Event
THE PACK w/ ILLAJ
Born from Northern California's independent hip-hop scene, The Pack is the Bay Area's next fresh sound. Beginning three years ago, MC's Young L, 20, Lil Uno, 18, Stunna Man, 20 and Lil B, 18 met while attending Berkeley High School. Not long after, The Pack created 2006's sneaker anthem, "Vans." "We made "Vans" after we'd been together about one year," says Young L. "One day everybody was in the studio and I was trying to get this beat out of my head. I ended up making "Vans" in about 20 minutes." Hearing the buzz, veteran Oakland, California MC, Too Short, saw national potential in The Pack's local success. With his guidance, The Pack quickly released "Vans" via MySpace and YouTube where the tune caught the ears of KMEL's Assistant Program Director and Music Director Big Von and radio personality, Chuy Gomez. KMEL added the track into rotation and soon "Vans" became a mainstay on the station's daily countdown. Taking the group further under his wing, Too Short introduced The Pack to Jive Records where the guys signed and released 2006's EP, Skateboards 2 Scrapers. Within months, "Vans," which began as a Bay Area tune, became a New York hipster anthem. The Pack not only gained well-deserved national recognition, but they brokered a branding deal with the Vans shoe company. As a result, the group awarded shoes to fans in promotion of Skateboarders 2 Scrapers. MTV and MTV2 also added "Vans" and The Pack's second single, "I'm Shinin'" into rotation, making the group the most popular act on MTV's website at that time. However, The Pack is not resting on the Bay Area's storied legacy. "People do pay attention to the Bay's movement," says Young L. "But people aren't going to pay attention to your music if you're not good. We've worked for our recognition. It doesn't come with the territory in the Bay Area. It really boils down to good music and how well we perform at our live shows." Now after months on tour, The Pack is back with their full-length debut, Based Boys. Plucking the album's title from their self-proclaimed musical genreĀ"based music," which is The Pack's free expression and a sound that puts their listener on a level plane -- Young L crafted the bulk of the LP's beats. The record blends both heavy bass with 2007's electronic music fixation. Their first single, "In My Car," is a fun teenage anthem dashed with parking lot pimping shenanigans. The track also exemplifies their talent for a viable chorus, which is delightfully sung in the round. Mr. Collipark, Pit, The Replacement Killers and fellow Bay Area native, Traxamillion also contribute tracks to "Based Boys." Unsurprisingly, Young L's natural talent is still not over-powered by the LP's more experienced beatsmiths. Joints like "Candy," with an exceptionally catchy sample, and "Booty Bounce Booper" were both crafted by Young L and cater to Northern California's penchant for dancing and Southern booty music. "Club Stuntin'" features the quintessential Bay Area off-beat peppered with a deep bass. "At The Club" showcases not only the group's excitement for their craft, but their creativity and drive to make their mark on the rap world. And with the group's members each unable to even drink legally, the guys have already learned the music industry's first rule. "Regardless of how good your music is, this business is based on how many people know about your music," says Young L. "So I'm really glad that we're able to get the word out." With the release of October 30th's Based Boys, The Pack's profile can only rise. Don't miss the movement.
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LocationBACKSPACE
115 NW 5th
Portland, OR 97209
United States
Categories
| Minimum Age: 0 |
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: No |
| Wheelchair Accessible: No |
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