“Real rap is back,” declares MC Siege at the onset of
Idols & Icons, the new album by
Edotkom, a duo that was once one of Cleveland hip-hop’s bright
lights. In street years, 2002’s Obsidian was an eon ago. But
that’s not a problem for the group; it never was big on street cred.
The double threats still write lyrics about business, comic books,
movies and maturity.
“It officially marks the return of the back-packing hip-hop
movement,” says producer/rhymer Heiku. “In short, it’s man
music. What we do is pay homage to the art of MC’ing. We know it’s a
lost art, but we also know that people are looking for it.”
Heiku and Siege contributed the bulk of the beats, lifting samples
from classic rock, fusion and metal nuggets. The CD includes five
tracks by producer Domingo, who contributed to Big Pun’s Capital
Punishment. The result is a throwback album with a contemporary
edge.
Edotkom releases the album Saturday, October 17, at the Grog Shop,
with an informal reunion of the 12 Monkeys collective. They open for
Blueprint. Doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets: $10.
Mushroomhead and Ventana are both featured on
the Saw VI soundtrack, a collection of metal and
hard-rock songs not heard in the movie. Ventana’s “Watch Us Burn” is a
bonus digital-download-only track; Mushroomhead’s “Your Soul Is Mine”
is on the actual CD. “It is very creepy,” says ‘Shroom mainman Steve
“Skinny” Felton. “A lot of people say it is straight-up,
old-school-type stuff.” Chimaira‘s “Warpath” is also on the CD,
available October 20.
The Guitar Centers in Akron (3750 W. Market St., Fairlawn)
and North Olmsted (26635 Brookpark Rd.) are hosting tryouts for the
chain’s Drum-Off ’09 talent search. Store winners will be chosen
Thursday, November 15, and move on to district competition. Visit
gc.guitarcenter.com for
details.
Rock entrepreneur and producer Joe Bihari will be the first
guest of the season for the Rock Hall’s From Songwriters to Soundmen
interview-Q&A series. Bihari produced B.B. King, Ike & Tina
Turner, and Etta James. Author John Broven will conduct the interview 7
p.m., Wednesday, October 21. Admission is free; RSVP via edu@rockhall.org or 216-515-8426.
This article appears in Oct 14-20, 2009.