Sticking to your beliefs is never an easy thing, expecially when the odds are against you. Hip Hop has taken a huge decline over the last few years due to lack of support and oversaturation. Nowadays one a few are truely educated in the culture. Edu Leedz has brought Hip Hop back thru unity and passion in the Boston music scene.
Born in Lynn, MA and raised in transit between northern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. Leedz was subjected to music as soon as he was born. His Grandfather was a Jazz drummer and would play constantly in front him. His mother was a big fan of folk music and taught him the importance of lyrics through the music of Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Neil Young, and Leonard Cohen. But as a teenager, he fell victim of a broken home when his dad disappeared when he was only 11. Leaving him and his mother to defend for themselves in subsidized housing. Leedz struggled with oppression and low income living. This is where he found his love for Hip Hop. "I can remember the day so vividly. My neighbor brought me down a copy of Ice Cube's "The Predator" and "Death Certificate" and I was instantly hooked. I was into Heavy Metal at the time and was blown away by the rawness and power of Cube’s music. I realized that Rap was the official voice of Oppression". Leedz soon began studying the culture compulsively. Public Enemy, NWA, House of Pain, Cypress Hill, and Ice-T became role models instead of his parents. But as Leedz got older, he became more in need for material gains. "I was broke all the time and it got old." He soon became involved with the drug game and a full-time dealer. "Marijuana was my specialty cause I felt it should be legal, but unfortunately the law thinks different. Looking back on those days now, I realize how much of my potential I wasted in the wrong direction". With the extra money now being made, Leedz invested in Turntables and equipment. He soon became the hardest working DJ in the Rockingham County. He ended up releasing over 25 mixtapes in two and a half years. As he became more obsessed with vinyl he proved that he had the best work ethic around. Leedz then was able to secure steady work DJing parties and clubs in NH. But in a scene that was too commercially driven and five years of drug dealing eating at his soul, It was time for a new plan.
In 2002, Leedz enrolled at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. He majored in Music Business already having an associates in Business Management. Within the first six months of being at NU, he landed an internship with the number one Hip Hop promotions company in Boston, Metro Concepts. "They taught me more in three months then I learned in 3 years of being at that school. Tim Lindberg, co-founder, acted as my mentor and spoon fed me the industry." But Leedz struggled to find his niche though. Record labels were failing and radio stations were not hiring. Basically there were no jobs available. The Music Industry was getting worse and worse by the day. By 2003, the whole entire Boston underground Hip Hop scene was completely dead. This is where he found his role. There were no Hip Hop shows in Boston at this time. No one wanted to do them because they were failing financially and no one was supporting. Leedz then decided he would become a Hip Hop promoter and founded "Leedz Edutainment". With everyone urging him NOT to do it, he soon became the biggest underground Hip Hop promoter in Boston and is responsible for bringing thru major acts such as Prodigy of Mobb Deep, Lupe Fiasco, El-P, Del the Funkee Homosapien, Devin the Dude, Aesop Rock, JR Writer, La Coka Nostra, Joe Budden, Brother Ali, Mr. Lif, Cormega, Royce Da 5'9, Ill Bill, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck, AZ, Boot Camp Clik, Tash, Immortal Technique, Cage, Masta Ace, Brand Nubian, Zion I, and many more. "Shows can be such a headache sometimes, but there is an art to it and I truly love what I do."
In doing these big shows he became truly engulfed in Boston’s local Hip Hop scene. For every big headliner there is 3-4 opening slots. Leedz was able to open these spots up to the local scene when no one else was offering an opportunity. He has been responsible for gaining increased exposure for many Boston's best artists . Still being a trained DJ, he released an All-Star Boston compilation, Mass Movementz mixed and produced entirely by himself. Both Vol 1+2 have sold over 15,000 units combined. He also has directed entire mix tapes for some of Bostons best: Slaine "White Man is the Devil" Vol 1+2, Jake the Snake " Year of the Snake Vol 1", Bomshot "Kill Em All", Al Jabra "Class is in Session", Blak Madeen "The Opening", Amadeus the Stampede "The Ultimate High", and more. Slaine's Vol 1 won Boston’s "Mixtape of the Year" award and Vol 2 was picked up by Traffic Ent. and distributed Nationwide.Nowadays Leedz's goal is taking Boston Hip Hop to a international level. Mass Movementz Vol 3 is scheduled to be released in 08 and features a lot of national collaborations and is guaranteed to elevate the Boston music scene. In April 2008, He opened up Leedz HeadQuarters, a recording Studio and record label with Bostons best engineer, Matty Trump. This will surely be another huge success and help the Boston rap scene develop even more. "Matty Trump and I are the 2008 Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin, were unstoppable as a team" says Leedz. They plan on releasing many projects in the years to come which include Rite Hook "E.ye A.ssume D.amage", Blak Madeen "Sacred Defense", Amadeus the Stampede "House of Broken Mirrors" and more projects soon to be announced. "Right now my team is extremely dedicated and everyone knows its now or never". In a city that needs more support for its own, Edu Leedz has become a staple in the Boston Hip Hop scene. "I made the decision along time ago that this is what I was gong to do with my life. I’ve sacrificed more then you could ever imagine in this game. Failure is not an option and I’m not stopping until the world hears what’s going on in Massachusetts".
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