Hip Hop came, saw and conquered. Whether it meant to or not, it did it regardless.
Tha Franchize, like many other acts, are Hip Hop. Coming from backgrounds of all different kinds, but with the same drive and love for the music they create, The Franchise wants to mark their place in the genre they know and love.
The Beginning
It was a few tracks made for educational purposes that took a few students through to realising a love for a sound they had many different meanings and forms. The Franchise was not immediate. As time went on line-ups changed and grew to the family of talent you see today.
In late 2002, Deevo began writing lyrics with school friend
Bobby aka B Blow. Deevo and B Blow started a group called CVR'z (Coventry Riders). Soon after Deevo's brother, rapper Phil-E-Blunt (later Hectic) also began writing lyrics, along with Deevo's girlfriend, rapper Kit'N.
In January 2003, Deevo would attend a course that would put him in the same class with likeminded students. Among them he found vocalists and MCs in J.Core, Prozac, Q-Pid( later Charlie Crocker) and CaccamoThey formed a group, known as Top Dolla Ent and began to record their first tracks together. The CVR'z continued to work together, and began a close affiliation with Top Dolla Ent.
At the same time on a different course, fellow MCs Rabz & Diezel (later Flex) had begun to work on their music. Rabz was only looking to master his production & DJing skills, but after a lot of encouragement from classmate Diezel, he decided he would also try his hand at picking up a mic and continued to create a set of tracks using this collaboration.
The turning Point
Late 2003, the group ended their course, but continued to stay close friends and worked on further projects. This continuation prompted many changes in the group’s progression. Kit'N decided not to continue to pursue her interest in music, although has continued to support the group. Caccamo returned to Norwich and continued his music. B Blow parted from the CVR'z, but remained close friends with Deevo.
Phil-E-Blunt decided to change his alias to Hectic, as he felt it suited his style and delivery on records. Q-Pid also decided to change his alias and began to call himself Croker after the character Charlie Croker in the classic film The Italian Job
In late 2004, Deevo, Croker & Prozac returned to college to continue with their course. Upon returning to college were to be placed on the same course with Rabz & Diezel, and producer Yung Un which sparked many calloborations. After several strong collaborations, Top Dolla Ent. decided to unite forces with Rabz & Diezel and became known as Tha Franchize. In Mid 2005whilst still at college, the reputation began to build and Tha Franchize recorded several tracks which, with permission of the college, they performed on several different stages, the biggest of which was the prized Hip Hop Tent at Coventry's Godiva festival alongside big UK artists such as Phi-Life Cypher, Moorish Delta 7, Skinnyman and home grown talent, C.O.V.
Bursting onto this stage from a seemingly unknown background caused a lot of fuss and within a few months of performing on this stage, Tha Franchize were invited onto Kenny Jordan's R & B show on Kix 96 Radio, Coventry. A successful interview led to a personal invitation from Kenny to perform at Coventry's Student Union Bar, Studio 54. After success at this event, tha franchize continued to perform at several locations throughout the city and continued to spread their name.
After finishing the course together in 2005, Tha Franchize suffered once again from people’s personal changes in plans. Diezel decided to change his name to Flex. Prozac decided he wanted to pursue different musical path from the sound that Tha Franchize were developing, but is still a good friend of the whole team. J.Core also decided against continuing and withdrew her interest in recording with Tha Franchize to attend university leaving 5 members; Deevo, Flex, Croker, Rabz and Hectic.
Moving Forward
Late 2005 saw Tha Franchize perform for Flex's B'Day bash, and also led to a contact that had been given to them by a friend of a friend and liked what they heard. After this party, Tha Franchize were properly introduced to Kang of Faithless Productions/Dead Beat. After Deevo and Rabz spent over 2 hours spitting some of their hottest verses, Kang decided that he would like to work with Tha Franchize and left them with a CD to write some of their best. In summer 2006 after several hold-up's Deevo eventually visited Kang for their first recording session and recorded two solo tracks called 'Stand Up' and 'No Second Guessin'.
'No Second Guessin' was featured on BBC Radio in a competition which was run by the Asian Network. The competition was based on votes for the nation's favourite track and the winner would be added to the playlist. 'No Second Guessin' came in a very close 2nd, so just missed out on being added to the playlist.
In the few years that have passed since Tha Franchize & Dead Beat became affiliated, as with life there were more changes to be made. Tha Franchize experienced problems and after overcoming them decided it was time for a fresh start so changed the name to Tha Franchize Family, which showed how close the friends had become. Rabz went to university and crafted a completely new style in his sound; one which he felt was true and pure for him prompting him to amend his alias to Rabz The Pureheart. Flex moved down to London to pursue further careers, but remains close friends with Tha Family. Croker moved to Walsall to open further doors for the team, so although no longer involved in recording projects for the group, is still closely affiliated. The group had only been left with the recording vocal talents of Deevo, Rabz and Hectic
Although only these recording members remain, Tha Franchize Family are also helping to mould future artist who are affiliated with Tha Family. These upcoming artist include MC Roe Roe aka Nemesis and MC and vocalist Big M.
In 2007 Tha Franchize Family & Dead Beat Ent were invited to perform in London by Alizay.co.uk on a UK unsigned Talent Tour 2007 which took place at London's SE One club. Tha Franchize Family performed alongside over 30 unsigned UK acts, only five of which were from outside of the London area, and overall received the best reaction of the day.
The Future...
Tha Franchize Family are still recording, and working on several projects including group and solo album's as well as working on a few collaborations with other artists both inside and outside of the city.
