urSESSION - LoDeck - BROOKLYN

urSESSION MUSIC

LoDeck

BIO

True school MC influenced by ill BROOKLYN cyphers, blunted studios and cuffed up Timbs. LoDECK was born in GOMEL, BELARUS & moved to NEW YORK at the age of 11. A writer since 4, his love of words was rekindled after listening to hiphop mixtapes made by his 8th grade buddy. While fluent in Russian as well, he began freestyling in English during his high school years. At 18, he was discovered by a former Stetsasonic engineer and Tommy Boy producer DJ Oz, who produced and paid for recording of his first demo. The demo got love from the then-bubbling underground community and introduced LoDeck to a new collective of creative individuals. In 1998 he helped create the jOHNNY23 crew, a roster of hungry artists who terrorized battles and open mics in New York city. Taking the independent route, their first release, a compilation called Old Trolls New Bridge went on to sell 10,000 units on the strength of word-of-mouth and featured some historic guest appearances including rhymes from Vastaire (before Cannibal Ox fame), Mac Lethal (first ever official recording spot) and production by Chum Chopz (current DJ for Apathy of Demigodz). Besides having a good ear for talent, LoDeck developed a sharp studio work ethic and began working on solo material. In 2001, he released an EP entitled Bash IT, which also helped launch the Embedded Studios label, ran by DJ e.s.e (Definitive Jux). While the EP was recieving critical acclaim, LoDeck was working on a very challenging project, a concept album which explored themes of the occult and the dark side of human consciousness. Dream Dentistry was put out independently in 2003, a sonically ground-breaking full length solo album, engineered by Sonic Sum's FredOnes (Raptivism) with production credits including another visionary New York producer, Blockhead (Ninja Tune/Definitive Jux). The album continues to gather attention throughout the world as more and more people discover its' unique energy and concept. LoDeck dubs his sound as "drill music", an edgy, smart, yet traditionally inspired brand of rap that pushes the conservative boundaries and cliched themes of hiphop. He has shared the stage with the likes of CRayz Wallz, Cannibal Ox, PMD, Aesop Rock, Breez Evahflowin, Jak Progresso, Tes 1, Monstah Island Czars and many more. He continues to collaborate with Blockhead, as well as other hiphop super-producers Blueprint (Rhymesayers Ent/Weightless), Omega One (Nature Sounds) and Dub-L (whose credits include work with The Controls, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Common, Jeru, Jemini the Gifted One, MF Doom and countless others). In 2007, Dub-L hosted & mixed LoDeck's CD only release, Derived from Empty Bottles, which featured a collection of singles and rap covers (including A.I.D.S - a flip of Kriss Kross' "Jump" amongst other interesting choices.) LoDeck's latest independant release, a full length album Behold is a further testament to his MC skills and workhorse ethic. Featuring heavy headnodding production from Will Taubin, Bad Touch, DJ Static and Ebbineeza, this album gathers loyal followers with power of word of mouth, as drill music continues to separate itself from the saturated and copy-cat market of contemporary hiphop. DISCOGRAPHY "Old Trolls New Bridge" jOHNNY23 1999 ( LP, various artists) "Bash It" Embedded Music/jOHNNY23 2001 (solo EP) "Tippin' Dominoes/Hyperventilation" Embedded Music 2001 (12" single LoDeck/Vastaire/Zion I) "Fear and Loathing in Reality" jOHNNY23 2002 (LP, various artists) "Euphony" Centrifugal Phorce Records 2002 (LP, various artists) "Dream Dentistry" jOHNNY23 2003 (solo LP) "Meaning of the Sphere" Embedded Music 2003 (12" single LoDeck/Breez Evahflowin'/Tes1/Vastaire) "Old Trolls Same Bridge vol. 1" jOHNNY23 2005 (LP, various artists) "They seemed to have Wonderful Lives" jOHNNY23 2005 (12" maxi-single, various artists) "Derived from Empty Bottles" LoDeck.com 2006(official mixtape) "Coup D'Etat" Nature Sounds 2006 (12" single Omega One/LoDeck/Bob Brozman) "Still Cambodia" Nature Sounds 2006 (12" single Omega One/Blockhead/LoDeck/Jakprogresso) "Behold" jOHNNY23/DRILL MUSIC 2007 (solo LP)