HHS: Since this is your first interview with HHS, please introduce yourself to the readers.

TruthLive – TruthLive representing Santa Rosa, CA,currently based out of Los Angeles/Hollywood. Co-founded Interdependent Media with such artists as K’Naan, J*Davey, Tanya Morgan and Finale to name a few. Just trying to carry the tradition of hip-hop music and the stuff that we grew up loving.

HHS: Your album Patience dropped April 20th. Can you talk a little about it?

TruthLive: It’s called Patience because the process required a lot of patience, so there’s nothing deeper to it than that. It was produced entirely by Jake One and it’s an honor and privilege for me to be able to say that. He’s arguably the most in demand producer in indie hip-hop or at least our little niche of indie hip-hop. But yeah, the album features DonWill and Von Pea from Tanya Morgan, Finale, Moe Green (one of our new artists) and Ras Kass.

HHS: Dope

Truthlive: It’s just a good old fashioned hip-hop album, that’s how I’d describe it. I’m doing the thing that’s frowned upon by a lot of critics; which is rapping about rap. I’m talking about a lot of social issues, I’m talking about girls and really all of the various things I’m into as a person. It’s pretty diverse topically and very cohesive sonically. If you’re familiar Jake, you already know what to expect.

HHS: How’d you hook up with Jake One?

TruthLive: Through ID, the general manager of Interdependent Media. He and Jake have known each other for a long time. And he’s a mutual friend of mine and Jake’s.  Jake and I met about 5 years ago and built from there. There was never a point where it was an intentional thing for me to do an album entirely produced by him. We just kept making music and it got to a point where I had enough music to make it happen. It was sort of a beautiful accident (laughs). It’s funny because whenever I see or talk to Jake, we’re usually talking about sports and not music. We’ll argue about the 49ers and the Seahawks. A lot of our relationship doesn’t really even have to do with music. This project just naturally happened.

HHS: Having that kind of relationship makes it better right? It’s not just business and you’re working with a friend.

TruthLive: Yeah, doing business with Jake is kind of out of the norm. We talk about other things and when we get back to talking business, it’s usually wrapped up in about 30 seconds. There’s a lot of posturing with other emcees and producers and people are really calculated about how they want to things as far as business. But when there’s someone that you have trust in personally, you don’t have to have a filter on. You can speak candidly and be direct. It makes things a lot easier.

HHS: When you’re working on music, do you look to make songs for listeners or more for you and the kind of messages that you’re trying to get out there.

TruthLive – It’s a little bit of both. Music is kind of therapeutic for me. Patience is kind of a critical album. It’s critical about hip-hop and the state of the world. The music is make is really a reminder to me about how I can improve. As far as this project, I made a lot of music for myself and the thinking man. I made it for people that are critical thinkers. If I made it for other people, I think it would have gone another route. I’m aware of its shortcomings as far as the commercial aspect of it. But I just wanted to make something that I could stand behind that represents me. I feel confident backing up any of the content on there.

HHS: How does your background contribute to who you are now as an emcee? I know you started out as a DJ and producer.

TruthLive: Having all of those different elements has helped a lot. The DJ background was beneficial because it helped me to understand what would work for DJ’s. I know what’s going to work and not work, so when it comes to production and post production, I can communicate to the engineer. I’m still growing as an emcee and I want to keep improving. I’m also more aware of making songs. Before, I was just rapping just to rap. But the background helped in the creation process.

HHS: I’ve heard a few emcees talk about that; the difference between just rapping and making songs. There’s the whole structure aspect of making sure the lyrics match the hooks or the cuts and having specific timing, it’s really a process.

TruthLive: Yeah exactly. Tanya Morgan is a perfect example of that. They’re capable of just spittin’, but they also make songs. And the songs tie together to make albums. It’s something that I’m aware of and I’m trying to improve. People want to hear songs and not just someone rapping to rap.

HHS: Where would you put yourself now as an emcee with this being your debut album?

TruthLive: I’m very glad to be in the position I’m in. A lot of people come out and think they are already on top of their game. I know I can hold my own with anyone and I feel comfortable in my lane. I’m trying to establish and build my catalog. I’m glad I’m still on the climb.

HHS: How about touring and performing. Where are you with that now?

TruthLive: Right now, I’m doing a lot of spot dates. The touring will pick up lot more at the end of May and through the summer.

HHS: Where can we find the album and your EP The Unlearning?

TruthLive: Unlearning the EP is actually exclusively hosted by DJ Booth.Net. You can basically just google me and find it or get it direct from DJ Booth. It’s a free download. You can also get anything we’re doing from the label website which is; www.imculture.com. We’re trying to push people to purchase from the website just because it’s tough for an artist with very little history to be able to push through distribution. So we want people to get releases from the website or iTunes. So we want to keep up with the times and push people to iTunes, but it can all be purchased from our site as well. We’ve got this cool deluxe package right now for about 20 dollars where you can Patience and The Unlearning plus a TruthLive t-shirt, a sleep mask for our “Stop Sleepin” campaign AND a 45 of me and Donwill on the b-side. So for the price, it’s excellent.

HHS: Any last words?

TruthLive: Yeah, Just want to give a big shout out to Hiphopsite. It was a big influence for me coming up and I’ve always appreciated the quality control with the content. You’ve always reached out to big artists and small artists like me who aren’t as well known, but still give equal treatment and represent the culture and tradition of hip-hop. So big shout out to Hiphopsite.

For info on TruthLive hit up: http://www.imculture.com, http://www.myspace.com/truthlive and http://twitter.com/Truthlive

Download The Unlearning and purchase Patience

Interdependent Media founder TRUTHLiVE looks to make a name for himself with Patience, an open, honest debut album produced entirely by Jake One. Hot off the heels of Jake’s critically acclaimed Stimulus Package with Freeway, TRUTH has got a cocked eyebrow or two looking in his direction with this release.

TRUTH’s debut is one that pay homage to the golden age of hip-hop, yet without trying to sound “retro”. His sentiment is one that is shared by many longtime listeners of the genre – that of the sickened, tired fan. The album is used as a platform to get many frustrations off his chest, touching upon a variety of topics. The strongest track is the reflective “Remind Rewind”, where he thinks back to where he was at mentally 12 years ago – walkman headphones bumping Hiero and Planet Asia – and how it applies to his career today. Another standout track is “It’s Easy”, which examines the cruelty of school children, while “The Bush Years” looks back at the worst eight year period the U.S. had faced in decades. While touching upon a number of similar conspiracy theories we’ve heard from the likes of Non-Phixion and Ill Bill, it does seem a little irrelevant at this point, when we’ve got worse problems in politics at the moment (and that’s not necessarily a slam at the Obama administration, by the way).

That being said, it seems a bit evidence that this material could be a bit dated. Producer Jake One has come a long way in the last few years, and tracks like “That Dude” and “Patience” seem a bit behind compared to his newer material. But while the production may be lacking at times, TRUTH keeps it interesting and topical. Another standout track is “Digital Courage”, where he calls out internet thugs and Twit-critics for hiding behind the safe confines of a computer screen.

All in all, TRUTHLiVE has a solid, yet not earth shattering debut. It’s evident that the album is long work of progress, showing plenty of potential and room to grow. With a palette of strong projects on the way from Interdependent Media, this is only the beginning.

]]> http://www.hiphopsite.com/2010/05/10/truthlive-w-jake-one-patience-sticky/feed/ 0 http://www.hiphopsite.com/2010/05/09/truthlive-distortion-2-static-video/ http://www.hiphopsite.com/2010/05/09/truthlive-distortion-2-static-video/#comments Sun, 09 May 2010 23:40:32 +0000 http://www.hiphopsite.com/?p=14316

TruthLive performing “Distortion 2 Static” w/ Moe Green. Truth’s album Patience out now.

In conjunction with the release of his debut album, Patience, TRUTHLiVE is proud to release his latest album cut, “Remind Rewind,” produced by Jake One and featuring Von Pea of Tanya Morgan. A constant theme throughout TRUTHLiVE’s album, the track serves to remind listeners of a more exciting, golden era in hip-hop, working to reestablish some of the long forgotten ideals of the music and culture as TRUTHLiVE and Von Pea trade verses over Jake One’s decidedly boom-bap production. TRUTHLiVE explains, “‘Remind Rewind’ is a reflective homage to hip-hop, primarily focused on my deep appreciation for the art of emceeing, and its profound impact on me as a kid/young adult.” He continues, “It is also a track about the emergence of a new generation of emcee’s carrying on the tradition.” Very relaxed, the orchestral background symbolizes a classic age in music while the scratching, courtesy of DJ Sharp, represents a rewind of time. The hook, rapped by both TRUTHLiVE and Von Pea, is, “Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it’s worth it / Till I put on headphones and play classic verses,” The rapper chose Von Pea as his counterpart for this track because TRUTHLiVE believes the dialog perfectly suited Von Pea’s ideals as a torch bearer for those who have come before and a true student of the art form.

For those fans yet to have a chance to scoop one up to date, in addition to the release of his album, TRUTHLiVE is offering fans a Deluxe Kit through the Interdependent Media label website. At a $20 price point, the Deluxe Kit includes one copy of the Patience CD, a TRUTHLiVE red baseball tee, original TRUTHLiVE sleep mask, a physical copy of The UnLearning EP, a 45″ split record featuring fellow iM artists Tanya Morgan and Finale, posters, stickers, flyers and more. Also available digitally @ Itunes.

TRUTHLiVE – “Remind Rewind” (Feat. Von Pea of Tanya Morgan) (MP3)

With the release date for his debut album Patience only a week away, TRUTHLiVE is proud to release his latest single, “Catalyst For Change,” produced by Jake One, as is the rest of Patience, and featuring two of TRUTHLiVE’s favorites in the hip-hop scene, Ras Kass and Finale. An eerie keyboard lick repeats throughout the track, giving way to Finale’s fluid lines, TRUTHLiVE’s ever-present message, and Ras Kass’ infectious rhymes. Building on the theme of his EPK video, TRUTHLiVE preaches, “I’m tired of the fake sh*t / Game is too vain like plastic surgeries and facelifts / So I don’t really care what they spit / I elevate my conscience like thought powered spaceships.” Explaining the inspiration behind his own verse on the track TRUTHLiVE says, “I wanted to highlight the art of emceeing and the struggles of those trying to push the art form by introducing new ideas and concepts rather than maintain the current standards of rap and rappers by catering to trends.” For a brief moment in his verse, TRUTHLiVE also references Lil’ Wayne, not as a insult to the popular rapper, but as a statement of his commercial power within hip-hop and, consequently, the need for artists of his level to be at the forefront of the genre’s restoration. While his message may remain the same, the delivery never fails: “The message is simple,” says TRUTHLiVE. “Rap with a purpose.”

TRUTHLiVE + Ras Kass + Finale – “Catalyst For Change” (MP3)

With just over a month to go before California emcee, DJ, and Interdependent Media owner TRUTHLiVE drops his long-awaited debut LP, Patience, the first official EPK is ready to hit the web for public consumption. In it he fills us in on where he drew his inspiration for the record and how blessed he feels to have had the entire project produced by go-to producer Jake One. “If you don’t know Jake One’s beats,” says TRUTH, “then you’re not checking on who’s making beats.” The EPK also finds the emcee explaining how staying patient and trusting in his intuition helped create an album he truly believes in. TRUTHLiVE, also a firm believer in divine timing, says that the making of Patience was a slow, but also a natural, evolution, “I can definitely seem like a procrastinator, and I do procrastinate sometimes – a lot of time I just really follow my intuition, and I do what I feel when I feel it and I have a deep faith and believe in that.” In addition to speaking on the songs on the album that stand out to him, TRUTHLiVE also goes into depth on how DJ Shadow’s undeniable classic Entroducing made a significant impact in shaping his musical identity. “In regard to hip-hop; when it comes to that, I definitely have a preference towards things that represent the culture and tradition of hip-hop,” explains TRUTHLiVE, “but my whole breadth of music that I listen to in my life is a really wide variety.” As the anticipation for Patience continues to grow, fans will have to practice what TRUTHLiVE preaches and believe that the best things do come to those who wait.

TRUTHLiVE’s The UnLearning EP is available now for free download, and his full-length debut album, Patience, will be available April 20, 2010 via Interdependent Media.

Multi-talented emcee, producer, artist and owner of Interdependent Media, TRUTHLiVE continues to build anticipation for his upcoming debut album with the release of the pre-album EP, The UnLearning. The EP, now available for free download, has already created a worthy buzz of its own within hip-hop circles with leaked tracks “Tormented Genius,” “Broken,” “Shoot Me Down,” and “Can’t Hold Me Back” burning up speakers from coast to coast. Available for the first time in its entirety, the EP finds TRUTHLiVE showcasing his lyrical dexterity and using the mic to broadcast his messages about self, society, struggles, success and other matters important to the versatile emcee. Production by Vitamin D, Tha Bizness, J Zone, The Architect, Plus Wun, The Are, Martin Slo and TRUTHLiVE himself help hip-hop’s renaissance man on his journey of sonic self-exploration on The UnLearning, while Frank William Miller Jr. created the original artwork for the EP. Despite TRUTHLiVE’s behind the scenes efforts as the founder and owner of one the premiere indie hip-hop labels, as a rapper TRUTHLiVE understands this EP will, for many, serve as an initial introduction. “On a national level I am basically starting from scratch in regards to mass exposure to my music,” acknowledges TRUTHLiVE. “People are familiar with the label – Interdependent Media – and my involvement with the label, but they may not know my music. The Unlearning is an excellent precursor to Patience.”

Tracklist:
01. Unlearning Intro [prod. Vitamin D]
02. Ant Farm [prod. Tha Bizness]
03. Head Knock [prod. J Zone]
04. Can’t Hold Me Back [prod. TRUTHLiVE]
05. Please Wake Up [prod. The Architect]
06. As One [prod. Plus Wun]
07. Shoot Me Down [prod. Tha Bizness]
08. Broken [prod. The ARE]
09. Tormented Genius [prod. Martin SLO]
10. Unlearning Outro (Lift Up The Vale) [prod. The ARE]

TRUTHLiVE – “The Unlearning EP”

We’ll let promoter extraordinaire, Michelle McDevitt, chime in about the new TRUTHLive track….

The auditory assault continues with another song from MC, DJ, producer and entrepreneur extraordinaire TRUTHLiVE. “Can’t Hold Me Back” is the latest leak from TRUTHLiVE’s imminent pre-album EP, The UnLearning, available to fans for free download this March. The track is inspired by the MC’s introspective explorations into self-reliance and self-belief. Says TRUTHLiVE, “When you have a clear vision, it’s important to stay the course and turn criticism or hate into motivation, and ultimately greater growth and success.” The ethos of self-reliance is mirrored in the creation of the track, as TRUTHLiVE juggled writing, producing and recording duties for “Can’t Hold Me Back.” Embracing autonomy came easy this time around for the Cali artist as there was a natural ease from which the song was born and, according to TRUTHLiVE, “everything seemed to work out on the first one or two takes – from making the beat to laying the vocals.” A defiant backbeat persists throughout the song and seemingly echoes TRUTHLiVE’s bold personal outlook, while soaring strings soar to a dramatic and cinematic crescendo in the hook and serve as a fitting backdrop for the emcee’s message of triumph over struggle. “Always do you” encourages TRUTHLiVE, “don’t EVER forget we are all part of the ‘one’.”

TRUTHLiVE – “Can’t Hold Me Back” (MP3)

They say the best art comes from misery, pain, and sadness, so given that the country, the industry, the streets are in such a wonderful position right now, we can expect a lot of good music to be coming out. TRUTHLiVE’s “Broken” addresses these points head on and ties them all together over a beat by The ARE. This is the first offering from Truth’s Patience LP due April 20th on his own Interdependent Media imprint, who has quite a busy release schedule this year. This is quality.

TRUTHLiVE – “Broken” (MP3)