings, so it is no wonder that Mic Jordan’s mind aimed in the same direction with his second solo album represents the same appeal.

With songs produced by Daddy Longlegs, 26hrz, Agustus thElefant, Ospis and more; a diversified, non-complex set of beats sets Mic Jordan’s lyrics on fire.  Probably the most controversial song, “TPR,” featuring Carlos Lopez [Cawzlos], Old Ghost, NON [of Tribe of Levi] and Buddhachild all on the notion of community change in Sacramento, politics and the streets. 

Bru Lei, Mahtie Bush, 5^th Ave [Neighborhood Watch], Rogue Scholars, Random Abiladeze [Neighborhood Watch], Rick Tognotti, Glassfire [Forms In Flux] are all featured on Mic Jordan’s underground lyrical masterpiece. 

 

Mic Jordan Makin' It Happen

Stuck in a Rut? Check Out Middle Class Rut

Album: Middle Class Rut
By: Middle Class Rut
Produced: Independent

By Aaris A. Schroeder

Finally, something different – Cawzlos was shopping me this album for a month or so and I finally picked up Middle Class Rut’s self-titled album.  Straight anthem-style modern rock, this band has a touch of Offspring and Oasis but a little darker.

M-C Rut; for short, includes Jack Lopez and Sean Stockham who bring a mid-90s sound back to life without sounding too indie.  This is going to be a hot band for Northern CA.  Check them out at www.myspace.com/mcrut

Tokin’ it Up with L-Toka, Laughin’ my Ass Off

Album: Sense of Humor Not Included
By: L Toka
Produced: Self-Produced

By Aaris A. Schroeder
Editor-In-Chief

L Toka isn’t known for his beats as much as he is known for his punchy lyrics in his album, “Sense of Humor Not Included.”

American Marijuana Music Award [AMMA] nominee for his song, “Highly Addictive” shows the true side of the ‘special’ green herb.  “Welcome To The Jungle” has a folk beat set to an electric guitar, fashioned strange enough.  “She’s My Woman” shows the more sappy side of L Toka: “This is my serenade / My serenade to you / I know I can’t sing.”  “Stripper Song” has got to be the funniest song on the entire album as L Toka emcees about incest, thongs and sleeping around.

L Toka Seen here on his album cover, "Sense of Humor Not Included"

 

 

True to the Culture: Kahlee Brings It

Album: Man of Many Hats
By Kahlee
Produced: Self-Produced

By Aaris A. Schroeder

Kahlee is known for his fresh beats with the bounce of Los Angeles and conscious lyrics, blending hip-hop culture into its true form on his album, “Man of Many Hats.”

 

The DJ cuts are clean on “Hatred To Greatness” and “I used to Love Her,” is a sweet love song dedicated to the green herb, Mary Jane, nominated for an American Marijuana Music Award [AMMA].

With songs such as “Hats and Beatboxin,’” featuring beatboxer Bee Hive and “Rockin’ The Mic,” Kahlee covers all four corners of hip-hop plus one.  Kahlee will be releasing his next album, “Roots and Culture” with Uptown Swuite of The City Lights Crew.  He will also be on tour spring ‘09.  Check this LA cat out at www.myspace.com/kahlee.  

Kahlee's Album, "Man of Many Hats" AVAILABLE NOW! -Photo Courtesy of Kahlee

 

 

 

“Even If The Record Skips” Franco Can Keep Up

Album: Even If The Record Skips
By: Franco of Dirty Rats
Produced: Dirty Rats

By Aaris A. Schroeder

Tight, story-telling lyrics and sweet indie beats; Franco of Dirty Rats does it again for his fans.  Franco’s first song is sped up and formed into track two, showing his ‘path as an emcee,’ bringing wisdom to the stage.

“Good Morning,” is a positive track about getting your business done: “Good Morning / The rest of the neighborhood’s snoring / but I’m wide awake today to put my best foot forward,” says Franco.

If you want to feel a new hip-hop consciousness-high with fun beats, Franco has what it takes.

Franco of The Dirty Rats, Presents: "Even if The Record Skips." - Photo Courtesy of Franco

 

 

 

Spit Shine Those Dirty Rats then Mix ‘Em Up

Album: Spit Shine
By: The Dirty Rats
Produced: Dirty Rat Records

By Aaris A. Schroeder

Bringing clean, old school samples and beats, tight lyrics and a fresh appeal, Franco, Kush, Callous, Stir Fry Willie, GMG, D-Rize, Mr. Ocean, Karina and DJ Saursaus, making up The Dirty Rats trick you with their sneakiness on their album entitled, “Spit Shine.”

“Ratz Den” is a lyrical storm as the beats run around an emcee hurricane.  “Thought You Were Ready,” brings what many underground cats are doing now, echoing their beats, quickly fading them off and bringing them back as the emcees rap over this flawlessly – offers a more distinct sound to the emcee skills rather than the beat.

Kush, Callous and Franco all have equally inspiring solo albums – learn more about Dirty Rats at www.dirtyratrecords.com 

 

The Dirty Rats Present, "Spit Shine." -- Photo Courtesy of The Dirty Rats

Made for Spring; Cali-O Puts the “oh” in California

Album: West Coast Music
By: Cali-O
Produced: Independent

By Aaris A. Schroeder

Produced out a couple of Sacramento’s hottest studios in Sacramento, well-known Omina Laboratories and soon-to-be-known 916 Factory, Cali-O has major inside connections with many of Sacramento’s great emcees, engineers and producers.  Artists such as DJ Epik, Chase, Jae Synth, Kron, Jugganox, Cypha Signals and SupasLap are all featured on this album in one way or another.

“West Coast Music” wouldn’t be hot if it didn’t also feature emcees such as Doey Rock, Skurge, Black Zeek, JT Ta Bigga Figga among others.  With a quick-to-pound street anthem style, Cali-O’s song, “West Coast Music,” featuring Doey Rock and Skurge talks about what makes the West Coast’s hip-hop culture what it is.

The album is a perfect fit for a sunny day with the homies and draws loosely on street games, the album is quite catchy.  Check out Cali-O at www.myspace.com/cali_insite