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"This is not music, this here is a movement"
"I'ma show you how music is my meaning to life"
A passion is something that is more important to you than anything else in the world. Determination is the ability to persevere even if the circumstances dictate you should not. When a group of individuals have a passion and determination, there isn’t much they can’t accomplish. Such is the case for Green Street, an upstart, innovative jazz/hip-hop/soul collaborative based out of Lexington, Massachusetts. The two founders and stalwarts of Green Street are producer Max Schneider (also known as Renaissance) and emcee Ani Sanyal (also known as A-Live). More often than not, Green Street is accompanied by the talented Ken Ross, an experienced guitarist and vocalist. Pianist Malcolm Campbell is also a frequent collaborator, lending his smooth keyboard work to Green Street’s melting pot of sounds. Green Street’s love of music is what drives them to stay in the studio deep into the night, or to essentially live out of the studio for days on end. They are consumed by their quest to create the perfect sound. Through their hard work, Ren and A-Live have forged a unique and refreshing signature sound, which is born out of a wide range of influences. Like many of the greatest hip-hop producers of our time, Renaissance has mastered the art of “digging in the crates.†In other words, he pours through old jazz, soul, hip-hop, and funk records, searching for a sample he can manipulate into a new sound. Green Street’s respect for the old time greats runs deep, which is why their music retains an integrity and clarity not often found in today’s popular music. Renaissance is a true student of the game, constantly searching for a way to better himself as a musician and producer, whether it be studying music theory or trying to pick up the nuances of all time great beatmakers such as J Dilla and Pete Rock. However, the emcee is just as pivotal to the success of a hip-hop group as the producer. Like Ren, A-Live honed his craft through years of studying other emcees, improving the complexity of his rhymes, gaining a better understanding of flow and delivery, and free styling in any cipher he could find. The result is a style that is both clear and complex. A-Live’s smooth, yet powerful delivery assures the listener that his words come from the heart. A-Live also has a keen ear for the beats, serving as Ren’s consultant on each track. This is just one facet of the remarkable relationship these two have developed through their mutual love for music. The amount of hours they have put in together has given birth to a Green Street subculture, complete with fashion sense and an entire dialect. Observing the two in the studio, it seems as if A-Live and Ren know what each other are thinking long before the words escape their lips. This understanding, coupled with talent and copious amounts of dedication, allowed Green Street’s debut album Livin’ on Green Street to achieve underground success. The disc garnered the attention of not only local youths, but other artists and industry figures across the nation. Green Street’s music is undeniably well made, versatile and pleasant to listen to. As long as Green Street’s dedication and passion remains intact, the sky is the limit.
-Danny Joseph
Upcoming Green Street Releases: Green Street Presents: The Summertime Vibes Mixtape (Out Now), Collabo album with Introspective Minds Productions (Fall 2007), Collabo Album with 7th Syndicate (Summer 2008), Jazz/Neo-Soul Album with live instrumentation from Ken Ross, Malcolm Campbell and more (Summer 2008), Debut release from Free Association (Wondermaxx & Renaissance) (TBD)
We're looking to collaborate with some like minds. If you're down with jazz, soul, hip hop, or just good music in general and think we might sound good together, hit us up and we can take it from there.
For more information/booking/beats/verses: [email protected]
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