I'm a Worceter native and I love this city. I grew up here through the 80s and 90s and definately feel like a part of this city. I got into hip hop as a kid with artists like Ice-T, Sugar Hill, Black Sheep, Epmd, and then later Wu Tang, Onyx, and so forth. I started writing in grade school. I wrote evrything, stories, poems and then I started writing raps in 6th grade.
This record definitely reflects my upbringing as well as where I'm at now as a man a father and a teacher. The record started a few years back when Torbin approached me to record some spoken word with him. We burned through a few reels in two sessions and then I forgot about the project for a few years. Earlier this year Torbin got me back in the studio to do some rap tunes and here we are. The record is philosophy, politics, urban life, and a bit of fun thrown in to make cats smile.
Apart from hip hop I've been a member of the fringe poetry community here in Worcester for many years. My poetry ranges from beautiful to disguting to contemplative stream of consciousness. I put out a self published book last year, Anticipating Nothing, and I'm currently working on the next. Poetry is definately a piece of my heart.
I plan to remain in Worcester because it is the center of the universe as far as I can tell. I plan to keep teaching, keep rapping, and keep writing and spewing poetry in strange place.
Aslan King
The For Real Album is made up of Album made up of four types of tracks.
1. Spoken word
2. Spoken word with beats behind.
3. Spoken word with non rhythm(ambient music)
4. Hip Hop/rap songs.
In 2003 I decided I wanted to record a spoken word album where I would interview Aslan recording his unique philosophy of life.
We recorded two 30 minute reel to reel tapes where Aslan discussed freely his thoughts on a variety of topics including race, friendship, nature, Afros, cities, words, etc. The tapes were locked away in the vaults. Always with intention to release them in the future.
Aslan and I reconnected in 2006 at the Buddhist temple in Worcester studying with a Vovinam master. This started the For Real project rolling forward.
Aslan resigned with Lo-Z spring of 2010, and we decided to write some hip hop and rap tunes. We both love Epmd, Grandmaster Flash, Ice T, Wu-Tang Clan, and Kung Fu flicks. I asked Aslan to write a response to the Iraq war and boom Danny Lapensee, Aslan, and I produced "Planes & Bombs" in an afternoon. I wrote the music on my iPhone and Roland drum machine bounced it on a cassette four track to get some of that old school hiss sound.
We then wrote "Azzy Az" a Rap anthem, summed by the lines "Azzy Az on the mic with the alphabet word play" and "banging beats by Lo-Z."
"How Can You" was written as a waltz with a simple hymn like melody. With the Oil Spill in the gulf. I asked my self How can these people sleep at night? I asked Aslan to write a rhyme where he could ask the BP president questions for us common people. I changed the feel of the music to rock and hip hop. And we produced the track in an afternoon.
The culmination of the Rap part of the For Real album is "Forgotten Kids" the story of the kids Aslan works for helping them to become great and contributing members of society.
The spoken word interviews were edited and layered with beats, synthesizers and sound effects. We have created a totally original form of a multifaceted piece of Art. For Real is a solid foundation of spoken word philosophy, hip hop beats, ambient sweeping sound gardens, and conscious rap tunes. Lo-Z records turns to King Aslan and quotes Ice-T 's song "Lethal Weapon." by saying proudly. "Our lethal weapons our minds!"
Sincerely and Humbly Yours,
Torbin Harding
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