the hidden fortress

Please Bear With Us

2011-07-28T19:17:00.000-07:00

The Fortress has been inactive as of late....

The World We Create

2011-07-12T20:41:00.001-07:00

Apollo Ghosts

2011-07-09T21:19:00.000-07:00

Downloaded Apollo Ghost album a few weeks ago and loved it. Caught them last night and they killed it live. Favorite new band in Vancouver definitely....

http://apolloghosts.bandcamp.com/

Music For Ghosts

2011-07-06T21:06:00.000-07:00

Death Grips...

2011-07-03T19:44:00.001-07:00

My fucking brain just blew apart! it is original unique sounds like this that inspire me, Im a believer, Death Grips is the best shit ever....

http://thirdworlds.net/

Hands So Low

2011-07-02T23:31:00.000-07:00

Lava Drip From My Fingers When I Speak...

2011-06-28T21:04:00.001-07:00

so I burn you, burn me, burn everything....

The Law Of One

2011-06-27T18:41:00.000-07:00

Strange Riddles

2011-06-26T00:45:00.000-07:00

Expanded Consciousness

2011-06-24T11:39:00.000-07:00

Get it get it! Its FREE...

Real Truth

2011-06-23T10:51:00.000-07:00

False Truth

2011-06-20T16:02:00.000-07:00

What has the truth movement given us? Are we more united, positive, inspired, intelligent, helpful, genuine or loving because of it? Or are we more distrustful, cynical, scared, fearful and solitary? This is a good question to ask.

The Motorcycle Boy Reigns...

2011-06-17T15:52:00.001-07:00

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://hiddenfortress.bandcamp.com/track/rumblefish"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Rumblefish by HIDDEN FORTRESS&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>
Unreleased track "Rumblefish". Download for FREE off our reverbnation or bandcamp sites.

Beware...The Monsters Are Coming....

2011-06-16T12:54:00.000-07:00

Turn this shit up loud. It bumps hard as fuck...

Rumi

2011-06-15T19:40:00.000-07:00

"Be empty of worrying. Think of who created thought! Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?" (The Essential Rumi)

All That Is

2011-06-14T13:37:00.001-07:00

aka The Most High

The Hidden Hand

2011-06-11T01:10:00.000-07:00

Be the strong and courageous Soul that deep down, you know yourself to be. Do not hide your Inner Light. Trust yourself, and shine your light into the darkness.

Blessed Shiva

2011-06-11T01:04:00.000-07:00

Everywhere. Always.

What Illusions Do You See?

2011-06-07T18:02:00.000-07:00

Perception is Everything.

Apotheosis

2011-06-02T18:17:00.001-07:00

Modulok vid for "Ink Spots". This is the Bare Beats remix. Check out the track we did with Mod called "Apotheosis". Download that shit for free here. Instrumental, accapella as well as the remix by The Dirty Sample are available.

Secrets of Magick Revealed...

2011-06-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

Occult author Lon Milo Duquette is speaking at the Vancouver Masonic Center tonight at 7pm

Interconnected

2011-05-30T11:21:00.001-07:00

In The Company Of...

2011-05-28T17:55:00.000-07:00

Embrace the wolves, without them we do not see the light when the darkness fades....

Lessons In Impermanence

2011-05-28T17:48:00.000-07:00

as some of you may have noticed there has been a few changes to blog, switching up the format, speaking in less words and more images, kinda tired of writing, plus there are a ton of better people out there doing it than me. hit the links for an example...

as for music, we hope to have new music this year but with the earthquake and radiation problems in japan we really cant say. for those that are waiting, please hang on. for those that are new to HF, we have 3 albums available for free download as well as one 5dollar album, our latest, ALL THAT IS, through Hand'Solo Records.

you can cop those here and here. much peace and thanks for your support...

end transmission...

R.I.P Gil Scott-Heron

2011-05-28T14:05:00.001-07:00

Rest In Peace to one of the greatest poets of all time....

The Vaporous Bridge to Stellar Window

2011-05-26T19:32:00.001-07:00

New video from Labyrinth of the Psychonaut. Ill shit....

Chakra Fields

2011-05-26T16:44:00.001-07:00

There is no door, There is no key...

2011-05-25T09:48:00.001-07:00

Mind-Body Consciousness

2011-05-25T00:28:00.000-07:00

The Kybalion: The Mental Construct of the Universe, Consciousness, Light and Quantum Physics

2011-05-25T00:24:00.001-07:00

Ancient Mystery Teachings

2011-05-25T00:21:00.003-07:00

Ayahuasca Shamans

2011-05-25T00:20:00.000-07:00

The Holy Grail

2011-05-25T00:16:00.001-07:00

Hidden Fortress - Black Lung

2011-05-25T00:09:00.000-07:00

"Black Lung" off the "White Violence" album. You can download it here for FREE!!

VOTW - Hip-Hop You Need To Hear!

2011-05-15T23:24:00.001-07:00

Youtube has been exposing me to some really great artists lately and this video is quick introduction (or re-introduction) to some of the best artists doing their thing in the underground right now.

Electrorules put together this video called "Underground Hip-Hop Top 10" for 2011 and if some of these names are new to you, I highly encourage you check them out, especially if you dig what HIDDEN FORTRESS is doing. These artists are intelligent, thought-provoking and when it comes to the esoteric are very well read to say the least.

Here is a run down of the featured artists -

Lost Children Of Babylon

Atma

Click on the links and show these artists some love and support!

Vote for Hidden Fortress - The Urban Culture Conference Awards!!

2011-05-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

Hidden Fortress has been nominated as one of the best electronic groups in Vancouver!! Please take a second to vote for us as part of the Urban Culture Conference Awards that are taking place this summer in Vancouver.

Just head over to the Urban Culture Conference website, scroll down to "Step 2" and click on "Electronic". The names of the bands will appear, find Hidden Fortress and vote away!

Thanks so much, as always we appreciate the support!!

Hidden Fortress - Passport

2011-05-11T08:39:00.000-07:00

"Passport" by Hidden Fortress. This is from our "White Violence" album, which is available as a FREE download on our bandcamp page. Also the Hidden Fortress Youtube Channel is off the hook with lots of activity so please check us out, add us as a friend and subscribe!!

Pyramid Energy

2011-05-11T08:33:00.000-07:00

Hidden Fortress - Sineater

2011-05-04T17:40:00.000-07:00

"Sineater" from the Hidden Fortress album "White Violence". The entire album, and more, can be downloaded for FREE at our bandcamp site

Stephen Harper To Push for North American Union

2011-05-04T10:16:00.000-07:00

I try not to get angry, I work on it daily but sometimes it's really hard. Canadians now find themselves with Mister Corrupt Sellout Stephen Harper leading a majority government. It's hard to imagine what kind of damage Harper can do considering how much he accomplished with a minority government; but I am confident we all see first hand the destruction of this nation very soon. Let me be clear, as I mentioned a few posts back before the election, I do not believe any party would get us out of this mess. The agenda was put into place a long time ago, it started with Brian Mulroney and NAFTA, and no PM will change this course.

I am often shocked and saddened by the current state of knowledge in the general public arena. Watching my friends and neighbours heading off to the polls like it matters. I guess I just assume people are more aware than they are. Forget crazy conspiracies like Osama and Obama being one in the same, or reptilian shape shifting popes and politicians, or that alien ships are getting ready to descend on this planet in some Speilbergien 2012 real life masterpiece. Forget all that....but believe this:

We have been lied to on every possible level, we work harder for less money, the government taxes us more and more while giant corporations pay nothing, our fruits and vegetables are filled with toxins and poisons, our forests and waterways are being destroyed in the name of the all mighty dollar, toxic chemicals like flouride are put into our water system, alternative health, farmers markets and naturopaths are being targeted in an attempt to keep us glued to this chemical fueled food and health system, the rich grow richer as the middle class dissolves keeping the homeless numbers growing as well as the welfare and food bank lines, the police have been turned into a corporate military force here to protect the interests of the government and its allies not the people and out in the open Stephen Harper pushes for a North American Union that will destroy the nation of Canada as we know it.

This is not theory, this is fact. A quick google search of any of the above items will produce hundreds if not thousands of links of information that are readily available to the general public, a lot of the material being produced by the mainstream press. Yet we don't care. We do not, or cannot, see the bigger picture. We view the world through a tiny broken lens. We are more concerned with reality TV, NHL playoffs, MMA fights, partying and having a good time, Iphones, Ipads, Ipods, etc than informing ourselves. I get it, I really do, ignorance is bliss. But man, what a heavy price we will pay.

Our freedoms of dissent are long gone. I challenge anyone to prove me wrong. Sure, in some countries you will get killed or tortured for opposing the government. In Canada it is now the norm to be beaten, tased and arrested for expressing even basic anti-war, or pro-peace, sentiments. The Canadian government is making it illegal for farmers to save their seeds and force them into accepting GMO seeds from Monsanto. Haven't heard of that one have you? Didn't see it on the news? No, and you won't. Like I said, we have been lied to.

An article titled "Stephen Harper Seeks Majority to Dissolve Canada in Favor of the North American Union" states:

"Harper’s appearance at the New York City based Council of Foreign Relations (CFR) on September 25 2007, was made to officially endorse and express his commitment for the US North American Union agenda...Mr. Harper has been apparently directed by the principal funders of the Conservative Party of Canada, which are ideologically linked to the CFR, to assimilate Canada into a new “Fortress North America” which is controlled by the U.S. political-military-industrial complex....The Council of Foreign Relations had instructed Harper to implement the plan by no later than 2010. Harper has since been trying to form and lead a majority government...The CFR website openly endorses the Conservative Party of Canada under Stephen Harper, alluding to his government having an alleged mandate to transform Canada substantively into a U.S. colony by implementing the recommendations of the CFR book “Building a North American Community”. There is therefore clearly a working association between the Harper government and the CFR to implement and execute the NAU agenda."

Those of us who are not convinced, or refuse to see what is happening in our world, countries, communities and streets today will bear a heavy burden. As the old saying goes "the truth hurts". It is not up to me or others to convince but for yourself to learn and get educated on what is going on. There is a line from a Grateful Dead song that goes, “you cant go back and you cant stand still, if the thunder don’t get you than the lightning will”. Looks like rain...

Here is a list of links to help get you started -

National Farmers Union of Canada

The World According to Monsanto

Natural News

Freedom to Fascism

Last Days of Health Freedom

The Flouride Deception

Films For Action

What Really Happened

A Message of Hope

2011-05-03T09:19:00.000-07:00

War is Peace

Slavery is Freedom

Ignorance is Truth

Sometimes it feels hopeless right? True but realize this is the time to look inside, not out, for the answers. Turn off your cell and computer, lose the cable bill, learn a skill like gardening, sewing, cooking, building, etc. and above all start to meditate. Begin with a few minutes a day but please begin. These are serious times and being able to calm the mind, practice mindfulness and awareness on a daily basis is very important. I am not an advocate of violence, I believe as Malcolm X said "Self defense is common sense" but in this time when looking out at the world can drive us to angry violent thought, self introspection is key. Meet your neighbors, building community, fill your life with love and peace, the time is now....

Osama Bin Laden PsyOps

2011-05-01T23:47:00.000-07:00

President Obama and the US government are claiming that they have killed Osama Bin Laden. Those in the know know that Bin Laden has been confirmed dead by numerous sources, and some as high profile as Benazir Bhutto, years and years ago.

This can only mean a few things, the War On Terror is over so bring the troops home, Obama needs some serious distractions (and Trump aint cutting it) to win him another election or as I and others have discussed there is a serious false flag operation going down this year and this will be the pre-planned excuse as motive behind it. I mean, Al-Qaeda will want revenge right? Im banking on items two or three as there is no way the troops are packing up and leaving Afghanistan and Iraq.

This is a very interesting turn of events and Im not too sure what to make of it, we in the Hidden Fortress will be following this very closely this week. Apparently, May 1st is also the anniversary of the Bavarian Illuminati so I guess this is a happy bday gift from Osama to all his buddies!

What Reality Tunnel Do You Live In?

2011-04-30T08:35:00.000-07:00

The always thought provoking words of Robert Anton Wilson...

Offline...

2011-04-10T19:50:00.000-07:00

The Fortress will be temporarily on hiatus. Thank you for your patronage. See you in May...

Hidden Fortress X Vancouver Is Awesome

2011-04-08T15:48:00.000-07:00

Big ups to Vancouver Is Awesome for interviewing us for their music segment "The Bassment"!! Check the whole interview right here and much thanks to Joel for hooking us up.

*A little disclaimer, the answer to the question of Pet Peeves is a little misleading. The answer "whats happening in Africa and Egypt" wasn't my pet peeve but rather the mainstream media response to it. Thanks for the support VIA, check out their awesomeness by clicking here!

Hidden Fortress "Slangshot" Featuring Kaigen

2011-04-08T11:58:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite tracks off the new album "All That Is" in particular because amazing Japanese MC Kaigen just rips it. You don't have to speak Japanese to know that homie can kill a track with some serious word play!

For more Kaigen, check'em out here and if you would like to support Hidden Fortress, please purchase a copy of "All That Is" on the Hand'Solo Records Site. Thanks!

VOTW - Majik Panda "Killuminati"

2011-04-01T16:53:00.000-07:00

This weeks Video Of The Week comes from Toronto in the form of Majik Panda's "Killuminati". Dope song from a Canadian artist so rep that shit! Look for a Majik Panda/HF collabo to hit you in the near future. This is a DMTilian produced banger and video, tight shit!!

For more Majik Panda, check'em out here

For more DMTilian, check'em out here

A Toast To the Global Revolution!

2011-03-28T14:51:00.000-07:00

I don't really drink but..why the hell not?!! CHEERS!!

Remember The Three R's...

2011-03-24T11:49:00.000-07:00

VOTW - The Reality Of The Detached American (and Canadian)

2011-03-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

"The signs are everywhere for those with eyes to see and ears to hear. But precious few will heed the call." Now is the time to PREPARE. Not to bicker over politics, views or religion, but to build and grow community, meet your neighbours and share and help each other. Government and its institutions are an illusion, we have been lied to and now that lie is starting to fade away. Waking up to the reality before us will be easier for those preparing for it now, hard and painful for those who refuse to disconnect from the machine...

The Great Plant Teacher - Ayahuasca

2011-03-22T12:14:00.000-07:00

I got the call from the plant spirits, or teachers, if you like, less than a year ago. I went from never having heard of Ayahuasca to sitting in front of a shaman about to ingest the "vine of the dead" in less than 6 months. Synchronicity is an interesting thing. It is said that those who are ready will be contacted when it is time and indeed I believe this to be true.

Without going into a ton of detail, I wound up drinking 3 cups of tea that night and spent the next 10 and half hours on my journey. I have heard you can either have an external or internal journey, mine was completely internal. No real hallucinations or visions to speak of but when they did occur they were quite extreme. I became disconnected from my body and was pure consciousness interacting with the universe itself. Many questions were asked and answered that night but the "fallout" from the experience is still occurring today as my jump in conscious living was highly accelerated by my journey. I am still integrating teachings from that night into my everyday living.

An article today at Activist Post entitled "Does Ayahuasca Offer a Natural Gateway To Healing Ourselves and the World?" made me rethink this experience again today. I believe that Ayahuasca does offer a natural gateway to healing and I suggest to anyone, who has done some considerable amount of work on themselves, to experience the sacred plant ceremony if you ever get the chance.

Ayahuasca has definitely hit the mainstream, and to some extent I think it is a good thing. This will never be a party or recreational drug, it is impossible for that to happen!! Anyone who has experienced this knows what Im talking about. But like most spiritual experiences, there are those who have claimed themselves to be "chosen" or in possession of special knowledge and frankly I call BS on them.

In the eyes of the plant teacher we are all the same, no one is given special knowledge over someone else, we are all given what we need, and ask for, at the time of our interaction to keep proceeding on our journey through life. Beware of the snake oil salesman and their books. Our experiences are just as valid as theirs, whether you wrote a book about it or not.

I highly suggest viewing any of the great documentaries online about Ayahuasca and its main active ingredient DMT, for more information on the subject. Above is a trailer for a new film "Stepping into the Fire' which looks very interesting. I'll definitely check it out if it comes to my city.

Much Peace and Love...

Magic and Hip-Hop

2011-03-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

There are not a lot of hip-hop artists talking about magic in their music these days, while there is definitely an underground movement, it is quite small and niche. I think because when one brings up the topic of Magic, the connotation is heavy and often negative. The word forms pictures of satanic rituals, occult warlocks summoning demons from the depths, dark robes and fearful symbols. Yes, magic can be a vehicle for negative emotions and intentions, but it can also be a vehicle for love and positivity. Most people will say "but your dealing with other world entities, you might get possessed" and yes this is true, if you mess around with the unknown you might get burnt.

While I find these occult topics interesting and one worthy of study, I do not partake in them. When I speak of magic, I speak of it as a much simpler term and one that is not so "magical" once broken down. I am talking about magic in the terms of altering ones consciousness, our own, as well as others. To bring this into the real world, lets talk about the magic of advertising, creating wants out of thin air. Its a trick of the entertainment industry, an illusion, much like the magician pulling a dove out of a hat. It is the creation of a belief in someone's mind that some item will change their life and millions of people fall under this spell everyday. People will go into massive amounts of debt by having their consciousness altered into believing the lies that they will be more beautiful, lovable, etc if only they have this or that. This is magic.

In terms of hip-hop and altering ones consciousness, I am talking about the magic of words, and yes our words are very magical indeed. I think this is best explained in Don Miguel Ruiz book "The Four Agreements: A Toltec Wisdom Book". The Toltec teachings are similar to the Buddhist 4 Noble Truths, teachings on how to genuinely live ones life. Ruiz lays out the 4 agreements as such, Be Impeccable With Your Word, Do Not Take Anything Personally, Do Not Make Assumptions and Always Do Your Best.

Focusing on the first tenant, Impeccable Words, is how this all relates to hip-hop and magic. When hip-hop was in its early stages, it spoke of girls, partying and having a good time but it also spoke a lot about politics, activism, arming yourself with knowledge, education and learning as much as you can. I would say that hip-hop as a whole spoke mainly with Impeccable Words. As we all know, this has changed and steadily degraded to the point where we are now, lyrics as simple as nursery rhymes focused on money, drugs, consumer items and female body parts. Not very many Impeccable Words to be found.

So how does this relate to Magic? Don Miguel Ruiz states -

"Depending on how it is used, the word can set you free, or it can enslave you more than you know. All the magic you possess is based on your word. Your word is pure magic and misuse of your word is black magic...The human mind is like a fertile ground where seeds are continually being planted...What is important is to see what kind of seeds our minds are fertile for, and to prepare it to receive the seeds of love...One fear or doubt planted in our mind can create an endless drama of events. One words is like a spell, and humans use the word like black magicians, thoughtlessly putting spells on each other. Every human is a magician, and we can either put a spell on someone with our word or we can release someone with a spell."

This really makes me think about the content of the lyrics in mainstream hip-hop and pop songs that are looped endlessly all day and night on radio and TV. What kind of a subconscious impact are they having on people? What kind of spell are we being put under? How many times does a girl hear herself called a "hoe" before she believes it? How many times does a person hear they are "nothing but a G" until they start to act it out? This is why the "truth movement", for lack of a better word, is so important in hip-hop right now. All artists, big and small, who are speaking genuine truthful words need to build and come together and break this spell that is destroying the minds of the masses. A lot of us are waking up from this spell but there are so many more that are still sleeping, acting out a persona they do not realize is little more than a hypnotists trick.

In regards to the importance of truth in words, Ruiz also states that -

"These types of spells are difficult to break. The only thing that can break a spell is to make a new agreement based on truth. The truth is the most important part of being impeccable with your word. On one side of the sword are the lies which create black magic, and on the other side of the sword is the truth which has the power to break the spell of black magic. Only the truth will set us free."

So I guess my question to MC's today is, what side of the sword are you on? Next time you sit down to write, think about the power of your words, the intention behind them, and whether or not we are breaking the spell or making it stronger.

Much Peace and Love...

End transmission....

The All Seeing Eye Within

2011-03-21T10:21:00.000-07:00

Is this starting to make sense yet? Are you connecting the dots? Do you see what these "secret societies" have been trying to keep secret from us for so long?

Psst...Hey...Come 'er...We Got Something For Ya....

2011-03-17T11:24:00.000-07:00

Hello My Friends...I have about 70 CD's of our new album "All That Is" sitting in my apartment right now just waiting for the vacuum seal to be cracked, the wonderful artwork to be unfurled and the great music on the CD to be enjoyed!!

We love making music, I know that sounds cliche but its true. UsdNeedls and myself have been creating crazy sounds together since 1997, most of it unheard until recently. We don't care about record labels, big shows, hip-hop groupies, being a part of "the scene", etc. we just want to creatively express ourselves and make music we enjoy and hopefully others enjoy as well.

The writing process for me is just unleashing all those thoughts that scramble my brains, getting it on paper is such a great release. It lets me talk about the things I think are important. UsdNeedls is a beat machine, I have never met a more true artist than this guy. Even if no one ever heard one more beat he made, he'd still make 20 amazing unique beats a day just because that's what he does, not to mention that he is one of the best scratch/cut DJ's I've ever met.

We are just two guys, like thousands of others, who are making music in their spare time cause they love it. We have jobs and families and will never come close to making the moolah back that we have put into this and that's okay, we never expected too, that is not the end result. Its the process of creation that's important.

That being said, I would love to share our music with more people, lots of it is free on the internet, please download and give to as many peeps as you like. I just really wanna clear out the space in my closet where these CDs are hiding and if you would like one please send me an email at nofutureface (at) hotmail.com. Send me whatever you want, your CD, a few bucks to cover the cost of shipping, a good book, etc. and I will send you a copy of "All That Is".

Much love and peace to my big homie UsdNeedls and his family who are dealing with all this madness in Japan. Be safe and take care...

Thanks everyone...

VOTW - End Of Days

2011-03-16T10:25:00.000-07:00

The human race is suffering from mass hypnosis. WAKE UP!! Turn off your TV and realize that we are all living in the greatest illusion ever created. That is why they call it an "awakening" cause we are all sleeping and believing that the dream is real....

VOTW - Masters Of The Light

2011-03-07T23:53:00.000-08:00

I randomly stumbled across this weeks Video Of the Week and was really stoked to find this youtube channel. John Carnagey is obviously a very talented individual who has a knack for taking complex ideas and transmitting them simply. His videos combine the ancient wisdom of the Hermetic teachers with Egyptian Mystery Schools and teachings from the Bible and Buddha, no small feat!

Check out his youtube channel for tons of great videos and download his free book, just reading it now and its good stuff indeed.

Much Peace!

End transmission....

Hidden Fortress on Bandcamp- FREE DOWNLOADS!

2011-03-05T11:09:00.000-08:00

Hidden Fortress now have 3 albums for FREE on Bandcamp. Please share this with all of your music loving friends and get the word out!

Available at our Bandcamp site is our 4 song EP "Third Eye Cyclops", which features fan favorite "Brilliant Animal". We also have a collection of previously unreleased HF material, some of the first songs we did, in an album called "Go Gygax Go!" This is where we set the dark mood that HF is famous for. These are just some slamming tracks, such as some of my personal faves "Lava Fingers" and "Go Gygax Go!" as well as some Zombie/Horror tracks like "I, Braineater" and "The Creepshow". Definitely for the fan of creepy music...

Finally, we have "White Violence", a great dark electronic album that for the last few years has been for sale but we have decided to make it FREE for all our fans! "White Violence" set the foundations for where HF is today, heavy introspective, esoteric lyrics with a political message laced with the cinematic explosive production of UsdNeedls. This one is a classic for sure!

All of these albums are FREE! Thanks for the support...

VOTW - A Time To Break Silence

2011-03-03T10:08:00.000-08:00

One of my greatest influences, idol and heroes, Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. His words are just as relevant today as they were the day he spoke them.

Classic Album - Divine Styler "WordPower, Vol.2 Directrix"

2011-02-28T11:09:00.000-08:00

The mid to late 90's were a great time for independent hip-hop, labels were springing up out of bedrooms and closets all over the place allowing artists deemed "alternative" or just plain weird, an outlet to get their music to those who wanted to hear it. In 1999, one of my most influential albums was released, Divine Styler's "Word Power, Vol.2 Directrix". This was the most futuristic representation of rap music I had ever heard at that time. Heavy vocal effects, electronic beats, strange tweaks and bleeps, it had it all! More importantly, it had the lyrics of one of the most profound MC's to ever touch a mic (in my opinion) Divine Styler.

When I first listened to this album I enjoyed it for the craziness but listening to it now, some 12 years later, and it was like it was created yesterday. His talk of politics, devotion to the Muslim faith, big brother, police states, religious knowledge, sacred science and more and its hard to believe it was written pre-911. I am pretty sure this album was not a commercial success but it is regarded amongst circles of serious heads as one of the best most slept on albums of all time. Grab a copy and listen to the future unfold!

Incoming Transmission from The Fortress...

2011-02-22T09:57:00.000-08:00

These are some interesting times my friends. Anti-government protests throughout the Middle East claiming the lives of hundreds but in their passing a new determination never seen before in this part of the world. A new determination that is inspiring all of us all over the planet. The fear is subsiding, the veil is lifting.

This may very well be what is referred to during this time as The Apocalypse, not in a doom and gloom way, but in the actual definition of the word meaning to "lift the veil" or "to reveal". The curtains are coming down as the lairs and snakes as being shown for what they truly are.

In that same aspect we are all coming to realize, in our own ways, how truly amazing the human family is. Consciousness is growing and together we are all connecting in ways unseen but felt around the globe. Those who have power are in the death throes as they enhance the military police apparatus to quell the coming dissent they know will hit the streets soon. You can only beat a dog so many times before it bites.

There seems to be a lot of troubling signs on the horizon, Israel/US seem ready to start WWIII with anyone they can before North Americans riot in huge numbers to protest their abuses. Whispers in the halls of power often raise false flags. Keep your eyes sharp for cunning tricks, use critical thought and above all trust your instincts and intuition. Now is the time to speak our minds and lose the fear.

Many are doubtful, skeptical and possibly downright hostile to you and others as their paradigm crumbles, be gentle, it is the fear of the unknown. They will come to see the light eventually.

Breathe deep, meditate and above all stay mindful and aware. Much PEACE and LOVE to you all.

End Transmission...

Electronic 5th Dimensional Madness

2011-02-19T12:07:00.000-08:00

"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music" - Aldous Huxley

VOTW - Beyond the Veil Through Black Plasmatic Cosmos

2011-02-18T11:33:00.000-08:00

Labyrinth of the Psychonaut is a psychedelic soaked blog that I really enjoy checking out.

"Occult Synchromystic" researcher Steve Willner, who runs the Labyrinth, creates great psychedelic music videos, as well as his own stream of consciousness thought flow vids where he unleashes a torrent of esoteric knowledge, fringe science and cryptic wisdom over electronic beats, really great stuff!

There are also podcasts and other goodness to check out but first grab a comfy seat, a handful of psilocybin and enjoy "Beyond the Veil Through Black Plasmatic Cosmos" one of my favorites to come from the Labyrinth.

Hidden Fortress X Fake For Real

2011-02-17T20:23:00.000-08:00

New review from French website Fake For Real, check it out here if you know French. If not, take your chances with Google translating it for you, makes for an interesting read! Thanks for the support Fake for Real!!

"All That Is" - $5 on Bandcamp!!

2011-02-14T13:54:00.000-08:00

Our latest album "All That Is", which is getting great reviews, is available on Bandcamp for only $5 dollars! Great steal for a killer album that we are really proud of. Pick one up, you won't be disappointed. Thanks so much for the support...

To download the album, click HERE

The Revolution!! Peace to Egypt

2011-02-11T10:08:00.000-08:00

18 days of non-violent peaceful protest to destroy 30 years of dictatorship! Amazing!

Congratulations to the Egyptian people and a huge thank you to them all for showing the rest of us that we create our own reality and do not have to just "live" with the oppression of governments or tyrants. We can choose to participate in these systems or simply say No, the machine only operates when we are willingly involved in running it. This revolution has shown that the will of the many will always outweigh the might of the few!

Much peace, love and blessings to all of those who gave their lives for freedom and the families that go on without them.

Is it synchronistic that today is Feb.11th 2011? What do you think?

Hidden Fortress X Hero Hill

2011-02-09T18:37:00.000-08:00

Hero Hill is a kick ass music site run by a few kick ass dudes! Actually, Hero Hill are responsible for giving Hidden Fortress their first bit of online love way back in 2008 and we've never forgot that beautiful moment....

Fast forward a few years and Hero Hill has reviewed our latest offering "All That Is", here's a tidbit -

"All That Is appears to suggest that HF have found a perfect understanding between MC and producer for the sound they are going for. UsdNeedls creates dense, ominous soundscapes that have a definite hip hop thump to them, but every other audible crevice is filled with spooky and/or menacing sounds. nofutureface attacks these tracks with a type of macabre glee, delivering his politically apocalyptic lyrics with enough charisma and rhythm that the songs remain very listenable even if you aren’t catching the deluge of dark knowledge he’s dropping"

Thanks so much to Hero Hill and Naedoo for the kind words and support. To read the review in its entirety, check the link here and check out Hero Hill for all kinds of musical goodness, you won't regret it!

Hidden Fortress "Third Eye Cyclops" - FREE DOWNLOAD!!

2011-02-07T19:31:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that our EP "Third Eye Cyclops" is still available as a FREE DOWNLOAD!

Get it at the Hand'Solo Records site, or follow the link from there to download different audio versions, all available at Bandcamp...

Did I mention its FREE?!! Go get it....

VOTW - Consciousness Drives the Universe

2011-02-07T10:07:00.001-08:00

Classic Albums - Boogie Monsters "Riders of the Storm: The Underwater Album

2011-02-02T22:18:00.000-08:00

Boogie Monsters are a heavily slept on group from the 90's, I believe their debut album "Rider's of the Storm" came out somewhere around '92 or so, right around when I was graduating from high school.

When I first heard this album it absolutely blew my mind!! The lyrics were definitely on some other shit, styles and patterns I had never heard in rap before. The production was unique and totally ahead of its time but it was the theme of the album that really grabbed my attention, talk of consciousness, ancient teachings, religion, etc. it was unlike anything else that came out at the time in the 90's.

This album, and in particular, its main single "Recognized Thresholds of Negative Stress" influenced me heavily and shaped the next generation of music I sought out. If you don't know Boogie Monsters, now you do. Go and find this album!!

Video of the Week - Worldwide Revolution!!

2011-01-31T13:09:00.000-08:00

It appears we may be witnessing the first stages of what the ancients predicated, human consciousness evolving and spreading around the world! I pray that what has started in Tunisia and Egypt takes hold around the planet and all human beings stand up, get together and claim what is rightfully ours; the freedom to lead happy lives!

Much love, peace and solidarity to all of our family around the globe sparking this worldwide revolution of peace! Peace to Iceland, Ireland, Greece, Egypt, Tunisia, Palestine, etc...

The above video is a great example of this (minus the gold and silver talk if your not into that kinda thing)

The time is ours! Revolution is now!

Hidden Fortress X CITR'S Shameless

2011-01-28T13:52:00.000-08:00

This week Hidden Fortress was on Shameless, an awesome CITR show, hosted by the equally awesome Jonathan Brown! Not only did he dedicate the whole show as a tribute to hip-hop, playing tons of great music, he played lots of Hidden Fortress!

Jonathan and myself sat down at Lucy's Diner on Main St. and had a conversation about Canadian hip-hop, Japan, horror movies and the origins of Hidden Fortress. All of which you can hear on the podcast.

Check it out and hope you enjoy!

Hipster Please!

2011-01-24T23:33:00.000-08:00

Hipster Please is a great site for all things nerd related, in particular, nerd music! It is this very category that Hidden Fortress is proud to stand and show off our nerdy geeky tendencies. It seems that Hipster Please blogger "Z" couldn't agree more as he has given All That Is a really kick ass review!

"Hidden Fortress are themselves a bit of a qualified recommendation from me, and All That Is even more so. If you like the unrelenting energy of horrorcore but can't abide the laughable imagery or enjoy the verbose linguistics of nerdcore but crave a more holistic, almost spiritual slant, then this is not one to be missed"

Big ups Z! Read the rest of the review at Hipster Please!

Video of the Week - Terence McKenna Speaks!

2011-01-17T20:02:00.000-08:00

“what we must do, I think, is see our future in the imagination, catalyze the imagination, form symbiotic relationships with the plants, affirm archaic values and spread the good news that what is out of control, what is in fact dying, is a world that had become to top heavy with its own hubris, to bent by its own false value system and too dehumanized to care about what happens to its own children, so I say good riddance to it, bring on the archaic revival and lets create a new world”

Great words from ethnobotanist, philosopher and psychonaut Terence McKenna!

Hidden Fortress on CBC Radio 3 Podcast with Grant Lawrence!

2011-01-14T10:48:00.001-08:00

Check out CBC Radio 3 Podcast #264 featuring tons of great Canadian music and yours truly Hidden Fortress! Also featured is Mother Mother, Rural Alberta Advantage (killer song!!), Cadence Weapon, Apollo Ghosts and much more...

Big thanks to Grant Lawrence (although the album is called All That Is instead of All This Is) but who cares, we love ya anyway man.

You can download or listen to the podcast here:

http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/podcasts/CBC-Radio-3-Podcast-with-Grant-Lawrence/264---Mother-Mother-Rural-Alberta-Advantage-Canadian-Dictionary

Hidden Fortress X Chartattack

2011-01-13T10:36:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to send a huge thank you to all the DJ's and Hip-Hop Radio shows across Canada that are bumping "All That Is".

HF is currently holding down the #3 spot on the Top 10 Hip-Hop charts for Canadian College Radio this week, that's 6 weeks in the Top 10!!

Wouldn't be happening without all the support and we really appreciate it.

Check this weeks Chartattack here:
http://www.chartattack.com/charts/hip-hop/2011-01-11

Hidden Fortress on IndieRockMag "Best of 2010"!!

2011-01-10T13:04:00.000-08:00

Big ups to killer French music site IndieRockMag for a stellar review of our latest album "All That Is". Also, a great big thank you to the French Hip-Hop community for all the HF love, we really appreciate it.

IndieRockMag has listed "All That Is" at #78 of their best albums of 2010 and our EP "Third Eye Cyclops" at #14!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are so incredibly stoked and honored, thanks so much IndieRockMag!

Hidden Fortress X Urbnet

2011-01-06T12:51:00.000-08:00

Much thanks to the powerhouse of Canadian rap, Urbnet, for featuring Hidden Fortress on their site. Much appreciated, thanks for the support!!

Hidden Fortress X CBC Radio 3

2011-01-04T18:43:00.000-08:00

CBC Radio 3 is now playing "Apotheosis" and "Rich Folks", two killer tracks off the new album "All That Is". Head over to our CBC Radio 3 page and request they play some Hidden Fortress....and while your there, why not become a fan!
And on the topic of radio, HF is currently ranking 8 in the Top 10 albums this week being played on College Radio across Canada! Check out the list on earshot here. Thanks for the support....

Video of the Week - The Magic of Words

2011-01-01T16:33:00.000-08:00

Here's a great video of Alan Moore, the creator of V for Vendetta and The Watchmen, talking about the magic of words, modern day shamanism and the intent behind your language. MC's need to think about that they are saying and realize their words have power and meaning.

Hidden Fortress Perform "Good Hurt"

2010-12-23T15:07:00.000-08:00

The following footage was taken on September 31st at The Met in Vancouver BC. Much thanks to Raven Madd for filming the show!

Hidden Fortress Pirates The Airwaves!

2010-12-14T23:42:00.000-08:00

Big ups again to University of Winnipeg station CJUM 101.5 for rocking our newest album "All That Is" in their top 10 for the last 3 weeks, moving this week from 6th to 4th! Also, thank you to Edmonton station CJSR 88.5 for debuting us into their Top 10 at the number 6 spot. Thank you for supporting independent hip-hop!

Hidden Fortress X MOWNO

2010-12-09T15:51:00.000-08:00

Big ups to French magazine MOWNO for featuring Hidden Fortress and giving our latest album, All That Is, a great review! Much peace, hope to rock the heads in Europe some day soon...Thanks!

Classic Albums - Dark Sun Riders

2010-12-08T11:32:00.000-08:00

I grew up on political rap of the 1980's, I worshiped Chuck D and Public Enemy. Also at that time a group by the name of X Clan was making a lot of noise. I wasn't a huge fan of them as a young cat but as I get older I appreciate them more and more. Brother J was the MC of X Clan and is one of the best rappers of all time! His flow and voice are so unique and his lyrics are so bad ass and profound, I always find new information in them.

During the 1990's, long after X Clan was a distant memory, Brother J and the peeps started a one off project called Dark Sun Riders. This is one of the most slept on albums of all time in my opinion! The lyrics and production were so ahead of it's time. This song, simply called "Dark Sun Riders" is one of the best off the album. If you can find it, cop it! Peace to the GODS and the EARTH.

Hidden Fortress X Data Church

2010-12-03T22:02:00.001-08:00

The amazing mind bending blog Data Church have featured Hidden Fortress on their website! Data Church is a killer site exploring the many themes we expresss through our music. Their collection of posts are some of the most interesting on the web, be sure to check them out. Thanks to Data Church for the support and for their mission of sharing ideas about evolving human consciousness and the secrets of the universe, big ups!

Travelers From a Far Off Galaxy...

2010-11-30T21:22:00.000-08:00

Yo! Big ups to the University of Winnipeg, CJUM 101.5, for charting Hidden Fortress latest banger "All That Is" on their Top 10 Appreciate the support fellas, now go check'em out!

Video of the Week - New Kaigen Vid! "Spears and Shield"

2010-11-26T11:49:00.000-08:00

New video for "Spears and Shields" from Tokyo MC Kaigen. Guys got a killer flow! We did a track with him called "Slangshot" on the new album, check it out, its for sale now!

Hidden Fortress - FREE DOWNLOADS!

2010-11-25T11:37:00.000-08:00

Wdup everyone...the new album "All That Is" is out and making the promotional rounds. You can pick up a copy at the Hand'Solo Records or on itunes.

The album contains a free download code for DJ UsdNeedls killer instrumental album "Audio Scientifico". Sign up for the HF newsletter at our reverb nation site and Ill send you the link!

Also, we are super stoked that The Dirty Sample remixed our latest single "Apotheosis" (featuring Modulok) and its killer! Get it for FREE also here:

Apotheosis Remixed by The Dirty Sample.

and if you want more Hidden Fortress for your music collection, download the EP "Third Eye Cyclops" for FREE also. You can find it here:

Third Eye Cyclops.

Much peace everyone and thanks for the continued support!

Ayahuasca - Vine of the Soul

2010-11-24T17:25:00.000-08:00

Watched this short documentary very recently and it was pretty great! You can catch the whole thing at Vision TV. I was also very fortunate and extremely thankful to have gone through my own Ayahuasca ceremony recently, it was incredible, overwhelming, but definitely incredible. Break ya head open, there's lots of cool stuff in there!

DMT: The Spirit Molecule

2010-11-24T17:21:00.000-08:00

Can't wait to see this!

Video of the Week - Hidden Fortress feat. Modulok

2010-11-06T17:17:00.000-07:00

First single off the new album "All That Is" featuring the one and only Modulok of Red Ants!!! So unbelievably stoked to be working with Modulok, hopefully this is just the first of many tracks featuring this killer MC.

"All That Is" is available now so go cop that!! To check more Modulok and his label Tabaka Records, check the link.

tabaka records

Hidden Fortress in Toronto!!

2010-10-16T10:34:00.000-07:00

If you live in Toronto and love killer underground hip-hop than come on out this Thursday Oct.21st for the $5 dollar rap show. Hidden Fortress CD release party with Angerville, Gem Cutterz and Conspiracy. Going to be a banging night!! First time performing in Toronto, super stoked!! Did I mention that it's only $5 bucks.....

Hidden Fortress @ The Met September 30th

2010-09-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

Check it out!!

Hidden Fortress - "All That Is" CD Release Party

2010-09-20T21:56:00.000-07:00

Hidden Fortresses latest release "All That Is" is coming to websites, itunes and an mp3 player near you! Expanding upon what was built with their first album White Violence; the duo of UsdNeeds and nofutureface continue to hold a light to the darkest of the shadows. nofutureface takes his lyrics one step further on "All That Is" by incorporating themes of human consciousness, the illusion of time, mind altering hallucinogens, word wizardy and mediation into his raps. nofutureface is one of only a few MC's to reference the works of psychedelic legend Terrence McKenna and also delve into the shamanic and alternate realms of existence with his word play. As always, DJ UsdNeedls comes correct with cinematic powerful beats and quick precision cuts to rival anyone in the production game.

"All That Is' features collaborations with some of the illest in the Canadian hip-hop scene such as Raven Madd of Wounded Animals, Tokyo Japan's Kaigen of Curses Ov Dialect, Planit aka The Dirty Sample and Toronto's Modulok of Red Ants.

"All That Is' will be released by Hand'Solo Records in October of 2010 and will sure to be an underground classic! With one of the most original and unique sounds in hip-hop today, Hidden Fortress won't remain in the shadows for long. You can catch up on the Hidden Fortress sound by downloading their FREE EP Third Eye Cyclops and by downloading one of the most sleep on albums of 2009, the darkly electronic "White Violence".

If you live in the Vancouver area, please come out and support Hidden Fortress by coming to the Hidden Fortress CD release party on Thursday September 30th at The Met. Hidden Fortress will be joined by Wounded Animals, the Sludge King and Dockta Valkus and Mighty Mega whose new album "Infobombs" (out on Neferiu Records) is banging!! (Click the link and download that shit!)

"All That Is" is sure to have heads talking so check out Hidden Fortress and support true DIY underground music...

Peace!

Much peace and thanks to Double Dizzle for the killer artwork...

Hidden Fortress Live on "The Breakdown Show"

2010-08-09T15:50:00.000-07:00

Hidden Fortress will be on "The Breakdown Show" live in Nanaimo, BC, this Saturday, August 14th! You can catch the show on CHLY 101.7FM anywhere on Vancouver Island, the greater Vancouver area and the Sunshine Coast so tune in!

If you are not from BC and want to check us out, go to http://www.chly.ca and click "Listen Online Now" which is in the far right column and from there you can select the stream according to your internet speed.

"The Breakdown Show" is hosted by Royal T, DJ Gonzo and Ill Lyrics so we're expecting a good time!

Super Devil Rays

2010-07-28T00:52:00.000-07:00

A little photo shoot with my pals Wounded Animals. Drop by their reverb nation page and listen to some tracks and then go to itunes and pick up "Death of the War Machine", believe me you need to hear it!

Hidden Fortress teams with Hand'Solo Records

2010-07-11T23:35:00.000-07:00

Hidden Fortress is proud to announce that we are working with one of Canada's illest hip-hop labels, Hand'Solo Records out of Toronto! Our latest EP, "Third Eye Cyclops" will be available as a FREE DOWNLOAD exclusively on the Hand'Solo Records site on July 13th.

This EP is in anticipation of our new album which will be coming out in the fall of this year. We are excited to be working with some seriously talented cats who will be sharing the mic as well as doing some remixes. Can't say who they all will be yet but fans of killer Canadian underground music will definitely know the names. Sign up for our newsletter on our reverbnation page and keep in touch with details.

For all the Toronto heads, Hidden Fortress might make a surprise visit out east sometime this year so stay tuned for that as well!

Thanks to everyone for supporting Hidden Fortress, checking out the site, downloading the music, leaving positive comments, its good to have fans like you! If you're not already on board join the Hidden Fortress movement now!

You can still cop our latest release White Violence on itunes so go get it now!

Peace...

nofutureface slideshow on flickr

2010-06-08T21:30:00.000-07:00

This is a collection of some of my favorite pics. It is a mix of digital and film and shot with a few different cameras. This is my "documentary" set, street, candid, whatever you prefer. Check out the slideshow and enjoy!

Aerosol Fiends interview nofutureface

2010-04-19T10:34:00.000-07:00

I am a self taught photographer and this learning process started sometime in the late 90's when I began buying disposable cameras and started taking pics of the Vancouver graffiti scene. Being a child of the 80's and in particular Hip-Hop culture, I have always been a huge fan of graffiti. Like most it started after watching Wild Style or Style Wars and being totally blown away.

I was also influenced by photographers like Henry Chalfant and Martha Cooper who captured some of those early days in New York and without their photos a lot of those legendary artists and their work would have been lost to memory.

My photography evolved from art on walls to more street and documentary but it was those early days that really taught me so much about how to use a camera. I don't take as many graff photos as I used to but I still love going out and hunting some spots and catching a flick of some work.

Graffiti website Aerosol Fiends features amazing graffiti across the globe and talks to the people behind the lens and they recently featured me in a short interview! Big ups AF! You can read the interview here and you can also check out my set on flickr for more Vancouver graffiti.

Hidden Fortress on LA's Sundown Lounge!

2010-04-16T17:36:00.000-07:00

Quick update on my hip-hop project Hidden Fortress! We recently started a page on Reverb Nation and are happy to announce we are #14 on the Vancouver Hip-Hop charts! Thanks to everyone for supporting us. Also, check out my homies Wounded Animals, who are doing big things and are currently at #17 on the Vancouver Hip-Hop charts!

Both albums are produced by the amazing Producer / DJ UsdNeedls and are available on itunes so if you got a few duckets to download a song or two we would be your BFF's forever, no joke.

Hidden Fortress White Violence has been around since last year and was well received on college radio across Canada. Wounded Animals Death of the War Machine is brand new and is creating quite the buzz as well so please check'em out!!

Hidden Fortress was recently featured by Larry Winfield on his Los Angeles podzine Sundown Lounge. Here is what Larry is all about:

"Sundown Lounge is a laid back (and often explicit, you bet your ass...) weekly podzine of music, spoken word, progressive politics, weird science, and occasional vignettes from the west coast open mic scene, etc. Physically, I'm in rapidly gentrifying downtown Los Angeles, but metaphysically, my toes are in the sand..."

Larry is a pirate radio DJ as well as a Chicago Saloon poet for over 10 years. Larry organized the 1996 Democratic Convention protest poetry reading and we give that a big thumbs up! Thanks to Larry for giving Hidden Fortress some love! and you too ; )

You can download an mp3 of the podcast here.

The Motion Family - The Lost Art of the Rap Video

2010-04-05T11:59:00.000-07:00

Pill - Trap Goin Ham from Motion Family on Vimeo.

This post combines a bunch of the things I love, rap music, documenting the streets, social commentary and slick editing. Growing up as a kid in the 80's I loved rap music and devoured as much of it as I could. Again, it being the 80's, a lot of the time that meant watching rap videos. Its no big surprise that rap videos died as an art form circa Puff Daddy's introduction of rap video as cinematic masterpieces of useless garbage and stereotypical imagery (remember Mase anyone?). Since then rappers have been dancing in front of spotlights, showing off jewels, bottles, cars and girls in a fake gangster persona much to the delight of 14 year olds everywhere.

I rarely watch a good rap video these days so when I stumbled upon The Motion Family on vimeo I was surprised and then ultimately blown away by these incredible artists. The Motion Family rep Atlanta and are made up of David KA, Sebastian Urrea and Diwang Valdez. There videos for Yelawolf's Pop the Trunk, Pill's Trap Goin Ham, Jackie Chain's Mack a Bitch, among many others, are getting some serious love. According to the brief summaries left by The Motion Family most of these videos seem to be shot documentary style or classic "cinema vertie", basically turn the camera on and see what kind of crazy shit you can capture! As in the case of Jackie Chains video

"This was literally shot on the spot, while we were with Jackie at a local club. In one take with $100 bills flashing, loaded pistols drawn, one big belly and some rather raunchy b-roll, we were able to make it happen."

My favorite video has to be Pill's Trap Goin Home, not only is Pill one of the best artists I've heard in a long time, the video is crazy. Shot in his neighbourhood of "Pink City" in Atlanta, the viewer is taken through the bleak realities of this neighbourhood with no exploitation or glamorization of the events or places, just the reality of life in poor American cities today. The Motion Family are able to give you the REAL truth, just showing you what's there, these are truly short documentaries in their own right. The fellas have a great eye for capturing people and places and the editing is super slick, basically I love it all! Listen to Pill describe how the videos are created.

The Motion Family are true artists, creating videos, design work, photography, they really do it all. I was inspired a lot by these videos, and the artists in them, looking forward to checking out whatever The Motion Family is up to next, Im a fan for life! Thanks for brining back the lost art of the rap video....

P.S. Had to give a lot of love to Zach Wolfe on vimeo as well, who's video for Pill's Glass is a masterpiece in black and white documentary video making as well!!

Check out and support these artists -

Pill's myspace page

Yelawolf on reverbnation