SIKES! (NEW SONGS UP NOW!)

I KNOW NOT MANY PEOPLE READ THIS STUFF SO IM GOING TO TRY AND KEEP THIS SHORT
I MAKE BEATS...I WRITE RHYMES...THEN I COMBINE THE TWO AND MAKE SONGS
PITTSBURGH IS MY HOME AND MUSIC IS MY LIFE
WANNA KNOW MORE ABOUT ME? CHECK OUT THESE BLOGS!
THE INGREDIENTS
A GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING SIKES: PART ONE - 09/13/1993
A GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING SIKES: PART TWO - 10/14/1985
A GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING SIKES: PART THREE - STRAIGHT EDGE?
A GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING SIKES: PART FOUR - ORIGINS
CHECK OUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT "SUDDEN EXPLOSIONS"In the first 30 seconds of “Sudden Explosions”, Sikes provides the listener with a solid metaphor for what the rest of the CD holds in store. The album starts simply enough, with some straight-forward beat boxing. Gradually the beat builds on itself, until you realize there’s no way some guy is just beat boxing, it’s actually an assault of some really well-timed and intricate sampling work. What at first appeared very simple has become anything but. Welcome to Sudden Explosions.
Lyrics:
Sikes manages to use some really clever metaphors to get his points across (For example, the song “Reel ‘Em In” doesn’t have anything to do with the patience one needs when fishing), and they come at you so fast you’ll sometimes have to re-play the song to take it all in. Hip-hop, to me, can be a letdown when it’s blatantly obvious that the artist just threw a bunch of words together to get an album out the door… I’m glad to say you’ll get NONE of that here.
Topics range from our leaders in government (“you can cut any politician and he’ll bleed out slime”) to the responsibilities we face as we grow up (see the song “Clouds”) to more tongue-in-cheek humor (out of the hundreds of CDs I own, I’m pretty sure this is the only one with the line “Your mom smells like dookie”).
There are also times where, whether you like it or not, the song forces you to think. I may not agree with every word in “Questions Unanswered, Answers Unquestioned”- a song that focuses heavily on organized religion, but its spot-on jabs at the “holier than thou” Christians on TV (who make the rest of us look like a bunch of pious pricks) are among my favorite moments of the CD.
Music:
Simply put - beat production doesn’t get any better than this. The programming is so meticulously detailed, and there’s so much going on sonically in the background of these songs that you could listen to the track a dozen times and catch new subtleties with each play.
You might wonder if a CD that’s 15 tracks long might start to repeat itself, but luckily it seems that Sikes draws from a wide range of influences. Some songs contain intense heavy metal breakdowns. For anybody hearing "rap" and "metal" and are about to cry “nu-metal!” it’s worth mentioning that Sikes is the only hip hop artist I know that listens to bands like Meshuggah and Burnt by the Sun. So relax, we’re not talking Limp Bizkit here.
Non-headbangers don't have to worry though, there are many mellow moments as well, including the ambient instrumental “A Sunny Place for Shady People” and the album’s finale, where Sikes raps over an acoustic guitar, which kind of has an Everlast vibe to it. Some of the songs are also just plain catchy as hell. Fair warning, if you listen to Guilty Pleasures, featuring Skip Douglas of Doomsday Initiative, you might have the melody stuck in your head all day.
Overall:
This album can really be enjoyed on two levels. You can look at a painting from far away and know it’s good, or you can go right up to it and appreciate it for all of the meticulous brush strokes that went into it. It’s not often that you can listen to a CD and just know a lot of painstaking work went into it, but that is obvious throughout Sudden Explosions. I’m really impressed with the level of thought and overall talent that went into this, and I really encourage any fan of local music to give it a listen. It’ll be my “Exhibit A” anytime I need to prove that ....Pittsburgh....’s got a lot of talent to offer.
Kudos for:
1. The number of guest appearances on this. You really get a sense of community in the local scene when you hear these kinds of collaborations
2. Incorporationg a sound byte of Robin Williams swearing up a storm in the movie "Death to Smoochy"
So there ya have it, I really recommend picking this up, you won't regret it.
Rock on guys,
Anders
"the new cd is fuckin fresh!!! it has all types of sounds and brutal screams. It's definitly something I have never heard something new and not already been done. Mos definitly a house party cd. I'ts all real lyrics he doesnt even have to seem like hes out to kill something its just all real and true. Two Thumbs up!!!" -STEF
"As soon as i got it, i was super excited and knew it was going to be orgasmic-ly good. When i (finially) finshed listening to it, my opinion was verified. Overall, Sudden Expolsions is an amazing album. I have a feeling its going to be the best of 09! Amazing beats. Amazing lyrics. Amazing songs!!" - MELISSA
CHECK OUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT "US AGAINST US" "The CD starts off with the light, fun freestyle of the "Intro" and takes you along this ride all the way until the end with the heartfelt, graphically raw voice of insanity from "The Promise". It's sheer melodic inventiveness with an appealing voice and distinctive delivery, backed up by some wacky interludes, insane freestyles, sic synth, liquid basslines, stuttering rhythms, sound effects and spacious soundscapes. It explored new directions but also brought back an oldschool vibe. Both indefensible and critic-proof, unlistenable and undeniable. On the surface its a poppin party/club album but underneath its an artist trying to make sense out of the chaos and turmoil in his personal and professional life. I think this is a revolution of hip-hop." - -x- Ness -x- "Tainted Butterfly"
"just finished listening from beginning to end..DOPE AS FUCK..It feels so good to actually hear some creative ass music! I liked all the songs and I can't comment on all..Place Your Bets-Loved it..I feel so anti-government and all this in this bullshit system..Beautiful Terror - Creative as hell and so true..Wolf Fang- I heard it before but it hits home and I can relate to it..Us Against Us - Also so true.. It def feels that we're stuck here..Promise- Thats that real shit..Lets people know who YOU are and where you come from..Interlude - Man I was about to write somethin over it..lol..The cd kept me interested the whole way through..I needed to hear what was comin next..Now you know why I wanted to listen beginning to end..I can relate and feel the same way about alot of things on it..It's goin back .. I check out enigma's album..shit might just have to put them both on shuffle!" - Draztyk
"There is a wonderful absence of “Bottles in the Club” and obnoxious, meaningless lyrics in Sike’s new album “Us Against Us”. Sike’s creates catchy yet meaningful songs that have your brain thinking at a million miles per hour. Tackling difficult subjects like school shootings, media power on young girls and addiction, Sikes proves that he can make a name for himself in the Pittsburgh Hip Hop scene. Without overdoing it, Sikes provides the listener with enough emotion to feel genuine. You can tell that each and every issue that he’s addressing is close to his heart, something he struggles with on a day to day basis. With just enough collaboration throughout the album to diversify the sound, every song is unique and interesting, making this an album an all-around success." -Joelle
""Us Against Us" is refreshing. It's easy to listen to. You don't have to have to put the lines or words together to figure out what the songs are about. It's a plain picture but also has something valuable to say; Something that people can talk about and relate to whether it's a nasty morning wake up call, that infamous girl who thinks she's just the shit, or that you only get one life. It's complex in the way that it's real issues, but it's music to jam out to. So Listen to it!" - Ashleigh
"the cd is amazing man. you did an excellent job with the intro and all the other tracks. each one just pumped me up more so i could hear another track. you are a very talented musician/producer/beatmaker. i cant wait to hear more tracks from you in the future and when you come and play in Minnesota!" - Michael
"so generally what i dig about your album is the beats. theyre so fresh! your rhymes are more political than i thought just listening to myspace tracks. but it was a suprise a totally dig. im pretty cynical too. in a word, jam'n...As a matter of fact, it happens to be nestled nicely in my 3 disc changer with the new Roots album and Binary Star's Masters of the Universe. I dont change this highly noteable trio very often. Its my morning alarm. Every morning at 6AM my trusty 3-disc changer suprises me out of sleep to either of these album's opening tracks. I jam through the pre-work rituals. Your album fits so nicely there." - Holla.
"well not to kiss ass, but i honestly loved the cd. I mean i have it on my ipod and let all my freinds here it and they all really liked it too. to the songs clicky clacky, and i promise, i could really relate to cause i have and still do go through simmilar situations.. but ill rap it up, i really really liked it" - ~INSANE BLAINE~
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CREDIT/DEBIT CARD AND WISH TO PAY FOR A SOMETHING IN CASH MESSAGE ME! MESSAGE ME! MESSAGE ME!
"GUILTY PLEASURES" w/SKIP DOUGLAS LIVE @ FADED FEST 05/25/09
"BRAIN TUMORS FOR BREAKFAST w/RY P" DIRECTED BY STEFAN W NITSCH
"GUILTY PLEASURES" w/SKIP DOUGLAS DIRECTED BY MATT SPENCER
"SUDDEN EXPLOSIONS" CD RELEASE SHOW!
MAKING OF THE VIDEO - "GUILTY PLEASURES"
"RAVENOUS PLASTIC" LIVE:03/07/09
"REEL 'EM IN" LIVE @ THE SHADOW LOUNGE
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OUTSIDE OF MY SOLO WORK I AM CURRENTLY PRODUCING/RECORDING NEW TRACKS FOR SEVERAL DIFFERENT ARTISTS AND WORKING ON A COUPLE NEW PROJECTS
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I ALONG WITH SOME OTHER FRIENDS RUN A PITTSBURGH MUSIC COLLECTIVE KNOWN AS "PINKTELEPHONE RECORDS"
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