All's Fair In Mud And War - OutDaMud Has Arrived!

OutDaMud is special to us because as Heritage Hip-Hop grew, they grew with us. Frank Castle has been a solid individual that stood on his word from before Heritage Hip-Hop was created and today that uniform approach to standing on his word has translated into a tenacity of growth that has his pen as sharp as it could be with more samurai bladed intent to come within every song. Shot Kobang always impressed with his will and delivery to be one of the greats and with new found merit in his health and points of strength, he has become a warlord of lyrical diatribe when a hook or painting is requested by the beats he rhymes on. HeritageHipHop.com was the home of the Mixtape B.C. Era which was a precursor to the album we have today and songs like Soul Food (Heritage Hip-Hop Thanksgiving Anthem Classic), It's On, etc . marked the arrival of these 2 artists as they moved forward while having a secret weapon with them.

Grimm Cyph came to the platform after being introduced to us as another family member to the movement not discounting others that we have met but he had a different mode to his talent and his voice is the nail that skins the top layer of talent that he possessed at the time. By combining these 3 talents under the direction of ILL City Ent. led by Riq, OutDaMud has emerged from guest spots on posse cuts to debut their first EP under the ILL City brand. From the long wait, we are given the gift of passion and the arrival of something special to live with in a world where music is easily consumed and forgotten.

All's Fair In Mud and War starts off with a ear opening song named Mud and War. Philosophically Mud is where all life comes from when land and water meet. The War in creation was to make it to the next level of existing by going through the struggle of raising the bar of life. This song raises the bar of those that knew of OutDaMud's sound before, by reintroducing them to their ears. For new listeners this is a bar raising experience by being introduced to new voices that go against the grain of mainstream trash that is force fed to the masses.

Song for song Frank Castle and Shot Kobang not only upshot on their skills they have shown on the last project (B.C. Era), the addition of Grimm Cyph adds polish to many of the songs that are on this EP. Stand out song Momma's Love features a hook by Dot Bundini a master painter of lyrics and the subject matter attacks the heart and soul of the listener. With a flip of the Hell on Earth melody to talk about hardships. About how a man has to face life for what it is, but being reminded of mom's words. We fight to make our own way and are reminded of the choices that we have made guide that guide our decisions for right or wrong is a mastery of Hip-Hop's way of telling us the stories. We live never taking time to examine them until we sit and reflect to music or in penitent silence.

The classic and stand out song on this project comes from OutDaMud featuring Big Stomp. Ascension is the rock that anchors this project and delivers where most Hip-Hop today has fallen short especially in the main stream. It answers the question, "Who are You?", when we want to connect with an artist. The desire for more and dealing with growth will mature a person with fierce consequences. Castle, Cyph and Kobang go into their souls to talk about pain and the feature verse by Big Stomp puts a perfect bow on the effect of change and the decision to be better.

This project is from the beginning to the end a testament of what happens when you raise your bar to be renewed into a new chapter in your life. Reflection of the hard times and the journey for more is the perfect vision of walking through mud to become cleansed. The war in the journey is to "....Go through it, or ...Grow Through it..." and as the listener ingests this story of manhood and struggle, we all grow through the words and beats. Songs like Off The Block talk about the struggle , but songs like Over My Mind speak on the fight to love receiving it and giving it. The fair part of the war is the decision to partake in it or to sit it out. Either way the war is present and you will be drafted into the evolution of life through the struggle and good music will help you travel those steps. This EP is a guiding light through 3 men's lives that can be relatable in testimony. In the beginning their was mud and from the dust we came and to the dust we will return. But in the rhythm of life the heartbeat, the drum and the words of the MC will aid us in our travels. This EP is special and with the connection of beats and harmony, OUTDAMUD and ILL City Ent. start off another chapter of great music that will lead to the desire for more.

OutDaMud All's Fair In Mud And War is available on streaming Platforms now:

BandCamp: https://illcityentertainment.bandcamp.com/album/alls-fair-in-mud-and-war

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2xzm8gy8qgt4s30WUnnNv4?si=3PiHiU8qSMiGyFHnFPoQAg

Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/45568878?u

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/outdamud/1594080666

Social Media:

ILL City Ent.:https://www.instagram.com/illcity_ent?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

OutDaMud: https://www.instagram.com/outdamud973/

ILL City takes no prisoners with the release of GVNGLAND.

A movement is defined as a changing of position. Primarily a change of location from one place (physical or mental) to somewhere new. Hip-Hop has been stagnant for awhile with the lack of groups and combined talent, that works together beyond a feature filled subpar project that people are forced fed through brainwashed repetitive play cycles. The radio has become a barren wasteland for the soul of the Hip-hop culture and the sound it produces. In the culture of music, the underground has always been the melting pot for new and refreshing art, that the many musical genres produce that the mainstream will have to catch up to in order to stay innovative. They need the underground to give the audience something to appreciate and to move from the dullness of copycat beats, cadences, vocals, and lackluster harmony. This year on Thanksgiving 2021, Ill City dropped their collective project "GVNGLAND", and the movement of sound has changed from boring to intriguing by the unleashing of raw lyrics and testimonies over beats bigger than the digital releases you are used to.

Ill City is comprised of RIQ aka the Quarterback, who is also 1/3 of the 050 Boyz, India Rose, Big Nutty, Dot Bundini, Big Stomp, and OutDaMud (Grimm Cyph, Shot Kobang and Frank Castle). This line up is a powerful example of hunger as each artist fights to show the beats they rap on are not worthy of their voices or strong enough to sustain the power in their vocals. This collective is from NJ and they bring the chip on the shoulder mentality that gives NJ its' own identity when it comes to Hip-Hop. NJ is known for grit, lyrics, and unapologetic raw talent and this project does not fall short of that description. Real Lyrics Matter aka Lyricists Matter when in comes to great Hip-Hop music and Ill City does not disappoint.

"When I came nothing was the same..." spoken by RIQ on the song "No Sauce", represents the feel for this project. Every artist brings their own style and makes a substantial imprint on the ear and minds of the listener. This project will remind 90s era Hip-Hop heads of the cypher, and how real MCs sparred together to be the best. 80s era Hip-Hop heads will be reminded of the hunger to be heard by each artist. 2000s era and 2010s era Hip-Hop heads will love the flow and the beats GVNGLAND produces which is a statement as well. This project is not the next Wu-Tang or Dipset group remade. By bringing all eras to the table, this movement of underground to the mainstream is moving fluidly and Ill City is bringing Hip-Hop with them. The crowds will once again stand, and the head nod will be a united front of realness over beats. The next generation of MCs will be touched by the wordplay meaning and the pen will move again bringing bars to the forefront when it comes to representing who we are when we take on the identity of the culture. This project is new, refreshing and brings back a movement that Hip-Hop is not giving the world on a mainstream stage...Attitude, Character and Soul.

GVNGLAND is available on all music platforms to Purchase and Stream:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/gangland/1594080618

https://open.spotify.com/album/65qZhZD7VAMQ7kiyq1hIrU?si=3DVsMnn3RqGaFM7EpqZnkg

tidal.com/browse/album/204219503

Artists:

RIQ: https://www.instagram.com/riq_050/

India Rose: https://www.instagram.com/_indiarose/

Big Nutty: https://www.instagram.com/big_nutty_aka_niikkii_kage/

Dot Bundini: https://www.instagram.com/dotbundini/

Big Stomp: https://www.instagram.com/thebighomiestomp/

OutDaMud: https://www.instagram.com/we_out_da_mud/

Grimm Cyph: https://www.instagram.com/grimmcyph143/

Shot Kobang: https://www.instagram.com/shotkobang/

Frank Castle: https://www.instagram.com/the_frankcastle/

After the Smoke Cleared....Smoke in the City Review

To everyone that has ever learned about danger we were always told where there is smoke there is fire. FIRE was definitely present at Smoke In The City September 17th and everyone that was in the event came away with a show/versus/battle that Verzuz has never delivered to its' viewership and that was home grown pride and love for the culture. Many artists came out to see this event at Allure Lounge in Newark NJ. Nisa F, M. O. Sound Group, Swerv, Double O and more came out with their eyes were on the stage. What will happen tonight? Who will win the match up? Independent NJ Hip-Hop won this day and for anyone that was not there, what an event you missed!

The first match up was between Armando "Outthere" Diaz and Stan Ipkiss of Headphone Therapy. Both came to the event ready to establish dominance over each other with eclectic sounds, and played some songs during their set. Armando and Ipkiss gave us beats with heavy drums, bars, and spirit shaking drops that made the artists in the building "battle" on deciding who had the better beats to fit the sound they want and need for their own music catalogs. One highlight was the banter between both producers as they playfully teased each other from selection to selection. One highlight from the battle was the Gail Campbell highlight battle where Armando played the song "Rain" and Stan Ipkiss played "Dot" and we received 2 performances by Gail Campbell on the spot. When this match up was done the festivities where not only warmed up the crowd felt the pressure of what a true verses event is...cultural celebration. Then the next match up came to the stage.

The next match up was Real As Promised verses Fah Familiyar. Real as Promised was seen in the crowd jumping up and down like a prized fighter ready to represent his part of the culture against a top competitor. Fah Familiyar came through the crowd like the peoples' champion and then the B.S. started. As R.A.P. started to rhyme the mics went out and the event was casted with dark shadow. Fah was classy and said if the mics didn't work we gotta change cause he wanted ALL THE SMOKE, from R.A.P and not a broken set. So due to sound system issues the 2 artists took the mic and show from the stage and performed in the crowd and Smoke In The City went up another notch. When have you ever seen the Verzuz take the show to the crowd? NEVER! This match up was a battle not between the artists but the people that came to support their own personal artist and came away with love and respect for the opponent that was challenging their view and appreciation for music. With songs like Cake, Grandma's hands and more Fah and R.A.P. talk to each other in music and off the microphones to give the crowd the mutual love for each other, their music and the NJ Hip-Hop culture they represent. From stage to middle of the floor and even on top of chairs, The showman and the bar smith did not disappoint everyone in the event and just like the first match up standing ovations were abound. Then the main event started and we were not ready!

Chops Tha Savior verses Grumpy Old Man was not what people thought it would be. From the beginning this was seen as the Barred up legend vs. the legendary Entertainer. People said they were old, Chops can't entertain, or Grumpy had no bars and everyone that thought so ALL WERE PROVED WRONG. From the outset Chops came to the stage and proclaimed this is just another day at the office. Grump brought the show to the stage with a mask and when it came off Black Out his other persona came out and the both were verbally swinging. In the last match up the stage was neglected due to the sound system not able to catch up to the greatness of the 2 artists. The main event grabbed the sound system itself and beat it into submission to the power of the stage. Chops had the stage on lock and when he was done his 3rd set Grump was on top of a chair. Chops directed the crowd to Grump and Grumpy led them musically back to the stage where he tore it down. The power of Tha Savior led the south ward to the stage and when "Riot Bars" dropped it was lights out for Grump? Not even close...when "Stay Fly" dropped and the party was elevated by Grump's performance and the voice of Big Snuff (RIP) we were treated to much more than a battle this was NJ Hip-Hop bringing the essence of the party, the live show and the culture back to where it belonged. It belongs with the people and the stage. When the show closed out after this set we were treated to the return of ST4L or if you don't know what that means Streets 4 Life, with a performance by Dot Bundini, Gail Campbell, Tha Savior, and E. Piche! After this match up Grumpy showed even as an "Old Man" he can out entertain, rap, and bar an opponent, and Tha Savior showed the same thing. Smoke in the city was a battle buy not on stage, it was battle in the crowd.

The people in the crowd were treated to something ground breaking and it will begin something people will want year after year. The battle was in people's decision on not only who "won" but which was the best match up and what did they enjoy the best out of the show. Smoke In The City was a bar setter and is Gold Standard that if treated right will bring the best of the best out and if the performances get better, the mainstream will be in trouble. Where there is smoke there is fire and after this event everyone that was there were treated to a fire playlist and those that were not are heated and on fire they missed it. Real Hip-Hop is not only heard it is felt, and to those in the event they felt the true spirit of living Hip-Hop in real time.