Don't confuse Strik 9 with Stroke 9. While Stroke 9's place in the latest and greatest MTV mainstream scene may be catchy (they sing about little black backpacks for goodness sake), it's little match for Strik 9 Records, a Chicago based independent label with a bit more clout behind their name. The label, whose goal is to help the Midwest rise with quality musical representation, has started with a solid project - Earatik Stratik. Earatik Stratik ranks at the top of Chicago's underground hip hop scene - they've played with the big boys, from Outkast to Kidrock to Ice Cube to Digital Underground They've hit the stage at the House of Blues, Metro, Double Door and Liquid. But who are they?
Earatik Statik consists of three "super native Chicago hip hop gurus;" Carlos Polk (Celo) and Seth Rich (Abstruss Tone) as main emcees and producer keyboardist Lional D. Freeman (El). About four years back the duo changed names from 3rd Rail to Earatik Statik, simultaneously teaming up with Freeman of The Hip Hop Project radio program on WLUW Chicago. The trio meshed rock, rap, R&B, jazz and exploited electronica in a way that defines hip hop as fresh and worthwhile.
Although Earatik has an Outkast type sound, it's the polished nature of their music that impresses. The group doesn't seem to shy away from all modes of sound on their album The Lox It Down Suite, from the more traditional to the surprisingly refreshing instrumental version of the title track. The track, "The Lox It Down Suite" seems oddly misplaced at first, belonging more on a drum and bass compilation than as the last track on a hip hop album.. But it's damn good, so who cares? The album is definitely a fusion, from Chicago area sound clips to R&B to a 24-second drum spot called "Darbuka Scratch Movement." Earatik Statik's lyrics concern stereotypically hip hop subjects û lots of sex, lots of drugs and well, the music. Still, thereÆs a point Earatik throws out messages on innocuously named tracks like "Strange" which promotes the use of condoms without diminishing the music or slipping into an annoyingly didactic rut.
Rumors of a killer stage show surrounds the group, whose aim is to keep the crowd hyped. By touring with all-star Midwestern deejays, Earatik has made their performance a grass roots hip hop experience, a mix of live and sequenced electronic flavors. Definitely not to be missed.
For more information, visit their website: http://www.earatik.net
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