Shinobi Stalin : Hip Hop's secret weapon

The word artistic integrity seems like something of the past nowadays. We live in a world where many musicians sell their soul to make the big pay day with little effort to leave a lasting legacy for the next generation to grow on. The Bronx born Orlando raised emcee  Shinobi Stalin is the counter thesis of this new age way of thinking. Bound to the culture of Hip Hop, His moral obligations to preserving and making a meaningful impact in the genre has shinned through on his new album Zombie SKool. With Production by Domingo, Tone Blare, Rediculous Reeplay, Juniali, AmIAm, himself, and few others, Shinobi Stalin let the beats become his blank canvas and used his unique lyricism to paint a vivid picture of his thoughts. With the Mixing talents of Imakemadbeats and Tempermental Stalin has crafted a piece a work thats heavy in sound and complete in concept. Exposed to Hip Hop at very young age Shinobi Stalin's favorite movie was Breakin'. While most kids were watching and reciting Children movies he was actively trying to breakdance. To escape the poverty and the crack empedemic his family moved to Orlando; there Shinobi Stalin and his brother got into skateboarding and surfing.

Being so far removed from hip hop (this is the era before the internet mind you) finding good rap music in the south was extremly tough. The only groups of people who were up to date with what was dope at the time were either die hard hip hop fans or skateboarders. Having Grown up on Eric B and Rakim, Krs - One,   Kool Moe Dee and others from the first golden era it was natural for Shinobi Stalin to embrace artists like Mobb Deep, the Boot Camp Click, Showbiz and AG, Rass Kass ,Lord Finesse, and Nas. Younger Artists like Da Youngstas, and Shyhiem were the first to motivate him write his first rhyme at age eleven.

Perfecting his craft in lunch time cyphers and battles as most emcees do Shinobi focused all his energy into music. At open mics with other notable Orlando emcees he sharpened his skills. Affiliated with The Beat Ministry and the Vets of Kin (a group consisting of fellow Ozone emcees Murdoc, Mygrane Mcnastee, Am I Am, J Biz, Clarity, P!, and Tone Blare) also helped him gain notoriety; Shinobi Stalin has had to opportunity to do shows all over the U.S. and has shared the stage with The Wu Tang Clan, Krs - one, The Clipse, Lord Jamar of Brand Nubian, Dead Prez, Smiff and Wessun, Canibus Canibus, and Sean Price. He also had the chance to tour with Caveman Theory, Mauikai, and J Biz. Outside the United States Stalin has worked with many producers and DJ’s from Europe; most notably DJ Kdelight and the Drum Brothers. He is featured on the 7 inch single for Kdelight with Skitz the Gemini named Audio Revolution and on the 12 inch single for the Drum Brothers with Melodiq called New York State of Mind; both have been distributed all over the world.

The Zombie Skool album is a labor of love Shinobi says; “lots of work went into the concepts and energy you feel from it”. The album is constructed like a school day; From the song YGB which wakes you up for the start of your morning, to Prophet a track used to convey walking into the class room, and SG - 1 (featuring the Vets of Kin), which is based in the spirit of the lunch time cyphers; Zombie Skool doesn’t skip classes. Infused with soul, honest lyricism, and beat selection that compliments his style Shinobi Stalin is on the right track to becoming an integral piece in the Hip Hop World.
******** Shinobi Stalin Contrbuted Track 20. " Excersise "  prod. by Abott , For Mutant Emcee Vol. 1
********  " Mutant Emcee - Volume 1. - Resistance Music " is Scheduled For Release Aug 3rd 2010

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Yohance Serrant is " M.E.R.C.U.R.Y. "

M.E.R.C.U.R.Y. aka Merc80 was born Yohance Serrant in East Oakland, CA by his father, a musician from Trinidad, and mother, a nurse from Richmond, CA.

From day one as an infant, M.E.R.C.U.R.Y.'s father had his hands on the African drums, and they both would perform at African cultural shows together. M.E.R.C.U.R.Y.'s house was filled with music, with his father playing sounds from Africa and the Caribbean, his mother playing Soul and Classic Oldies, and his sister playing R & B and Hip Hop.

Around high school he gave himself the name M.E.R.C.U.R.Y, which stands for "Messenger Expressing Rhymes of Consciousness Unto Revolutionary Youth". He likes to be called "Merc" for short.

The Roman god Mercury was his favorite mythological figure because this character served as the messenger between Gods and humans. Merc felt it was the purpose of the poet/musician to be the communicator between the spiritual world and mankind. He's also a Gemini, who's ruling planet is Mercury, and he describes his rap style as being like the liquid-metal by the same name.

By the age of 15, Merc was on stage with his group opening shows for acts such as The Roots, Raekwon, Black Moon, Tha Alkaholiks, Aceyalone, and many others. While in college he made another album with former group members. Even while in graduate school for Urban Planning at UCLA, Merc kept recording and performing.

M.E.R.C.U.R.Y is now on his journey as a solo artist and finished his debut EP " Because I Feel Like It ". This is a personal and reflective album dealing with many of the trials Merc has gone through in his life, while also bringing back hardcore lyricism from the early underground Hip Hop scene he was cultured by.

Our Fellow Hip Hop Activist has his own website as well Merc80.com and dont forget to Follow Him On Twitter @Merc80

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