|
PRESS
www.kwoshe.co.uk
Dynamite Jive - mutated
Review By Marsha White
Dynamite Jive is the dynamite duo made up of T. Marie and Tony
J, hailing from Southern California. Following their debut
release "Nice to meet you" in 2001, the duo has now released
their new album 'Mutated'.
The album, Mutated, is a fresh gone kinda oldskool journey in
Hip Hop, that includes some classic cuts and scratches, with
Tony J and T. Marie flowing on simple but yet effective lyrics.
The album includes likeable skits throughout which is fun to
hear, a common feature in music now. The production on the album
should definitely be given praise for people fans of classic
cuts and scratches this album would be for you. The track 'rise'
is one of the best production wise it has a retro, mellow, funky
R&B sound all meshed into one, which is a great sound to have,
added with skilful lyrics. The track 'Speed' would be described
as a touch of miami bass cross garage, fans of these genres
would take particular interest.
'Settle down' is a reggae influenced track, which is a different
turning for Dynamite Jive, it's a strange but very alluring
track. 'Not the Pain' is a good spoken word track by T. Marie
about an old acquaintance, I'm sure a lot of people will relate
to this, it's great to have tracks that make you want to
reminisce.
Dynamite Jive's 'Mutated' is undeniably mutated, including a
variety of approaches and good lyrics. Dynamite Jive will have a
sure following with 'Mutated'.
FRESHNEWTUNES.com
By Diggy
Dynamite Jive is HOT. And I don't just mean T.Marie. Mutated
reps the live show of this wildly creative duo, Tony J. and
T.Marie. Don't get all West Coast, East Coast, Southern, or
whatever, this is solid no matter where is comes from. The
Dynamite scene is a land of brand new beats, an angel of an MC,
a rugged mutant MC and an invisible heaven.
So gather round and get hip to the mutated sound. It's
"Unexpected".
For Fans Of : Digable Planets, ATCQ, Outkast, Madlibs
High Points : "Rise", "Smoove", "Settle Down"
The Clarion Online
Fresh Hip Hop CD
By Jessica Slosberg
California hip-hop duo Dynamite Jive has a new CD, Mutated,
which may take a few listens to really appreciate.
The first time I listened to the CD all the way through it was
interesting. It was obviously made by a talented duo committed
to pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable. The second time
I listened to it, I put it on while doing homework, and started
to enjoy it.
The third time through I was sold. This young duo is going
places, as there was never a time on this CD that I was bored or
felt like I had heard this same song elsewhere the day before.
The album features the usual raping and singing that hip-hop is
known for but there was also a spoken word track that was quite
powerful.
Track nine, titled, "Not the Pain," is both melodic and musical.
The only background music is the sounds of rain, thunder and a
heartbeat.
The main sound on track three sounds like the noise of a broken
speaker and is paired with a beat that sounds like someone
breathing sharply.
Also, these two musicians have room to grow lyrically. Their
interesting and innovative music was sometimes hampered by the
somewhat typical lyrics. A highlight on the album is track 10,
called "Settle Down." It is provocative in both lyrics and
music. The beats are solid and the melody is great. Track two, "Patterneday,"
is more straight rap, but fun and light. Track six, "Rise," has
one of the best melodies I have heard in awhile. Dynamite Jive
consists of "beautiful" T. Marie and "rugged" Tony J. However,
if you are ready for something new and different, buy this CD.
Valley Scene Magazine
By Paul Seradarian
DYNAMITE JIVE LIGHTS UP MCRED'S VAN NUYS – Welcome to Dynamite
Jive! That essentially describes my experience at McRed's
"Dynamite Lounge" in Van Nuys on Sunday night. Initially
unfamiliar with the male/female hip hop duo, I drove down to the
venue having only browsed some promotional material and having
only heard the group's I-CD, an introductory 3-song album
entitled "Nice to meet you". "NTMY" was a fun, thoroughly
positive collection of songs that called to mind "Old School"
hip hop in its exuberance and clean banter as opposed to the
drug/violence/sexually-oriented music that predominates today.
I enjoyed the I-CD, but the best was yet to come.
McRed's is a warm, friendly local venue/sport's bar in Van Nuys
that has long sponsored and showcased promising Valley groups.
The bar's owner, Mike Saliman, has also enhanced the experience
and musical exposure by linking the performances to a live
internet broadcast on the venue's website, www.mcreds.com. For
tonight's event, Mike had also coordinated with Dynamite Jive to
turn McRed's into the "Dynamite Lounge" for the evening, a
self-effacing show of support if I've ever seen one.
Opening for Dynamite Jive was another Valley hip hop group
called Writer's Block (composed of Zen, Dannu, and Key-Kool), a
subdivision of the larger rap ensemble names Visionaries. From
a conversation with Zen before their show and from the
subsequently focused an nimble performance of Writer's Block, it
was clear that they and Dynamite Jive were equally minded in
their aspiration to make quality, "Old School"-esque, lyrically
intensive hip hop above all else. It was impressive to see the
diverse crowd responding enthusiastically to a vibrant style of
pure hip hop that has unfortunately been replaced by today's
macho posturing and more cynical brand of music.
Soon, however, it was time for the main act, Dynamite Jive. The
lights dimmed, and Tony J. and T. Marie, Dynamite Jive's
members, were suddenly nowhere to be found. The crowd thronged
the stage as anticipatory lights dashed and colored the room.
Then DJ Richie Rich announced the pair and like cloaked boxers
in all white outfits, Tony J. and T. Marie suddenly appeared
from behind us and launched onto the stage. The crowd went
wild. We weren't just in for a performance: a well-planned
spectacle was obviously in store for us too.
With energy and sheer stage presence, Dynamite Jive first moved
the audience to their familiar releases from "NTMY". I knew the
songs, and was impressed at how well the two matched the refined
studio sound with an equal, perhaps more vigorous live
performance. Yet, I was also seeing what you can't get on a CD:
two infectious performers reveling in their craft and potent
ability to bring the crowd into their enthusiasm. The two have
different styles. Tony J. is, first and foremost, an MC, and
his grasp of his delivery and performance is assured and
masterful (he is the only rapper to have ever won the Cal State
Northridge Hip Hop contest two years in a row). T. Marie,
dancing beautifully and occasionally displaying another talent
by singing, is more sensual, feminine, but equally effective in
her rapping skills.
The two have clearly practiced intensively together judging from
the various, errorless choreographed dances they did, and it was
this obvious work ethic that was also evident as they later
performed some songs from their new album, due out this spring,
entitled "Mutated". After a brief break, returning in
completely different outfits, the two unveiled their latest,
markedly transformed, "Mutated" style and flow. In something
akin to a hip hop version of speed metal, the two rapped with
breathtaking speed and agility, again, never missing a beat.
The sound was different, in fact I can't think of any immediate
comparisons, and apart from being successful, it displayed
creativity, and a musical restlessness and ambition that I found
admirable.
I spoke with the two for a good hour after the show on a variety
of topics. T. Marie is influenced by Queen Latifah, Outkast,
among others; Tony J. particularly admires LL Cool J., A Tribe
Called Quest, and Method Man. Both bemoan the violent,
intellectually limited state of current hip hop and have
consciously styled their music as a more positive alternative
(they recently did a show at Andasol Elementary School in
Northridge). As Tony J. puts it, "I want to make songs my mom
can hear." Dynamite Jive is also proud of the band's unique
make-up, the first Caucasian male/Hispanic female hip hop team,
and they bill themselves as "The World's Most Unexpected Hip Hop
Duo".
Another fascinating aspect of Dynamite Jive is the company that
has introduced and promoted them, Traton Entertainment.
Employing what might be a revolutionary replacement of the
traditional "demo" tape, Traton provides its artists with an
I-CD (Introduction CD), a professionally produced, legally
protected, bar-coded, 3-song CD sampler that affords groups a
drastically cheaper and more marketable alternative to the
usual, often amateurishly made "demo".
The future looks bright for Traton Entertainment and their star
act, Dynamite Jive.
NoHo>LA
By Juan Maldonado
THE VALLEY'S DYNAMIC DUO – When one talks about the West Coast
Hip Hop scene certain locations immediately come to mind: L.A.,
Compton, Oakland, and Long Beach. Rarely does anyone think to
check out what the San Fernando Valley has to offer the hip hop
community. That's why when something that's on hit comes out of
that particular area it catches most people by surprise, as if
it was something totally unexpected. That suits Tony J. and T.
Marie just fine; their group, Dynamite Jive, is actually billed
as "The World's Most Unexpected Hip Hop Duo."
I caught up with Dynamite Jive at Sound Station, an underground
record store located on the famed Laurel Cyn. Blvd. in the city
of San Fernando, which is renown to valley residents as a hot
spot for cruising on the weekends. Both Tony J. and T. Marie
spoke proudly about the hard work they've put into the group and
the many goals they accomplished in the past year. Yes,
Dynamite Jive has only been around for a short period of time,
but that doesn't mean its members have not paid their dues.
Tony J. has been deejaying and emceeing since the late '80s. In
fact, he won the Cal State Northridge Emcee Contest on
back-to-back occasions in '92 and '93. T. Marie has been down
with hip hop since RUN DMC realized their famous collaboration
with Aerosmith.
The duo recently released SMOOVE their follow up single to last
year's Introduction CD: Nice To Meet You. Smoove offers catchy
party lyrics over an old school beat and infectious bass line.
However, if you expect to hear the same formula of music
throughout their forth-coming LP, Mutated, you'll be in for a
big shock. It is Dynamite Jive's diversity in terms of their
lyrical content and production that make them truly stand out.
Citing Outkast as one of their major musical influences, the
Mutated album promises to cover a wide range of musical styles.
From R&B, to underground hip hop, to drum and bass. The album
will have something for everyone.
The group's main objective, however, is to bring back positive
aspects to hip hop. Something that is imperative to the culture
amid recent negative events such as the fighting that broke out
at The Beat's "Summer Jam." As T. Marie puts it, "It's really
important for us to make music that you don't have to turn off
when your nephew, son, daughter or grandkid is with you. That's
huge for us, because hip hop is not at that point where we can
all enjoy [the music together]."
For more information on Dynamite Jive log on to
www.dynamitejive.com
|
