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So it has
come to this; when finally the students step out from
the shadows of study and into the actualization of
reality. A sort of graduation is at hand, one that
commemorates more than ten years of grinding and
hustling. Over the years I’ve had the privilege of
watching Crypt tha’ Warchild and his brother from
another; Planet, raise themselves up from the faceless
masses of aspiring independents into fully realized
artists of mature intent. I’ve watched them in the
studio, I’ve watched them vibe creatively. I’ve watched
them live and grow as both parents and people. At times
it’s been a struggle; most times it’s been a joy. Those
of us along for the ride have had the experience of
watching true artistic evolution, as Planet and Crypt
have taken the time to hone their craft. Times spent
sweating blood and bleeding life for this thing called
Hip-Hop have all gone into the creation and shaping of
OuterSpace.
Through it
all, blood has been the strongest bond and that bond has
been the foundation. See, it’s a family thing. The roots
go deeper than life, deeper than music. The streets of
North Philadelphia raised these two, introduced them to
the game. Those streets are as much a part of their
blood as is the proud Puerto Rican heritage that the two
share. The family has all gathered ranks around the
protégés turned maestros to celebrate their emergence.
Godfather Vinnie Paz lends his blessing and his fire,
and all around them the palpable presence of the Army of
the Pharaohs is felt. Behind the scenes there is an
extended and bastardized family line of soldier who are
all just itching to take a bullet for one another.
Hip-Hop nurtured and polished them into what stands
before you today. Now it’s time for the rest of
the world to see what Crypt and Planet have become.
Blood and Ashes brings everything full circle. The
family is felt in the blood and the ashes represent
death, as in true to your family until your very last
breath. It stands as their testimony to the life that
made them and an ode of respect to all that raised them.
It is both a beginning and an end; it is as much of a
death as it is a rebirth. Dying are the old guard, the
old ways. They have been torn down by this new breed of
hungry MCs; a generation of streamlined warriors
steadily fed a diet of tradition and trial. OuterSpace
represent the vanguard of this True School
Rebellion, and with them they bring the unshakeable
truth of a familiar aesthetic. It’s a philosophy that is
as integral to Hip-Hop as the word “God” is to the
Bible.
It’s nothing but the classic: Beats and Rhymes.
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