Biography About Thin Ice Productions
Situated between the genres of hip hop and rap in today’s talented music industry, lies two emcees, Crafty (Chris Cormack) and Token (Jeff Gill). Collectively, they form Thin Ice Productions. In early January of 2005, Crafty and Token entered the digital world of music and began exposing their talents for the world to hear. From their basement studio emerges the beginning of a movement, a movement so great it will change the face of all music for years to come. Quickly the duo, have earned the respect of many international artists. Fellow artists and friend La Truth from Georgia goes on to say “These cats are going to be responsible for bringing hip hop back…â€
With the financial investment of Randy Cormack, comes the final stage to Thin Ice Productions. For years the two emcees Crafty and Token, have used B list equipment from generic brands, along with outdated software to create the music that fans around the world have come to love. However, early September of 2007 marked a new stepping stone for the two. Equipped now with the newest of technology from Zooms HD8 Hard Disk Recording Studio, to M-Audio BX5a monitors, along side Cubase interface, and the Apex 415, 3 pattern wide diaphragm studio condenser microphones, adds a level of serenity and a warning to the industry you’re on “Thin Iceâ€
With the finalization of Thin Ice Productions in the process comes a much needed sign of relief. Thin Ice now offers a fully legal operational productions company and recording studio. Copyright protected and registered Thin Ice Productions’ emcees Crafty and Token are devoting the up and coming, fall months to recording their first official demo. As well as re-mastering all previously recorded tracks from the last two years. It’s time to get ready!
To aid the launch of the demo release set for October 1st 2007, Thin Ice has gone to the next level once again. Now, offering A&R reps Thin Ice Promotional grab bags. Each representative will be receiving a personalized Thin Ice trade marked wine bag, along with a bottle of Thin Ice Wine, a Thin Ice promotional t-shirt and not to forget their own copy of Thin Ice Productions demo.
From childhood Token aka Jeff Gill moved to the beat of his own drummer. “I wasn’t stupid in school. I just always thought I had a purpose in life that school couldn’t teach.†J Gill This much has panned out to be true in the life of Jeff Gill. In a short span of life, Token has struggled to climb to the tops of many mountains of tribulations. Within the last five years Token has faced, run ins with the law which left him with a criminal record, the family death of his greatest inspiration, his grand father, loosing his family to divorce, his mother and brother reside in one city his father in another, and what would seem like a lack of job security. Token today finds himself in a position where it’s now or never. “It’s my personal set backs that have allowed me to advance myself as an emcee as well as a man, I am thankful for my failures for they show me success†J Gill.
As a kid I would always find myself attached to music. “My dad was my first real influence. He taught me how to play drums†from there onward I never stopped moving. Those that know Jeff Gill know he cannot stand still! “I just have to be doing something, at all times its’ how I relax oddly enough.†Musical influences from Dr. Dre, to Shady, to Canadian greats such as Classified, Token finds himself combing traits from his favorites and creating his own unique style and flow. If someone asked me what I sound like I simply say my voice reflects the life it’s lived. I cannot say I personally sound like anyone, every beat every track I’m different, I just feel the emotion of the beat and begin story telling. I truly do try and incorporate morals and facts in my rhymes, I try and make it music not hip hop or rap I just try and make great music, for everyone to listen to. I hope that someone hears the pain, someone hears the joy but most of all someone hears the love in my flow. “This demo is just a chance to get our foot in the door, to date we have almost 45 tracks completed…were above a demo where at the point where we are ready to be something great.†J Gill
Crafty aka Chris Cormack offers much more than just great song writing. To date Crafty has been and will always remain Thin Ice Productions producer. With over 40 monumental instrumentals and counting Crafty, possesses the skills to compete in an industry where giants like Timberland and Just Blaze infiltrate the market. “When you hear a Crafty beat, you know a Crafty beat†Well known for story telling through music, Crafty utilizes instruments and sound effects to convey emotions and vibes, making the beats easily recognizable. “In a way he’s ahead of his time, he’s ahead of time itself, he makes you see stories with your ears, I don’t care who you are, that takes talent†J Gill
Staying true to his roots of song writing Crafty truly stands up to his alias. As if his contributions of instrumentals were not enough, Crafty adds a voice that makes the duo stand out. Depicting stories from his childhood and today’s life, personal hardships and pain, to success and happiness Crafty tells the truth and delivers a powerful flow each and every track. Long time supporter and fellow emcee Easton Hill out of Virginia, goes on to describe Crafty as “one crazy son of a bitch†Crafty remains true to himself and true to his name from producer to lyricist he’s a total package.
Every story has two sides, and now you’ve heard ours. Thin Ice Productions, Crafty and Token, eagerly await their future and cannot wait to see what unfolds. Working hard in the studio the two are devoting much needed time in prepare their first respectable attempt at taking the industry by storm. For now the only way to hear the two and their music is online at www.myspace.com/thiniceproductions2006 as well as www.myspace.com/thiniceproductionstoken original tracks with the old sound of the old equipment will remain up until our demo is finalized. When you have over 40 tracks to choose from and you spend as much time and energy on each one as we do…it’s hard to pick your best five. However, fans will be pleased to know that the much loved Summer Time and Beaverton songs are being discussed as top rank on their demo. The fall brings a new age of optimism for the duo. Expect to hear these emcees and what they have to say in the near future. To our fans and to those that doubted us all we can say is thank you.