Album Notes

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The debut album from independent hip-hop artist proGrammar (proGrammar.net) “fresh blood” represents the opening statement from a young, idealistic artist with something to say and a cool way to say it. Self-released over the internet in 2001, now re-mastered and released to a wider commercial audience, “fresh blood” is that classic first effort: deeply tied to the tradition it comes from with just enough newness to make it fresh and interesting. It marks the effort of an up-and-comer who wishes to inform the world, “I’ve been studying the masters and can emulate their example, yet pay attention to the personal twist I add to it.” Steeped in the works of such giants as KRS-One, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Public Enemy, proGrammar (unlike many of his contemporaries) took from them the lesson of using the power of hip-hop music to be conscious and express oneself forcefully without sacrificing an enjoyable musical experience. “fresh blood” is also a relaxed display of a hip-hop virtuoso just coming into his own. Grammar shows throughout that he is equally at home with straight ahead beats (Play; It’s Like That, Anna; Aliens,) beatboxing (Sex, Goddess; Most Intelligent People,) and experimental weirdness (No Contract; Lobotomy.) proGrammar made all the beats and wrote all the rhymes heard here and put it all together himself. It is that rare beast of classic, straight ahead hip-hop with something new and original for the intelligent, discerning listener. Then, as now, hip-hop was getting crusty and old; time for some “fresh blood.”